Lost with Mike
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    • The South >
      • Merchant's Millpond State Park, NC
      • BRP and a visit to Charlotte, NC
      • South Carolina and Back on my GS (2011)
      • Jaw-ja Trip #1 - Visiting my Nephew
      • Jaw-ja Trip #2 - Cousin's Wedding
      • "You rode 1300 miles for BBQ?!?" (2010)
    • Canada (eh) >
      • 2012 - Beards to Canada >
        • Day 1: Arlington, VA > Arlington, VT
        • Day 1-2 (Continued) Back to VA!!!
        • Day 3: Newburyport, NH > Sandy Cove, NS
        • Day 4: Loafing around "The Neck"
        • Day 5: Sandy Cove, NS to Antigonish, NS
        • Day 6: Antigonish, NS to Meat Cove, NS
        • Day 7: Meat Cove, NS to Port Aux Basques, NFL
        • Day 8: Port Aux Basques to Port Saunders
        • Day 9: Port Saunders to Big Brook
        • Day 10: Big Brook, NL to Trans Lab Hwy
        • Day 11: Trans Lab Hwy to Pinware River
        • Day 12: Pinware River, LAB to Norris Point, NL
        • Day 13: Norris Point to Blue Beach
        • Day 14: Blue Beach, NL to Port Aux Basques Ferry
        • Day 15: Sydney, NS to Sandy Cove, NS
        • Day 16: Chillin on the Digby Neck
        • Day 17: Sandy Cove, NS to No. Sandwich, NH
        • Day 18: Sandiwch, NH to Arlington, VA (Home)
      • Algonquin Park 2013 >
        • Day 1: Home to New York
        • Day 2: Chataugay State Forest to Brent, ON
        • Day 3: Brent, ON to Nipissing River Portage at Nadine Lake
        • Day 4: Nipissing River @ Nadine Lake Portage to first island in Red Pine Bay
        • Day 5: Red Pine Bay to Hogan’s Lake
        • Day 6: Hogan’s Lake to Catfish Lake
        • Day 7: Catfish Lake to Cedar Lake to Fredonia, NY
        • Day 8: Fredonia, NY to Brookville, PA
        • Day 9: Brookville, PA to Alexandria, VA
      • Think I'll ride to Montreal this weekend...
      • Ontario on a Whim
    • Maryland >
      • How to Hit a Tree, By ME!
      • Ruckus Stealth Camping in MD
      • Ruck'n around Southern MD
      • White's Ferry and some Maryland Backroads
      • 1000mi right near da' beach (2010)
    • New York >
      • Cornell, Niagara Falls and PA Coal Country (2012)
      • Finger Lakes trip to NY (2011)
      • New York City Trip (2011)
    • Pennsylvania >
      • Early Spring in PA
      • Michaux Camping
      • From a Wedding to "Where-da-fugawi?"
      • Pennsylvania Leaf Peeping (2012)
      • First Big Trip to PA (2010)
    • Virginia >
      • From the Mountains to the Sea in Ol' Virginny'
      • What the Fog? (Northern Neck, VA - 2013)
      • Uncle Bucks Ride to Eat and Snowy SNP
      • Charlottesville Area Ride
      • Serious Helmet Time in VA (2011)
      • Ruck'n Across Virginia (2010)
      • Impromptu Camping with 'DC Rider' (2010)
    • West Virginia >
      • Rella-Vous and Skippii Rescue
      • New River Gorge Ghost Town Exploration (2011)
      • Five States from Laurel Fork (Spring 2013)
      • A Little Dirt, A Little Clouds, A lotta Fun, WV (2012)
      • GS and an NSX? (2012)
      • Seneca Rocks Camping Two-Up (2011)
      • Panniers Only Club at Seneca Rocks, WV (2010)
      • Laurel Fork Fall 2010 on the Honda Ruckus 50cc (2010)
      • Dog Days Rally and Rella's Gift (2010)
      • Pops and Richmonders in WV (2010)
      • Rocket Boys (2010)
      • New River Gorge and Rella's (2010)
    • Cross Country 2009 >
      • Trip Preparation
      • Day 1: (Sept 3, 2010)
      • Day 2: (Sept 4, 2010)
      • Day 3: (Sept 5, 2010)
      • Day 4: (Sept 6, 2010)
      • Day 5: (Sept 7, 2010)
      • Day 6: (Sept 8, 2010)
      • Day 7: (Sept 9, 2010)
      • Day 8: (Sept 10, 2010)
      • Day 9: (Sept 11, 2010)
      • Day 10: (Sept 12, 2010)
      • Day 11: (Sept 13, 2010)
      • Day 12: (Sept 14, 2010)
      • Day 13: (Sept 15, 2010)
      • Day 14: (Sept 16, 2010)
      • Day 15: (Sept 17, 2010)
      • Day 16: (Sept 18, 2010)
      • Day 17: (Sept 19, 2010)
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Cornell, Niagara Falls and PA Coal Country (2012)

