Ride #14 137 Miles Home - Stockbridge - Waterloo - Home
I was hoping to be posting #15 today. I went out after dinner last night. The demolition project at the Downs was in the news this weekend after the crew knocked the kitchen down without removing barrels of oil and kerosene that were stored inside. Nothing went up in flames, but the liquid made its way to the river, oops. While I was taking a photo of the substation building (that I worked in) that will also be demolished, I was approached by a couple with an infant in the stroller. The dad was interested in my bike, he called the model correctly and got the year within a couple, and he liked the color, his F150 has a similar color. His dad had a 350 Honda and a small Suzuki single, but nether bike came his way. His own bike is a 2010 retro Bonneville. He would have preferred the Honda, but with uncertain motorcycle repair skills he felt that a new bike was the better choice. He asked about rebuilding the carbs, but when I said that fresh gas and a charged battery goes a long way he got a big grin. We could have talked more, dad wanted to know everything, baby was getting cranky, big black cloud was coming our way. I was able to give it a sporty rip and shift as I departed.
I took several building photos. The first two are of the kitchen, before and after demolition and oil spill.
The 3rd and 4th are similar electrical substation buildings. The yellow building is at Northville, across from the project, likely to be demolished. The brick building is down the road at Plymouth and it was recently restored with slate roof, custom wood door, vintage lamps, there used to be copper gutters too much thievery these days for copper gutters. These buildings were built to last and they have lasted, I believe they are 1920’s vintage. I have worked long hours at both sites.
All but the last photo are from yesterday. Todays 137 miler, I departed at 1030am, 74f, no rain or 90’s in forecast. It was a lovely day for a ride and I enjoyed it thoroughly, especially the tree tunnels on Hines Drive, Mast Road, Patterson Lake Road, Seymour Road, Huron River Drive. The sun was nice today, and so was the shade. When the trees arch across the road and join it’s like riding through a cathedral, better than nice.
I had several deer cross in front of me and one that turned back, no close calls. I saw a mare and foal in the corral at one of the horse farms, a sandhill crane family mom dad two smaller “colts”, wild turkeys, a hawk flew alongside at eye level for several seconds before he went into the treetops.
I was home about 330pm after a stop at Shell, the CB yielded 47.6mpg and enjoyed the day as much as I did.
