South Coast Bikeway Award Ceremony

Cape Cod Canal Both Side, Both Bridges tomorrow, Sunday, Sept, 20 at 8:30 AM. Meet at the lot next to the RR bridge in Buzzard Bay.  Set you GPS to 61 Main St. 


This morning I led a ride through the back roads and side streets from Fairhaven to the event in Dartmouth.  None of the riders in my group are native to this area and I decided to give them a tour to point out some of the area’s gems.  Whaling Captain’s and Textile moguls small mansions, fantastic restaurants in out of the way locations, scenic waterfront streets and roads that only the locals know exist were on this short 9 mile route.   Coincidentally, this route was also a shortcut of sorts to the event that knocked off a couple of miles of heavy traffic on streets that drivers often confuse for racetrack straightaways.

Three of us didn’t participate in the Bike Challenge this year, so we left once the awards began for the ride back to Fairhaven. I hung back to get some errands done and, as we on bikes often do, stumbled upon a really good, authentic Spanish food hut.  I say Spanish, not Mexican because I think the owner and workers are Central Americans from El Salvador or Guatemala by their dialect.  I usually ask, but not this time because I was the only Gringo in the place.  The food was very good and the staff I think, got a kick out of my Boston accented Spanish.
As always, click any photo for big. Click again for bigger. Click your back button to return to the story

Freddy with his new bike
Freddy with his new bike
The gang ridng the side streets of New Bedford
The gang ridng the side streets of New Bedford
Fall River bike group
Fall River bike group
Bike Parking at the Dartmouth Y.
Bike Parking at the Dartmouth Y.
Waiting for the Mattapoisett group at the Gulf Hill Ice Cream place.
Waiting for the Mattapoisett group at the Gulf Hill Ice Cream place.
The Mattapoisett Riders
The Mattapoisett Riders
Lunch in the Spanish district of New Bedford
Lunch in the Spanish district of New Bedford
The gang from Mattapoisett
The gang from Mattapoisett

South Coast Bikeway Meeeting and The Cape Cod Canal. Both Sides, Both Bridges

Saturday September 19

Ride to the Award Ceremony in Dartmouth on Saturday. Meet at 99 in Fairhaven at 9 AM for the short ride across the river to the Dartmouth YMCA. (A little over 8 miles). It should be a nice day. Wear your colors and helmet if you want but neither is necessary for this short ride to the event.


Sunday September 20

Looking north from Sagamore Bridge.
Looking north from Sagamore Bridge.

Meet Sunday Sept. 20 at 8:15 for an 8:30 start at the Buzzard Bay Parking lot adjacent to the RR Bridge. 
Don’t miss this one.  It’s a favorite of mine and a very cool ride. Be sure to bring your camera. Bring your helmet if you want, but it’s not necessary for this easy paced, traffic free ride.

Directions:

Set your GPS to 61 Main St. Buzzards Bay.

We will cross both bridges and ride both sides of the canal, visiting Mashnee Island, the Sandwich Power Plant.  Scussett Beach and the railroad bridge like you have never seen it.  There are “secret” access points to both the Bourne and Sagamore bridges giving access to pedestrian and bicycle traffic.  It’s safe and fun to cross these bridges.

Meet Saturday Sept. 12 at 8:15 for an 8:30 start.  This is a very easy 25 mile flat ride with a couple of stops for photos.

Click Here for everything you need to know about this ride.  Directions, photos, etc.

Upcoming Ride. Cape Cod Canal. Both Sides Both Bridges. Sunday Sept. 20th

Looking north from Sagamore Bridge.
Looking north from Sagamore Bridge.

Meet Sunday Sept. 20 at 8:15 for an 8:30 start at the Buzzard Bay Parking lot adjacent to the RR Bridge. 
Don’t miss this one.  It’s a favorite of mine and a very cool ride. Be sure to bring your camera.

Directions:

Set your GPS to 61 Main St. Buzzards Bay.

We will cross both bridges and ride both sides of the canal, visiting Mashnee Island, the Sandwich Power Plant.  Scussett Beach and the railroad bridge like you have never seen it.  There are “secret” access points to both the Bourne and Sagamore bridges giving access to pedestrian and bicycle traffic.  It’s safe and fun to cross these bridges.

Meet Saturday Sept. 12 at 8:15 for an 8:30 start.  This is a very easy 25 mile flat ride with a couple of stops for photos.

Click Here for everything you need to know about this ride.  Directions, photos, etc.

