It was chilly and overcast at the ride start, and it took a real leap of faith to believe it wouldn't rain. We started off with windbreakers, wind vests, arm warmers, even tights and full-finger glove liners, but by the first break at Magruders Ferry, the heavy arm warmers and full finger gloves came off, and by the second break at Nottingham store, summer had arrived - up to 80 degrees by the end of the ride, clouds replaced by sunny blue skies.
The group today consisted of Dana Middleton, Holly Carr, Jimmy Bartlett, David Ostermann, Alan Kurzweil, Lawrence Peed, Barry Winkleman, Regina and Mike Saizan, Thomas Short, Sharon Miller, Loretta Troen and Karen Morgan, with John Early joining us at the first rest stop. And a fast group it was, too - last ones back averaged 14.9 mph.
At the start we zigzagged every possible which way to avoid Brandywine down to Baden Naylor, then Baden Westwood to Croom to Magruders, the Croom Rollers from Magruders to Tanyard, then around the Tanyard Loop to Fenno past Merkle, down the now lovely, smooth pavement to St Thomas Church, and left on Mattaponi and Croom to the Nottingham Store. We returned from Nottingham by way of Candy Hill, Molly Berry and Baden Naylor, and straight back on Brandywine.
It's been quite some time since we've been all the way down Baden Naylor and Baden Westwood, and today it all seemed fresh and new. Altogether, a wonderful ride!
