7/30, 31 Saratoga Springs

 

Today had it all. Woke up to choice of breakfast (dunkin, McDonald's, yogurt, super 8 brown bag) and set off with storm moving away (mostly).  Back on the empire trail for some more big climbs and descents just west of Lake Champlain along 22 to Whitehall, where the lake ends and the canal begins. And a town clearly on its last legs. Reasonable stretch along 4, with great tailwind to lunch spot by the canal in Fort Ann.  Then onto amazing new trail, 11 miles half paved, half smooth gravel right on the canal into Fort Edward.  NY did a great job of the empire trail! Then back east and along the Hudson (Bruce swam, of course) and over to our airbnb.  Wildlife sightings (snapper & box turtles, snakes) too.  We setup the rules for our covid pool (how many will test positive), took tests and nice Shabbat all together.  69 miles, and 3000+ ft vertical again.  

Saturday, Jason and Jon set off to close the loop.  Beautiful zim smith trail from Saratoga to Mechanicsville (although it needed some trail work) and then the empire trail old the old canal, some dirt for Jason, to complete the ride.   The rest explored Saratoga,  rested, kayaked.  I went to the track, where my horse cane in DFL in 5 of the 8 races I bet on.  Did win $5 in one race, and if I'd stayed until race 10, my preselected horse won (would've been $35).  But we passed the ethics test, not taking an abandoned(?) $300 ticket.   Nice thai/sushi dinner at the airbnb.  40 miles

Sunday,  the remaining riders completed the loop and we all cruised home.  Covid results TBD

7/29 Quarantine in Ticonderoga

    

 

Every trip has a snafu.  We thought this trip was going to be the super scary downhill from LP down to Ticonderoga.   We even had 3 people drive it, with a video capture, to evaluate who was riding and who was driving.  A complicated plan with drop-off and pickups was created, and in the end Jason, Tim, Andrew and Jon biked; the rest got in cars.  And then Michael's 2nd covid test came back positive.  We had done some distancing, masking but after the first test was negative, we were less than careful.  Did it stop us from riding?   Not at all.   Ride out had steep climbs and screaming downhills, averaging 20+mph over some 5 mile laps. Construction zones gave us the entire lane to ourselves.  Then after the lunch stop got canceled while rearranging driving, our planned route was "closed".  Unless you hike through the woods,  portage over a river, and then you get 8 miles on a private road closed to traffic.  Seemed like a no brainer to Jon and Jason.  The others rode along nice quiet road, and we all cruised DOWN to Ticonderoga and lake Champlain.   Little rain at the end of the day but as Jean would say - ain't so bad.  Fuchs (aka Mr super spreader - ironic as he has been most careful during covid) decided to leave, and Andrew was voted off the island with him.  Tim, Diane and Jen,  who'd only had 1 night exposure left too.  The rest of us (now 9) walked into town for socially distant, masked, outdoor dinner (pizza - not many options anyway).  Super8 hotel between Walmart and McDonald's. 61 miles.  

7/27, 28 Lake Placid

Early start from long lake (7am coffee run, 7.30 OTR) back onto route 30.  More beautiful riding by forests, lakes and so many trees.  Got 24 miles in before breakfast in tupper lake (where there is a shul).  When we couldn't get food in under an hour at The Lumberjack,  got delicious baked goods and egg sandwiches at a gas station.  Really good!  So many restaurants here are understaffed (not by choice), in fact the interlaken had to close its dining room in the middle of tourist season.  Got honked at by multiple pickup truck drivers leaving Tupper lake, then 22 more miles to Saranac lake.  With rain threatening, we skipped lunch and cruised up to Lake Placid.   The interlaken Inn is perfect - and we have the whole place to ourselves,  including the bar. Should be fun time!!  Went into town to see Olympic exhibit and eat at one of agus's favorite place (great Adirondack brewing).   56 miles, 3400+ ft vertical again

Wednesday was a day off the bike, saying goodbye to Agus, Grand Jean, and Serene and hello to Diane,  Tim and Jen.   Half the group hiked 5 miles at Haystack mountain while the other half watched Olympic ski jumpers practice at the pool.  Jason biked (of course).  Bruce swam in two lakes (of course). Dinner in (thai) and another night playing bar owner.   For anyone keeping track, there likely won't be another hotel like this on any future trips.   Biggest day of the trip tomorrow...

