Coffee. Regular Blend at Dunkin Donuts and a bagel with cream cheese
Miles 16.9
Heavy rains were predicted for the area and I had resigned myself to not ride today. After the gym I stopped for a coffee at Dunkin Donuts in Fairhaven, MA. and ran into a friend who had just finished his ride. “You beat the rain”, I said. “Oh, I have plenty of time. It’s not going to rain till late afternoon”. I skipped the coffee, drove home and hopped on my commuter bike. I had no route planned and simply started pedaling.
Eventually the decision was made to ride over the bridge into the city. It ended up being a pretty decent day for a 16 mile bike ride around the peninsula and the waterfront.
There was no room at the campground. We found this spot in a box canyon off the main road at Goblin Valley State Park in Utah.
The last time I brought my RV in for service it took two months to get things “not quite” fixed. I had to retrieve it so Sue and I could embark on our two month sojourn, with a couple of minor issues remaining to be addressed. (Scroll down on amidnightrider.com to see the videos and stories of our adventure.) This time however it took a mere three days for Camping World to get everything done. The list had 7 items to take car of , but they knocked them all off and everything is ready for the next adventure.
It’s also football season and the MLS playoff, EPL and Champions League are in full swing. Speaking of football, I became a fan of Atlanta United the other day when they played the Crew, who it is rumored, may be moving to Austin. I have been to a few games in Columbus but have no other reason to go there. I have a son in Atlanta and also in Austin and having a football team in both place would please me to no end.
Finally when I was on tour, passing through Boulder Colorado, I meandered into a bike shop while Sue was shopping. Full Cycle bikes. It has a coffee bar at the entrance which added to the enticement. I don’t pass by many bike shops without stopping in for a look see. Last year I stopped into Camping World on my way home from couch shopping and bought an RV. So you can guess what happened in Boulders Full Cycle Shop. Yup a new bike, an e-bike no less. A very heavy e-bike.
My neighbor Jason joined me on the 25 mile bike ride to pick up the RV. Below is the evidence that is normally required when telling a story on a blog.
Sheep grazing in Freetown, MAWe found this very old cemetery in Freetown, MA that had headstones of people born in the mid 18th century. 1730 was the oldest we could make out on the very deteriorated headstones.Berkley Ma. INC. 1735My favorite spot on the Phoenix Bike Path in Fairhaven, MA
All of my cameras have a defect or don’t work, including the one I used for this video. That’s my excuse for the poor quality. Things will be back to normal quality starting with the next video and my new camera. Whatever that turns out to be.
Today’s ride and gathering was was to protest the theft of the bike path by a local developer. He somehow managed to get the city of Fall River Ma to let him build an access road that will take a portion of the newly completed Quequechan River MUP. The mayor had repeatedly stated that if the residence don’t want a road there, there will not be one. That was last month. Now however, the plans for the road have been approved. The bike advocates are mobilizing and the battle has begun. It’s a fight against City Hall.
Actual conversation in Austin the other night on busy noisy Rainey St.
Me. “How far to 6th St. ?
Doorman, 6 street.
Me. Yes
Doorman, Yes what?
Me How far is it to 6th street
Doorman. 6 streets
Me 6th street
Doorman 6 streets.
Me 6 blocks
Doorman. I just said that. Six streets
We thought we had see the best when we hiked Zion. Then came Bryce. There is not better way to say “holy shit”. Bryce is phenomenal hiking, and the views are spectacular.
From Bryce we drove to Goblin Valley where we found the campground full. HWhen that happens, its time to find our own spot. On the way into the park I did notice a decent dirt road that we decided to check out. I drove the RV a little bit into the canyon and walked ahead to make sure we could get in and out easily. It ended up being the perfect spot
When night was in full, I stepped outside to a spectacular star lit sky. There was no light pollution and the galaxy and beyond was a spectacular sight. I called Sue out and she began to call my name. I was five feet away and invisible to her. It was that dark.
There was no room at the campground. We found this spot in a box canyon off the main road.
We are in Glenwood Springs where we spent a couple of hours in the hot springs before a wonderful Italian dinner in town. Our next stop is a week in Lafayette, Co with #1 son and his wife and newborn son Koa Sky. We will do some Aspen tree sightseeing in Black Hawk, Nederland and Lyons, Co.
Sue and I spent the night in Joshua Tree National Park camping. In the morning we did three hikes in the park before settling in at the Joshua Tree Lake RV Park. A wonder day with a wonderful wife.
Sue and I for once got an early start leaving the RV park in Sedona for Joshua Tree. We were going to stay two nights before moving on to Southern California. Ninety minutes into the drive we stopped for gas and Sue noticed her cell phone was missing. The find my phone app showed it back in the campground. We decided to return and stay another night in Sedona. We found her phone in the dumpster of all places. Naturally we blamed each other for the faux pas.
Things worked out well. We did not have reservations at Joshua Tree, and we got to do a good hike in Sedona. We topped off our misfortune turned fortune with a really good dinner at the Hideaway House.
A Midnight Rider 