Round New York, all Downhill

OK, so we climbed a few hills. One immediately as we left Richford, then the biggest of the trip just east of Chenango Forks on Rt. 79. This is pretty remarkable considering we went through 16 Central New York counties, including several in the southern Adirondack Mountains. It was on this hill we saw a sign either pointing out a road hazard or the fact that I was frequently craving all the foods I was avoiding. Our first night was at a campground in Sidney where we used three picnic tables since they were available.

Round New York, all Downhill

Day two provided some photo-ops with statues. Gail kept a chicken from crossing the road and I did my best Lady Liberty pose in Oneonta.

Round New York, all Downhill

If you're ever in Canajoharie you must stop at Betty Beaver's Fuel Stop, even if you're on a bike. And I recommend taking County Rt. 31 if you're coming from Cooperstown. I think it may be the best road I've ridden as it starts out along Otsego Lake without any climbing, then drops off the escarpment to the right behind Gail. Oh, and check out Cooperstown at 6 am, it's really sweet.

Round New York, all Downhill

Also in Canajoharie we picked up the Erie Canal Path, a portion of the ride that was not actually downhill, but quite flat. We rode about 20 miles to Amsterdam and on the return trip about 20 miles from Rome to Chittenango. Does New York have some great town and city names, or what?

Round New York, all Downhill

A site we anticipated for months, the Shrine to the North American Martyrs! Let me tell you, the idea of going past on the canal path and missing it weighed heavily on our minds, but of course it was well-marked and accessible. But Gail hung back as I investigated, she was worried about blaspheming such hallowed ground. I skipped the 6000-seat modern round church as a thunderstorm was approaching and we needed to find shelter, but only in The Perfect Spot since things were going so well so far.

Round New York, all Downhill

Just as the storm really closed in we found The Perfect Spot, a New York State Historical Site featuring a building on the location of a canal store on a lock. It was all open, and nobody else there. We learned a bit and I relived my days as a store clerk in Chautauqua

Round New York, all Downhill

Seemed like a waste to let all that water drip off the roof so I shaved. Looks like I could have benefited from eating something too.

Round New York, all Downhill

Gail had a snack, good thing we brought our own, the store was out of stock. I got artsy with a photo through a couple windows, the Mohawk River was behind us and a lock in front.

Round New York, all Downhill

Once the thunderstorm passed and the rain let up we made it through Amsterdam, our most urban section of the trip, and got a late lunch before getting to Great Sacandaga Lake. We were on a covered deck and by the time we were done the rain had stopped and the sun came out. Perfect timing all around.

Round New York, all Downhill

On the third day, we tested Gail's riding endurance and acceptance of life with me. There's some previous history with me taking for granted our accommodations for the night, but not enough to teach me a lesson. There was only one campground on the map along the south-east side of Great Sacandaga Lake, and it involved a 68-mile ride to get to, further than Gail had gone this summer, but by no means too far. I suppose if I'd called ahead I would have learned it's one of those campgrounds that don't take campers, then made other arrangements. But no, they turned us away because we didn't have an RV and wouldn't be staying long enough and told us to ride 30 miles to the campground directly across the lake. Lucky us (OK, me) there was a place two miles up the road with cottages and we got one looking directly over the lake.

Round New York, all Downhill

Couldn't pass up a photo op at this road sign, too bad I didn't have an actual banjo with me. We also made a stop in Lake Luzerne where we didn't have authorization to take the bikes into the park, lawnmowers only.

Round New York, all Downhill

The first real destination of this trip was to visit Mary Ann and Glenn DiBiasi at their home on Lake George in Bolton Landing. You may recognize Glenn from my trip to NYC earlier in the summer (by bus), or as a regular on the winter camping trips to Pharaoh Lake (by car and skis). They have a nice boat that we used to cruise around on the lake a couple times. Don't be fooled by the motor, it's also a pedal boat and after 200 miles of biking Gail could kick up a wake as she pedaled.

