Roady report: Lake George out and back...

[McGRP01]

Ok....this ride isn't all that exciting, and I'm certainly no photographer, but I'll give it a whirl... On days when I'm short on time, I usually do this 19+/- mile out and back from my house. The majority of it is the Warren County Bike Path which is a 9 mile route that starts near my house and ends at the southern shore of Lake George. A map can be found here: http://www.warrencountydpw.com/Parks-Rec/Bikeway1.pdf

Anyway....here we go.

My house and point of departure

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/1.jpg

And we're off down my street...

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/2.jpg

It's about 3/4 of a mile of streets to ride before reaching the bike path. Here's one of the more interesting homes along the way. It was built during Prohibition, and supposedly there are "secret rooms" in the basement where gambling and alcohol consumption were kept on the sly... Cool home, bad color.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/3.jpg

Another 1/8 mile or so we reach the path...

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/5.jpg

For the most part the route is flat to rolling, there are some decent climbs though. Here's the first little "roller" up to a bridge... :)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/6.jpg

View from the top....

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/7.jpg

You do have sections of the ride that cross or go along road for a bit. The longest section on the road is along here...

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/8.jpg

And there is the road's namesake...

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http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/10.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/11.jpg

For any golfers out there, that is O'Donnell-Ross Golf Course. Apparently Mr. O'Donnell-Ross was a Scotsman who built over 400 courses by hand before the days of machinery. His "claim to fame" was that he used the land natural terrain features to create illusions in the course. For this reason his greens are particularly tricky I'm told...

Shortly after the CC, you re-enter the path and hit one of the decent climbs I told you about. Probably a mile long. Not too steep, just gotta stay seated and grind it out.

Headed up...

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/13.jpg

And up... :help:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/14.jpg

And up... :dead:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/15.jpg

But, as we all know, what goes up, must come.... :thumb:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/12.jpg

We're probably 5 miles along now. There is some nice scenery along the way, but I haven't much of a artistic eye. Here is a nice stream to peak your visual interest though... :rofl:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/16.jpg

Another mile or so past the stream and another short climb up and you pop out at the highest point in the trip. Here, you are also greeted by Mighty Mouse riding an elephant.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/17.jpg

Ah, Magic Forest. This place was a big deal when we were kids. Now, with the Six-Flags, water parks, etc. just down the road, it doesn't draw them in like it used too... Kinda sad.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/18.jpg

Uncle Sam and Santa Claus. does it get much more American than that?

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/19.jpg

So, from here it's all downhill to the Lake! Wheeeee! :D

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/12.jpg

You pass behind Water Slide World on your way down...

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/20.jpg

Shortly after WSW, I did a stupid thing. I was cruising along and came up on a doe standing in the middle of the bike path. Instead of slowing and taking a pic, I flailed my arms and yelled until it ran off into the woods. My one chance to take an interesting pic and I blew it. But here's a representation of what I saw... :rofl:

http://gallery.cs.umb.edu/gallery/albums/NFSBirdMammal/FSODscf0015.sized.jpg

After 2 miles or so of DH, you are rewarded by popping out at the southern shore of beautiful Lake George!

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/22.jpg
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http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/24.jpg

History buffs will probably already know that Lake George is the Home of Fort William Henry, where was a significant battle occurred between the English and the French during The French and Indian War. Or, you may know it (and the area in general) as the setting for the movie "The Last of the Mohicans".

Here's a really bad picture of the fort itself... :o:

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/25.jpg

Form this point, it's turn around and head back the same way. The ride isn't all that hard by any means, but I like to use it to do sprint workouts or time-trial type rides as it's a measured distance where I can compete against the clock. :)

Oh, and finally, for the female monkey that requested a pic of me in spandex (but wished to remain anonymous), here's a really bad one... ;)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b202/McGRP01/26.jpg

:rofl:

-T

[douglas]

cool ! (well except the spandex pic :nonono:)



I used to occasionaly roller blade that path, definetly could get some (unsafe) speed on the dh sections (even passed a few bikers on the downhill)

[TreeSaw]

Nice :thumb: We'll have to hit that loop at some point.

[Westy]

Cool stuff. I miss Lake George, had some good times there.

[Echo]

Awesome report dude! :thumb:

[Alfred]

Nice ride route. That really beats looking at dry corn fields.

