Cherry Seeds and Mardi Gras Beads

Saturday was the 3rd annual Washington Jefferson Ride and much like Washington during the battle of Trenton, we arose at an ungodly hour to load our vessel and crept to Hanover, Kansas from Omaha. Of course we were relying on a fruit of a different breed to wake us from our slumber and the Apple's snooze button was way too convenient and perhaps lead us to a fashionably late arrival. I don't believe ole George ever had that particular problem with the smaller, similarly hued cherries that he coveted.



In our defense, it had been some time since we've loaded Carlos Ventana into the back of the vehicle so we were a bit out of practice and an eight and a half foot tandem is very particular when it comes to the care and feeding of such a beast. Thankfully we made it just in time to get into the photo and to join in on the start.


You know it's going to be an exceptionally good ride when the first road you get dumped onto after a short paved section looks like this!




After the first MMR we hit some fast, fairly flat gravel and were just getting into the groove when we spotted that monster up a head. I'm not saying that Carlos Ventana doesn't climb but he isn't exactly sprightly on the big ups either.


But up we went and then up some more and then more after that and then even more after that. By the time we hit the top I think my U.S. Savings Bonds had matured, which was good because I felt like I might need a new lung or two. First rides of the season are always a bit more huff and puff than they are later in the year.





Once we crested the summit we pulled over for a little breather and I managed to get in a few shots of the folks still climbing.




We rolled into Washington at about mile 22 to discovered that the party at the Casey's was already in full swing. I often wonder what the small town folk think when they see a hoard of gravel cyclists violate the serene peace and quiet of the village.




Washington was a pretty cool little burg, rolling out of there we were 25 miles from Steele City and lunch.







Lots of new roads this year meant that there were also a lot of new sites to take in and a bunch of red dirt roads.


Crossing this bridge we knew we were just moments away from Steele City, both because we've crossed the bridge the previous two years and also because we could see the town 100 yards up the road.




We came, we ate and we lit out again to get this ride in the books, 50 miles seemed a little bit longer than it did at the end of last year.








Ended up on a name with no road and decided to crack open a ditchy... and the next thing you know the hooligans show up. Gravel cyclists, I am certain, can hear the crack of a good beer from miles a way and they do come a pedaling. Of course the proper thing to do is to share the nectar and swap stories.




A few more miles and we had the 66 miles in the bag, the longest ride this year by far. Of course there was the traditional pie and ice cream after but in my haste to scarf it down I neglected to get a single photo but it looked awesome and tasted even better.


I was gifted a GoPro Hero 9 Black last week as an early birthday present and strapped it on for the Washington Jefferson Ride and got some pretty good video considering it was the first ride with it on and a learning experience to figure out what worked well and what didn't work so well. I hope to start including more video along with the photos to sort of inject a new perspective into the rides and the blog. Here is the first official GoPro video.

Next week is the Incredibly Socially Distanced Mid South sponsored by the Mid South, Cycle Works and the Pirate Cycling League. Not sure yet if I'm in for 100 or in for 50 but leaning on the 100 at this point.

 

The Flux of the Matter

What a difference a week makes around these parts, last week we were struggling to even make it above 10° and this week we might hit 60° before it's all said and done. The warmer temps had everyone doing the Bobby Wintle at the shop.




It was nice not needing to navigate slush piles and play is it water or clear ice on every puddle. With the ten day forecast going up and up, an uninitiated person would think that Nebraska is just going to skip the rest of winter, all of spring and start right into summer. That could very well happen but around here just because the ten day looks good doesn't mean it won't whop you with a blizzard on that 11th day. I'm really hoping things are on the up turn for good but I'll still toss back that salt over my shoulder to ward off the bad karma for at least a few more weeks.






Saturday was our first real gravel of the year and since we were literally under several inches of snow last Saturday it was anyone's guess how good the roads were going to be but they ended up being spectacular, better than I could have hoped for really. I threw on the fenders to prevent the skunk stripe but maybe could have gone without them, the roads were that dry. 


The plan was to try to get in a decent pile of miles, nothing too daring or over zealous but in the upper 30s or so and so to Eagle we headed. Rumor had it that the new Casey's was completed so you know you gotta go check that out and we did and it's super duper nice. Thanks to the mayor of Eagle for that little tidbit of knowledge. 


Also discovered that the grill of a Chevy Black Widow is approximately one Sarah high, hope to never meet one of those up close and personal on the bicycle.




As the saying goes what goes out to Eagle, must come back... or something like that... so back we went after a quick snack at the uber fancy Casey's.



Since it was so nice, there was not just one bridge stop but two. Bonus bridge beer are even better than the regularly scheduled bridge beers by a factor of ten, minimum.



Rolled back into town and ended at the shop with just a few miles short of 40 with some tired legs from not being used to the miles as of late but the smiles were from ear to ear and since it wasn't freezing, you could even see them.






Post ride it was time to whip up something tasty in the kitchen. This week I went pretty simple and grilled up some turkey and pastrami sandwiches with onions and cheddar on toasted jalapeno cheddar bread and some smoked salmon and brie on crackers to snack on while the smells were killing me during the sandwich prep.

Up next week is the 3rd (?) annual Washington Jefferson ride down in Hanover, Kansas. Roads look pretty awesome and brutal all at the same time, plan right now is to load up Carlos Ventana and make the early morning trek down to give it hell.