4th of July Rides

[Crankin]

Did a 53.4 mile ride today (longest this year). It actually was most of the route of a charity ride i did 3 weeks ago, but we started at our house and met friends at a different start point than the original ride. The first 2 towns we went through were having 10k races this morning, so lots of runners and traffic and people on foot. In fact, there was more traffic than I thought there would be, probably like a Saturday. It was hot and humid for the first half, but the sun did go in and it is now cloudy, breezy, and great for riding. We stopped in Weston Center to refill on Gatorade and eat a Clif bar. Then we went through a bit of Waltham, into Lincoln, where we did the only really steep climb of the ride. Then on through Hanscom AFB, back into Concord. I have never seen so many bikes there! We ate lunch on the grass by the visitor's center and I was moaning that I was 4 miles from my house, but we had only ridden 35 miles, so on we went. The rest of the ride was on regular roads that I ride, so it was fun.
When we got back, I downed some choc. milk and hummus and pita. Now I have to stretch and get ready for our BBQ.

[East Hill]

Today's ride was nothing special--just a chance to get out of the house essentially, because it's too hot to do much of anything energetic. So, I went to Big Soos Creek, and saw a huge crowd out there--more people than I've ever seen before.

Now, I've seen muskrats, river otters, mink, etc. down there. But I'd never seen a beaver--until today! I rode by this poor creature and did a double take:



The hat is in there for reference. It's not much more than a kit, but it confirms that there are indeed beavers down there. Now if only I could spot a live one .

East Hill

[mimitabby]

Today's ride was nothing special--just a chance to get out of the house essentially, because it's too hot to do much of anything energetic. So, I went to Big Soos Creek, and saw a huge crowd out there--more people than I've ever seen before.

Now, I've seen muskrats, river otters, mink, etc. down there. But I'd never seen a beaver--until today! I rode by this poor creature and did a double take:



The hat is in there for reference. It's not much more than a kit, but it confirms that there are indeed beavers down there. Now if only I could spot a live one .

East Hill

good thing it wasn't a skunk!!!

[East Hill]

I smell skunks every once in a while, but I have NEVER encountered a live one. That's probably a good thing .

East Hill

[BikerJen]

In preparation for a mountain bike race, I went and rode the course. 8.2 miles - I'm racing beginner class again. Was a very nice ride. This particular route is primarily fireroad with a smattering of singletrack. There is a difficult climb about 5.5 miles in to the race. I couldn't climb all the up without stopping today. I think I've only made it up without stopping one time! Oh well, the way I figure it, I rode the route about 3-5 minutes faster than my race time last year, so hopefully I will better my finishing time from last year!

HAPPY 4TH!!!!

[mimitabby]

I went within 10 feet of one on the green river trail. He did his thing i did mine

[im4smiley]

Today I decided to sleep in, I got up at 6 a.m. I put on my red, white and blue cyling socks and went out for my ride around 7. I started out to do a 25 mile ride but I felt pretty good, there was not much traffic and it was so beautiful out I ended up going 40 miles. It was a nice ride and I was glad I went.

[Meg McKilty]

SouthernBelle and I went with a group this morning, but got dropped in the first 2 miles (they were something fast, I'll say!) so we ended up doing our own original route and it was so much more pleasant.

Stopped by my house on the way. Saw a deer run into a chainlink fence and SB forgot her bandana so I gave her mine. Very good ride.

[oxysback]

There's nothing like a small town parade on the 4th of July!

Our sleepy little neighboring town, St. Paul, has a population of under 400. However, during the first 4 days of July the population explodes to about 40,000! St. Paul has one of the top 20 largest rodeos in the US that really brings in the crowds. We attended last night...always a good time. And I discovered that there is another use for my biking butt. I sat on a hard grandstand seat for 3 hours without a thought! Normally, I'm wriggling around trying to find a comfy spot after about an hour...but not last night!

Anyway, every 4th of July, St. Paul puts on a great parade. Since it's only about 10 miles from my town of Newberg, we usually bike out, and today was no exception.

There are all sorts of entries in the parade...from the rodeo queens and their horses, to the mounted sherriff's posse, to kids on their ponies. Lets not forget all the tractors and farm equipment, antique cars, fire trucks, boy scout groups, a band that plays marches on the back of a flat-bed truck, and even a group of caballeros on their fine looking Friesians and Andalusians.

The parade only lasts about an hour-and-a-half, but it's fun to ride out and not have to worry about parking.

We took a scenic route on our way home for a total of 23 easy miles!

Happy 4th, everyone!

[Chile Pepper]

I took my bike to the bike spa today. She's getting a full manicure, complete with new handlebar tape. We leave for California on Friday. Bring on the summer!