Data: 94.3 miles Riding time 5:31 (17.1 mph avg)
Note: My computer was really slow last night, so I couldn't post anything. I'll do my best to remember yesterday's ride.
The highlight of the day was touring the bicycle museum in Orchard Park, 40 miles into the ride. Here's what it looks like when we all go in somewhere together on our bikes.
The owner gave us a tour and explanation of the history of the bicycle and how it altered society (e.g., leading to the automobile and their rules of the road). The guy personally has collected all the old bikes and mementos on display. There were many examples of the "ordinary", the ones with the huge front wheel and tiny rear wheel. The examples ended with the mid-50s Schwinns and Murrays. The photo is a "radio" bike from 1955.
The ride to the museum was nice - more vineyards, rolling hills, views of Lake Erie, small quaint villages. I thought this picture was cute, with the horse peering at me out of his door.
Much of the morning ride was on a highway with cars, so not as peaceful as the back roads of Ohio; plus it was cold and threatening rain. I took a picture as we crossed over the Catteraugus River because the gorge was so spectacular.
When we left the bike museum, it was raining pretty hard. I was the last to leave, and almost immediately made a wrong turn. It didn't seem right that I should be going west, so I stopped in a guy's open garage to pull out the route sheet to check on directions. Before I could, however, the America By Bike van went by in the same direction I'd been going, and it always follows our route. Right. So I kept going. After 4 miles, I just knew it couldn't be right, so I checked again, and had to backtrack those four miles -- in the pouring rain. When I asked about this later, they said they were going to a grocery store, and I'm of course NOT supposed to follow them, I'm supposed to use the route sheet!
Since I was WAY back in last place now, I decided to "hammer" to catch up. Eventually it stopped raining, so it made it easier to ride fast. I skipped the Millard Fillmore House in East Aurora, but later joked with people that I was late because I spent the afternoon touring it (of course it was a believable tale, because that fits my reputation on this ride).
Due to the rain, my speedy effort, and the busy highway we were on, I took no photos after the bike museum. Since I don't have many photos for the day, I'll stick in one I took back by Lake Erie of a boat that was exactly like the one I owned from 1986 to 88.
I eventually caught several people, even riding with AJ while he told me two jokes (he loves to tell jokes -- long, drawn-out ones). I even "saved" Berkeley Bill: I was climbing a hill and saw the ABB van coming behind me. Just before it reached me, I crossed a street and noticed a rider going up that street to the right instead of straight. I flagged down the van and they headed up after the rider. I learned later it indeed was one of ours, and he had gone the wrong way and was almost out of sight. It also was another case of my always looking at all possible scenery in all directions, instead of just watching the road or wheel in front of me. This is why I've seen so much of America along our tour.
Here's one more picture from the bike museum. We all got to take turns riding on top of the "ordinary", high up on that tall front wheel. Here's Pam trying it.
When I got in, I joined the many riders cleaning their bikes, which is necessary after it rains. We use a hose, rags, and brushes for the gears.
And we need to clean and dry our outer clothing, and eat, and go to Rap, and get everything out for tomorrow, and check e-mails, and write our blogs, and...
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