Comment on Forbidden Drive Ride 12/22

Fran and John,I have to give you an 'atta boy' for doing this one in the end of Decemember.How far up did you go,how was lunch,what was it like in the gorge,were there many people on the trail,horses ?John you're going to have us on mtn.bikes by 2014.The picture caught so much,I can make out 'twin bridges' in the background,good job John.  Thanks for the posting.   Bill

Dec 22, 2011, Forbidden Drive, Fairmount Park

Fran and John V, and Strawberry Mansion Bridge

It was a warm day, 62 degrees was the high and

had to take advantage of this weather in December.

A novice trail, challenge was avoiding muddy spots on the wet trail (rained the day before)

Generally uphill to the north end of Forbidden Drive

(a little hillier than I remembered)

But easy return  

one picture, Strawberry Mansion Bridge in background (Ford Rd)

lunch break at Valley Green Restaurant 

    John V

Comments For 12/9&12/13

John,I love the posts,especially the photos with my friends big smiles.Thanks to Jukka and others for keeping the rides going ,with the mild fall weather ,we've had a long successfull cycling season.Good people net good results.Thanks for your encouragement,I'm confidant that I'll be back in the spring with a vengance,I've lost miles that  need to be made up and I intend to do it.
 
     MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL !!!!!!!!!!

     Bill

Tuesday, 12-13-11

burrrr, It was pretty chilly this morning.   : ))
Lots of thin ice on many ponds and puddles.  Even the horses were wearing blankets.  The Mt Holly weather station says it was 34 degrees at 9:30 and 43 at noon, start and finish times.  It felt a little cooler than that, but it was a beautiful sunny day.

Oakshade and Atsion Roads

Bill and Jukka

Jukka and Olga

Olga dropped by at St Pete's to give us a cheerful sendoff.  Lucky for her, she had a prior commitment this morning.
Just the two of us, Jukka leading, and I.  25.5 miles was enough for today.
Thank you Jukka, for organizing and leading this ride. 
P.S.  Good luck Bill, we'll be pulling for you.

United We Peddled, Friday 12-9-11

We joined forces today.  Jukka’s St Pete’s ride (Hartford Rd and Taunton Rd) joined Carl & Eloise Southampton Twp ride (Retreat Road and Rte 206) and the 5 of us saddled up to ride together.  Carl, Eloise, Jukka, Fran and me (john V) 

It was about 40 degrees when we started. (9:30 and 10:00 AM are great times to start a ride, and it’s about 10 degrees warmer.)  

We peddled the flat lands of Burlington County for 33 miles at a C minus pace.  After we “skirted” around Mirror Lake we stopped at Burger King for coffee and snacks.

Carl gave each of us the option to go directly to Burger King or bike around the lake.  We stayed together but it was a tempting idea.

We got back to Southampton Twp parking lot at about 1:15

Sorry I couldn’t stay to see Fran’s recent Trip pictures.  Work called, maybe I’ll have another opportunity to see them.

This bike puter:  33.4 miles, 12.8 mph avg, 2 hours-36 minutes in the saddle

                        John V