Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Other the Hills and Through the Woods - Another Hill Route of The Historian

This afternoon I tackled my 17 mile hill climb route. This is the toughest one I normally ride, and I'm in horrible shape for it. Still, it had to be done, and I hadn't done it since Uncadan's birthday last fall.

It follows my normal ten mile loop for five miles, including the lovely Mill Lane:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3005/2705601122_5d631123a6_b.jpg

Once I'm past that, and leaving 'downtown' Kimberton (a dozen buildings), I head up and over the local ridge. The long and annoying false flat on Kimberton Road leads into more farm country, along with a lot of high-end homes.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2704780135_f2cab842f7_b.jpg

Turning onto Art School Road, you cross a little bridge:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/2704781823_9678443dfa_b.jpg

... and climb up and down on rolling hills to reach what the tourism folks call "historic Yellow Springs." The 'town' is about a half-dozen buildings, including an art studio and some nice old construction:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3014/2705607956_c5b44687d5_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/2705610570_7e706fc6ee_b.jpg

Pedaling uphill some more through the woods, you come across Vincent Baptist, built in 1812 and continually in use. I met the pastor last fall when I first came across the church, and we hit it off. Although I'm not Baptist and worship elsewhere, I have an invitation to go riding with him sometime. The pastor himself lost a large amount of weight before he was called to ministry.

The church is tucked into the woods and its graveyard sits beside it on the hill:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3165/2704797165_10021abfee_b.jpg

"One short sleep past and we wake eternally...."

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3205/2704800891_cde81d8ddd_b.jpg

Then it's up. Up Horseshoe Trail Road (part of the 130 mile Horseshoe Trail hiking path from Valley Forge to the Appalachian Trail), and up Hollow Road to Birchrunville. The General Store dates to 1898, and is on the National Register of Historic Places:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3138/2704805921_0eb7f32932_b.jpg

Need gas before you go?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/2705626560_7293d25471_b.jpg

But the sun is sinking in the west, and the shadows lengthen, and so it's time to leave Birchrunville, and head down the mountain home:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3114/2704808985_2c609f163f_b.jpg

It's a mile and a half down the mountain, straight through the Sheeder-Hall covered bridge, and then home. I easily maintain 22 MPH on the downhill, and if I braked less, I'd be even faster. But the covered bridge is one lane, and I'd rather not risk hitting a car head-on at the bridge entrance.

Here's the Bikely data for a ride using nearly the same route:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/73513

Nice! Thanks for the map link...I might try adding that to my own rides.

A couple more photos. Here's Vincent Baptist from across the road. I wish the car weren't in the photo, but I didn't have the nerve to track down the owner and have him move it.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/2705616618_16707dc061_b.jpg

The church graveyard:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/2704800077_36e15c81b6_b.jpg

The general sort in Birchrunville:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/2704808127_2352e6b2c5_b.jpg

Thanks for the review and ride idea. I'll have to try it. My wife and I used to live up the hill from the "country store". From the picture above go up the hill towards the left, bear right at the top and "Timothy Farm" is on your left. We would walk down to get our mail at the post office (green door on the right side of the porch). We're now in Phoenixville.

Steve

Very nice ride, Historian. And good for you in getting out on that tough course...I see good things ahead.

Very nice ride, Historian. And good for you in getting out on that tough course...I see good things ahead.

Now to ride it without constantly stopping for photos. At times I wish the French Creek area was as boring as, say, Lansdale. :)

Now to ride it without constantly stopping for photos. At times I wish the French Creek area was as boring as, say, Lansdale. :)

That's one of the benefits of living where I do...no temptation to take photos, and I'm always riding away from the area!:roflmao2: When I am riding back through it, I'm too tired to care!

Now to ride it without constantly stopping for photos. At times I wish the French Creek area was as boring as, say, Lansdale. :)

Oh come now, stopping to take photos isn't entirely a bad thing...... I need to ride more in photogenic areas, unfortunately the ones that are near by I have covered pretty well, over time:D

I'm getting to the point, where I need to ride 25 miles to ride 25 miles in nice enough places to take photos....

Very nice, Neil. You are a good photographer. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Neil,
I'm going to head up there and check it out.

Really nice pictures of a beautiful area. Riding neat places like that is what it is all about for me. Way to get out there and do it after that rib injury too.

Have fun out there.

What a beautiful area. I'm from PA originally, so seeing your pictures made me think of home. Thank you for sharing them.

Man I'm jealous, what beautiful riding country. Your pictures are great.