Lisa's Travels, Trials and Treats

Our Lake Chautauqua Bike Adventure

     

This is the beginning of our 75 mile, 3 day, Lake Chautauqua, wine country adventure on bike.  It started Friday night at a beautiful bed and breakfast, which was a century old farm house, converted into a modern gorgeous bed and breakfast, that I would recommend to anyone.

 

 

 

DAY 1

Our trip started Saturday morning as we took the ferry across the lake.  The ferry has been a continuous operation since 1810.  Yes-thats 199 yr!!!!

 

Bikes on board. 

 

 

Don has that adventerous look going on!!!!!!

Our trip took up through every type of scenery you could imagine.  We started off on a busy highway, into the quiet hamlet of Lakewood, NY; stopped by to see one of Don's favorite places; Mr. Carlsons Dock-where he had many memories of he and his children fishing there.  Mr. Carlson still owns it.  He is in his mid 90's and still runs the bait shop and boat livery.

One of our first stops, was at the Hotel Lenhart; which is the centerpiece of Bemus Point. Walking up the sidewalk into the hotel, it seems like your walking 100 years back into history.

 

Don and I in front of the Hotel Lenhart.

 

We ended day one with a total of 36 miles!  What a great day!

DAY 2

We awoke on Sunday morning to the smell of another wonderful breakfast served by our Innkeeper Pauline.  As we ate our breakfast we chatted with a couple from Pittsburgh, who was at the Lake looking for a summer house.  As we parted, we started our journey through wine country, as they were off to meet their real estate agent.

 

We started out in the town of Ripley, heading down the scenic rural farm roads, towards the many wineries that we visited throughout the day.

Odometer set at 0.

GPS ready to help us to our destinations.

 

 

Our first stop:  Sparkling Ponds Winery.

 

 

 

Just a sampling of the many miles of grape vines along the way.

 

Along Route 5.  This is pretty much what the roads looked like throughout the entire day.  Not much traffic; very rural, with grape vines on both sides of the road.  I look like I'm exhausted here! :)

 

 

 

 

Heritage Winery.  This was really cool.  The entrance to this winery was a big wine barrell!! 

 

 

 

We are back in NY after touring some wineries in PA.

 

Quincy Wine Cellars.  This was a beautiful old barn that had been converted to a winery.

  

 

  

 

Never, EVER let Don pick out the restaurant!!!!!! :)

 End of Day 2!!!

 
   We biked 28 miles today!!!!                     

                                                               

Bikes are back on the bike rack---hungry and ready for dinner after a day of biking!

DAY 3  

Although we were planning on leaving on Sunday night, we decided to stay an extra night and bike around on Monday at Longpoint State Park.  We were having such a good time, we didnt want the weekend to end. We already left the B & B, so with a few phone calls that Don had made, we made arrangements to stay at a cottage along the lake.

 

   

 

 

Blowing in the wind.....

Total Miles at the end of Day 3:  10 miles

Total Miles for the 3 day trip:  75 miles

Don and I had a glorious weekend.  The weather could not have been better.  Not only did we bike 75 miles, we burned over 2400 calories!  What a great way to get exercise and see some really beautiful sights. 

The next bike weekend we have planned, is biking around Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes.  That lake is surrounded by numerous wineries as well.

Other day trips include Put n Bay, the Tow Path in Peninsula and of course our usual Monday and Wednesday bike rides through Lakewood and through the Metroparks.  In the fall we plan on going to Hocking to visit John and bike around the trails to see the changing of the leaves.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

  

Another bike adventure.....

On Sunday, Don and I took off in the Metroparks and biked 15 miles!  It was a cool day, but the sun was shining and it couldnt have been a better day to get out on our bikes.  Monday evening after work, we headed  out again--this time biking through Lakewood Park;  making our way down Madison Ave towards Center Ridge Rd-where we stopped to see some office space that Don was looking at. Our bike trip took us to this quaint little bar on Madison Ave, before heading home, for a glass of wine.  This trip was a little shorter than Sundays ride.  Only 12.5 miles!!!!!!! :)  Tonight, we are planning a 20 mile ride, and on Friday we are heading up to Lake Chautaqua for a ride around the lake--which is 43 miles long.

 

This is me in front of the lake at Lakewood Park.

Lisa and Don's BIG bike adventure

 As you know, Don and I have been biking a couple of times a week since I bought my new bike.  This 33.3 mile adventure took us through the serenity of Lakewood Park, the splendor of Edgewater Park to the winding roads throughout the flats, up the big hill into the hussle and bustle of a busy downtown Cleveland.   Around public square, soldier and sailors museum, a wonderful outdoor lunch (until it started to rain) at a Mexican Restaurant on West 4th St--and this is just the first 10 miles!!! 

 From there, we headed a little further east.  We actually stopped by where Don's father was born and raised in the 1920's; the house is still standing.  After touring the east side and hitting our 15 mile mark, we headed back.  During the ride we planned out some more adventures.  In two weeks, we want to do the Hocking Hills Run and visit John.  Also, on our agenda, we wanted to do the wine tour in the Finger Lakes and the bike ride around Lake Chautaqua.  I hope you enjoy the photos.

 

Don at the beach of Edgewater Park.

 

This was a cool tunnel that we drove under.  We liked the artwork.

This was a newly built house sitting on the side of the shoreway.  We thought it was cool!

 

Riding down the hill into the flats.

 

Isnt this a pretty view for a rapid transit stop?  Don said any view that I am in the picture is pretty though! :)

 

This bridge was so beautiful riding under it, I was trying to capture the beautiful architecture.

 

 

This was down on West 4th St. This is where we had our outdoor lunch (until it rained).   It reminded me so much of Little Italy in NYC.

  

We dont know where elephants go when they die, but we know where old police cars go!

 

This is the house Don's father was raised in during the 1920's. Would you believe that there were 8 boys and 2 girls raised in this house at the same time?  Don's father recanted to him that when they went from an out house to indoor plumbing, they never thought life could get any better!!!!

We were so far past Cleveland, you cant even see the Cleveland Skyscrapers.

Several hours later we were all the way back across town.  Here is the view from Lakewood.

 

I wonder what the animals were doing when we were not home because Sapphire said she was awfully hungry while we were gone.

PRINCE!!!  What were you doing in Sapphires bowl????