Harlem Valley Rail Trail ride

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Four of us had a great ride last SUN on the Harlem Valley Rail Trail from Millerton, NY to Wassaic Station. It was a beautiful fall day with cool temps and, at times, a little too much headwind. The trail passes through some impressive rock cuts and tree lined corridors, then opens into farm fields. We passed one field with sheep grazing and, alongside the trail, a dog keeping watch over the flock.
At the very end, it runs parrallel to Metro North (Hudson River Division) to a point just past the passenger platform at Wassaic Station and ends at the drive into the commuter parking lot for the station. There were bike racks and bike lockers for the fortunate commuters who choose to use the train to get to work. The trail is well separated from the rail by a high steel picket fence. It was a real thrill for me to be photographed with two things I most enjoy: bikes and trains.
The trail was busy with cyclists, walkers and a few roller bladers. One pair of cyclists was riding road bikes fitted with a framework connecting the handlebars and front forks so that they rode side by side in synchronized fashion. Interesting to see, but a little hard to manuever around at tight spots on the trail. It crosses one fairly busy rode (I think NY Route 22, a major north-south highway), but the crossing is well located for good visibility in both directions and is well marked, including a 12 - 15 foot wide painted chevron area. It was a bit of a struggle for two of us getting back to Millerton; the grade was an incline and the wind had shifted so that it was in our faces. But when we arrived back in Millerton, we did another photo op and stopped for some coffee at the Irving Farms Coffee Cafe for the car ride home.
Anyone up for a winter ride closer to home? Let me know.
Jim Cassidy

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