Seems like every part of us was tired and stiff this morning. Ellen's back and shoulders are complaining, my toes are aching and my legs remembering the last few days of climbing. Good thing we have a short journey on the schedule today; crossing the Hudson River and climbing out of the valley to the Appalachian foothills and the farming community of Cambridge, NY, where we'll be staying with Lisa Jennings, an old college friend and her husband Tony. Short journey, but not sweet.
Another grey day is before us, and we warm up slowly on Rte. 29, hugging an 18" shoulder, desperately guarding our place on the road amidst heavy mid-week, mid-morning traffic. At the Mango Cafe, we meet Sheila Lyons, an equestrian vet from Boston, and have a cheerful chat over coffee and lunch. We were surprised to note that the Mango Cafe "proudly" serves only "Seattle's Best" coffee. Back on the bikes, we drop to the Hudson River and cross at Schuylerville as the rains start. A wet and nasty 7% climb from the river ensues on a rotten-shouldered road, and we fight heavy non-yielding and continuous traffic into Greenwich, prompting me to yell aloud "New York drivers are a##!oles" as I watch one pass us in downtown, crossing a double yellow line and causing the oncoming NY driver to swerve and stop. Eight more wet and busy miles dump us into Cambridge, where Lisa and Tony graciously come down in pickup trucks and drive us up to their gorgeous farm in Ash Grove, saving us 5 miles of soggy pedalling. Much ado and catchup follows, including pre-beers, beers and post-beers. I get to meet Lisa's parents again after 28 years! The last time I was in this area was August 1981, when I passed through during a hike on the Appalachian Trail. I was reminded, by Lisa's dad who never forgets anything, that the Jennings family record of '48 ears of sweet corn consumed' was set at one of the meals during my stay. Dinner tonite was a fabulous bounty from the garden, but the sweet corn record was not threatened...
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