The Birthday Ride

September 26th, 2015

Today was my birthday...and a milestone one at that....60 yrs old.  I decided it was time to do a 60 mile ride for 60 years of age. Since I like the hills Joe M. found an old route of mine and tweeked it a bit due to current poor road conditions or closed roads.  Thank you Joe!

The day was cloudy and windy and I never really warmed up the entire ride.  That's unusual.  Thanks to Ron S. for arm warmers he gave me a few weeks ago. We met at my house and Joe M. brought a little gift from Edie and himself.  Laura rode up with Jim B and also had a nice gift of bling for me.  Thank you all for that. 

We left right around 9 AM as planned and rode to Sergentsville to our first rest stop.  Once on the road again we headed back to ride over the Sourlands on our way back home before we stopped for a second rest stop and then back to my house to finish the ride.

The gang on the ride today.....minus Tom H..

We celebrated with a ice cream cake and it was the end to a great ride!  Thanks to everyone who made my day special.

So what about these 60 years.  Cycling has been a big part of my life the last 18 years of them.  It has taught me self-confidence and helped me to meet some very wonderful people along the way.  It has given me a reason to travel to Europe as well as to many national parks and other US cities to explore.  It doesn't get any better than that.  

Thanks to everyone who has encouraged me over the years to keep riding.

The Ride for McBride

September 20, 2015

I was lucky enough to still be in NJ to do this yearly event which is in honor of one of own Princeton Freewheeler's and our friend who lost his life while cycling five years ago this November.  No one knows what really happened but it really doesn't matter does it?  What matters is that we lost a good friend.  The family, especially his son, who gives a speech about his dad each year at this event is still emotional as are the rest of his family and the cyclists who attend this ride.   Jim B has blogged about his ride and I will include a link to his blog page which will describe the ride and has photos from the day's event.


http://seemingverb.blogspot.com/2015/09/mcbride-2015.html


May you rest in peace our dear friend Joe McBride knowing that you are very missed but not forgotten.

Wine Tasting at Old York Cellars

Friday September 18th

A few friends and I decided to do a bit of wine tasting of the NJ wines at Old York Cellars Winery.  It is an estate winery which means that all the grapes used in the wines are grown on the premises.  Along with the wines they paired  chocolates with different percentages that were to be matched with each wine.  They also have a series called "What Exit is This."   There is a wine from this series in white, red and dessert wines.  I tried the "What Exit is This" from the red series that was exit 98 on the Garden State Parkway which is Spring Lake and another red that was Exit 6 ( the turnpike maybe??)which represented Trenton.   The wines are decent and this is one of  few winery's in NJ in my opinion that are worthwhile to visit for tastings.

http://www.oldyorkcellars.com/

Here are some photos from my visit

Enjoying a glass of Trenton Red on the patio of the winery. 

 The vineyards

 The building and vats where the grapes are fermented

It was a beautiful day to enjoy a glass of wine on the patio and look at the Sourland Mountain range where we often ride.

Catching Up on the Months of August and September 2015

Tuesday September 15th

Laura ( Perpetual Headwinds) reminded me that it's been a long time since I last blogged.  It's been a busy month of riding, a scratched cornea (ouch), and putting my house back on the market for sale after my tenant left.

Here are some photos from the last two months of riding in Bucks County...except for a few photos in NJ. Bucks County, PA is beautiful and if you don't mind doing some hills....the scenery is worth it!

One of two covered bridges in NJ.  This one is in Sergentsville, NJ and we rode through it on our bikes.

The other covered bridge is located around the Cherry Hill area although I have never seen it.

One more ox I have seen in my cycling adventures around the Hopewell, NJ area,



The remaining photos are from rides in Bucks County, PA.  The rest stop is always the Carversville General Store

 One of my riding buddies Blake relaxing outside the store.

The Carversville Inn which across the street from the deli.  I hear the food is good there but I have never had the chance to eat there.

Not far behind the Inn is the toy guy from the Antique Road Show.  His showroom is just filled with old toys.  I had the chance to meet him years ago when I was visiting the area with a buddy....in a car....and not on a bike.

Van Sandt Covered Bridge in PA.  There are many covered bridges in PA!

Laura ( Nevada) and Blake on the most recent ride in Bucks County.


I will be heading back to Florida in a few weeks.  Hope to get a few more good rides in NJ and Bucks Co. PA before I leave.