As with most relationships of ill repute, this one began one night in a bar. By day, Dave and I worked in the same building. This particular night we were celebrating the "Don't let the door hit you in the butt" policy our employer seemed to have indoctrinated into its mission statement. Once again, we were bidding a fond farewell to a suddenly former coworker. There were so many of these goodbye parties lately that we usually came to them with a buzz. We hadn't gone to a pre-party before hand, we just hadn't had time to sober up from the last goodbye party. That's when I ran into Dave. He was engaged in a conversation about bike riding. After a few pleasantries and an invitation to "go away," I asked David if he still rode his bike very often.

"Not only do I ride, but I don't need the training wheels anymore," he said smiling; Dave is fifty something. I had just bought a new bike myself after not owning one for several years. I used those years adequately, getting out of shape and letting the memories of bike riding up hills grow dim. Dave said he likes to take long rides, preferably alone. We agreed to ride together sometime soon.

A few days later while at work, Dave and I were the only ones in the hallway. With no one else to talk to, I tried to strike up a conversation with the fire extinguisher. Dave butted in anyway.

"I'm getting with some friends of mine and we're going for a ride around one of the Fingerlakes. Do want to join us?" asked Dave

Neither of us had mentally recovered yet from the last goodbye party. Visions of cycling came to my head: I thought about the gentle country ride around a beautiful long skinny lake. The air would be cool, the road flat and smooth; a couple miles around the water sounded great. I said "Yes." Then I asked which lake?
"Cayuga" said Dave.
"Great," I responded. "Wait!" My mind shrieked awake from its haze, "Cayuga's a big, long one!" My mind was getting ever clearer now thanks to nature's little pick me up called adrenaline. My thoughts immediately jumped from the thought of the size of the lake to the realization it was surrounded by wineries.
"There are some good wineries around that lake," I said coyly.
"Why do you think we chose that one - for the ride itself?" asked Dave

About a month later, we met up the morning of June second for the three-day bike trek in the New York Fingerlakes region.

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Day 1-Day 2-Day 3-Map Page

This is an overview of the Fingerlakes Region in Central New York.
For a better view of Cayuga Lake and The Cayuga Wine Trail, please go to the Map Page

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