Running with the Top Up

After I got home from my Bishop Hollow Rd run we took the MG out to do a test on the chrome edging and to see how riding with the top up felt.  I am afraid that the chrome edging will not hold up to road shake but on our short run it stayed in place.

We just ran out Goshen to Garrett Mill and took that to the Pike and did a reverse run to get home.  It was close to 20:00 when we left so although the sun hadn't gone down yet it was beginning to get dark and in the wooded areas it was really dark.  Driving with the top up is a little different, it feels weird not to have a 360 degree view and there are some serious blind spots at 5 and 7 o'clock that the mirrors just don't cover.

Obstinate goose

When we passed the Red Barn the white goose that has chased me before was there sitting on the side of the road.  Of course, he was camera shy and refused to let Charlene take his picture but at least we got him despite his refusal.  We stopped at Garrett Mill Park where I checked the chrome and snapped a couple of shots of the MG.  That was our turn around point.

It was a great ride, the chrome stayed on, and having the top up did not kill me.  I will try to get the rest of the car's edge chromed because it does look much better and maybe I won't regret the effort and lost time.

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Más Mexicali Cantina

Courthouse Clock Tower from the Terrace

Despite our previous misadventure with dinner in West Chester we took a ride out there on Friday night to eat at the Más Mexicali Cantina on State Street.  We took the MG on our regular West Chester route, up Goshen/Strasburg to the Pike and then straight into town on Gay Street.  All the parking spots in the downtown area were full so we had to find alternative parking in a structure on the corner of Walnut and Chestnut.  This arrangement worked out pretty well because, as long as one doesn't stay for more than three hours, it's cheaper to park here than in the open lots.

Dinner at the Cantina was good, not the best Mexican I've ever had but not bad at all.  We sat on the terrace which is a happening spot for the younger crowd but since the weather was so good it was a shame to sit inside.  After dinner we took a walk to Gemelli for gelato, great as always and then a short passeggiata through the downtown area.

On the way back we took a short ride around the University area and then headed out Market to the Pike.  I overshot Strasburg but got on it from Ellis and then did the reverse ride home.  I am really loving the rides in the early evenings.  The weather has been great at this time of day, even when it has gotten hotter during the day, and it is really an enjoyable experience.  

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Commute Notes/Evening Ride

Not in the habit of posting on my commute but on Tuesday I had two exotic car sightings so this is an exception.  On the way to work there was a silver Maserati stopped at the oncoming lane of the Spring Mill and 30 intersection and at lunch I saw a yellow Ferrari on a flatbed tow truck at the same intersection, going east on 30.  I debated whether to count that but I decided that it is an exotic and that I saw it while riding the Bullet so it's going in the tally.

The exotic car tally now stands at 6 Ferraris, 2 Lambos, 2 Maseratis, 1 unknown, 1 Cobra, 1 Bentley, 1 DeLorean, 1 Tesla, and 1 MGA.

After work on Tuesday, I took a little ride out my favorite loop but first I rode back to work on my regular commuter route because I thought I had left my camera in the office.  It turns out that I did not even take my work bag in to work so it was time away from the loop for nothing.  I did go back the long way, via Ithan Rd, just for the change.  Once on Sproul I followed that out to Goshen for a hard right over the Darby creek bridge.  I stayed on that all the way up to Duttons Mill for a right at Sugartown.  My intention was to take Providence from Sugartown but again, not being sure if Providence linked before or after Duttons Mill, I overshot that intersection and had to cut through The Institutes to get to Providence.  From the I went back to Goshen for the way home.

Another beautiful day to ride, cool enough for long sleeves under the mesh but not uncomfortable.  There were some high scattered clouds but no threat of rain and because of the hour, I started the right at a little after 19:00, it darkened fairly quickly.  I noticed that the high beam indicator light has gone out so I will have to have that replaced next time I go out to Pottstown.

On leaving for this ride the odo read 2100.5 by the return it was at 2127.8.

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Yesterday's Early Evening Ride

After a day of forecasted rain that never materialized, an early evening ride was definitely the way to go.  Tried for a little variant on the Goshen run that included a loop around Providence Rd towards Sugartown Rd.  Once at Sugartown I made the big block back to Goshen and then for a second run on Providence in the same direction as before.  At the T intersection of Providence and Sugartown I took that road towards the Paoli Turnpike and then the Darby and Devon roads loop to the Sugartown Rd beyond 252 to Church and home.

That ride is also a great load of fun.  The Goshen Rd. terrain is continued on Providence with nice twists and low hills.  As the sun was low in the sky there were good long shadows and cool temps but in some stretches of Providence the sun was right in my eyes.  On the first turn from Providence to Sugartown I wanted to take Dutton's Mill Rd and do that loop to Goshen, giving me a longer run on Goshen before the second turn on Providence, but I miscalculated where Dutton's Mill comes out on Sugartown.  It is beyond the Providence T towards the Paoli Pike not in the direction of Goshen.  There was a Verizon crew on Sugartown, close to the Pike, but the timing worked out right and I got the go ahead without having to stop.

After the morning commute there were about 727 miles on the odo, did the Ithan loop on the way home which must add a little mileage.  By the end of this ride the odo is close to 749 miles.  Trying to get to 1500 by the end of July if possible.

Today the forecast was for heavier rain.  It is now 11:30 and it hasn't happened yet.  However, I needed to use the car for work today so no commute on the Bullet.

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