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2013 Thanksgiving Bike Ride Through Oriental
Cold Weather and Dozens Of Cyclists
November 30, 2013

T
he 2013 Thanksgiving Morning Bike Ride Through Oriental may have made participants particularly thankful…. for heating. The now-traditional event drew more than 40 cyclists, Thanksgiving ride 2013
Cyclists hit Midyette Street during the Thanksgiving Morning Ride Through Oriental.

Cyclists came bundled up. (It was so cold, that as the riders gathered in front of The Bean awaiting the start, a visiting boat crew at the Town Dock had to kick their frozen dockline to free it from the piling.)

Thanksgiving ride 2013
Starting off along South Avenue.

The event has always been at a relaxed speed — which allowed riders to talk as they pedaled, often catching up on a year since the last Thanksgiving. The cold weather may have picked up the pace a bit – and helped burn a few more calories in advance of the Thanksgiving dinners.

Thanksgiving ride 2013
Half-way through the ride, at the parking lot of Whittaker Creek marina.

While the route is about as flat as could be, the north winds provided some challenge on pedaling in to them. The now traditional Thanksgiving Morning route was in play: cyclists traveled along the Neuse River waterfront and then stuck close to the creeks, touring the boatyards and most of the marinas in the old village part of Oriental. (The marinas off of White Farm Road may one day be added to the route, once the connecting bike path is added in the upper reaches of Whittaker Creek to link both parts of town.)

Thanksgiving ride 2013
Sarah Kenney and son Alden on a bicycle for two.
Thanksgiving ride 2013
Alden Kenney.

Before the throng of cyclists took off, Mary Ann Parham of the Oriental Express Bicycle Club invited them to join OEBC on their regularly scheduled rides on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays.

She also noted that Cycle NC was returning to Oriental in April for three days of cycling around the county. More than a thousand cyclists are expected – many of them staying in local homes or camping along part of the Thanksgiving bike path, on the banks of the Neuse.

Thanksgiving ride 2013
Take me to the river. At the end of the bike route, some cyclists gathered near the Wildlife Resources ramp at the end of Midyette Street.
Thanksgiving ride 2013
Susan Baker at the Wildlife Resources boat ramp near the end of the bike route.

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Thanksgiving ride 2013
On the first leg of the route, just before Deatons.
Thanksgiving ride 2013
The Thanksgiving morning gathering of cyclists – and photo op – at the Deaton’s Yacht Service yard.

And closer-ups:

Thanksgiving ride 2013
Thanksgiving ride 2013
Thanksgiving ride 2013
Thanksgiving ride 2013

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Thanksgiving ride 2013
Charlie Garrett, at right, was one of the few – if not the only cyclist – baring his legs.
Thanksgiving ride 2013
The group stopped for a moment – and a photo – at Sailcraft and then turned their wheels and shadows back to the route..
Thanksgiving ride 2013
Joanne Hurley.
Thanksgiving ride 2013
All bikes welcomed….
Thanksgiving ride 2013
Scarves and hats and gloves may not make for aerodynamic speed but they did fend off the cold…

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Thanksgiving ride 2013
Tonya Smith on crossing Hiway 55 toward Midyette Street.
Thanksgiving ride 2013
Doug Sligh of the Oriental Express Bicycle Club at the start of the Thanksgiving morning ride.
Thanksgiving ride 2013
A few riders walked the floating dock at the Wildlife Resources Commission ramp at the end of Midyette Street. There were fleeting thoughts of making the event a triathalon but no one dove in…
Thanksgiving ride 2013
Local Creekeeper Bill Hines.
Thanksgiving ride 2013
It was cold….
Thanksgiving ride 2013
On Neuse Drive.

Posted Saturday November 30, 2013 by Melinda Penkava


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