October 8 and 9 rides

[Crankin]

Well, my 39 miles to reach 2500 will wait until tomorrow, because I only rode 21 today!
It is unseasonably warm, in the 80's, and while others are just oohing and ah-ing, I would prefer crisp, cool fall days right now. I need time to acclimate to warm temperatures much more than cold, I have discovered. Then, just when we were getting ready to leave to ride, I started having some kind of allergic reaction. I took a Claritin and went, but it was disconcerting. My body seems very reactive now, and I'm not doing anything differently. So, we decided to ride to Nancy's Air Field Cafe in Stow, for lunch/brunch, although I had eaten a good breakfast. We went there the most direct way and, it was mobbed. This place is always very popular with locals, as it's a "locally oriented" restaurant in terms of the food they buy from area farmers, but today, well, I've never seen it this crowded. I quickly surmised that almost everyone in there were tourists who had come out from Boston for apple picking; heard many different languages being spoken, which, while we see a lot of tourists in Concord, not so much in the old 'hood. I had some delicious blueberry pancakes with orange butter, but we have a lot of work to do around the house, so we headed back the quickest way. It was a really nice ride, despite my allergic stuff. I definitely riding for miles now, and not so much speed. I have tomorrow off and am riding with a friend, so I'll hit my goal then. Still think I can get to 3,000, even with my lazy attitude!

[Owlie]

I didn't feel up to doing a long ride this morning. I did 3 miles around my neighborhood, with lovely weather. I got my courage up and tried the hill I generally avoid, because I live at the top of it and the people who live on it can't seem to find their own driveways. No one was parked on it today! I'm getting better about grabbing for the brakes, but not much.

[Fredwina]

Yes, it 's mounteed on my helmet

[indysteel]

DH and I did 45 today. Aside from being a little warm for this time of year, conditions were basically perfect. There was just enough cloud cover to keep the heat down a bit. Then we came home and raked leaves for a couple of hours. I'm ready for dinner and a beer at this point.

[nscrbug]

Wow pll...that sounds terrifying to witness something like that. Hope the cyclist is okay. Did this take place up north somewhere?

I did 80 miles yesterday, and 78 today. Yesterday we ended up riding out towards Plainfield and back. Today we rode down to Joliet and back. Weather was absolutely beautiful...nice colors on the trees too.

Linda

[AppleTree]

No long rides, but I got to ride both Saturday and Sunday, which felt fabulous...weather and our schedule finally allowed for two nice weekend rides. Today we went out to the Centennial Trail out of Snohomish for a few hours this afternoon. A few fall colors, but not many yet? Seems fall is arriving late this year (at least to me?).

I stopped for a drink and I turned around and noticed a small pumpkin patch inside the gate of one of the industrial businesses outside Lake Stevens...wood pulp mill or something like that, not sure. An improbable place for a pumpkin patch anyhow! So fun...those are the little things I love about being on my bike.

pll...what a scary story. Love your photos though, sorry it ended like that.

[bluebug32]

I did a 64 mile organized preview ride of the Tour of the Battenkill's new race course in Cambridge, NY. It was fast with some crazy hills and a good deal of the roads were dirt. One had an 18% grade climb. The roads are some of the best I've ridden and, though we don't have a lot of changing leaves in Upstate NY yet, the autumn fields, old barns and covered bridges made for some gorgeous scenery.