New Bedford, MA

I took a ride into the city across the river.  It’s one I do often and no matter how many times I do the same route, I find something different.  I stopped for ice cream at the business I owned back in the mid 80s.  Stopped and talked with the locked out United Steel Workers at their plant.  Rode the elevated bike way along Buzzards Bay, and looked around the originals Berkshire Hathaway complex that once employed twelve thousand textile workers. The complex is gradually being demolished saving as much of the valuable brick and lumber as possible, for resale.

As always,click any photo for big. Click again for bigger Hit back button to return to post

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The elevated bike and walkway
Railings have been installed and lights to follow
Railings have been installed and lights to follow

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Security guard at the locked out Steel Plant.
Security guard at the locked out Steel Plant.
Freighter at New Bedford's State Pier.
Freighter at New Bedford’s State Pier.
The back end of the freighter.
The back end of the freighter.
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Out door dining and music at the Skipper.
Music on the pier at the Skipper Motel
Music on the pier at the Skipper Motel

Europe

Tiny church in the Italian Alps. Non denominal
Tiny church in the Italian Alps

We are winding down our European vacation with a day at The Blue Lagoon in Iceland. Our trip began with the wedding of a young couple who spend a few months with us while they made seaworthy a derelict 29 foot sail boat they purchased. As destinations weddings tend to go, this was a week long affair in the Italian Alps.  What made this so wonderful is that it is not a destination for Americans and we were able to immerse ourselves into the Italian culture.

Some on the Italian side spoke a little English but the American’s Italian was even more limited. By the end of the week however, both sides, were able to communicate with a mix of spoken and sign languages just fine.

Cialvrina Village made everyone feel welcome and made the week truly special for the over 100 wedding guests.  We took over the whole hotel and the staff soon became not only our host but part of the wedding. For instance, on our last night at the bar, the bartenders were mingling onto the dance floor and partying like it was 1999 with us. Fortunately for us Yanks, the dress was casual because trying to out dress the Italians was futile.

A random photo of one of the Italian guests
A random photo of one of the Italian guests

We had a very busy time in Italy including a hike to the glacier in the Italian Alps. A bike tour of Milan, and a train ride from Milan to St Moritz  through the Swiss Alps

Our accommodations in the Alps
Our accommodations in the Alps

Sue and I are ending our trip in Iceland by driving the Golden Circle and visiting the Blue Lagoon.  I spent the last afternoon in Reykjavik taking random photos of people on bikes. It’s very hip to ride in work clothes using the streets that are only open to pedestrians and bikes.

The Miles Add Up Very Fast. (3307 Miles On The Bike)

I do group rides once or twice a week.  They range from 25-40 miles and they are OK.  Every day, including those weekend rides, I am on my bike pretty much all day.  To the market, to the park, into the city, evening rides to the coffee shop.   It’s very seldom less than 25 miles a day and those miles add up very quickly.  Much quicker than I though.

Every once in  a while I take my speed-o-meter mileage off my “commuter bike” and add them to my log.  I don’t do this daily so my miles on one day may read a hundred miles or more.  This is an accumulation of many days.  I reset the gadget to zero, ride a few days and repeat.  On the club rides, I’ll use my Garmin, which automatically posts that ride’s miles.  Today I looked at the total and was shocked to see the number 3307.  Three thousand three hundred and seven miles.   That seems like a lot until I look at the miles on my car.   In June, I had the oil changed and the miles are prominently displayed on the little sticker on the wind shield.  A look at my odometer tells me that I have driven my car 183 miles since June 17th.   Ironically, almost all of those miles are riding to the start of a group bike ride.  Go figure.

You Like Historic Architecture? How About Scotch Bonnet Peppers?

Years ago I would find something funny or unusual on the web and conclude my weekday blog with Friday Funnies.  This YouTube definitely makes the cut as a Friday Funny.  These two at the end of this post are a riot.

For now though, from today’s bike ride, are some of the architecture of Old Fairhaven and the Whaling Historic National Park in New Bedford, MA.

As always, click any photo for big. Click again for bigger

Rogers School Fairhaven
Rogers School. Fairhaven, MA
Gift of Henry Huttleston Rogers.
Fairhaven Town Hall
Gift of Henry Huttleston Rogers
Millicent Library, Fairhaven, MA
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Historic Homes. New Bedford, Ma
Whaler Tavern, New Bedford, Ma
In the National Historic Park of New Bedford
Pitchman
Seaman's Bethel at Whaling National Park in New Bedford, MA
Seaman’s Bethel, Whaling National Park in New Bedford, MA

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Afternoon Delight
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Tabatha Inn, Fairhaven.  Samuel Clemens was a regular visitor to this Inn
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Unitarian Church in Fairhaven, MA. A gift of Henry Huttleston Rogers
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Unitarian Church, Fairhaven, MA
New Bedford Whaling Museum
New Bedford Whaling Museum

Friday Funny

Living the Retired Life.

