Originally Posted by
niliraga
+1. Rode the Maybrook for the first time last week, going north. After being lulled by the sub/exurban cuteness of the Putnam, where it seems you can see a deli or general store from the trail every few miles, it was quite a contrast how barren (and alternatingly boring & beautiful) this new section is. There's also precious little shade south of the summit, so plan accordingly with water.
I was worried trail construction would cut the trees back by a decade or so, sounds like it did. Recently got to eyeball some abandoned rail just into the woods from the road here in MA that's finally slated for conversion to shorten a gap and sadly expect similar will result.
So it sounds like Brewster is a stop to ride out of with three bottles. Is there any commerce along the Maybrook? I forget if Hopewell has fountains, I know I found indoor plumbing there a few times but little worse than counting on something and finding it closed.
My recollection is that on the Duchess beyween Hopewell and Poughkeepsie only time you see businesses you are elevated high above major arterials and it's not very clear how to get down.
Now that I think about it, I once found the fountains at the east end of the walkway closed and those at the west open. And once further west the human fountain off but the doggie spigot on.