Well I am back after vacation and did a very pleasant commute this morning. The weather had cooled off and the humidity dropped so it was very nice. Fortunately I was able to do 3 recreational/family rides while on vacation so I was not completely out of it.

If you're in Upstate or Western NY and looking for easy rides with family or friends who don't ride much I highly recommend the Canalways trail. Eventually it will reach from ALbany to Buffalo (just like in the Erie Canal song) but now it is disconnected pieces here and there. There is one continuous section from Newark to Lockport that seems to be complete and open although I've not ridden the whole stretch. It's all flat canal towpath riding either paved or crushed stone and very easy. My wife and son, who have not ridden any real distance before, managed to do a 12 mile stretch over by Weedsport and another 14 mi trek in the Pittsford area. Not a challenging ride, but a very good family ride with no vehicular traffic to worry about.