The twelve DOGS Teams who got together at the Pathmark Parking Lot on Valley Road in Gillette to participate in a ride led by Mark Cook and Cheryl Prudhomme were: Teams LeGrand/Chan (Rich and Christina, respectively), Kristol/Brandriss (Dave and Marji, respectively), Willard/Hamanaka (Walt and Claire, respectively), Boyd/Allison (Malcolm and Judy, respectively), Schneider/Schorr (Don and Ellen, respectively), Snope/Nicolich (Dave and Susan, respectively), Bird (Bob and Helen), Cudworth (Al and Deb), Isherwood (Larry and Brenda), Ann Smith (Gisela was busy with another project), Cook/Prudhomme (Mark and Cheryl, respectively--the leaders for today's ride), and Wells (George and Linda--the humble leaders of your club). (Many of the DOGS who participated in Mark and Cheryl's ride will be riding in the Seagull Century.)
Larry and Brenda have told Linda and George that they know Team Wells will be able to complete the 100 miles. We have ridden our tandem for nine years and the most we have ever ridden it--in one day, is 70 miles, Saturday 7 August, when we participated in the Princeton Freewheelers' ride that was supposed to have been 68 miles but due to errors in their cue sheet, turned out to be 70.8 miles.
Can you imagine it. There will be more than 20 DOGS in a great, big, long line at the Seagull Century and most of us wearing DOGS jerseys and lots of us wearing DOGS socks. (Have you gotten your socks yet? Dave Snope is the person with whom you want to speak or send an e-mail. If you want a DOGS jerseys, contact us. There are only 5 Larges and 3 Extra Larges remaining.) Sure hope we have good weather that day. We only get one shot!
Dave and Marji and Linda and George rode together the Pre-Seagull Century Training Ride while most of the DOGS went flying on ahead of us. We knew there were going to be lots of hills and decided to "save our legs" (and glad of it). Team Wells is really glad that we stayed close to Team Kristol/Brandriss because, we hadn't gone far when Team Wells continued straight ahead instead of turning left. (Thank goodness Dave and Marji knew where they were going.)
At the first rest stop (King's Supermarket in Bernardsville), Dave and Susan surprised us with their entrance into that Shopping Center. We thought they had gone on with the "Big" DOGS. (Team Wells calls those guys the "Alpha" DOGS but for those of us who ride at a slower, but still very respectable pace, we are the "Beta" DOGS.) Dave and Susan started out with Teams Kristol/Brandriss and Wells, but they eventually went flying onward because they are "true" Alpha DOGS.
Teams Kristol/Brandriss and Wells climbed the hills successfully, but by the time we got to the second rest stop--Starbuck's in Liberty Corner (after having ridden 35.8 miles, per Mark and Cheryl's cue sheet), Linda noticed a sign for Frappucino "Light" Coffee. (Why would she have said that in a ride report? Please continue reading.)
According to the rest of the cues, there were more hills and, while at that Starbuck's, Dave and Marji, George and Linda decided that their legs were tired and that we all had completed enough hills for one day. Since George lived in the area most of his life until he and Linda were married, he suggested that the return trip to the Pathmark Shopping Center in Gillette, be taken on Valley Road which was in sight of where we were standing at Starbuck's. We cut off six "hilly" miles so that we could end our ride with the "rollers" of Valley Road--much more pleasant. At one point, before getting back to the Shopping Center, Dave and Marji turned left. The marking for Valley Road was dubious. George took more than a few minutes to determine which was the correct direction. As the light turned green he decided that a right turn was correct. Shortly, George knew that he had chosen the correct direction. Dave and Marji turned up on our wheel and followed us back to the Pathmark.
Everybody bought a sandwich and something to drink at the Panera Bread Store--except Linda and George. (It seems we always have to be different than everybody else). A Starbuck's Coffee Shop was next door to the Panera Bread Store. So, Team Wells bought a delicious Frappucino "Light" Coffee to go with their Tuna and Chicken Salad sandwiches that they shared. (Now you know why I mentioned Frappucino "Light" Coffee at the 35.8 mile rest stop.)
We sat on the lawn eating our delicious lunches, sharing lots of conversation about our adventures, but eventually, the day had to come to an end and we all returned to our "everyday life."
Team Wells have "Liturgical Responsibilities" the afternoon of 29 August, the day of Bob and Helen Bird's ride. So we will be unable to join you, guys, but we wish you all a pleasant and safe ride. (For those of you who have been unable to join us for a DOGS ride, we hope that you will be able to make time for us. We have a really nice time--riding, eating and lots of pleasant conversation.)
See you for Larry and Brenda's ride--Saturday, 4 September (Rain date--Sunday, 5 September)!
(Time for the delicious lunch George is preparing).
Stay Upright!
Linda & George Wells
Leaders - Doubles Of the Garden State (DOGS)