myfriendlenny

Monday, May 4, 2009

Day 4 Long and hilly to grannys

70 miles of this

My own personal campground

Up at 6.a.m making cowboy coffee and oatmeal with raisens, oh yeah and I had a leftover strawberry pop tart too. Just as I was leaving my site the park ranger rolls up and asks if he can open the bathroom for me. He did'nt mind at all that I camped for free and he was willing to open the bathroom, nice. Today was a long 70 mile up and down ride through farm country. Yikes! No dogs. I reached 40 mph. on one down hill. Thats hauling butt on a fully loaded bike. By the time I got to Ithica it was 5 0'clock. So I'm chillin in the Gimme coffee trying to get my blog on, but the wifi's not having it. I strike up a conversation with Bob, the guy next to me. and he starts telling me about these places I can camp for free. He even invites me to his place to use his wifi, but I tell him kindly no thanks, Im just gonna chill here. He leaves and comes back 5 mins. later with a business card from Grannys, some nice old lady who runs a bed a breakfast in town. I pack up my stuff and head right over and score a room for 30 bucks complete with shower and organic eggs for breakfast. She is just as sweet as can be. Let's me put my bike in the basement. Shows me my room and here I sit on the internet catching up. Life is good.

Day 3 pictures

Cannonsville reservoir

White lake sunrise

Day 3 Crazy excitement

I was on the road at 7a.m. and recovered well from yesterdays climbing fest. Cue music for eye of the tiger here... ready for more hills I'm feeling good. It's now 6p.m. Sunday night and I'm sitting at a picnic table in Oquaga State park having just eaten two packs of the best rice noodle soup ever. Thank you, Cece! The camp ground doesn't open till May 15th so I've chosen the nicest spot to set up camp. Not a person in site. I had a roller coaster ride from Monticello to here. 73 miles and by the time I got here my tank was empty.. So about thirty miles into my ride I'm cresting a hill and out of the corner of my eye I spot a not so happy dog, and I think oh shit! I turn to check him out and I can see he's on a chain and I think, thank god. Then the chain breaks from the brute force of this angry beast. Bark bark bark! I, in turn start peddling my ass off. Now I'm thinking oh shit. It take take him 5 seconds to catch up with me. and he is not happy. I shout from the top of my lungs GO HOME! GO HOME! But the 150lb German Shepard is not phased. He starts moving in for the kill getting snappy, and I take my left foot out of the toe clip and kick in his direction a couple of times to stave him off. Now he's barking and mad. GO HOME! GO HOME! I shout. He lets up for a second, and I think I'm off the hook. Then he comes barreling back mad as ever right on my heals and I'm peddling and shouting but he is not letting up. This Dog chased me for 3/4 of a mile before he finally gave up. I about had a heart attack. Wow! About 20 miles later I come across the Cannonville reservoir, a 96 billion gallon drinking water source for New York city residents and I take this great picture. Then I take off again riding around this reservoir and up ahead I spot what appears to be a big black dog climbing underthe guard rail about 60 feet in front of me and I think oh no! Here we go again... But it's not a dog at all. Its a freaking 200lb. black bear! Holy shit, holy shit I'm thinking get the camera, and in the same instant I'm thinking turn around, turn around. What's he gonna do when he see's me? All I could picture was this black bear chasing me down. So I circle around thinking I got get a picture, But, oh my god it's a freaking black bear.Nothing prepairs you for a moment like that. I was in shock.He crossed the street and ran up the ravine thick with pine trees, so I ride by very cautiously watching to make sure he's well out of the way. I am now beside myself. I still got 20 miles to go to get to this campground. I'm tired and emotionally on edge. I finally reach the state park and It's beautiful, and I have it all to myself. I ride through the whole park, pick out the best camp site, and start setting up camp. I can't beleive what happen today.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

lets do it again tomorrow

Day 2 heading west thru the catskill foothills

Today was a really hard day. Seven hours in the saddle and I only covered 45 miles. It made yesterdays ride feel like a spin in the park. I spent the day climbing one hill after another, it never let up. Every time I crested a hill, I could see the next one just up ahead. I got my ass handed to me. The locals tell me the next 60 miles on 17 b are more of the same. So, that's what I'm doing tomorrow. I'm in a Budget hotel in Monticello N.Y. 90 miles east of Binghamton licking my wounds.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Day 1 climbing out of the Hudson valley

Myfriendscott the mule

The reward just north of west point

This was the climb

This is where I'm going

72 miles later... Just south of Newburgh, I'm holed up in a $49 motel satisfied with a good days work behind me. Wifi, a six inch hard salami, and some peanut butter with seven grain bread, I'm golden. This touring stuff is fun, I think I'm gonna like it. At 6:30 it was still raining and I was on a busy 9w with darkness soon upon me, the motel felt like the smart choice. Day 1 went well. I'm looking forward to tomorrows adventure. Asking directions from the weed whacking, tobacco chewing redneck, was my good fortune of the day. He directed me around a big mountain on 9w and kept me close to the Hudson on 218 for the scenic route in these photos. It's amazing how life unfolds with each choice at 10mph.