Our Wednesday ride often splits into two or more groups, depending on destination and pace, and usually this occurs after a regroup at the top of Redwood Rd. This past Wednesday, the group was split by a much more dramatic event, a falling tree! The cycling gods were smiling on us, because riders descended Redwood Rd in two groups, rather than the usual one long string. I was in the second group, and about half way down we encountered a large oak tree that had fallen across the road.
Actually, most of the tree was along side the road, but a LARGE branch was blocking both lanes. The good news was that the branch was broken, and several of the VeloRaptors were able to pull one end of the branch toward the opposite side of the road, creating a space where a car could get through.
While clearing the road, some of us started to wonder about the riders in the earlier group. They weren’t that far in front of us, maybe a minute. We encountered Dennis in Moraga, and asked if he had trouble getting past the tree. He replied ‘What tree?’ A bit later we encountered Bill, Russ and Geoff in Orinda, just as they were leaving, and again mentioned the tree. They responded ‘Tree?’ Well, at least this explained why we were so far behind!