Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Hancock's Bridge 100km randonneur ride 6.08.2021

"And what is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days..."
-James Russell Lowell

On this nice, hot day in June, I rode the new Hancock's Bridge 100km Permanent route with its creator, Rixter. Rick is a stronger rider than me (I've called myself "Mr Slowski") but he is good enough to wait for me up ahead, sometimes out of view. At one point I saw two riders coming toward me, with one wearing a jersey that reminded me of Rick's. Wait a minute - that IS Rick, and with him is fellow club-member Gary, out for a solo ride. Pure happenstance, meeting up on the road. Funny.

Starting near the Union Lake dam in Millville NJ, the route heads past the southern edge of Parvin State Park and up to Anderson's Store in Centerton, over to Bud's Market in Quinton (good breakfast sandwiches), down to historic Greenwich (site of a pre-Revolution tea party), up to Bridgeton, down to Fairton, then back to the western edge of Millville. It is an enjoyable course, a lot of long runs on quiet country roads with some elevation due to a few rollers (by South Jersey standards). Route, elevation profile and pics here: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/68856358

We rode past some foot-high corn; it would be nice to ride the route again when the corn is tall. I saw my first mountain laurel in bloom (Millville-Fairton Road), and heard a couple different cocks crowing. A number of dogs barked hello, but seemed to be kept on their property by invisible fence - except for 3 little dogs that together came charging right out onto the road. I predict short lifespans for them.

As usual, I had a Garmin GPS hiccup, where it told me I was off-course and needed to make a U-Turn. Fortunately the ride-creator was with me to keep me on the correct path.

I am now halfway to a RUSA P-12.