2009 Adirondack Park Pin Ride
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The Idea
8-01-2009
Ed and I first met chatting on PlentyofFish ... quickly realizing we are cousins of a sort ... and both into riding!
We spoke of Cobleskill, AmJam, and Chris (our link to each other). I offered to show him "the back way" to Worcester (NY) from my house in Kerhonkson. He responded that he'd like to ride up to White Face Mountain.
A little online research revealed that pins were available from the five visitor centers in the region; Ticonderoga, Saranac Lake, Lake Placid, Schroon Lake, and the White Face region. As a bonus, a Forever Adirondack pin was awarded for collecting all five above. Out came the maps ... and a route was forged!
Backroads
8-18-2009
Ed arrived at my house on his Harley Softail Night Train. I pulled my '83 Honda Shadow 500 out of the barn ... she only gets ridden during my NY visits these days! A quick check; lights, gas, oil, air pressures and we were ready to go.
By time we reached the Ashokan Resevoir, via Samsonville Road (County Road 3), Ed (a resident of Long Island) was already thrilled with the ride! I told him, "You haven't seen anything yet!"
We continued on Route 28A west to Boiceville, picked up Route 28 west into Phoenicia, then up Route 214 through Devil's Tombstone into Hunter. Route 23A took us through Prattsville and Grand Gorge and on out Route 23 through Stamford, almost to Harpersfield, where we turned onto Middlebrook Hill Road.
Now we are on back roads! Middlebrook Hill turns onto Wilcox which drops into North Harpersfield for a quick little zig-zag onto Titus Lake Road. At the foot of South Worcester Hill Road another little zig-zag put us on South Hill Road (County Road 39) to Chris' house in Worcester.
"You don't ride like a girl!" was a welcome comment as Ed confessed he was happy I was leading ... or he wouldn't have made some of the mountain turns. I took this route about once a week for a year so the curves don't sneak up on me like they can.
It was Ed's turn to lead. Route 30 north skirted the Great Sacandaga Lake before we turned onto Route 8 east. Just past Wevertown I prepared for deer or some other road hazard as I saw Ed brake suddenly. He was just lost in the scenery and let a curve sneak up on him! Route 9N led us the rest of the way into Ticonderoga where we took a room at a little place next to "The Hot Biscuit".
Adirondack Park
8-19-2009
After a wonderful breakfast at the Biscuit, we stopped in town for our first pin, then headed out to Fort Ticonderoga. It had some strategic waterway placement during the Revolutionary War, The architecture is solid, the views are awesome, and the re-enactments are entertaining.
Route 74 quickly brought us to Schroon Lake and our second pin, then following Route 9 north to Keene. West on Route 73 took us into Lake Placid, site of the 1980 Winter Olympics. We stretched our legs a bit in town after picking up our third pin.
The visitor center in Saranac Lake was undergoing renovations, which provided for some confusion when we stopped in for our fourth pin. Rather than backtrack 35, we opted to take the back mountain roads through Franklin Falls and past the North Pole to WhiteFace Mountain.
The tour of WhiteFace Castle and Veterans Memorial begins with a tunnel and elevator ride. It is one of the highest peaks in New York! By time we were finished, the visitor center was closed for the day, so we completed the circle back to Lake Placid to spend the night.
Home again
8-20-2009
It was a quick trip back to Wilmington in the morning to pick up our fifth plus Adirondack Forever pins. Continuing on 86 to Jay, then dropping back down to Keene, picking up 9N over to Route 22, we rode home down the east side of the Hudson River.
Ed and I made our farewells on the road somewhere near Hillsdale as he continued south to Long Island and I headed back over the river to Kerhonkson.
Three days on the road, over 600 miles (for me, more for Ed), the Shadow was an example of Honda reliability. More than 25 years old, with minimal maintenance for too long, and a weepy head gasket, I had my concerns when I pulled her out of the barn for this trip. She was beautiful! The weather was great, the roads were gorgeous, and she hit her stride and wanted to just keep on going!