Blue Heron
Blue Heron

As always, click any photo for big. Click Again for bigger
I drove my car yesterday for the first time in a couple of weeks.   I ride my bike pretty much every day with no destination planed.  It wasn’t that long ago I would plan a 30 mile loop, kit up and go out and be very conscious of my average speed, trying to keep it at 15 MPH or higher.  I’m very happy with 10 MPH now, but because of making so many stops for whatever reason, it’s impossible to measure that.

Today again was a ride into the city, (New Beddford, MA)  just because.  Time was at a premium because of a late start and an appointment, forcing me to cut the ride short by a couple of hours.  I did manage to keep my average speed down using the “taking pictures” method.  He are some of the things that got my attention.

Black Dog diver
Black Dog diver
Vincent the Black Dog diver
Vincent the Black Dog diver
Harbor Tours
Harbor Tours
Hazardous SUV
Hazardous SUV
Harbor Tours
Harbor Tours
Harbor Tours 2
Harbor Tours 2
Boat in New Bedford Harbor
Boat in New Bedford Harbor
Martha's Vineyard High Speed Ferry
Martha’s Vineyard High Speed Ferry
Bait
Bait
Seastreak
Seastreak
Lunch in the park
Lunch in the park

Tennis and Biking.

My daily ride brings me all around the town of Fairhaven, MA as well as other towns.  I noticed a lot of players on the courts at the middle school and as I rode up, it was obvious that these were very high class players.  Even from a distance the loud thwack of their shots.   Funny thing is that as I got closer, the players were shrinking.  I had come upon the regional qualifying tennis tournament and these were 13 and 14 year old players shooting off cannons.  I hung around for the last few matches on the four courts and have to say that these kids could really play.
     Fairhaven’s local player Trevor Schwarzmann had lost only one match all year. Today he was beat 8-1 and had a very quick elimination from the playoffs.
trevor Schwarzman
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Bike Fall River will be riding the Blackstone River Bike Path
Sunday, August 9, 2015 – Meet-up is at 8:45am the Start Time for the ride is 9:00am
Blackstone River Bike Trail
Blackstone River Bike Trail
The Blackstone River Bike is one of the most beautiful bike paths in the area. It follows along a rail line, the Blackstone River and an old canal system. There are several dams along the route. The path is relatively flat and is perfect for the beginner cyclist as well as the experienced cyclist. The total distance is 10 miles one way, 20 mile round trip for those who choose to ride the entire path.
Directions to the meet-up spot:  Take 195 West toward Providence, take I 95 North to Route 146. Once on route 146 take the exit for Route 123, bear right onto 123 (Breakneck Hill Rd) continue for 2.8 miles – the road becomes Great Road, Front Street and finally John Street (all on Route 123). Once you see the old sign for the Lonsdale Drive-in Theater take a left into the parking lot. Helmets are highly recommended – bring water and a snack. As with all rides, this is weather permitting.

Mattapoisett/Marion, MA Scenic Ride

Gang at Marion Wharf

As always, click any photo for big. Click again for bigger

CLICK HERE for the Flickr photo album
Nine of us gathered at Stop & Shop in Fairhaven, MA for our 30 mile ride to the coastal villages of Mattapoisett and Marion. Both are small towns with populations of under ten thousand. Both are tourist destinations for those who love Cape Cod but find “the Cape” much too hectic.  Falmouth is a fifteen minute boat ride from either town across Buzzards Bay. Mattapoinsett is where the well to do might summer and Marion is where the “very well to do” summer.  For example, when we pulled in to a Cumberland farms convenience store there was also  a group of five teens on bikes.  One sported a Portland Timbers shirt and I asked if he was a fan and had ever been to a game.  “Actually I live in Portland” was his response.  One of his friends lived in Minnesota and another was from the Chicago area.  All of them said they spend the summers in Marion sailing and playing soccer and lacrosse every day.

Back to the ride.  It was a short ride to the center of Mattapoisett and one section had us portaging our bikes of some nasty rocky sections of the soon to be bike path extension.  The extra work was well worth it when we came to the Mattapoisett River Bridge that was recently installed as part of the extension. The view was spectacular. 

Mattapoisett River

It was around 10 miles on the back roads to get to Marion Center.  The traffic was very light and those who were sharing the roads gave us plenty of clearance.

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The wharf in Marion was abuzz with Portland and Midwesterners preparing for their three hour cruises on Buzzards Bay.

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After visiting the Marion Art Center we set off on our 15 mile ride back to Fairhaven.  We threw in a quick lunch stop in Rochester, Ma  to top off this near perfect day of bike riding.

Rochester center