My old friend Jay Saylor and his wife Joanne generously offered to put us up for two nights at their home in Pittsford, just outside of Rochester. We had a great time, enjoyed talking to them, and even got to take them out for a whiskey tasting at the Iron Smoke Distillery (I purchased a bottle of the crowd favorite: maple and bacon flavored whiskey, a delicious, well balanced blend of sweet and savory flavors). Then we headed out for dinner at a local eatery.

The next day, undaunted, Russ headed off in a pouring rain for the Erie Canal Trail, and I set off a bit later to meet him at the Rivers Crossing Campground in Montezuma.