Delaware
Related: About this forumFor 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.
Cooley Hurd
(26,877 posts)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)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.
monmouth3
(3,871 posts)jberryhill
(62,444 posts)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.
monmouth3
(3,871 posts)Skinner
(63,645 posts)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.
sheshe2
(87,468 posts)Beautiful pictures, of your ride.
treestar
(82,383 posts)Good for you!
I think I've seen that museum too.
Happy Birthday - 50 years young!
Blue Owl
(54,726 posts)Just keep on... Ridin...
gopiscrap
(24,170 posts)I was campaigning on my 50th!
cliffordu
(30,994 posts)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)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.
cliffordu
(30,994 posts)jberryhill
(62,444 posts)...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.
Arctic Dave
(13,812 posts)Nice hog you got there.
DontTreadOnMe
(2,442 posts)We need more like this every day