Ride Report by Clyde Kessel for Wednesday August 12, 2015
We had a big group today, fantastic weather and the riders seemed to like the route.
Long (6 riders for 48 miles): Clyde Kessel, Curt Dudley-Marling, Frank Hubbard, Lei Wang, Steve Robbins, Susan Sabin
Short (31 riders for 32 miles): Alan Cantor, Andy Lewis, Ann Northup, Bob and Carol Anderson, Bob Wolf, Bruce Lederer, Dave Balaban, Dom Jorge, Doug Hobkirk, Elizabeth Wicks, Francie Sparks, Fred Newton, Herb Kavet, Jack Donohue, Jack Mrocskowski, James Hsia, Janet Miller, Jim Cant, Jim Whinfield, Jim White, Karen Saltus, Kathy Horvath, Kaz Zelny, Lindy King, Mike Hanauer, Paul Greco, Peggy Gelin, Rich Taylor, Richard Fortier, Richard Vignoni.
The long riders left at 9:15 (which was deemed to be within acceptable tolerance for 9:10 sharp) and stayed together for the 8 mile ride to join the rest of the group. For such a short ride, neither sweep nor arrows were needed. It was cool and pleasant but we all noticed the hills. This part of the ride was identical to the first 8 miles of the Spring Butterfly ride.
When we got to the restaurant to join the rest of the group, the parking lot was already half full and as people kept streaming in, the lot filled nearly completely. The owner was expecting us and opened the restaurant to make the facilities available. We all got going in a timely fashion and, as we turned onto route 40, a friendly passing copper stopped, turned on his flashers and held up traffic until we had all safely made our turn. Next, we attacked the main hill (Scribner hill) riding the opposite direction this leader normally rides, so the leader goofed up 3 turns in a row. The minions were starting to get worried but were too busy climbing the hill to stage a mutiny.
The leader finally got focused and stopped making wrong turns but we came to the pig farm which was quite smelly and gave everyone a little extra push to hurry past and get the rest of the way up the hill. At the first rest stop in Dunstable, Jack tried to get a picture of everyone and discovered that PPP (pixels per person) is an important camera spec but is seldom published.
We had one flat tire today and one minor spill resulting in a bit of lost blood. The leader witnessed neither event so this is just hearsay and no more details are available.
About 20 of us stayed at the restaurant for lunch which made the owner quite happy. Service was good even though it was a small place. We had been hoping to use the screen porch area but it was already mostly full when we arrived so we ate in the A/C section. The owner was so happy, that (after everyone had ordered) he came around with free pizza slices for everyone. We have been invited back.
Thanks to Jack Donohue for sweeping and to all the arrows, especially those who had to wait a long time just before lunch due to the flat tire.
Ride photos by Jack Donohue https://www.facebook.com/
Above photo by Rich Taylor
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