50 km ride to kick off the serious miles . . .

I know, it's a standard and favorite ride. We did it on a bit of a whim. I read an email from the Ti Man; he was game, the weather was nice, wind gone and getting prettier and prettier.

I agreed, named a time, then left the office with a yogurt in  hand, plastic spoon in my mouth.

I was out to find a waiting bike. . . and rider. We were off. We did the ride above, except the Rail Trails are still clogged with ice and snow. So we around to the Rexford bridge by way of Banker, end of Hillside. We swing past the Rec Center. The onto Aqueduct. Up to the Stewart's then right. He takes a lead I struggle to regain. Match. Nothing doing.

We close to ride together and chat. Over the rollers, past Sugar Hill Rd. down to the river level, past the park, veer right onto the flat zone. Then rapidly now up the hill to go over and down to the overpass over the I-87. The struggler continues to pant; up to the Klamsteem turn off to run along the river. No signs of flooding or anything. No ice and snow. Just warm country roads. So nice.

We swing out onto the road to the light, turn right onto the bridge, across then the long up hill to the top of the mainland. Take a right onto Old Loudan Rd. Thence across the rail trail segment (still icy) through the Colonie park around the turn by riverside homes and shacks. We start up the hill refuse the turn off to the trail.

Down through the residential areas named after nautical terms to the steep and curving downhill Fort's Ferry to the River Road. From here back to work seems like ride already done, we've done it so many times.

Ti man peels off to go home to grab a bite before his meeting (T-conf.).

Opening of season; nice start.