Readytoride
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Virginia
Just a smidge shy of 28 miles cycled yesterday towards the end of the waning afternoon.
The morning was spent gardening, putting up the newly made bluebird houses, and riding my mare 5 miles with a friend on her still green Thoroughbred. He had been a successful racehorse prior to her purchase of him last year, so she was moving slowly along to achieve a smooth and uneventful transition of him to a pleasure horse. Today was the first time ever that she would begin to trot him in open fields, not a ring. She was, understandably, nervous. My mare was his rock solid mentor, and happy to say we are: 1. Still alive; 2.remained in the saddle; 3. had a good ride with the Thoroughbed managing to hold himself mentally together at least 95% of the time, and 4. counting the outing as a success. I don't think my friend breathed at all until our ride ended. Small steps, big rewards.
I hadn't planned my bike ride for anything other than to enjoy what remained of a beautiful Springtime day. The gravel roads called to me for their peace and quiet since the paved roads had unexpectedly become inundated with trucks, both private and commercial. It would appear that every "essential business" within hailing distance was traveling by pickup truck or big dump trucks, while VDOT was accelerating their roadwork repair and service to take advantage of the public "stay at home" mandate. With virtually no cars on the road, the work crews could work with far less impedance.
Thus I found myself on the gravel roads with the option of taking whatever direction met my fancy. South sounded nice, and the prospect of less traffic on the Rt. 50 highway was appealing to skirt through Upperville and add a bit more miles to my back road adventure.
I rather like a big loop, so took the gravel road running north/south along the base of the Blue Ridge mountains, heading north until I hit Bluemont. Uneventful, exceptional quiet, and all mine. Not one vehicle passed me the entire 10 miles. I stopped when I saw this whimsical sign for not just fresh chicken eggs, but for "happy chicken" eggs. I promised myself I would come back to buy a dozen next time.
Out here in rural estate land cellular and Wi-Fi can be a bit "iffy". Hence, the need sometimes to help route signals via your own tower when your property calls for that boost. Some of the bigger estate have them as a matter of necessity to help staff keep in touch with each other via radio. Sure beats trying to find a hill and hollering across the landscape.
My view for the next 10 peaceful, reflective, colorful, engaging, dusty, wonderful miles.
By the time I hit Bluemont, it was decision time. Go further, or head home? Further was enticing, but home won simply because I had two horses in the barn and I know they had probably burned through all their hay by now and were standing leaning over their stall doors, watching out the barn doors for my return to serve them dinner. The other two were probably hanging over their pasture gates, keeping vigil as well.
The paved road seemed the best and quickest option to return, and I'm glad I chose that way otherwise I would have missed all the excitement a few miles down the road. My first clue should have been a deputy's car passing me, and then another. One would have been normal, but two in a row? Odd. It all made sudden sense once I crested the small hill in front of me to see a venerable marquee of flashing red and blue fire truck lights, combined with the flashing lights of several local law enforcement vehicles, spread over the entire road. Blocking both lanes of traffic.
Being the dutiful citizen I was, I stopped behind the sheriff's car in front of me...for exactly 10 seconds. It was silly to stand on the road on a bike when there was plenty of grassy shoulder available to me to slip by everyone. So I did so, ostensibly to stop and chat with a local who was standing watching whatever it was going on that commanded the attention of so many emergency vehicles. It also allowed me to be nosey. The gray haired gentleman looked resigned and stoic (which made me wonder why at first) but very politely told me that he had been attending a (controlled) brush fire burning in the field across the road, and a local deputy had stopped and motioned him to come over (for what purpose he didn't disclose but it was pretty obvious later on) and by the time he'd returned to his brush pile the fire had jumped from the brush pile into the nearby trees. (The "nearby trees" was the obvious part. Clearly why the deputy had called the guy over. Not supposed to burn brush near trees. It can cause a real fire. Like the one burning now. Hence the resignation and stoic look. All made perfect sense.)
I thanked the man, offered my condolences for his ruined day (which made him smile and shake his head ruefully), and moved my bike from the grassy shoulder back to the pavement, taking full advantage of the deputy standing in the road offering me free passage with a smile as he held up traffic to let me through.
Of course, after that, the rest of the ride home was completely uneventful, except for stopping a few times to return texts from friends since I can't cycle and reply at the same time. Once I reached home I rode straight to the barn rather than the house because I was met, while still coming up the driveway, with an exceptionally loud chorus of "where's dinner?" in equine-speak. (My mare was the first to see me while I was still out on the road, and she let the others know I was within ear-range.)
Everyone was fed and happily mulching down dinner by the time I walked in the house to announce I was home.
"I know" was the response from my Significant Other who was lounging on the couch, eyes on the TV, watching the news.
"Let me guess," I said. "Was it the dogs barking, or the horses yelling that clued you in?"
"Neither," he announced as he held his cell phone aloft, wiggling it in the air. "It was your tracking app. Saw the minute you arrived back."
I grinned, just as my friend 100 miles south of me texted to ask how the traffic had been on Rt. 50. We use the same app so she watched my ride as well. Big Brother is alive and well and watching my every move. And every bike ride, too. I don't mind, either. Not one bit.
Welcome to 1984, 2020 style.