10/8/2012

In July I moved to a new house. My housemate has a VStar 650 and recently mentioned riding up to NY for his friend's annual Oktoberfest party in Rochester, NY. Beer? Riding? Fall? YES!

Here he is geared up and stoked to get out on the road on a Friday morning instead of slaving another day at the office. Don't worry about the 5 hours of sleep you got because you were working :eek1:huh
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Cruising down 270
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Shortly after taking 270 we swing up 15 through the MD farm country bordering the Catoctin Mountains. Eventually this puts us out near Harrisburg, PA
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We ride up the East side of the river and spot the Statue of Liberty on an old bridge support in the middle of the river.
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Bridges near Sunbury, PA along the Susquehana
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A sign posted said "Following Distance Two Dots". They should have this all over the place! Great idea.
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Does not apply to the Amish though...
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We took a lunch break in Williamsport, PA at the Bullfrog Brewery (seen in an earlier RR) for a chicken sandwich and a bbw sandwich
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I had the Edgar
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Good thing we parked beside the porta-potty!
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Lycoming Creek Rd beside 15
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We arrived in Ithaca just as it began sprinkling. Our first stop was the old Mechanical Engineering building where he checked in on some of his old professors and fellow grad/doc students. This is the Atrium
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His bike took a nap outside the "Red Barn" - a hangout for all the grad students.
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My bike just soaked in the colors:
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$1 Sarnac!?
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Afterward we hit up a delicious Thai restaurant
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The night finished with us relaxing at the Alpha Gamma Science Co-Op - a 13 man group home just off campus. It had amazing architecture inside and a storied past - once holding 30 men in an open bay upstairs.
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SATURDAY:

The following morning we woke up to the sound of rain on the roof. Time to go riding :huh

We took a turn through campus
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Picked up a side cover he left at the garage and had a friend pick up, then made our way to the Farmer's Market:
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There was Cuban, Cambodian, Japanese and a whole other host of assorted dishes available
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Brussel Sprouts
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Justin's headlight mount had broken loose inside so I took care of the problem...
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WORKING - you can see Ithaca along the lake behind him
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Two Goats Brewery along Seneca Lake.
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Finger Lakes Distillery
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Football is clearly king
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There is good business in shuttling drunk folks around the fingerlakes with all the wineries and breweries. This guy had the coolest rig and was his own mechanic.
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I'll stick to being relatively sober and riding my dirt submarine
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We rode along Lake Shore Dr down by the water. The road was gravel for a bit and Justin complimented himself for not falling over. :thumb
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Seneca Lake
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Most of the small towns in northern NY look like this for the mainstreet
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Sunflowers not saying hello to the sun.
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Windows called...they want their hill back!
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The pumpkin patch was packed. Hayride was full!
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We cruised into the Oktoberfest gathering and everyone waved. His friend's family were wonderful hosts and there were tons of wurst, potato salads, chips, Bier - etc. We partied late into the night :super
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Then I called it a night. I was the only one camping but despire the temps being in the low 40's, I was comfortable and warm all night thanks to my Kelty Lightyear Down bag and a sleeping bag liner
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These were on the dining room table as we played Asshole :huh
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SUNDAY

