Home > Our Rides > Harlem Valley Rail Ride > 2008 Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery--Sunday, July 27, 2008

Photos by Sarah Blodgett. Click on a photo to see an enlargement.

photo Rider check-inphoto Eddie Collins exitphoto: turn onto rail trail
Registration area at Eddie Collins Field in Millerton. Like Bike New York's previous 2008 events, the day began with gray skies and an ominous weather forecast. (Unlike the other events, this time the forecast was right!) After leaving the start area, all riders head south on the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. The old station is visible in the background here.
photo: rail trail from afarphoto: geese!photo: tandem riders on rail trail
This segment of the trail is about 11 miles long, from Millerton to Wassaic. It's advisable to control your speed, as you never know what you might run into. When complete, the trail will run for 46 miles, north to Chatham.
photo: trailway crossingphoto: rail trail viewphoto: rest area #1
There's a slight downhill grade for southbound riders. Did we mention that this ride is scenic? Rest area #1, staffed by Salisbury Bank, allowed bikes and their riders to take a break.
photo: one more bit on the trailphoto: Wassaic train stationphoto: Amenia rest area
For 22-mile riders, the way back to Millerton was also on the trail. Other riders headed onto the open road. Proof positive that this is a rail trail. The current end of the rail line in Wassaic is where the trail starts. Another break, this time at the Amenia rest area.
photo: Rest stop in Amenia: Marriott staffphoto: Cyclist at rest stopphoto: Cyclist at rest stop
Folks from the Poughkeepsie Marriott staffed the Amenia rest area. Thumbs up from these riders! The ride took place on the last day of the Tour de France, commemorated by this rider's yellow jersey.
photo: cows in backgroundphoto: bikes and barnsphoto: more bikes, more barns
In case you weren't sure you were in the country, check out these cows (and be glad it's not a scratch-and-sniff photo). Both the 75- and 100-mile rides traveled through three states: New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. This shot is from Route 41 in Massachusetts.
photo: lakephoto: mountain viewphoto: woods
The turn onto the dreaded Mount Washington Road, a long incline. She made it up! Shade and scenic views make the climb a little more enjoyable.
photo: church at corner photo: S turn photo: woods and stream
What goes up must come down. Cyclists cross back into New York state on the descent. This stream runs into the magnificent Bash Bish Falls.
photo: blurry rider photo: rest area photo: rider on quiet street
Speeding by Copake Falls. The Copake Falls rest area, at the current northern terminus of the trail. Here's Copake. The auction house is on the right side of the road.
photo: Ancramdale rest area in the rain photo: time trial in the rain photo: post office in the rain
And then the rain came. Riders waited it out with the ever-spirited Ancram Angels . . . and at the Hill Climb Time Trial . . . and at the post office, and in SAG trucks, barns, and just about anywhere else they could find.
photo: riding in rain photo: time trial finish photo: happy time trial rider
But the ride continued, and some riders even chose to just keep going. Throughout the day, more than 130 climbers tested their mettle at the Time Trial on Winchell Mountain. Results > A medal, a chance at a prize, and a great deal of satisfaction were among the rewards.
photo: medal photo: food at Festival photo: T-shirt
A close-up of the medal. Like most fierce summertime storms, this one rumbled through and kept going, leaving dry, late-afternoon skies for the rest of the Festival. The souvenir T-shirt will bring to mind extra-special memories!
print pageblank