The Tuesday Group Rides from Newport News Park to the Yorktown Battlefied
5 October 2010
Sunny skies and cool morning temperatures welcomed nearly two dozen Tuesday Groupers to their launch site at Newport News Park for another fun ride to the Yorktown Battlefield. Signing in this fine morning were: Ed F, Bob S, Ed M, Jane M, Dottie, Marti, Vic, Bob M, Bob A, Mark, Robb, Ron, Sue, Ellis, Bill R, Sandy B, Bruce J, Margaret J, Christine, Brian, Jim, Bob H, and Phyllis. With Sgt. Bruce in the lead, the colorful brigade pedaled its way through the woods of Newport News Park, across Washington’s Redoubt and into the history of the Yorktown Battlefield. At the Visitor Center, Bruce greeted and saluted some Korean War veterans. Sandy went inside and bargained National Park passes for some of us. We drew a lot of attention from tourists all wondering just who were these helmeted and spandexed band of vagabonds! They were all impressed to know that they’d just met the Tuesday Group! After a short break we rode over to the Victory Monument where we posed for a group photo. Then it was time for lunch. Some of the group headed for the Carrot Tree while the rest of us descended on the Yorktown Pub to do what we do best...EAT! After lunch, we decided to take a leisurely ride to visit the infamous cannons at the French Battery. As we gathered our bicycles and prepared to leave, we met another cyclist pedaling down the sidewalk along the river. His name was Rod Taylor, an Australian (born in Kansas) from Sydney, who had just completed the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail. He has posted a note about our encounter and TATC at http://trackmytour.com/2298#33163. After chatting with him for awhile and watching the Alliance tack back to shore, we headed on to the cannons where Margaret paid her respects. Then back to town and up “the hill”, NOT stopping for ice cream! (This was a disappointing first for the Tuesday Group.)
We continued our ride with only a brief stop for Bob M. to replace a punctured tire. We didn’t mind the break as we paused to enjoy the warmth of this beautiful afternoon. Then back to Washington’ s Redoubt to visit the spring where two hundred years ago, Revolutionary War soldiers had filled their canteens. Reluctant to end the day, we finally made our return back to where we had started.
Another fine day for the Tuesday Group.
Phyllis
Phyllis’ pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/crashneumann/NewportNewsToYorktownBattlefieldBikeRide?authkey=Gv1sRgCPujv4C4_fH6kgE&feat=directlink
Bill’s pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/crashneumann/BillRogerSPhotos02?authkey=Gv1sRgCMnu0daTl9ilMQ&feat=directlink