Day 2 is a largely rural day of riding with some truly spectacular sights along the way. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
We’ll start the day with something new this year. First, our whole community will make our way one block from our hotel to the state capitol, where we’ll launch the day with a moment of silence on the Capitol steps, remembering our loved ones and renewing our commitment to the end of AIDS by 2020.
We’ll exit south out of town and make our way down the Hudson Valley on backcountry roads nestled between the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains. You’ll have some long stretches with nary an intersection to distract you from the trees and the mountain views. At lunchtime you’ll arrive at hippie heaven, Woodstock. (The town isn’t where the concert was, but it’s still pretty high on the “peace, love and granola” scale.)
Your ride after lunch takes you up and over a mountain ridge to one of New York City’s primary water sources, the Ashokan Reservoir, and your route will actually take you ACROSS the reservoir for one of the most extraordinary vistas of the entire weekend.
Toward the end of the day, you’ll ride several miles on a two-lane road that cozies up to a creek for the entire stretch (and also takes you through a state correctional facility, just to keep things exciting)…before ending on the campus of the Honor’s Haven Resort, nestled in the valley below the Shawangunk Ridge. —Eric, Ride Director
