This was the second time in as many weeks that we had 5 bikes in the group. Joining us this time were Josh, Rob, Duncan, Jay and Allie(sp?) and Audrey as passengers.
Unfortunately, the Blue Oil Burner, as Rob calls my Beloved Blue Bike, re-developed it's intermittent ignition problem. It is now less intermittent. Audrey and I scrambled to transfer gear to the recently re-assembled Silver Bike and off on that we went. I was really concerned about taking such a long ride on the 'S especially with a passenger, but it went surprisingly well.
We took back roads up to Union Bridge (this would be a great place where in a future version of the software I'll be able to insert a map) where we took a break at a 7/11.
15 miles later we stopped in Thurmont for lunch. I had not been feeling well all day and was clearly a bit out of it. I came across some open parking spaces and saw a a bar and grill that I thought was the one we had been to previously.
I had been mistaken. We were in for a bit of "local color" which was a recurring theme for the day. Luckily lunch didn't make anyone sick.
Jay and Allie headed home just before we got a bit wet from a storm cell. It looked like it was going to rain for quite a while and we considered turning back but, given how rarely we make it up this way, we decided to continue. Josh had to head home and parted company with us just before we found our way to yet another unpaved road.
It wasn't paved and did turn out to be bit more challenging than last weeks fire trail, but this road was simply beautiful.
Unfortunately, as we made our way back to pavement Duncan's tire pressure alarm went off. He had put a hole in his rear Metzeler M5. So we found ourselves, once again, in a parking lot. Audrey found the leak and Duncan carefully patched it.
The patch held and we made our way to a much needed Starbucks.
Eventually, as I improve the software, we'll have a way to coalescing all the photos from a trip into a collection with maps, notes, etc. This is what I've been working on full time these days while my money lasts. I don't have an ETA yet, but I can say that I'm making really good progress.
