So the rider meeting ends with some very unhappy faces. It seems that hat Big Bike track for the day lost nearly 100 miles. Meanwhile, the little bikes will traverse 140 Miles of Cranberry Country. The reason for the disparity is much of the DNR land was not approved on their permit. This left the organizers to scramble for a new route.
Right out of the gate this AM, the track is no joke. Deep Whoops on single track. After a grueling 7 miles of that, I was happy to make a turn. A turn onto any surface but the one I am on. Boy, if I could turn back the clock on that thought. Next up is a 2 lane forest road which is 12 inches of deep, loose sand. As I peer down the trail, it appears we are having a yard sale. Left, right and center there are bikes which make beached whales look at home. The balls-to-the-wall motto ain’t going to get anyone out of this stretch. It’s too long and too deep
Right out of the gate this AM, the track is no joke. Deep Whoops on single track. After a grueling 7 miles of that, I was happy to make a turn. A turn onto any surface but the one I am on. Boy, if I could turn back the clock on that thought. Next up is a 2 lane forest road which is 12 inches of deep, loose sand. As I peer down the trail, it appears we are having a yard sale. Left, right and center there are bikes which make beached whales look at home. The balls-to-the-wall motto ain’t going to get anyone out of this stretch. It’s too long and too deep
After a nice nap myself, I finally rendezvous with Blaster. Does anyone remember the child’s book about the turtle and the hare? Or how about the 1960s Buggs Bunny cartoons with the same theme.
If there is one thing that Blaster and I have learned, the day is long and just keep chipping away. We never get a first place into home, but the strategy has always gotten us back in fine time. It seems the hares fly down the trail wildly out of control, even crashing into others at times, then proceed to take a 30 minute break to catch their breath.
Before lunch, we were feeling cheeky and took the hero option. Blaster was owning the track, and I thought I should inspect it a bit closer. Maybe look for lost pennies too. So after getting myself scooped back up, we are at lunch. It was interesting that for 200 riders at the Pine Barren event, we rode the 45 minutes before lunch completely alone. On the afternoon trek, we pass very few riders (maybe a handful?) and get past by even fewer
Before lunch, we were feeling cheeky and took the hero option. Blaster was owning the track, and I thought I should inspect it a bit closer. Maybe look for lost pennies too. So after getting myself scooped back up, we are at lunch. It was interesting that for 200 riders at the Pine Barren event, we rode the 45 minutes before lunch completely alone. On the afternoon trek, we pass very few riders (maybe a handful?) and get past by even fewer
Up until a few years ago, New Jersey was the top producer of Cranberries. We rode among the bogs, and the bushes appear to be ready for harvest. We have never seen the harvest, which purportedly is just like the Oceanspray commercial.
Hammonton is home to quite a big Italian enclave. Boy, the restaurant just south of the Econolodge advertising the 'worlds best spaghetti' was actually spot on! The service and food are delicious! It been good seeing some familiar faces such as Opey, 70East, Biker128, Juames representing our Canadian Brethren, and others.
Hammonton is home to quite a big Italian enclave. Boy, the restaurant just south of the Econolodge advertising the 'worlds best spaghetti' was actually spot on! The service and food are delicious! It been good seeing some familiar faces such as Opey, 70East, Biker128, Juames representing our Canadian Brethren, and others.