photogravity

Well, I finally did it! Today I finally rode my first century. Yesterday I drove up to rhm's place to drop something off and since we had been trying to find an opportunity for a ride, this provided the perfect opportunity.

We rode out shortly after 5 AM in the brisk morning air and managed to get into the pine barrens fairly early, where the traffic was mostly light or nonexistent, and continued southward until we encountered a sand road that appeared in good enough condition to traverse in the bicycles. Of course, we didn't count on parts of the road being covered in flowing water, but that afforded an opportunity for adventure when we got off the bikes, removed our shoes and waded the bicycles through the water until the road reappeared.

In any case, we both had a great time and I managed to achieve one of my bicycle related goals for the year. Up next: my first brevet. We'll see how soon that one gets checked off the list...


Pine Barrens Century - 2 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


Pine Barrens Century - 3 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


Pine Barrens Century - 4 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


Pine Barrens Century - 5 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


Pine Barrens Century - 7 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


Pine Barrens Century - 8 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


Pine Barrens Century - 9 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


Pine Barrens Century - 11 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


Pine Barrens Century - 14 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


Pine Barrens Century - 15 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr

northbend 

What a fine adventure PG! Congratulations on the 1st of many centuries.

gomango

Hey PG, my guess is you'll sleep very well tonight.

Congrats.

photogravity

Thanks a bunch, northbend. I'm certainly hoping to get in some more this year, I'm hoping life cooperates.

photogravity

Grady, thank you. Between the ride and the boring ride home, I slept exceedingly well. The nap at rhm's place before I hit the road was definitely a good idea.

jimmuller 

PG, rhm, you guys are having too much fun. A bike ride plus walking through big puddles with bare feet? Something any boy could love!

photogravity

Thanks Jim. We definitely had a great time.

As best I can tell, you and Sharon are continuing to rack up incredible mileage on that old tamdem.

YoKev

Yay!!

ColonelJLloyd 

+1 Great posts, guys!

JJScaliger

I was able to get out this afternoon for a 43 mile ride on the Gitane. It was a nice day at about 55 degrees, a little windy and overcast.

Last night on PBS I caught the last half of a locally produced show on ghost stories from Foster RI. I heard one of the “experts” mention Rams Tail Rd which piqued my interest as this is one of the dirt roads I like to ride in Foster. Later another dirt road, Tucker Hollow Rd, I have passed before but never tried was mentioned. These roads are within easy striking distance for me so I figured I could check them out on Sunday, take some pictures and do some investigating of my own.

Central Pike Scituate



At the crossroads



Ram Tail Rd a nice hard packed dirt road




Dolly Ellen Cole

The primary protagonist of the ghost stories in this area is Dolly Cole, a reputed witch in life and subsequently a scary undead aberration. She lived close to Tucker Hollow Road, near the village of Hopkins Mill in Foster. She was a healer who apparently liked to dress in men’s clothes which led her neighbors to decide to burn her house down one night. Unfortunately she was not in her house at the time but her small child was (some say a boy some say a girl). Enraged she swore vengeance on her persecutors. She is reported to appear as a white phantom on Tucker Hollow Rd at night. There is also a story that Dorathy (sic) Cole, a 27 year old woman whose body was found dead on Ram Tail Rd haunts Dolly Cole Brook (named for a different, more fortunate member of the Cole family) from Hopkins Mill Pond to the Ram Tail Bridge. Some say these two are one in the same. Dolly Cole the witch was also rumored to be: a transvestite, a vampire and a prostitute. She doesn't seem to have been well liked!

Betsey Grayson

She is believed to be the phantom in white that haunts Dolly Cole brook, especially at Ram Tail Bridge. She drowned in the winter of 1860 fetching water. Betsey was an old spinster who gave her substantial inheritance (lots of land in Scituate and Foster RI) up to her nephew well before she died.

Ram Tail Bridge of Ponaganset River from Ram Tail Swimming Hole side





Dolly Cole Brook bridge on Old Danielson Pike



Several eye witnesses over several decades have reported seeing columns of mist and a white lady near these two bridges.

Ram Tail Rd is named for an old wool mill of the same name that burned down in 1885. Its foundations are located off the road and said to be haunted by a different ghost!

JJScaliger

Tucker Hollow Rd





RIHC Foster 26 Hopkins Lot





This cemetery is much larger than I anticipated with over 175 markers. Dolly Cole's house that was burned was reported to be close to this cemetery. She has been seen sitting on the wall of this cemetery.



