Volunteers from the Democratic Party of Oconee greeted the cars as they came down 441 and State Route 53 and directed them to park behind the Oconee County Courthouse, the Virginia Wells Building and Ashford Memorial Church.
Husband and wife combination including vice chair Ann Stoneburner and Robert Wyatt were positioned at opposite ends of the continuum from Experiment Station Road to Harden Hill Road, pointing the arriving throng to the awaiting parking lots. Pat Adams and chair Dan Matthews dealt with folks coming from behind the courthouse parking lots and pointing them down Third Street past Eagle Tavern to find their pre-race packet.
We met lots of really nice people from all over Georgia ready to ride the street of Watkinsville out into the countryside and beautiful clean air of Oconee County hills and valleys. Everyone was extremely polite and willing to park and secure their vehicles exactly where and how we asked.
Lycra was indeed the fashionable fabric on this chilly morning for those saddling up on their expensive yet simple machines down the School Street catwalk. Watkinsville was the hip happening place for more than 250 bicyclists this sunrise Saturday.
Watkinsville Police Chief Lee O'Dillon set up some pylons to slow down traffic as cyclists arrived and had to cross the busy Main Street. They were pointed toward the registration area at the back of Rocket Field in a parking lot probably belonging to OCAF.
Oconee organizers such as Jimmy Marbut, Kathleen Fitzgerald, Patrick Beall, and Tony Glenn gave their best efforts in getting the riders registered and on their way down Barnett Shoals Road in remarkably quick time for the three to four hour ride some 62 miles or less from the Courthouse to Bostwick in Morgan County and back in a remarkably quick time.
After the ride was over the riders and volunteers relaxed and recuperated with carbs and whatnot with specials from Chops and Hops among other restaurants. Clearly this eatery was overwhelmed by the reaction from the mass onslaught of hungry cyclists clamoring for calories to replace what they had burned in the previous 62 (or less) miles.
This ride went through Bishop and near North High Shoals without incident and with the assistance of the Oconee County Sheriff's Department in crossing 441. Thank you very much to the deputies of Sheriff Scott Berry for their assistance.
Some folks freelanced and started after the main group to go at their own pace. The ride was universally praised by all those who participated and volunteered. No traffic mishaps or any other accidents occurred to the best of my knowledge. These riders obviously have the highest metabolism of anyone eating in Oconee County, and I can only hope the local restaurants will be better staffed next year.
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| Pat Adams of the Oconee County Democratic Committee welcomes a couple of friendly riders outside of the Oconee County Courthouse crosswalk Saturday morning in Watkinsville. |
This can continue to be an economic boon to Oconee County if the government continues to support cycling with bike paths and signage to help the riders. I would strongly suggest that this is a campaign issue for anyone wanting to succeed in an elected office here locally in the next several cycles.
Patrick Beall did an excellent job stenciling the route with an unmistakable "TdO" and concise directions for all. Many participants had rode here before in smaller groups. This could well be the lowest impact, highest yield sporting event held locally, even outdoing most softball tournaments at Veterans Park and elsewhere.
I did not stick around to watch the gathering there as we picked up garbage up and down Thrasher Drive and assorted side streets off Main in business district 441.
As best anyone could tell, the Oconee County Republicans and Democratic party pickers of litter tied in number of trash haulers each in nine, and we gathered a whole lot more recycling. Thanks to the Mayor Joe Walter for the water, gloves, bags and constant collection of bags. The biggest mess I found was at Chuck Williams mother's property, not a good omen for his nascent campaign for the House District 113 slot.
We shall see if Oconee County voters want to elect someone with failed banks and shady real estate dealings.
I hope every rider had as good a time as I did working at the Courthouse pointing people toward the start/finish area. The organizers were flexible with helping their riders with whatever they needed. Will Oconee County cyclists become the next major player in the political power structure of local government dealings? I think they already have become exactly that and so much more.
The shirts are covered collectors items already. There is really no better way to truly check out the wide and varied nature of Oconee County except by bicycle. Even if you have driven a particular route dozens of times, the first time you do it on bike or picking up garbage you notice the undulations of the terrain a whole lot better.
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| Tandem bikes were very trendy this year. |
![Today, all Americans are experiencing a profound moment in our nation's history. Last night's news is particularly poignant for those of us who are young Americans because we now know that the man who so harshly redefined our generation is dead. We are all experiencing many emotions with this news, but let the greatest emotion be gratitude: gratitude for the men and women of the armed forces and intelligence community who have led us through this effort over the past decade, and gratitude that justice has finally been done for the families of the 9/11 victims. We will never forget the horrifying events that changed our world forever, but this moment gives us a new chance to move forward on our own terms. In the words of President Obama, "...[L]et us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today's achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.](http://www.georgiayds.org/uploads/georgiayds/YDG_letsmoveforward.jpg)
