Sunday's ride to Clydes

On Sunday I awoke early, the sun was shining and the air was clear. I decided that since today's ride was to Clyde's Cider Mill and it was fairly close I would take Jenny. I figured the ride would be lengthened by having a cruise to pointless points on the map, just to make it a ride since Clyde's was 7 minutes away from the Dunkin via the interstate. Either way I figured it wouldn't be a marathon run and Jenny would be fine. I talked with Sandwich about 7 am and he decided to meet me at the house for the ride to Dunkin. With the sky blue and sun shining I decided to forgo the insulation jacket (inner jacket liner) and chaps. I did figure since it may be cool in the shade that I would wear full gloves instead of cut-offs. We headed down 184 towards New London as we approached the top of the hill at Kings Highway I could see that there was a fog bank along the Thames river. We hit the highway and crossed over without issue but the west side of the river held not warmth, there was a low cloud cover and the sun could not get through. I began to question my decision about my riding gear as the chill started to soak through. We made it to Dunkin and I immediately went inside to get a small coffee. A problem arose as soon as I walked in, because the place was packed and everyone was pretending to be at Starbucks, all ordering complicated drinks and ordering food. Between the time I received my cup and the point at which we mounted the bikes I had a chance to actually drink a 1/4 of the cup.
The ride itself was shorter than I had expected, 2A to 214, Long Pond road, Wolf Neck road, 201....Clyde's.

I have not been to Clyde's for a couple years and it is just as I remember it, apples, steam engine, belts and pulleys, gears and presses, Popcorn, long lines and yellow jackets.

We stayed a while, buying cider, (not I), eating popcorn,(not I), wine tasting (bikers and wine tasting? not I), watching things get squished and the juices draining, swatting yellow jackets (not I), and generally standing around talking (I).

The people who had been there before knew to use the front door.

With one look you could tell many of the members of the Club had not been there before, this was evident by the fact that they saw the line entering the back of the store for buying goodies and got in the line. I have to say here that the line to the rear of Clyde's is long and slow moving, rather like the lines at a water park in July.  Myself, being a trained professional when it comes to tourist attractions knew enough not to get in that line and I directed a few of my brothers to the front door which always has a faster moving and much shorter line. I didn't tell all of them because it is more fun to promote cruelness. I say this because you know that when someone gets in and out of a store fast ad their friends are still standing in the same line, standing in the same spot, they have to walk over and say, "Still in line eh?"

Those who don't know...wait

Dale checking out the power plant

Still in line and I had time to video the pressing operation...Have they moved?

Someone got the word

Really?  Wine tasting?  The only good thing about wine tasting...you get to spit it out.

After hovering a while we departed for lunch at the Mystic Diner where we ate copious amounts of food before heading out in different directions.

I believe, from what I hear, that the Yankee bike had issues on the ride home. The bike may have been suffering from swelled cylinder heads because someone at Clyde's had to get photos of it. 

Luckily for Danny, the Yankee bike with the fan was kept in balance because a member of the RED SOX Nation was on hand to counter the Yankee enthusiasm

I think she gave the Yankee bike....THE EVIL EYE