The Historian
04-30-08, 07:33 AM
Well, sort of.
As Neil F. and I have reported on the Touring forum, we had angry words exchanged during the last day of our overnight camping tour. For several miles we rode separately. But these two headstrong Capricorns were able to unlock their horns over ice cream at Moccia's in Schwenksville, and so all the dispute was good for was to make an attention-grabbing intro to a ride report.
This overnight trip was to be the first time camping for both of us. And since we are going to be riding on a gravel trail and camping 3 or 4 nights, I chose the best test track I could find - Green Lane Park and its Deep Creek Lake Campground:
http://www.suburbancyclists.org/images/GreenLanePark467x322.jpg
Green Lane is the final stop on the Perkiomen Trail, which consists largely of gravel and cinder for its 20 mile course:
http://www2.montcopa.org/parks/cwp/imageserver,Path,parks/cpvpareapost.jpg,AssetGUID,618f4508-2f33-41c4-aad8ab1604d096aa.jpg
We were off to a delayed start Saturday morning - one Neil forgot to seal his tent. (Since I left out last names, you can guess who.) Both bikes were wobbly, and mine excessively so, since I decided for some odd reason to carry both rear panniers and a trailer. We sped downhill along Rt. 23, stopped at the Revolutionary War Cemetery in East Vincent:
http://eastvincent.org/vertical/Sites/%7B5B8F1E55-6CA8-450E-BB40-12A8385B1313%7D/uploads/%7B3EA51E64-5583-4510-A955-C81A8ED8D5B6%7D.JPG
Then through Phoenixville to the new trailhead on the Schuylkill River Trail. We followed it up to Audubon, and visited Mill Grove, the John James Audubon home, which is a museum devoted to the artist's work. Here we see a first edition of the Birds of America, the so-called "double elephant folio" (named for the size of the pages):
http://www2.montcopa.org/historicsites/cwp/imageserver,Path,historicsites/images/tour-millgrove/photorecall%20trial/mill%20grove/web/picture5.jpg,AssetGUID,14dd7b4d-88bb-4537-b269a3c5a5e8656c.jpg
Neither Neil wanted to ride our bikes down the 9 per cent grade on the trail at Mill Grove, so we returned to the Perkiomen Trail and trudged north. We were passed by another Clydesdale poster, "freemti" on HIS trip north to camp, and didn't find out about it until after we got back.
The threatened rain held off for most of the day, and we arrived at Green Lane around 5:00 PM, 36 miles later. We learned how to pitch our tents, and Neil F. put my stove to use - I cheated and brought a hoagie for dinner. We befriended Patrick, a student at a nearby college who was having trouble with his stove. Our new friend was training for a possible hike of the Appalachian Trail this summer, so Neils on Wheels were happy to provide "trail magic" for him and let him use my stove. Besides, in a camp filled with obese RV users, the non-motorized campers had to stick together. We retired about 8:30 PM, and I was soon asleep.
We awoke the next morning to a cold and overcast sky. It had rained and thundered overnight, and while we were dry, the ground and tents were a mess. Thanks to breakfast, inexperience, and sloth, we took three hours to break camp. I didn't notice the strain my friend Neil was under that morning. I said and did things as we were leaving that wouldn't have been a problem under other circumstances, but pushed my friend to the breaking point. The break happened when, in a moment of annoyance, I told Neil I was sorry I brought him out for the ride. This was not only hurtful, but also a lie. And the lie did its damage. So I rode on alone for about eight miles along the Perkiomen Creek.
http://www.pedf.org/perk.jpg
The sun had come out, and the sunlight reflected off the creekbed rocks as the water danced southward. I was riding my bike amid glorious nature, having successfully camped for the first time in my life, and I couldn't enjoy it as I should because of my thoughtlessness towards someone I care about. I pushed onwards, hoping I'd catch up to Neil and I could apologize. He wasn't in Green Lane Borough. He wasn't at the bridge at Spring Mount, nor at the 12 percent grade near that bridge. I passed Patrick hiking back to his dorm and asked him how long before Neil F. had passed. "15 minutes" he said. My heart sank. Neil F. could maintain that lead and make it to the trail end without my catching up. All he needed to do was head south on the Schuylkill River Trail to Norristown, where he could catch a train to take him home without seeing me again. I tried to pick up speed and pedaled on. My rear panniers were stuck in my trailer, so while I didn't weigh much less, I was more stable, and could ride faster.
Fortunately for me, Moccia's is directly on the trail, and Neil has a fondness for milkshakes. They were open that morning, and he stopped for one:
http://www.princessleia.com/images/schwenksville/moccias_junction.jpg
I caught Neil mid-slurp, and apologized. He smiled and let me ride with him the rest of the way.
The only additional landmark we visited was Lock 60 of the Schuylkill Canal, across the river from Phoenixville:
http://www.schuylkillcanal.com/restoration/images/Lock601BarryTag4.05.jpg
We arrived at my home about ten after four, Neil F. pulling in about ten minutes before me because I needed to stop for water. 70 miles for the weekend, and despite some unpleasantness and tension, a triumph for Neils on Wheels. As usual.
