Day 14, W. Leyden to North Volney NY

Quick glove storage. 

I think there is a mailbox in there somewhere. 

Friendly, inviting town?

World Famous says it all. 

Ok my humor is a little warped, but that's funny!

How can this house survive the first storm? 

OK this is taking this Hobbit shit too far:)

Another cold start but look Blue sky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brown barn, of Brow Barn campground. 

Day 13, Inlet to West Leyden NY

Another rainy day with heavy showers passing through, all day long. The town of Old Forge is the first town of any significance since Vermont. The Adirondack region seems to have had better times in the past. There appears to be much poverty. I suppose the active lumber industry doesn't provide the jobs it used to. Today we left the Adirondack park and left the big hill behind. In cold weather clothing I started to use a baclava and what a major difference. Keeping the 39degF wind off the cheeks, neck, mouth, and nose makes riding comfortable. Another bouns is it keep my eye glasses from fogging!

Who is that masked man????

A beautiful lake need a more imaginative name. Oh and there was a sixth and fifth lakes on route. 

Day 12, N. Hudson to Inlet NY

A new personal high mileage and climb day. I must be getting better in tone, because this was not nearly as hard as the Bread Loaf Mountain day. Another cool start, low 40s and light rain but by afternoon the sun was trying to peek out. There is always the question about if recumbents are slower than roadie bikes. I tend to think it has a lot to do with  selection bias, i.e. the young men buy Lance replicas to be cool and race while older folks buy recumbents for touring and comfort. Now I really see the difference on steep long climbs. Why attack the climb, just shift to granny gear and motor up, smell the roses as it were. Stopping and restarting mid climb is so undramatic, no preplanning needed, just stop take a picture and move on. So now my answer to why trikes climb slow "BECAUSE WE CAN!!!!!"

Yet another rainy start:(

I'm sure these mountains look grand on a clear day:(

Whoo, Half way across the Adirondack

Cool sign, Teddy was a great Pres. 

Ok how many stunningly beautiful lakes can you see before they get dull? This picture just does not do justice . 

Yeah the rain stopped and actually warmed up a bit!

Day 11, Tico NY to North Hudson NY

The sound of rain on the camper roof early this morning said the weather men were right. It was in the low 50s and the rain wasn't too heavy so we decided to push on. Right out of Tico there is a nice nonstop 900ft climb, so the cool temp and light rain was no problem. It's amazing how much heat the body can generate with constant exertion. But the rain got heavier and the temps dropped to the 40s, which is a problem without the proper gear. Clothing in this kind of weather is hard, because on a climb a lot less clothing is needed than a descent. Heck on a climb gloves are not even needed, but on the level or descent they are a must! So a pair of water proof gloves are necessary. Next on the climb a rain coat or wind block isn't needed, not so on descent, an effective rain coat is needed. And finally the head, ears and face, same thing, not on the climb, yes on the descent. And probably the worst part about not having the right clothing on the descent is speed limiting:( There were several really nice descents on this section but I was limited to less the about 13mph on most when I'm sure high 20s to low 30s speed could have been hit.

And I'm seriously disappointed that today without effective gloves I was taken out after only 22miles. I'm also disappointed in Walmart Supercenter, come on guys, no rain gloves? After all we're in upstate NY not Florida. I suppose I'll have this cold weather riding down pat about the time tee shirts, shorts and sun screen become the standard uniform:)

Warm-up stop:) A MUST in this weather. 

Early camp at Yogi campground. Rained all night. 

Day 10 R&R near Ticonderoga NY

We had a great rest & recuperation period at a nice camp ground north of Ticonderoga NY. Cool morning, frost on the picnic table, but warmed to a very pleasant sunny day requiring sun block. It did hurt not to be riding on such a fine day, especially with rain predicted for tomorrow, but R&R was really needed.  So we did some other needed tasks, checking out the car, oil, tire etc, fixing a trailer left door issue and putting a new trailer/car electrical connector. 

I was also thinking some might think food would be primitive while camping on the constant move like we're doing. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Donna is a miracle worker with a coleman camp stove! Breakfast can be a 3 egg, salmon/pork,spinach, cheese and onion omelet, plain old bacon and eggs or left over pork patties and walnuts. And of couse fresh brewed coffee. We usually don't eat lunch but I will snack on Beef Jerky, apples, bannas, grapes, sardines, nuts, celery with pennut butter, or dinner leftovers. Dinner is nearly alway a salad and cooked vegetable like broccoli, carrots, onion, mushrooms, green onions.  And the main course has been steak, chicken, pork, salmon, turkey chilly and on day fajitas. 

So as you can see we eat very well all thanks to my lovely wife Donna, I LOVE YOU. 

I can only imagine the treats I'd have had I put an oven in the galley. 

Day 9, E. Middleburry VT to Ticonderoga NY

Starting the day in front of the East Middlebury Library and its 36degF and sunny at 6:45am. I thought today was going to be just plain easy, no dice. Although the ACA map doesn't show much in the way of climbs between East Middlebury and Tico, the 26 miles still had over +2100ft climb. Yeah that's a little bit of whining. I was tried at the start and was really looking forward to basically a coast down to the lake. Yesterday took more out of me than I thought so with Tico in sight it was time for some rest & recuperation. We found a very nice camp site about 8miles north and decided tomorrow was a complete day off.

Thought of the Day: We can't trust our eyes, aka eyewitness accounts are nearly worthless. In my case it was looking ahead and estimating the road grade, i.e. up or down. I found that after big climbs just the decrease in grade from say 8% to 2% gave the illusion of the road going down! Then I get confused, why is my speed down from normal for a slight decline. Am I that tired? Are the brakes dragging? Big headwind? No, No, and No. I look sideways to the direction of travel and it's instantly and obviously I'm still on an upward grade:(

Leaving the White and Green Mountains behind. If Vermont would fix it's roads it would be a great riding experience. 

The Adirondack Mountains ahead.

Local art, saw others but this was the only pic.

Ferry across to Ticonderoga NY. 

Yeah another state down. 

Tico central park is pretty but the town is tired.

Day 8, Vermont in a day:) Well almost.

We started in Thetford Hill VT early this morning before 7am. This was going to turn out to be my personal best day. Over 60 miles and over +6000ft of climb. Two mountains account for the climb and early start and nice weather the mileage. Started out overcast with threat of rain but by mid day the sun was out!! For the first time I was in shorts and tee shirt. It felt good:) After leaving Thetford Hill there was one big climb but nothing serious. Then a very nice ride through a river valley from about Sharon VT to Rochester VT. Just rolling hills and not too much traffic even for a sunny weekend day.

Then everything changed, dun, dun,duuun. The hundreds of Posrches racing down the hill should have been a clue. But my only thought was there's some money around here. Next the three Lance Armstrong type bicyclist who asked "are you going over the TOP??". The climb started easily enough then after a 50 mile day the full 12% grade kicked in. Several stops later, easily done on a trike, and I was at the top. The reward was a fantastic backside ride. Didn't hit a new top speed but close. But the smooth roads easily made this the best down hill.

River art.

See Really in Vermont, never saw a welcome sign.

And another covered bridge....

Yeah the Sun is out. 

Conquered Bread Loaf Mountain!!!!