By JOSHUA THOMAS

C-S-E Editor

CANAJOHARIE — On Friday afternoon, about 500 cyclists passed through the local area on day six of an approximately 400-mile journey along the Erie Canal, which wrapped up Sunday in Albany. The cyclists — a diverse group from across the country and beyond its borders — set up a tent city behind the Canajoharie High School, where grant-funded buses transported them downtown for a Brook’s Barbecue, held at the Arkell Museum, and a special Music on Main Street concert.

Among the first participants of the 14th annual Cycling the Erie Canal bike tour to approach Friday’s destination were Rick Rivenburgh of Latham, and Lesley Hanson, who came from St. Louis, Missouri, for the trek.

Hanson said she was among the early riders because she got off to a late start the prior day — and paid for it later. She said, “We had such a bad day yesterday that we decided we were going to get out early come hell or high water. I was on the asphalt at 3 p.m. [Thursday]. It was so hot.”

By the time she reached Rome, she was exhausted. She said she lay on the grass in the coolness of the evening for two hours before she was able to pitch her tent.

The annual eight day ride, which saw cyclists covering 40-60 miles each day, provided opportunities at each stop for participants to learn about the history of the route they travelled.

France Paquin, of Quebec, Canada, cycling with her traveling companion Andre Gegnon, and her 15-year-old daughter, said that her appreciation of the journey was heightened by the fact that the people passionately imparting Erie Canal wisdom and history along the way “really love the canal.”

Paquin said that the history lessons weren’t the reason her family decided to take the trip — as they were initially looking for a bike tour that was a challenge, on a properly marked, paved path that Gegnon joked would be, “easy on the head” — the multi layered histories, including lessons about settling groups and native americans, added richness even to her previous understanding of Quebec, which, loaded with canals and canoes, has a history that intertwines with ours.

Bob Brodie, currently of Lake George, raised in Amsterdam, was similarly enamored with the detail of the lessons taught at the various stops along the way. “Learning about the canal system in general,” was enlightening, said Brodie, noting that while he originally learned about the history in grade-school, the trip provided the opportunity to experience and understand the canal three-dimensionally.

“It’s educational as well as recreational,” said Brodie.

The camaraderie of the riders, he added, also made the “well organized” trip a pleasure. “The participants are really great to one another,” he said, explaining that when he got a flat tire 10 miles back, “anybody that came along stopped,” including, “one young lady from North Carolina,” who “really took charge”.

He also said that the people along the way have added layers of enjoyment to the journey. The Friends of Fort Plain, who set up a shade tent and handed out refreshments, as did NBT Bank in Canajoharie, were a true “example of how friendly people have been.”

Following the cyclists’ morning departure from Canajoharie, Saturday’s trip saw them traveling through Amsterdam, with their next overnight stop being Scotia. The trip would up Sunday in Albany, with the participants taking a scenic route. While a straight shot to Albany from Scotia is only about 15 miles by highway, the Canalway Trail diverts cyclists through Cohoes, where numerous people noted that they were excited to see the triple falls before ending their journey in the Capital District.