Registration remains open for Fall Foliage Bike Tour

Warwick, N.Y. — Registration is still open for the 2011 Country Roads Fall Foliage Bike Tour set for Sunday, Sept. 18. The tour consists of four non-competitive, self-guided, self-paced routes on quiet Orange County, N.Y., roads, just as the summer begins to cool into fall. There is a 14-mile route for families and once-in-a-while riders, a 24-mile route for sightseeing riders and longer routes of 48 and 69 miles for more intrepid riders. The longer rides pass by the Sanctuary for Animals, with its herd of affable camels at hand. Camels will also be present at other rest stops. All rides begin and end at the Warwick Valley High School. After the tour, riders will celebrate with a picnic banquet catered by Loughran’s of Salisbury Mills. There will be live music, camaraderie and a fifty-fifty raffle. The tour is a collaboration between The Occupations Foundation Inc., and the Orange County Bicycle Club. It is sponsored by Great Eastern Energy, M&R Bank, and a host of community businesses and organizations. Proceeds will benefit the Occupations Foundation (serving children with special needs), the Orange County Land Trust (preserving open space), and the Sanctuary for Animals (providing care for abused working animals). Register ($30 in advance, $5 for children, $40 at the gate, $10 for children) at the Orange County Bicycle Club Web site (www.ocBicycleClub.org). The fee includes participation in the tour, abundant replenishment at rest stops along the way, and lunch with entertainment after the ride. Helmets are required for all riders.