Fastest speed: 29.6mph
Average speed: 14.4mph
The morning was spent gardening, putting up the newly made bluebird houses, and riding my mare 5 miles with a friend on her still green Thoroughbred. He had been a successful racehorse prior to her purchase of him last year, so she was moving slowly along to achieve a smooth and uneventful transition of him to a pleasure horse. Today was the first time ever that she would begin to trot him in open fields, not a ring. She was, understandably, nervous. My mare was his rock solid mentor, and happy to say we are: 1. Still alive; 2.remained in the saddle; 3. had a good ride with the Thoroughbed managing to hold himself mentally together at least 95% of the time, and 4. counting the outing as a success. I don't think my friend breathed at all until our ride ended. Small steps, big rewards.
I hadn't planned my bike ride for anything other than to enjoy what remained of a beautiful Springtime day. The gravel roads called to me for their peace and quiet since the paved roads had unexpectedly become inundated with trucks, both private and commercial. It would appear that every "essential business" within hailing distance was traveling by pickup truck or big dump trucks, while VDOT was accelerating their roadwork repair and service to take advantage of the public "stay at home" mandate. With virtually no cars on the road, the work crews could work with far less impedance.
Thus I found myself on the gravel roads with the option of taking whatever direction met my fancy. South sounded nice, and the prospect of less traffic on the Rt. 50 highway was appealing to skirt through Upperville and add a bit more miles to my back road adventure.
I rather like a big loop, so took the gravel road running north/south along the base of the Blue Ridge mountains, heading north until I hit Bluemont. Uneventful, exceptional quiet, and all mine. Not one vehicle passed me the entire 10 miles. I stopped when I saw this whimsical sign for not just fresh chicken eggs, but for "happy chicken" eggs. I promised myself I would come back to buy a dozen next time.
Out here in rural estate land cellular and Wi-Fi can be a bit "iffy". Hence, the need sometimes to help route signals via your own tower when your property calls for that boost. Some of the bigger estate have them as a matter of necessity to help staff keep in touch with each other via radio. Sure beats trying to find a hill and hollering across the landscape.
My view for the next 10 peaceful, reflective, colorful, engaging, dusty, wonderful miles.
By the time I hit Bluemont, it was decision time. Go further, or head home? Further was enticing, but home won simply because I had two horses in the barn and I know they had probably burned through all their hay by now and were standing leaning over their stall doors, watching out the barn doors for my return to serve them dinner. The other two were probably hanging over their pasture gates, keeping vigil as well.
The paved road seemed the best and quickest option to return, and I'm glad I chose that way otherwise I would have missed all the excitement a few miles down the road. My first clue should have been a deputy's car passing me, and then another. One would have been normal, but two in a row? Odd. It all made sudden sense once I crested the small hill in front of me to see a venerable marquee of flashing red and blue fire truck lights, combined with the flashing lights of several local law enforcement vehicles, spread over the entire road. Blocking both lanes of traffic.
Being the dutiful citizen I was, I stopped behind the sheriff's car in front of me...for exactly 10 seconds. It was silly to stand on the road on a bike when there was plenty of grassy shoulder available to me to slip by everyone. So I did so, ostensibly to stop and chat with a local who was standing watching whatever it was going on that commanded the attention of so many emergency vehicles. It also allowed me to be nosey. The gray haired gentleman looked resigned and stoic (which made me wonder why at first) but very politely told me that he had been attending a (controlled) brush fire burning in the field across the road, and a local deputy had stopped and motioned him to come over (for what purpose he didn't disclose but it was pretty obvious later on) and by the time he'd returned to his brush pile the fire had jumped from the brush pile into the nearby trees. (The "nearby trees" was the obvious part. Clearly why the deputy had called the guy over. Not supposed to burn brush near trees. It can cause a real fire. Like the one burning now. Hence the resignation and stoic look. All made perfect sense.)
I thanked the man, offered my condolences for his ruined day (which made him smile and shake his head ruefully), and moved my bike from the grassy shoulder back to the pavement, taking full advantage of the deputy standing in the road offering me free passage with a smile as he held up traffic to let me through.
Of course, after that, the rest of the ride home was completely uneventful, except for stopping a few times to return texts from friends since I can't cycle and reply at the same time. Once I reached home I rode straight to the barn rather than the house because I was met, while still coming up the driveway, with an exceptionally loud chorus of "where's dinner?" in equine-speak. (My mare was the first to see me while I was still out on the road, and she let the others know I was within ear-range.)
Everyone was fed and happily mulching down dinner by the time I walked in the house to announce I was home.
"I know" was the response from my Significant Other who was lounging on the couch, eyes on the TV, watching the news.
"Let me guess," I said. "Was it the dogs barking, or the horses yelling that clued you in?"
"Neither," he announced as he held his cell phone aloft, wiggling it in the air. "It was your tracking app. Saw the minute you arrived back."
I grinned, just as my friend 100 miles south of me texted to ask how the traffic had been on Rt. 50. We use the same app so she watched my ride as well. Big Brother is alive and well and watching my every move. And every bike ride, too. I don't mind, either. Not one bit.
Welcome to 1984, 2020 style.
Fastest speed: 29.6mph
Average speed: 14.4mph
Attachments
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
@Readytoride, I will read your story after I have returned home. Riding for 50 miles now. I have never expected how easy the Spring riding could be... 
D
Deleted member 18083
Guest
Ipswich historic home …
Today Pine Mountain and other once-forested areas have been logged out and Hancock Brothers timber yard is in ruins, hopefully to be turned into a recreation area (see map on previous page).
Gwennap is now an old age home; I think Emily and Josias would have approved.
