Tuesday:

Leave Staples at 6:30 PM for a 10 mile round trip route. You will need lights for the return if you stay for the entire concert.  From the YMCA at 6:45. It’s a 1/4 mile walk or bike.
High School Jazz Concert

In what has now become a highlight on the calendar of museum events, the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum hosts a jazz concert by local students, Tuesday, May 15 at 7 p.m. on the grounds of the RJD.

New Bedford area’s premier high school and middle school jazz bands will play on the terrace, under the tent.

Visitors can enjoy a broad range of musical styles — from big band swing to upbeat Latin jazz, as the students showcase their energy, style and musical talent.

The event is free of charge, and will be held in rain or shine. Seating is provided.

If you don’t want to ride, this is still a unique and very good concert.

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Wednesday

Buzzards Bay Wednesday Night Casual Ride.

Leave Staples in Fairhaven at 5:40 for a 15 mile ride.

Leave the YMCA at 6 PM in New Bedford for a 9 mile ride.

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Saturday

The Cafe Tour
Starting at the Fort Hill parking lot a casual** 27 mile ride along the East Bay Bicycle Path to Bristol for coffee and bagels at Bristol Bagel on Hope Street.

For directions to Fort Hill bike path access search for directions to intersection of Mercer Street and Veterans Memorial Parkway in East Providence through Google Maps or GPS. (1 Mercer St.) Parking is overlooking the river on the West side of the highway.

I ordered a $5 beer that was advertised on a placard in the noisy bar.  The bartender took the sign down and said a few things I didn’t hear clearly.  I think she said, “happy hour is over,  but you can a have blah blah blah beer”.  I said “OK” and was given a beer in a stein that was so big…. well it was a one drink night and I didn’t nurse the thing. I’m guessing a liter (or two).

I was welcomed to the joint by Kelly Carter who like me, is a member of The American Outlaws.  She is an Atlanta United super fan, and I’m a long time supporter of the New England Revolution, who can’t get to Wednesday or Saturday night games. When an occasional Friday night game happens, it’s a treat to be able to attend a home game in Foxboro, MA.

We had our own decent sized room that was serviced by a half dozen waiters, all of whom were kept pretty busy with beer and food, mostly pretzel and brat, orders.  The attendance was really surprising being somewhere in the range of more than fifty but less than a hundred fans.  Probably around 70. Could have been more…..or less.

Below is a less than professional video of some of the goings on at the Beer Garden.

Atlanta v Orlando MLS from John Sullivan on Vimeo.

 

I got very busy late in the afternoon and was worried about being late for the long ride meeting of the Wednesday Night Casual group at Staples in Fairhaven MA.  All of last year, I was the only one to show there, but would meet two regulars at the short ride meeting spot, the YMCA in New Bedford.

When I rounded the corner approaching Staples, to my surprise, there were six riders waiting.  We got the YMCA in the city and there were two more.  Another showed up, then another.  Maybe, just maybe, the ride is getting popular.  Then again, maybe it’s me.  Realistically, it was a combination of marketing and the weather.   Whatever the reason, we had a wonderful group to ride a really pleasant riding evening. One had to drop out with a broken spoke, so we will give him special treatment next week.

Wednesday Night Casual May 9, 2018 from John Sullivan on Vimeo.

 

Ahhh, the life of the retiree.   We all got an e-mail last evening calling for a 9 AM bike ride on the East Bay Pike Path in R.I.    Five of us showed and what a day it turned out to be for a casual bike ride.  |

Next up is the Wednesday Night Casual ride in Fairhaven/New Bedford.

AARP Tuesday Morning Ramble, May 8, 2018 from John Sullivan on Vimeo.

 

Wednesday Night Casual

Leave Staples in Fairhaven at 5:40 for the 15 mile ride.

Leave the YMCA in New Bedford at 6 PM for a 9 mile ride.

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Saturday

Saturday 05/12/18 – NBW Cafe Ride (weather permitting)

• East Bay Bike Path – from Fort Hill to Bristol Bagel and back (27 miles)
• Leaves Fort Hill Parking Lot at 9:00 AM
• Contact John Nery for more details
• __________________________________________________________________________

Bay State Bike Week Bike Ride
Saturday, May 12

COME RIDE ALONG THE SOUTH COAST BIKEWAY
AND CELEBRATE BAY STATE BIKE WEEK
Join us as we celebrate completed pathways
for bicyclists and pedestrians.

