Another year, another Delaware Double-Cross ride. Unlike last year, this one was PICTURE PERFECT. (And I could show you, had I bothered to take any pictures. Well, maybe next year . . . I have yet to get a real camera for my bike rides.)
Last year, the weather was in the 90s, high humidity, and absolutely scorching. At one rest stop, people were asking each other, "why are we doing this?" But not this year. Temps in the low 70s, practically no humidity. I never once broke into a sweat, and my hair, which normally get's a lovely 1920s-style wave from my helmet, emerged from the end of the ride looking like I'd just blown it dry.
It really DOESN'T get any better than this.
Weeelll, it would have been nice if we'd not had that blasted headwind. But that close to the ocean, you are going to get some. And truthfully, it wasn't that bad. I made Jeff pull me some; I rarely get to draft behind him, but this time I felt pretty peppy. And my pace showed it: 14.8 for the entire ride, rivaling my 14.9/15 pace for the same ride in 2005. I took some wonderful stretches at 17 - 22 mph. Oh! And I had my own "Breaking Away" moment when I actually passed a truck. (OK, OK, it was a hay truck, traveling 15 mph on the shoulder . . . but I whipped around it like a pro.)
We felt good at ride's end (my knee just gets better and better) and we probably could have done the second loop. But after last year, I just didn't want to. Last year, like I said, was hot, I almost got run over by a bluehair, and really . . . the second loop is not all that special. It doesn't go through the wetlands adjacent to the Delaware Bay, like the first loop does. You don't get to pass through the peaceful, idyllic Augustine Wildlife Area, nor do you get a spectacular view of NJ's Salem Nuclear Power Plant . . . seriously, though, it's one of the loveliest areas you'll ever bike through.
What is a ride in Delaware without lunch at Iron Hill? Of course we ate there . . . sat outside (I in goosebumps part of the time - on July 1!), had a chicken sausage pizza and their special Belgian White. On the way back, we stopped in Wegman's and at Baltimore Coffee Company.
As I write this, the sun is setting on our rooftop deck. I am wearing a sweatshirt. Really.
Just a truly lovely, wonderful, perfect day. They don't come any better.
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