Another late-nineteenth century home in Chermside Road which I haven't ridden along since road bike times…
My intention was to return home from Ipswich by looping around the air force base. The road is clearly marked on the map but, alas, it was off-limits behind a chain link fence festooned with little 'mirrors' glinting in the sunlight to discourage the most feared of all airfield infiltrators – kangaroos.
Gwennap, Newtown, Ipswich
In 1874 Ipswich timber merchant Josias Hancock built this Queenslander home and named it Gwennap after the Cornish town where he had been born in 1840.Today Pine Mountain and other once-forested areas have been logged out and Hancock Brothers timber yard is in ruins, hopefully to be turned into a recreation area (see map on previous page).
Gwennap is now an old age home; I think Emily and Josias would have approved.
Another late-nineteenth century home in Chermside Road which I haven't ridden along since road bike times…
Eastern Heights, Ipswich
My intention was to return home from Ipswich by looping around the air force base. The road is clearly marked on the map but, alas, it was off-limits behind a chain link fence festooned with little 'mirrors' glinting in the sunlight to discourage the most feared of all airfield infiltrators – kangaroos.
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PDXzap
Well-Known Member
I've never heard of anything like that. Does that actually work???
Mr. Coffee
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- A Demented Corner of the North Cascades
Spring has sprung! Well, in the lowlands at least:
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Thank you @Mulezen, @Readytoride and @David Berry for your interesting stories! I was especially curious about what kind of gravel roads are there in Virginia and can only tell Flora I'm jealous! Now, it is the time for my story.
"The chaos of my emotions became stronger than me. The romance of the century, phew!
'In Syracuse -- a thought flashed through my mind -- If one is met by a disaster in Syracuse, it is at least more romantic than if that had happened in Grójec. On the other hand, Grójec, what an exotic place it must be for an Arab!' I didn't listen to what he was saying to me because the urgent need of disentangling the terrible situation I suddenly got into made me into the state of utter idiocy. My soul's eyes could only see an Arab in the Grójec market square and no way in hell could I get rid of that image".
/Joanna Chmielewska, "The Full Sentence of The Deceased", 1969/
Joanna Chmielewska, who passed away a couple of years ago, was the most read contemporary Polish author. She wrote witty crime stories centered around herself, Joanna. The essential plot leading to the quote is as follows. Joanna gets unwillingly involved into worldwide Mafia business (a man shot in a casino tells her seemingly meaningless code before he dies); Joanna is oppressed by the Mafia, escapes, changes her appearance, and falls in love with a stranger in Syracuse, Sicily. Incidentally, her lover tells her he's searching some Joanna; he doesn't know it is her; she realises he's a Mafia hitman.
Would be the market square of Grójec an exotic place for an Arab? I decided to judge myself
Oh, and my Dad (1919-2008). He told me there was a pre-WW2 saying in case someone said something very stupid:
-- O, The Holy Trinity! Where are you from? Grójec?!
It was the first true day of the Spring. 21 C (70F). I just wore the thermoactive base layer and bibs, medium helmet, no goggles, no gloves and rode out. It was too warm in that lightweight clothing! Luckily, the Mighty Power of Nature was my friend today. Yes, the wind was strong but warm and it was just removing the excess heat from my body!
I wanted to make the first stop in a beautiful park by the palace in Młochów but I realised the public access to the park was banned...
Tarczyn, one of the two capital towns of the Apple Tree Land. The symbol of the city appears to be somewhat rotten
To avoid main roads, the GPS navigation directed me to ride long segments of terrible terrain such as fresh gravel, sand or "tarmac" as seen in this photo. A gravel road had been sealed with blacktop and then the asphalt got completely damaged... At least the (finally) adjusted suspension fork allowed me to go through such obstacles with less suffering. Besides, there is another apple orchard at the left.
A very old wooden house in the heart of Grójec.
At this point, I asked some local if Grójec had the market square at all and where it could be The guy was stunned a little but eventually he told me where the Square of Freedom was.
The town-hall of Grójec. Note the flags, indicating the wind strength.
One of the sides of the Grójec market square.
Would the market square of Grójec an exotic place for an Arab? In 1969, perhaps. Fancy the buildings, shabby, colourless. The surface of the square was made of beaten clay. Although I don't miss those old days, I must admit there was some climate that might make the place feel exotic. Not nowadays, I think.
The apple is also the symbol of Grójec prosperity.
When I was taking that photo, I heard a bang from behind. The Mighty Power of Nature made my bike fall. Losses: Broken display mount (it still holds though). Soon after, a police car entered the square calling to Stay At Home. Two local winos instantly disappeared. So did I.
The businesses in the Apple Tree Land only deal with coal and horticultural chemicals. A local coal trader had an OT-64 SKOT (amphibious, armoured personnel carrier co-developed by Czechoslovakia and Poland in 1960s) at his lot.
A general-issue grocery/alcohol store of Polish backwoods Here, I made the decision to extend my ride with 5 km extra to make 50 miles.
Oh, not again... In the Mazovian sands. I had to walk my Good Ole Mule here. The Walk function helped.
The name of Łos has no meaning. I was sure the actual name was Łoś (Elk). Some youngster must have thought the same
A narrow-gauge railway, David! Once it was an important route from Warsaw to Nowe Miasto nad Pilicą. Nowadays, only the Piaseczno - Grójec segment is operable. The train operates on demand, for tourists. Sadly, the covid made the train wait for better times...