[I Are Baboon]

Very cool. I have a moderately difficult 35 mile route through the CT hills that I'd like to take pics on, but I'm always too lazy to spend the time stopping and shooting.

[Westy]

Very cool. I have a moderately difficult 35 mile route through the CT hills that I'd like to take pics on, but I'm always too lazy to spend the time stopping and shooting.

I keep forgetting to take pics on my favourite route. Some great scenery and some hilarious signs.

[McGRP01]

Very cool. I have a moderately difficult 35 mile route through the CT hills that I'd like to take pics on, but I'm always too lazy to spend the time stopping and shooting.

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of stopping either. It hard to know what to take pics of to give a "sense" of what a ride is like. Much respect to Splat, Shrymp and all the others that make it look easy.

[I Are Baboon]

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of stopping either. It hard to know what to take pics of to give a "sense" of what a ride is like. Much respect to Splat, Shrymp and all the others that make it look easy.

There are real nice photo ops on my route....old barns and rolling hills. Problem is, the nice picture spots are in the middle of climbs and I'm too fixated on the climb to worry about photos.

Maybe next time. :)

[Heidi]

Really nice ride report - looks like a great casual after work ride!

I bet BeerDemon was the one that wanted the spandex photo.

[MMcG]

Great post Tigg!

Makes me miss that region a bit. I used to live in Wynanstkill before moving to CT.

[brungeman]

Great report Tigg, I like the route, seams peacefull!

riding road sure beats cleaning the mud off of the XC bike all the time!:rolleyes:

[brungeman]

cool ! (well except the spandex pic :nonono:)



I used to occasionaly roller blade that path, definetly could get some (unsafe) speed on the dh sections (even passed a few bikers on the downhill)

I am soooooo glad you said "USED TO" cause I'da poked fun at you for "Fruitbootin" around now!:rofl:

[narlus]

nice one, and good job w/ the camera. i don't have a small P&S which can fit comfortably in jersey back pocket.

[Westy]

cool ! (well except the spandex pic :nonono:)




You still using baggies for road rides?

[McGRP01]

nice one, and good job w/ the camera. i don't have a small P&S which can fit comfortably in jersey back pocket.

It's a older Sony Cyber-shot. Only 4.5mp, 3X Optical/2X Digital zoom, but like you said, it fits in the jersey pocket and gets the job done.

[douglas]

You still using baggies for road rides?


usually :cool:
on group rides, I get a kick out of being one of the 1st ones up a killer climb using my cheap bike, wearing baggies, muddy shoes & muddy helmet :D

(one of these days I'll spend $$ on roadie clothes/gear)

[Westy]

usually :cool:
on group rides, I get a kick out of being one of the 1st ones up a killer climb using my cheap bike, wearing baggies, muddy shoes & muddy helmet :D

(one of these days I'll spend $$ on roadie clothes/gear)

I feel like a moron when I have to stop but the plum smugglers have a noticeably less wind resistance.

[McGRP01]

I feel like a moron when I have to stop but the plum smugglers have a noticeably less wind resistance.

...and they don't get hung up on your saddle. I was tempted to wear them on a XC ride once. Once....

[Jim Mac]

Ahh, I know many of those places and that bike path! Do they still have the high diving horses at the magic forest?!

[McGRP01]

Do they still have the high diving horses at the magic forest?!

Indeed they do. I *believe* it's the last remaining high-diving horse act in the US.

[narlus]

Indeed they do. I *believe* it's the last remaining high-diving horse act in the US.

screw pictures of the road, let's see those!

[douglas]

and no pic of Frankenstein in front of the house of wax??

[McGRP01]

and no pic of Frankenstein in front of the house of wax??

I avoided Canada St. all together. there's a reason it's named that you know... :rofl:

[Shyrmp]

Oh, and finally, for the female monkey that requested a pic of me in spandex (but wished to remain anonymous), here's a really bad one... ;)
-T

Hahahaha....thanks Tigg! :rofl:

Really nice pictures, looks like a very relaxing and fun ride :thumb:


(took you long enough ;) )

[Westy]

...and they don't get hung up on your saddle. I was tempted to wear them on a XC ride once. Once....

Bah, I settled on tighties for all riding after battling saddle soars last year. And doesn't the world deserve to see the profile of my junk anyway?

[bluebug32]

awesome...makes me want to move back to the area :thumb: I'm jealous of that trail