There are some really good people out there ...

Jul 26 - Green lakes state park NY to Seneca lake NY (via Syracuse): 51 miles

Again, no coffee this morning in camp. This time, we Have Coffee, but now No Fuel. At least we had enough last night to cook some of the trader joes bounty, but only just.

First priority: Find. Coffee.

Visitor center has coffee. 5:45am rise and quick walk around the lakes (which really are green), then to visitor center. 

Not open. Ouch.

Back to camp, pack and maybe by then...

Success. Coffee. And now 10 am.

Plan for today: head into Syracuse about 12 miles, absorb some art and history, then find a spot to camp somewhere about 30 miles beyond.

BTW, it's my birthday today.

The westbound canalside trail ends in the outskirts of Syracuse and doesn't start up again for 40+ miles, so we're using Google   bike directions again, and it doesn't let us down. We've got a bike lane on Gennesse all the way into downtown, where the lane is even painted fluorescent green.  

The IM Pei-designed art museum with masses of open space in the foyer and mucho staff rejects our bikes, so we head over to our other target, the Erie canal museum, which is small and jam packed and there is just one super helpful staff member who made space to lock our bikes and gear away in a closet. $5 suggested donation and lots of exhibits that clarify our canal experienced  thus far and to come.

A quick exploration and snacks in the park with a basketball 'shot clock' replica (claim is that the shot clock  was first used in Syracuse and it saved the NBA) , then time to go. It's getting late, and hot.

Industrial suburbs then ethnic neighborhoods and then highways.

A stop in Weedsport at the very friendly and helpful Ace Hardware who came outside to help confirm that the replacement bolt we needed to reattach a fender currently held on with a tie wrap, would fit heathers bike... yielded fuel and an M5 bolt, then heather grabbed food from across the road (which turned out to be chicken!!!).

Now we could delay no longer, we HAD to commit to where we were staying the night. Next campground: Oak orchards in Seneca lake, just another 20 or so miles, yielding a 50+ mile day. The remainder is a little far given that it's already 3 pm, and it's been a really hot day, but we should be there before dark. Perfect.

So back on rte 31 then 89 through rolling farmland and Amish country. Picturesque fields, red barns, silver silos, plenty of up and down.

Tired and HOT, we arrived at the target campground. Thank goodness they have a spot for us!! Then we get to our assigned site... And are SWARMED.  We are doing the mosquito dance while unloading gear and setting up tent which looks something like...  Swat left swat right. Wave arms around head, face, body. Run around the picnic table. Put in a stake. Repeat.  Pour on burts bees lemongrass oil with no affect. Put on all rain gear - hooray! some relief. Complete the camp prep at a slow simmer in full weather protection in the heat while Heather starts dinner.

The only escape is the shower room, where we can recharge devices and call home.

Attempts to cook the chicken with the bbq briquette kit 'just light the bag and wait 10 minutes and go' looked like we *might* have smoked chicken by the next morning....  We were thankfully rescued from potential chicken cooking failure by friendly neighbors who brought seasoned firewood over, helped to get it lit, and later brought over freshly picked strawberries!

Our tent is not quite mosquito free, but it's all relative. At least it's super quiet...  And sleep is no issue after a long days work. 

Thank you family, friends, and kind strangers for a lovely birthday. 

Farmland after Syracuse  

Cooking chicken thanks to real wood from neighbors  

Syracuse