As Neil F. and I have reported on the Touring forum, we had angry words exchanged during the last day of our overnight camping tour. For several miles we rode separately. But these two headstrong Capricorns were able to unlock their horns over ice cream at Moccia's in Schwenksville, and so all the dispute was good for was to make an attention-grabbing intro to a ride report.
This overnight trip was to be the first time camping for both of us. And since we are going to be riding on a gravel trail and camping 3 or 4 nights, I chose the best test track I could find - Green Lane Park and its Deep Creek Lake Campground:
http://www.suburbancyclists.org/images/GreenLanePark467x322.jpg
Green Lane is the final stop on the Perkiomen Trail, which consists largely of gravel and cinder for its 20 mile course:
http://www2.montcopa.org/parks/cwp/imageserver,Path,parks/cpvpareapost.jpg,AssetGUID,618f4508-2f33-41c4-aad8ab1604d096aa.jpg
We were off to a delayed start Saturday morning - one Neil forgot to seal his tent. (Since I left out last names, you can guess who.) Both bikes were wobbly, and mine excessively so, since I decided for some odd reason to carry both rear panniers and a trailer. We sped downhill along Rt. 23, stopped at the Revolutionary War Cemetery in East Vincent:
http://eastvincent.org/vertical/Sites/%7B5B8F1E55-6CA8-450E-BB40-12A8385B1313%7D/uploads/%7B3EA51E64-5583-4510-A955-C81A8ED8D5B6%7D.JPG
Then through Phoenixville to the new trailhead on the Schuylkill River Trail. We followed it up to Audubon, and visited Mill Grove, the John James Audubon home, which is a museum devoted to the artist's work. Here we see a first edition of the Birds of America, the so-called "double elephant folio" (named for the size of the pages):
http://www2.montcopa.org/historicsites/cwp/imageserver,Path,historicsites/images/tour-millgrove/photorecall%20trial/mill%20grove/web/picture5.jpg,AssetGUID,14dd7b4d-88bb-4537-b269a3c5a5e8656c.jpg
Neither Neil wanted to ride our bikes down the 9 per cent grade on the trail at Mill Grove, so we returned to the Perkiomen Trail and trudged north. We were passed by another Clydesdale poster, "freemti" on HIS trip north to camp, and didn't find out about it until after we got back.
The threatened rain held off for most of the day, and we arrived at Green Lane around 5:00 PM, 36 miles later. We learned how to pitch our tents, and Neil F. put my stove to use - I cheated and brought a hoagie for dinner. We befriended Patrick, a student at a nearby college who was having trouble with his stove. Our new friend was training for a possible hike of the Appalachian Trail this summer, so Neils on Wheels were happy to provide "trail magic" for him and let him use my stove. Besides, in a camp filled with obese RV users, the non-motorized campers had to stick together. We retired about 8:30 PM, and I was soon asleep.
We awoke the next morning to a cold and overcast sky. It had rained and thundered overnight, and while we were dry, the ground and tents were a mess. Thanks to breakfast, inexperience, and sloth, we took three hours to break camp. I didn't notice the strain my friend Neil was under that morning. I said and did things as we were leaving that wouldn't have been a problem under other circumstances, but pushed my friend to the breaking point. The break happened when, in a moment of annoyance, I told Neil I was sorry I brought him out for the ride. This was not only hurtful, but also a lie. And the lie did its damage. So I rode on alone for about eight miles along the Perkiomen Creek.
http://www.pedf.org/perk.jpg
The sun had come out, and the sunlight reflected off the creekbed rocks as the water danced southward. I was riding my bike amid glorious nature, having successfully camped for the first time in my life, and I couldn't enjoy it as I should because of my thoughtlessness towards someone I care about. I pushed onwards, hoping I'd catch up to Neil and I could apologize. He wasn't in Green Lane Borough. He wasn't at the bridge at Spring Mount, nor at the 12 percent grade near that bridge. I passed Patrick hiking back to his dorm and asked him how long before Neil F. had passed. "15 minutes" he said. My heart sank. Neil F. could maintain that lead and make it to the trail end without my catching up. All he needed to do was head south on the Schuylkill River Trail to Norristown, where he could catch a train to take him home without seeing me again. I tried to pick up speed and pedaled on. My rear panniers were stuck in my trailer, so while I didn't weigh much less, I was more stable, and could ride faster.
Fortunately for me, Moccia's is directly on the trail, and Neil has a fondness for milkshakes. They were open that morning, and he stopped for one:
http://www.princessleia.com/images/schwenksville/moccias_junction.jpg
I caught Neil mid-slurp, and apologized. He smiled and let me ride with him the rest of the way.
The only additional landmark we visited was Lock 60 of the Schuylkill Canal, across the river from Phoenixville:
http://www.schuylkillcanal.com/restoration/images/Lock601BarryTag4.05.jpg
We arrived at my home about ten after four, Neil F. pulling in about ten minutes before me because I needed to stop for water. 70 miles for the weekend, and despite some unpleasantness and tension, a triumph for Neils on Wheels. As usual.