An excellent nights sleep in the cool porch, followed by fresh blueberry pancakes at Michael's Diner, left us feeling good for the day ahead. We have decided to make it to Poughkeepsie for Thursday evening, ready for the Friday morning 9/11 service at the new memorial they are constructing there. We expected to go past Albany to a campground South along the Hudson today.
The morning mist burned off early, and the temperatures steadily rose all morning, reaching 37 Celsius by lunch time. Another morning of roads in the heat left us tired, and we stopped for a smoothie in Schenectady. The heat on leaving the air conditioned Burger King was like walking into an oven. Thankfully we moved onto trails for the rest of the day.
Large piles of leaves interrupted the smooth trail surface, crackling under our wheels. Intermittent rain showers cooled us off temporarily as we passed through industrial works including an atomic energy research facility, with groups of professionals walking along the bike trail to and from the buildings. We also passed a large munitions manufacturing facility.
On the approach to Troy we caught the most incredible scent in the air, wafting across the trail. Close to lunch time, the scent of sweet barbeque was too good to ignore and we immediately turned right, careening down the grass verge towards the restaurant, the Pig Pit BBQ. Inside we were won over by the promise of a colossal pulled pork sandwich and fries with 'slaw. After talking to the staff, they were amazed by what we were doing, and offered us drinks on the house! The service was fantastic and we felt right at home for the brief time we stopped in. They even left us with a goodie bag of extra pulled pork and bread for the road!
We rolled on a further 12 miles down the Hudson to Albany, and decided it was too hot, and we had enough cycling for today. I had an offer from a host that I had previously declined, however they were happy to take us in tonight. We waited until they were free at a riverside bar on a boat, rehydrating with fresh lemonade and enjoying the cool breeze.
The cool breeze became a gusting storm just in time for us to leave, sending chairs tumbling across the deck. We battled a headwind up the steep hill through town as rain started pattering down, increasing in intensity. We were soaked by the time we arrived at our host's home. Shaun is a professor of arts at a local university, and Carrie works at a community bike shop in Troy, Troy Bike Rescue. Shaun let us in, and we washed and ate our leftover pulled pork BBQ sandwiches, washed down with some local New York beers. Shaun was Airborne working as a signaller for four years before doing his studies. The conversation was interesting, and the evening passed quickly.
Owen informs me we have ridden over 3350 miles as of this morning. Tomorrow we aim to reach Poughkeepsie.
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