cyclinfool

I haven't shared pictures of some of my favorite rides with this group before. Today I was riding alone and decided to take my time and take a few pics along one of my favorite rides. This is a 30 mile loop that takes me accross the Mohawk river and down the north bank and then cross again and up the south bank. A chilly ride today but still very nice to be able to get out.

The trip starts out crossing the Rexford bridge, if you look close on each side of the bridge is the old erie canal stone works, there was an aquaduct that carried barges over the river - the river was wild then, before all the dams. At about mile 11 there is a ghost bike, the memorial to David Ryan who was killed in 2004 at this spot by some kids racing each other down this road. Just past Vishers Ferry (a site of a ferry crossing on the Mohawk) you come across a stretch of the old canal, they have put up an original bridge across this section - it was relocated here. After crossing over the Mohawk on a rather non-discript bridge you come across the twin bridges, these carry I87 traffic - you are on the south side. Going under the bridge and at the river bank you get this interesting view if you stop right between the two bridges. Traveling on the MUP which is built on the rail bed of one of the first if not the first rail line in North America (I think I read it was the first in Steven Ambrose's book, "Nothing like it in the World"), you come upon the original Train station in Niskayuna - right on the banks of the Mohawk. Traveling a few more miles and you come across lock 7 (a dam/hydro plant and a lock to go around it). I believe this hydro plant restarted the grid in the big blackout on the east coast a few summers ago. Finally a picnic table marking the end of fall - the last of the leaves are coming down. It was a nice ride - the colors are almost gone and the snow will be here soon. Enjoy the pics!

big john

Nice pics, thanks!

The Weak Link

Good pics. One is now my desktop for the week.

RoMad

It looks like a great place to ride. Thans for sharing the pictures.

Hermes

I liked the pic of the table and leaves.

Beverly

Great pictures! I always like riding near the rivers.

cccorlew

What a pretty bridge.

Bud Bent

Great photos, cf. Thanks!

jppe

Another great example of if we were zooming along in our cars, how often would be stop to get terrific pics like those?

Old Hammer Boy

Now there's a white bike even DG won't like seeing.

Louis

Great pics, makes me wish I'd ridden today instead of loafing around the house.

cranky old dude

No better way to enjoy history than by bike, and no better way
to photograph than by bike. Thanks for sharing.