Aug 14/15 - old stomping grounds, again

I drove down to the parking area at Valley Forge Park and rode into Philly and back.  Mostly, yeah almost all flat, since it's a rails-to-trails.  There are a couple of hills going through Manayunk but even those could have been avoided since I think that they've now paved the Tow Path.

It's just over 40 miles but reminiscent of the pre-randonneuring weekend rides -- also pre-retirement !  On those weekend rides I would also do the segment toward Phoenixville but did not today as rain threatened.  It's now raining outside so perhaps that worked out well.

I think that I'll be leaving tomorrow a.m. as I'm not really needed here.  I don't know what Sandy's plans are.

...........

I was awake at 1:30 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep, got up and hit the road at 2:30.  Had I thought about this earlier, that would have definitely been the plan anyway, not wanting to hit Toronto as the crowd headed for cottage country on a Friday afternoon.  There were some slowdowns close to Barrie but otherwise it was mostly smooth sailing ... for 12 hours.

The guy at the border could only talk about how beautiful it was in Parry Sound, didn't ask whether I was bringing anything in, didn't ask what was in the trailer ... on your way boy !  I stopped in Parry Sound for some groceries -- milk and veggies -- and topped up the diesel. 

Abby was happy to be here, didn't even ask to come in.  It's much cooler inside than out since they've had some cool weather.  67F on the hall thermometer ... haven't seen that in a while.

Jason, Lo, Kim and Gavin are here.  I guess that Gav is only here for today and tomorrow but Jason's plans are flexible.  They were finishing up building a part loft in their garage when I went over; they gave me a hand moving the large pieces of maple from the fallen tree.

Onward ?