Seth, I truly enjoyed that ride. Like you, I'm grateful that Mike spent
time figuring out such a great route. I never ride in that direction so it
was lots of fun to explore an area that isn't all that far from home.
I thought the speed we rode was quite comfortable. I must admit that there
were a few times when I had to work harder than I wanted to keep on your
wheel. I think we even dropped Mike at one point. It seemed to me that
every time I looked down at my computer, we were averaging about 20mph. Of
course, I never look at my computer when I'm grinding up the hills... ;-)
When I mentioned the "rabbit" to you, I knew you would bridge up to him, I
just didn't think you would try to do it in 20 seconds. Unlike you, I'm
happy to catch a rabbit gradually. Of course you always chance having the
guy turn off course so maybe that's why you seem to sprint to bridge up?
My favorite part of the ride was puttering around Plymouth. I was intrigued
by that big statue, enjoyed listening the one of the Pilgrim tour guides
explain the history of the rock, and though lunch was great (Cafe Nanina's).
But the best part of Plymouth? It had to be the heat inside the tourist
info center. I got a little chilled sitting in the restaurant so I didn't
care that the guide was encouraging us to go visit Plimouth Plantation. I
was happy to stand by the heater and get warmed up.
Steve
----- Original Message -----
From: "Seth Dillingham" <
seth@macrobyte.net>
To: "TruerWords" <
TruerWords-site@free-conversant.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 9:30 AM
Subject: [tw] Ride #122: To Plymouth with Mike and Steve [Msg#5743]
<
http://www.truerwords.net/5743>
--------------------------------
(snip...)
We kept the speeds low... I'm not really sure why, but at least I expected
it
this time so I wasn't worried about our pace (well, not much). There was a
moment when another rider appeared about 1/4 mile ahead: Steve quietly said,
"Seth, a rabbit!" The greyhounds in my legs took off at full speed... I
caught
the rabbit in nothing flat, but that was no great accomplishment as he was
barely moving.
I don't remember ever being to Plymouth before, which is weird since I grew
up
in Massachusetts. We stopped at "the rock" where the Mayflower supposedly
landed. It's just a big rock with a date carved in it. Not as big as it used
to be, as 75% of it was chipped away for souvenirs over the centuries (a
couple of museums, including the Smithsonian, have mailbox-sized chunks).
Now
they protect the rock with a gazebo-like structure that lets you see it but
not touch it: to get a piece now, you'd have to jump down about eight feet
to
the sand, then climb out again.
Lunch was at a small restaurant whose name I can't remember. I'd forgotten
my
card, so I still owe Steve (thanks!). Excellent food, though: a bread bowl
of
New England clam chowder (of course), and some sort of chicken wrap.
After we ate, we stopped at the tourist info center to use the facilities
and
so Steve could warm up. ;-) The gentleman behind the counter tried to talk
us
into seeing all the sights, but we didn't have time so we settled for a
quick
ride up the hill to the National Monument to the Forefathers
<
http://www.plymrock.org/forefathers.htm>. It's BIG!!! It's also the
prototype
for the Statue of Liberty. All the characters around the base had creepy
eyes.
Did I mention that it was really big? 81 feet (24.5m) tall, and most of it
is
carved out of solid Granite. Good grief.
(snip...)
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