Biking the Alcove Reservoir

Last week Nola took me on a 50-mile bike ride up, down and around Thatcher Park from Selkirk. I've done it before but not with Nola, the Superhuman 63-year old I try and often fail to keep up with.

Today we did more of the same but with a gal by the name of Tess to help lighten the load. We hurried up Route 32, through a detour, past the beginning of the Albany Alcove and finally a swift left onto Henry Road.

That's when traffic eased up and the three of us could easily bike side-by-side at a pace that afforded a conversation. We talked about Lance Armstrong's three week race and all nine grueling stages he and others endure. Given I ride an ancient 15-year old Schwinn Hybrid our rolling route felt like the Pyrenees to me.

Like last Sunday at Thatcher Park, my calves burned, back ached and sweat filled up sunglasses. But complain I didn't dare, not when my attention was diverted away by old beautiful stone homes, working farms, picturesque barns and tall silos. I even caught a glimpse of a historical marker of a fallen Tannery from 1834.

Tess and Nola barely broke a sweat past all this, with their skinny tires and sleek water backpacks.

Newry road lead into Sunset road that lead into the town of Alcove. A little General Store and Post office were our first commercial sightings in 2 hours. Back onto State Route 143 and past a gigantic pool of crystal blue water, the Albany Reservoir we peddled. FYI: In 2007, Albany water won first prize as the best tasting drinking water in New York State.

Desperate for a dip in the Reservoir we wisely agreed not to trigger the authorities and pressed on. Hunger struck and I insisted on stopping and sharing my fruit cup.

2 scaried deer jumped in our path and tore into the woods. On Onesquethaw Creek road a local farm stand was selling freshly picked sweet corn. Nola and I scraped up enough loose change for 2 ears each. Toting my Red Cross backpack wasn't in vain after all.

Next Sunday we'll do the same, another 40-50 miles in an effort to stay in shape and enjoy the Southern Albany region. But beyond everybody's earshot is one hell of a potty-mouth ascending hills with pure dread. By September that better change!