DUATHLON START – photo by Kristen Hislop
Thank you all for a most successful Mohawk Towpath Byway Duathlon! Some 110 competitors started a 2 mile run followed by a 17 mile biking leg and another 2 mile run to finish.
I am no economist but this event brought in over $11,000 which was all spent locally [except $285 of Sanction and Insurance Fees to a National Governing Body in Colorado]. Every other dollar went to local suppliers, businesses, and contractors here on the Byway, or in the southern Saratoga County area. That doesn’t include what competitors or their families spent for conveniences, gifts and remembrances, and fuel for the trip home.
During the week before the Duathlon the hits on the website peaked at four times the traffic we normally see for our Byway websites. The calls to our cell phone based self-guided tour were overshadowed only by the number of calls over the first week of July when we were running spots on local public radio.
No matter how you slice or dice the numbers your help with the Duathlon pays us back many times over. It reaches a demographic whom we don’t see any other time of the year, at least not in these numbers.
Whether you helped with circulating Byway information, stuffed envelops, helped with registration, volunteered with a traffic flag, scooped mashed potatoes and dished chicken, followed in the sweep car, passed out water, monitored the radio waves, or any other volunteer job… your contribution to the success of the Duathlon and ultimately to the Byway are very much appreciated!
As the Byway’s self appointed Weather Ready Nation Ambassador, my wife, oldest grandson and I had the privilege of visiting the new NOAA weather center in Albany today. Even though they were preoccupied with the approaching storm they did offer some insight on what they expect this winter. Keep in mind that the National Weather Service’s definition of winter is for the calendar season, December 21 to March 20, while you and I know it can snow anytime between now and the end of April. In fact, before we left they were looking at the possibility of snow on the back end of the approaching storm as precipitation is ending in the Tug Hill and western Adirondacks.
The Friends of the Mohawk Towpath Byway were on hand to tell the Byway story at the packet pick up for the Mohawk Hudson Marathon. Here Paul Olund answers questions about the Byway and takes registrations for the Duathlon on October 15. Have you registered for the 
Thanks to the Schenectady County Historical Society for the opportunity to participate in the Canal Fest at the Mabee Farm! With over 500 cyclists coming through during the morning and the hundreds of people to the other attractions and activities during the day there was plenty of interest and excitement for a broad demographic. Our booth’s placement just inside the the Dutch barn, with folk music nearby, local food venders. cooling breezes off the river we had plenty of curious, knowledgeable visitors and much interest in canals and the recreation venues around our area. Thanks also to Nancy Papish for these photographs and to her and Maryanne Mackey for help with the booth and visiting with “our public.”
On May 25, 2017, Junior Girl Scout Troop 2158, in conjunction with the Town of Clifton Park, ended their very busy year with a Turtle Talk presentation at the Vischer Ferry Historic and Nature Preserve an important part of the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway. With the installation of 7 new Turtle Crossing signs in the area of the Vischer Ferry Historic and Nature Preserve, the troop assisted in the unveiling signs along with town officials. The girls presented facts about painted and snapping turtles, both of which inhabit the area and are often seen crossing the roads. The troop helped to alert the public as to the importance of these reptiles and what to do if one is found in a life-threatening location such as the road.
While visiting one of the historic sites or other features along the Mohawk Towpath Byway what do you do when you see this sign? Your opinion means a lot to us and to future visitors to the Byway. Please answer the 
Friends of the Mohawk Towpath Byway 