Today’s Route: Route 5, Route 50, Ballston Lake Bike Trail, Route 67, Route 9.
Today: 73 miles. Total miles: 4045 Riding time: 5 hrs 18 min
Elevations: St. Johnsville: 328′ Saratoga Springs: 300′
Total ascent: 2329’ Total descent: 2535’
Calories: 4286 Avg speed 13.8 mph Max speed 28 mph
Spent most of the day on Route 5 East with a decent shoulder and good pavement for most of the ride. Met NY State Trooper Neely Jennings in Fonda who rode with me up to Burnt Hills.
We were met in Amsterdam NY (at the Amtrak Station on Route 5) by Officer Chris Cuddy, Amsterdam PD and Alice and Dawn Longobardo, Mother and Sister of Trooper Joseph Longobardo, NY State Police, EOW 9-3-2006. Took a break from the bikes and Officer Cuddy escorted us to the beautiful monument to Trooper Longobardo at the Amsterdam Town Hall (see pics) where we met Don Baker, NYSP, who was injured in the same incident that took the life of Trooper Longobardo. Reporter Rebecca Webster of the Amsterdam Recorder also met us at the Amtrak Station for an interview and pics.
Had police escorts from Amsterdam through Scotia and Schenectady to the Saratoga County line in Burnt Hills. Took route 50 out of Scotia north to Burnt Hills. Rode the bike trail in Ballston Lake for 3 miles en route to Malta where I met Jeanne and son Patrick for dinner at Jimmy’s Pizza and Pasta! Son Brian had taken the train up from NYC and met me at Malta to ride with me up to the Saratoga Eagles.
Weather was cool and overcast to start but leveled off into a nice day for riding – not too hot and slightly overcast.
Camped at the Eagles Lodge in Saratoga Springs NY – our home lodge. Both exhausted. Great to see our sons!
Trooper Jennings trying to catch me on route 5 heading to Amsterdam NY! Only kidding! She met me at Fonda and graciously offered to ride behind so I didn't have to keep up with her!!
The Mohawk Valley - getting close to our old stomping grounds! Lived in Ballston Lake NY for 27 years!
Beautiful Monument to Trooper Joseph Longobardo, NYSP, EOW 9-3-2006; located at Amsterdam NY Town Hall. More pics on "Amsterdam Reception" blog post.
Police escort from Fonda to Amsterdam!
Son Brian joins me from Malta to Saratoga!
Now that's the way to travel!!!
Fort Klock, east of St. Johnsville.
Another historic building along the way. . .
Upstate New York farm. . .
Enjoying the view of Saratoga Lake from the new bridge at the north end of the lake!
"That's my Dad!" (Brian snapped the photo!)
Welcome to the Saratoga Eagles, Saratoga Springs, NY! One of our favorite little cities in the whole USA!
Quote for the Day: “May you always have love to share, health to spare and friends who care!” Anonymous (In an email from my sister-in-law Val Meyer)