Instead of pączki, I ate delicious, juniper-smoked kiełbasa with plain bread
The ride stats.
"The chaos of my emotions became stronger than me. The romance of the century, phew!
'In Syracuse -- a thought flashed through my mind -- If one is met by a disaster in Syracuse, it is at least more romantic than if that had happened in Grójec. On the other hand, Grójec, what an exotic place it must be for an Arab!' I didn't listen to what he was saying to me because the urgent need of disentangling the terrible situation I suddenly got into made me into the state of utter idiocy. My soul's eyes could only see an Arab in the Grójec market square and no way in hell could I get rid of that image".
/Joanna Chmielewska, "The Full Sentence of The Deceased", 1969/
Joanna Chmielewska, who passed away a couple of years ago, was the most read contemporary Polish author. She wrote witty crime stories centered around herself, Joanna. The essential plot leading to the quote is as follows. Joanna gets unwillingly involved into worldwide Mafia business (a man shot in a casino tells her seemingly meaningless code before he dies); Joanna is oppressed by the Mafia, escapes, changes her appearance, and falls in love with a stranger in Syracuse, Sicily. Incidentally, her lover tells her he's searching some Joanna; he doesn't know it is her; she realises he's a Mafia hitman.
Would be the market square of Grójec an exotic place for an Arab? I decided to judge myself
Oh, and my Dad (1919-2008). He told me there was a pre-WW2 saying in case someone said something very stupid:-- O, The Holy Trinity! Where are you from? Grójec?!
It was the first true day of the Spring. 21 C (70F). I just wore the thermoactive base layer and bibs, medium helmet, no goggles, no gloves and rode out. It was too warm in that lightweight clothing! Luckily, the Mighty Power of Nature was my friend today. Yes, the wind was strong but warm and it was just removing the excess heat from my body!
I wanted to make the first stop in a beautiful park by the palace in Młochów but I realised the public access to the park was banned...
Tarczyn, one of the two capital towns of the Apple Tree Land. The symbol of the city appears to be somewhat rotten
To avoid main roads, the GPS navigation directed me to ride long segments of terrible terrain such as fresh gravel, sand or "tarmac" as seen in this photo. A gravel road had been sealed with blacktop and then the asphalt got completely damaged... At least the (finally) adjusted suspension fork allowed me to go through such obstacles with less suffering. Besides, there is another apple orchard at the left.
A very old wooden house in the heart of Grójec.
At this point, I asked some local if Grójec had the market square at all and where it could be
The guy was stunned a little but eventually he told me where the Square of Freedom was.The town-hall of Grójec. Note the flags, indicating the wind strength.
One of the sides of the Grójec market square.
Would the market square of Grójec an exotic place for an Arab? In 1969, perhaps. Fancy the buildings, shabby, colourless. The surface of the square was made of beaten clay. Although I don't miss those old days, I must admit there was some climate that might make the place feel exotic. Not nowadays, I think.
The apple is also the symbol of Grójec prosperity.
When I was taking that photo, I heard a bang from behind. The Mighty Power of Nature made my bike fall. Losses: Broken display mount (it still holds though). Soon after, a police car entered the square calling to Stay At Home. Two local winos instantly disappeared. So did I.
The businesses in the Apple Tree Land only deal with coal and horticultural chemicals. A local coal trader had an OT-64 SKOT (amphibious, armoured personnel carrier co-developed by Czechoslovakia and Poland in 1960s) at his lot.
A general-issue grocery/alcohol store of Polish backwoods
Here, I made the decision to extend my ride with 5 km extra to make 50 miles.Oh, not again... In the Mazovian sands. I had to walk my Good Ole Mule here. The Walk function helped.
The name of Łos has no meaning. I was sure the actual name was Łoś (Elk). Some youngster must have thought the same
A narrow-gauge railway, David! Once it was an important route from Warsaw to Nowe Miasto nad Pilicą. Nowadays, only the Piaseczno - Grójec segment is operable. The train operates on demand, for tourists. Sadly, the covid made the train wait for better times...
Instead of pączki, I ate delicious, juniper-smoked kiełbasa with plain bread
The ride stats.
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Twin Valley
Well-Known Member
the Queenslander immediately put me in mind of the Tamarind House on Rarotonga except they enclosed the wrap around porch to make a restaurant, apparently was built by a steam shipper and became the British Counsel for most of the twentieth century before becoming our favorite go to for lunch
Readytoride
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Virginia
Mother Nature's apology to me yesterday for conning me into thinking I could take a late afternoon bike ride by virtue of sunny skies and bright sunshine. Promises, promises.
I got exactly 3 miles up the road, then stopped to stare at a completely unexpected line of jet black clouds that had just jumped the mountain range peaks and were advancing at tremendous speed...right at me. They were powerful, spanning the entire West horizon, and bent upon mayhem. I could easily see the torrential rains they were unleashing on the captive landscape below them.
I quickly consulted my phone's radar app, and paled at what I saw. These clouds had thunder and lightening embedded in their advance. It was the only warning I was going to get to flee. Immediately. Even the sun had ducked behind some startled white puffy clouds and was actively seeking a way of leaving the sky altogether.
I turned my bike around and burned up the road to get safely back home before the skies launched their assault over me.
So there you have it. A total of 6 miles ridden. Not earth shattering, I know. But I did get back home and was safely inside by the time the winds and thunderstorms hit.
