The Rise of Skywalker

September 21, 2024

Albany to Yonkers via train + bike

Took the elevator down to the breakfast area at 6:30 figuring I could pick up breakfast and bring back to the room. The lights were out in the breakfast station so I headed back upstairs to the room thinking it would open at 7. Returned with Kath a little after 7 and lights were still out. I checked the hours and it said 6-10 for breakfast, but there was no breakfast. As we're trying to see what leftovers from the day before we can scrounge up, I'm approached by a nattily-dressed woman who asks me where the breakfast is. I respond I don't know. She asks again why there's no breakfast and again I respond "ya got me...?" The lights are on in the kitchen area so Kath grabs a banana and we head up to the front desk to see about breakfast. The associate at the front desk is asleep. Ya can't make this stuff up.... Another guest walks past us and says the breakfast crew didn't show up so no breakfast. And then we had to deal with another homeless person asking us about where the breakfast was. Craziest breakfast experience in a Marriott hotel ever.

That meant we had a ride to the train station on an empty stomach. In the heart of a Jedi lies their strength. We depart to make it over the Hudson River to Rensselaer Train Station to catch Amtrak. The bikeway over the Hudson was closed because, well, there was a void in the bridge. So we were routed onto an exit ramp separated by concrete barriers. An effective solution and we felt very safe on the detour.

The ramps make navigating the bikes up the stairs arguably .0326% better

Pedestrian/bike path has a large void in it so it's unusable. The detour's entrance is about 1/10 mile north.

The detour is a concrete-separated barrier on an exit ramp. An effective solution

We roll through the eastern neighborhood of Albany after making the river crossing and encounter well-done graffiti and a soup kitchen queue. Once at the Renssellear Train station (which puts the Atlanta train station to shame) we pick up coffee and muffins for the trip southbound. Kath asks the gate attendant about boarding with bikes, and they put us in pre-boarding! Sweet!

"Get in line," they said. "Sure," I said

Now traveling on an Amtrak commuter route can be a crapshoot. Unlike the long-haul routes where the bikes go into a baggie car, they are maneuvered into the carriages like everything else, and then hung vertically from the back wheel in a special compartment. Sometimes baggage is taking up the bike space and the conductor will have to move it. On today's journey, the only bike space was separated by two cars. So though Kath and I could sit together, our bikes are separated for the journey. Once on the train, we were fine, but my fear is the destination will have a step-down from the train rather than the platform at the level of the carriage and since Kath and I are separated for the egress I don't have time to assist with her bike (because the conductors are not allowed to assist). Confronting fear is the destiny of a Jedi. The conductor informs us the platform is level at our destination and he will notify us several minutes prior to the stop.

But my fears were unfounded for as soon as the train stopped and I leapt out with my bike, quickly leaned it against a waste bin, and then made my way two carriages forward, there she was rolling her bike out. She unclasped a pannier to be able to make the 90-degree turn from the aisle to the exit on the carriage. Well done!

Once off the train, it would be 6 miles of road riding before we connected with the Empire Trail. I navigated us through the Old Croton Aqueduct trail not knowing that it was dirt single track. And hilly. And encountered The Rise of Skywalker which was a 15% dirt path going up about 90 feet - this was definitely an "unmount the panniers and carry the bikes up the slippery dirt" kind of slope. I crest over the top carrying the bike on my second trip and a fellow cyclist asks, "is this path all like this?" "I don't know man, I just got here myself." That's the worst of the path and it's actually a nice option for the rest of that trail.

Unexpected single track in the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail

We make it to the official Empire Trail after navigating through streets and sidewalks and this section is a guard-rail separated paved path alongside one of New York's myriad of automobile highway infrastructure (I think it's the Taconic State Parkway).

Empire Trail routes alongside the Taconic State Parkway.

We pass by our first sign indicating New York City. Your journey nears its end.

First sign we see indicating New York City, and the end of our ride.

We spot multiple groups of northbound riders this Saturday on the Empire Trail. We share waves and high-fives since we're all enjoying the path and the opportunity for long-haul adventure it provides.

We weren't the only ones taking advantage of the Empire Trail this Saturday. Various groups of northbound riders pass and we share greetings. May the Force be with you all!

After a 3/4-mile long ~6% grade of a climb in Yonkers, we arrived at our hotel. Holy cow are hotels near NYC expensive. At least this had some dinner options and we found a taqueria within walking distance. We sat outside in the courtyard until our number was called so we could fetch our food. And what is with these places where you go to the counter to place your order, you pick up all the cutlery, you clean the table before and AFTER you eat, you serve yourself, and still they present the machine to you with tip options of 20%, 25%, and 30%. I'm not stingy or greedy but if I'm doing all the work I'm tipping you (a tip being an extra amount of pay for exceptional service) why? If I'm in a restaurant with table service or I sit at the bar, I go 20% but if I'm doing all the work I just don't get it.

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Today's ride: 23 miles (37 km)
Total: 443 miles (713 km)

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