Saturday 6/20 rides!!

[kenyonchris]

I was glad I brought my Platypus. I hate riding with a hydration pack, and I'd forgotten to adjust the straps for cycling, so it was really hurting my back early on, but after I dropped it down some it was fine. I knew I'd need it today, when yesterday I had to move really slowly while bringing in my laundry, so as not to fling sweat all over my clean clothes. Two bottles were NOT going to be enough, with only one stop at 35 miles.

OK, THANK YOU. I KNEW that someone else called a Camelbak a Platypus. I have always called my Camelbak a Platypus but don't know why? Did I once have a hydration pack brand name Platypus but blocked it from my conscience? Everyone looks at me strangely...but I still call it a Platypus. WHAT IS UP?

[OakLeaf]

OK, THANK YOU. I KNEW that someone else called a Camelbak a Platypus. I have always called my Camelbak a Platypus but don't know why? Did I once have a hydration pack brand name Platypus but blocked it from my conscience? Everyone looks at me strangely...but I still call it a Platypus. WHAT IS UP?

I have two Platypuses. They don't make packs any more, but they made them for 15 years or so, and they still make bottles and bladders. They're a product of Cascade Designs, same company that does Therma-Rest. I MUCH prefer the ziploc bladders to the screw-top ones from Camelbak.

[PamNY]

I did a short, rainy ride. Went up to see the baby hawks. They are out of the nest now and flying a little. They are as funny to watch as puppies. I haven't gotten to see them playing on the ground yet, but here are some photos:

http://thebethlenz.blogspot.com/2009/06/play-time.html

On the way back I got to see a tugboat pull a cruise ship away from the pier. I've seen them push barges, but this is the first time I've seen them maneuvering a ship into the river.

Pam

[Crankin]

Divingbiker, yes, your bell went off correctly. It is an awesome local x country ski place. I love the fact that I live 7 miles from 20k of groomed trails, with one pretty good climb. Well, as long as I don't have to mountain bike up it...
In March I usually have one week where I am skiing there one Saturday and then the next Saturday I am riding my bike through the roads by the trails.
The ice cream at the farm is pretty good, too.
I love New England!

[Reesha]

Ice cream! I worked at Kimball Farm in Westford for five summers of my teenage years. Stopped at the Carlisle one while I was home this last week

I feel like the portions are getting larger still, but they're just kids working there and portion sizes are really subject to their whims. I'm glad they have sugarless maple walnut now for my grandparents in Acton!

when I'm home in July I'll probably ride my bike over to the one in carlisle for a treat. A vanilla/pineapple/walnut jr. sundae!

[Biciclista]

today was the tour de blast, a ride up to the top (or halfway to the top) of Mount St Helens! It has 3 rides, the hard core, which includes 8000 feet of climb in about 80 miles, the medium ride, which i did, with almost 4000 feet of climb and 55.5 miles and an even shorter ride.
Thanks to modern technology, what we were mostly climbing after the first 12 miles of rolling hills were ramps at 5-6% for MILES. Halfway through the hardest climb, we came upon a smiling face on a recumbent bike. She was wearing a brand new jersey! It was Evangundy!


She was the first one to get the flourishes jersey. It was really beautiful!

The plan was that Raleighdon henceforth known as DH, was going to do the long ride, and leave me behind at 3000 feet of altitude, which was about 2 or 3 miles from the place I was going to stop and turn around. He had a notion that he'd be able to get back about as fast as I was, even though I was riding only 55 miles and he was riding over 80.
I rode up to Elk Rock Lookout, which wasn't much of a lookout, since it was in the clouds. In this picture you can see what I saw from the lookout, which is at the top there.
When you stop, you turn around and go back down. That means putting on extra layers of clothing. I was wearing a wool jersey, wool longsleeved undershirt, wool knickers, wool kneesocks, two pairs of wool gloves, a little wool hat, my showers pass raincoat and rain pants!
i was dressed properly for the descent, believe me. it was COLD. of course when you get down closer to sea level, you have to take all that stuff off.
Fortunately DH was able to see the mountain when he got back to the look out about 2 hours later.



I finished the ride with an avg speed of 12.3 mph, pretty amazing.
I can't tell you how much fun it was sailing down that mountain at speeds above 20mph! Tour De Blast is about the most fun organized ride i've ever been on.
And the food was good too. All the stops had bananas, oranges, potatoes, sandwiches and 3 kinds of VERY GOOD BROWNIES.
And smurf juice.
Here are DH & I newly reunited with our smurf juice.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Oh my gosh Mimi- what GREAT PHOTOS!! I'm in awe.
You and D are truly amazing!!

[shootingstar]

Awesome ride! Congrats to you all, mimi. And Evagundy you look great as the numero uno in Flourishes jersey. It suits you. By the way, your white hair looks great on you also.

[divingbiker]

Divingbiker, yes, your bell went off correctly. It is an awesome local x country ski place. I love the fact that I live 7 miles from 20k of groomed trails, with one pretty good climb. Well, as long as I don't have to mountain bike up it...
In March I usually have one week where I am skiing there one Saturday and then the next Saturday I am riding my bike through the roads by the trails.
The ice cream at the farm is pretty good, too.
I love New England!

I remember it being gorgeous and lots of fun. Never thought about mountain biking when I lived up there, but that would be a great place for it. Maybe someday I'll go visit friends up there in the winter and go xc skiing again...