This Department is conducted in the interest of Bicyclers, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject. Our maps and tours contain much valuable data kindly supplied from the official maps and road-books of the League of American Wheelmen. Recognizing the value of the work being done by the L.A.W., the Editor will be pleased to furnish subscribers with membership blanks and information so far as possible.
Copyright, 1896, by Harper & Brothers.
For the present leaving the long run from New York westward at Buffalo, we will turn, in response to many inquiries from Connecticut and western Massachusetts, and give a few routes in those two States. This week we give the first stage of the run from Poughkeepsie on the Hudson to Hartford, Connecticut, by way of Waterbury. We have already given in Nos. 810 and 817 of Harper's Round Table the route from New York to Poughkeepsie, and by reversing other maps already published in the Round Table it will be a simple matter to make out the road from Albany to Poughkeepsie.
Leaving Poughkeepsie from the Nelson House, make for the big turnpike-road that runs to Hackensack, which is seven miles away. In the middle of the town keep to the left and run a mile out, where a fork will be reached. Turn here to the left at Kyers Corner, and run on to Fishkill Plains. The road is well marked from Fishkill Plains to Hopewell, three miles further on, except that at one point, a little less than two miles from Fishkill Plains, the rider should keep to the right at the fork in the road. From Hopewell to Poughquag there are two routes. The shorter and reasonably good road in dry weather keeps straight on beside the railroad after leaving Hopewell, crosses it about two miles out, and meets it again at Sylvan Lake, eventually running into Poughquag by bearing generally to the right after leaving Sylvan Lake. In wet weather, however, it will be very unwise to take this direct route, as the road is then in bad condition. The wheelman is therefore strongly advised to turn to the right and cross the railroad track shortly after leaving Hopewell, taking a somewhat stiff hill before running into Stormville, and keeping to the left on leaving Stormville, but being careful to bear sharp to the left less than a mile out, and thus continuing along a straight road to Poughquag.
The run from Poughquag to Pawling is direct over a good route; thence the proper route continues through Cowls Corners and Balls Pond—the New York-Connecticut line being crossed about a mile before the latter place is reached—to Danbury. From Danbury to Hawleyville is a more or less difficult road to find. It can only be said in general that on leaving the hotel in Danbury bear to the left—that is, the northeastward—and having crossed the Norwalk railroad, keep to the right at the fork just beyond it. Do not cross the New York and New England Railroad until you are running into Hawleyville, but keep straight on after reaching the fork for about two miles over a pretty stiff hill, and thence some four miles further to Hawleyville. From Hawleyville to Newtown is a short three-mile run, and the rider is advised to put up at one of the hotels there for the night. The run will be a mile or so under fifty, and the hotels in Newtown are good.
Note.—Map of New York city asphalted streets in No. 809. Map of route from New York to Tarrytown in No. 810. New York to Stamford, Connecticut in No. 811. New York to Staten Island in No. 812. New Jersey from Hoboken to Pine Brook in No. 813. Brooklyn in No. 814. Brooklyn to Babylon in No. 815. Brooklyn to Northport in No. 816. Tarrytown to Poughkeepsie id No. 817. Poughkeepsie to Hudson in No. 818. Hudson to Albany in No. 819. Tottenville to Trenton in No. 820. Trenton to Philadelphia in No. 821. Philadelphia in No. 822. Philadelphia-Wissahickon Route in No. 823. Philadelphia to West Chester in No. 824. Philadelphia to Atlantic City—First Stage in No. 825; Second Stage in No. 826. Philadelphia to Vineland—First Stage in No. 827; Second Stage in No. 828. New York to Boston—Second Stage in No. 829; Third Stage in No. 830; Fourth Stage in No. 831; Fifth Stage in No. 832; Sixth Stage in No. 833. Boston to Concord in No. 834. Boston in No. 835. Boston to Gloucester in No. 836. Boston to Newburyport in No. 837. Boston to New Bedford in No. 838. Boston to South Framingham in No. 839. Boston to Nahant in No. 840. Boston to Lowell in No. 841. Boston to Nantasket Beach in No. 842. Boston Circuit Ride in No. 843. Philadelphia to Washington—First Stage in No. 844; Second Stage in No. 845; Third Stage in No. 846; Fourth Stage in No. 847; Fifth Stage in No. 848. City of Washington in No. 849. City of Albany in No. 854; Albany to Fonda in No. 855; Fonda to Utica in No. 856; Utica to Syracuse in No. 857; Syracuse to Lyons in No. 858; Lyons to Rochester in No. 859; Rochester to Batavia in No. 860; Batavia to Buffalo in No. 861.