I woke up , said goodbye to my hosts and roomate and set off for Lake Ontario
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And on toward the lake, I stopped at a crossroad and snapped this shot. Never heard of it :deal
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Lake Ontario
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This bridge appeared on my GPS but after conferring with Google Earth, it was clear this swing bridge was not in operation until later in the winter.
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Cruising along the lake near Rochester
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Hey that's me!
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Unedited. I Swear.
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Apples anyone?
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I took one off the ground. Shoot me.
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I checked out my RoadsideAmerica App which suggested the Shoe Tree in Lydonville, NY
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Some of these have been there a while...
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Moving on to the next destination: The ONLY tunnel under the Erie Canal.
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An old barn.
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I stopped above the Erie Canal just as the locomotive was crossing the bridge. Interesting considering the train was the ultimate downfall of the railroad.
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The old lock on the left and the wider one on the right:
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Approaching Niagara Falls, I came up along the power facilities to the south.
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Don't mind if I do!
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View looking North from the bridge to Canada
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The large hotels dotting the Canadian side of the falls:
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Maid of the Mist
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And the only reason I went to Canada:... TIM HORTONS :clap
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On my return trip across the bridge:
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Waiting in line. Please let me back into my country :D
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This Ice Cream shop was a giant soft serve.
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There must have been 5 helicopters in the air the whole time I was riding around Niagara.
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The fall colors were beautiful on this section of highway
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I spotted this on the Canadian side. Interesting.
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I set my path toward Buffalo and it began to rain.
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Doin' my thang
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The bridge to Canada from Buffalo
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Some big building in Buffalo. Rainy, cold...I couldn't be bothered to go find out what it was.
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Then a stop at Duff's, where I was told I could find a REAL buffalo wild wing. I don't know, wasn't crazy impressed - tasted like a bath of Franks with some butter and garlic. Good but probably not my fav wing.
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After Buffalo I set out for the Allegheney National Forest. It rained the whole way and became colder as the elevation rose.
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A coworker is from Bradford so I figured I'd snap a shot while passing through.
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After Bradford I rode until the edge of the NF and turned onto 150 then some other side forest roads.
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After a few miles I found a small fire ring along a creek. This would do for the night! Time to set up camp.
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It poured rain all evening so I just got in my sleeping bag and fell asleep around 7 or 8.P1040654.JPG

MONDAY:

