GOE XIX, Day 5: Return to the Blue Ben

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2015

So the gathering is under way!! Actually, like every year, it kind of started the night before, as we greeted people who showed up after us. That is a rarity, as we usually end up the last one to join the gathering.

So Kasey and I got registered, and the rest of the afternoon is open for a free ride. We needed to be back by five to join the group for the dinner ride. First off was stop at the closest Best Buy, as I needed some new SD Cards to record the GoPro Footage. We headed south on the Interstate, and then through Glens Falls. Kasey lived her in younger years, and her father worked at the big paper company in town.

We made the errand, and then began our journey to Vermont. We left Saratoga Springs on Louden Road. It was a nice, wooded and winding road through some pretty nice homes. This road spilled us out on State Road 29, and we continued east. We took a bit of a jog in Schuyleryville, and then continued on SR 29.

At Greenwich, we peeled south on SR 372 making our way to Cambridge, New York. Cambridge has become a bit of a theme of this trip. We passed through Cambridge City on Day one, and pass through three more Cambridge name based cities on the way home. We continued on SR 22 to Hoosick.

State Road 7 would take us east and across the border. No place to stop for a photo op, have to hope for one at our exit. In Vermont the road is SR 9, and it took us right into Bennington. I have been here before, even had breakfast where I was planning to eat, but it didn't look familiar. In fact, we basically tripped over the location of the Blue Benn Diner! We were looking at the grounds of the Veterans Home.

We had a great lunch, and great time! I'm really starting to love these old diners, the stainless steel, air stream looking ones. Even though we got menus, all the offering were typed up on sheets of paper, laminated and hanging on the wall. The sheets were even color coded so you knew what was breakfast, sandwiches, etc.

The sky was looking kind of grey, and we needed to head back for dinner. An older couple that was sitting near us was outside when we came out. He was suggesting a route to get back to Lake George. A few problems: he was telling us the route that we came. I don't do the same route back when I'm 1000 miles from home. I only have this chance, and I'm hitting as many roads as I can. Second, I had the GPS on the bike, so I knew where we were going. I listed the towns we were heading through, and he said he didn't know any way to make it to Lake George from those towns. You have to excuse him, he doesn't know who I am.

We headed out of town, but I was having an issue with my GPS Power Supply. After finding a broken wire, and blowing a fuse, we were back under power, and on our way out of town. We took SR 7 north and along and into the Green Mountain National Forest.

We jogged our way over to Arlington , Vermont, and then on to Hillside Road. I'm guessing this is one of the roads that older gentleman at the diner didn't know got to where we are going. it changed names a few times, and then crossed us back over into The Empire State. There was a parking area, dirt and gravel, but good enough for a Photo Op.

County Route 61 carried us west through the New York Country Side, on roads that many must not know about since we saw very little traffic. It was a series of great roads. Next up was SR 29, then SR 49, also known as Old State Route 338. The roads took us past Carter Pond, Cossayuna Lake, among other bodies of water.

County Route 48 and 47 were what we were following. Through Argyle on State Route 197 and then on State Route 42. A left at SR 196 took us into Hudson, New York. SR 254 and SR 32 took us north and west and into Glen Falls, New York. We made a stop at the old building of the paper factory, and then on to Kasey's childhood home. The current owner came out the front door, and didn't seem surprised by her visit and wanting to take pictures.

State Road 9 took us back to the hotel, with a stop for fuel before we did make it to the lodge. We had a few minutes before we headed out as a group to the Barnsider for dinner.Not a long trip, mostly up the Interstate.

When we got back, the bikes got parked, and a few drinks came out as we gathered on some picnic tables outside. This is the classic part of Gathering of Eagles, when the riding was done, and the stories began. Sure most of us had an adult beverage with us, but it was all in good fun, and getting to talk with others I only see once a year.

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