I had to go mentor a student at an elementary school so I didn't manage to plan for a traditional 11:30 am departure. I left at 12:45 pm.
Going south and east on River Road is always a bit of a mixed bag. Some days there is little traffic, some days it is scary. From the traffic circle it's a fast (nearly 30 mph) spin to KAPL, then gently uphill to a slower more stately 20 mph. We have a backward rotation into and out of lead for the peloton. When you're feeling chipper you move out into the traffic side of the groupetto, pedal harder, lean tighter into the wind, and work your way up to the lead, move in and don't look back.
Everyone else does the exact opposite; when you're tired, you peel off out into the traffic side, slide back and let number two pick up the effort.
At Rosendale, we turn left and go downhill to the creek, whip past the little bridge or culvert, and straighten out to head toward the island bridge. It's here in 07 I ran off the road after a day at the Science Fair-like Tech Fair, that I left the road for the slower shoulder, hit something hard, flipped over the handle bars, and landed . . . somehow.
Third degree separation of my shoulder. Whanged my left hand. Kept me out of moving jobs for the fall.
We pass Niskayuna Road, ride up a bit of a rise, and head out into the River Road near the ponds, the old rail road bed, and the park. The park has a nice new parking lot, a shiny new toilet, and a very old Niskayuna Train stop (station, of sorts).
We turn left at the big arrows saying 'Turn Right.' Traffic thins, the road is a bit bumpier, and the rural aspect of Niskayuna appears. We drink from our bottles, start conversations, and settle into a slightly less hectic pace.
We pass the WTRY station, hear airplanes overhead, and pass the home where white rock in the road, after visit by the gas delivery truck, nearly killed one rider. He hit it head on. Lost control. Fell. We were steaming along that day, and so the rider wore a bandage on the left wrist for two weeks after.
Fort's Ferry Road is a branchpoint; the brave take a right, go uphill, work their way through the residential area, then on up to County View, down the hill and back to the rail trail.
We go left, then right, to forge ahead to the Shaker Bay loop on the hill. This hill nearly killed me the first time I did it. It still makes me pause. Nice homes.
We complete the circle, and return to the Rail Trail (Mohawk-Hudson Bikeway), swing past the entrance to the Colonie town dump, and head back on the Rail Trail itself. Look right and see up the river, the Mighty Mohawk. Look right to see back yards with splendid views.
The way back this way is sheltered by the woods on either side of the narrow strip of asphalt. Taking care to avoid the cables, we pass the cross traffic access points. Train Station. People out eating lunch, reading, fussing with their dog leashes. Past the ponds, past the overhead bridge, past the water treatment facility. Lock 7 access road is down then back up. The coldest part of the trail is found here, near a plaque commemorating someone, where snow can be found weeks after the melt elsewhere. We approach the Blatnick Hill -- a diagonal climb up the closed-over landfill lump. At the top, you can see much more of the river!
After another rise, past the baseball fields, round the bend to pass by KAPL. We're nearly home. The yellow bike is prepared to peel off left to go home. We pull our id badges out of our jerseys so we can get past the guard. 28 km.
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