Day 55. NEW YORK Hamburg
73 miles 1,332 feet
An elegant B&B breakfast was a great start, but despite this it rained all day. As is the recent norm, traffic was light in the early morning but picked up in late morning and was a nuisance much of the day. My route was simple: follow the Lake Erie coastline north and east, leaving it to reach Hamburg, NY so that the ACA route avoids the densest traffic around Buffalo.
The consolation for the rainy day is that it wasn't hot—upper 70s with no sun—and there was no headwind. Part of the route was along 4 lane highway with the incessant car tire noise on wet pavement, sort of a high frequency loud noise. I missed the ACA turnoff and stayed on the busy highway longer than I should, then because of the traffic doublechecked. About 5 miles earlier I should have turned off to a quieter road so I did so at the first opportunity. The difference was dramatic: a quiet, beautiful coastal road with old stone fences and structures. I should have recognized my error earlier.
The coast of Lake Erie has many old grand houses and resorts. In the days before easy travel, I'll bet these were even more popular with New Yorkers. There is even a tall stone monument announcing the county water treatment plant. Monuments like this aren't common in the west.
I checked my route more frequently and made my way to my motel, near I-90 and so less expensive and very basic. I washed my wet clothes, took a shower, and hung everything to dry out. Dinner was at a restaurant serving the cluster of hotels serving I-90 travelers.
Tomorrow: Niagara Falls!
An elegant B&B breakfast was a great start, but despite this it rained all day. As is the recent norm, traffic was light in the early morning but picked up in late morning and was a nuisance much of the day. My route was simple: follow the Lake Erie coastline north and east, leaving it to reach Hamburg, NY so that the ACA route avoids the densest traffic around Buffalo.
The consolation for the rainy day is that it wasn't hot—upper 70s with no sun—and there was no headwind. Part of the route was along 4 lane highway with the incessant car tire noise on wet pavement, sort of a high frequency loud noise. I missed the ACA turnoff and stayed on the busy highway longer than I should, then because of the traffic doublechecked. About 5 miles earlier I should have turned off to a quieter road so I did so at the first opportunity. The difference was dramatic: a quiet, beautiful coastal road with old stone fences and structures. I should have recognized my error earlier.
The coast of Lake Erie has many old grand houses and resorts. In the days before easy travel, I'll bet these were even more popular with New Yorkers. There is even a tall stone monument announcing the county water treatment plant. Monuments like this aren't common in the west.
I checked my route more frequently and made my way to my motel, near I-90 and so less expensive and very basic. I washed my wet clothes, took a shower, and hung everything to dry out. Dinner was at a restaurant serving the cluster of hotels serving I-90 travelers.
Tomorrow: Niagara Falls!
This was just the start of my B&B breakfast. The owner also works at the Post Office.
Typical setting for this trip: Small towns use gas stations for staples, coffee, treats and gas.
I don't remember any sign as elegant of this in Western Washington
Homes and resorts on the Lake Erie coast.
