DCSSP&IC Ride

In Washington, Indiana, 8 enthusiastic riders embarked on the first annual Daviess County Slow Spokes Pizza and Ice Cream ride. From near and afar (including Chicago & Jeffersonville), these individuals pedaled the backroads of southern Daviess County. It's probably a good time to point out that half the riders were Thurstons. Needless to say, we all said a little prayer before departing....you just never know with this crowd.

The organizer and great provider, Mike T, chose a superb 40-mile route and was up at o'dark thirty marking the roads. Additionally, he parked his car in BFE to ensure we had a full sag stop.

Google Earth Map of our route. Love the GPS!

During the preceding week, we were all anxious about the rain-laden forecast. Thankfully, Saturday brought sunny skies and all smiles. We had won against mother nature--or so we thought.

We started the ride in the afternoon with promises of pizza, ice cream, and music to follow.

Some neighborhood kids insisted on being in the picture. Too cute.

We were all smiles chatting it up in the warmth of the afternoon sun. As promised, we came upon the first Dan Henry.

SS = Slow Spokes; Left Turn!

We continued past the Pet Cemetery. I laughed again as I rode by. What is the exact protocol for getting your beloved pet into an establishment like this? I'll likely never know.

All smiles at the start of the ride!

On my favorite concrete section of road Mike P pointed out a snake trying to cross the road. I turned around to get a pic; unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough to click as the little guy attacked Mike; he was pretty upset at his attempt to block progress so I could preserve his existence through digital media.

Hisssssssssssssssssssssss!

Just a few miles down the road we came to the SAG stop. Mike had filled his car with cold Gatorade, cookies, brownies, and bananas. Awesome!

Jim T & The Good-Looking Thurston, Jeremy.

Finding some shade.

Continuing after a LONG rest stop, a few of us rode ahead when I had to stop, again, to take another picture as we rode through this little village.

This one is worth double sign sprint points. *Snicker*

Completed in 1965, Dogwood Lake in the Glendale Fish and Wildlife Area was our next stop. While it looks like a decent sized lake, the state parks website says the average depth is 8 feet. Nevertheless, it made for some beautiful scenery on our bike ride. Josh & I hammered on this section to the lake; I was comfortable in his draft, but there was no way I could come in to the headwind and maintain his pace. Borrowing my neighbor's word, he's a "manimal."

Dogwood Lake

While taking another short break, I swear I heard thunder. Was the sky a little darker? Nah. We dismissed the noise as people messing with their boats or something else less daunting. As a group, we left the state park area where we came upon my favorite Dan Henry on the ride.

And that way we went.

At this point, we are questioning whether or not we will get wet. The skies were looking more and more ominous. However, wasn't the storm moving away from us? Why, yes, there's a chance we won't get hit by lightening or drowned like a rat. I don't know which would have been worse, getting wet or huddling together under a 4x4 awning of some church.

That was the last picture I took since a guy stopped us to tell us the radar looked bad. Duh. He also explained that by bad, he meant lots of RED. Because he was a in a big Ford truck with a full-size bed, I asked which way he was going. He pointed at the nearby church and said, "I'm going over there to wait out the storm." What now?

We all decided to try to ride the remaining 5-6 miles and beat the storm.

We didn't make it. The rain came softly at first. Mike P predicted the squall line that would soon hit us. Do you know the sound of corn rustling in the wind just before a storm approaches? We heard that a couple miles back and smiled sheepishly knowing our fate would be grim. What fools to think we had tricked mother nature.

The sheets of rain stung our arms, faces, and legs as it lashed out at us for being so naive. The sunscreen I had bathed in before the ride was now running in to my eyes. Blowing from the side, the wind made pedaling forward nearly impossible as we were trying to maintain balance and not get pushed to the ditch or into each other. Our line of sight was short, which means it was short for cars who were not expecting cyclists on the road. Indeed, just after Mike P & Mom crossed the old highway, they witnessed two cars crashing; oddly both drivers took off running. Weird.

We made it back--dripping wet. After quick showers we headed to the local favorite restaurant, Bobe's Pizza and then to a coffee bar, Cherry Ghost, for some great entertainment. Let it be known, Devin Kessler is an awesome musician. When he plays in Bloomington, I'm encouraging everyone to see him. Here's a YouTube link I found while Googling him.



Sadly, we didn't have ice cream, but the entertainment made up for the lack of dessert. Perhaps next year it will be called the DCSSP&M ride (Music instead of Ice Cream). I sincerely hope not.

Here are a few more pics from the ride. Thanks Mike T for a great ride and thanks to Josh for supper!

Dark skies.

Picture in the Cherry Ghost restroom.

Mo & Mike - the inspiration for the ride.

Is that Mario Cipollini? No, it's the manimal and the good-looking Thurston.

Mario Cipollini (he did not come to the DCSSP&IC ride).

Mom & Ange