lman takes time for it, he
may turn down to the river, about a mile before reaching Sing Sing, and
stop a moment to take a look at the State-prison. From Sing Sing the
road to Peekskill is direct; but it is a difficult twelve-mile ride,
with hills all along the way, especially just before crossing to Croton
Point, again on the Point, and then all the way up to Peekskill. The
road itself is sandy, and occasionally covered with loam. The riding is
not very good, and the wheelman is wise if he dismounts frequently.
After leaving Croton, and when approaching Verplank Point, he can look
across the river to Haverstraw, and see Treason Hill, where the meeting
between Arnold and Andre took place, and the terms of the surrender of
West Point were made. From Peekskill the rider runs out about half a
mile to the north, then turns to the left and follows the telegraph
poles to Garrison's. Immediately after crossing the bridges, on going
out of Peekskill, he will notice on the left the State Camp (4). The
road is sandy, and there are some bad hills over these eight miles.
If the rider has time to stop for a look at historic places, he should
turn to the left after leaving the Peekskill encampment-grounds and run
down to Highland Station, from whence he can see across the river the
site of old Forts Clinton and Montgomery (5 and 6). Keeping on this road
and running up to Garrison's along the shore, he will pass Beverly
House, Arnold's old headquarters (7). At Garrison's is the old Phillipse
Manor, and directly across the river is the United States Military
Academy of West Point. The best road from this point to Wappinger's
Falls is to follow the black route on the map, keeping to the right
beyond Garrison's, and running on through Fishkill to Wappinger's Falls,
a distance of eighteen miles.
It is possible, however, to keep to the left just beyond Garrison's, and
following the fair bicycle route, keep to the shore of the Hudson. The
road, however, is much more hilly through these highlands. By taking
this route the wheelman may cross the ferry at Fishkill village to
Newburg, where he may see the Washington headquarters (10), and Knox's
headquarters and winter camp (11) just outside Newburg. On the road from
Fishkill-on-the-Hudson to Fishkill itself he will pass the State
Hospital for the Insane (12). The road from Wappinger's Falls into
Poughkeepsie, a distance of eight and a quarter miles, is moderately
good. The roads are easy ri
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