This was the first in a series of five progressive rides offered by Tim C., of the Bicycle Club of Philadelphia. Each Saturday in March we meet and ride ten miles more than were completed the previous week.
I take the train into meet the group, and usually have a little while to wander around 30th Street Station until it’s time to meet up, the train schedule being what it is. On this trip, I noticed that there is still a pile of debris in back of the station (or is this the front? or formerly the front?), but Drexel has put up a bright new banner across the street. The perpetually revolving door leading to the construction site is now stilled; that’s probably going to reduce the utility bill a bit.
Then I typically have a few minutes to kill once I get to the meeting point. I like that, but when it’s this cold, it’s important to keep moving. These geese were completely unconcerned as Basil and I circled around the shambles of the Italian Fountain behind the art museum. (They’re looking pretty fit considering that they’ve just survived a winter.)
I finally got a shot of The Outbound Station coffee shop, where the group has often stopped in the past. Ironically, considering how often I’ve been there and failed to get a photo, it was closed today. It’s a nifty little place, bicycle-themed, just off the Schuylkill River Trail — and our putative destination today.
I suspect it has had a harder winter than those geese; I hope it will be open as the season warms up, and that we’ll have the opportunity to pop in again in the future.
Saul posed with Basil at the Outbound.
He looks quite at ease next to a Brompton, doesn’t he?
We ended up at the 401 Diner, where we were treated very nicely. Basil was even offered special accommodation behind the counter, which was truly beyond the call of duty.
Saul snapped a shot of Basil tucked behind the front counter. Basil really was small enough to fit, and no one seemed to find him in the way.
The sky was changing as we clattered down the track on our way home
and we were met by the slightest of snow flurries as we stepped off the train.
(Why, yes, that is a wee bit of cat fuzz next to the tiniest of snow flakes. It’s a problem. I roller Basil’s bag regularly, but he does have occasional contact with perhaps too many cats. They like him; what can I say?)
This was technically a 25 mile/40 km ride, for purposes of the progressive, but Basil and I managed a little over 30 miles/48 km before hopping on the train and heading home. A great ride, and great company — what could be better?