A Glimpse of the Hudson River Ridin’ The Rails

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How about getting a great little workout, in our gorgeous Adirondack Park, all the while sitting on your bum, with some spectacular views and scenery thrown in as a bonus?

Then get on over to North Creek for some rail biking with the Revolution Rail Co. Under your own steam (pun intended) you’ll either be on a double or quad rail bike. The light weight bikes, made in Vermont, are easy to ride. Unless it’s a scorcher outside, you will barely break a sweat.

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 Pro tip: bring a back pack with drinks and snacks, bug spray and sun protection, (There’s a Tops on Main Street a minute away from the Revolution Headquarters. You’ll need to book in advance because this is a popular attraction and reservations fill up days ahead.  After the waiver signing and a safety briefing, you’ll board a  bus at the North Creek Railroad Station, where Theodore Roosevelt's Midnight run ended. It’s a school bus with the “S” missing – so you are actually on the Cool Bus. (Our driver reminded us.) After a short ride north your carriage awaits on the rails to take you on your adventure.

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 Another safety briefing follows. The Revolution crew wants you to have a great time so they explain in a lot of details how to optimize your seat adjustment for a smooth and effortless ride. And important things like how to break. Each bike has a basket for a couple of backpacks and an umbrella to share for two riders. The tours go rain or shine.

You are encouraged to spread out during your ride  -- this is not some form of twisted dodge ‘em cars  -- which gives everyone the chance to feel like they have the rails to themselves. The historic tracks were once used by local mining companies, but never carried passengers.

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Our group of four took the 4pm tour where the late day sun light showcases the mighty Hudson for a perfect Nat Geo Cover photo op.

For most of the ride you’ll be under a canopy of trees, with the Hudson River on your right on the outbound. Minutes into the ride you’ll get a view of the Barton Mines Hudson River Plant. A few miles later you’ll get your first crossing of the Adirondack Railroad Bridge.

Everyone slows down. Some folks whip out their iPhones  and begin snapping away a series of selfie, social media ready pics for posting. If  you fear dropping your device into the Hudson, the Revolution Rail Bike folks will take a couple of pics of you and your group on the return trip. (They are available for free on their Flickr site).

After the bridge crossing, the body of water on your right is the Boreas River. A little further down is the halfway point of your trip, where you head on down to the river to enjoy those cold drinks and snacks you have packed. The break allows not only for pictures standing on rocks in the middle of the shallow river, but gives the Revolution crew time to  turn your rail bikes around. It’s about a 20 minute process. There’s also a rustic bathroom.

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There are no hills to pedal up, but you will feel the pull of the slight inclines, which means you’ll be picking up speed on the way down as you give your legs a rest.

The whole trip takes about 2 and a half hours, but allow for more time. You’ll  ride about 7 miles round trip. This is a  unique experience for couples, group and families. There’s fun swag and souvenirs in the main office. Check out all of the details here: Revolution Rail Co. . Phone(518) 251-2345

 

Adirondack Shindig Saturday

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This is always a great way to spend a special summer, family friendly day: there’s the yard sale, a preview of the renovations of the historic 1881 church and a concert featuring The North Country Boys and Andy Smith and Bob Gagnon.

 Start your day in the morning at the Adirondack Yard Sale beginning at 9 am and continuing until 3 pm near the Recreation Field, and enjoy the Family Activities Area and take a chance in the basket raffle.

 Adirondack Shindig runs from 11 am until 3 pm. Take a walk through the original doors to see the work done in the newly renovated 1881 Union Church.

This historic structure served the Adirondack area residents and visitors for over a century. The historic building will once again serve the area as the Historical Museum Annex of the Horicon Historical Society. Hear the beautiful sound by ringing the still-operating bell as a donation toward the renovations. 

 The Shindig will feature musical entertainment, desserts and baked goods for sale by J. Gallup Farm. Great food and drinks are available at the Adirondack General Store. Bring your own chairs, get up and dance or sit back, relax, and enjoy a great day.

 The day will benefit The Town of Horicon Historical Society. Sponsored by the Town of Horicon Historical Society and the Town of Horicon.

Where and When:

 Saturday - 8/10/2019

9:00AM - 3:00PM

Free

1881 Union Church, 21 Church Street

Adirondack, NY

The State of The State and Schroon

The State of The State and Schroon

Photo Courtesy Jack Riepe

Schroon Lake was used as an example of how major thoroughfares -- like the proposed  Interstate 98 "Rooftop Highway" between Champlain and Watertown along U.S. Route 11 -- aren’t necessarily always a good idea.

Reacting to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State address where the governor mentioned that project, Assemblywoman Janet Duprey said state officials should be cautious about the project, according to a story in today’s Adirondack Daily Enterprise written by Shaun Kittle and Chris Knight.

"My concern is, I go up and down the Northway now, and I see some of the small communities where we used to stop: Schroon Lake, Newcomb, North Hudson," Duprey told the ADE.

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Hoffman Notch Fishing: Access For All

Don Sage, the President of the Schroon Lake Fish and Game Club, is making a passionate plea to reopen to off road vehicles the old trials leading to the ponds of Bailey, Marion, Big and North.

In a letter to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise, published on February 23, Sage says that opening the old roads in the Hoffman Notch area will not only allow sportsmen to have easier access, but will also make the NY DEC compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Hoffman Notch should be more accessible

To The editor:

Re: Hoffman unit access:

As the state Adirondack Park Agency and Department of Environmental Conservation look to expand the use of the Hoffman area, we, the sportsmen, request designated routes to the fishing ponds be opened for off-road vehicles. Roads already exist to these ponds: Bailey, Marion, Big and North. DEC policy of denying boats left at these ponds, forcing anglers to carry in and carry out each day, greatly reduces their time to fish. Early morning and late afternoon fishing will not be allowed as time must be spent lugging prams, rowboats, etc., back and forth, in and out daily. The establishing of a designated corridor following the old town roads for off-road vehicles will allow the anglers to spend more time enjoying their sport.

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