Training Log Archive: PGIn the 30 days ending Sep 30, 2018:
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Saturday Sep 29, 2018 #
Event: UNO - Harris Center
10 AM
orienteering 56:40 2.06 mi (27:31 / mi) +312ft 24:04 / mi
ahr:124 max:141 weight:139lbs
UNO local meet at the Harris Center in Hancock, NH.
First time regular orienteering in a long time, just about two and a half years, last time was at Townsend for the Billygoat in May 2016.
This happened because Charlie was looking for someone to do part of the driving, and since we are pretty much right on the way for him, I offered to be a co-conspiritor, and we were on. My thought was to take some sort of walk, probably start a course and then see how I felt. With no ambitions, no need to finish or whatever.
Had a nice drive up with him, he's always the best possible company. Beautiful fall day. Alar (and family) was meet director, big hug from him and smiles, first of a bunch of fine conversations with folks I hadn't seen for a while.
Charlie got set to head off on the Green course (4.9 km). I looked at the options and thought Brown (3.0) was much more reasonable, quite probably too long, but no need to do the whole thing. Mainly I just wanted to have a look at the woods -- the maps looked like Pawtuckaway at its most bouldery and its least readable. The Brown course certainly didn't avoid the boulders, but it was offered on a 1:5,000 map which was a delight.
And so I headed off. Went to the first control, then the next, and so on. Things suited me just fine. I could read the map, the navigation was enough of a challenge, the woods were interesting. I divided up my mental capacity roughly in thirds -- one third to navigating, one-third to picking as clean a line as possible through the sometimes rather rough woods, and one-third to avoid falling down. Mostly successful on the first two, totally successful on the last. :-)
Only a couple of moments of foolishness, one where I was on the wrong side of a small knoll but that was easily fixed, the other where I really did loose my concentration -- going the right direction (more or less), but after a bit it was clear I no longer knew where I was. Thought I might be about to toss away quite a bit of time, but I figured it out within a minute or two. Not that I cared about the time, but I do remember thinking at the time, jees, can't even orienteer any more. :-)
Got done in just under an hour. Perfect. My back, which has been complaining since I fell off my bike a couple of weeks ago, didn't seem too much the worse for wear. And I'd enjoyed it.
Charlie, as it turned out, was on an exploration of various distant parts of the forest, so I had an hour and a half before he showed up. To my great pleasure, familiar faces kept showing up. Lots of greetings, and smiles, and catching up.
Don't know, might have to go to another of these things before another couple of years go by.
First time regular orienteering in a long time, just about two and a half years, last time was at Townsend for the Billygoat in May 2016.
This happened because Charlie was looking for someone to do part of the driving, and since we are pretty much right on the way for him, I offered to be a co-conspiritor, and we were on. My thought was to take some sort of walk, probably start a course and then see how I felt. With no ambitions, no need to finish or whatever.
Had a nice drive up with him, he's always the best possible company. Beautiful fall day. Alar (and family) was meet director, big hug from him and smiles, first of a bunch of fine conversations with folks I hadn't seen for a while.
Charlie got set to head off on the Green course (4.9 km). I looked at the options and thought Brown (3.0) was much more reasonable, quite probably too long, but no need to do the whole thing. Mainly I just wanted to have a look at the woods -- the maps looked like Pawtuckaway at its most bouldery and its least readable. The Brown course certainly didn't avoid the boulders, but it was offered on a 1:5,000 map which was a delight.
And so I headed off. Went to the first control, then the next, and so on. Things suited me just fine. I could read the map, the navigation was enough of a challenge, the woods were interesting. I divided up my mental capacity roughly in thirds -- one third to navigating, one-third to picking as clean a line as possible through the sometimes rather rough woods, and one-third to avoid falling down. Mostly successful on the first two, totally successful on the last. :-)
Only a couple of moments of foolishness, one where I was on the wrong side of a small knoll but that was easily fixed, the other where I really did loose my concentration -- going the right direction (more or less), but after a bit it was clear I no longer knew where I was. Thought I might be about to toss away quite a bit of time, but I figured it out within a minute or two. Not that I cared about the time, but I do remember thinking at the time, jees, can't even orienteer any more. :-)
Got done in just under an hour. Perfect. My back, which has been complaining since I fell off my bike a couple of weeks ago, didn't seem too much the worse for wear. And I'd enjoyed it.