7/26 Long Lake

After solid breakfast at the 2nd amendment diner, we were cautioned by Jason, our morning scout, that the ride was "all hills, no flat". A steep climb to start the day for those in the crappy motel added insult to injury, but then the morning featured mostly long 40mph downhills with what felt like less compensating uphill.  Very few flat parts until we paralleled Indian lake where we swapped drivers.  Beautiful smoky scenery all day. Continued on to blue mountain lake for a picnic lunch by the water at the church.  Then a huge climb up and long descent to Long Lake to stay at the retro Adirondack Lodge.  Early arrival (3pm!) gave us nice afternoon at the beach.  Up to 15 people now with Fuchs arriving yesterday, and Breuer, Furgang today.  36 miles, zero stop lights, +11 for non-SAG riders. 

7/25 Speculator, NY (population 345)

Woke up to pouring rain, so called an audible - Agus went out shopping (and to get himself premium coffee) and we had breakfast in the grand dining room of the castle.   Departed around 10 with sun breaking out where we ran into our first road detour - it was either hop a small barrier on a sorta busy road or detour along pedestrian bridge and carry bikes up 4 flights of stairs.  You can figure out who did what. Then road along route 30 the entire day, starting in Amsterdam (some boarded up houses, clearly a town that has seen better days - Kennedy spoke here just before 1960 election when city had 2x population), then it got a little nicer along Great Sacandaga lake (decent lunch lakeside at sport island pub in Northville, and a swim), then really nice along Sacandaga river with fewer homes and more Adirondack feel.  Even brown and yellow signs.  Big climb after Wells, a steady 4-5% for 4-5 miles, into Speculator where we all jumped into Lake Pleasant.  Staying in two hotels tonight, and leave it at the fact that we won't be letting the people at cedarhurst motor lodge see the melody lodge.  Picnic pizza dinner in town with lots of salad.   56 miles and almost all a slow steady up .  

7/24 Amsterdam, NY

After leisurely breakfast, and an on time departure (9.30am) the first rule of bike trip timing kicked in - each person over 3 slows down the pace by ~4%.  And further exacerbated by first day of the trip.  So to cover the 40 planned miles,  we figured 5 hours, including lunch.  Sure.  Jean and Jean took the SAG duties, driving the cars to Amsterdam then doubling back while Jason led the tour-de-rpi and got everyone onto the trail.  No bags left behind in Troy (unlike newton), one minor crash (Frankel taking out Agus as he tried to pass on the right) one flat and one lost biker today.  The ride was all rail trail (flat!) with mostly excellent surface, and we met up in ~halfway in Schenectady, a surprisingly nice upstate town.  Passed by several old locks along the Erie canal,  developed in early 1800s and watched the current system in action on the Mohawk River.  Got both smoothies and ice cream.  Staying at ultra cool castle, complete with knights,  period art and fortifications. Big band concert on riverfront on Sat night.  4.15pm arrival (not even close to 5 hours), 38 miles (+ 6 for non-sag riders) 

7/23 - Assembling in Troy

35 years after graduating, it's time to go back to Troy.  With the pandemic almost behind us - but not yet ready for an international tour - we decided to adventure around the Adirondacks.  Not through them obviously, but a loop west from Troy along the new created Empire State Trail then up the western edge of the 'dacks, over to Lake Placid for a day off, then south along another portion of the trail.  21 people this year with various comings & goings.   Let the adventure begin.  

We arrived in 3 groups, Jean and I arriving early to get a taste of the ride.  After tacos in Troy (it's all about the food) took the empire trail south to Albany.  Well marked, great surface, right on the Hudson - this new trail is the bomb.  Did quick tour in the city - state house,  Washington park, USS Slater, then back north and west along another nice trail that we'll revisit tomorrow.   Milkshakes and a nap powered us up the hill to Gardner Farm Inn (after a tour of RPI) and nice outdoor Shabbat dinner with everyone.  41 miles.