The Ride to Allegany

Family and friends were planning a vacation at Allegany State Park, so my brother Willie and I decided we wanted to ride, instead of drive there.  It was a little over 70 miles, and predominantly uphill.  We left shortly after 7:30am.  Getting out of Buffalo was terrible!  We had to traverse rather busy shoulder-less 4 and 6-lane highways.  Thankfully most drivers were nice and gave us room.  Once out of the city and suburbs we were in farming country for a bit.

We witnessed a group of workers harvesting cabbage...

Then we got on route 75, or Sisson Highway...which took us through a variety of areas...from farms to hunting cabins.  It was very low-traffic and we enjoyed riding it.  

There were a lot of tanker trucks hauling manure, but they didn't bother us at all...they didn't even smell very bad!

We paused for a snack at one point and I documented the

fact that we were in fact riding...both on Treks...

The fall flowers were in full display in the fields and along the roads...so beautiful!

Some unusual objects located around and on islands in a pond we passed...

Going through small town New York...

and past fields dotted with white-wrapped bales...

We rode through Gowanda, and it sure was steep coming out!  Thankfully it was short...

This picture deceives the viewer into thinking the steepness stops right below the building...no, that is a driveway...the road continues at the angle seen at the top for quite a bit further...

We even had a bike trail for 12 miles.  The Pat McGee Trail parallels Route 353.  It is pleasant to ride, but best for mountain bikes.  The surface isn't smooth or well kept-up, but the woods are beautiful and there are informational stops (environmental and historical) along it.  

The last part of the trip was over a tall hill into the park.  It went uphill for a very long time...but the long downhill on the other side was definitely worth it!  We were tired...it was the longest either of us had ever ridden in a day...over 70 miles.  It was about 5:00 when we arrived...

My right achilles tendon decided it wasn't healed enough yet, and gave me a little grief for a few days.  The left tendon hurt at the beginning of our ride, but stopped about halfway there.  It seems to be completely healed.  

Since my right tendon was still painful, my dad and I switched places for the trip home.  I rode in the van; he rode with my brother.