Charlie, as it turned out, was on an exploration of various distant parts of the forest, so I had an hour and a half before he showed up. To my great pleasure, familiar faces kept showing up. Lots of greetings, and smiles, and catching up.
Don't know, might have to go to another of these things before another couple of years go by.
11 AM
Note
Today's map (click on it for a larger image).
Generally, when you're walking, might as well go straight. Though not just blindly dead straight, there are usually advantages to be found in being flexible (more open woods, use of handrails).
Getting sloppy towards the end. Not a good approach to 10, and then uncertain on my exit. Missed 11 but just on the wrong side of a small knoll. 12, it was obvious in retrospect, went up the wrong trail, never realized it, knew I had to be on the high ground and wasn't far off, but certainly a sinking feeling, very glad to see my control behind the boulder.
Don't know when I might get out again, so nice that today was so satisfying.
Generally, when you're walking, might as well go straight. Though not just blindly dead straight, there are usually advantages to be found in being flexible (more open woods, use of handrails).
Getting sloppy towards the end. Not a good approach to 10, and then uncertain on my exit. Missed 11 but just on the wrong side of a small knoll. 12, it was obvious in retrospect, went up the wrong trail, never realized it, knew I had to be on the high ground and wasn't far off, but certainly a sinking feeling, very glad to see my control behind the boulder.
Don't know when I might get out again, so nice that today was so satisfying.
Thursday Sep 20, 2018 #
1 PM
biking - dark blue bike 51:49 10.1 mi (5:08 / mi) +747ft 4:48 / mi
ahr:120 max:165 weight:138.5lbs
Short outing, but included up South Sugarloaf, 9:01. Struggling. Seem to be feeling my age, and then some.
Monday Sep 17, 2018 #
4 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:11:37 18.69 mi (3:50 / mi) +317ft 3:46 / mi
ahr:120 max:148 weight:137lbs
To Turners Falls and back. Moderate effort. Back was complaining some. Usual spot, lower right, there's some arthritis in the spine that irritates the nerves heading in that direction. At least that's what the doc said 2 or 3 years ago.
Now (the next morning) it seems pretty good, though I took a couple of ibuprofen at dinnertime. Don't want to get in the habit.
Now (the next morning) it seems pretty good, though I took a couple of ibuprofen at dinnertime. Don't want to get in the habit.
Sunday Sep 16, 2018 #
5 PM
biking - dark blue bike 56:15 15.51 mi (3:38 / mi) +224ft 3:35 / mi
ahr:130 max:161 weight:137.5lbs
Up to Montague, gently rolling. A harder effort than intended. Waiting until late afternoon and it had cooled off a little, but still warm and humid.
Back is still a little irksome.
Back is still a little irksome.
Saturday Sep 15, 2018 #
1 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:07:27 15.05 mi (4:29 / mi) +302ft 4:24 / mi
ahr:108 max:125 weight:137lbs
Back still acting up a little, but still best ride in a long time. Went out with Gail. First time on her new bike. She's now a good bit faster and it's not an e-bike. Excellent. :-)
Friday Sep 14, 2018 #
2 PM
biking - dark blue bike 58:04 14.87 mi (3:54 / mi) +76ft 3:53 / mi
ahr:118 max:142 weight:137lbs
Well, the back feels better and the back feels worse. The better part is that it clearly was closer to "not so bad" than "not so good." Yesterday it just felt that my whole lower and middle back had gotten whomped, but I could still move around pretty well, still got a good night's sleep, nothing close to the agony when the back really goes bad.
