Conclusions
My first mass tour was a success, in no small part to the people involved, the Parks and Trails staff and the army of volunteers. The weather was great and the Hudson Valley is beautiful. Everyone I met was friendly, polite and positive. That forced me to be on my best behavior. Hanging with Pat, Mark and John, who volunteered much of the time, added so much to my trip. The conversation was always interesting and lively. When riding, much of the time I was solo, maybe it was my later start or my pace, but I would usually meet folks at the rest stops.
The group numbers: 152 bicyclists, 60 volunteers (who sometimes biked), 65 was the average age and two-thirds were men. I was among my peers, a less grumpy, more fit and positive group of peers.
The SAG riders were always nearby, the moving of gear lightened my load. Some opted for the Comfy Camper option–they set up your tent, inflated the mattress and provided clean towels. They also broke down camp. Those folks tended to get out on the road earlier. I was told it was $100 a night for the service.
I packed and set up my camp, which took about an hour to get everything ready for the evening and an hour to break down in the morning. This slowed my departure a bit. But I could set up in the general area of wherever I wanted. I tried to be a bit isolated so as not to disturb anyone with my snoring. Conversely, if you were assigned a spot next to a snorer in the Comfy Camp you were stuck next to them for the week.
When I rolled into the camp, I’d seek out the information table and sort out where the dining area, water fill station, bathroom and showers were. There was always cold water, Gatorade and usually, beer, wine and soda for a nominal fee.
As I mentioned up top, the fee for the tour was $900. While not inexpensive, it wasn’t outrageous for the logistics and level of attention that was provided. A similar experience would be impossible solo. I had a wonderful time, much of which was because of the people I met.
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6 days ago
6 days ago