Day 44 Niagara Falls NY to Rochester NY

Day 44
Niagara Falls NY to Rochester NY
Miles Ridden 102.8
Climbing 1691 Ft.
Total Miles Ridden 3152.5
Miles To Go 439.3

Our 103 mile ride started  with a five mile trip up Main Street, Niagara Falls where everybody got a look at the desolation that has hit the town. After that, the road took us past Niagara University, the big power plant , the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge and into the picturesque town of Lewiston.  We were on a new route that took us  all the way  up the Niagara River to Lake Ontario and then made a hard right to follow the lake shore east. Lots of expensive riverside houses with beautiful landscaping which contrasted with the decay of the city of Niagara Falls.

Lighthouse on Lake Ontario near Youngstown

Once we got to Lake Ontario, the land opened up to mainly fruit farming. That seems to work well right along the lake shore. While it was mostly apples, cherries and pears there were a number of new looking vineyards and wineries. Starting a winery seems almost as popular an investment as opening a brewery. We had several SAG stops along the lake at beautiful state parks that were deserted on a sunny and warm summer day.

Riding through the farmland

The road along the lake was mostly flat and the winds were no worse than crossing so we made good time. We ended up lowering our best hundred mile time to six hours flat.

Lots of decaying structures along the Erie Canal 

Eventually the roads took us south into Rochester and then onto paved trails that paralleled the Erie Canal and took us through the city. We got off to stop at Perri's Pizza, home of the huge slice. I didn't think that any single slice of pizza would be enough to get me through a hundred mile ride so I ordered two before I saw them.  Big mistake to buy two and a worse mistake to eat two. I couldn't eat dinner later and slept poorly trying to digest about five pounds of pizza

Hugh with his Huge slice

On to Syracuse tomorrow.