Right up to until I got home around 2:30pm on Saturday ( 30 minutes after tentative departure time) I was putting together offers and counteroffers. When I did finally arrive home not a single thing was packed.
Having packed for numerous other week long cycling adventures, I was packed and everything in the car in less than 1 hour. Robyn and Riley where there to shuttle me to Niagara Falls. We arrived a little before 5pm, and somehow beat the buses from Saratoga in. My favorite spot. atop the knoll. was still available, so I hoofed everything up and set up the first nights camp, with great help from Riley.It is always comical to watch the buses arrive and everyone try to stake out their domain. It goes from sparsely populated to what looks like an invasion of ants at a picnic. What makes this grand entrance enjoyable is to renew old acquaintances from past years,The likes of Poughkeepsie (Steve) with his son, riders I had seen at GFLBT, and meet new riders for this year. Just behind me were two jolly campers wrestling with a brand new out-of-the-box tent on their very first week long cycling adventure. Little did they know what was in store fore them, So I offered a little guidance. After a few good laughs and a couple of quick pointers these two ladies had erected Home Sweet Home. I won't even bring up the fact that these two conniving women bribed me with oatmeal raisin cookies !!!!! Imagine that, bribe me with cookies!!!! To think that by Monday night to Janet and Diane,
would be able to assemble this tent in less than 2 minutes . Little did any of us realize at the time, this would be the start of one hilarious adventure .... exactly what FANY is all about.Another happy camper (FANY newbie) camping along side Diana & Janet is Amy. She has been on a shorter cycling trip earlier in the year and had her camp all set. In conversations Amy mentioned some knee discomfort which sounded like a poor bike fit. The last thing one wants is 500 miles in pain. After observing her bike fit I made a few adjustments that seemed to work well for her. We had decided to visit the falls in the morning, then head out to Brockport. This way we could stretch a 90 mile ride into century on the first day.
Sunday morning arrives, dry and tailwinds in the forecast...... a grand departure from last years watery ride. There are 6 of us that went to the Falls, Bob, Karl, Janet, Diana Amy and myself.
I don't think any of the girls have seen the Falls before, so it was impressive to them. The American Falls did not have the misting problem that has beset the Canadian Falls the past few years. After a photo op, it was off to a little dinner Tom Gange turned me on to last year for Breakfast in Lewiston NY. Nothing like a huge fating carb loading breakfast of Pancakes smoothed in syrup to start off the ride.Now I've always been terrible at remembering names, tho I hardly ever forget a face or details about someone. Why would this day be any different. Some how many of us achieve nicknames, not by choice , yet by a funny happenstance. I couldn't remember Diana's name to save my life, so she tried to come up with a little word association for me....
She said it's Diana...like the Princess Diana ..... Well that made it real easy for me...she is now and forever will be known as "Princess".Well let me tell you Janet and Princess are both good strong riders. They both compete in Triathlons. My hats off to them. Me.... I swim like a brick, and do not run at all, yet these two relish the challenge. I have volunteered to assist them by being there cheering squad. It's dark and dirty, but some has to spectate these events...so I will accept that dastardly deed!
What a difference a year makes. With nice gentle tailwinds, we meandered along the first 30 miles with no effort at all. With 6 people of various riding levels we were able to find a pace that seemed comfortable for all.
Everyone was able to chat and learn about each other. This was also the beginning of some great light hearten ribbing. No one was excluded, and everyone was involved.One of this years FANY goals was to ride at a more relaxed pace, sight see more, mingle with other riders. Last year with all the rain, the objective was to ride hard each day so I get to camp ASAP, and brace for the elements. With Sunny skies...lets enjoy. As we leave the Falls, its a pleasant ride along the river. To our right are large homes and mansions, to our left is Canada(eh)for tomorrows ride.
We stopped in Olcott, NY, were you could see Toronto across the lake .There also is a unique boardwalk of little shoppe's, and a park with amusement rides. After we left Olcott, Bob and Amy were slowing a bit, with Princess and Janet still feeling frisky, they move on with Karl in tow.Our next stop is Golden State Park, where a lighthouse was built back in the 1830's. Also called 30 mile point (for it's distance from the mouth of the Niagara). This is about 1/2 way for the day.
The State gives tours here, so we took one. You can rent this by the night or week if your looking for a quaint B&B.Now it is time to turn south and start what will be the 6 1/2 days of climbing...YIPPIEEEEE....
As we make our turn there are 2 young ladies offering up some Lemonade. They have been doing this for a few years now. Sure won't find a nicer sag stop for the day. We start to pass through some quaint little towns , like Lyndonville and Medina. 
This area offers many cobblestone houses. These are built with the small fist sized stones that grow so plentiful here in the fields. Medina is a canal town. Sits along the banks of the Erie Canal. Lunch is at a neat pizza shoppe right on the main four corners. These are huge slices and we are famished.As we ride parallel to the canal for the rest of the day. Passing through a couple of more canal towns, Albion and Holley. In Albion I stop for a natural, and let Bob and Amy go ahead Figuring that I can stretch it out to chase them down. Well I come flying through the four corners of Albion, and do not see them off to my right( they made one of many bonus turns we all will make in the next 7 days). I keep going about 3 miles then realize they must have stopped, otherwise I would have caught them by now. Being less than 15 miles from the end, I decide to keep hammering to Brockport. Sure did feel good to stretch it out. Arriving in Brockport I still need 5 miles to complete a century, so I circle around the college, and parts of the village before ending at the Exempts,
A fireman's club that will be our home for the night. Real tough digs here, there is an American Legion next door that invites us in for some much need recovery drink(HOPS). With camp set up and a full belly from dinner and the legion, it is time to nod out and rest up for tomorrows ride.First Days Ride
From: Niagara Falls To Brockport
Miles: 100.49
Ascent: 1932 Ft
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