October 3, 2025 - Queensbury, NY, to Albany, NY
End: Albany, NY
Miles: 58.1
Feet climbing per mile: 29
Record of the day's ride: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/339195769
I started the day by swimming in the hotel pool for the second time and then had a breakfast of leftovers from dinner the night before. I heated both the schweinebraten and the apple strudel in the microwave. The apple strudel became soggy, so I should have eaten it at room temperature.
I got an early start, leaving the hotel at 8:20, because I had to catch the train in Albany at 4:30. It was cold enough that I wore tights rather than shorts, a long-sleeve wool shirt over my short-sleeve wool shirt, and my windbreaker. Like the previous day, I would face a headwind for the entire ride.
I had revised my route for this day to avoid the traffic I had encountered riding through Glens Falls the first day of this trip. At mile 3.6, as I was crossing Cooper's Cave Bridge, I was treated to quite a sight. Cooper's Cave is where James Fenimore Cooper wrote The Last of the Mohicans.
What a beautiful day it was!
At mile 9.25 I had a clear view of the Hudson River.
It was cold out, but the farmer wasn't wearing a shirt. I think he wanted to sell me some chickens.
At mile 20.7 I stopped at a Dollar General.
As I was crossing Fish Creek at mile 21.7 I saw what I think is huge pipe that supplies Shuylerville with water. I wonder why there are so many leaks. I've emailed the local water utility about the pipe and the leaks.
With a smooth generous shoulder like that why would anyone ever ride in the lane?
At mile 33.8 I stopped at Stewart's. There I changed from my tights to my shorts. I had previously removed my windbreaker.
At mile 45.7, as I was crossing the Mohawk River, I saw an island that doesn't have a name but maybe ought to have one.
At mile 56.5 I turned left when I should have turned right, adding almost a mile to the day.
I arrived at the Albany-Rensselaer station at 3:45. When I inquired whether I could get on the 4:10 train rather than the 4:30 for which I had a reservation, I was told the 4:10 was fully booked. A porter took me to the train before the bulk of the passengers, just as in New York the first day of this trip. The train arrived at Penn Station a little early. After a long walk through the station (I find it difficult to orient inside the station) and a short ride from the station, I arrived home about 7:20.
* * *
On this trip I rode a total of 218.6 miles (54.7 miles per day) and climbed an average of 37 feet per mile. There was a headwind every day, the first two days quite strong out of the north because of two storms in the Atlantic, and the final two days moderate out of the south. Much of the trip was on the Empire State Trail, some of it on off-road paved surfaces, most of it on roads. This four-day trip was definitely harder than a three-day trip. On a three-day trip the loop ride on the second day can be quite short, while on this four day trip the loop rode on days two and three was a total of more than 100 miles. I hadn't taken a multi-day trip since June and hadn't been doing much riding, so I was not in great shape. It took me about a week to recover.
I came up with these alternate lyrics after observing squirrels running across the road.
You better run for your life if you can
little squirrel
Hide your head in the sand little
squirrel
Get yourself caught under a van, that's
the end of little squirrel
You can find all my alternate lyrics here.
Previous day:
October 2, 2025 - Ticonderoga, NY, to Queensbury, NY
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