Light rain ending about 4 PM? Ride begins at 8 PM. It’s time travel on a bike fercryingoutloud. . Meet at Buttonwood Park near the warming house.
We Finally Have A Full Blown Bike Culture
Lots of fun bike rides in the area coming up. All those listed are casual group rides ranging from five to fifteen miles of easy, no drop, bike riding, good for all skill and speed levels. Just click the link to see if anything fancies you.
Date Event Rating
Thursday, Sept. 8 PM New Bedford Star Chasers Pub Pedal. Very easy
Friday, Sept. 13 & 14 Newport Mansion Guided Bike Tour Very Easy
Saturday, Sept 14 Full Moon Ride in Newport, R.I. Intermediate
Friday, Sept 27 Providence Bike Jam Easy
Saturday, October 5 Bike New Bedford Pedal Party Very easy
Sunday, October 6 Buzzards Bay Coalition Watershed Ride Your own pace
Night Rides
Falmouth Bikeways Committee is sponsoring a community ride.
Community Ride or Walk
With Dinner Outside at
West Falmouth Market
SEPTEMBER 11, 5:30 PM
RSVP to falmouthbikewayscomm@gmail.com
Come meet fellow cyclists, pedestrians, and roller bladers at West Falmouth Market after enjoying a late afternoon walk or ride (on your own). Purchase refreshments and enjoy conversation with your neighbors. All ages are welcome.
Full Moon Bike Rides 2019
It’s turning to fall and we keep riding! Come and have the ultimate Newport experience. Ride with Bike Newport around Newport and end the evening at a bar for a few beverages. Bike to Beer!
Our rides meet at Bike Newport, 62 Broadway • Route: probably around the ocean loop
Saturday September 14th – Meet at 6:30pm
Sunday October 13th – Meet at 5:30pm
Tuesday Nov 12th – Meet at 4:00pm
Oh What A Night In Providence R.I.
Providence Bike Jam. A monthly night ride through the urban streets of Providence, RI. The September ride will be a challenge to top.
An estimate turnout of 40 plus showed for this beautiful clear, warm evening at Burnside Park, downtown. I say estimated because it was impossible to get anyone to stay still for two minutes. It was even worse near the end of the ride when we gathered at the new $22 million dollar pedestrian bridge. The still photographer and I were completely ignored when we tried to gather everyone for a group photo. Two things contributed to make that happen. It was our third party stop and when we stopped at the first two, the common sound was the distinctive “phhhhst” of beer cans being open. Second, the music was blaring and everyone was in party mode, dancing the night away. Well, some were dancing.
Friday Night Providence Bike Jam
This is one of my favorites. It’s a very casual ride through the neighborhoods of Providence, RI. As usual, I’ll be starting and finishing at Ft. Hill in East Providence at 6:30PM. (Set GPS to 1 Mercer St. East Providence, RI). It’s a bit under three miles from Burnside Park, downtown Providence, where the ride begins.
Providence Bike Jam July 2019 from John Sullivan on Vimeo.
Rainy Day. Let Me Rock Your Socks Off
Not a day to bike but a good day to rock. From the 2015 CMA awards. Go full screen and full volume. Your gonna love it.
Murals and Flowers and Birds
The last couple of days were spent working on photography techniques. An appointment with the oral surgeon took me by bike, to downtown New Bedford, Massachusetts. While awaiting my call, I grabbed my camera to try a couple of things on a building a couple of blocks away. I was working at getting away from the Auto function to “Program” in order to mess around with the light settings. Each gave a different look to the subject.
As I rode away, I spotted a mural near the home of Fredrick Douglas and that gave me the idea of the murals theme. I began riding around the downtown area and found an area that is obviously and artist hot spot.
Many of the mural sites also had the benefit of horticultural artistry.
I was done working and decided to end the ride with an easy spin around the peninsula. When I climbed up the elevated bike path on the bay, I came across a bird feeding frenzy. It was such loud chaos that one had to stop and be mesmerized by the activity. Hundreds of sea birds attacking the bay like children swarming to a smashed pinata. It lasted but a few minutes, the fish moved on and the birds settled in for an after dinner relaxation session, sitting on rocks or floating on the calm bay like nothing happened. After all the fish were gone, a lone man on a small skiff made his way to the battlefield, dropped his line and waited like he was watching a football game. Nothing happened.
That Reminds Me Of A Joke
Way back when, I used to love telling jokes. After not telling one for months or even years, someone in my circle would rattle off a joke. I seldom laughed. People who are into comedy usually just say, “that’s funny”. But their joke would always remind me of one of my favorites. Why am I bringing this up you ask?
The photo was in Dan’s blog, “It’s All An Adventure” and it reminded me of why I don’t tent any more.
A few years ago, I rode my one and only century to Provincetown, MA, on the outer tip of Cape Cod. When I got to the Hostel where we stayed, I had someone take a photo of me drinking a beer with the caption. “Pay attention. You will never see me do this again.” I took camping gear along for the two day return ride back home.
I checked into a campground half way back and set up my tent. That’s when I noticed all the kids and families were taking a detour to the pond so they wouldn’t have to go past my camp site. Fathers with young children kept constant surveillance of my movements. I’m thinking they misinterpreted my intentions. I also didn’t bring my air pad and spend the night being stabbed by rocks every time I rolled over. I was up and packed at the break of dawn and on the road before there was any other movement in the campground.
I have done a couple of bike tours since, but don’t bring any camping equipment along any more. Cheap motels and motor inns work out much better for me.
Also, I guess I have to leave you with a joke.
Little Billy was on his phone playing a game when he heard a scream come from his mothers room. He ran up the stairs and barged into the room to find his mother in bed wearing a French Maid outfit and his father kneeling over her wearing a bonnet and bunny slippers.
Billy let out a gasp and his dad turned and said, “Get out of here, your mother and I are having some fun.”
The next day, Dad heard a ruckus, a loud ruckus coming from Billy’s room. When dad opened the door, Billy was in bed with his grandmother.
“What the hell” said dad.
Billy responded, “not so funny when it’s your mother is it?”
Beaching
The forecast was a balmy humid day in store for us on the SouthCoast of Massachusetts. A bike ride around the area beaches was just the thing to beat the heat. It’s a few short 6 or 7 miles to the beaches of New Bedford. The wind was tolerable and so was the humidity. Birds have been squawking to get my attention and posing for photos lately. They usually don’t disappoint. An easy 17 mile bike ride with my camera made me happy as a clam at high tide.
South Coast Bikeway Pedal For The Path
Riders had a choice 57, 20, or 12 mile routes for this second annual Pedal For The Path Bike Ride, Put together by South Coast Bikeway.
2019 Pedal For The Path Photostream from John Sullivan on Vimeo.
CLICK HERE for the rest of the photos
A Midnight Rider 