Events: The 2016 Festive 500 Day Four
(2016) Ride Distance: 33 Miles / 213 Miles Remaining
It is at the terminus of the ride the halfway point of the Festive 500. My miles are extremely short of the average. Yet today I was met with a lovely tailwind, temperatures in the sixties, bright sun, and the local portion of the Walking Purchase. There was no reason not to go out.
Using the same model as before I headed south the area Mike and I peeled off the day before. I rejoined the route near Buckingham, PA, and made the turn north into a headwind that was tempered by trees and hills. Finally today I saw cyclists on the roads. I saw four in total, but I lost count how many runners were out. Everyone was taking advantage of the warm spell.
I had two locations to visit today. I also had to eliminate one of the walkers, which coincided with the second location.
Just north of Ottsville, where 611 and Durham Road connect, an historical marker and obelisk mark the spot near where Solomon Jennings dropped out of the Walking Purchase.
Making my turn north I was back on the easterly side of the Walking Purchase route. I passed through my first covered bridge of the Festive 500, quite later than last year’s. As I passed through the hamlet of Pipersville, PA, I became concerned about the traffic and reaching the remote first location.
To reach Orr’s Ford, the location the walkers used to cross the Tohickon Creek, one must pass D’Ag’s Tavern on 611 then bear right on the smallest known remaining portion of Old Easton Road. Orr’s Ford claims its driveway is the only remaining portion of Durham Road (413) that is unpaved. I made sure to keep my distance as a high fence and warning signs heavily obscure the property. It was for sale recently, which is how I found out about the location. I was quite excited to learn just how close a significant location was to me.
Moving away from 611 I headed back to the west side of the Walking Purchase route with plans to cross again. When I returned to Durham Road (another portion of it), I was back in older territory and within miles of my second marker.
Moving north on Durham Road I passed Brig O’Doon Coffee House, a place I recently wrote about. After climbing a significant ramp to the intersection of Durham Road/ 611/ South Park Road, I beheld the sign that marked the spot where Solomon Jennings dropped out of the race. He had covered 18 miles by this point. It was paired with another shale boulder pointed skyward to indicate the significance of this point. It is interesting to note that Solomon Jennings exerted himself so heavily during this event, his health never fully recovered.
I headed west then south over extremely familiar roads with the returning tailwind. Oh how beautiful it is when days like these occur. Though I didn’t hit new roads except for the small handle on Old Easton Road, I still got the sense of just how old some of the houses are tucked away in certain areas. Some owners like to brag about their house’s age, others like to remain obscure. Riding is one of the few ways to uncover their secrets.