Maybe I'll have better luck today with sunny weather remaining sunny ...
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
"Thunderbolt and lightning
Very very frightening me"
It's gonna be a very warm and windless day here. I'm lured into making a metric century (a ride to the ruins of the Castle in Czersk near to the Vistula River) but my legs are tired after the fifty-miler of yesterday; and a courier may appear with a delivery. I wouldn't like to waste such a day though. Decisions, decisions...
D
Deleted member 18083
Guest
But you did the right thing… took a photo to share with your EBR Forum friends!
May your reward be having many more adventures to share with us.
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D
Deleted member 18083
Guest
One bridge, two bridges, three bridges and then two again …
The only time Jen and I drove across the old Hornibrook 'Highway' was in our Kombi camper in 1972 before the second bridge – three lanes with traffic cones changed at midday to allow two lanes to the city in the morning and two home in the afternoon. No one seemed to have thought about cyclists!
And then there were three bridges! It took time but it was fascinating to watch. For years my roadie cycling group clattered our way across the 1935 wooden bridge from which motor vehicles had already been banned. Above and beyond the now-inadequate 1970s bridge a new bridge was boldly crossing Hays Inlet. Each week would see a new section, transported from the Brisbane end by extraordinary bridge-carrying cranes. Cyclists, pedestrians and anglers had the old bridge to ourselves. Wonderful, but not for long…
The 1930s timber structure was declared unsafe – quite correctly! – and demolished. Short refurbished sections remain at the northern (photo link) and southern ends. The design of the new bridge (right; photo link) was reassessed following Hurricane Katrina – lessons heeded! – and was placed on higher pylons.
Hays Inlet at low tide.
The bright white towers, plus a matching pair 3 km away to our left (north) are all that remain of the original bridge crossing from Brisbane (our side) to the Redcliffe Peninsula…The only time Jen and I drove across the old Hornibrook 'Highway' was in our Kombi camper in 1972 before the second bridge – three lanes with traffic cones changed at midday to allow two lanes to the city in the morning and two home in the afternoon. No one seemed to have thought about cyclists!
And then there were three bridges! It took time but it was fascinating to watch. For years my roadie cycling group clattered our way across the 1935 wooden bridge from which motor vehicles had already been banned. Above and beyond the now-inadequate 1970s bridge a new bridge was boldly crossing Hays Inlet. Each week would see a new section, transported from the Brisbane end by extraordinary bridge-carrying cranes. Cyclists, pedestrians and anglers had the old bridge to ourselves. Wonderful, but not for long…
Twin bridges linking Brisbane and Redcliffe Peninsula
The 1930s timber structure was declared unsafe – quite correctly! – and demolished. Short refurbished sections remain at the northern (photo link) and southern ends. The design of the new bridge (right; photo link) was reassessed following Hurricane Katrina – lessons heeded! – and was placed on higher pylons.
Mr. Coffee
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- A Demented Corner of the North Cascades
Checking out the Escape Route. It is hazy today because there is a small wildfire about two dozen miles away:
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
My 2nd Metric Century (Czersk)
Not too much to tell you. I'm terribly tired. I was tired before I set off to Czersk because of the 50-mile ride the day before. Despite the sunshine, 18 C/64 F, symbolic easterly wind (1.5 m/s or less), I was riding rather slowly using PAS 2 on the outbound trip to conserve the first battery (it was good for more than 62 km). Riding some off-road didn't help either; I chose that because I am not fond of the town of Piaseczno and I wanted to avoid seeing the Piaseczno police as well.
The streets were deserted. People got scared of the perspective of Draconian fines for pointless staying outdoor: Not a single runner, very few bikes, very few people walking. In fact, the police in big cities enforce the ban to visit parks, embankments, woods, etc. That's not the case in the area I live or where I have travelled. Still, people stay at homes.
On contrary, roads are very busy with cars, vans, trucks. Riding the Hwy 79 (Warsaw - Piaseczno - Góra Kalwaria - Sandomierz) was a terrifying experience. The traffic was as heavy as "in the Marszałkowska Street during the rush hours before the pandemia" as a saying goes Incidentally, I found no "Bike Ban" road-sign on the dual-carriageway part of the 79 on the way back; the ride was safe & fast there until the old 79 began again.
Only few photos. No time for photography on the long trip!
Doing body-stretches in Magdalenka on the way out. An elderly gentleman was walking his doggie, a funny creature. I was just taking a camera from a pannier when the dog was sniffing at my calves. Something fell out from the pannier and the animal got scared and ran away How we laughed together with the old man! I was fresh yet; then the off-road ride began...
Upon my arrival to Czersk, I spotted a local wino occupying the central bench in a small park; his presence there was a forbidden act but how was the police to punish him, exactly? Heheheh I asked him how to get to the Castle of Czersk and he told me I should go through the Church grounds. So did I. When I reached the castle gate, I realised I broke all possible public access bans; besides, the castle was closed for visitors. I leaned my bike against a large tree and out of sudden one of the stone-masons working behind the gate said: -- Please get in, the gate's open! So I went in and took some pictures (none of them good).
However, when I was leaving the place, the churchwarden was very unpleasant with me, threatening me with calling the police so I would be fined. Sigh.
