Bracing for full recovery after the 75 miler, I left the lower altitudes and thicker air for the rare, clean and steep heading up onto the Helderberg plateau. The King's Road is in terrible shape; I'm not taking it again . . . if I can help it. The turn at the golf course, brings back memories of getting completely lost with a save from Siavash's PDA. Around the swooping dip on the short connection to cross Route 20 then into the countryside. Past the NY military reserve, up the hill, what a grunt, past the road cuts and shale.

Once past that, into the Voorheesville area, through town, into the approach to New Salem. Right up the hill (20 min) to the State Park sign. The temperature had reached 75 or so and there were tons of folks up at the parking lot next to the overlook. A crew of bikers on motorcycles. Families. Couples. What a Saturday!!

I kept moving along the park road, to Ketchem Rd., then Thompson Lake Rd. to 156 to return downhill at 45 mph to Altamont. Whahooooo.

There's no nice way back, and I take the standard Dunnsville Rd. to Five Corners, thence along Broadway, through town, up Union to home.

What a blast. I'd forgotten how fun that ride really is.

Next week the Battenkill!! Taper!