Day 44 Niagara Falls, NY to Henrietta, NY

Sunday I biked 21.00 miles, today I biked 83 miles. Here it is Tuesday, August 1^st. Summer is going fast! I was not a happy camper on Sunday when I woke up that morning. I was really looking forward to riding into Niagara Falls, Canada and over the bridge to Niagara Falls, New York. But my back was still very touch and go. I tried to ignore the pain and just try to make it in doing the 72 miles. I took some of the meds I had gotten there in Canada and started out about 6:30 AM. The day started out fairly cool and the roads and countryside was lovely during that early Sunday morning. My back was really hurting but I was glad the terrain was mostly gently rolling so I didn’t have to use the glute muscles very much, as you do when climbing big hills. I tried to stay in one position leaning forward. All I could think of was “Just get there and you can REST and get on the phone and call for a masseuse or Chiropractor.” When I had to stop for a little break and got of my bike (mile 20.5) I REALLY couldn’t move in any direction. It was even painful to take a deep breath. Luckily I could see one of the ABB van’s pulled off to the side a ½ mile ahead watching riders as they came up to one of the turns in the road. I knew I could not make it any further. I joined Daun in the van. She was sick too and needed a lift in that day also. I was very disappointed in having to take another day off from riding, but I just had to listen to my body at that point. It took a couple of hours to get into the hotel since the vans stay out and make sure the riders are safe and offering water as needed along the road. It was nice to see the beautiful Falls once again. I’ve been there several times, but each time it is a little thrill to see such a wonder of the world, all that water falling over the cliff. There were a zillion people on the Canadian side milling the streets and parks by the Falls. It took about 40 minutes to inch our way forward over the Rainbow Bridge and through customs checkpoint. One very nice change that ABB made since the 2001 ride was we stayed within a stone’s through of the Rainbow Bridge and all the activities that people wanted to enjoy there at Niagara Falls on the rest day. My Paul arrived within a half hour after I got in. It was so nice to see him. I wasn’t in any condition to do much walking around with my very sore back – so we took it easy and had a good time relaxing and visiting. I got on the computer and through the yellow pages and my map software I looked up places to get a massage and a Chiropractor. Since it was Sunday it was useless to call, but had all the number ready for Monday morning. And with Paul there through most of Monday he could drive me anywhere I needed. Paul brought Peg, from Massillon along. She is riding this last week with the ABB group. It was good to see her. “Team Ohio” made connection and so Chuck, Peg, Paul, and I walked over (on recommendation from the hotel as a place to eat) to the Seneca Casino. It was about 4 blocks away. Quite a glitzy place that casino. There are several places to eat inside the casino and we chose The Three Sisters. Good food. During Route Rap at 5:00 PM that afternoon Peg was introduced and welcomed. A representative of a bus tour company did a short presentation on their offering of a tour (on Monday our rest day) to see all the major sights on the Canadian and American side of the Falls. About 20 people signed up for the 4.5-hour tour that left in the morning at 8:30 AM. I was up early and came down to the lobby and looking at the ABB bulletin board I noticed a sign-up sheet if you wanted to have a massage. Someone had contacted a masseuse and she was willing to come to the hotel from noon to 6:00 PM. I was thrilled to see that, and I didn’t have to go anywhere for that. A whole hour was just $35, a real bargain. But I was really concerned about what all was happening with this back issue and I called a Chiropractor. The receptionist asked it I could come over in half an hour (9:00 AM). Yes! It was less than a mile away. I am so glad I went. He said my pain was largely due to things getting way out of alignment. My pelvis/spine was all out of whack, and caused my left leg to be ¼” shorter than my right. He quickly did some adjustments. He said I would still feel sore most of the day, but feel a lot better by today – with instructions to ICE for 20-minute sessions for the rest of the day and evening and drink tons of water. Later in the afternoon I had a very relaxing massage and stayed close to the ice packs. Lo and behold, it was like a miracle this morning! I could ride and Peg, Chuck and I left early and got in the 83 miles by 12:15 PM. I had a lot of energy, and was SO thankful for the blessing of having my back feeling 100% better. The roads were great today, and just a little rolling in spots. It is 100 degrees here today. After leaving Niagara Falls this morning and about 10 miles into the route I saw a time and temperature sign at a bank. At 7:45 AM it was already 84 degrees! The humidity is unreal. But one thing, when you are on a bike and rolling along the breeze created from moving through the air does help. But Whoh! When you stop the sweat just pours off the skin. I drank 4-25 ounce bottles of water while biking and a bottle of juice at a gas station stop along the way. We are in the area of Henrietta, NY – a town next to Rochester, NY. We are kind of out in the middle of nowhere, not much to see or go to around here. People like to be near a Wal-Mart, Dairy Queen, or big drug store. But not out here. We will be shuttled to the Old Country Buffet for dinner. Our favorite! When rolled in the luggage truck had just arrived and our rooms were not ready, so we pedaled back down the road a little and went to Tim Horton’s for our lunch.

Life is good again – and I thank God for my renewed energy and for a body that is working in harmony once again!
Tomorrow is is on to Liverpool, NY. A bike route of 85 miles.