Sunday Bike Ride With No Destination

If you ride a bike a lot, you know that you see so much more going on around you that passes by unnoticed if your in a car. Today was one of those days that a ride was in order, but a club ride, even one of the most popular local rides, just didn’t fit the bill.

There was no plan to go anywhere in particular.  It was simply a beautiful day to ride a bike. The Phoenix Bike Path in Fairhaven, MA, takes us close to the New Bedford bridge that crosses the Acushnet river into the city. When I got to the span, the bridge was opened to boat traffic.  I usually try to photograph the boat going through the opening.  On this day I looked back to see a wonderful perspective of Fairhaven.  Taking multiple shots playing with the zoom, aperture or shutter speed, gives a photographer a much better chance of getting that really good shot.

As I progressed into the city, I came across a food festival at Pier 3 and a dog festival at Buttonwood Park. From the park my ride took me on an easy spin to the south end where I stopped and chatted with some friends for a few minutes. At the end of the peninsula the long line at  Clark’s Point Creamery was a big help in my resisting stopping for a dairy treat. Fort Rodman, Fort Taber, and East Beach were spectacular this day.

On the return crossing into Fairhaven on the bridge, the crew of Captain Leroy’s deep sea fishing trip, were filleting the days catch for the patrons who were loading up their bus for the long return ride to New Jersey. Once back in Fairhaven at Cushman Park, the local track club was in the middle of the Jr. events.

On the club ride, I may have gotten into a pace line, put my head down, and hammered for a couple of hours.  Today was a mellow, fun ride that really hit the spot. The club rides are OK.  The rides with no destination can be the best ride.  Either way a bike is so much better than climbing into a car, blasting the radio and trying to beat yellow lights, and the other cars to the next light.

The few photos of today’s ride are set to music using Cyberlink Power Director 13.

For better quality, click the Vimeo link at the bottom right of the video

Sunday Ride in Fairhaven and New Bedford, May 2015 from John Sullivan on Vimeo.