Day 3 of the 2026 was predicted to be a scorcher, so I decided to catch riders soon after dawn, soon after they had departed Fairport. Lock 30 in Macedon was a good choice for photos; cyclists were still fresh, especially after pedaling in the shade much of that part of the trail.

Some folks documented their arrival themselves, and

I made my way to the water stop set up by the Gananda Rotary.

Pati and Sandy were there, providing drinks and local knowledge.

This rider from Schuylerville NY introduced me to the phenomenon of cycling with a mascot, in this case a mule. I forget if the mule’s name was Sal.

Another phenomenon was the jerseys, in this case also an appropriate choice.

Later in Palmyra near lock 29, this group of riders sharpened my understanding of jerseys; for example, Cycle Zydeco sounds like a fun way to see and taste SW Louisiana.

Carrie from Vermont told me about her mascot, a dragon named Sparkles she took on her tour for her three-year-old.

Sparkles needed to have her photo taken atop the Whipple Bridge there, the oldest dated “change bridge” in NY state, erected over the canal so that mules could change from the towpath on one side to the other.

Some mascots were live, like Pepper here, a regular rider in the basket.

Small groups, larger groups, all made their way eastward.

All types of bicycles: singles, tandems and

recumbents. One rider reported that about 20% of the bikes were electric-assist in 2026.

Most folks pressed eastward, as the day would soon be hot.

Not surprisingly, I found Bob Stopper in Palmyra, tools in hand and hrlping the SAG [safety and gear] team improve some of the signage along the way.

All photos, Elizabeth Wood and Will Van Dorp. The folks I spoke with from about 10 states generally commented on how beautiful they were finding the route on the first three days of the ride.

Any errors, WVD. I’m hoping some correspondents will catch the riders along the next stages of the ride. See the daily routes here. Whether you’re a cyclist or just visiting your favorite stretch of the canal, share your “cycle the Erie Canal” photos and/or stories by sending to canalsocietyofnysphotos@gmail.com. Here was my ride unsupported in 2020.