finding my way along the trail lead to numerous dead ends.

    From the onset, confusion reined.   I would find the canal path only to have it abruptly end.  The signs are no existent when needed.  Route 31 served as the trail off and on all day.  What appeared to be a trail ended in a dead end.  GPS, a paper map and a compass did little to sort out the route. Decrepit bridges were closed to cars but allowed bikes, not a good feeling riding over them. Very poor arrangement. A mid morning break at Muddy waters in Palmyra was a welcome relief.  The  owners helped route me for the next ten miles of trail before another dead end. Time and time again until after forty-four miles I ran into a couple my age who had local knowledge and were going my way.  Canal trails are under construction and won’t be completed until 2021; in the meanwhile route 31 is the trail.  Glenn and Joan Wallis knew the back road routes which followed the abandoned original canal which was overgrown.  Joan had the history of the area down pat so the ride was very nice enjoyable with the exception of a few too many hills  After leaving them I stopped for a much needed refueling, an anchovy and broccoli pizza and two gator aids.  The last few miles tried my patience. Trying to find the Riverforest campground a few miles ride east to Weedsport was an exercise in frustration.  At least six miles of going the wrong direction had me wanting to sign a contract on the google gps programmers.
Once at the campsite, I set up my tent and had a warm shower.  Two IPAs at the campground bar didn’t hurt either.  Another sixty-eight plus miles day was a bit much so I may keep it under fifty tomorrow.