Victor, New York to Utica, New York 58 miles and 1264 feet of climbing

Both of the times that I've done a trip like this, I've taken each day's ride as it comes. I don't look ahead to the next day or the day after that. Each night I take the cue sheet out of the blue folder we were given in Los Angeles, glance at the total mileage, and then fold it neatly and place it in the little top tube pack I have mounted on my bike. 

That is not the way many other riders approach things. At breakfast and dinner, there is always much discussion of the upcoming days ahead with long mileages, lots of climbing, nasty headwinds, or perhaps the possibility of rain. I can understand having your rain gear ready for when the skies open up, but all the other chatter concerns me very little. The fact is, you must ride the road that is in front of you, whatever it brings. I understand it is good to know a certain climb is five miles long and not one mile long when you need to pace yourself to achieve a certain overall time. But that is not me. I am at an age where I know the pace at which I must ride to complete the miles, regardless of the wind, rain, or the amount of climbing. I've never been fast, and I've never been a good climber, ever. But I love riding my bike, and I've had some success when riding long miles despite my limitations. In a way, not being a gifted cyclist is an advantage, I suppose. I know how I need to ride to complete the miles, and I don't stress about the fact that I'm not as fast as I once was, mainly because I was never fast or particularly strong. I know many riders that do stress about that stuff. Don't get me wrong, I am envious of the strong, gifted riders I see on this tour and at home when I ride up Mt. Diablo, but I know that no matter how hard I train, I'll never be in that league. 

I bring all this up because tomorrow, we will ride 102 miles to Troy, New York. We have had many 100+ mile days on this ride. If anything, everyone should be in better shape than when we started 6 weeks ago. Perhaps the chatter is just a sign of mental fatigue. Everyone is ready for this to be over. And what else can you talk about with the same people you have been eating meals with now for 6 weeks?

Today's relatively short ride was a pleasant 58 miles. More farms, nice homes, large wooded areas, and glimpses of what is left of the Erie Canal. Everyone seemed to take it easy a bit today, knowing that we are close to the end of this journey and three harder days are ahead. Even one of the fastest riders in our group mentioned to me that he has decided to pull back a bit from trying to go so hard for fear that he might crash on these unfamiliar roads and not accomplish his lifelong dream. The realization that one false move could end someone's ride in a second has started to sink in as we approach the last three real riding days. 

When I looked at the cue sheet for today, I noticed that we were riding to Utica, New York. That rang a bell in my head. As I thought about it, I remembered that when I was about 25 years old, I played at the Ramada Inn in Utica with the Peter Villano Band. It was either that band or the Richie Sachs Band; I'm not entirely sure. Both bands were managed and booked by an agency in Bridgeport, Connecticut. I seem to remember that I played the Ramada Inn more than once. I was playing the drums in those bands and singing a few background vocals.

More music stories tomorrow when we arrive in Troy, New York, which is very close to Schenectady, New York. I played there for a week back when I was in my twenties as well. 

A short teaser: "I watched from the stage as the maitre d', Guido, a very large man dressed in a tuxedo, showed my parents to their table. Guido could have been Luca Brasi's twin brother. 

I remember thinking, 

"Oh God, what is my father thinking now."