Until 1526 (when Mazovia was incorporated by the Kingdom of Poland), the princes of Mazovia had been powerful rulers. In 1410, Janusz I the Mazovian prince completed the construction of a brick castle in Czersk. Under the rule of Queen Bona Sforza (the Italian wife of the King Sisigmund I The Old who became the Queen after he died), the castle became her private property. After some damage during the Polish-Swedish wars in 17th c, the Grand Crown Marshall Franciszek Bieliński attempted to rebuild the castle between 1762–1766. (The Warsaw main street Marszałkowska was given its name to honour Bieliński; it is one of the oldest streets of our capital city). After 1795, the castle was ruined by the Prussian.
I was wrong to say there were no hills in Mazovia. There is actually a single very long hill there. It is the left bank of the Vistula River, very tall in Czersk and quite tall in Warsaw. You can see the valley of Vistula River in the picture above.
Scared of riding the 79, unwilling to block the traffic of large trucks and absolutely unwilling to ride through Piaseczno, I escaped via Zalesie Górne. It was a pleasant trip with light downwind. In Łazy, by the Raszyn Radio Tower, I had the last rest at a bus-stop bench. A Fire Brigade truck appeared; the firemen looked at me in the way that made me feel uneasy. -- Would you move away, sir? We want to disinfect the bench! Ah. Only that. Very tired, I started sailing with the wind home.
Another metric century, 6:41 p.m. Now I'm going to refrain from riding for at least 24 hours. My sore bum has to heal, I need to meet the courier with the shipment, I need to recover!
The ride stats.
Not too much to tell you. I'm terribly tired. I was tired before I set off to Czersk because of the 50-mile ride the day before. Despite the sunshine, 18 C/64 F, symbolic easterly wind (1.5 m/s or less), I was riding rather slowly using PAS 2 on the outbound trip to conserve the first battery (it was good for more than 62 km). Riding some off-road didn't help either; I chose that because I am not fond of the town of Piaseczno and I wanted to avoid seeing the Piaseczno police as well.
The streets were deserted. People got scared of the perspective of Draconian fines for pointless staying outdoor: Not a single runner, very few bikes, very few people walking. In fact, the police in big cities enforce the ban to visit parks, embankments, woods, etc. That's not the case in the area I live or where I have travelled. Still, people stay at homes.
On contrary, roads are very busy with cars, vans, trucks. Riding the Hwy 79 (Warsaw - Piaseczno - Góra Kalwaria - Sandomierz) was a terrifying experience. The traffic was as heavy as "in the Marszałkowska Street during the rush hours before the pandemia" as a saying goes
Incidentally, I found no "Bike Ban" road-sign on the dual-carriageway part of the 79 on the way back; the ride was safe & fast there until the old 79 began again.Only few photos. No time for photography on the long trip!
Doing body-stretches in Magdalenka on the way out. An elderly gentleman was walking his doggie, a funny creature. I was just taking a camera from a pannier when the dog was sniffing at my calves. Something fell out from the pannier and the animal got scared and ran away
How we laughed together with the old man! I was fresh yet; then the off-road ride began...Upon my arrival to Czersk, I spotted a local wino occupying the central bench in a small park; his presence there was a forbidden act but how was the police to punish him, exactly? Heheheh
I asked him how to get to the Castle of Czersk and he told me I should go through the Church grounds. So did I. When I reached the castle gate, I realised I broke all possible public access bans; besides, the castle was closed for visitors. I leaned my bike against a large tree and out of sudden one of the stone-masons working behind the gate said: -- Please get in, the gate's open! So I went in and took some pictures (none of them good).However, when I was leaving the place, the churchwarden was very unpleasant with me, threatening me with calling the police so I would be fined. Sigh.
Until 1526 (when Mazovia was incorporated by the Kingdom of Poland), the princes of Mazovia had been powerful rulers. In 1410, Janusz I the Mazovian prince completed the construction of a brick castle in Czersk. Under the rule of Queen Bona Sforza (the Italian wife of the King Sisigmund I The Old who became the Queen after he died), the castle became her private property. After some damage during the Polish-Swedish wars in 17th c, the Grand Crown Marshall Franciszek Bieliński attempted to rebuild the castle between 1762–1766. (The Warsaw main street Marszałkowska was given its name to honour Bieliński; it is one of the oldest streets of our capital city). After 1795, the castle was ruined by the Prussian.
I was wrong to say there were no hills in Mazovia. There is actually a single very long hill there. It is the left bank of the Vistula River, very tall in Czersk and quite tall in Warsaw. You can see the valley of Vistula River in the picture above.
Scared of riding the 79, unwilling to block the traffic of large trucks and absolutely unwilling to ride through Piaseczno, I escaped via Zalesie Górne. It was a pleasant trip with light downwind. In Łazy, by the Raszyn Radio Tower, I had the last rest at a bus-stop bench. A Fire Brigade truck appeared; the firemen looked at me in the way that made me feel uneasy. -- Would you move away, sir? We want to disinfect the bench! Ah. Only that. Very tired, I started sailing with the wind home.
Another metric century, 6:41 p.m. Now I'm going to refrain from riding for at least 24 hours. My sore bum has to heal, I need to meet the courier with the shipment, I need to recover!
The ride stats.
Last edited:
Readytoride
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Virginia
A relaxed 16 mile ride today, coupled with a relaxed 7.5 mile ride this morning on a different conveyance for a total of 23.5 miles ridden means two things: it was a perfect day to ride, and I got my exercise for the day.
