From Burke Hollow, VT to Amsterdam, NY 
From Burke Hollow, VT to Amsterdam, NY
Ending Mileage: 
Day of Travel
Departing From
Destination
Distance (in miles)
Distance (in kilometers)
Departure Time
Arrival Time
Total Travel Time
Average Speed (in mph)
Average Speed (in kph)
You
know I had to have a goofy picture of ME on the snowplow. I mean this
is the first time I have met a person with their own personal
snowplow! This is me almost packed up and ready to go on Wednesday
morning.
I have to tell a story that went through my mind today during breakfast. My Dad is a retired Marine. It is a tradition at Thanksgiving to try to find home cooked meals for men that are away from their family. As kids, it was not unusual to have strangers show up for dinner at our home. They were as uncomfortable (I'm sure) as we kids were at being there. I remember one time, my Dad kept telling them, "Eat Boys Eat."
Well one time, the two corporals took this as a literal order from the Sergeant Major. They ate and ate. I felt the same way. We had eggs and toast and bacon and strawberries and bananas. A big change from the deluxe continental breakfast I've become accustomed to. By the way, when a hotel includes the word deluxe in the description you are guaranteed to have stale baked goods.
Well the weather channel is predicting a very wet ride. Even better, it won't improve for five or six days. The low pressure remains stuck over the Midwest. So I decide to grin and bear it. I know all the rain gear works pretty good so I know I will stay reasonably dry. As my comfort level with riding in the wet increases, I'm less concerned about safety issues.
The ride out to Interstate 91 is interesting. I pass a couple of old covered bridges. Onto I-91 heading south. The map has this route marked as scenic and it certainly is that. It could well be the most beautiful stretch of interstate that I have ridden so far. The road curves and twists often on the side of steep hills. And thankfully, I remain dry.
At White River Junction, I get off the highway to get gas and encounter my first raindrops. As long as I'm off the bike, I decide to don the rain suit. It has gotten much colder ahead of the rainy weather. So for the next fifty miles or so, the rain suit really is just a big green wind breaker. Vermont 4 curves through some small towns. The road to the New York border covers several mountain ridges. Up I go into the low clouds and mist and then back down into a valley. I stop in Rutland for a lunch. When I come out the rain has started in earnest.
I continue heading west still on Vermont 4 -- now a four lane highway. The road is very good and the traffic is light. The rain is not steady. I have ten to fifteen of rain then a break of thirty minutes or so. At the New York state line, the road shifts back to a rather poor quality two lane highway. The road twists through a number of small towns intersecting Interstate 87.
At Saratoga Springs, the rain is very heavy. I take a needed gas break and contemplate my next step. I haven't covered as much ground as I would have liked and I want to press onward. There are two problems: The wash created by the semis really is unbelievable. The second is the sting of raindrops on your face. It is damned uncomfortable at freeway speeds. Please don't write and tell me to get a closed face helmet or a face screen -- I don't need the added aggravation.
I decide to ditch the Interstate in favor of New York 50 that should lead me down to Schenectady and then onto Interstate 88. That would at least get me to my first goal of Albany region. Every thing goes fine, the rain backs off a bit and the surface streets are easier to navigate. Somewhere in Schenectady I get misdirected and end up on a highway headed in the wrong direction. I get reoriented and finally land in a Super 8 Motel in Amsterdam, New York.
Sorry folks that there are no pictures. Everything was secured out of the rain. I'm lazy OK, its too much damn work to unpack everything.
Continue Reading: Westward Ho! Erie, PA
Depart Burke Hollow on Vermont 114 heading south.
Transition onto Interstate 91 heading south.
At White River Junction, transition onto Vermont 4 heading west.
Cross into New York State
At Hudson Falls, turn right onto New York 32.
At intersection with Interstate 87, enter I-87 heading south.
At Saratoga Springs, transition onto New York 50 heading south.
In Schenectady, transition onto New York 5E heading west.
Arrive Amsterdam.
(c) 2001 Thomas N. Engler Revision Date: 05/26/2001
