rholland1951

Time travellers, hurrah!

rod

rholland1951

Monday was one last benign Spring-Summer day, and I knocked off for a couple of hours in the afternoon to enjoy a vigorous sprint out to Depot Park and back in the green coolness of the shadier precincts of the Minuteman.


I took the Rivendell Rambouillet on this ride, and was pleased to observe no lasting damage from the ride in Friday's flood.


Perhaps I'll dare a ramble in the heat, especially if I can organize myself to fly with the larks rather than with the owls. Could happen...


rod

autonomy

Haven't posted in a while, but I'm still around, riding in the area and various trips like a bikepacking overnighter in the Whites, where I had to chase a bear out of my campsite, and a lovely ride up & down the Burlington Island Line Trail, including a 45min-long wait at the ferry to get back.

Didn't see anyone post this, so: I went out for a short ride on the Battle Road Trail in Minuteman NP to find out that NPS, without finishing the work on the western part with the boardwalk, started resurfacing the eastern end, with rolling closures into mid-July. I'm glad NPS is finally doing something about the erosion, though I'm not happy about them closing the trail through the busiest season. https://www.nps.gov/mima/mima-gaoa.htm

This is the start in the east - you know that extremely bumpy "green tunnel" section that I personally used to avoid... yup, part of it is paved now!





We're getting a drainage ditch here!




At the bottom of Old Mass Ave/Fiske Hill


Across the Visitor Center




Visitor Center lot is still open but you can only reach the Visitor Center from it




Bonus: chased off a turkey and a deer

rholland1951

autonomy , good to hear from you! Thanks for the NPS report. Glad to hear about the good experience with the Island Line, that one's a quiet treasure. Glad the frank exchange of views with the bear ended well.

rod

rholland1951

Today the forecast called for a hot (mid-90s) afternoon, so I took the Rambouillet out and rode in the mid-80s morning. As far as I can tell, I'm approximately the last person in the world who's had and acted on this particular insight, but better late than never.


Some of the numerous others who got there before me:


Another day in the swamp (conveniently located behind Lexington Center).


Seems I put in my fastest time on this route (Depot Park) this year. That early-to-rise stuff may bear further study.


rod

rholland1951

Spent a bit of time on the Minuteman today, Spy Pond to Depot Park. Some things get to take their turn at novelty: the Fairy & Elf Animal Shelter, for example.


It had been a while since I photographed the Pumping Station, so I did.


A sky full of cirrus clouds and a wide-angle lens can evoke Out Yonder from the most familiar scenes.


Stopping at the Lexington Visitors Center, I had occasion to reflect on the importance of good, well-maintained toilets for bike trails. There are some things a friendly tree just isn't suited for.


Bedford: the Lost Scripture of the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway can still be found by those who seek it.

-
"WARNING: Cyclists move silently at 10-25 MPH"

The rest is commentary.

rod

rholland1951

Saturday, I noted the rain predicted for later in the afternoon, so I put a very light Gore-Tex shell in the front bag of the Sam Hillborne and rode East.


The hills, the traffic; the traffic, the hills. All of the above. I had a good workout, and didn't get squashed. And the Sam provided good, controllable fun as usual.


Oh yes, and it did begin to rain, more or less as predicted. Out came the shell, on went the shell, and that was that. Kept me warm and dry, to spec. Many thanks to Ghazmh for originally recommending it.


Last photo in the deck is a pair of jets d'eau on the Fellsmere Pond. They're cooling, and appear to be proliferating. They serve as a gentle reminder that the ride is winding down. Extra points if you can see the green dinosaur looking fierce along the right edge of the animation.


rod

rholland1951

Towards the end of Monday afternoon, I took the Nobilette for a quick sprint along the Eastern shore of the Mystic Lakes. Lots of folks were enjoying the water at the Tufts Bacow Sailing Pavilion, which exemplifies William Gibson's saying, "The street finds its own uses for things." Those outrigger canoes cut right along.


There's always a fisherman.


This paddleboard seemed never to quite get launched.


rod