BIKE RIDE FROM WINDSOR TO BURDETTE TO ZUNI AND BACK
March 8, 2011
Again the Tuesday Group withstood the cold, the wind, and the inclines. Hills? What Hills? O K maybe one or two small hills, but none that Dare Devil Dewey couldn’t get over, and where Dewey goes we all go. On this cool breezy morning 19 Hardy Bikers arrived at the parking lot at The Blackwater River, on Highway 603. We had 6 ladies, 13 men, there was Margaret, Jane, Sandra, Katrina, Diana, and we finely got Sandy out of her yard work to join us again. Along with Dare Devil Dewey we had Carl, Robb, Jim, Brian, Mark, Ed, Bob M, Bob S, Richard, Bruce, and Cameraman Bill B.
Leaving the parking lot around 9:30 we headed West on Unity Road passing large open fields waiting for the farmers to start their Spring Plowing. After a few encounters with some Turkey Buzzers flying over top of Dewey’s Bike we made it to Burdette, where back in the good old days, there was a small village next to the railroad tracks. With all of our progress we have made over the last 100 years, the tracks and the villages are almost gone. We only found one building left standing, that was once a small store. From here I had a short side trip down to the River, where at one time there was a large steel bridge, since the state has rebuilt it, it’s only a small concrete bridge crossing over the Blackwater River. That’s more of the progress we have today.
Reaching our first planned stop, at Black Creek Baptist Church, we had gone 7 miles and here we took a water break and a bathroom break. I had called last week and asked if we could use the church for a break and with 6 bathrooms waiting for us everyone had plenty of room for the necessity. We were only here about 20 minutes and then we were off. Heading up Womble Mill Road for 3 miles and Unity Road for about 2 miles we stopped again at an old Antique Store and let everyone catch up and take another water break. Here we lost one rider that wanted to head back to the parking lot and this left 18 riders to head on for Zuni and our favorite time of the trip, LUNCH ! We arrive at Bethany Presbyterian Church about 12:15 and Peggy was waiting for us with hot Chocolate and coffee. We pigged out on our PB&J’S and Tuna and some had coffee and some had hot chocolate and some even had both. I had phone ahead and told her we would be there around 12:00 and she was “great” with all she did for us and even invited us back again on our next trip, those Presbyterians are nice people.
After biking back under the railroad tracks we turn South on Thomas Woods Tr. And headed on our last leg of the trip. Here on this road we encountered our steepest hill, but with the hot coffee and chocolate we had had for lunch, we made it with ease. Now on to Zuni Gourmet Peanut Shop which was our last stop on the ride. The week before I checked with the owner and told her we would be by and she had sample bags of peanuts waiting for us, along with another bathroom break. Everyone sampled all the different types on peanuts and most bought a can or two. Now with the last 4 miles of a 25 mile bike ride, we headed out once again. Back at the parking lot at 2:00 p.m. we said our good by’s and a few made one more stopped at the Dairy Queen, half price Waffle Bowl Chocolate Sundries, $1.99, of course Dewey did not get one. As always another great Tuesday.
By Bruce Julian
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