FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 05, 2007
CYCLING THE ERIE CANAL BIKE TOUR GEARS UP FOR JULY 8TH
START
Nearly 500 Cyclists Registered for 400-Mile Trip from Buffalo to Albany
The New York State Canal Corporation and Parks & Trails NY today announced the beginning of the Ninth Annual Cycling the Erie Canal, a 400-mile bicycling tour from Buffalo to Albany scheduled for July 8-15, 2007.
The eight-day recreational bicycling tour will help highlight the beauty, history, culture and recreational appeal of the Canal System and the Canalway Trail, a prime tourism destination in New York State.
Nearly 500 cyclists, ranging in age from two-years-old to 79-years-old, from over 30 states, are participating in this years event.
Carmella R. Mantello, Director of the Canal Corporation said, The Canalway Trail provides numerous recreational opportunities and is a tremendous resource in New York State. Each year, the Cycling the Erie Canal continues to grow as cyclists from all over the country participate to experience firsthand the unparalleled history and beauty of the New York State Canal System and Canalway Trail. The Canal Corporation is pleased to once again partner with Parks & Trails NY to sponsor the Ninth Annual Cycling the Erie Canal bike tour.
Robin Dropkin, Executive Director of Parks & Trails New York, said, Cyclists rave about the Canalway Trail. It's an incredible resource for locals and tourists alike. Exploring the Erie Canal corridor from the seat of a bicycle is one of the best ways to get to know this extraordinary region. Cyclists from all over the country and the world are amazed at the scenic beauty and wealth of history available here.
The New York State Canal Corporation is sponsoring the event for the ninth consecutive year. Roughly two-thirds of the 400-mile bicycle tour is on the completed portion of the Canalway Trail. With more than 250 miles of trail along the Erie Canal already completed and plans underway to complete Trail sections on the other three branches of the New York State Canal System, the Canalway Trail will one day provide an uninterrupted 524-mile recreational trail that will be the longest multi-use trail in the United States.
When complete, the Erie Canalway Trail will be 348 miles in length connecting the Hudson River to Lake Erie.
During the bike trek, Cycling the Erie Canal participants will have the opportunity to participate in guided tours of the Canal, historic sites, and museums, such as the Erie Canal Village, Fort Stanwix National Monument, and Old Erie Canal State Park.
The complete schedule for the 2007 Cycling the Erie Canal Tour is as follows (Arrival/departure times are approximate and are subject to change without notice):
Overnight: Medina Middle School, Gwinn St., Medina
5:30am 7:30am Breakfast at Nichols School
6:30am 7:30am Registration at Nichols School
7:45am Brief kickoff ceremony
8:00 am Start of ride
8:30am 12:00pm Morning Rest Stop, Amherst Erie Canal Museum
10:30am and 12:30pm Lockport Boat Tours
12:00pm 5:00pm Afternoon Rest Stop Middleport, Municipal Park
1:00pm 6:00pm Swimming in Medina Middle School Pool
4:00pm 7:00pm Computer Lab available
5:00pm 7:00pm Dinner at Medina Middle School
7:00pm 8:00pm Talk on canal history Tom Grasso, President, NYS Canal Society
7:00pm 9:00pm Music at campsite
Overnight: Nazareth College 4245 East Ave., Pittsford
6:00am 8:00am Breakfast at Medina Middle School
8:00am 12:00pm Morning Rest Stop, Holly Canal Park
12:00pm 5:00pm Afternoon Rest Stop, Rochester Genesee Valley Park swimming available
1:00pm 2:00pm/2:00pm 3:00 pm Escorted bike rides to High Falls in downtown Rochester
2:00pm 9:00pm Shuttle service to dorms and Schoen Place, Pittsford
5:00pm 7:00pm Dinner at Nazareth College in Pittsford
7:00pm 7:30pm Talk by Judy Ertel from the Susan B. Anthony House Museum at Nazareth College (tentative)
7:30pm-9:00pm Music at the campsite Fred Vine Folk Music
8:00pm 9:00pm Swimming at Nazareth College (tentative)
Overnight: Mynderse Academy, Seneca Falls
6:00am 8:00am Breakfast at Nazareth College with representative from the Mormon Church and Palmyra Mayor Vicky Daley
8:00am 12:00pm Morning Rest Stop Palmyra Village Park
12:00pm 5:00pm Afternoon Rest stop Clyde Village Park - Town of Galan Historic Society open
3:00pm 9:30pm Shuttle bus taking cyclists to Seneca Falls museums and dinner in Seneca Falls. Museums in Seneca Falls open late.