When I woke up around 7:30, it was in the low 30's, damp but not raining. I really did not want to get out of my warm sleeping bag and put on damp/wet gear but such is life on a bike. Off I go!
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Lots of industry in this part of the state.
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Elk Warning outside the Elk State Forest
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I then stopped in at Rose's Diner for some breakfast. The small establishment with a full parking lot told me this was THE palce within 20 miles for breakfast.
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I was right! $4.95 Special: One Banana Pancake, 2 Eggs, 2 Bacon strips. YES PLEASE!
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Crusing off some mountain descending to warmer temps.
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Just following the GPS set at "Shortest Route, No Highways" puts me on a number of out-there roads.
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Paper Mill
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I stopped at a stop sign and spotted a yardsale out front of this house. In the back I noticed a couple deer strung up and took a snapshot. It was only after I got home that I realized they were sharks, rabbits and kangaroo! :eek1 :huh
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I know what I'm calling my ranch!
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Then more of this the rest of the way home on 70 to 270.
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Stats:
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  • Scoot
  • Paddle
  • Pedal
  • Moto
    • The South >
      • Merchant's Millpond State Park, NC
      • BRP and a visit to Charlotte, NC
      • South Carolina and Back on my GS (2011)
      • Jaw-ja Trip #1 - Visiting my Nephew
      • Jaw-ja Trip #2 - Cousin's Wedding
      • "You rode 1300 miles for BBQ?!?" (2010)
    • Canada (eh) >
      • 2012 - Beards to Canada >
        • Day 1: Arlington, VA > Arlington, VT
        • Day 1-2 (Continued) Back to VA!!!
        • Day 3: Newburyport, NH > Sandy Cove, NS
        • Day 4: Loafing around "The Neck"
        • Day 5: Sandy Cove, NS to Antigonish, NS
        • Day 6: Antigonish, NS to Meat Cove, NS
        • Day 7: Meat Cove, NS to Port Aux Basques, NFL
        • Day 8: Port Aux Basques to Port Saunders
        • Day 9: Port Saunders to Big Brook
        • Day 10: Big Brook, NL to Trans Lab Hwy
        • Day 11: Trans Lab Hwy to Pinware River
        • Day 12: Pinware River, LAB to Norris Point, NL
        • Day 13: Norris Point to Blue Beach
        • Day 14: Blue Beach, NL to Port Aux Basques Ferry
        • Day 15: Sydney, NS to Sandy Cove, NS
        • Day 16: Chillin on the Digby Neck
        • Day 17: Sandy Cove, NS to No. Sandwich, NH
        • Day 18: Sandiwch, NH to Arlington, VA (Home)
      • Algonquin Park 2013 >
        • Day 1: Home to New York
        • Day 2: Chataugay State Forest to Brent, ON
        • Day 3: Brent, ON to Nipissing River Portage at Nadine Lake
        • Day 4: Nipissing River @ Nadine Lake Portage to first island in Red Pine Bay
        • Day 5: Red Pine Bay to Hogan’s Lake
        • Day 6: Hogan’s Lake to Catfish Lake
        • Day 7: Catfish Lake to Cedar Lake to Fredonia, NY
        • Day 8: Fredonia, NY to Brookville, PA
        • Day 9: Brookville, PA to Alexandria, VA
      • Think I'll ride to Montreal this weekend...
      • Ontario on a Whim
    • Maryland >
      • How to Hit a Tree, By ME!
      • Ruckus Stealth Camping in MD
      • Ruck'n around Southern MD
      • White's Ferry and some Maryland Backroads
      • 1000mi right near da' beach (2010)
    • New York >
      • Cornell, Niagara Falls and PA Coal Country (2012)
      • Finger Lakes trip to NY (2011)
      • New York City Trip (2011)
    • Pennsylvania >
      • Early Spring in PA
      • Michaux Camping
      • From a Wedding to "Where-da-fugawi?"
      • Pennsylvania Leaf Peeping (2012)
      • First Big Trip to PA (2010)
    • Virginia >
      • From the Mountains to the Sea in Ol' Virginny'
      • What the Fog? (Northern Neck, VA - 2013)
      • Uncle Bucks Ride to Eat and Snowy SNP
      • Charlottesville Area Ride
      • Serious Helmet Time in VA (2011)
      • Ruck'n Across Virginia (2010)
      • Impromptu Camping with 'DC Rider' (2010)
    • West Virginia >
      • Rella-Vous and Skippii Rescue
      • New River Gorge Ghost Town Exploration (2011)
      • Five States from Laurel Fork (Spring 2013)
      • A Little Dirt, A Little Clouds, A lotta Fun, WV (2012)
      • GS and an NSX? (2012)
      • Seneca Rocks Camping Two-Up (2011)
      • Panniers Only Club at Seneca Rocks, WV (2010)
      • Laurel Fork Fall 2010 on the Honda Ruckus 50cc (2010)
      • Dog Days Rally and Rella's Gift (2010)
      • Pops and Richmonders in WV (2010)
      • Rocket Boys (2010)
      • New River Gorge and Rella's (2010)
    • Cross Country 2009 >
      • Trip Preparation
      • Day 1: (Sept 3, 2010)
      • Day 2: (Sept 4, 2010)
      • Day 3: (Sept 5, 2010)
      • Day 4: (Sept 6, 2010)
      • Day 5: (Sept 7, 2010)
      • Day 6: (Sept 8, 2010)
      • Day 7: (Sept 9, 2010)
      • Day 8: (Sept 10, 2010)
      • Day 9: (Sept 11, 2010)
      • Day 10: (Sept 12, 2010)
      • Day 11: (Sept 13, 2010)
      • Day 12: (Sept 14, 2010)
      • Day 13: (Sept 15, 2010)
      • Day 14: (Sept 16, 2010)
      • Day 15: (Sept 17, 2010)
      • Day 16: (Sept 18, 2010)
      • Day 17: (Sept 19, 2010)
  • Photos
  • Articles