On Sunday, May 28th, Cristina and I set out on our first overnight biking adventure, with one big deviation from our usual: we had Billie the Blackmouth Cur in tow. I don't think Cristina really took into account what she was getting into when she said she'd tow the Billie trailer. (Billie weighs in at 26 lbs and the trailer is 20.) Since we were staying overnight we needed a place to crash, and I really did not want to camp. We decided to test out our Warm Showers account. (Warm Showers is like Couch Surfing but for cyclists.) We were hosted in Princeton by Tracy and his wife Joan. Tracy actually met up with us en route, when we were about halfway to P-town. We took the East Coast Greenway and ride was gorgeous and so green (after all the rain we had received). It was slightly sketchy getting out of New Brunswick, as there weren't any bike lanes on the hill and bridge we had to cross. Cristina really activated her superhero strength to get herself and the Billie up those hills. Billie is still unsure about the trailer situation. It took her at least an hour and a half before she settled down. She didn't lie down until the last half hour of the trip or when Cristina was climbing a big hill. We had originally planned to switch off on the Billie trailer, but C doesn't have a rack on her bike and I do and I can carry the gear. Additionally, Billie needed to be able to see me or she started panicking. Thus, C got stuck hauling the extra weight. We really hit the 'Warm Showers' jackpot as Tracy and his wife and daughter were the best hosts. Billie got along with their dog, Otto, a Portuguese Water dog. (Otto is pictured below.) We enjoyed a feast the evening we arrived, complete with a scrumptious homemade apple rhubarb pie that Tracy's daughter baked. (Sadly, I didn't snap a photo of the pie.) It was raining we when awoke Monday, so we lingered in bed. We made our way downstairs to discover Joan was making waffles and Tracy poured us some damn fine cappuccinos. (Waffles pictured below!) After we were properly caffeinated and full of homemade waffles and fruit, we loaded up our gear and hit the Greenway. The ride back to Piscataway was smooth and we took it slow. I think Billie started to become accustomed to the trailer but I also think she is sensitive to too much stimulation. We clocked 55.56 miles on this 2-day adventure. Cristina, my partner, participated in the annual EMS Memorial Bike Ride, that goes from Boston to D.C. in a week! I drove down Saturday afternoon to meet her and hang for the weekend. We stayed in Kensington, MD hosted by two lovely queens and their lovely daughter. In Kensington, it was easy to pick up a bike trail that connects to the Capital Crescent Trail, which brings you right into Georgetown. We clocked 36 miles round trip and some hella hills too! The trails were well-kept and smooth, save for a section of gravel that was manageable on a road bike. As I am a bit of a Cookie Monster and ice cream fiend, we indulged in all of these things in the city. Late Saturday night, we hit the Captain Cookie in Foggy Bottom for cookie ice cream sandwiches, which were made with cookies fresh from the oven. The ice cream was slightly melty and oh so delicious. On Sunday, after we brunched in DuPont Circle (I had an amazing crab cake eggs Benedict), we wandered over to Kramer Books and shared an incredible apple crumb pie wth a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You don't need to tell me to treat myself. Basically, I'm cycling and lifting weights so I can eat the hell out of some treats. My biggest issue with getting more time on my bike, is that I have to leave my pups, Bille, at home. This means she gets fewer walks and I am spending less time with her. So, I bought a bike trailer, hitched it up and took the Billie for a ride... On Sunday April 30th 2017, my partner Cristina and friend Elvis and I set out on the Henry Hudson Trail beginning in Freehold. The trail is mostly paved and surrounded by trees. There are places you do have to cross a busy street and other places where the trail flat out ends and you must cycle a bit on the streets to pick it up again.
The trail is closed at the end, in Atlantic Highlands, due to storm damage. We decided to hop the fence and risk the "primitive trail condtions" because it was the simplest way to get to the cafe for lunch. It was a bit like we were in a cyclo-cross race, hopping puddles, walking over boards, shimmying around fences and riding through mud and dirt. It was actually fun but muddy. We gorged on delicious fresh sandwiches, and treats at the Et al Fine Food in Highlands. After we ate we grabbed fancy coffees at the Water Witch Cafe before heading back to the trail. I actually felt great after the ride, though I had a hard time keeping my eyes open on the drive home! |
AuthorHi, I'm Reverend J, a queer+ sober wanderer, activist, writer and ordained minister. Archives
November 2020
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