I didn't see any ghosts, but I had a great time riding my Gitane on these old country roads. The gearing is much more to my liking with 52/42 chainrings.

photogravity

Looks like a great ride JJScaliger. It interesting what we'll use for a travel/ride theme. Several years back, on one of our western holidays we were stopping at nearly any interesting old cemetery that we spotted and, I think it was the year after that, we did a Texas ghost towns tour. These were all done by car, but I'd imagine some of these would be even more enjoyable if done on bicycle.

WNG

Great posts JJ and PG!

Got up early to squeeze in a ride before work on Sunday. It was a lovely 65 F at 7am with blue skies and a light breeze. A customer invited me to join him on a ride through North Scottsdale, up towards Pinnacle Peak, and an area called DC Ranch. It was a social ride, not a fast pace. We chatted and got to know each other better. Greg had several surgeries related to a successful fight with cancer. Before that, he was a very strong rider. He was still a strong rider regardless of his weight gain, and being 53 years young! I rode my trusty Bianchi, he had a modern Trek Madone with 11 speed Campy Super Record everything! It was light as heck, as I've worked on it numerous times.

We rode northward through some of the most expensive real estate in the Valley. There were beautiful views of the mountains... McDowell Mountain and Pinnacle Peak. I was hurting from the slight ascent through the area, but the views were worth the hurt. Lots of cyclists were out riding this morning.
Sorry, no pics for this ride. Forgot my camera and no time to snap a few on my phone.

We refilled out bottles at the turn-around point, stopped to down energy bars, and we headed back on a more direct route to get me back in time for work. Had to shave 30 minutes off our ride time to the turn around point. Greg pulled the whole way due to a slight headwind. 23 mph average!
Along the way, we ran into a local racer Greg had met, and it was now 3 of us. I drafted best I could to their rear wheels. We went into Paradise Valley, through another popular ride route. Pace was fast, and with a few miles left, I was glad to slow down, legs were tired. The guys gave me credit for keeping pace with a 25 lb CroMoly 6 speed freewheeled bike.
We made it back in 1 hour. Total of 36 miles. What a nice way to start a Sunday morning before work!

JJScaliger

Thanks Photogravity and WNG!

It's fun to have a back story and know some history about the places one rides; adds to the experience I think.

Nice work on the century Photogravity! Definitely a fun way to spend the day.

northbend 

On Sunday, a ride in Wenatchee with some good friends.

We enjoyed sweeping views after a great climb up Badger Mountain.

Descending back into town, we headed North riding next to the Columbia River.

We crossed over at Highway 2 then followed the Wenachee River to the town of Monitor, passing by fragrant Apple Orchards.

The sky threatened at times to open up but it never did, we rode all day in a bubble of sun.

Returning back along the same route after lunch, I was thinking I am going to have to come back again soon. There are a lot more roads to explore in this beautiful area.

photogravity

northbend, nice ride and you're right: beautiful area. BTW, in that first picture I thought your friends were on a tandem. The angle threw me off a bit.

GhoulweTim

A good day to be riding ...

gomango

Welcome!

Any other shots of that beautiful bike we might drool over?

Great pics all!

northbend 

I took the day off from work today. It's tulip time up in the Skagit Valley and today was the first day this year my wife rode her bike. She picked a pretty good day.

We rode our bikes around the tulip fields

Drillium Dude 

^ Fantastic pics, Matt!

I used to go to the Tulip Festival every year I was up there (when not deployed). Damn, I do miss WA sometimes

DD

scozim 

Sounds like you're missing it more often than sometimes.

Kobe 

Fantastic picture of you and your bride! You should tell everyone you were on vacation in Holland.

rhm

Hey look! I found this photo I took last September. Same place (but with less water)!.

RobbieTunes

Nothing fancy. Just a ride with drrobwave in the afternoon. Farmers getting ready to plant tobacco, early milo is up, yellow pollen coating nearly everything. Other than getting buzzed by a jerk in a Caddy (inches, both of us while climbing, no oncoming traffic), it was a pleasant ride. A Merckx and a Soma Stanyan.

Revracer

Quick ride after work that caused me to go further than planned up the Pacific Coast Highway. A little windy but a great day that included getting chatting with a fellow cyclist on a really nice Bridgestone.