Empire East - July 2026

Today Serge and I headed east on the Empire State Trail for another training ride ahead of CTHV.

We started in Newark and followed the Erie Canalway Trail to Clyde and back—a 30-mile round trip. It was a hot, bright summer day, but much of the trail carried us through cool, shaded woods.

Lyon’s Lock

Along the way, we passed canal locks, old workboats and murals honoring the people who built their lives and livelihoods along the Erie and Barge canals.

Tug boat under repair

Clyde made a good turnaround point. We stopped for lunch before getting back on the trail for the ride home.

Thirty miles isn’t a huge ride for us, but that wasn’t the point. This was a training day: more time in the saddle, more miles in Serge’s legs and another chance to make sure everything is working before the much bigger ride ahead.

Sometimes an adventure it is the ride that gets you ready for what comes next.