The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

Adirondacks Fall Foliage 2022

October 6th to October 17th

Ride Director: Julie Leever
Ride Co-Director: Tom Leever
Report by: Beth Collins

Like most BAC members, I enjoy the great outdoors with enthusiasm whether on my bike, skiing, or out for a hike in the woods.  The peak of the fall season in the Adirondacks, I would say, is one of those special moments to experience and excite all of your senses and to enjoy the change of seasons and all that Mother Nature and the Lake Country has to offer.

As an artist; perhaps I can best describe this extraordinary place by telling you how I might create a painting to capture its essence. On my canvas, the background of the sky in the northeast might change from a brilliant bright blue to a light misty grey, to a stormy cloud filled dark charcoal on any given fall day.  Then the middle ground on our Adirondack tour, might consist of farmlands, freshly harvested fields, or colorful mountains that roll on forever. There would be country roads that ramble through those rolling hills, a farmhouse or barn, a roaring stream, a quaint hotel and sparkling mirrored lakes that reflect the sky.  I might paint in a witch brigade on paddleboards, spooky Halloween décor throughout the region or a wild turkey crossing.  My palette of the trees in the foreground is my favorite part of this canvas.  The warm hues of garnet reds, golds, and oranges; the bright yellows mixing with the turning greens giving the illusion of iridescence in the foliage.  Add in the rays of sunshine to make this palette even more brilliant.

Now, put yourself on your bike and into this delicious landscape to enjoy the rest of your senses.  Take in a deep breath of the fresh air to smell the hay fields or white grasses mixed with a slight dampness after a fresh rain or the morning mist.   Mount your saddle each day to feel the crisp air flushing your face and the falling leaves cascading down around you, tickling your limbs as you meander the countryside.  You’ll also feel warmth in your leg muscles and such gratification after climbing on average, 2665 feet of elevation a day.  On your quiet country roads you might hear the babbling brooks, roaring rivers, farm equipment or birds passing overhead, with the occasional traffic noise.  The tastes of the tour can range from local brews, to freshly baked donuts from a laundry mat (yes, that truly is a thing), to whatever you may find in your excursion through the local general store.  Restaurants are simple in the lake towns with ample choices to gratify the taste buds.

Julie and Tom Leever were our trip leaders through our adventures in the Adirondacks.  They are seasoned travelers with BAC and outstanding with their organization and very detailed oriented.  With their direction on “bonding” each evening at happy hour, our group became cohesive with special camaraderie and shared friendships that were developed.  Every evening they also reviewed the next day’s GPS route, along with food stop locations and sights to see along the way.  Accommodation selection in the small towns was practical based on availability and our group size.  There were several opportunities to take breaks from the bike to kayak, canoe or take a hike on non-required bike days.

This grand circle tour started and ended in Burlington, Vermont.  We crossed Lake Champlain over a bridge with our stops being in Ticonderoga, Schroon Lake, Long Lake, Saranac Lake, Lake Placid and Essex.  We took a Ferry ride back across Lake Champlain, ending with a short bike ride to Burlington to say our farewells after such a wonderful experience.