I decided to deviate from the Yellowstone Trail, and take a ride on the Erie Canal.  Talking to Coach and Sharon last night, they piqued my interest in it.  Also, Daniel MacKay who is following my trip from Albany, and rode the Erie Canal with his family this summer, recommended the section from Syracuse to Canastota.

            Hwy 92 took me out of Syracuse to Lyndon Road where I picked up the Erie Canal State Park.  The tow path is a nice firm base, level, and easy to ride on.  It is relaxing not having to worry about traffic, and did I mention it is level.  It is hard to believe that all day yesterday, I rode 90 miles on hills, and this morning I rode on hills getting out of Syracuse; yet here they found level terrain to build the canal.  I stopped and took a tour of the boat yards museum at Chittenango.  Along the trail two spotted fawns jumped up in front of me and ran down the trail.  I had to slow down to keep from running over them before they ran off to the side.

            At Canastota, I got off the canal and rode back to Hwy 5 to Sherrill and on to Utica.  The road is still rolling, but not as steep as yesterday’s hills.  I am feeling slow, sluggish and tired; probably from the 90 miles of hills yesterday.  After Utica, Hwy 5 leveled out as it follows the Mohawk River downstream. I rode through Ilion and Herkimer and stopped at Little Falls for the night.  I got in late, managing to cover 76 miles today.

            Following are the words from the Song “The Erie Canal”.  They make more sense to me now.

I’ve got a mule,
Her name is Sal,
Fifteen years on the Erie Canal.
She’s a good old worker
And a good old pal,
Fifteen years on the Erie Canal.
We’ve hauled some barges in our day
Filled with lumber, coal and hay
And ev’ry inch of the way I know
From Albany to Buffalo.

Low Bridge, ev’rybody down,
For it’s Low Bridge,
We’re coming to a town!
You can always tell your neighbor,
You can always tell your pal,
If you’ve ever navigated
On the Erie Canal.

We better get along
On our way, old gal,
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
Cause you bet your life
I’d never part with Sal,
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
Git up there, mule, here comes a lock,
We’ll make Rome ‘bout six o’clock.
One more trip and back we’ll go
Right back home to Buffalo.