Today I am feeling much less whomped. Now it's just my lower back on the right side that is complaining. That's the usual problem spot. I'd say it hurts every morning when I get up. But assuming that I haven't swung a golf club, or gone running or orienteering, or fallen off my bike, pretty soon it feels fine. The pattern seems to repeat itself each day.
So I'm hopeful that the current ache will also fade away.
Though I'm not sure going for a ride today was a good idea. Not that it was a bad idea, the back wasn't complaining much at all while I was out. But now it is a little aggravated.
Whatever. Life is still good.
And so far, no vitamin I or similar stuff. Been staying away from that for about a year now, which I figure is not a bad idea.
Today I am feeling much less whomped. Now it's just my lower back on the right side that is complaining. That's the usual problem spot. I'd say it hurts every morning when I get up. But assuming that I haven't swung a golf club, or gone running or orienteering, or fallen off my bike, pretty soon it feels fine. The pattern seems to repeat itself each day.
So I'm hopeful that the current ache will also fade away.
Though I'm not sure going for a ride today was a good idea. Not that it was a bad idea, the back wasn't complaining much at all while I was out. But now it is a little aggravated.
Whatever. Life is still good.
And so far, no vitamin I or similar stuff. Been staying away from that for about a year now, which I figure is not a bad idea.
Thursday Sep 13, 2018 #
10 AM
biking - dark blue bike 1:17:45 10.5 mi (7:24 / mi) +827ft 6:53 / mi
ahr:104 max:139 weight:136.5lbs
A ride with Walter, who is getting back to biking after back surgery. So the plan was for an easy outing.
But it turns out that what riding he has been doing has been in the woods up behind his place, and that has suited him. So he brought his mountain bike. And we headed up in the woods behind my place.
A slow and easy pace, excellent conversation. The only problem with excellent conversation on a bike ride is that you're maybe not paying 100% attention to what you're doing.
And so towards the end of the first climb, the one hard spot, I didn't pick the best line, the bike came to a sudden stop, I didn't unclip fast enough, and down I went. A pretty trivial fall actually. Except it was like if you're walking and not paying attention and you walk off a curb and now the ground is 6 or 12 inches lower than expected. Gives a good shock to the system.
In this case I landed all of a sudden on my butt, and on a rock, and I clearly wasn't prepared for it. My whole back/spine/torso didn't really appreciate it. Things hurt, but nothing seemed broken. So after little bit I got back on the bike and off we went.
Sort of the middle stage of an injury. Not so trivial that you soon forget it ever happened. Not so serious that you stop what you are doing and look for a ride home. Finished the ride, it bothered me some but not terrible.
At some point on a steep and rocky downhill Walter went over his handlebars. But it seems there was no damage done, either in general or to his spine in particular.
And at some point later we were done. :-)
So now the whole back is sore, but not terrible. Someplace between not so good and not so bad. We'll see in a day or two or three how long the mending might take. At this point I'm reasonably optimistic, because I have good range of motion. Keep my fingers crossed.
But it turns out that what riding he has been doing has been in the woods up behind his place, and that has suited him. So he brought his mountain bike. And we headed up in the woods behind my place.
A slow and easy pace, excellent conversation. The only problem with excellent conversation on a bike ride is that you're maybe not paying 100% attention to what you're doing.
And so towards the end of the first climb, the one hard spot, I didn't pick the best line, the bike came to a sudden stop, I didn't unclip fast enough, and down I went. A pretty trivial fall actually. Except it was like if you're walking and not paying attention and you walk off a curb and now the ground is 6 or 12 inches lower than expected. Gives a good shock to the system.
In this case I landed all of a sudden on my butt, and on a rock, and I clearly wasn't prepared for it. My whole back/spine/torso didn't really appreciate it. Things hurt, but nothing seemed broken. So after little bit I got back on the bike and off we went.
