Thursday, September 16, 2004

Skaneatles, NY

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Today was a layover day in Skaneateles. There were four options for the day: a thirty mile eastern loop through Marcellus, NY; a thirty mile western loop; a forty mile loop around Skaneateles Lake; and the novel concept of not riding at all, which a couple of people chose. We decided on the lake loop.

The winds have been coming from the south since Elmira and today was not exception. Since the town of Skaneateles is located on the north end of the lake, we had no choice but to start out into the wind. The counterclockwise route that we took involves some challenging climbs, with the payoff of good descents and a tailwind during the last return section.

The first eight miles was generally uphill, then the real climbing started for the next four to five miles into the wind.
On Lake Skaneateles
loop
We didn't leave until around 10:30 am, but since there were few planned stops along the way, we figured the ride wouldn't take long. After the initial climb to about mile 13, we pedaled downhill into the wind until we reached the end of the lake. There was still a long descent ahead of us, and with the wind now behind us we started to head north.

Unlike earlier steep descents that ended at a stop sign or T intersection, this one just kept going. That is until Kerie informed me that she had been stung by an insect of some sort. She tends to have rather severe reactions to these kinds of bites, so we stopped so she could apply some topical benedryl along with taking an oral dose. The swelling and redness started immediately, and at 8 pm as I write this the redness is still spreading. Later that evening we replenished her supply of benedryl at the local pharmacy.

By now we were at the bottom of the lake and the end of the descent.
Rail car home
on Lake Skaneatels
This was the only section of the ride where the road was close to the lake. This could be due to the fact that the lake is the water supply for the city of Syracuse, and they want to keep pollutants as far from the lake as possible. There also seemed to be much less development along the lake shore.

As the road returned inland, we climbed again, one of the steeper climbs of the trip.
Artist's mailbox
on climb from lake
We stopped for snacks that we had carried since there were almost no stores along the route.
Downhill ride
to Skaneateles
Once we reached the return road, SR 41A, we were ready for some easier riding. We rode the last 12.5 miles at an average of about 20 mph, flying along with the wind at our backs going generally downhill. Like the other major New York roads, there was a good, wide, clean shoulder where we could get out of the way of the dump trucks and 18 wheelers.

Skaneateles
waterfront
Once back in town we were drawn again to the lake shore park which includes Shotwell Memorial Park, where the post-lunchtime crowds were eating snacks and reading as the ducks scurried about looking for treats (“Do Not Feed the Ducks.
Bike
duck
They carry a virus that gives swimmers an itchy rash.”). We then explored the town a little, stopping at the grocery store for fruit and drinks and some lunch for Kerie. I wasn't very hungry after my three breakfasts.

The multiple breakfasts beg for an explanation. I often rise before Kerie and today I wanted to get out to take some photos and possibly do some sketching. The Sherwood Inn offers a continental breakfast, so I checked it out. There were boxes of cereal, milk, and coffee. Pretty measly I thought as I ate a couple of small boxes of cereal with milk. The middle-aged clerk stopped in periodically, asking one woman if she wanted some juice, getting a danish for another woman.

I walked for a while, taking a few photos and stopping by the Skaneateles Bakery to supplement my meager breakfast with a glazed donut treat. I wandered back to the room, but since Kerie was still in bed, and feeling a little miffed at being ignored at breakfast earlier, I stopped by the desk to inquire about the breakfast, being told that there was fruit, yogurt, cereal, a crossaint, etc. Apparently the sever who brings the breakfast to the tables had called in sick. Not wanting to miss out on the other breakfast items, Kerie and I sat with Jim and Cheryl and tested the system. Sure enough, a short while later the infamous continental breakfast appeared.

After we got cleaned up we did a little shopping and I sat and sketched the library, located in an attractive stone building. The library has an art gallery in a back room, but I was told that it's only open on the weekends in the Fall. There were a number of very good copies of etchings on one wall, many of which looked like originals, including one of Whistler's London Set and a Rembrandt.

Skaneateles
Library
The dinner sandwiches at the Blue Water Grill were not great, although others said the entrés were very good. Kerie's shrimp pita melt was a disgusting pile of cheese and small shrimp that she picked at. To her credit, the waitress removed the charges for shrimp. Later we supplemented the meal with fruit from the store.

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