Hamburg to Clarence, NY

30 miles. A wonderful day, for reasons having nothing to do with the ride - which was intentionally short to allow us time to do some sightseeing. I took lots of pictures and will try to get them all uploaded tomorrow.

In the morning we stopped at the Pedaling History Museum in Orchard Park, which is supposed to be the largest collection of antique bicycles and related memorabilia in the world. The museum is normally closed during the week, but once we explained our circumstances the owner agreed to open up for just the two of us. The variety and condition of the bikes are remarkable and the exhibits are very well presented. I was struck by how innovative the 19th century engineers were, for they came up with so many different styles and designs of bikes and drive mechanisms - high wheelers of course, but also adult tricycles of various kinds (including one that required the cyclist to balance himself/herself front to back), "safety" bikes for women which required the cyclist to sit sidesaddle, bikes steered by the rider's feet, etc. The drive mechanisms included push-pull levers, direct drive as well as chain drive. There were even a whole series of bikes designed for warfare (as you will see in the pictures, these look pretty funny), including folding bikes designed to accompany paratroopers on their jumps into enemy territory. If you like bikes or you just like seeing the results of efforts of people attempting to build a better mouse trap, you will really like this place.

As we finished our tour of the museum, we met Art - a local area resident who is the brother of a very good friend of ours. Art also is a cyclist and rode with us to his home, where he and his wife Nancy invited us to spend the night tonight. They are wonderful people and gracious hosts. They also offered us their nearly new car for the afternoon so that we could drive to Niagara Falls, about 28 miles away. We did that and drove to the falls in a steady rain. As we arrived, the rain stopped. We brought tickets for the Maid of the Mist boat ride to the falls and as we approached the sun came out. It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen - the water hurtling off the cliff and pounding into fine spray below, the cries of thousands of sea gulls feeding and the tremendous roar of the tons of falling water hitting other water hundreds of feet below. (Bear in mind that only 25% of the Niagara River's volume goes over the falls at this point. The other 75% is routed around the falls to generate electricity. It is hard to imagine how powerful the falls must have looked in its 'virgin' state, before diversion.) If you come to the Buffalo area, this should be at the top of your "bucket list".