This is it.  The final cut.   The video is ready for presentation to the South Coast Bikeway Alliance Summit of Massachusetts if they choose to show the production.

Click the Vimeo link at the bottom right of the video for better quality

Chelsea, Watford and Everton wins this weekend. Life is good in the sporting world.

Also Brandon was home for a week.

We spent a little time together, and I managed to get a photo as we were about to leave for Logan Airport in Boston. Most of his time was catching up with his friends.   As I write he is on his way back to Austin.  Which is not Texas.  He lives in Austin.

Wifey and I traveled to Atalanta for Christmas.  The three grandchildren 6, 4 and 2 year olds, managed to fill every room in the McMansion with toys.  Two days later we filled two SUVs with food and toys and drove the five hours to Florida’s Palm Coast in six and a half hours. We rented a house on Cinnamon Beach. CLICK HERE for a tour of the place

The weather cooperated nicely for this New England couple, with overcast skies and temperature in the low 70’s for the entire week. Southern Florida would have been hideous for this winter lover. I saw mid 80s down there when I checked the Weather Underground app.

I’m not a fan of the lifestyles in Florida. Public transportation is negligible.  Sidewalks are few and far.  Driving is the only way to get around and it’s not a fun thing to do. Traffic laws, it seems, are illegal to obey.   We did rent in a gated community and had no reason to leave because we had enough food and toys for the week.

The kids decided to stay an extra day because sun was predicted.  Granny and Grumpy had a flight back to Boston booked the next day, which prevented us from staying.  That was fine with both of us, being exhausted after 8 days with the grandchildren. We filled one of the SUV’s with food and toys and drove the five hours back to Atlanta in eight and a half hours.  The Atlanta rush hour combined with an accident on the freeway got us the last 10 miles in a mere 60 minutes. Vroom vroom.

We stopped at the spa to fetch our two dogs, unloaded everything, unpacked some and got Sue settled into our home.  Me?  At 8 PM, I checked the bike tires, attached two panniers, turned on the handlebar light, the front and rear wheel MonkeyLectric light,  the down low glow light, and the seat blinky light, and set out for the market to stock up. It was a warm 45F on a crystal clear evening.  A great mile ride on the Phoenix MUP in Fairhaven, Ma, was a fine ending to a great vacation with the family.  Now to relax back into retirement.

We are both looking forward to visiting the kids and grand kids next Christmas.

In Santa Fe.

Sitting by the pool with coffee, breakfast and today’s paper. Doesn’t get better than this. One more day of perfect weather tomorrow. Thursday we drive back to Atlanta and fly home to Boston on Friday.

A wonderful vacation with the kids and grandchildren.

Visiting the grandchildren in Atlanta. “Grumpy, can you take us biking?”.

So much fun. Even the diggahs. He was crying because he wanted to see this video.

It was a mild 36F at 5PM when I left home for the six mile ride to Buttonwood Park in New Bedford, MA.  On the way I stopped at the secret base of the New Bedford Starchasers and met up with a few of the riders.  We left the park on schedule at 6:30 PM, and rode to a couple of the collection boxes where we picked up winter coats and clothing for kids in need.

We were met at Common Park in the city by those collecting the clothing, bearing gifts. Coffee and doughnuts. Inside the holiday themed park were were also offered “cocoa on the commons” by a group giving away the drinks and snacks.

It was a great night for a bike ride with a wonderful group of riders. There is nothing I would rather have done than to spend the evening with these people. (Even if my video skills were way below par).

2019 Winter Solstice ride with the Starchasers from John Sullivan on Vimeo.

The Winter Solstice is the start of the Christmas season. Yule logs, mistletoe, feasts, family and of course Santa.  If it’s a religious thing for you that’s OK.  Santa will always be in your heart. Enjoy all the holidays that come with the season.

Come along just for the ride even if you don’t have anything to donate. It will be the most casual ride you have ever done. Guaranteed.   36F at lift off.  33F at splash down.   I’ll be biking to Buttonwood Park from Fairhaven leaving Staples at 5:15.  Riding home from Common Park at the end of the ride.

Wifey and I, well wifey, bought a new car. We closed the deal today and will pick up the new one tomorrow.  We also traded in our Mini Countryman after settling on a trade in price. (It’s good to do your homework before buying anything).

We both decided to go to the gym but because we have different routines, we needed  to go separately. I offered to put a bike in my car and ride that home after my workout. Trying not to tempt fate with the car I’m trading in tomorrow.   While prepping for the two mile ride, I decided to bike both ways.  She was worried that it was too cold.  Cold yes. Too cold? Not even close.  A stiff wind in my face made for a bit of work and naturally the stiff wind was at my back on the way  home.  It’s wasn’t a bad ride. Not bad at all.

While walking the dogs this morning, I was ruing the fact that I didn’t have my camera. It was during a lull in the stormy weather and the fog had set in.  I needed to do some grocery shopping and decided to bike the mile to the market with my camera after I got the pups settled in the house.

An evening at the New Bedford Symphony’s Holiday Concert was a delightful end to a sultry, yet wonderful day.