The Idea
8-01-2009
Ed and I first met chatting on PlentyofFish ... quickly realizing we are cousins of a sort ... and both into riding!
We spoke of Cobleskill, AmJam, and Chris (our link to each other). I offered to show him "the back way" to Worcester (NY) from my house in Kerhonkson. He responded that he'd like to ride up to White Face Mountain.
A little online research revealed that pins were available from the five visitor centers in the region; Ticonderoga, Saranac Lake, Lake Placid, Schroon Lake, and the White Face region. As a bonus, a Forever Adirondack pin was awarded for collecting all five above. Out came the maps ... and a route was forged!
Backroads
8-18-2009
Ed arrived at my house on his Harley Softail Night Train. I pulled my '83 Honda Shadow 500 out of the barn ... she only gets ridden during my NY visits these days! A quick check; lights, gas, oil, air pressures and we were ready to go.
By time we reached the Ashokan Resevoir, via Samsonville Road (County Road 3), Ed (a resident of Long Island) was already thrilled with the ride! I told him, "You haven't seen anything yet!"
We continued on Route 28A west to Boiceville, picked up Route 28 west into Phoenicia, then up Route 214 through Devil's Tombstone into Hunter. Route 23A took us through Prattsville and Grand Gorge and on out Route 23 through Stamford, almost to Harpersfield, where we turned onto Middlebrook Hill Road.
Now we are on back roads! Middlebrook Hill turns onto Wilcox which drops into North Harpersfield for a quick little zig-zag onto Titus Lake Road. At the foot of South Worcester Hill Road another little zig-zag put us on South Hill Road (County Road 39) to Chris' house in Worcester.
"You don't ride like a girl!" was a welcome comment as Ed confessed he was happy I was leading ... or he wouldn't have made some of the mountain turns. I took this route about once a week for a year so the curves don't sneak up on me like they can.
It was Ed's turn to lead. Route 30 north skirted the Great Sacandaga Lake before we turned onto Route 8 east. Just past Wevertown I prepared for deer or some other road hazard as I saw Ed brake suddenly. He was just lost in the scenery and let a curve sneak up on him! Route 9N led us the rest of the way into Ticonderoga where we took a room at a little place next to "The Hot Biscuit".
Adirondack Park
8-19-2009
After a wonderful breakfast at the Biscuit, we stopped in town for our first pin, then headed out to Fort Ticonderoga. It had some strategic waterway placement during the Revolutionary War, The architecture is solid, the views are awesome, and the re-enactments are entertaining.
Route 74 quickly brought us to Schroon Lake and our second pin, then following Route 9 north to Keene. West on Route 73 took us into Lake Placid, site of the 1980 Winter Olympics. We stretched our legs a bit in town after picking up our third pin.
The visitor center in Saranac Lake was undergoing renovations, which provided for some confusion when we stopped in for our fourth pin. Rather than backtrack 35, we opted to take the back mountain roads through Franklin Falls and past the North Pole to WhiteFace Mountain.
The tour of WhiteFace Castle and Veterans Memorial begins with a tunnel and elevator ride. It is one of the highest peaks in New York! By time we were finished, the visitor center was closed for the day, so we completed the circle back to Lake Placid to spend the night.
Home again
8-20-2009
It was a quick trip back to Wilmington in the morning to pick up our fifth plus Adirondack Forever pins. Continuing on 86 to Jay, then dropping back down to Keene, picking up 9N over to Route 22, we rode home down the east side of the Hudson River.
Ed and I made our farewells on the road somewhere near Hillsdale as he continued south to Long Island and I headed back over the river to Kerhonkson.
Three days on the road, over 600 miles (for me, more for Ed), the Shadow was an example of Honda reliability. More than 25 years old, with minimal maintenance for too long, and a weepy head gasket, I had my concerns when I pulled her out of the barn for this trip. She was beautiful! The weather was great, the roads were gorgeous, and she hit her stride and wanted to just keep on going!