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jberryhill

(62,444 posts)
Sun Aug 25, 2013, 12:01 PM Aug 2013

For my 50th - a bike ride down Route 9

My kids told me I'd become an old man this week, and I told them I intend to stay one for a while.

The last time I rode more than 25 miles, I was 16 years old, and took route 13 down to Dewey. I've always wanted to do that again, but taking Route 9 for the upper half instead. Since Route 9 from New Castle is about 50 miles, I figured I might as well see if I could do at least that much of it, and I've been getting into shape for this for the last couple of months....

I turned 50 on Friday, so I took the day off to crank a mile for every year, and take a slow ride down Delaware's scenic coastal route.

From the mighty peaks of Pike Creek, I coasted down to Delaware Park racetrack:



....through the track onto Churchman's Road and past the Farmers Market into Old New Castle (which should really just be called "Castle", since the "Old" and "New" cancel each other out)...





And then onto Route 9 into Delaware City



Over the canal on the Reedy Point Bridge. There is still some work going on at the main span, which is restricted to alternating one lane traffic. That provides a nice bike lane for now, and not as much of an incline as St. Georges...



....and into the wild wetlands of Delaware's coastal zone...



Port Penn, rush hour...



Taylor's Landing...







Cedar Swamp? Yeah, I cedar swamp. Do you cedar swamp?



Why do people keep calling me "Roger Thornton"?



Coming into bustling downtown Leipsic for lunch....





I stopped at the Leipsic Deli for lunch, and had a fantastic pulled pork sandwich, to go with my pulled muscles, for $4.50.

Little Creek, Delaware - Population: "several"





And then, look, up in the air... it's a bird, it's a plane, it's a C5 of course





And my ride home is here and ready to pick me up:



The museum is actually cooler than you might think. Lots of neat stuff in the hangar, including a B17, a C5 simulator, and a bunch of historic aircraft on the apron. Worth a visit.

Next on the bucket list - a climb of Iron Hill.

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
For my 50th - a bike ride down Route 9 (Original Post) jberryhill Aug 2013 OP
THIS is a very cool thread!!! Good for you, jberry!! Cooley Hurd Aug 2013 #1
Ouch jberryhill Aug 2013 #2
I'm exhausted!!! Nice post.. monmouth3 Aug 2013 #3
I do a lot of traveling jberryhill Aug 2013 #4
I'm originally from Jersey and agree Delaware is a very scenic state...n/t monmouth3 Aug 2013 #5
Fantastic! Skinner Aug 2013 #6
Happy Birthday to you, jberryhill~ sheshe2 Aug 2013 #7
Really cool! treestar Aug 2013 #8
Hope to be doing something similar on my 50th Blue Owl Aug 2013 #9
HAPPY BIRTHDAY gopiscrap Aug 2013 #10
Looks like an awesome ride!!!! cliffordu Aug 2013 #11
Titanium... whoa... jberryhill Aug 2013 #12
Aw, come on, just make everyone jealous...... cliffordu Aug 2013 #13
If I was going to drop that much on a bike... jberryhill Aug 2013 #14
Bravo! Arctic Dave Aug 2013 #15
Great Post DontTreadOnMe Aug 2013 #16
cool pics ! thanks nt steve2470 Mar 2014 #17
 

Cooley Hurd

(26,877 posts)
1. THIS is a very cool thread!!! Good for you, jberry!!
Sun Aug 25, 2013, 12:07 PM
Aug 2013

I'm 2 years behind ya, and my last bike ride (2 months ago ) resulted in a spill. My front tire (original @ 15 years) shredded when I hit railroad tracks. Went over the handlebars and landed on my head. I'm ok though... I'm ok, though... I'm ok though...

 

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)
2. Ouch
Sun Aug 25, 2013, 12:10 PM
Aug 2013

That's sort of my general quandary about cycling for fitness. Decades ago, I pretty much lived on my bike, and made it through a couple of concussions, a broken collarbone and several cases of road rash.

On the one hand, it's doing wonders for me. On the other hand, a moment's error on my part or that of a driver, and the net effect will not be pleasant.

 

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)
4. I do a lot of traveling
Sun Aug 25, 2013, 06:43 PM
Aug 2013

And it's nice to visit home as a tourist once in a while.

Delaware is a scenic state. It's small, so you just have to know where to look.

Skinner

(63,645 posts)
6. Fantastic!
Mon Aug 26, 2013, 09:43 AM
Aug 2013

I've never biked route 9, but we drove it many times growing up in Delaware. It's the scenic route to the Beach. Great pics.

cliffordu

(30,994 posts)
11. Looks like an awesome ride!!!!
Tue Aug 27, 2013, 01:00 PM
Aug 2013

I'll be 62 this November, and I was able to ride the length of the west coast this year. (some pushing involved. heh.)

Keep riding and in a couple years tell your kids they have no inheritance because you needed a new Moots and some Perl Izumis.


(look up Moots on the google)

 

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)
12. Titanium... whoa...
Tue Aug 27, 2013, 03:47 PM
Aug 2013

One of the promises I made to myself was to get a road bike if I could do this, but I'm looking for something appropriate in an aluminum frame.

 

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)
14. If I was going to drop that much on a bike...
Tue Aug 27, 2013, 03:55 PM
Aug 2013

...it would be a symptom of having too much money.

I would pick that over carbon, but the only reason I'd want anything that light is to make it easier to put onto the car carrier. I'll do fine riding on aluminum.

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