We didn’t make it. Weather reports leading up to Saturday were iffy, describing a mixture of rain and snow, possibly improving by 9 AM when the ride was scheduled to start. Basil and I travel for nearly three hours before we meet up with our BCP fellow riders on these rides, though, and assessing the weather in the early morning (and several counties away) is an art I haven’t yet well-mastered. In bowing out yesterday, I may have been too conservative.
Mr. Diarist and I went for coffee near the time the ride was winding up. Conditions looked pretty good when we set out, but by the time we’d finished our drinks, fat wet flakes were falling, and the road surface was approaching lethal.
This slight dusting of delicate white stuff doesn’t look like much, does it? (Though that poor tree looks as if it’s losing an awful lot of sap. I missed that when I took the picture outside the coffee shop.) We were sorry to miss the ride, and the companionship. Happily, there will be other opportunities, and Progressive IV next week.
2 replies on “Progressive III: Philadelphia to Betzwood”
I’m glad for the clarification on the tree’s situation… After seeing the picture, I was at first concerned that you and Basil had attracted a dog who was reminding you of whose territory it was!
A three-hour commute to your ride meeting spot???! How I admire your dedication; really enjoy reading about the rides, too. I love the progressive idea and have started some on my own, although my rides are described in terms of blocks, not miles, and they all originate from my very own property line… Looks like I have a lot to work up to!
From your own property line is best of all, Seattle — I wish I could do such long rides where I live, but it’s just not a good idea, so I’m very grateful for the bicycle club, and their willingness to offer such lovely recreational rides. Believe me, the experience is well worth the commute, as I really can’t replicate it where I am. (But how I’d love to!)
PS – when I saw the picture of the tree and noticed the sap, I had the same thought as you. Then I realized that the dog would have had to have been seven feet tall . . . and that the markings really were sap.