Monday, July 28, 2008

Harlem Valley Rails Trail Millerton, New York

Since there are no hills to speak of in Long Island's Suffolk County I decided this weekend to take on the foothills of The Berkshires. You might call it my own private Alpe d'Huez. This ride was a 2 day event organized by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and Bike New York. The first 10 miles are flat as we're on the Harlem Valley Line's Rails Trail. This abandoned rail track is now paved as a muti-use recreational trail. In 1845, the New York State Legislature authorized further rail road extension northward to create a connection with Albany. This inland route later became known as the "Harlem Valley" line. The valley route was easier and less costly to construct than a route following the Hudson River. However, competing business interests in cities along the river simultaneously started construction on The Hudson River Railroad. This competing project was completed at almost the same time and eventually became the primary route. The inland counties of Putnam and Dutchess formerly served by the Harlem Valley Line was known as The Harlem Valley and is still called that today.


The first 10 miles on the Rails to Trails.

The first rest stop at Wassaic. Ten miles south of Millerton.

What hill? Piece of cake.

No need to pedal for this hill!

Saturday, July 19, 2008

The Shinnecock Inlet

The hottest day so far this summer. I took a short ride to the Ocean to catch some cool off shore breezes. I got off my bicycle to watch this Catamaran sail into the Shinnecock Inlet. After a few minutes it was getting chilly. The high humidity combined with the ocean breeze was cooling me down too quickly. I decided to start off to my next stop Southampton across the inlet, you can see mobile campers on the beach in the background.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Florence Bicycle Club

Nothing exciting this weekend so I dug this up from my travel archives. We were hiking through Tuscany at the time and it was early Sunday morning in Florence. We stopped for breakfast in the cafe across from this bicycle shop. As we sat down with some espresso and rolls this group of bicyclists came in gulped some espresso smoked 2 cigaretts and left. They appeared ready for their century fueled with cafeine and nicotine. No sissy carb loading for these guys.