That was the theme for the Women in the Wind Summer International Conference held at Fort William Henry in Lake George NY. It was wonderful seeing what women from all over the country devised as costumes to fit the theme. Among others, there was Lady Liberty, NY Yankees, NY Pizza, New Years Eve Celebrants, I Love NY Tourists, characters from Sesame Street and Seinfeld. Sue and I, both from the mid-Hudson region, dressed as Woodstock Flower Children. |
Born and raised along the Hudson Valley's Shawangunk Ridge, New York is more than a "State of Mind" for me. It's home. My primary riding companion here is my brother, Alec. Sometimes we traverse half a dozen counties on our explorations; other times racking up a couple hundred miles searching out those back roads we've never ridden around home. Firetower Road turned into a washed out rain gullied, steep, rocky, dirt trail well before access was blocked. We hiked the remaining distance to the tower and were rewarded with a view across the top of the ridge. Lakes, mountains, castles, derelict hotels, waterfalls, caverns, and mansions ... I love NY! There is such a variety of places and things to explore. Rosie and I covered more than 2100 miles in July and barely traveled through the central eastern part of the state.
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I left Rosie at my brother’s to drive EmaGene home after she got new front wheel bearings and rear diiferential seal. As a result, I rode pillion (aka “bitch”) on the back of Alec’s Dyna Switchback to go get her. No need to remind me again why I ride my own, 30 miles was about as much as my back could take! Rosie is at least set up for me with my bad lumbar disks! From his place on Frozen Ridge, we essentially retraced the route I rode Sunday back as far as Montgomery, then went out 17K to Wurtsboro and out 209 to Port Jervis. When we left his house Alec had asked if we were going to for a ride or just monkeying around. I Knew we’d end up at the Hawk’s Nest as soon as we passed through Montgomery. The Hawk’s Nest is a gorgeous secion of Route 97 along the Delaware River between Port Jervis and Barryville NY Bald Eagles are known to nest in the water gap there, with steep cliffs between the river and the road, and beyond, to the top of the mountain. It is also a favourite rafting/kayaking area. The old Carriage House in Barryville provided us with a late lunch and a bit of a break, before continuing along 55 through Eldred Preserve to White Lake; the host township of the original Woodstock Music Festival and home of Bethel Woods Peforming Arts Center. The ride home took us past the remains of many of the old Catskill hotels; the Raleigh, Brown’s, Grossinger’s. Some have been repurposed. Others stand empty and derelict. Bum & Kell’s Pub remains on the shores of Loch Sheldrake. There’s nothing left of the Tamarack (http://gypsyspiritsrides.weebly.com/rosiex27s-blog/new-years-2012-35-miles), which burned a few years ago amidst controversy regarding the legitimacy of the Indian Tribe that wanted to turn it into a casino. I remember when this area was referred to as the “Yiddish Alps”, when the hotels and bungalow colonies flourished with “summer people” up from the city. It’s an era commemorated in the movie “Dirty Dancing” (though that was filmed in North Carolina!), and already nearly gone by time the Woodstock festival jammed the roadways. The rich and famous still escape from “The City” here. Uma Thurman, David Bowie, Jewel, Robert DeNiro, too many to name, have property in the area. My girls were excited beyond definition when Aiden Quinn and Brad Pitt walked into the Town Pantry several years ago. Even “Fonzi” (Henry Winkler) had a farm a couple miles from our house. The downside is that the working farms have all but disappeared, having turned into estates or sub-divisions. Art Stockin wrote in his book CLOSED … Until Further Notice that the people here were “poor, but didn’t know it” because life itself provided all the richness we needed; hunting, farming, and family. That has all changed too.
It has been hot and dry here, really nice riding weather! I took off put-putting back roads around southern Ulster, not my usual area, and found some pretty, out of the way places! From Monticello I took Route 42 over to Port Jervis. I can't remember the last time I was on that section of highway and was impressed with the road quality and lack of traffic! Over the bridge to Matamoras PA for gas and tobacco. Without the New York State taxes, gas was 30 cents cheaper a gallon (not that it makes a BIG difference with Rosie) and a pound of tobacco was about half price! That difference alone paid the gas for my ride! Then I met up with people I hadn't seen since 1971 at Dad's on Pike Street and proceeded to spend the night telling tales and catching up. This morning I back tracked up 42 and continued on 97 after they split, riding through the famed "Hawk's Nest" before cutting back over on 55, through Eldred Preserve and past White Lake (the 1969 location of the Woodstock Music Festival), to get back home. Though I drank lots of Gatorade yesterday, and we all swam in Bill & Del's pool last night, I am still feeling the effects of dehydration today. I'm glad I came home this morning while it was still cool! Slow and easy. 187 miles |
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I've been riding now for over 40 years, beginning in the dirt on a Honda SL-70 when I was 12. I always leaned more toward trials riding than racing, but also loved riding the tracks (flat track and motocross) with the guys I came up with when they'd practice (on a Honda Elsinore 125). Our motto then was "If you don't go down you're not riding hard enough!" ... not finding your limits. Archives
February 2018
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