September 8
I was relieved to find a competent bike shop with the necessary bicycle bottom bracket sealed bearing assembly in stock, and ready (for a touring cyclist) to take the job on immediately, even on a Saturday morning. Getting the repair done meant that I could do the coming climbs without wondering if I would learn the hard way what happens at end of life for such bearings. I had been concerned I might be stuck for days waiting for parts. It probably helped that my bike uses fairly common components. I ate breakfast while my bike got fixed. (Note to self: Don't do that again; even the most helpful mechanic can do better work with your advice on your preferences, and can teach you things during the repair process). Once I got rolling, but before I left town, I stopped for a haircut, my first since Whiskey Point. Then I continued riding on roadways and then nice NY bikepath infrastructure. Before the Hudson crossing, I stopped to deal with a shifting problem; I did not have access to my lowest gear, which I absolutely do need for steep climbs. I found a workaround which got me into low (though it was noisy in low, and front derailleur shifts were slower than before). With that compromise the best I could do, I headed for the lovely Walkway over the Hudson, where there was some kind of fun disabled access celebration going on.
Many of the subsequent miles, including most of the after-dark miles, were on bikepath. I got into some serious horse country, which was pretty and little-traveled but meant that lodging was expensive and just a touch horsey-bizarre.