June 5th Route, Albany to Springfield

Tomorrows route takes us 90 miles closer to Boston. Springfield Massachusetts. We expect a long day with the distance combined with a few climbs. In addition we need to be in Springfield by 5pm for a 6pm fund raising reception hosted by the Springfield fire department at the La Quinta Inn and Suites on Congress St. So we'll be up early to hit the road.

Cooperstown to Albany

I didn't want to leave the hotel today. I loved the pampering, sleeping in, the five star room, the breakfast waffle's and homemade donuts. Donuts made the woman who's been making them at the OteSaga for 25 years. I had some time to visit the Hall of Fame again. Then packed up to ride. We stopped to take a group photo at the Doubleday Field on the way out.

You have to listen to your body and give it rest when needed. On a ride like the Wrigley to Fenway rest is not always available. You have to get it when you can. I tried to rest on the ride. No hard efforts just an easy spin on the pedals. Try to take it easy up the hills. Coasted as long as I could down. We had a few long steep climbs today. Nothing like yesterday but tough when your legs are tired from the previous day's efforts. Since most of us are at different levels of fitness and energy we had allot of time riding miles alone. Especially during the climbs. We regroup during rest stops. The last ten miles of the ride we were escorted by Guilderland and Albany, Police and Fire departments. They did an outstanding job bringing us into town safely. It felt like a parade.

Add this to your golf calendar. The 18th hole at OteSaga in the morning. Some of the support crew and riders played a round early this morning.

Old large pines in front of the hotel

I went back to the Hall of Fame this morning to view the photograph section. Here's a shot they have on display of Wrigley Field in 1929, World Series Game between the Cubs and Philadelphia Athletics.

Pinwheel from the scoreboard of the old Comisky Park, Chicago.

The group heads out along the lake road leaving Cooperstown

Few large farms along the lake as we headed out. Check out that cloud formation.

Jason and Pat arriving at the rest area after today's big climb.

Replenishing

Pat going over today's route with support crew and ace RV man Mark 

Common style of house along today's route

The Red Jersey is spotted.

Hanks Red Jersey is having a ride with Cliff Gartner today

Hanks number 41 made an appearance today. This time on Guilderland's escort truck.

Along the escort route today. There were plenty of cheers and applause as we rode into town. I heard some children on the curb calling it a parade. It sure felt like it.

Sean enjoying the ride into town.

Our stay this evening is at The College of Saint Rose dormitories in Albany.

We were guest for a delicious dinner hosted by Ann and Mike D'Atillio's. Great finish to the day.

Auburn to Cooperstown

Know your limits. "Today was the hardest day of riding for me this year." That's what I commented to Pat Reardon as we were recovering from one of the hills. He replied, this year? How about of all time? I thought about that for awhile and agree.  It may have been my toughest effort ever. 105 miles, 8,786 feet of elevation gain in 7 hrs of actual riding into the western edge of the Appalachian mountains. Needless to stay everyone worked extremely hard and are exhausted after today. All riders deserve great respect and congratulations for making it the distance. What puzzles me is why do we this to ourselves and what are our limits?  When you are in the upper threshold of a physical effort and feel like there is nothing left to give you're presented with two options. Keep going or stop. I typically keep going, though not always the smartest decision. Pushing the limits, sometimes blindly, in uncharted waters, brings up new discoveries, on what we can achieve. I like that about cycling and especially the Wrigley to Fenway. This ride is taking me to places I never imagined in more ways than one.

Our stay this evening, the beautiful OteSaga Resort Hotel

Pictures from our ride into Cooperstown

I was wondering if Genesse beer came from around here.

Cliff taking the hill by storm.

Skaneateles Lake

Jason Soo, Enjoying the early hills.

Steady Pat Brennan

Rich green throughout the Saracuse area

Caught it...Cliff takes a break.

Brennan shows his cards.

Tony Snyder a top one of the climbs

 Matt "Pistons" Schueler powers to the top in style.

Cherry Valley

Pat Reardon

And its Pat's Birthday! Congrats buddy!

The hills go on forever. And they're getting bigger.....

Johnny Appleseed

Fancy Barn. I think its their house

The route that caused all the climbing rutcus today.

There were lots of farms and ranches along the green mountainside today. I caught this lumber mill along the way. They mill mostly local fallen hardwood.

Just when you finish with one hill another is waiting to greet you.

 Sam Kamberis rescues a snapping turtle from the roadway. At least we think it was a snapper. It really did not like to be moved off the roadway.

Jim Boyle with screaming legs.

Greg Piszkiewicz shows us how its done.

Matt and Jason waiting out the rainstorm in the van

Rain delay face

Orange Salamander

Rider of the day and Red Jersey holder. Sean Butler. I didn't see him much today. Just during breaks and lunch. He was ahead all day. Hanks Jersey was in good hands.

I put fenders on the bike today with the threat of rain. Thought they might slow me down some. Yet on one downhill I topped out at 51 mph.

Carlos and I contemplating a change in hobbies. Golf.

We did a quick tour of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in the evening.

Interesting fact reveiled. Good friend Karl Tabor commented to my curiousity about how many gallons of water pass over the Niagara Falls. He looked it up and here's what he found out. "Apparently 3.24 billion gallons go over the falls each day. Not get this; The City of Chicago takes about 1 billion gallons out of Lake Michigan every day- and is allowed up to 2 billion!"