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Day 31

WAS THIS JUST ONE DAY?

Yesterday Tomorrow

ROUTE: Liverpool to Amsterdam NY

DISTANCE: 125 Miles

TOTAL CLIMBING: 2300 Feet

DAILY REPORT: 34 degrees at wake up, 71 by ride's end. Sunny with swirling winds around the mountains.

Well, we're closing in on the ocean...but first, we have another day in the saddle along the Mohawk River. It's so beautiful here. When we came through on our way out to the west coast, the trees weren't even thinking about opening their leaves yet, but now it's green everywhere. Some of the foliage is just maturing because my sinuses seem to be revolting in this spring period. I left home after the pollen season there just to arrive just in time for it to hit all along our route.

Today was a day of two climates...and three sections. When we departed Syracuse was under a freeze warning and near record lows...brrrr. The sun was beaming and the wind was nonexistent which made it feel better than the day we left Dunkirk. By mid morning everyone was throwing clothes in the van and by afternoon we looked like we were riding in the middle of the summer. The other contrast today was the terrain and scenery. Our route today started out with 11 miles of navigating through Syracuse with all it's morning traffic, but after mile 12 we were in the quiet New York country side until mile 40. After that, we basically rode 5 east to Little Falls then cross the Mohawk River and ride on the south side until crossing back to get to Amsterdam. In this area the terrain changes from rolling farmland to small plots along the Mohawk River Valley with mountains on either side of the river carpeted with greenery from the over abundance of moisture they've had lately. The view from the high areas on the south side of the Mohawk are awesome. I always enjoy riding through this area because of the scenery. It's hard to believe how green it is here after being out in the desert west only 3 weeks ago. Where we are now is so different than out west where we didn't see settlements for miles and miles. Here we are seldom out of sight of either a farm house or a town and it seems there's always an ice cream shop to stop at in these parts.

Our middle miles included several small towns like Utica and Herkimer with vibrant thoroughfares to break the monotony of the back roads. In former times, these towns served an important role when the Erie Canal was in its heyday. Herkimer was where the process for making paper out of wood pulp was perfected.

Tonight we staying in Amsterdam NY which was once a thriving textile center specializing in manufacture of carpets. At one time they also had interest in the small computer industry, but now everywhere you look around the motel you see store fronts that are empty and it appears the town is dying. It's a pity to see an old downtown die in such a beautiful area.

Well, we've finished another tough day in the saddle...I can't believe we have only 2 more days of riding. Tomorrow's really hilly with at least 3 major climbs to contend with, but luckily the weather is supposed to be great for the rest of the way...there's always a good side.

PS: I may take a couple days to post the next two days...I'm going to be pretty busy at the end of the next two days. Stay tuned and I'll get the finals posted as soon as I can. Thanks for following.

PHOTOS OF THE DAY
I wonder who's missing a water bottle?	Out here we get so hungry that even when we talk to locals, all we see is an entre.
Ron couldn't understand why his vest zipper kept unzipping...then we took his room key out of his mouth and his vest returned to normal.	34 degrees...I don't need no stinking leg warmers.
Why do you always take our photo when we are suffering up a hill? Because the subject doesn't blur.	One of the neat scenes on the final miles.