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.

Cosmic Winter approaches! Put on your ugliest sweater, ready your spaceship with the tackiest decorations, and join the New Bedford Starchasers on an adventure to explore holiday lights and bring cold weather gear to LGBTQ+ youth in need, this winter! We are accepting new or gently-worn coats, hats, gloves, and scarves. Donations benefit NB-AGLY. This mission is free, radically inclusive, and open to the public.

Ways to give:

• Join the mission! Bring your ship and donations to the launchpad at the Buttonwood Park Warming House. Together, we’ll fly to the drop-site in the Clasky Common Constellation.

• Rendezvous! Meet us at the launchpad with your donations and we’ll deliver them for you.

• Checkpoint! Drop your donations at one of the checkpoints along the route and we’ll pick them up as we go. DROP SITES are located at the following coordinates within the New Bedford Starsystem: 120 Sycamore St., 188 Cottage St., 174 Jonathan St., and Boutique Fitness in Downtown New Bedford!

It’s about to get cold. Hoth cold. Like that planet in ‘Empire’. But we’re not just gonna curl up inside a Tauntaun and wait for warmer days. No! Those things smell bad enough on the outside. We’re fighting back against the cold with the warmth in our hearts.

NB-AGLY is a community-based organization dedicated to providing support, resources, and safe spaces to LGBTQ+ youth and their allies. A division of South Coast LGBTQ Network, NB-AGLY is youth-driven, peer-led, and adult-supported. To learn more about South Coast LGBTQ Network, NB-AGL, and their other services, please visit www.sclgtbqnetwork.org.

Hover your mouse over the coat drive buckets photos for drop off locations. Or bring the items with you to Buttonwood Park.

Thursday, 12/12.*

Far away from the city lights, the 500-acre Mattapoisett River Reserve offers visitors a dark, expansive sky to view the stars. Come join Buzzards Bay Coalition at The Bogs and keep your eyes to the sky for a chance to see the Gemini Meteor Shower!

The is sometimes referred to as the “king” of all meteor showers, and will peak on the night of December 13/14.

Visitors are welcome to drop in any time between 8 and 10pm. Dress warmly, and bring a chair. Some warm beverages and snacks will be provided!

Please remember that public properties are typically open dawn til dusk – we’ve gotten special permission to host this event at night.

FREE REGISTRATION: https://www.savebuzzardsbay.org/events/geminid-meteor-shower-viewing-dec-13-2019/

Saturday, 12/14

Cosmic Winter approaches! Put on your ugliest sweater, ready your spaceship with the tackiest decorations, and join the New Bedford Starchasers on an adventure to explore holiday lights and bring cold weather gear to LGBTQ+ youth in need, this winter! We are accepting new or gently-worn coats, hats, gloves, and scarves. Donations benefit NB-AGLY. This mission is free, radically inclusive, and open to the public.

Ways to give:

• Join the mission! Bring your ship and donations to the launchpad at the Buttonwood Park Warming House. Together, we’ll fly to the drop-site in the Clasky Common Constellation.

• Rendezvous! Meet us at the launchpad with your donations and we’ll deliver them for you.

• Checkpoint! Drop your donations at one of the checkpoints along the route and we’ll pick them up as we go (to be announced).

It’s about to get cold. Hoth cold. Like that planet in ‘Empire’. But we’re not just gonna curl up inside a Tauntaun and wait for warmer days. No! Those things smell bad enough on the outside. We’re fighting back against the cold with the warmth in our hearts.

NB-AGLY is a community-based organization dedicated to providing support, resources, and safe spaces to LGBTQ+ youth and their allies. A division of South Coast LGBTQ Network, NB-AGLY is youth-driven, peer-led, and adult-supported. To learn more about South Coast LGBTQ Network, NB-AGL, and their other services, please visit www.sclgtbqnetwork.org.

This has been a favorite bike video of mine for years.  I often quote it to the nannies out there who take offense to my riding style.

2019 Thanksgiving morning walk with the dogs from John Sullivan on Vimeo.

I live only a few hundred feet from the Phoenix Bike Path in Fairhaven, MA. Twenty five years ago, the path was engineered, financed and ready to be built through Fairhaven, Mattapoisett and Marion, MA.  at a total cost of around $650 K.  Mattapoisett and Marion got cold feet thinking the world would end if they paved and existing RR route, isolated in the wooded, overgrown area.

The town of Mattapoisett finally decided to allow the bike path extension and work has begun.

I decided to take a ride and check out the progress.  (with one of my SA masks. Buy one get 4 free). I also had a difficult time getting my bike around the do not enter barricade

.