A brand new year

In this grand journey we call life, the satisfaction of adding on another year is still met with eager anticipation. The past couple of years Cheryl has tryed to find a new unriden destination is a way to accent the day. This year would be no different.

My trusty navagator guides me through a series of left and rights bearing west and south. As we travers through the bustling metroplie's of Cassadaga, Stockton, and my personal favorite...Ellory Center...(more on this cultural hot spot latter).

At last we arrive at our destination... Long Point Park ... on the shores of Chautauqua lake a little west of Bemus Point. This is a nice park with a large shoreline and public boat launch. We had the place to ourselves as we could count the other people there on one hand. Oh the joys of a Thursday, when the rest of the world is off at work. Chautauqua lake is shaped like a hour glass. After a hearty picnic lunch ...It is time to pedal !


We started near the pinch point of the hour glass. The first resort we encountered is Bemus Point, which has created a very nice, pretty shoreline area. Next on to the bustling of the BIG city of Jamestown. Like most small cities here in the northeast, Jamestown is showing signs of urban despair. Some way, some how these once thriving cities need too find a way to figure out how to lure back a manufacturing base.Without a strong manufacturing base creating jobs, they will continue to decline......That's a whole new thread for another day..... Chautauqua lake,as a whole has tried to base it's economy as a resort, tourist and second homes, such as Bemus Point and the other small hamlits along the it's shores.

Our tour continues along the southern shore heading west . The terrain is a series of long rollers that offers fabulous vista's of the lake. The winds are fairly strong today and a little chilly as they are out of the north west. Such are the joys of mid September rides. As we near Mayville, on our right is the prestigious Chautauqua Institute. Were the finest minds meet to solve the worlds issue's. Good Luck!!!! Climbing out of Mayville we are given one last majestic view of the lake.

Entering Long Point park at the end of our circumventing the lake, we have traversed 44 wonderful miles. Being the beginning of a new year I'm trying to ride my age (less than 3 digits). Well, Cheryl has already prepared an extra little loop for me to ride so I can achieve this goal.
What a day As I'm handed a map found on a local cycling clubs web site, and she so diligently points out the direction which I should ride...I'm off.... Now a couple of things someone forgot to mention to me were, 1) This local site is a cat 4-5 racing club that must be loaded with mountain goats , and 2) I'm now ride this route in reverse. But what do I know!!!! Lets get a few more miles in to surpass my age.

Rounding a bend in the road I'm thinking this is the same road we drove in on. I'm thinking... if I remember right there was as HUGE downhill........ wait...Hmmm .... if I'm now going in reverse , this is now a HUGE up hill. Yup, around the bend there it looms. It's a good thing I warmed up last Saturday at the Highlander. This sucker was longer than Millers hill, and steeper than County Rd 12. After 400 feet of climb in 2 miles of what felt like a going straight up a ladder, I reached the summit located in downtown Ellory Center. Yup ........ Church steeple and all. A few very strong rollers latter , I'm back at the park, enjoying a recovery drink, having exceeded my milage goals for the day.

Two hours latter we are joined by Robyn and Peter for dinner at Tully's in Batavia.

This truly is a fantastic birthday . ...