Day 24; 08/17/16: Sodus Point to Oswego

On the road between Sodus Point and Oswego

Since we had a relatively short day (40ish miles) and the breakfast at Silver Waters bed and breakfast was exceptional, we did not get on the road until almost 9:30. We were not concerned since we were heading to a Motor Lodge Inn and the temperature was predicted to be in the 70's all day.

We looked up the route on Google Maps and Ride with GPS, so we had a plan and knew what to expect...more or less. John figured out that we would climb about 2000ft.  2000ft is nothing to sneeze at, and a lot more than we have done on this trip so far, but we've done more in the past so we were not overly concerned.

We could have ridden on NY hwy104 all day where it would probably be flatter, but it is a very busy road and we would have to contend with constant 50mph traffic. Yuck. We chose the hillier, but less traveled back roads. And hilly it was! In fact, there was very little flat ground to be found. Many of the hills were close together, allowing momentum from one hill to help us up the next. On one decent we hit 43mph, which is pretty fast on a bike. Of course going down hill that fast requires one to climb a loooong hill which is tiring to say the least. By the end of the day we were exhausted, ready for a shower and an early sleep. (oh, and beer!)


The Silver Waters bed and breakfast was a real find. Jim and Mike could not have been nicer. At one time Mike raised miniature dachshunds, and still has four of them living at the B&B. I was able to get my doggy fix and we were treated to a dachshund choral version of Happy Birthday.  I spent a good portion of the evening chatting with Jim, Mike and other guests. We solved all the world's problems, and slept well.  

Silver Waters was built in 1813 and retains its period charm. It's been a private home, an Inn and obviously, now a B&B. During the Civil War it was a safe house for the Underground Railroad. Slaves would follow the Tunnel to Freedom from a hillside several blocks away into Silver Waters' basement. Another tunnel ran under the downtown area to a second house where slaves were put on ships bound for freedom in Canada.

I, of course, wanted to check out the tunnels, but they have been boarded up, something about safety and collapsed areas... killjoys!