A Ride Rich with Animal Encounters
12.6 miles roundtrip. Moderate ride with a few hills.
The starting point is Chester River Outfitters Bike and Paddle Shop at 208 S. Cross Street. In closing his other shop at the marina, proprieter, Bill Mylett has consolidated into one location. Stop in for tips, information, repairs, or just to get acquainted.
If you are standing on the bike shop’s front porch, bear right and follow the railroad tracks. As the road curves sharply, you’ll pass Wilmer Park on your left. Pedal south on Quaker Neck Road. Pausing after the bridge at Radcliff creek, I enjoyed my first wildlife encounter. A cormorant was struggling to keep a wiggling fish in its beak. Heavy with the extra weight, the bird managed an impressive take-off. But then I heard a plop and saw a big splash. Flapping his ink black wings, the empty-beaked cormorant banked to the right and disappeared over the phragmites, never once looking back.
Pedal approximately one mile, then turn right on John Hanson Road, which is home to a few hills. You’ll have a chance to get up and out of the saddle. If you enjoy warming up early in your ride, you’ll love this road. The reservoir is on your right, crowded with honking geese.
At the end of the road, turn left onto Airy Hill Road. Depending on something (I have no idea what) you may or may not see six curiously beautiful cows grazing about a half-mile up the road on your right. They seem to enjoy the bringgg of my bike bell, so if you have one, ring-a-ding as you roll by.
Passing Langford Road, Airy Hill becomes Pomona Road. Here is a straight stretch of easy riding past long fields. Rolling along I spied up ahead a gathering of vultures, eight or ten. They waited until I was practically upon them before alighting. But two stayed put. Pedaling past I observed that the two brave ones were black vultures, not turkey vultures like the others. They were dining on squirrel. I looked one right in the eye, and it held my gaze and uttered a low whoof. It sounded like a tired old dog. I was thrilled. I had read about the peculiar sound in Sibley’s Guide to Birds, but had never heard it.
From Pomona road turn left onto Quaker Neck. From now until the end of the loop, the riding is easy. Turn right at Wilkins Lane. Kent School sits at the end of this gorgeous road. Round trip is 3.5 miles from top of the road to the Kent School entrance.
On weekends there is little to no traffic. But you may find yourself accompanied by Maggie, a ridiculously friendly dog who lives at the Maples farm. She may run out to join you. If she does, your only hope is to outrun her, i.e. pedal as fast as you can until you think your legs will fall off. She’ll try to keep up, but she can’t.
Turn right onto Quaker Neck and coast down to Wilmer Park for a rest on a bench and a lovely view of the river. Ah, what a planet!
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.