Tuesday Canal Report

Entertaining start to our Tuesday Canal ride.  The paper out of Lancaster sent a photographer to take a group pic of Mark C, Steve O, Trevor and Andrew C, each riding to PA this Thursday.  The best part of this image is Kevin K, asked to steady a light while smoking a cigar on the left.  You can read about their adventure and the worthy cause that spawned it here: http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/article/20120523/NEWS01/205230303/Residents-bike-185-miles-raise-money?odyssey=nav|head

More to come later.

What a great route for tonight's Canal ride.  There I was, Tuesday morning, sifting through the maps, sorting by mileage and found two at 44 miles.  One was hilly, really hilly that included the climb up Delmont past the old pig farm.  The other route was mostly rolling and a much more enjoyable route.  I selected the rolling route, went to the library to make 40 copies and later drove to Canal.  Someone looked at the map and said, "Wow, we're climbing Delmont."  I grabbed the map and sure enough, I had pulled the wrong route but wow, what a route if you like that sort of thing.

Light turnout, only about 35, including Ringer Gabe & friend, Dustin, Randy Brown, Nick, Euro Patrick, Jeff S, Ryan R, Reynoldsburg Dan, Scott, rolling out with the A group.  A largish B group rolled out soon thereafter and an uneventful ride other than Gabe and friend got off the front of the A group, missed a turn and were never seen again.  Eventually, only 5 guys survived, Nick, Patrick, Dustin, Randy and Scott, rolling back to the parking lot with 44 miles, 21.4 average and an impressive 2000+' of climbing.  

Actually, there is more to tell but I'm running behind as preparations for the Granville Climbing Challenge are taking a lot of time.  As noted previously, I found the perfect first and last place prize but the appropriate "Middle of the Pack" award is proving to be elusive.  Someone suggested a lump of coal, which is not bad but I don't know where to buy that.  As is custom, will have doughnuts at the start of the ride which is at 8:00am at Granville's Wildwood Park.  The 70 mile option is the 'race route" but there is a 42 mile option and a longer than 70 option too.    Fuel stops at mile 18 and 48 in Utica and Wilkens Corner.

Also, I'll have updates on Mark, Steve, Andrew and Trevor's progress as they plod along to PA today.  Dustin in joining them too for part of the ride.
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