Sort of the middle stage of an injury. Not so trivial that you soon forget it ever happened. Not so serious that you stop what you are doing and look for a ride home. Finished the ride, it bothered me some but not terrible.
At some point on a steep and rocky downhill Walter went over his handlebars. But it seems there was no damage done, either in general or to his spine in particular.
And at some point later we were done. :-)
So now the whole back is sore, but not terrible. Someplace between not so good and not so bad. We'll see in a day or two or three how long the mending might take. At this point I'm reasonably optimistic, because I have good range of motion. Keep my fingers crossed.
Wednesday Sep 12, 2018 #
5 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:15:29 18.28 mi (4:08 / mi) +870ft 3:57 / mi
ahr:128 max:165 weight:136.5lbs
Rained a lot in the morning, and then was mid-afternoon before it actually stopped, which left just enough time for the roads to get a little bit dry before I headed out.
To Montague Center and the hills just above it. Continuing my efforts this year to ride more standing up. Partly to get better at it, partly because it's a good remedy for any saddle-induced ailments. And also partly because it helps me climb a little better.
So similar goals today as many other days, even though the route always changes. Pick a hill or two or three as targets for a full effort, and then on all the other ups just keep working on riding out of the saddle -- pace, cadence, gear choice, shifting, position, etc.
It's all getting better, even if slowly. But that adds a lot of good motivation. :-)
To Montague Center and the hills just above it. Continuing my efforts this year to ride more standing up. Partly to get better at it, partly because it's a good remedy for any saddle-induced ailments. And also partly because it helps me climb a little better.
So similar goals today as many other days, even though the route always changes. Pick a hill or two or three as targets for a full effort, and then on all the other ups just keep working on riding out of the saddle -- pace, cadence, gear choice, shifting, position, etc.
It's all getting better, even if slowly. But that adds a lot of good motivation. :-)
Tuesday Sep 11, 2018 #
2 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:38:21 24.93 mi (3:57 / mi) +786ft 3:50 / mi
ahr:130 max:166 weight:137lbs
Up to Greenfield, back via Deerfield, with the addition of a couple of short (about 3-minute hard efforts) hills that I don't often do. Other than those, a moderate effort.
Sunday Sep 9, 2018 #
4 PM
biking - dark blue bike 46:08 12.04 mi (3:50 / mi) +264ft 3:45 / mi
ahr:129 max:148 weight:138lbs
On the bike path in Amherst. Worked harder than intended. Don't know why, it just happened.
Saturday Sep 8, 2018 #
9 AM
biking - dark blue bike 3:25:06 50.63 mi (4:03 / mi) +2346ft 3:53 / mi
ahr:138 max:155
In Vermont, visiting cousins and riding in the Kelly Brush ride for the 5th time. Everything but actually bycycling was wonderful. The ride, it's more accurate to say, was just hard work.
Beautiful day, clear and cool, upper 50s and low 60s, but a gusty wind out of the north shifting to the northeast, maybe averaging 15 mph. So for the first 10 miles or so there was a crosswind as we headed west towards Lake Champlain. And then the route turned northwest for a few miles and then due north. All this part along gently rolling farmland, beautiful country, just above the lake with the Adirondacks off the the west. Just dead into the wind.
Legs had done a lot of work by the time the route turned at 29 miles, now heading southeast, but the wind had shifted a bit, more northeast, so more crosswinds. Felt a lot like March.
And then the last 15, mostly a tailwind, but also hillier so less of a help.
None of this is a complaint. Biking is an outdoor sport. Some days it seems relatively easy. Somedays it seems hard. Today it certainly seemed hard. And I get to use my legs. There were a lot of hand-cyclers out there too, amazing.
This was the fifth one of these I've done, 50 the first time, then 100, then 50 the last three times when Gail has come too and it made more sense to not disappear for too long. Not sure how many more I have in me. But it's beautiful country, it's for a good cause, and we always enjoy catching up with the cousins. So hopefully we will be there again a year from now.
