Apr-11: Perry's Pond Populaire

Originally posted to Facebook.
(Dealing with Facebook's deplorable approach to paragraphs explains the weird paras below.) 
Copied here because I'd like to be able to find "it" again.
Some improvements to the photos, i.e., cropped, in order to make a better presentation.

posted Apr-10 to the NC Rando FB Group:

"If not for the coronavirus situation, tomorrow, April 11th, would be the date of the April Populaire. (However, if not for liability insurance troubles, there would not have been a "Central NC Populaire Series".)

"If it had not become necessary to cancel the brevets, we likely would have started the Bunn Warmer at 0800, from near the Cameron Village Library.

"After some thought of doing shorter and/or more convenient rides, I've decided to do the Bunn Warmer route tomorrow ..."
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Before starting, I decided to turn-around when I got to Perry's Pond. That decision was reinforced by the stiff SW wind. "Fixie Pixie" would likely suggest that I "was feeling really good" for the ~29.3-miles from downtown Raleigh (Cameron Village) to Perry's Pond. The return to Raleigh was certainly into the aforementioned stiff wind.

Entire ride: 76.7-miles. 6:00 in-motion. 6h15 elapsed.
Outbound: 38.0-miles, 2:33 in-motion, 2h48 elapsed.
Inbound: you do the calculations.

Link to the the "Bunn Warmer" perm-pop RWGPS map (note that the brevet-pop is the same route): ( https://ridewithgps.com/routes/2301890 ) 

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When Mick and I created the OEO/HSE/BW routes, the only thing(s) at this location, approx. 13-miles into the BW course, was that ranch house and one, count 'em, one statue of Buddha. 

I have often wanted or intended to stop here and take some photos. I finally did so — at Phật Tích Vạn Hạnh - NC Buddhist Association

Now, there are at least two buildings and many statues. There are also some lively looking statues / exhibits behind the ranch house. I had never noticed those back-yard exhibits until pulling away after taking these photos. . — at Phật Tích Vạn Hạnh - NC Buddhist Association.

Hopkins fire station. (Notice the evidence of the outbound tailwind?) — in Hopkins, North Carolina.

Hopkins "store." An homage to a ride from late 2012: ( http://irregularveloadventures.blogspot.com/2012/11/nov-11-three-steps-oeo-209-km-perm.html ) 

See the first photo in that blog post. Six of the seven riders pictured K-Hounded at least once. — in Hopkins, North Carolina.

"Dukes Lake" a few miles beyond Hopkins. 

I've always wanted to stop and take a photo here -- finally did so.

THE iconic location for a photo on the Bunn Warmer / Hope Springs Eternal / OakElmOak routes. — atPerrys Pond.