Today’s ride was significantly shorter than yesterday’s. The remaining distance to downtown Buffalo was only thirty-seven miles. I had until 4pm to get there, so even if I encountered a headwind and challenging riding conditions, I had the time. 

The route for today consisted of a mix of roads and trails, with approximately fifty percent of the distance covered on multi user paths and dedicated cycle ways. Although I hadn’t ridden the trails in this area before, I was aware that they were paved, eliminating the unpleasant surface conditions I had experienced yesterday. Paved trails are a bonus to me, I don’t require them that way. more...

Over the years, through various adventures across different disciplines, I’ve compiled a gear inventory that works for different conditions. Through my obsessive research, waiting for sales, and volunteering with outfitters who offered industry discounts, I’ve been fortunate enough to acquire gear that is lighter and more compact whether I’m stuffing it into a pack, kayak hatch, or pannier. Whether it’s three-season, winter, solo trips, or when the family joins me, I have options for most endeavors. With so many choices, it can be challenging to narrow down the selection. Sometimes there are still compromises based on the weather conditions, or choosing gear for a single overnight trip that I wouldn’t for a week-long adventure, or just being willing to endure a little more discomfort. more...

I had planned to write down some thoughts and reflections of my journey, but it didn’t seem to happen. A combination of the lack of time, motivation, or electrons in my devices. Many books are written with the end in mind and work backwards from there. So I guess this should be okay as well.

So, where should I start? The beginning of this trip, or somewhere between the last one and now? Or even further back?

I wouldn’t have called myself a cyclist back in 2014. Sure, I owned a bike. I’ve had one for most of my life, ever since I learned to ride as a kid. more...

It’s been 11 years since my last post here. Eleven years, since I embarked on a kayaking adventure across my home state of New York, along the Erie Canal. Eleven years since countless other life events have unfolded. One significant change occurred just over a year ago when my family and I moved back to New York State after 25 years living in Oregon.

I apologize to all three of my followers from back then for not continuing this blog. Haha. While the memories from that trip are still vivid in my mind, and there were countless other adventures that could have been shared here, I let this site succumb to a critical error many years ago. more...

I did it! Three hundred and sixty three miles of kayaking across New York State on the Erie Canal.

After nearly three weeks kayaking, I took my last paddle strokes under warm afternoon light as I passed through the five locks of the Waterford section just outside Albany, having the mile and a half stretch all to myself. With previous locks I would call when I was about a quarter mile away, after hearing each operator answer I would respond with “Hello, Lock#, this is Kayaker Chip! I am eastbound and looking to pass through.” Not that I remember them all, but I always was given a name, something to start a conversation with when I made the approach to the gates. more...

Lots of things pertaining to outdoor adventures get ratings. Systems and classes are used to determine the size, technical difficulty and rank activities. Rivers get rated from Class 1, easy going riffles to Class VI, there is a good chance you will die! Mountaineering, ice climbing and rock climbing all use different grading systems. Skiing runs use symbols from green circles to black diamonds. Even “fun” has a rating system. It isn’t restricted to adventure, but since it is possibly the only time you will hear of this rating system, we will stick with that. There are three levels. Type I is general all around fun, it’s fun plan, fun while it is happening and fun to reminisce about later over a beer. more...

Today was the opposite of yesterday. The morning started off idyllic, it continued through most of the day and then the wind and waves picked back up in the later afternoon as I was trying to make it to Verona Beach State Park and setup camp.

When the lake is calm, it is a glass surface as far as the eye can see. Maybe there are slow, spaced undulations, probably the leftovers from boat wake at the far side of the lake. In either case it’s extremely peaceful and the wide open space is a very different setting then the narrower canal or natural rivers that are part of it. more...

Yesterday evening I made it to Lock 23, it was the first of a three “uphill” locks on my eastward journey. It was quite a different experience. I had seen lock operators fill a chamber while standing topside, valves wide open, and it was a slightly scary prospect. Luckily when there is a vessel in the chamber they take it a little slower. Still, there was much more push and pull on Sally. I shot some video but since the GoPro app still isn’t working properly I can’t share.

I stayed overnight at the lock. It was out of the way from any populated place and had a great park like setting, trees, picnic tables and grills. more...

The previous night I camped at Lock 28B. It was a bit of a challenge getting Sally to come with me. Most of the locks have a small floating workman dock, somewhere. It could be before the lock chamber, after it, or up above the concrete wall and out of reach from the water. Before I started this trip I was asked if portaging around the locks would be an option, I think most people assume that they won’t operate for a lonely kayaker.  I want to pass through each of them, but for whatever reason, timing, safety, etc. I wondered too. more...

The tugboat in this shot is the “Dewitt Clinton”, I passed it near the Adam’s Basin Liftbridge. Clinton was Governor and Senator for the state of NY as well as Mayor of NYC. He ran for president in 1812 against James Madison but narrowly lost. He was also responsible for making the Erie Canal project happen nearly 189 years ago.

I made it to that brewpub yesterday. The building was situated adjacent to a lift bridge, the dock suitable for kayaks was a few hundred yards away. Just like the one in Holley it was used by geese and ducks and quite a mess. more...