Morning ride on the gravel roads. 7.5 miles on the "4 wheel drive" semi to full autonomous voice activated all terrain plus amphibious conveyance (model: "Morab") with internal GPS and auto home tracking. Includes 9 voice or touch activated internal speeds up to 38mph (sport turbo), power steering, power brakes, traction control, automatic obstacle avoidance, turbo lift over road hazards. 1 HP motor powered by grass and water. Automatic refueling available on the go. No need to plug into a power supply. Maximum range over 100 miles/day. Average range 15-25 miles. Average speed 7mph. Made in a wide variety of models, shapes, colors, and options.
Exact same gravel road, exact same bend, different time of day, different conveyance. 16 miles traveled on 2 wheel drive, 8 gear internal hub, carbon belt drive ebike with road and gravel capabilities, 400w electric motor (requires plug in to recharge). Maximum range 76 miles, Average range 40+, Average speed 12-14mph.
Both rides were wonderful. The day was wonderful. The roads were wonderful. The scenery was spectacular. The sun was brilliant. The winds calm in the morning, gusty in the afternoon. The peace and quiet was soul soothing.
This is my life under quarantine. Not too shabby.
A stone wall hunt jump (a wooden log is embedded at the top to prevent leg damage for any horse too lazy to tuck its front legs tight while negotiating this obstacle). Imagine this view in front of you while flying over this jump in pursuit of the hounds which are in pursuit of a fox. My bike is disinclined to jump, and no way am I going to lift it over this jump myself. There is a farm gate right next to the jump for those who wish to cross the fields while continuing to maintain contact with the ground at all times. The bike and I will stay on the roads, however, per usual.
View ahead of me, stretching to the horizon. The view back behind was just the same and just as long. All one could hear was the birds, and the crunch of gravel under the wheels (or hooves, depending upon the conveyance that day)
Late afternoon skies looking southwest. There is a low mountain range in the distance, but it's obscured by overexposure in this shot. Too much light and dark contrast.
Long shadows and a road calling me home in time for popcorn and "Stay at Home Mandate Movie Night" tonight. Feature film this evening: "Oceans 11" (2001). Last week's feature film was "The Martian" (2015)
Morning ride on the gravel roads. 7.5 miles on the "4 wheel drive" semi to full autonomous voice activated all terrain plus amphibious conveyance (model: "Morab") with internal GPS and auto home tracking. Includes 9 voice or touch activated internal speeds up to 38mph (sport turbo), power steering, power brakes, traction control, automatic obstacle avoidance, turbo lift over road hazards. 1 HP motor powered by grass and water. Automatic refueling available on the go. No need to plug into a power supply. Maximum range over 100 miles/day. Average range 15-25 miles. Average speed 7mph. Made in a wide variety of models, shapes, colors, and options.
Exact same gravel road, exact same bend, different time of day, different conveyance. 16 miles traveled on 2 wheel drive, 8 gear internal hub, carbon belt drive ebike with road and gravel capabilities, 400w electric motor (requires plug in to recharge). Maximum range 76 miles, Average range 40+, Average speed 12-14mph.
Both rides were wonderful. The day was wonderful. The roads were wonderful. The scenery was spectacular. The sun was brilliant. The winds calm in the morning, gusty in the afternoon. The peace and quiet was soul soothing.
This is my life under quarantine. Not too shabby.
A stone wall hunt jump (a wooden log is embedded at the top to prevent leg damage for any horse too lazy to tuck its front legs tight while negotiating this obstacle). Imagine this view in front of you while flying over this jump in pursuit of the hounds which are in pursuit of a fox. My bike is disinclined to jump, and no way am I going to lift it over this jump myself. There is a farm gate right next to the jump for those who wish to cross the fields while continuing to maintain contact with the ground at all times. The bike and I will stay on the roads, however, per usual.
View ahead of me, stretching to the horizon. The view back behind was just the same and just as long. All one could hear was the birds, and the crunch of gravel under the wheels (or hooves, depending upon the conveyance that day)
Late afternoon skies looking southwest. There is a low mountain range in the distance, but it's obscured by overexposure in this shot. Too much light and dark contrast.
Long shadows and a road calling me home in time for popcorn and "Stay at Home Mandate Movie Night" tonight. Feature film this evening: "Oceans 11" (2001). Last week's feature film was "The Martian" (2015)
Last edited:
RabH
Well-Known Member
Great effort Stefan, you deserve at least one rest day now!My 2nd Metric Century (Czersk)
Not too much to tell you. I'm terribly tired. I was tired before I set off to Czersk because of the 50-mile ride the day before. Despite the sunshine, 18 C/64 F, symbolic easterly wind (1.5 m/s or less), I was riding rather slowly using PAS 2 on the outbound trip to conserve the first battery (it was good for more than 62 km). Riding some off-road didn't help either; I chose that because I am not fond of the town of Piaseczno and I wanted to avoid seeing the Piaseczno police as well.
The streets were deserted. People got scared of the perspective of Draconian fines for pointless staying outdoor: Not a single runner, very few bikes, very few people walking. In fact, the police in big cities enforce the ban to visit parks, embankments, woods, etc. That's not the case in the area I live or where I have travelled. Still, people stay at homes.
On contrary, roads are very busy with cars, vans, trucks. Riding the Hwy 79 (Warsaw - Piaseczno - Góra Kalwaria - Sandomierz) was a terrifying experience. The traffic was as heavy as "in the Marszałkowska Street during the rush hours before the pandemia" as a saying goes
Only few photos. No time for photography on the long trip!
