8/4/2012 Breakfast Ride
We had an appointment at 9:30 Saturday morning, so we knew we wouldn’t get as much of a ride in as we usually do. We initially talked about just blowing it off and going for a run instead, but Pam decided she would rather ride, and asked if we could manage to get in two hours on the bike. The razor-like calculator in my head instantly said we could probably manage to ride 30 miles in that amount of time, then determined that our departure should probably be around 5:30 am to allow for a breakfast stop in Rogersville.
As we headed out, it was still nice and dark, but I wasn’t too worried as we had the light on and we’re pretty used to riding in the dark. What I didn’t count on was my apprehension in going down the hill to the river on freshly paved asphalt. The road crew had left a film of sand or really fine gravel on the road, and the combination of that and speeds of nearly 30 mph in the dark had me gingerly applying the brakes most of the way down.
Once we got down the hill, everything was fine, if you consider the climb out of the river valley to be fine! It just seemed to grind on and on for some reason. Eventually, though, we made it to Mentor and the end of the big valleys for a while and things got better.
The wind was from the southeast, so all of the first 17 miles were into it to some degree. It wasn’t bad, just enough to know it was there the entire time and just enough help to feel it on the way back!
As we passed the big dairy farm near County Line Road and Highway 125, Pam noticed all the cows lined up in the chutes and we could hear the sounds of the milking machines from the barn. I don’t envy the dairy farmers and their daily adherence to that routine! We kind of like our freedom to play!
When we pulled into the McDonalds in Rogersville, there were a couple of young men sitting in the lobby using the wi-fi. What they were doing there so early (around 6:35 am) was something of a question, although I think one of them may have been an employee. They watched with interest as we parked the bike, and later one asked if it rode like a normal bike, or like a bus? I thought that was pretty perceptive of him!
After our breakfast of champions (or clowns?), we mounted up and headed for home via Turners. With the wind behind us, for some reason our planned 15 mph ride went to pieces, and we pushed the pace reasonably hard, averaging 16.9 mph on the return trip. You can see the full GPS track by clicking the map above.
We successfully pulled back into the driveway about 7:50, feeling good about our abbreviated ride. We were both glad we made the effort to get out, even if it was on a tight schedule.
Hope your weekend was a great one!
God bless…
TW
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August 6, 2012 at 1:34 am
I love early morning rides, had to cancel a few of late, due to acilles tendonitis in my rigjt calf, hoping to be commuting early morning again on 8th this week, fingers crossed. You both had a great ride, if we make the effort invariably we are rewarded, by beautiful scenery, a sense of a achievement, mostly both .