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A couple of years ago , we mapped out Carpenter Gothic former school - our ride. We'll meet you back at Route 10) is take a left for a couple WHEELS a series of bicycle rides around house, which will be on your left as Otto's, where we're sitting at a table hundred yards and find a piece of Claverack for this magazine. We've you turn right onto Wire Road. outside, just about ready to get back industrial history in the brick build - been venturing further afield over the Ride on Wire to Dales Bridge and on our bikes and head east on 8. ing to your right, the old Burden Iron years, and here are four of our turn right. We can only say "Be There are, alas, a few hills to deal Mine. favorite Columbia County rides. We Careful!" as you go really fast down - with. Just after passing the hand - If you're not interested in mill really like flat rides, but geography hill and across the Roe-Jan Kill, some Rockefeller Homestead (on ponds or iron mines, then just keep doesn’t always cooperate, and we because you'll have to walk your bike your left), you'll find the Keep pedaling on 31 through the orchards have to deal with hills. Only one of up the hill on the other side. Once Conservation Preserve, where you —Hopedale Farms has an honor sys - these rides is completely easy ( The you've made it up and can breathe can take a break to watch birds and tem PYO apple concession on Klibar Copake Cows and Camping Ride ); the again, continue to the end of the road wildlife. Continue on 8 to Eastern Road to your right—and back to others are moderate. Mostly flat but where you'll see the Taconic Farms Parkway. Turn left on Eastern (this is Buckley's Corners and your car. with a few unavoidable hills. From 17 complex in front of you. Make a left a very dangerous intersection, so to 21 miles; they take anywhere from onto County Route 33. At County please be careful) and ride along a THE RIVER AND RIDGE RIDE an hour and a half to a little over two. Route 8, turn right into Germantown lovely road that passes the Diehl This 19.5 mile ride from Kinderhook The last two rides include portions on where you can refresh yourself at Brothers vineyards and takes you to Stuyvesant and back took us about dirt or gravel roads. We've indicated Otto's Market on Main Street. back to Dales Bridge. Right on Dales two hours. It's more hilly than we like where, so riders with road bikes can This is the mid-point of the basic Bridge and build some momentum (we had to get off our bikes three choose alternative routes. They're all ride (21 miles total if you head back because it's down and up this way times to walk up hills), but the views beautiful, simply because they’re now). If you want to keep riding, head too. At the top of the hill, turn right are more than worth a little huffing here. on into Tivoli by continuing west on 8 on Wire. Almost immediately to your and puffing. Bring plenty of water to the traffic light at 9G. Make a left, right, tucked down a long driveway and maybe a snack to reward yourself FRUIT LOOPS (VICKI'S FAVORITE RIDE) when you get to the top of Ridge We think a good bike ride has three Road. (Although we think riding elements: little traffic, wonderful along a road with the Berkshires to views and the possibility of a snack, your left and the Catskills to your because you do get hungry when you right is a reward in itself.) Other ride. This ride has all the above and rewards include stopping at either another virtue: the possibility of varia - Bean's Place or Pi Café in Kinderhook tions that make it a little bit longer, for an afterparty. somewhat longer, and so much Starting from the four corners in longer that we can't do it, but maybe Kinderhook, head south on Route 9, you can. 4/10 of a mile, passing some gorgeous The starting point is Buckley's historic houses, including one visited Corners, the intersection of Routes by the historically notorious Benedict 9/23 and County Route 31 in Arnold, to Eichybush Road. Turn right Greenport. You can park and shop at and go straight on Eichybush, the Eger Brothers farmstand, the first through rolling farmland (if you've of many produce vendors and farms been hankering for a farm to call your you will be passing on this trip. Ride own, there's one for sale on your right) south for a mile on Blue Hill Road to Hollow Road, and turn left. The (Route 31). Make a right on Route 14, road is downhill most of the way, past which is Church Road. On your right, sheep and cattle grazing in the fields you'll pass Don Baker Farm, which and down into the cool, swampy hol - has PYO (Pick Your Own) cherries in low. There's a noteworthy waterfall to season, and apples in the fall. After your left as you begin to climb back Pleroma Farm (organic meats, raw up the hill. At the top, you'll be at milk, eggs and vegetables) make a left Gibbons Road. Turn left, but only for on Howe Road. There's no road sign, 3/10 of a mile. Turn right on but