Scoot & S'cream 2024

Sept 30 Day 19 Altoona PA Miles 110 Looking at the weather we decided to get up early today and try to maximize the time free of Rain.   It was clear from the weather forecast that rain was coming from the Southwest and the sooner we started the shorter the time in the rain we would be.   We were out of bed before 7 and on the road at 8:30.   The forecast was correct we had no rain close to Williamsport changing to misting rain, increasing to light drizzle and evolving to heavy drizzle that became definitely rain for the last 20 mins of the ride.   So we were past damp and short of soaked when we reached the hotel. Me waiting for Di who missed a traffic light      The ride followed the Susquehanna river then part of the canal system before diverting up to Altoona.   Altoona started out as a Iroquois or Six Nation stockade town before European arrival.   In 1811 Iron smelting started in the area.   The richest man in the area build his ho...

  Sept 29 Day 18 Williamsport PA Miles 112 It was really chilly and wet today.   Woke to rain and delayed as long as we could to have some chance of staying dry.   As it turned out it rained several times today but only enough to make us damp not soaked through.   Tavern build in 1831 and used as army training center in civil War. The ride followed the beside the extension canal and then cut cross country crossing several Appalachian mountains or ridges.   This means we climbed more than 5 times at smoking speeds of 12 miles per hour.   This is taking a toll on the belts.   When we started we could reach 40 on flats now we struggle to make 35 even on down hills.   One downhill that went on for 21 miles. One truck that we allowed to pass did appear to like our pull over location and beeped his horn loudly as he went by.   The problem is these roads were winding and lacked goods spots for passing.   So we just off the ditch and he still pa...

  Sept 28 Day 17 Binghamton NY Start today was a little spartan, just instant coffee left in my pack from last years ride and 1 and half Twizzlers left over from yesterday.   I hate it when the hotels overcharge due to local demand and underperform.   Well I did get the coffee down and then eat the Twizzlers and managed to start out.   These next pictures are all Remingtons the typewritter, the sowing machine and the bicycle old jail The ride was over some rather large mountains that took some time and power to climb up. Going down was much faster felt like we were going 15 then 40 then repeating that sequence.   The ride was either on small back roads that were not busy or state highways with really good shoulders for the Amish in the area.   I am starting to like having along the route as the roads are always better for riding on.   The later part of the ride we were beside the Chenango canal that connected the town of Binghamton to Utica was to conn...

  Sept 27 Day 16 Ilion NY (note just south of Herkimer NY which is east of Utica)   Miles 95 The morning was misty with a slight chill with the promise of sunshine in a little bit.   So I decided to ride in my new long sleeve tee shirt that was a mistake as it was really chilly, so i stopped put on my jacket.   We are staying in an overpriced Motel 6 that does not have any vacancies.   Not sure why all the hotels in the area booked but we were forced to pay more than $130 dollars for this room.   I had realized how fast would be moving today, I have booked something in Utica. The ride was though mainly woods with what looked like well maintained country homes or summer homes.   There was some farms when we came followed the Erie cannel system and passed though a lot of old canal towns.   We also crossed the Hudson river today.   The area here had upwards of 31 forts and military encampments during the French Indian wars and war of Independenc...

Sept 26 Day 15 Lake George miles 0 If you understand hiker talk that is a zero day,   meaning we did leave hotel!   Reason yesterday was a little uncomfortable today would have been horrible and even worse.   Woke to heavy rain and it with 80% chance would continue all day. This does not mean we accomplished nothing just that we set out to do nothing and we successfully accomplished nothing.   Well we did somethings. Had breakfast after an quite night in hotel. Watched some movies on HBO Went for walk saw Lake and Fort George on waterfront Found another Giant.   This holding an Ax. Made reservations to see a play tonight.  Bought a warmer Tee shirt for me to wear on cold days.  Any Fort George was a British fort build in 17in 1750.   Captured by the French under Malcolm in 1755.   Recaptured in 1758 by British as a first step   in attacking on fort Ticonderoga.   Then held by British until 1775 when it captured by the Americans. ...