Heat Wave

I remember when it would be mid 90s+ for a week straight and THEN they would consider calling it a heat wave... what is this 2 day heat wave crap?

That aside, who else rode yesterday?  I swear the forest was MELTING!!  Thank god I found a water fountain as I cut through a summer camp!!  Sat there and drank a bottle and a half before continuing, which did reenergize things and let me squeeze out at least a decent ride.

Last day of school... it will be sad.  Then off to Martha's Vineyard!!  I was contemplating bringing a bike (not sure which one) but I've resigned to going the "easy" route and just enjoying some beach time.

Lonely Week

Annie's been gone all week... which meant by the time she returned Sunday the house was left with very little in the means of food (I'd been scrounging - avoiding the responsibilities of grocery shopping).  It also meant I could set my bike up in the kitchen to finally get rid of the tubes and get back to a tubeless set up. With much dirt shed on the floor (from my ride on Wednesday) the HiFi is ready for some low pressure action.

I was itching to get back out this weekend and explore the trails I had to bail on due to darkness, but family matters called for my attention over the weekend.  Saturday I picked my mother up from Logan and drove her home to CT.  Sunday morning I came back up to Boston and straightened up the place before Annie's arrival Sunday evening.  I thought about a quick ride before she got back... but figured I should make sure the place was presentable after her long visit with her sister.

So that just means today after work (back in the 50s again!!) it's back to see how much further I can get into the new trails I started exploring last week.

On previous rides I have started in the Caryl Park parking areas and then gotten into the Noanet Woodlands.  The sign pictured above is new, as I've crossed into Hale Reservation (briefly) previously, but this was a very nice addition to that intersection.  I'm hoping I can eventually put together a nice long ride as I've seen many unmarked trails leading off these mapped areas.  Even driving to these trails I've noticed some nice looking singletrack running through the woods and crossing the road.  Who knows, maybe I can put together a nice epic ride around the area.  

But I'm super excited for what else I'll find in the Hale area... the singletrack I encountered was super tight, flowy, with some killer switchbacks.  The trails utilized the terrain well and made sure that rocks features were enjoyed... check it out.

I'm standing at the apex of the switchback

There is a cheat to the left if you don't have the power to go straight up.

I did find that with the switchbacks some features came up fast, so until I get a better sense of the lay of the land a higher cadence in a easier gear is probably the way to go to avoid stalling on any short climbs.  If the rest of the trails are as sweet and well designed as these this may just be a new after work favorite!

Nightman

Quick Update:

Maggie is good.  No infection (my big worry) and no more bleeding - which means a clean cleaner house.

Playing it up for the camera.
You say "ball" or "treat" and it's all - what bandage??

Due to the timing of her appointment (1:45) I didn't get out for a ride.  Well I guess I did... sort of.  Annie needed some official documents at work which she had forgotten at home (her license - official, I know!!).  See, here in the city we have street cleaning days... and when you have a spot on the legal side of the road you don't move your car!!  That being said, I didn't think the 3.85 mile round trip commute was going to kill me.

Tuesday the kids had the day off as we educators prepared for the school's 10 year review next year.  We have a bunch of inservice days this year to complete our self assessment... sounds like fun, eh?  I figured it would be a low key day - making it a ride day!  I wasn't sure what time we'd be done, so I grabbed my light before heading out the door.  Maybe I can stretch a ride out so i can test the light out for a bit??

Annie emails me and let's me know she forgot her keys at home and was hoping I'd be home before 6 so she could time her arrival at home and avoid sitting on the front steps to wait for me.  So no light testing...

BUT I did ride at a new, local to work, location.  Caryl Park/Noanet Woodlands.  It wasn't half bad.  Most of the riding was doubletrack/fire road type marked trails for families and horses.  So - nothing technical, no huge elevation changes.  But, the more I explored the more singletrack options I found.  I found a sweet length of singletrack going out into what felt like untouched woods.  Not sure if that was still part of the woodlands I was riding, but it was sweet!  Looking at my ride map it looks like there is plenty to explore in the are to the east.  So this spot definitely merits more exploration.

If I jumped onto the powerlines looks like I could head south for even more opportunities!!  Yippee!!

If you haven't seen this show before, you need to start watching it.  

If you've seen it before, well, you are welcome!