Basil and I set out to catch the train, as usual, early in the morning, for the third in Tim’s BCP progressive series.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art was looking majestic and quite wintery.
Two of us met up with our fearless leader. Last week’s ride was 35 miles, so this one was ten more, bringing us up to 45 on our third Saturday in a row.
Our first stop was for coffee and sandwiches at the Outward Bound in Conshohocken. Yet again, I failed to get a picture of this nifty little cafe. Just off the Schuylkill Trail, it’s a perfect spot for a warm drink and a quick bite. Next time, I’ll make sure to get a snap before I cross the threshold.
Mila (I hope I’ve spelled her name correctly) was colder than she expected to be, and ended up heading back while Tim and I forged on. We reached our mid-point — the Betzwood Trailhood on the Schuylkill River Trail, and checked out the map.
We started off the map to the southeast, and turned around at the northern border of Valley Forge Park. You can probably just about make out the “Betzwood Trailhead” caption near the center, above.
When we returned to Manayunk, it was time for more libation. We stopped at Salon L’Etoile, which really is a coffee shop, though it’s hard to tell that it’s here, in a glimpse from the street. Tim is very fond of latte; I had a lovely, adult, cocoa. (Update 2/1/13, see below.)
Basil fit right behind my chair, and just under the counter.
Total mileage for me was just over 46 miles, and I deeply regretted not doing the additional four to make it to fifty. However, this ride, though not much further than a couple of previous rides, had been much more difficult. I was well and truly worn by the time Basil and I made it home.
WeatherSpark explained it: These were the highest winds I’ve experienced while cycling: 17-24 MPH (roughly 27 to 38 KPH) with bursts to 27 MPH (roughly 43 KPH).
Map image from Schuylkill River Trail.
Update 2/1/13 — an observant correspondent has pointed out that there really is a salon beneath that canopy, and suggests that the coffee shop is not named “Salon L’Etoile”. A little research confirms the truth of this: The coffee shop is to the right, under the canopy in the photo, and is called either Cafe Volo (just about everywhere) or Volo Coffeehouse (on their unfinished website). Thanks, Saul!
2 replies on “Third Progressive”
Wow! Those are some serious rides; many would have been deterred by the wind if not the distance — very impressive! What’s your average mph? This must have taken an entire day, no?
My average MPH (cough, cough)? Well, my Garmin says that on this trip, Basil and I were cycling for 4 hours and 20 minutes, at an average moving speed of 10.6 miles an hour. So no land speed record.
On the other hand, that’s not properly all day — except that we travel more than an hour each way by train and car to meet up for these rides . . . so, yes, our day is a full one!
On the other hand, it’s Saturday! And it really is all about the journey; I mean, really, what’s better than spending a Saturday on a Brompton?
(PS — I would have been detered by the wind if I’d had a clue!)