Leaf Peeping in the Catskills

October 10, 2010
Total Miles: 300 miles
Catskill Mountains, NY

Dan had planned to go rock climbing with our friend Aaron, so I thought I’d take the day and check out the changing colors of autumn on the KLR. We were all heading to the same area, the Catskills in New York, so it was planned to meet with them after their climb for a very late lunch. Meanwhile, I had all day to play in the woods!

Leef Peeper forecast map

Early in the day, near the NJ/NY border

The map above is somewhat accurate. I couldn’t have told you half the roads I took, as they were random “Oh this looks nice” turns as I happened up on them. I shunned major roads once I got out of the congestion of northern New Jersey and tried to avoid towns and traffic as much as possible. I’d say that I did a pretty good job, especially considering that I was out during peak leaf changing season within an hour of New York City. And also considering that I really had no idea what I was doing.

It was tempting not to stop through this curve

Further along in New York State

There were more cars that usual (I’m assuming) but even so, I often had the roads to myself. The temperature was quite comfortable, although I was glad to have on my Held gloves and my Turtle Fur neck warmer. I had planned to grab breakfast at a diner along the way, but by the time I was seriously thinking about food, I was no where near anywhere to eat. I found myself about 20 minutes (in the “wrong” direction) from a place, but in looking at the time (1:30) I figured that it would be silly to eat now and then meet up with the guys in 2 1/2 hours to eat again (the plan had been to meet them in New Paltz at the Guided Otter Brewery at 4pm). I wasn’t all that hungry anyway, so I just kept meandering around.

I usually stop to help turtles; this one was too far gone

Swans on a pond with beaver mound

View from Rt 52 coming into Ellenville, NY

Rondout Reservoir

Fishing boats on the reservoir shore

Farm in the mountains

2000 KLR 650 – 76,000 miles and still going strong

Waterfall in the woods (along Cherrytown Rd)

Upper Cherrytown Rd

Stonework along Cherrytown Rd

Detail of stonework

Rogue Harbor Rd

I finally stopped around 3pm and checked my phone. There were two messages from Dan: apparently he and Aaron were not the only ones who wanted to climb today and because of the late start they got, there was no where to park and no more permits available. They had stopped to eat around 1 and were heading home around 2. Whoops. I guess I missed them AND my lunch date!

There wasn’t a lot of point in me going to eat by myself, not when I knew I could be home in an hour and eat there. So I meandered some more, this time heading south, and after buying a box of apples from a local orchard, I finally hit Rt 23 for home.

Closed road

From Rt 7 south of New Paltz

From Rt 7 south of New Paltz

Cedar Swamp Rd through the onion farms