And the Mark goes a-tumblin' down
Jun. 3rd, 2004 07:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
reldnahkramor, Perkiomen Trail 1, me 0.
Yesterday, I strapped on the rollerblades for the first time in a while and did 4 miles on the Schuylkill Rail Trail. It was good.
Today, I decided to try a route involving less traffic getting there and what I hoped would be smoother pavement. I was correct on both accounts by heading out 422 to the Perkiomen Trail (which connects to the Schuylkill Trail). I went 1/2-3/4 of a mile up the trail (away from Philly) before hitting a gravel stretch, which just wasn't going to happen on skates. The trail up until then had been smoother than the Schuylkill. However, either my legs were dead from the previous skate or there was more up and down on this stretch, or possibly both, so it was harder than I had anticipated. Anywho, I turned around, passed the parking lot, and kept going. I worked my way up the hill to the bridge over the Perkiomen, I assume officially connecting to the Schuylkill trail. I followed the trail along 422 for about a mile before turning back. At this point, I realized just how steep the hill coming off the bridge was. While crossing the bridge, I looked down and realized that if I did everything wrong, I'd end up in the creek. I fared only slightly better.
The problem, as I see it, is that my ice skating instincts took over. I had been breaking reasonably effectively going down the start of the hill by dragging my right skate, but then I instintively decided it'd be better to use my edges to stop. Oh wait, I don't have edges. Up until this point, I've neglected to mention one last feature of the bridge approach : a hairpin turn. This was what was looming ahead as I picked up speed down the incline. I was doomed.
As I entered the turn, a combination of me and physics decided that I wasn't going to make it around the turn, so I ended up sliding. I think my right knee went down first, but somehow I ended up rolling over, so I scraped up the inside of my right knee and my left elbow. It's a good thing that I left my shorts at home - wearing jeans saved my knee a lot of wear and tear (emphasis on the tear). Ultimately, it's not that bad, it'll take a day or two and I'll be on the mend. I'm not sure I'll play wink Saturday night, but I might not have anyway, depending on what time I get in and whether I feel like playing outside, and now based on my condition.
I won't skate tomorrow since I'm heading right down for Alumni Weekend.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
tirerim and fiddledragon, give me a shout by e-mail or phone or comment and we'll talk transportation, I'll likely be leaving Valley Forge in the 4:00 range tomorrow if you need a lift from somewhere along the way. I may lace 'em up again Monday, certainly by the middle of next week I'll be skating again. Gimme a shout if you want to join me. Also, if you have experience with either trail and can recommend a good smooth section of trail, let me know.
Yesterday, I strapped on the rollerblades for the first time in a while and did 4 miles on the Schuylkill Rail Trail. It was good.
Today, I decided to try a route involving less traffic getting there and what I hoped would be smoother pavement. I was correct on both accounts by heading out 422 to the Perkiomen Trail (which connects to the Schuylkill Trail). I went 1/2-3/4 of a mile up the trail (away from Philly) before hitting a gravel stretch, which just wasn't going to happen on skates. The trail up until then had been smoother than the Schuylkill. However, either my legs were dead from the previous skate or there was more up and down on this stretch, or possibly both, so it was harder than I had anticipated. Anywho, I turned around, passed the parking lot, and kept going. I worked my way up the hill to the bridge over the Perkiomen, I assume officially connecting to the Schuylkill trail. I followed the trail along 422 for about a mile before turning back. At this point, I realized just how steep the hill coming off the bridge was. While crossing the bridge, I looked down and realized that if I did everything wrong, I'd end up in the creek. I fared only slightly better.
The problem, as I see it, is that my ice skating instincts took over. I had been breaking reasonably effectively going down the start of the hill by dragging my right skate, but then I instintively decided it'd be better to use my edges to stop. Oh wait, I don't have edges. Up until this point, I've neglected to mention one last feature of the bridge approach : a hairpin turn. This was what was looming ahead as I picked up speed down the incline. I was doomed.
As I entered the turn, a combination of me and physics decided that I wasn't going to make it around the turn, so I ended up sliding. I think my right knee went down first, but somehow I ended up rolling over, so I scraped up the inside of my right knee and my left elbow. It's a good thing that I left my shorts at home - wearing jeans saved my knee a lot of wear and tear (emphasis on the tear). Ultimately, it's not that bad, it'll take a day or two and I'll be on the mend. I'm not sure I'll play wink Saturday night, but I might not have anyway, depending on what time I get in and whether I feel like playing outside, and now based on my condition.
I won't skate tomorrow since I'm heading right down for Alumni Weekend.
tirerim and fiddledragon, give me a shout by e-mail or phone or comment and we'll talk transportation, I'll likely be leaving Valley Forge in the 4:00 range tomorrow if you need a lift from somewhere along the way. I may lace 'em up again Monday, certainly by the middle of next week I'll be skating again. Gimme a shout if you want to join me. Also, if you have experience with either trail and can recommend a good smooth section of trail, let me know.
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hyphens
Date: 2004-06-04 12:17 am (UTC)Re: hyphens
Date: 2004-06-04 01:16 am (UTC)It's quite odd, why can't they be consistent?
Also, how do you get tags to appear in text? I'm sure it's simple, but I'm curious.
Re: hyphens
Date: 2004-06-04 01:32 am (UTC)One of the tags is the "lj" tag, where you specify the user and the other is the "lj-cut" tag, where you specify the text you want to appear. That's how I remember it.
To get tags to show up (I assume it's the brackets you're having trouble with) you can just use the html codes for symbols. They all start with & and end with ;. For < the middle part is lt, and for > the middle part is gt (presumably less than and greater than).
Oh, Mark.
Date: 2004-06-04 12:35 am (UTC)We have to get you onto a bike....soon.
Re: Oh, Mark.
Date: 2004-06-04 01:13 am (UTC)Re: Oh, Mark.
Date: 2004-06-04 03:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-04 04:42 am (UTC)The Schuylkill River Trail is quite flat and smooth (meaning smooth for asphalt under bike tires, so I can't tell exactly how it would be for skates) for all of the bits that I've ridden, which are between Conshohocken and Valley Forge. Norristown to Valley Forge is the nicer part, since it's surrounded by trees (or sometimes houses) instead of large industrial complexes and sewage treatment plants. Valley Forge itself is pretty, but the trails are rather bumpy (although all paved) and somewhat hilly (although they're all short hills).
no subject
Date: 2004-06-04 04:48 am (UTC)If you don't mind crowds, Kelly drive is the way to go. Or, on Saturdays, West River drive is closed to cars for about 3 miles. Perfect!
This weekend, of course, is alumni weekend, but more importantly *the race.*