4:30pm 6:30pm - Wine & cheese reception at Peoples Park, Seneca Falls
5:00pm 7:30pm Bike repair by Geneva Bicycle Center at campsite
7:00pm 8:00pm Community Band Concert and Ice Cream Social Peoples Park, Seneca Falls
Overnight: Burnet Park, Syracuse
6:00am 8:00am Breakfast at Mynderse Academy
8:00am 12:00pm Morning Rest Stop, Port Byron Middle School
12:00pm 5:00pm - Afternoon Rest Stop, Camillus, Sims Erie Canal Store/Museum
3:00-3:45pm Reception Burnet Park Hockey Rink, Syracuse, refreshments courtesy of Panera Bread drawing for Terry Cycling saddles and repair kit must be present to win
1:30pm 9:00pm Shuttle Service to Erie Canal Museum (until 7:00) and Armory Square
5:00pm 7:00pm Dinner at Burnet Park Hockey Rink.
7:30pm 9:00pm Music by Chris Farrar & Mike Doyle at Hockey Rink
Overnight: Fort Stanwix National Monument - James St, Rome
6:00am 8:00am Breakfast at Burnet Park
8:00am 12:00pm Morning Rest Stop, Chittenango, Chittenango Landing Boat Museum
12:00pm 5:00pm - Afternoon Rest Stop, Verona Town Hall
Throughout the afternoon Rome Erie Canal Village available, YMCA available for swimming, Ft. Stanwix tours until 8:00pm
7:00pm 9:00pm Entertainment at Fort Stanwix
5:00pm 9:00pm Dinner Shuttle to Area Restaurants
Overnight: Canajoharie High School, 136 Scholastic Way, Canajoharie
6:00am 8:00am Breakfast at Rome YMCA
8:00am 12:00pm Morning Rest Stop, Town of Schuyler Town Hall
Throughout the Day - Tours of Genesee Brewery available
12:00pm 5:00pm Afternoon Rest Stop, Little Falls, Benton School
3:00pm 9:00pm Shuttle bus to downtown Canajoharie
4:00pm 6:00pm Swimming at the Canajoharie Middle School (tentative)
5:00pm 7:00pm Dinner at Canajoharie H.S.
7:00pm 9:00pm Music George Ward, Erie Canal Music & more
Overnight: Collins Park, Mohawk Ave./Schonowee Ave., Scotia,
6:00am 8:00am Breakfast, Canajoharie High School
8:00am 12:00pm Morning Rest Stop, Fultonville Town Hall
12:00pm 5:00pm - Afternoon Rest Stop, Mabee Farm Historic Site
Until 8:00pm Swimming available at the park
12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 - Walking Tours of historic Stockade Area
4:30pm 5:30pm Reception at Collins Park
5:00pm 7:00pm Dinner at Collins Park
7:00 pm 8:00pm Program & Celebration
8:00pm 9:00 Music at Freedom Park area at Collins Park
6:00am 8:00am Breakfast at Collins Park
8:00am 11:00noon Morning Rest Stop Peebles Island State Park
10:30am afternoon Riders finishing at Corning Preserve, Albany
The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the
Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles
across New York State, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake
Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history
and culture.
Some Cycling the Erie Canal events are open to the public. For more information on Cycling the Erie Canal, contact Parks & Trails NY at 518-434-1583 or visit www.ptny.org For more information regarding events, recreation and vacation opportunities along the New York State Canal System, please visit www.nyscanals.gov or call 1-800-4CANAL4.
The New York State Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation offers a free email service called TRANSalert to its customers via email or text messaging to inform them of major incidents and emergencies that may affect travel on the Thruway or navigation on the Canal System. To sign up for the Canal TRANSalert service, customers can visit the Corporation's website at www.nyscanals.gov/tas/. To sign-up for Thruway TRANSalerts please visit the Authority's website at www.nysthruway.gov/tas/.