Doing body-stretches in Magdalenka on the way out. An elderly gentleman was walking his doggie, a funny creature. I was just taking a camera from a pannier when the dog was sniffing at my calves. Something fell out from the pannier and the animal got scared and ran away
Upon my arrival to Czersk, I spotted a local wino occupying the central bench in a small park; his presence there was a forbidden act but how could the police punish him really? Heheheh
However, when I was leaving the place, the churchwarden was very unpleasant with me, threatening me with calling the police so I would be fined. Sigh.
Until 1526 (when Mazovia was incorporated by the Kingdom of Poland), the princes of Mazovia had been powerful rulers. In 1410, Janusz I the Mazovian prince completed the construction of a brick castle in Czersk. Under the rule of Queen Bona Sforza (the Italian wife of the King Sisigmund I The Old who became the Queen after he died), the castle became her private property. After some damage during the Polish-Swedish wars in 17th c, the Grand Crown Marshall Franciszek Bieliński attempted to rebuild the castle between 1762–1766. (The Warsaw main street Marszałkowska was given its name to honour Bieliński; it is one of the oldest streets of our capital city). After 1795, the castle was ruined by the Prussian.
I was wrong to say there were no hills in Mazovia. There is actually a single very long hill there. It is the left bank of the Vistula River, very tall in Czersk and quite tall in Warsaw. You can see the valley of Vistula River in the picture above.
Scared of riding the 79, unwilling to block the traffic of large trucks and absolutely unwilling to ride through Piaseczno, I escaped via Zalesie Górne. It was a pleasant trip with light downwind. In Łazy, by the Raszyn Radio Tower, I had the last rest at a bus-stop bench. A Fire Brigade truck appeared; the firemen looked at me in the way that made me feel uneasy. -- Would you move away, sir? We want to disinfect the bench! Ah. Only that. Very tired, I started sailing with the wind home.
Another metric century, 6:41 p.m. Now I'm going to refrain from riding for at least 24 hours. My sore bum has to heal, I need to meet the courier with the shipment, I need to recover!
View attachment 49362
The ride stats.
Mulezen
Well-Known Member
“Morning ride on the gravel roads. 7.5 miles on the "4 wheel drive" semi to full autonomous voice activated all terrain plus amphibious conveyance (model: "Morab") with internal GPS and auto home tracking. Includes 9 voice or touch activated internal speeds up to 38mph (sport turbo), power steering, power brakes, traction control, automatic obstacle avoidance, turbo lift over road hazards. 1 HP motor powered by grass and water. Automatic refueling available on the go. No need to plug into a power supply. Maximum range over 100 miles/day. Average range 15-25 miles. Average speed 7mph. Made in a wide variety of models, shapes, colors, and options.”
You’re a dual threat...last week I observed two ladies riding Their beautiful horses slowly along my road and I invited them to ride the fringes of my place. Eventually they came back up laughing about the faces on a few trees, the posted poetry.
You’re a dual threat...last week I observed two ladies riding Their beautiful horses slowly along my road and I invited them to ride the fringes of my place. Eventually they came back up laughing about the faces on a few trees, the posted poetry.
Readytoride
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Virginia
@Mulzeen
Thank you so much for sharing your property with others. That's what is so wonderful about horses, and such a shame about bikes - the willingness and even eagerness of people to allow the former onto their property, but almost always completely forbidding the latter.
I have so many beautiful trails, and many former-now-abandoned road beds out in my areas, that are simply heaven to ride. All track through eons of history: from the 1700s up to the Civil War (1860s) and into WW1 (1916). Lovely trails through woodlands, streams, pastures-turned-meadows, many bounded by ancient stone walls. Ancient burial mounts of the Piscataways (natives of northern Virginia before the arrival of the Europeans), derelict estate homes from 2 centuries ago partly hidden under old ivy and surrounded by wild growth trees, forgotten barns with gaping holes and tired, weathered lumber sagging back towards earth, scattered stone foundations that can only whisper a hint of what they had been and how the people who built them had lived.
All that, all those hidden gems of history, seen only when I ride my horse. All that hidden from a cyclist or walker who has only the public roads to ride and share.
Fully 80% of my countryside is only viewable and enjoyed up close from the back of a horse. The mere 20% left is what I share here.
Thank you so much for sharing your property with others. That's what is so wonderful about horses, and such a shame about bikes - the willingness and even eagerness of people to allow the former onto their property, but almost always completely forbidding the latter.
I have so many beautiful trails, and many former-now-abandoned road beds out in my areas, that are simply heaven to ride. All track through eons of history: from the 1700s up to the Civil War (1860s) and into WW1 (1916). Lovely trails through woodlands, streams, pastures-turned-meadows, many bounded by ancient stone walls. Ancient burial mounts of the Piscataways (natives of northern Virginia before the arrival of the Europeans), derelict estate homes from 2 centuries ago partly hidden under old ivy and surrounded by wild growth trees, forgotten barns with gaping holes and tired, weathered lumber sagging back towards earth, scattered stone foundations that can only whisper a hint of what they had been and how the people who built them had lived.
All that, all those hidden gems of history, seen only when I ride my horse. All that hidden from a cyclist or walker who has only the public roads to ride and share.
Fully 80% of my countryside is only viewable and enjoyed up close from the back of a horse. The mere 20% left is what I share here.
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
The 1 HP vehicle is costly on the maintenance though
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