Leader: Steve Palincsar
Members: Tom Short, Patricia Sanders, Rick Hagen, Lisa Petersen, Ron Altemus, Linda Bankerd
Guests: none
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42130944 36 mi, 1750' elevation gain
Weather: The forecast was overcast skies, the low 50s at the start rising to the low 60s by mid-afternoon and 10 mph winds. The ground truth was a bit different: 55 and sunny at the start, windy when you were riding into the wind but quite comfortable, until we arrived at the Chesapeake Market. Sometime during lunch the clouds closed in and the temperature dropped enough we were cold until we climbed 5th St and got thoroughly warmed up. By 2:30 it started looking as though it was going to rain (as they said on the radio) although it did not do so.
AMS: 13.3
Mechanicals/Mishaps: none
Report: We were met in the parking lot by Harold Datz and Rita Z who were doing our ride with bonus miles on their own. They left before we did, but we met them at the Chesapeake Market; they left there before us, too, but we met them in the parking lot at the end of the ride.
It was a lovely day for cycling, and we met three, perhaps four organized rides and a few cyclists out on their own including several we met at the Market. North Beach is a very popular cycling destination, and we were on several of the region's premier cycling roads so this was no surprise, but as usual it was very gratifying to see.
At Chesapeake Market, Ron informed me that Lisa scored a turtle rescue, perhaps the first of the season. We had a leisurely lunch at the Market, so enjoying the day and each other's company we didn't notice the sky clouding over and the temperature dropping until it was time to leave. We felt quite cold until we started climbing, but by the time we reached Boyd's Turn we'd gained 215' and had warmed up and were comfortable once more.
This route is a bit unusual, putting us on roads we seldom if ever use (well, except for Rick and Lisa, who live down here and ride these roads all the time) riding in directions we seldom go.
