June 7, 2026 - High Falls, NY, to Garrison, NY
End: Garrison, NY
Miles: 57.7
Feet climbing per mile: 38
Record of the day's ride: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/388976014
My original plan was to return to Garrison reversing the route I had ridden from Garrison to High Falls (except that I would go over the ridge rather than around it), but on the train from Manhattan to Garrison a cyclist I met told me about the New Jersey Transit station Salisbury Mills/Cornwall. So I created a route from High Falls to that station:
Unlike the Garrison station with trains arriving every hour, at Salisbury Mills/Cornwall the trains arrive only every two hours. So if I missed a train I might have a long wait. Furthermore I wasn't sure how far I wanted to ride. If I were to follow the route to Garrison I could catch a train as far north as Poughkeepsie, just 18 miles from High Falls, or at one of the other stations between Poughkeepsie and Garrison. Riding to Salisbury Mills/Cornwall had no such options, so riding to it meant committing to a ride of 46.5 miles. I decided to follow my original plan of riding towards Garrison.
My return route would reverse the route I had taken to High Falls, except that I would go over the ridge rather than around it. I left Tom and Carol's home at 10:30. A mile and a half later, as the grade increased, it seemed I would need to walk the entire 2-mile climb. I decided I would forgo climbing over the ridge and instead go around as I had the day before.
Tom and Carol live on Mossybrook Road (or is it Mossy Brook Road? I've seen it both ways). So surely there must be a brook named "Mossybrook" or "Mossy Brook". At mile 4.4 I thought maybe I saw that brook, but what I saw, shown in the video below, is Coxing Kill.
At mile 5.1 I crossed Roundout Creek. Again, no Mossy Brook.
My route did not go through Rosendale, but I decided to take a detour to see that town. I didn't know how far I would ride that day, but I was going to do whatever I thought would add to my enjoyment. As I approached Rosendale my attention was drawn to a bridge across Roundout Creek.
In Rosendale I found a Stewart's and had a scoop of black raspberry ice cream. Yes, ice cream for breakfast again.
After leaving Stewart's I crossed the bridge I had previously seen.
At mile 15.5 I stopped in the Water Street Market to enjoy some music and people dancing.
The structure I saw at mile 18.7 reminded me of the Erector Set I had as a kid.
At mile 20.0 I saw a CHURCH sign announcing the presence of the Fellowship Baptist Church. This sign was west of the church and there was a second CHURCH sign east of the church which I had seen the previous day. Nowhere else have I ever seen a CHURCH sign.
At mile 25.0 I stopped at the Frozen Caboose to enjoy their Queen of Hearts ice cream.
At the Frozen Caboose I saw a few families with several kids enjoying spending time together. I said to one of the fathers that it seemed to be a fun place for the kids.
A half mile later on the Walkway Over the Hudson I had a conversation with a man about the biking he does. I found my spirit lifted as I rode away.
The elevator at the east end of the Walkway Over the Hudson was again closed so I found a detour that would get me back to my route. By the time I entered Poughkeepsie I felt more energetic and decided to continue towards Garrison. I found the traffic south of Poughkeepsie busier than it had been the previous morning.
At mile 51.8 I looked across the Hudson to see Storm King State Park. The road you see on the mountain is the beautiful Storm King Highway (218) which I have ridden a few times. Unfortunately it is closed due to a car crashing into the side of the mountain.
Is that the home of the fool on the hill?
I arrived at the Garrison station just before 6:00, having ridden almost 58 miles. The train to Grand Central arrived about 6:30. It was rather crowded and I was not able to store my bike in the usual optimal place because other cyclists were occupying it. I need to remember that the Sunday evening train can be crowded.
Throughout the early part of the ride from High Falls I felt no pleasure in riding and wondered whether I had sucked all the marrow out of that bone. As I was on the train from Garrison to Manhattan, I told myself that I thought I could still enjoy biking, especially when traveling through new territory, and that I wanted to enjoy biking. I decided that I would continue to make preparations for the upcoming trip from Denver to Washington, D.C., not knowing whether I would take the trip or cancel it. I would continue to do what was necessary to be ready for the trip until decided whether I would take it. This included going to Bicycle Habitat the next day to get the bike box that was being held for me.
From Grand Central I took the S shuttle train to Times Square and then the 1 train to 28th Street. After a short walk I arrived home about 8:15.
* * *
On this two-day trip I rode a total of 113 miles and climbed an average of 46 feet per mile. During the last few weeks I had been learning to let my pelvis move more freely so that I would not have a habitual pain in the right side of my lower back. On this trip I felt no such pain. I was happy to have solved that problem, but my experience riding over the weekend still often felt more like a chore than a pleasure.
Previous day: June 6, 2026 - Garrison, NY, to High Falls, NY
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