there are signs for both Smith Summerset Road, which will take you and Fix Brothers Farms. Howe Road past more cattle grazing, and down a becomes White Birch, for a reason hill into Stuyvesant. At the small town that soon becomes apparent. At park at the bottom of the hill, make a Smith Farm you can pick raspberries and then your first right onto the you will see stately Teviotdale, the right, which will lead you to Route 9J. (while admiring Olana's tower in the wonderfully flat Woods Road. There's 18th century Georgian home of Make another right, onto 9J North. (If distance) from late July until the first a dog leg at County Route 6, which Walter Livingston and his son-in-law you turn left, you'll end up in frost, $2.50 a pint. Mrs. Smith doesn't you follow to the right, past Clermont Robert Fulton, of steamboat fame. Stuyvesant, where you can stop at the spray the raspberries, so you can eat (where you might want to ride in for a Continue on along this perfect Riverview Café for refreshment.) them right away instead of having look at Chancellor Livingston's man - country road. Protected forever by a Traveling north along the river, them turn into jam in your backpack. sion, the beautiful grounds, view, and conservation easement, Wire Road is you'll get some spectacular views: of She also has peaches, nectarines and gardens, or the Saugerties Lighthouse an untrafficked ride with a postcard the river itself and the cliffs on the VICKI AND BECKY apples. A little ahead on the left is Fix across the river) and then left at the T view of the Catskills to the west and Greene County side, and the Catskills Brothers, where PYO begins with into Tivoli. the Rockefeller farmhouse to the beyond. At mile 7.7, there's a road cherries in the early summer and con - Still not tired? You're now on your north, surrounded by abundant corn, marker on the left commemorating tinues all summer with peaches and own, because we can't do it, but if you wheat and soy fields, grazing cattle, Henry Hudson's landing on apples, and you get stunning views of can, consult your map and continue and long open views. September 19, 1609. As you travel just RIDE AGAIN the countryside from the top of the south to Annandale Road and make a At the end of Wire Road, turn left past this point, there's an unobstruct - ...... hill you have to ride up to get to the right. Ride through the Bard Campus on County Route 31. If you're up for a ed view across the river. And while Four fabulou s–and mostly fla t–Columbia County bike routes. trees. and don't forget to take a look at short detour, take your next left onto you're gazing, don't forget to look up Continue on White Birch, past the Frank Gehry's Fisher Center (on your Walkers Mill Road. The bridge is —you might see an eagle or falcon, recently acquired state forest on your right). Annandale eventually turns closed but you can stop and admire cruising above the river, looking for BY VICKI ROSENWALD AND REBECCA STOWE right, until White Birch ends at into River Road and you can ride all the mill pond and the old mill before lunch. County Route 10. (Again, no sign.) the way to Rhinebeck, 50 miles or so turning around and returning to 31. Just around the bend after cross - Left on 10 into the charming hamlet round trip. The other thing you can do, when you ing Mill Creek, you'll see (on your of Linlithgo, with its gray and white But enough about you. Back to get to the next crossroads (County left), the entrance to the Nature

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Mine Road. Turn right on Weed Mine tured poultry. (If you have a basket, which will take you to Route 22. you can buy a chicken.) Turn right on RIDING FOR A CAUSE Turn right onto 22, and almost 22 and go 8/10 of a mile before bear - immediately turn left onto 7A into the ing left onto 344, back into Copake Want to enjoy the beauty of hamlet of Copake. Turn right at the Falls. Once there, you can take a jump Columbia County on your bike and clock and leave town on Route 7A, in the Ore Pit Pond in Taconic State do some good in the world at the admiring Langdonhurst Farms, the Park, or bike on up 344 to the trail same time? first of several dairy farms you will be head for and take a seeing, on your right. A bit further on, walk through the woods to the Falls. If THE HARLEM VALLEY RAIL RIDE NORTHERN COLUMBIA TRIATHALON 7A turns into Route 7 at the Oleana you're with the kids, and you feel they This Bike ride offers five The Northern Columbia Triathlon, Campground. Pass Upper Rhoda need a history lesson, take them over route choices ranging from 20 to 100 held in August, includes a biking seg - Pond on your right, then Camp to the Copake Iron Works. miles. (To view the routes go to ment of approximately 19 miles. This Pontiac and Lower Rhoda Pond on (www.bikenewyork.org/rides/hvrr/ind year, for the 5th annual triathalon, the left. You can take a water break THE ART AND HISTORY RIDE ex.html.) All routes begin with a