Originally Posted by
gravitylover
What a great ride that is other than the thoroughly worn out towns along the way. Sometimes it seems that the overly heavy handed land management in the 'daks over the last century has economically ruined the region. The 'you can drive around the boundary and look in or you can enter and walk but heaven forbid you want to use a trail not specifically designated as appropriate for humans and don't even think of saying the word bicycle or backcountry camping' attitude sucks. On to the roads, over the last few years we must've spent boatloads of $$ and now, for the most part, the roads are far better quality pavement than places where we collect lots of gas taxes. That made it kind of relaxing. Too bad the clouds never lifted more than a few hundred feet off the valley floors, I couldn't see much most of the way. Guess I gotta do it again :)
Boy, off season up there is really off. It was amazing how few businesses were open including two that I drove hours out of the way for. The primary target lost their last bike shop employee over the weekend and they decided to close until April but didn't announce it, just stuck a note on the door. Prime 21st century 'daks communication :rolleyes: I figured lunch in Tupper Lake would be easy, nope. It's a good thing there's Stewart's everywhere so you can get decent hot coffee and fresh sandwiches that aren't terrible.