I wanted to ride today but had no idea where to go.  As I passed Cumberland Farms I decided to get a coffee and ride to Fort Phoenix to relax, have a cup and make a couple of family phone calls.

There is a hurricane barrier at Fort Phoenix that allows people to walk or bike to the middle of the harbor.  There, sits a gate that closes to protect the New Bedford harbor from tidal surges during hurricanes and other major storms.

I was about to leave when I noticed lots of police boats outside the gates.  Soon enough on the horizon, a big freighter appeared.   It took quite a while for her to make her way to the gate, but eventually she did and I was there with my twice dropped pretty expensive camera that is being held together with rubber bands.  What better way to end the career of my favorite camera than a large freighter 30 feet away.

The few of us who had made our way to the middle of the harbor to get a close look all agreed that our timing was impeccable.

Click any photo for slide show.

The new bike brand is Scott. It’s a commuter bike sub40. The SUB is speedy urban bike. What 40 means is beyond me.  After not a lot of thought, I named the bike Scott.  My Marin bike I call Marin, my Felt is “The Felt” and my Novara is……….I bet you can guess.

I put the bike together on Monday and for a few different reasons, I didn’t take it out for a long ride till today.  Actually, the long ride had an issue.  When I assembled the bike, I failed to tighten the right pedal.  As I was riding along the pedal, unbeknownst to me, was wobbling.  In time that wobbling stripped the crank and the pedal fell off.  Luckily, wifey was at the Y pretty close by, taking her Zumba class.  Things worked out for me getting the 6 miles back home.

I had gotten rave reviews from a local bike shop and decided to give it a  try. My go to shop is 25 miles away.  It’s the one I used in the town where I worked and bought all my bikes.   This new bike shop is Scotty’s and they deal in Scott bikes.  I have a Scott bike I named Scott and Scotty’s is only 8 miles away.

It took all of two minutes talking to the wrench for me to realize that this was a great shop.  He had a crank set in stock and gave me a price.  When I told him I had the bike shopped from Austin, he gave it a quick glance and asked if I assembled the bike.  I told him it was only putting the wheels, fender and handlebar on.  Nothing to it. “Do you want me to fix those things too?”  Then he described the geometry of the handlebar and brake positions.  He gave me a good price to give the bike a tune up and when I OK’d that, he said he would install the crank without the labor.  A new crank set, adjusting the handle bar and brakes, and giving the bike a once over, ended up less expensive than a simple tune up at “my old” bike shop. I’ll pick up Scott on Tuesday and am confident that the ride will be much better.

On a different note. A few years ago, I cooked breakfast for the local down and out and homeless in New Bedford, Ma.  We set it up like a restaurant where volunteers would seat the clients, take their order and serve them as if they were in a restaurant.  Naturally the atmosphere made for lots of friendly conversations.  I ran into one of the regulars today and we rode together for a bit. Funny thing is, we both have the same name.  “Hola Amigo”

 

 

Set II

My commute to the Salvation Army building is kind of in between the busy times.  The early commuters are at work and the Post 9 AM workers are just getting on the roads. The exception is those who work on the waterfront.  At 8 AM they are already two or three hours into their day.  More so the lobster boat. Many are returning from their traps that they have been working since 3 or 4 AM.

There is also very little bike traffic around this normally bustling bike area.  Lots of the regulars on the MUP have hung up their bikes and are either getting ready to go to or have gone to Florida. That’s something I would never think of doing because we like to travel.  Buying or long term renting in any place just seems too blase for me.  At my age I know tons of people who spend the winter in Florida and when we talk about what they do and where they go, I find that none of it interests me.

I would much rather visit different places every year, weather it be in or

out of North America.  I prefer the Andes, the Rockies or the Alps over the
“Villages” any day.

Click any photo for slideshow

A late start forced a shortened ride today staying around the town of Fairhaven, MA.  The old Unitarian Building had a function going on. Judging by the cars, there were lots of old hippies in attendance.

The planned ride was into the city (New Bedford, Ma), over the bridge.  However, there is a 4 PM kickoff for the MLS finals and there is no way I could miss that.  I want Portland, but I’m picking the Crew for the win.

One of my favorite lunches on long distance rides in years past was an egg salad sandwich from Cumberland Farms.  Every once in a while, even a convenience store gets something right. I think they get their sandwiches from a local dealer who offers pretty good quality ingredients without fillers.  Today I rode to Fort Phoenix so I could sit and enjoy a quiet lunch.  It took a few short minutes before the birds got wind of “food”, and they began to circle very close overhead.  Some landed within a few feet and many of the seagulls were voicing their displeasure that I was not feeding them.  I soon found out why they were so spoiled.

That was my reaction first thing this morning as I began pedaling away from the sunrise to deliver the Salvation Army bell ringers. Last evening, riding home from the market on the dark MUP, I was in awe of the show the sky was putting on.

A clear crisp night with no moon allowed the sky to show off it’s majesty.  Ursa Major and Minor. Orion and Mars were easy to spot.  The planes flying southwest out of Boston dim their headlights just about the time they pass over Fairhaven, MA.   It’s quite a sight to see one after another for twenty minutes or so, then….nothing, when the corridor shifts to another airport.

This morning started out chilly but by the time my work was done and it was time to ride home, it was comfortable riding.  A clear crisp day following last night made for good picture taking.

 

Only a mile each way to the market.  It was also in the dark which made the ride even better.

Had to put off the long ride to the Salvation Army to drive my peeps to their bell ringing stations this morning because my rear tire was flat. Again, for the third time.  I do think I found the sliver of steel from a car tire this time. If it’s not flat in the morning, I’ll get double digit miles in.

Riding is my only exercise since the “incident” because I still can’t walk for more than 10 minutes. It’s myyankle.

BTW. You know that last few inches when your putting the tire back on the rim?  I found out it’s good for removing stitches from your hand.  This morning I had eleven stitches.  Now I have 8.

I’m spending my recovery time getting my winter beater ready.  Wider tires, lights, cleaning etc.  I also have a new bike being shipped from Austin, TX.  It’s the one I rented while visiting the city and I liked it a lot.  It’s a Scott and it’s yellow.  ish.  I may use this one on our tour of the Erie Canal this summer.

I will be off the bike a little longer than we all though.  The surgeon wants to open up my hand and reattach one of the nerves.  It’s an out patient procedure that should not be a big deal except for adding two more weeks to my recovery.  That takes me into {{{{{January}}}}}. Brrrr  If you want to see what it looks like, scroll to the bottom of the page.

I used to start a conversation by saying something like, howzitgoin or howahya? Now I just raise my hand.

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But………..   The bike ride is cancelled.   And there are still leaves in the guttah. The ladder is fine.

No condolences or prayers needed. I’m fine.  Well, I’m going to be fine.  Or Howard.  Did I mention that I love percocet?