A few tandemists had already arrived so, we weren't the first to check into the hotel. (We were in Room 240). The first DOGS (Doubles Of the Garden State) we met were Mark Cook and Cheryl Prudhomme and had a nice lunch with Tracy and Barbara Cate, also DOGS. After that, it was time to don our cycling gear, "demount" the tandem from "Claire" (Linda's plum Saturn), get all systems checked, and head out for the Friday afternoon ride at 2:30 PM.
We were off with the pack for a 27.8 mile jaunt that included a Bellvue Winery wine tasting, 11.7 miles into the ride. Mel and Barbara chose good roads with minimal traffic (as usual) and just about as flat as you can find on the planet. We found ourselves in the lead group! The occasional glance at the cyclo-computer showed speeds between 17 and 20 mph for the majority of all rides. The pack stretched out pretty fast and we lost sight of the main group about five miles into the ride and didn't see them again until we all met up later at The winery. It was nice to visit with some people we had not seen for some time but, for those of us not particularly interested in the wine tasting, it was time to get back on the tandem and move our legs before they got cold. This is where something strange started to happen. We began catching up with, and passing, other tandemists who had left the wine stop before we had!
Before we knew it, we were back at the hotel negotiating the tandem up the stairs to our second floor room (not difficult, but not exactly easy either) and preparing for Friday evening dinner which was "on your own." The original thought was for the DOGS to "take-over" a local restaurant--but which one? We had some time to kill, so Barbara suggested that we check out the local "Arts Friday" on High Street in Millville. So, after a bit of car-pooling we set out to see the town. (We were with Bob and Donna Lian). Of course, with our rain jackets safely inside our Saturn, (which was parked at the hotel -- of course), it started raining lightly as we walked down High Street. (Tom and Fern Goodhart were sitting in the window and waiving at us as we passed by Bojo's, one of the restaurants on the list that Mel and Barbara had given us). Eventually, Linda announced that if she didn't get something to eat soon she was going to be sick. So, we turned around and walked back to Bojo's--our Friday evening dinner stop. The planned reservation was over half an hour off and who knew how long it would take to get served once everybody was seated? While we were eating, we waved at a few of our fellow DOGS who were walking down High Street and waiting for the clock to tick by before they went to the restaurant for their 7:15 PM dinner appointment. When they saw us waving at them, we had assumed that they figured we had changed our minds and that we were having dinner at Bojo's. As it turned out, when they arrived at the restaurant for their 7:15 PM dinner reservations, we were later told that they had waited for us! (Apologies!) Our dinners arrived just about the time the rest of the group was to have been seated in the agreed upon restaurant.
Saturday and Sunday breakfast were at 7 AM, 1.4 miles from The Country Inn, at the Elks Lodge, and departure time for our rides was at 8 AM, each day. Since we are early risers, Saturday morning breakfast was in the Breakfast Nook at the Hotel so that we could be on our ride by 8:11 AM and Sunday, we went to the Ramada Inn for a 6 AM breakfast and out on The Enterprise by 7:58 AM.
Saturday, the ride we took was 50.7 miles. After riding The Enterprise 22.3 miles, we pulled into the rest stop at the Methodist Church, to enjoy Barbara's cookies and conversation with lots of tandemists. On the way out we got in the draft of Mark and Diane Shelly who are Randoneurs (sp?) and held a beautiful steady pace in the 20 mph range for a lot of miles -- thanks for the draft! Within about 15 minutes, we were back on the road for another 12 miles to the next stop which was at the Bridgeton City Park for a picnic. (We had been riding The Enterprise 34.7 miles by that time). We spent at least an hour at the Park enjoying hamburgers, chicken, salad, etc, as well as the company of other DOGS (old and new) and non DOGS.
The route back was slow for the first 6 miles as our legs had gone cold. We were wondering if we were going to regain our pace. As our legs warmed up, our speed grew and we started passing a few tandems along the way. Then I looked in my rear-view and noted that we had gained a short train of three tandems and a single. We stayed on the front pulling the pack despite the undulations of the roads. At one point there was a short steep grade (about 200 feet long rising about 15 feet) -- I called to Linda for extra effort and we powered over the crest, made the right turn and then looked back. Only one tandem remained behind us. I called out to them "what happened to our train." "We dropped them all" was the reply. The I said "Oh darn! I forgot -- Tandems Can't Climb!" The single re-attached and we followed the cues back to the hotel and back to our room by 2:45 PM, showered and out around the pool talking with everybody.
The Saturday buffet dinner was 6 PM at the Elks Lodge--delicious as usual--Murray is a great cook. (If you've never been to Sammy J's in Vineland and you happen to be in the area it's a great place to eat and the portions are huge.) We had a great time talking to tandemist who were old timers and beginners. A nice evening with an interesting program by the local Native American tribe explaining their history and some of their dances.
Sunday morning breakfast for us was at the Ramada Inn, in Vineland, at 6 AM. The Sunday 37.8 mile ride was to the Delaware Bay and East Point Lighthouse and return, that we found out, when we got there at 9 AM, wouldn't be open until 1 PM. Not to mention the "green-flies" that would attack any rider who got too close to the vegetation. So we turned around and "flew" back to our motel room (stopping along the way at a Port-A-John for Linda). The roads were excellent and really flat. On the way back to the hotel, we picked up Mark & Cheryl's rear wheel and we made good time heading back to the hotel.
Sunday picnic was 12:30 PM, once again, at the Elks Lodge. As usual, Murray's food was delicious. We had a great time talking with everybody before our old and new tandem friends started for home.
We departed the Elks Lodge Parking Lot at 1:45 PM and pulled in to our own driveway about 4:30 PM. Our mini-vacation had ended. Molly and Muggles (our three year old, female and male Bluepoint Siamese Littermate Kittens) were there to welcome us back home.
The DOGS were well represented at Mel and Barbara's Tandem Weekend. There were a total of 68 teams who experienced a week that will live in their memories for a long time. 16 of these 68 teams were DOGS. These same 16 teams are representative of the DOGS membership of 73 teams).
Sure hope more of you will be able to enjoy us next year in Swedesboro, during the weekend of 9, 10 and 11 July 2004. The fun, fellowship, friendliness, warmth, good food and wonderful experiences can be found at few Rallies as Mel and Barbara Kornbluh's Annual Tandem Weekend.
Hope you all are having safe and pleasant summers and spending some of it riding your tandems.
The next DOGS ride is Saturday 26 July -- Pam and Alan Bergstrom's General Store Ride (see the website for details). The Balloon Lift off at Solberg Airport will be 7 AM on Saturday morning. Anybody planning to be at the Bergstrom's at 7 AM since the balloons go right over their house?
LINDA AND GEORGE WELLS
(a.k.a., Team Lantern Rouge)
Leaders, Doubles Of the Garden State (DOGS)