ride the bike route went from Queechy here to share fond (or not-so-fond) (AKA THE RIDE OF MANY BATHROOMS) on the Lake to the Kline Kill Airport in memories of sleepaway camp. This is a really great ride, with some - (www.hvrt.org) starting in Millerton, Ghent. We can't tell you about the At 7.5 miles, turn left on Simons thing for everyone: a little 19th centu - and then meander through New York, route, because we didn't do it, but we Road. This soon turns to dirt, so if ry history, some art, beautiful , and , greatly admire everyone who did, and you are on a road bike, you will want countryside, a farmstand with a pet - depending on the route. Becky has we think maybe it’s something we to turn off Route 7 earlier, at Four ting zoo, and lots of public restrooms. ridden the 30-mile route twice, and should shoot for in the future. All pro - Corners Road, to avoid ruining your We met in the parking lot at recommends it enthusiastically. ceeds go to the Cystic Fibrosis tires, and rejoin the route later. On Ockawamick School on Route 217 in There are some hills steep enough to Foundation. For more information, Simons you'll ride past a vast swamp Claverack, and headed north on force you off your bike, but you won't and to see the bike portion of the on your left and then come around a Tishauser Road, an easy downhill ride be alone. The great thing about this route, go to www.northerncolumbia - bend to see the beautiful “1799 Barn” that cuts through farmland and offers ride is the good will and high spirits triathlon.com. on your right. Pass two more dairy a long, unobstructed view of the of the participants—you've got hard- farms and turn left at a T onto Wiltsie Catskills. When you cross Gahbauer core road bikers, kids on no-speed THE COLUMBIA COUNTY CANCER RIDE Bridge Road, where you will drive (which isn't marked), Tishauser clunkers, and disabled riders on spe - The Columbia County Cancer Ride right through a farm, with cows on all becomes Tipple and you are now in cialized bikes they pedal by hand. (www.columbiacountycancerride.c0m , sides. At 8.5 miles, turn left onto Ghent. Open farmland turns into cool Afterwards, there's a big party at now in its third year, offers three Empire Road, riding through the shady stretches through woods, lead - Eddie Collins Memorial Field in routes: 10, 25 and 50 miles, all in the Conservancy's Lewis A. Sawyer without bikes (or who have guests wide flat valley of the Roeliff Jansen ing to Route 66, continuing straight Millerton. A portion of the proceeds Chatham area. To see the maps, go to Preserve, one of only five freshwater without bikes) as it starts at the Rail Kill. You'll be riding toward the onto Orchard Road. Orchard ends in a goes to the Harlem Valley Rail Trail www.columbiacountycancerride.com tidal swamps in New York State. Trail in Copake Falls, adjacent to Berkshire Ridge, and have a great T at George Road. Make a left and fol - Association; the rest, to the East /cancer_ride_008.htm#Links. We There is a half-mile boardwalk lead - Bash Bish Bicycle, where you can rent view as you head back to Copake. If low George as it rises along an open Coast Greenway Alliance and Recycle- haven’t tried it, but intend to go for ing through the swamp, with inter - bicycles by the hour or the day you need refreshment, you can stop field that was dotted with massive a-Bicycle, among others. the 25 mile ride next year. pretive signs, which we always find (www.bashbishbicycle.com). at Dad's for drive-up ice cream, with - bales of fresh hay the day we rode. Money goes to either the Lance helpful, as we both tend to forget Head south on the Trail until it out even getting off your bike! George ends at County Route 22. COLUMBIA LAND CONSERVANCY'S Armstrong Foundation or the things these days. turns briefly onto Valley View Road, Continue past Dad's on 7A, to Go left and make a decision when you COLUMBIA COUNTY BIKE TOUR American Cancer Society. Funds After the preserve, you'll climb a which is partially dirt. Instead of turn - Farm Road on your left. Go straight on reach the West Ghent Reformed 2009 was the inaugural year for CLC's donated to the ACS are placed in a short hill, at the top of which is a ing left to continue on the Rail Trail, Farm Road passing Waubeeka Church. Are you hungry? Do you need Bike Tour, which offered two routes restricted account designated for spectacular view of Schodack Island keep riding on Valley View down the Campground and ride through rolling a bathroom? If so, continue to Route through northwestern Columbia Columbia County, so your dollars stay , sitting in the middle of the hill and through the open pasture farmland until you reach 22. On your 9H, and make a left. Less than a mile County—one at 50K and one at 100K. here to help your neighbors. Hudson. Watch for Ridge Road on and hay fields until you reach Weed right is Pigasso Farm, famous for pas - on your right is Love Apple Farm, We opted for the 50, but pulled a your right. Ride (or walk) up the hill where you can get (depending on the Rosie Ruiz (you may remember her and follow the road as it curves to the calendar) fresh cherries, raspberries from the 1980 Boston Marathon) and right, then up another hill and onto a (black and red), blackberries, cur - owned by Great Performances, a visit and sell you grass-fed beef) and cut across Schnackenberg Road in nice long flat piece of road through rants, apricots, peaches, nectarines, Manhattan catering company known turn left onto German Church Road. Philmont, stopped at the Dairy Queen residential areas and farmland, with plums, pears and apples (many vari - for its 100-Mile Menu. Fischer then This is a great road despite the fact in Ghent for refreshment, and contin - those stunning views of the Catskills eties). Also homemade Mexican food, twists and turns through farming and that it's all dirt and gravel, and there's ued back through Chatham to the on your right and the Berkshires on apple cider donuts, and slices of residential areas until it turns into no church. There is, however, an old starting point on Rock City Road your left. homemade pie, ice cream and drinks. Letter S (our favorite road name). cemetery and lots of cows, and you along a flatter route. However, we Continue on Ridge Road until the You can pick your own fruit, and you Letter S is a nice curvy downhill ride, get to ride right through the middle loved riding through New Concord, stop sign at Schoolhouse Road. Make can also get your animal fix for the which ends back on 22. To your right, of a pasture. Nice. even if it nearly killed us. The ride was a left and ride 7/10 of a mile to Route day at the petting zoo. We made you'll see a few big white heads stick - German Church ends at County really beautiful, just very, very hilly. 21. Make a right onto 21 and take it friends with a goat who was eating an ing out of the grass at the Fields Route 9. Turn right for a blissfully flat We have it on good authority that next back into Kinderhook Village. apple tree. Sculpture Park of Art Omi. Turn right ride ending in Mellenville Square year's ride will have an easier option If you want to forge ahead without to the Charles B. Benenson Visitor where you turn right on 217 to take for riders with less…um… stamina. THE COPAKE COWS AND CAMPING RIDE a pit stop, then make a right on Old Center & Gallery (Thursday to Sunday, you back to Ockawamick and your car. To view the routes, go to If you think farm animals are an Post Road before you get to 9H. There 11 –5) to see the gallery, get a map of www.clctrust.org essential element of country living, is a brief stretch of hard-packed dirt the Sculpture Park (7 days, dawn to this is the ride for you. It’s replete road, so road bikers may want to cut dusk), use the bathrooms, or visit the vicki rosenwald and her hus - with cows, pigs and chickens. And if over to 9H earlier. Everyone else head café. band bought new bikes and a house you're a camper, you can pitch a tent straight on Old Post until it stops at After visiting your favorite sculp - on Stone Mill Road in 2003. In her or rent a cabin at Taconic State Park 9H. You will see Lindenwald, the tures (we like the Dirt Man, which we other life, she is an oncology research or park your RV at Oleana or home of our eighth President, Martin consider to be both intellectually nurse in NYC. Becky and Vicki have Waubeeka Campgrounds. Van Buren, across the road on your challenging and quite handsome), been pedaling and talking since they At 17 miles, this is our shortest right. There is a bathroom and water get back on 22 and head west (left met in 2004. and flattest ride, G-rated and suitable cooler at the visitor center, also books, from the parking lot). Take the sec - rebecca stowe is the author of maps for the entire family. It's easy. Really. brochures, videos, First Lady Playing ond right at Habeck, and bear right three novels, and numerous short scale: one inch = 1.5 miles Reproduced with permission of jimapco, inc. If you've ridden the Harlem Valley Cards, and coloring books, for anyone on Schmidt. There are some moder - stories and essays. After thirty years columbia county tenth edition Rail Trail and are ready for some - who is getting a little fidgety. ate hills on this route, but nothing of writing, editing and teaching, she copyright 2008 thing a little more challenging—but Head north on 9H to Fischer Road you can't handle. Schmidt takes you has changed course and returned to Buy a copy at bookstores and convenience stores throughout the region. Shows and names every only a little—this is a good next step. and make a right. Immediately on back to Route 66, turn right, past graduate school to study Animal single road. Best investment a Columbia County It's also a very good ride for people your right is organic Katchkie Farms, Grazin’ Angus Acres (they'll let you Behavior and Conservation. tourist can make.

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