Adirondack Loop - Day 3

Blue Mountain Lake to Lake Clear. 54 miles.

Last night was literally a dark and stormy night. The tent was lit with the flashes of lightning and the ground pad I slept upon was not thick enough to cushion me from the thunder that shook the ground and the rain! The rain fell in torrents.

When I awoke at dawn the next morning, there was a lull in the storm, so I packed up a wet tent and rode off under threatening skies. I made it 12 miles down the road to the town of Long Lake just as the skies opened and from it fell lightning and rain! I sought shelter under the overhang of a small motel and waited it out. After 45 minutes the thunder stopped, but the rain continued to fall. I put on my rain jacket and rode on.

In that same town I stopped at the post office and filled two boxes with junk that I had packed and determined that I didn't need anymore. I plopped down $26 dollars and shipped them home. It was the best $26 I ever spent. I can't begin to describe how much easier the climbing was after that.

I stopped in the town of Tupper Lake for a lunch of salad and pizza. It was awesome. Then I pushed on under threatening skies to my final destination for the day. Amazingly, the rain went around me and I even caught a few glimpses of sun.

I arrived at my campsite and I feel really good. I have a lighter load and I am starting to ride myself into some climbing shape.

Tomorrow I ride to Lake Placid and there are two major mountain passes to climb over to get there. Oh boy!

Adirondack Loop - Day 2

Caroga Lake to Blue Mountain Lake - 70 miles.

How do I begin to put into words today's ride. I have been riding a bike for many years. Today was hands down the toughest day I've ever had in a saddle. I knew today was going to be my longest day, but I didn't expect the amount of climbing it required. I lost sight of the number of hills/mountains I climbed, water bottles I consumed, gallons of sweat I expended and the number of gears I shifted through. They are all a blur of pain and fatigue. At mile 38 I had been in the saddle for nigh on 4 hours straight. I was dead beat. I wanted to cry! I wanted to quit! Yet I had come to far to turn around. All I could do was put my head down and pedal. 3-1/2 hours later, after over 7 hours in the saddle, I pulled into Lake Durant State Park.

Two things made my already unbearable position even worse:

First - Every time I climbed a hill, honey bees and horse flies took it as an opportunity to annoy me. They buzzed around my head and bit me on the a$$. I was expending all my strength keeping the pedals going round and couldn't take my hands off the handlebars to deal with them.

Second - when I got to Indian Lake, which was 8 miles from my destination and the prearranged beer stop for the day, I just couldn't brook the thought of lugging a 6 pack over 8 miles of mountains. So I skipped the beer. So now, here I sit in the campground after a long, hard, hot day in the saddle and I DON'T HAVE ANY BEER!!!!!!!

Adirondack Loop - Day 1

Saratoga Springs to Caroga Lake. 45 miles.

Well, day one is a done deal. There were a lot more hills than I bargained for. The last 10 miles were a real slog! Unfortunately, I think the hills are just going to get worst. So I better get used to them.

The route overall was pretty good. Some of the roads had somewhat heavy traffic, but they had wide shoulders. The scenery was OK, but I'm thinking that's going to improve as I head further North.

Well, that's it for now. After struggling with the hills today, I am going to spend some time going through my gear and see what I can toss:-)

Adirondack Loop - The Start

Here I am sitting in Starbucks in Saratoga Springs, NY. I am one cup of coffee and one blog post away from a week long bike tour around the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York.

I am thrilled, but a bit apprehensive as well. The lady in the Visitor Center here in Saratoga Springs captured the essence of my apprehension well when she asked where I was riding. I mentioned I planned to make my way up to Lake Placid and back. She responded, "Why Lake Placid is mostly uphill from here!". Thanks - I needed that blunt assessment of my route.

Provided I can get Internet access, I plan to post each day and give you a brief summary of my adventure. Since I don't have a way of loading pics from my camera to my IPad, you will have to rely on my verbal descriptions. I'll post plenty of pictures when I get home.

Adirondack Loop - Preparation

My gear is gathered...

My bags are packed...

My bike is clean...

All is ready for my week long tour around the Adirondacks of upstate New York which begins this coming weekend...