It’s the end of the trail.

We weren’t sure what we were in for today. Based on the map, it looked like we’d be dealing with a lot of urban riding and traffic. Our expectations were wrong, though.

Getting out of Schenectady was very easy; we were able to pick the Canalway Trail back up just a few minutes after leaving the hotel.

It was a lovely path, a wide asphalt ribbon running through a dense green forest. Although we had both put on jackets when we started off, we were ready to put them away after a few miles. The rest of the day was a very pleasant partly sunny, short sleeve kind of day.

For the first time on this trip we had some real elevation changes to deal with. The first twenty of this thirty mile day was up and down.

There was one hill though that we both decided to walk up. You can’t see it in the photo, but it was steep and winding, and there was no point in spending a bunch of energy on it.

At the top of this climb there was a bench shelter where we stopped and put our jackets away. It had this odd little sign it.

When he saw it, Charles said, “more like old lungs at work,” which made me laugh.

In the town of Niskayuna there was a nice park with this interesting little old train station; we were at that point on a rail trail (but still part of the Canalway).

Today really was for the most part just a nice ride in the woods.

Only when we started to approach Albany did the character of the path change.

Our final departure from the Erie Canalway Trail came near Jennings Landing in the Corning Preserve, when we headed up the Hudson River Way pedestrian bridge over I-787. Then the real elevation party began.

I didn’t know anything at all about Albany before we arrived, but now I know that it is hilly. I took one look at this one multiple-block climb ahead of me and said, “nope,” and proceeded to again push my bike up the hill. Charles rode up, but he is a much better climber than I am.

We had to go far past the big hotels near the interstate to get to our hotel, but we have been rewarded for our efforts. We’re at the Morgan State House, a gorgeous brownstone from 1884 across from Washington Park. We are in the “Garden” room, which features its own library room. The whole house (that we have access to) is awesome, and is one of the loveliest places I’ve ever stayed.

The woman who lived here is also a very fine representation of the kind of woman I admire. Alice Morgan Wright lived here her whole life. She was a tireless suffragette and animal activist who, with her partner Edith started the National Humane Education Society. She was also a noted sculptor. You know I love a badass woman who loves animals.

Charles and I had an early arrival thanks to the short mileage, so we had plenty of time to explore a few blocks around us. We stopped in for a beer at the cool Lionheart Pub and Brewery, before getting a bottle of wine and walking back to the State House.

We had a couple of glasses of wine in the garden, then walked to Sukhothai for a wonderful Thai dinner. Then we came back with some ice cream, looked through some of the books in our library, and finished the wine.

Tomorrow’s big adventures will be getting across the Dunn Memorial Bridge over the Hudson to the Amtrak station, then getting us, our bags, and our bikes on to the train back to Buffalo, where my car hopefully still awaits. Then back to Michigan and the kitties.

It’s going to be a long day, with more than a little stress, I expect. But the train doesn’t leave till 1pm, and we have a nice breakfast here to look forward to.