Cycling the Erie Canal - Day 7

Day 7 – Canajoharie to Scotia (41.3 miles) and first part of Day 8 - Scotia to Cohoes ( 39.7 miles)

Gary and I rode together as it was Harold’s turn to shuttle the car. It was a short 42 miles to Scotia, just over the Mohawk River Bridge from Schenectady, and 0.3 miles down the road from the famous Jumpin’ Jacks hamburger and ice cream joint.

We had a slight drizzle this morning. More pleasant than anything else.

About 27 miles were on the Canalway path and the Mohawk Hudson bikepath. Once we hit the latter, the path was paved for the rest of today’s and tomorrow’s ride. There was only one official SAG stop, at Mabee Farm, the oldest house in the Mohawk Valley at mile 35.

Lunch at Jumpin' Jacks!

We finished and camped at Collins Park, right across the street from the Mohawk River. Lunch was a famous Jack Burger and ice cream cone at Jumpin’ Jacks, the same place I had lunch at with ABB in July 2010.

This guy was watching the cyclists go by and wouldn't even lift his head off the window sill.

Since we finished so early, and I am shuttling the car tomorrow, I decided to cycle half of tomorrow’s ride this afternoon.  So I did a 40 mile out and back ride from Scotia to the town of Cohoes at the Hudson River. Temperatures this afternoon were in the high 90’s so it was a more difficult ride, with much of it in the sun and not much of it very interesting since it did not have great views of the river or valley and I had covered the same path with ABB back in 2010. Never the less, it was a chance to ride a little faster than the relaxed pace of the last several days.

The occasional good view this afternoon.

The day concluded with a wine, cheese, and beer party followed by a pasta dinner in the park, under a covered tent. Afterwards, there was a talent show and awards ceremony. Tonight, it was fairly humid and warm for the first time, but after 80+ miles on the hybrid, I had no problem getting to sleep. A much needed sleep because we have a long drive home tomorrow.

I saw a lot of these markings today.

Here is today’s ride: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/199862846

Here it this afternoon’s ride, the first half of Day 8’s ride: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/199862834