This years Bloomin' Metric 2009 was a bit less color full and the forecast was predicting a high chance of rain in the morning -- never the less Py signed up long ago for this beautiful rolling ride in Connecticut, winding around scenic reservoirs, climbing in little gauges with pretty waterfalls and some very nice hidden back roads.4:45am his radio came on, usual morning procedure. Outdoors the more of the severe kind of thunderstorm with heavy rain of the night stopped but all was dripping and wet, kind of warmish, humid and feeling like water was still in the air, heavy drops occasional falling of trees -- but silence this early, no wind at all. Checking radar -- pretty much clear, a few localized spots still, not much in CT, a bigger system far way, did not looked like any concern to Py.
However, for sure a messy start and ride to the ferry boat -- the old Tarmac bike would do the trick for toady. Packing essential and a few extra tubes, short shirt in case it may get warm or he needs an extra layer, dry socks, may be handy on the boat at return and the pump in his little Camelback.
Ready to roll to the PJ Ferry he left a few mins to 6am. The ride was very quite that time, wet, messy and sandy roads as expected -- in just 34min he got tp the dock. A few rider were already there and more showing up, to his surprise some without bike -- hu????
Lots of talking.... as all sudden some wind picked up and a uncomfy rain shower set in -- what just add to the scare of the early morning scene........
What so ever, Py was prepared and for sure not going home now, the waiting room was cosy and the ferry as well. A 2nd breakfast on the boat with some SBRA sponsored bagels -- very nice -- thx!
Approaching CT the sky got a bit brighter and the rain was gone, it was surprisingly more or less dryed up in Northern CT! Only the moved in cold front presented a chilly nasty cold wind and it took Py a while to get warm.
Big thx to the organization and Sound Cyclists in all aspects and in particular for the special SBRA group ferry checkin :-) !!!
Py took off for the "Metric" (100k route) with only two more "A" riders, but had a lot of time to take photos and finally little after the 2nd water stop picked up the pace on his own a little bit, a fly by... to the "Finish", pretty much boring from the "riding" part of view, but the scenery was nice and a welcome change.
At the "Finish" he grabbed a big sandwich... looked as bit around before navigating his own way back to the ferry. Finding himself at the dock just a few minutes after the 1:30 boat left. Oh well, no hurry today, just chilln out on the harbor. A smooth journey back to LI and ride home.
Stats: 147km
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