Ride Reviews

Toucan Locust Point Ride and Meeting on March 15, 2008

We had a great turn out for our first Toucan ride of the year. There were 4 tandems (Spinden’s, Shurak’s, “Grasshoppers” Bob and Barrie and the Augenblick’s). We were joined by 10 single riders. Even though the weather forecast was for rain, skies were sunny and the winds were mild. Kurt and I choose to lead the old 28 mile “Toucan Show and Go” ride to Locust Point and Chesapeake City. It was the first tandem ride we ever did with the club and a good ride to warm-up for the season. After the ride we held a meeting during lunch at Safeway. Two other tandem teams Eric and Dale Bosic and a new team Joy and Dave Elzey joined us for lunch. We had a good time getting acquainted and sharing stories about bike trips. Dale mentioned that she and Eric had gone on some fun trips with the Bike Club of Philadelphia (BCP.org if you want to check it out). We worked on the 2008 ride calendar. The goal is to have at least one ride per month.

Kristie Augenblick

June 21, 2008 Toucan ride to Tandems East

It was the first day of summer and the weather was perfect for the Toucan ride from Quinton , N.J. to Tandem’s East in Pittsgrove , N.J. Ride leaders Bob Wheeler and Barrie Kintner were joined by two other tandem teams, Dave and Joy Elzey and Kurt and I. We had a beautifu,l mostly flat 42 mile ride through the Jersey countryside. Since Bob had arranged our visit ahead of time so , Mel and Barb had bagels and sodas available. Mel was busy as always, visiting, selling, repairing bikes and cutting bagels simultaneously. We got a chance to see his growing inventory and some exciting new bikes. The DOGS, (the Doubles of the Garden State ) tandem club were coming later that day. They were having their first Summer Solstice Ride. It was an evening ride from Tandem’s East to the sunset followed by a pot luck dinner party at Mel & Barbara's home. We’ll have to keep that idea in mind when we plan our next rides. Thank you to Bob and Barrie for a fun day. I wish more of you could have joined us.