In a nutshell:
A roll into Rensselaerville and return by Routes 402, 143 and 85 and the remainder is classic approach/ return route through Voorheesville. [Two days ago, 5/28/2011, there was a parade or sidewalk sale Day. . . or Memorial Day on convenient Saturday venue.] Same route up to the Helderberg plateau but different route southerly, mostly, nearly into Catskill Territory.
It started a nice cool, dry morning, after showers that had just ended when I left. Then, as the trip wore on, it became a little warm. By the half-way point, 55 km or so, arriving in Rensselaerville, I noticed I was low on liquids, drinking my way through my first bottle and a half or so, and hungrily scarfing down a snack. I stood outside the Catalpa B&B.
The ride up the 85 / 443 route from the intersection with 85 & 443 there at the corner shop near Wolf Rd. was epic, as usual, and the flat + downhill was just as wild. I think I was hitting 60+ kph (so 40 mph) on the steady downhill from the Helderberg plateau down into R-ville. I saw some turkey, large pheasant, and a deer on one stretch of 85. When I finally pulled to a halt there at 351 and 85, I realized my time was getting away from me . . . I had 2 h 10 on the clock and I wasn't really headed north, at all, although my plan was to go east somewhat.
So I make a quick revision, still stuck on whether to plunge into the soup and head east, way east to 32 or something, THEN go north -- but I stuck to a more prudent plan to go east on 351, the north on 402 into Westerlo. I hadn't been to Westerlo in a while, anyway.
It's a pleasant trip; I'm always a bit surprised. I've photographed the library there on the corner at least three other occasions or two.
So it was 143 straight north, YES, or continue on Route 1/Route 143 east-- maybe getting a terrain advantage. I stayed with 143 north, to join 85 at Somebody's Corners, a crossing I'd passed by earlier noting the descending price of gasoline 3.89/gal at the service station there.
Up the hill on 85 a bit, not hard, not long until the downhill wheeeeee! free ride with wind in the chain. . . the front derailleur starting to give me grief. . . just when I needed the big chain ring in front for land speed record velocities. Past the Stewart's, stone place, on the flat to the Thacher Park turn off, past the big 'S' set of turns to 85A.
In the other lanes, other direction, I saw some timid cyclists preparing to go up and they looking longingly at the descending maniac. I do the same. It wasn't long before I knew what time I might be home -- 1 pm. So I called then texted home.
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