…:: Alex Smirnov ::…

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Entries from June 14th, 2011

Bicycling on Wallkill Valley, Shawangunk and Walden Rail Trails

June 14th, 2011 · No Comments · Adventure, Bicycling, Personal, Photography, Travel

The Wallkill Valley, Shawangunk and Walden rail trail (or rather rail trails) span from Walden, NY to Rosendale, NY, roughly in the North-South direction. I am not exactly sure on the whole nomenclature issue but it is very easy to ride all three trails together, in one day and at a very leisurely place. The surface of the trails varies as does the marking. The Walden rail trail is pretty much as good as it gets – of course – depending on your standards. What I mean that it is paved in its entirety, very well marked with stop signs and proper road crossings. And if you start in Walden like we did, slightly downhill. The second part of the ride is for all intents and purposes unmaintained singletrack, followed by riding on roads to the trailhead of the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail on Denniston Road. Wallkill Rail Trail is unpaved, mostly packed dirt and crushed stone, with some patches (mostly around New Paltz, NY) of variously degraded asphalt.

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Bicycling from Maine Coast to North Central Massachusetts

June 14th, 2011 · 1 Comment · Adventure, Bicycling, Photography, Travel

This was another one of those plans that hatched this past winter, while the snow lingered outside and I was laying on the floor in front of the TV planning future bike trips on mapmyride.com. For this particular plan, however, lot of things had to come together – and perfectly at that. First, the weather had to be decent – at least – as I was planning to ride lite (no panniers). Second, the ride had to coincide with out visit to Andi’s parents in Lunenburg, MA. And third, because the train was leaving from Boston North Station, there would have to be a good reason for someone to drop me off in Boston with my bike. In this case, Andi’s college reunion planned for the weekend worked just fine.

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