Day 22: Small Towns and Scenic Byways

Today I departed the relatively busy Mohawk Valley, a major east-west transportation corridor through the Appalachians, and mostly drove less-traveled back roads through farmlands and forests. Once again it was a cool and overcast day, but it never rained (though it did overnight in Utica).

I headed generally eastward toward Vermont, through Fairfield, Dolgeville, Johnstown, Saratoga Springs, Greenwich, and Cambridge, mostly following New York State Highway 29. I entered Vermont, and my first town was Arlington. From there I turned north onto Vermont Historic Highway 7A, which was recently designated "The Shires of Vermont Byway." Its name is understandable: much of the countryside did look like it was straight from The Shire in Lord of the Rings. I continued to the southern outskirts of Rutland, a city of nearly 17,000 people, the second-largest of the towns I passed through today (only Saratoga Springs was larger, with a population of about 27,000).

I journeyed another 168 miles today. 3,939 total miles now.

View looking east from just north of Utica.

One last look at the Mohawk Valley (looking south).

Church building in Saratoga Springs, NY.

First Baptist Church. This and the two previous churches were all on the same block (the gray one was across the street from the other two).

Just east of Saratoga Springs.

The trail follows an abandoned railroad grade for about two miles through various wetland habitats (I only walked a couple hundred yards on it).

The Hudson River at Schuylerville, NY. The river here separates into two branches around an island. This is the western branch, next to a city park.

Discounting the PCB contamination, it's a beautiful setting.

A section of the Champlain Canal runs through Schuylerville.

Looking eastward across rich farmland toward Vermont's mountains.

Cambridge, NY.

Rice Mansion Inn Bed and Breakfast, Cambridge, NY.

Private residence in Cambridge.

Saying goodbye to The Empire State (for now).

Vermont!

Looking Shire-like.

Cemetery at Wallingford, VT, about ten miles south of Rutland.

Across Highway 7 from my hotel in Rutland, VT. Besides the Taconic Mountains in the background, this could be Anytown, USA.