Patrice was out of town for the holiday this weekend. I emailed Marco to see if he intended ride in Columbia anyway. We agreed to meet as usual. With just a couple of us showing up, I thought it would be a good time to explore new routes without inconveniencing others much. I warned Marco that I was looking at the maps and he didn't protest.
After some study time, I settled on a route that went north before going more easterly than normal. Still, the route went to the south. Just in a different manner. With everything planned, I checked the email just before going to bed and find an email from Tomas H asking if he and his Dad could join us if we were riding. They would have to put up with whatever bad roads or wrong turns I made along the way.
It didn't take long for the first wrong turn. Or, should I say, the lack of a turn. Madison Co. has a nasty habit of having the occasional unmarked road. Such was the case as we pedaled right past Otten and ended up on Imbs Station. Imbs didn't feel like the right road but again we couldn't be sure because there was no sign naming the road. We pulled over to try and get our bearings when a group of Dent Wizards led by Karl Stover came from the opposite direction. Karl knew the roads well and confirmed that my amended route would get us back on track and we headed off again. There was only one other missed turn but again we simply turned at the next road just up the road and everything was good.
All things considered, the new route turned out to be pretty good with little traffic. I particularly liked a stretch of small, winding roads along Mueller, Zingg and Saeger. There were a few good hills, some small rollers and a good amount of flat, too.
This route would normally be about 60 miles, but can easily add a 15 mile loop. Yet, there seem to be a number of ways to shorten the route if needed. This came in handy when Tomas' father hit the deck and possibly cracked a rib on the way back. He pushed onward but his chest began to tighten. I called an audible and shaved a few miles off the ride.
We finished with about 56 miles of good riding in unseasonably warm weather.
After some study time, I settled on a route that went north before going more easterly than normal. Still, the route went to the south. Just in a different manner. With everything planned, I checked the email just before going to bed and find an email from Tomas H asking if he and his Dad could join us if we were riding. They would have to put up with whatever bad roads or wrong turns I made along the way.
It didn't take long for the first wrong turn. Or, should I say, the lack of a turn. Madison Co. has a nasty habit of having the occasional unmarked road. Such was the case as we pedaled right past Otten and ended up on Imbs Station. Imbs didn't feel like the right road but again we couldn't be sure because there was no sign naming the road. We pulled over to try and get our bearings when a group of Dent Wizards led by Karl Stover came from the opposite direction. Karl knew the roads well and confirmed that my amended route would get us back on track and we headed off again. There was only one other missed turn but again we simply turned at the next road just up the road and everything was good.
All things considered, the new route turned out to be pretty good with little traffic. I particularly liked a stretch of small, winding roads along Mueller, Zingg and Saeger. There were a few good hills, some small rollers and a good amount of flat, too.
This route would normally be about 60 miles, but can easily add a 15 mile loop. Yet, there seem to be a number of ways to shorten the route if needed. This came in handy when Tomas' father hit the deck and possibly cracked a rib on the way back. He pushed onward but his chest began to tighten. I called an audible and shaved a few miles off the ride.
We finished with about 56 miles of good riding in unseasonably warm weather.
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