Over the River XCI
May 27, 2025
Highlights and lowlights from my 91st two-wheeled trek to the Great State of New York:
1. For the first time in a while, I had a bit of a wait at U.S. Customs as there were many Americans returning from spending their Memorial Day weekend in Canada. Why they would come here is left as an exercise for the reader, but in any event, three additional lanes opened upon my arrival, so I got through quickly. And I avoided being “mistreated,” as the wife of a good friend who I saw last week irrationally fears.
2. On account of the Memorial Day holiday, the graphic atop the closed lanes read, “Freedom is not free.”
3. Memorial Day weekend signifies the start of the new season for the Discover Niagara Shuttle, so upon clearing customs, I made for the stop hoping for a free ride north to Lewiston. The shuttle came as scheduled, which in itself is noteworthy, but once again, there was no bike rack on the shuttle and all I got was the Iraqi salute from the driver when I asked if I could take my bike on board.
This hollow boast still remains on their newly updated website.
Clearly, this service is worth exactly what you pay for it. Nothing. For the record, I would be willing to pay a modest fee if it was something I could at least count on, like the NFTA buses I take to and from Buffalo, for instance.
4. Ahead of me going down the escarpment were two older women walking side by side who mumbled, “Could have let us know earlier,” after I rang my bell. Apparently it hadn’t occurred to them to walk single file and not make the many passers-by have to beg to get past them.
5. Though I didn’t take it, there’s a new trail cyclists can take down the escarpment. Continuing ahead takes you near Academy Park, while the new Artpark Shoreline Waterfront Trail takes you to the opposite end of town near Artpark, oddly enough.
6. While I was at the Lewiston Waterfront, a Border Patrol van came down there. I would also spot another such van parked alongside the trail near the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge on my return trip. Perhaps they’re again keeping an eye on this two-wheeled foreign national.
7. I noted this assembly of signs near Hennepin Park. Who wants to do anything in Canada when you can go to the Great State of New York?
8. Isn’t it time to take down those social distancing and mask wearing signs? Then again, they should never have been put up in the first place.
9. While in the Orange Cat in Lewiston, a young girl watching the busy woman behind the counter said, “She cooks, she cleans, she does it all.” Another customer noted, “It feels strange today,” in regard to the Memorial Day holiday.
10. Someone who has problems on the toilet?
11. Seated on a bench at the Fort Gray Overlook was a chunky black woman smoking dope while tending to her yappy poodle. “Teddy, be quiet,” she kept saying as it was barking at me. Before leaving, I felt like saying, “Excuse me for being here.”
12. Udig with ushovel and ujackhammer . . .
13. Spotted at Devil’s Hole State Park was a guy was wearing a red T-shirt from PEI.
14. The beginnings of another mural in Niagara Falls . . .
15. As opposed to dead traffic?
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