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Just back from the successful completion of the Double Century
division of the Tarheels Fall Century Extravaganza.
The Double started at 5:08am with a 26-mile tour of Charlotte's
better neighborhoods - the collonades and luxus lawns *almost*
visible from the street lighting... then, as the first dim light
of day showed us a stolid overcast, we donned our Foster Grants
and headed south, into the wilds and backwoods of South Carolina.
The route touched three more county seats (Charlotte being the first)
- York, Chester, and Winnsboro - before bottoming out at Ridgeway SC,
a dozen miles shy of Columbia, and perched atop one of a washboard
series of punishing (I mean, delightful) ridges. The next 50 miles
traversed those ridges, through woodlands unblemished by convenience stores
or other signs of civilization. The last 50 miles gradually regained
those trappings (traffic, convenience stores, housing), as we sped
in to a victorious neck-and-neck finish at dusk.
The hidden drama was the weather: the overcast was an omen of a Gulf
depression that was supposed to move up from Florida with inch-an-hour
rainfall. We got sprinkles southbound, and thought the game was up,
but a cold front kept the torrents at bay, and we were treated to
mild sun and 70's - in other words, vigorous, autumnal cycling!
Things went according to clockwork, including the Secret Checkpoint
outside Sharon SC, complete with checkpoint-guard-dog Buster, and
Farmer Ed "ULTRIX" Kelly as the checkpoint official.
The peloton did a remarkable job of staying together the entire
route. While crowd-control was a problem at first (a hint for
next year's event!), things rapidly settled down as the sole
rider (besides me) hit the road. Yes, it is true: only one
rider showed up, and he had driven 100 miles up from Columbia.
Charlotteans and other locals wimped out (doubtless because of the
weather forecast - it couldn't be my breath, could it??), while
the Columbian and I had a great ride. So there!
Ok, no Charlotteans, but I was glad to have Woody along - full name
Frank Graham III, UMCA, PBP'87, BMB'90, BAM'90, etc., etc., veteran.
The route was designed to be rustic, quiet, and expansive; showing
new terrain to Charlotteans, who don't usually venture southward that
far. Instead, we got within a dozen miles of the Woody's home town!
To those who couldn't make it (with especial reference to JSMITH),
better luck next year. The BBQ and sausage biscuits will be waiting!
-john
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