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Thanksgiving 2012 Bike Ride
Cycling Through Oriental
November 26, 2012

M
ore than 50 cyclists, half a dozen dogs, and a stiff north wind turned up for Oriental’s 2012 Thanksgiving Bike Ride. The wind posed a challenge along some stretches of the route — up Ragan and Whittaker Creek Roads — but the morning was clear and the wind did help with the tradition of working off calories before the Thanksgiving feast.

Coming full circle. Cyclists wrap up their multi-mile bike ride around Oriental on Thanksgiving morning. Here, two-wheelers became four-wheelers in a Hodges Street puddle. That reflecting pool was created by the same north wind that made the pedaling a challenge on some parts of the route.

As has become the custom over the past decade, the cyclists followed the waterfront. They started out at The Bean on Hodges, rode to South Avenue, down First and Neuse Drive, stopped at Deaton’s Yacht Service, cycled down Link Lane and up Ragan Road — in to that wind — then down Lupton to Sailcraft boat yard, before the long stretch down Gilgo to Whittaker Creek Road, and then back to Highway 55, down Midyette Street, with another stop at the Wildlife Boat ramp before returning to Hodges Street and the Oriental harbor.

Riders on South Avenue near Lou Mac Park.

Some more scenes from the morning.

Bikes outnumbered cars on Hodges Street in front of the Bean, as seen here before the bike ride.
.. because it was there. While waiting for the bike ride to begin, Alden Kenney parted the puddle that the north winds brought to Hodges Street.
While most used pedals, some feet did hit the pavement of the route. Here, Jack leads the pack.
On South Avenue.

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The pace was leisurely and the cyclists rode in clusters past the live oaks at Lou Mac Park…
South Avenue silhouette.
Some of the 60 cyclists in the 2012 Thanksgiving Morning Bike Ride through Oriental.
The group photo at Deaton’s Yacht Service.
Ben Reese’s dogs rode rather than ran the route.
One of the first arrivals at the Sailcraft yard — a second stop on the route — was Emma James.

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At the Sailcraft boatyard, one of the stops along the way.
Faces in the crowd. Some of the cyclists who stopped in at the Sailcraft boatyard.
TerrY HalpERn on Whittaker Creek Road.
Tonya Smith, Julia Tingle and Carol Small on Whittaker Creek Road.
A throng of cyclists on Whittaker Creek Road.
Still more Thanksgiving morning cyclists.

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Concentration. Alden Kenney focuses on the return leg of the route, Midyette Street.
Per Erichsen’s focus was on a quadriped leading the pack.
Jack was competing with the yellow lab, Skipper, for longest tongue on the bike route.
Fran Deaton gives a wave on Midyette Street.
Sarah Kenney and Mary Ann Parham on Midyette Street.
Mike Anderson passing Triton Yachts on Midyette Street.
A cheery wave for Thanksgiving.
Emma Wheeler heads down the return leg of the route, Midyette Street.
Sue Henry passing by a sailboat on stands outside Triton Yacht Sales.

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Caroline James on Midyette Street. Bundling up paid off; the north wind was blowing.
Midyette Street rider.
A cluster of cyclists on Midyette Street.
On Midyette Street, neighbors Trellis Moore and William “Rawhide” Jones were greeting and watching the passing cyclists.
Candace Young and her recumbent bike on Midyette Street.
Bill and Camilla Wheeler after most of the route — save for the last few blocks of Hodges Street — had been ridden.
One last stop, this time at the Wildlife Resource Commission’s boat ramp at the end of Midyette Street.
Nancy Piner dressed for the holiday.


For the cycling folks, lots of spokes.

Posted Monday November 26, 2012 by Melinda Penkava


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