I love winter riding.
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Morning Commute Photos
Summer Bike Tour 2015
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On of the benefits of a self supported tour is that we are not bound to any route, timeline or anything else really. With that in mind we have decided to to the C&O and the GAP this year. We will however look at the weather report for the week, before we leave Massachusetts. If it looks like either or both of those routes could get washed out, we will detour to Albany NY and ride the Erie Canal.
If all looks good for our first choice, we will drive to Pittsburgh, box our bikes and take the Amtrak to DC. If the weather looks like a problem, we will drive to Albany, NY. box our bikes and take the train to Buffalo. We have done the Erie Canal twice before and know that if the trail becomes mucky because of rain, we can easily scoot over to NY Bike Rt 5, (Car route 31) and continue on pavement.
On the C&O/GAP however, if it rains, your screwed and you and your bike will be covered in muck. On my tour of the GAP last year, I road an hour in the rain and rolled into Confluence, PA looking like this.
We are riding mid June. The C&O/GAP in Pennsylvania and Maryland is our first choice. Erie Canal is the backup. It will be here lickity split.
It’s 1958 Again
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I’m getting used to this 18 degree morning commute. It’s a hoot when I get to a destination and people start commenting about how it’s crazy to ride a bike in this cold and when I take off my hat and gator, I’m perspiring. I did leave the single speed home and rode the beater commuter bike today. Something is causing a drag on the rear wheel (nothing rubbing anywhere) and I’ll have to investigate that soon.
I did get to go back in tine at the local McDonald’s this morning. A few years ago, after a fire, the joint was redone as a circa 1955 malt shop. Lots of people on their way to Cape Cod in the summer, stop for gas and breakfast in town. When they step into the Micky D’s it’s often and “oh wow” moment.
I went out again in the afternoon to get some crazy seagull shots with my new DSLR camera. I am just learning how to use the thing in manual mode and none of the seagull shots were any good. I’ll try again tomorrow. Check back because I know these will be off the hook photos.
I did get a couple using the auto mode. Way at the bottom of this post.
New DSLR photos
Early Morning Commute
I have a mile ride to the gym every morning. I also stop at a local coffee shop either before or after my gym time. At both of those places I get lots of comments about how crazy it is to ride a bike on a day like today. No one mentioned the construction crew doing road work, the utility guys, the kids walking to school or the seniors on the bike path. For most people riding a bike in the cold is nuts, but nothing else seems to be out of the ordinary when it’s 18 degrees outside.
If you spend lots of time outdoors in the winter either riding a bike, walking or working, you know that with the proper layers 18 degrees is not that cold.
A Vexing Conundrum.
Winter weather is slowly creeping into the area. I was in Atlanta for the Xmas holiday and the weather on Cape Cod was pretty much the same as Atlanta. Now that I’m home the cold weather has also arrived.
The single speed winter bike and the winter clothing are ready to get me through these next two months. The only thing that keeps me off the bike is when the MUP is covered with ice and snow. The town still will not clear the path even though it gets lots of use all winter long. Private citiezens have done the plowing in the past but are always issued a cease and desist by the Department of Public Works. The reason. “It’s the DPW’s job”. But they won’t do it. I think that’s what is known as a Vexing Conundrum.
Here is a little fun from a Turkish Ice Cream Truck.
The Bell Tolls
Fairhaven MA. Old Burying Ground
Morning Commute
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Morning commutes are still very much bearable. I had to make a run to the UPS Store to send out a package and things ran smoothly enough that I had time to drive back home, hop on my bike and ride to work. My commute is a little over five miles that begins on the local MUP, meanders through the village of Fairhaven, Ma before riding over the bridge spanning the harbor into downtown New Bedford, Ma. The waterfronts in both towns are very active with fishing and scallop fleet, lobster boats, island ferrys and some pretty big cargo ships.
There are lots of things people driving notice, that on a bike, we get to see. For example.
Biking Provincetown MA and the National Seashore Part II
Lots more photos HERE
See part I video HERE
After ride coffee shop video is HERE
What made me go to Provincetown in December? Let me explain.
A few weeks ago, wifey and I attended a fundraiser for the Humane Society. It’s one of her favorite charities and during the event and after a couple of martinis she got the idea to bid up items in a silent auction to get other people to bid higher and raise more money for the society. She left the event smug hoping her idea paid dividends. I got a message on our answering machine a few days later, congratulating her on winning the following.
- 10 lbs of cod fish
- 10 lbs of scallops
- A $250 certificate for a catering service
- An immersion blender
- A Swedish massage
- A Dutch Oven
- A condo for a week in Provincetown, Ma.
The message also said that grand total was one thousand two hundred and forty three dollars. We attended another fund raiser a week later and we both agreed that she not even look at the silent auction items.
We have been eating lots of cod, we are sending 1/2 the scallops to #1 son in Boulder costing $75.00 for overnight shipping, and we are taking the other 5lbs to #2 son’s home in Atlanta for Christmas. The Dutch Oven and immersion blender get good use because I cook a lot. She will get a massage soon and we may re-gift the catering service back to the humane society for them to use at their next fundraiser.
I couldn’t spend the whole week in P-Town so wifey invited friends to stay the first three days. Monday and Tuesday saw torrential rains followed by temperatures just above freezing and gale force winds. Wednesday was just OK. I drove to Outer Cape Cod on Thursday and the mild temperatures got me on my bike within an hour of arriving. The following video is a log of part of my bike ride and our walk on the beach Friday. The rains returned on Saturday and we decided to bail on the remaining two days and drive the 90 minutes home.
She hated almost everything about the week and I really enjoyed my two days there. Biking can do that. I want to bid on this item again next year. The available weeks are limited and if I can get a week in April, I’m going to go for it and make it a biking week for me and a couple of biking friends.
Biking Provincetown, MA In December
Pehhhh
The big one. The grand finale. The title bout. Whatever you want to call it, this is where it all ended when the LA Galaxy hosted the New England Revolution with the league championship on the line.
A Midnight Rider 