Day 5 (September 29, 2004) - Cranberry Lake to Long Lake, via Tupper Lake
We were up at 6:30 again and started the day with breakfast at the Stone Manor Diner. Absolutely delicious! I got stuffed French toast, and Barry had ham and a huge blueberry pancake. (Good thing he didn't get the tall stack!)
It was our chilliest morning so far at 45 degrees when we took off. We took a few photos in Cranberry Lake before we took off:
Once the sun started shining over the trees, we warmed up. The skies were beautifully blue today, which really highlighted the foliage.
There was much climbing today, so thankfully it was one of our shortest mileage days. I was having an even tougher time on the hills today than before, and Barry had to wait at the top of several of them for me, and our average speeds started to show more of a speed discrepancy. It was our slowest day so far. Maybe on our next tour, we'll hook a trailer up to his bike and let him carry more of the gear! Even though he was carrying a lot more weight than I was, he really excels on hills, as on an unloaded bike. At least I didn't have to walk any hills today, but the granny gear really got a workout. We saw our first touring cyclists today going the other way, two couples at two different times. We also saw several day cyclists out, and we shared friendly waves and hellos with all. The lakes and scenery along the way were breathtaking. There was a bit more traffic today ("leaf peepers", no doubt), but the shoulders remained wide and good for the most part.
We went through the town of Tupper Lake, where an old friend of mine grew up. Such a pretty town and beautiful lake.
We stopped at a convenience store/Dunkin Doughnuts for a snack, and Barry went through the drive-thru on his bike!
We arrived in picturesque Long Lake in the afternoon and took some photos before finding a motel.
A tourist at the same stop offered to take our photo together, and she got a good shot!
Barry remembered the motel he had stayed at with his dad fifteen years before, so we managed to find the same place, the "Corner Motel", and once again were given room #7. Not only my lucky number, but the same room Barry and his dad had slept in! This was another basic motel but comfortable enough, and the elderly proprietor was very pleasant and friendly.
Not exactly the Ritz, eh?!
After showers we took a walk and went to a huge Adirondack shop, which housed many interesting items, but anything we bought, we'd have to add to our load, so a small "ADK" (Adirondacks) sticker for the car, and a couple of drinks and snacks had to suffice.
"Two Bears"
We'd hoped to check email at an internet cafe there, but it was not open on Wednesdays. We had dinner at the "Blarney Stone" restaurant, which offered a weekday dinner special of two entrees, salads, desserts, and a bottle of wine for $35. We had a great meal and rolled out of there stuffed to the gills.
Day 5 Stats
Distance: 49 miles On-bike time: 4 hr, 20 min Avg. speed: 11.2 (E), 11.5 (B) Weather: 45 to low 60s, sunny, 10-20 mph winds