Well y'all missed out on a great ride, trip, meet & greet, etc. We had a great time on the Saratoga un-rally. We started off small. There was suppose to be three of us riding out of Newburgh, NY. But The third member had to call in sick. So it was just Alex Benoit and I on the beginning of the journey. We had a really nice ride out around reservoirs up towards Oneonta, NY. We continued north where we met up with David Harvey, Tom Taylor and Blaise Brojakowski, in Ilion.
Since the purpouse of going this route was to ride the Ilion Gorge. So that's what we did. I personally ran it each way once. I had a good run headed south through the gorge behind David. But I backed off towards the end when a tanker came around a corner a little too much in my lane for comfort.
On the south end, we regrouped, turned around and rode back north through the gorge. I can say that I am really disappointed by my performance running north. I felt like I got it all wrong. I seemed like I had all my lines wrong and had to use brakes before the turns. I Felt at times like I was pushing wide in the turns with a squirming feeling and actually thought I had a flat tire. Maybe I was just hitting too many frost heaves and tar snakes?
I'm literally disgusted in my performance on that run and apologize for probably screwing up everyone else's run, since I was out front!
If you never rode Ilion gorge. It's a very tight turned rode that cuts through Ilion gorge (route 51) in Ilion, NY. It's a very challenging (technical) road to ride. So riding it at speed is an experience. Of course we never broke the speed limit!
Anyway after the ride through the gorge. We decided to have lunch at this little outdoor burger shop in Ilion. The place called Froggy's was an out door type place. But I will say they had a really great burger and awesome lemonade. Not cheap by any means, but really good!
From there the ride continued on up to Sacandaga Lake. That's where we wound up parting ways with David and Tom who headed back home from there. Blaise, Alex and I continued and headed south towards Saratoga.
In Saratoga, we met up at the Saratoga Downtowner motel with the rest of the group. Greg (Mitch) & Lisa Mitchell, Kathy and Jocelyn Brojakowski, And My wife and Daughter Cindy and Carly Barbanti. The Saratoga Downtowner is right in down town Saratoga. Which allows for convenient walking to most things you would want to do in Saratoga!
We had the Saratoga group of 9 for diner in the Olde Bryan Inn Restaurant. The food and company was excellent! After dinner we all strolled along Broadway in Saratoga. Then wound up socializing back in the motel pool common area (near the pool) until about 11PM. That's when we called it a night.
The today (Sunday) Alex and I took another shorter route coming back home. But like the trip up, it was all back twisty roads. So all in all I put on over 500 miles of all back road type tiding. So Alex has got to be close to 600.
I personally had a great time and want to thank all 11 people who participated in this event in one way or another. I think I am going to do another overnight ride like this again. It really was a great time. Next time I won't screw up and plan it on a holiday!
Bob
