Border Run Redux - August 4, 2021

 RIDE REPORT 

Wednesday, 4 August 2021, Border Run Redux

Ride Leader:  Wes DeNering (ably assisted by Linda DeNering)

40 miles, 10:00 am start from Ashland, MA

Riders (16):  Wes, Linda, Alan Cantor, Barry Nelson, Bernie Mango, Betsy Kimball, Catherine Widgery, Dave Balaban, Ellen Dirgins, Joel Bauman, John Ho, Kaz Zelny, Linda Nelson, Rochelle Holman, Tami Kellogg, and first-timer John Kitchen.  [These are the riders who were registered for the ride.]

My wife, Linda, and I dusted off our old Border Run Ride from about eight years ago and rerouted a bit of it to bring it in at forty miles.  We like to have a party post ride, so we asked riders to only eat light snacks along the way or at Tangerini’s, the designated break spot.  Also, not thinking, I scheduled the start for 10:00 am - this meant that we’d finish somewhere around 1:30 or 2:00 pm, assuming no mishaps.

 

Sure enough, even though I’d brought (and ate) two granola bars, I was starving by mile 30.  I was not alone - the most common refrain I was hearing for the last ten miles was “Boy, I’m really hungry.”

 

Fortunately, we had no mishaps, largely thanks to our sweep, Alan Cantor, and our crack human arrowing team.  We got home by 1:30, got the grill going, and fed the fifteen or so riders that stayed on the ride.  Three riders jumped off the front and were never seen again, so they missed what was a very fun party.  The weather was just right for an outdoor deck party - about 75F, overcast, and, oddly, no bugs.  And, of course, the partiers make the party, and this group shined.

 

Henceforth, we will either start the ride earlier or rename it the Rumbling Bellies Ride.

Report by Wes DeNering.