Tuesday 24 May 2011

Crossfire...Day 30...Batavia to Liverpool...Mon 23/05/11

This was a bit of a drudge today, with annoying crosswinds to contend with although it was warming nicely, temperature-wise. So far, so meh...until about 20 miles in when I see up ahead what looks like one of our riders (Ed, from Nevada) scurrying around in the middle of the road picking stuff up. Bit odd.

As I get nearer one of our vans appears and then I see Little Chris (San Diego via Mississippi) sitting on the opposite side of the road in a ditch, and bleeding from the head and face. Also around were the occupants of a SUV that had just pulled-out from a side road and broadsided the Wee Man. The driver said that she just never saw him. I suppose that's how easy it is and it really could have been any one of us.

Ed had already rung the emergency services and it turns out that Chris had a really lucky escape: nothing broken, except his bike helmet and bike and he was kept in hospital prior to completing MRI and CAT scans. We don't know if he'll be joining us tomorrow but when he was at the hospital he had already ordered himself a new bike with the intention of collecting it at Syracuse this evening! Determined, or what?

So back to the nonsense: we are slowly working our way up to this size of helping...


We steamed through bad, bad Leroy Brown regardless...


War Of the Worlds? No, a water tower actually...


Almost J. Geils's finest...


Reminded me of the opening titles: "Flay Otters"...or how about "Flowery Twats"?


Another fine looking motor for sale...


Not exactly how I remember it...



Following little and large: Manny and Daryl. So alike in so many, manny ways...


Fantastic: one mile from the lunch stop in Seneca Falls (great name) I get a flat rear tyre. Sod it, I'll just ride it which you shouldn't do of course. A great example of our "no-one wins unless we all win" spirit is displayed when Sir Clive takes it upon himself to change the tube for me so that I can get on with lunch. Much appreciated!


Move along, there's nothing to see here...


Considering a rear tyre upgrade...nothing is gonna puncture this!


About 30 miles after lunch I happen across Team Française des Jeux, namely Sir Clive and Lee who were wearing identical team jerseys and busy changing yet another inner tube. Saddos, hah-hah!


Your actual Erie Canal:

I've got a mule and her name is Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
She's a good old worker and a good old pal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal

We haul'd some barges in our day
Filled with lumber, coal, and hay
We know every inch of the way
From Albany to Buffalo

Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge, yeah we're coming to a town
And you'll always know your neighbor
And you'll always know your pal
If ya ever navigated on the Erie Canal


If I see a bloke on a tractor ,wearing a hat and threatening the speed limit then I'll know I'm back in Lancashire...


Hello er, Syracuse...rock and roll!


What kind of dope lives here? Say it ain't so, L.A....


On the run-in to Liverpool...

(Courtesy Mike Munk.)


A welcome sight after 120 miles, give-or-take. Just keep your windows wound-up. Actually quite a nice spot, to be fair...


Well, it looks better than Kwik-Fit, doesn't it?



Wasn't aware that the Hewitt dynasty had spread into Liverpool, NY but I can thoroughly recommend their chocolate milkshakes...


What's left of Little Chris's bike. He was lucky, as were we all.


Hoping for no drama tomorrow, thanks all the same. Another 120 miles...


Workmanlike stats...here...here...here!