Round New York, all Downhill

You have to get a permit to be on the islands in Lake George. We got one, had some snacks and took many dips to cool off. Remarkably Glenn stayed still for over an hour and barely fell asleep.

Round New York, all Downhill

On a walk high above Lake George with the Tongue Range sneaking in from the left and some of the islands we visited. We had to ride over this hill, but the other option was to ride over the Tongue Range plus Graphite Mtn., a 900' climb and 35 mile addition.

Round New York, all Downhill

Flora, fauna and fun. We got Glenn and Mary Ann to take a walk at an nature preserve/education center near their house in Bolton Landing and there was a butterfly house with these gross bugs, a dead elm tree along the road between Cazenovia and Skaneateles-there was a beautiful living one in Poland but I didn't get a picture, and see if you can figure out the bottom picture. You might want to get a kid who has spent time in a creek to help.

Round New York, all Downhill

More flora, fauna, fungus. A mushroom on the trail to Mt. Snowy, the largest hemlock I've encountered, and some dragonflies on top of Mt. Snowy, we learned a large gathering of them is called a hetch. You can see six or seven in this picture if you look closely, but there were dozens.

Round New York, all Downhill

After leaving Lake George we rode along the Schroon, Hudson and Sacandaga Rivers and stopped for a dip in all three. These pictures are from a nice spot on the Sacandaga.

Round New York, all Downhill

Siblings have a mutual affection for Geoff's new pup, Kita. One of our forays by car to climb Mt. Snowy near Indian Lake. Despite having spent much of her life on and around Piseco, Kristi had never climbed it but we were tipped off to how great it was by a family friend who we ate breakfast with at the Irondequoit Inn. She had last climbed it at the age of 79 or so, which gave Gail a new goal to strive for. We saw her on the trail as she still walks the flat part but not the steep climbs.

Round New York, all Downhill

Kristi and Geoff went up the fire tower without the dogs, and I don't know if it was the separation from them or the height, but everyone was more comfortable on the ground at an overlook.

Round New York, all Downhill

The fire tower atop Mt. Snowy overlooks Indian Lake, and seemingly the rest of the world too.

Round New York, all Downhill

We are so lucky to be invited to stay at Summer Solace, Chips and Ann Arend's place on Piseco Lake. Besides great company, it's a beautiful house with just about everything one would want in an Adirondack lake house.

Round New York, all Downhill

On the way to Cazenovia we passed Chittenango Falls State Park where we stopped to recuperate from climbing the hill Chittenango Creek is falling down. By the way, the creek drains out of the south end of Cazenovia Lake and flows north, so there is more uphill after the park when you go this way. We were lucky to get a room in Cazenovia because we were there the night before their triathlon. On the way out of town we stopped at the race site to intimidate the cyclists with our fully loaded bikes and told them we were giving them a fair chance. We also saw our neighbor who won his age group.

Round New York, all Downhill

Two bits of luxury on one day, Gail cruises down a hill into the Finger Lakes watershed towards Otisco Lake, then enjoys a bathrobe in our hotel in Skaneateles where we had arrived just in time to avoid a rain shower yet again.

Round New York, all Downhill

One day, two falls. Carpenter Falls at a Finger Lakes Land Trust Preserve that includes Bear Swamp Creek on its way to Skaneateles Lake, and Filmore Glen in Moravia.

Round New York, all Downhill

These markers are across the street from each other, a hot spot of American history just outside Moravia. And you can look up how the plow has evolved, who did what and when, and be able to speak on the differences between all Jethros concerned.

Round New York, all Downhill continued

To commemorate our last night and stop, as well as alleviate having to carry one more meal, we called Mary Ellen and Frank who brought dinner and desert to Millard Filmore State Park for a picnic. They got a chance to use their picnic basket, a wedding gift, and creme broule maker that Frank gave Mary Ellen for her birthday.

Round New York, All Downhill finished

Alas, we had two more creeks to cross and yes, one hill to go up to get to the house. We paused at an overlook of Ithaca Falls and then Columbia St. proved too much for Gail.