9:00 a.m. Registration @ FT Phoenix
9:30 a.m. Ride Start
You choose the best route for you!
8 mile Bike Path route
20 mile West Island /Bike Path route
40 mile Fort to Snipatuit Pond route
Return Bike Ride to start
For more information and pre registration
visit www.southcoastbikeway.com.
This family event is brought to you by the South Coast Bikeway
and the Fairhaven Bikeway Committee
along with the support of SRPEDD.
Bay State Bike Week is a partnership between
MassDOT, MassBike, and MassRIDES.
Helmets are required. Water and snack suggested. South Coast Bikeway Alliance representatives will ride with each group.

 

A good turnout for this Saturday morning bike ride.  We met a Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven and set off on a 19 mile ride to Ned’s Point Light and back.  There was a mix of fitness levels and everyone was happy with the pace of around 12.5 MPH, for this casual ride.

Some bike path, some country roads, some highway and one short unrideable area, gave us a good mix of terrain.

Up next is the Buzzards Bay Wednesday Night Casual ride leaving Staples in Fairhaven at 5:45, and the Y in New Bedford  at 6 PM.

2018 Cinco de Mayo Ride from John Sullivan on Vimeo.

 

Date:  Saturday, May 5th.

Place:  Meet at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven, MA at 8:45.  Wheels down at 9 AM
Info:   A casual paced ride from the fort to Ned’s Point in Mattapoisett.

The ride is 19 miles of flat quiet country roads.  I have included a link to Ride With GPS. If you have a Garmin or other GPS unit such as your phone,  you can upload the route by clicking “Export” in the upper right of the ride with GPS page.

It’s early in the season and not many of us are in shape to ride in a peloton just yet.  With that in mind, the ride Saturday will be at a casual pace or around 10.5 mph from Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven to Ned’s Point in Mattapoisett.

CLICK HERE for the route map

 

70 degrees at wheels down on this Wednesday Night Casual Ride.  Eight riders showed up along with the wind.  The sustained winds were in our face for the East Beach section but we were rewarded at the turn around having the wind at our backs.  It’s so much better that way.

Wednesday Night Casual May 2, 2018 from John Sullivan on Vimeo.

It is day 1 of National Bike Month and also day 1 of the National Bike Challenge where I’m riding for my town of Fairhaven, MA team.  I did commit to 30 Days of biking but didn’t get anywhere near 30 rides.  More like 8 or 10 this year.  I had the flu for a good part of the challenge.  Oh well.

The morning was clear and cool for the early morning ride to the dentist in the city. I had plenty of time to ride slow and take in the sights.  We notice some pretty neat things on a bike that may just be a blur if we are driving.

 

City or country – moon or no moon – Jupiter is easily visible, and we’re now in the middle of the best time of year to see it. It’s now rising in the east as Venus is setting in the west … stand outside at nightfall, and see if you can catch the two planets at the same time, Jupiter ascending in the east and Venus sinking behind the sunset.

It was a relatively mild night when we set off on our monthly full moon ride in Warren, R.I. One of our group, Margret, suggested a couple of detours that took us off the bike path, giving us a nice change from the usual route.  The wind slowed us considerably as we pedaled toward Providence, R.I.

One of the highlights is crossing the Washington Bridge spanning the East Bay on RT 195.  When the bridge was redone a few years ago, a walking/biking path was added allowing a scenic, safe passage over the bay.  After riding through India Point Park, we crossed rt 195 and worked our way up the multiple switchbacks to the outskirts of downtown Providence.

With the wind at our backs, we made good time on the 10 mile return ride.  Because we were riding at such a quick pace, our lights were not adequate enough to warn us of the many pot holes and bumpy expansion joints on the blacktop in time to avoid the rattling of our bones as we smashed over them.  Nothing a couple of martinis and ibuprofen couldn’t solve.

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2018 30 Days of Biking. Riding under the Full Pink Moon from John Sullivan on Vimeo.