Saddle sore

Things I learned on my 3-day, 130-mile bike ride from home to the South Lake access road:

1. If Google Maps describes a section of route as “very steep,” believe it. But when it comes to specific rural roads, Google Maps is sometimes no better than AI in terms of hallucinations. I was directed to at least 3 roads that simply didn't exist.
2. Chamois cream is a long distance bike rider’s best friend. (I need to buy some.)
3. It is difficult to eat a keto diet at America’s gas stations. 
4. RV campground culture is alive and well (night one was spent at Royal Mountain Campground in Johnstown, N.Y.).
5. The Erie Canal is as flat and straight as they could engineer it - Sal the Mule was probably bored a good bit of the time. 
6. The waitress at Brittany’s Diner in Johnstown is lonely and compensates by over-sharing.
7. The chicken riggie wrap with escarole, Parmesan and croutons at Babe’s in Utica needs a marinara sauce or some other condiment to moisten it. 
8. The bicycle is the greatest invention ever made.

Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at the start.

Erie Canal Lock 10. They all look almost exactly like this.

No sign of Sadie. I think she probably parlayed her fame into better opportunities elsewhere.

The best tasting Slim Jim I've ever eaten.

Bikes do not require gasoline.

At the first night's cabin. Carey drove over after work, about an hour by car, to have dinner and stargaze.

Departing on Day 2.

We grow way too much corn in this country. Stop eating cows.

The best meal of the trip -- lunch at Canal Cafe in Little Falls, N.Y. That's a "Rachel" wrap with turkey and slaw and T.I. dressing.

The wrap from Babe's, which is like a local Hooter's, but skimpy shorts instead of tight tops. I went there for the Yankees game, of course.

Almost fell, but worth it.