Category Archives: Cycling

Day 53 – Into Vermont

Day 53 – Into Vermont
Vermont seemed tidier and cleaner than New York. In Middlebury, we rode past Middlebury College and purchased breakfast at a deli. I got my glasses repaired and we got infusions of cash. After buying food for lunch, we headed south on US Hwy 7 for 6 miles, then we rode east on Hwy 125 toward Middlebury Gap- a gain of 1,700 ft. of elevation. Some stretches of the road were extra steep, but we labored on. We passed by Bread Loaf, a satellite campus of Middlebury College. After passing Snow Bowl, a Middlebury College ski hill, we reached the gap- then we zipped downhill for 5 miles to Hancock!
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Day 52 – Hills, clouds, and rain in the Adirondacks

Day 52 – Hills, clouds, and rain in the Adirondacks
We continued east, crossing the nascent Hudson River(see photo). When Hwy 28N turned south, we continued east on Blue Ridge Road for 19 miles. There were many ups and downs, along miles and miles of forest, with few intersecting roads or homes. A wilderness area lay south of the road. The most unexpected sighting of the day was a small herd of bison 5 miles west of North Hudson. A local farmer raises them for meat. In North Hudson, we stopped at a C-store and ate lunch on a bench in front of the store- Betsy had crackers and cheese and I ate trail mix.
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Day 51 – Steep climbs in Adirondack Park Preserve

Day 51 – Steep climbs in Adirondack Park Preserve
A swimming beach provided a view of the nearby peaks (see photo). After buying food at a C-store, we rode north on highways 28N and 30, toward Long Lake. The road started with a steep, mile-long climb. After 7 miles of ups and downs, we turned south on North Point Road. In a quarter mile we came to Hideaway Campsite, our destination. Nobody was around. After we found a campsite overlooking Long Lake, two campers in a trailer came by and collected $20 (the owner was away for the day). After dinner and showers we felt great!
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Day 50 – Bottles and cans; Amish and hills

Day 50 – Bottles and cans; Amish and hills
I noticed that the streams now have clear water in contrast to the muddy water of the past few days (see photo). After a short rest in West Leyden, we rode 7 miles to Boonville on new asphalt pavement. What a treat!
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Day 49 – Lake Ontario & Fruit Orchards

Day 49 – Lake Ontario & Fruit Orchards
While we ate, a parade of perhaps 500 motorcycle riders roared past. Unbelievable! In Hannibal, Betsy bought groceries and we chatted with two motorcycle riders about long-distance cycling and hiking. We finished the day with a 6-mile ride to the North Bay Campground just west of Fulton. For $20, we got a shady camp site next to Lake Neatahwanta with showers nearby (see photo). The cool air, sunshine, and frequent westerly tail winds made this a easy, short day.
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Day 48 – Erie Canal

Day 48 – Erie Canal
Just before we reached the highway, a wedding party stood in the bike path. We rode between the bride and groom and the rest of the party. For the last 12 miles of the day to Palmyra, we climbed several hills, necessitating a cold drink stop. In Palmyra we found the Marina Community Park 200 feet from the canal and sat under the pavilion in the shade.
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