Cyclists from near and far on trip along Erie Canal
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Jeremy Schall and Tracy Magallen of Miami are participating in the Cycle the Erie Canal ride which started Sunday in Buffalo. He rides, while she follows in the car with their 8-month-old son Sabastian and camps with Schall at night.
Craig and Meg LeBeau of Spencerport finish their breakfast at Wise Middle School, Medina, before hopping on their bikes for the next leg of Cycle the Erie Canal. They will pass through their home town today, en route to Pittsford to spend tonight.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent
MEDINA – What was dubbed “Tent City” on Sunday was pretty much all cleaned up by 8 a.m. this morning, as the 650 cyclists and 90 volunteers began the second day of the Cycle the Erie Canal tour.
After a night camped out on the grounds of Medina’s Wise Middle School and Medina High School, the bikers headed for Pittsford, where they will spend tonight, after making brief stops in Albion and Holley.
The cyclists range in ages from 6 to 82.
Jeremy Schall and Tracy Magallen of Miami were participating in the ride with their 8-month-old son Sebastian.
Schall is riding, while Magallen follows in the car with Sebastian, joining him on the campgrounds each night.
“She’s road-tripping and meeting us to camp,” Schall said.
They said Sebastian slept well in the tent Sunday night. The family has relatives in Pittsford and Albany, which played a role in their decision to make the trip.
“I’m into cycling and had gotten a flyer on this trip,” Schall said. “We pieced it all together and said, ‘We can do this.’”
It turned out to be very doable, he said. He shipped his bike and they flew up and rented a car.
The trip was also memorable for Craig and Meg LeBeau of Spencerport, who did the ride last year in memory of her sister who had done the ride, but since passed away.
Butterflies have a special meaning for the family, and Meg said Sunday she was taken aback when a Monarch butterfly followed her for a mile.
“That was real special,” she said.
The LeBeaus were enjoying breakfast this morning, catered by Zambistro. Sunday night’s menu was meatloaf, which they said was awesome.
They are looking forward to the trip today, which will take them through their home town. They live only a stone’s throw from the canal, they said.
