7/31/09, another Three Villages ride, 19.5 mi (approx)

Rounding out an active July of biking with a bizarre route that is not accurate on the map, because I followed a new bike path off of Gnarled Hollow Road that Google Maps doesn't show (I approximated below). It led me in circles and dumped me off near Pt. Jeff Station somewhere (near the infamous "bump" on Sheep Pasture Road). I found my way to Old Post Road then somehow was back on Gnarled Hollow again, which took me way past where I thought it went and came out on Lower Sheep Pasture Road, where I finally knew where I was again.

I went on roads on the northwest side of Strong's Neck that I'd never been on before (despite having lived 11 years of my life here, 1967-1978), seeing water views I'd never seen. I always thought it was Poquott you could see from Pt. Jeff Harbor, it's actually part of Strong's Neck. The Strongs still live in the "manor house" according to the sign at the end of Dyke Road, I wonder if it's any of the "kids" I knew.

So many places in the Three Villages are saturated with memories for me as I ride around. Some good, some not so good. Some of the roads I remember something happening on practically every foot; others are empty from that point of view. Some places (like the "Irving Hart" district near the Setauket Mill Pond) have barely changed. Others are full of new streets and McMansions. Many beautiful views and wetlands. I passed places I had walked, swam, skated, snuck, biked, parked, fell, fought, broke down, drank, etc. There were some interesting times.



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7/30/09, Three Villages+1, 17 mi

The map is not quite accurate. Google Maps insisted on putting a strange round trip down to Conscience Bow from the 'corner' of Mt. Grey and Old Field Road. Couldn't convince it not to do that.

Very warm and humid (typical Stony Brook summer day).

The distances are all much shorter, and the hills lower, than I remember from my childhood. I guess it's what you're used to.



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7/27/09, South Quaker Hill loop (17.7 mi)

A shorter ride than the last couple of days, legs were complaining and it was the end of the day. Beautiful out with mist and sunset up in the hills, though I did get rained on again, this time mostly in the last half mile or so of climbing.


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7/26/09, Towners-Sherman-Wingdale, 39.1 mi

Not as spectacular as yesterday's ride but still good. Got drenched coming back from Wingdale, 2nd time in a week. You know that sound you hear when you are just about to get hit by a huge wave of rain -- the sound of a million raindrops hitting the tree leaves? Heard it on West Dover Road 30 sec before getting doused. I could see the wall of rain as I was laboring up the hill towards it. Took a good break at the Star 22 diner, toasted bran muffin and coffee, conversation with a customer sitting there and one of the waitresses restored some faith in humanity. He asked whether I was going to go up the Wingdale Mountain Road, I said not today. He said he used to run up and down it, all the way to the circle in Unionvale (that I crossed yesterday). "That's back when I was doin' martial arts," he growled. Big middle-aged black man in a dark blue suit. Got up after a while and said "Now that my spiritual belly is full, I can go home and sleep." She asked whether it got lonely riding alone, and said she was going to Spain, Paris, and Italy next week with her boyfriend. "You'll be breakin' all our hearts when you leave, Kath," he said. I like that place, the farthest thing from fancy but the food is good and it feels like a real diner, not one of the modern imitations.



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7/25/09, Clove Valley-Chestnut Ridge-Lime Kiln (41.9 mi)

One of the "this is why I bike" rides. Perfect weather, gorgeous scenery (hills, valleys, farms, streams), little to no traffic, felt good. No breaks except for a couple of 60 second stands. Down 3.5 lbs from waking weight after the ride (I'm sure it's back up close to it now).



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7/24/09, Short village loop (8.2 mi)

But still that climb back up Mt. Tom...

Wheel fixed and new kevlar back tire, we'll see how long til next broken spoke. Two so far this season.




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7/19/09, Around the village and back (13.1 mi)

On J's mountain bike. More of a thigh workout than the road bike but otherwise fine. Gorgeous weather. Some rumor that 2 or 3 of us might do the Amenia bike trail later.


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