Beautiful day, clear and cool, upper 50s and low 60s, but a gusty wind out of the north shifting to the northeast, maybe averaging 15 mph. So for the first 10 miles or so there was a crosswind as we headed west towards Lake Champlain. And then the route turned northwest for a few miles and then due north. All this part along gently rolling farmland, beautiful country, just above the lake with the Adirondacks off the the west. Just dead into the wind.
Legs had done a lot of work by the time the route turned at 29 miles, now heading southeast, but the wind had shifted a bit, more northeast, so more crosswinds. Felt a lot like March.
And then the last 15, mostly a tailwind, but also hillier so less of a help.
None of this is a complaint. Biking is an outdoor sport. Some days it seems relatively easy. Somedays it seems hard. Today it certainly seemed hard. And I get to use my legs. There were a lot of hand-cyclers out there too, amazing.
This was the fifth one of these I've done, 50 the first time, then 100, then 50 the last three times when Gail has come too and it made more sense to not disappear for too long. Not sure how many more I have in me. But it's beautiful country, it's for a good cause, and we always enjoy catching up with the cousins. So hopefully we will be there again a year from now.
Friday Sep 7, 2018 #
11 AM
biking - dark blue bike 39:31 9.18 mi (4:18 / mi) +305ft 4:10 / mi
ahr:117 max:164 weight:137.5lbs
A short ride, with the plan to to South Sugarloaf, with Hillside Road as a warm-up. Except I wasted myself on the latter and subsequently had no desire to try the former. I think I need a better game plan.
Definitely cooler. :-)
Definitely cooler. :-)
Thursday Sep 6, 2018 #
biking - dark blue bike 1:20:03 [3] 20.45 mi (3:55 / mi) +625ft 3:48 / mi
Continued warm and humid. South Deerfield, Whately, Hatfield. Put out a good efforts on the ups, then less so on the flats, feeling more tired than I wished.
Wednesday Sep 5, 2018 #
9 AM
biking - dark blue bike 1:34:05 18.05 mi (5:13 / mi) +454ft 5:05 / mi
ahr:106 max:137 weight:138lbs
Tour of the abandoned roads on the north side of Quabbin. Lots of stops. Lots of shade and a breeze off the water made it feel reasonably cool. :-)
Tuesday Sep 4, 2018 #
5 PM
biking - dark blue bike 45:38 11.97 mi (3:49 / mi) +296ft 3:44 / mi
ahr:124 max:150 weight:137lbs
Late afternoon short ride. It had cooled off a little but still pretty warm. A couple more days and then fall weather arrives, at least temporarily.
Legs felt sore and tired all day, but it seemed they still had a little life in them.
Legs felt sore and tired all day, but it seemed they still had a little life in them.
Monday Sep 3, 2018 #
10 AM
biking - dark blue bike 2:11:58 33.06 mi (4:00 / mi) +900ft 3:53 / mi
ahr:121 max:151 weight:137lbs
With Phil, some in the flats, some in the lower hills to the east. Warm day, but a nice ride. Probably would have gotten out on my own, but probably only done half as much. Great to have company.
A few aches from yesterday's mazing. No problem for biking, certainly would have been for running. But don't have to think about that for another year. :-)
Now, post-ride, legs feel pretty beat. Some combination of tiredness and soreness. It should pass.
A few aches from yesterday's mazing. No problem for biking, certainly would have been for running. But don't have to think about that for another year. :-)
Now, post-ride, legs feel pretty beat. Some combination of tiredness and soreness. It should pass.
Sunday Sep 2, 2018 #
Event: 2018 CMOUSA Corn Maze Champs
4 PM
orienteering 10:54 0.7 mi (15:34 / mi) +3ft 15:30 / mi
ahr:129 max:153
Corn Maze Champs at Mike's Maze. Thought I'd give it a try. Last time I ran was a year ago, about 50 yards. So I should have been well rested (for running).
Butt still hurts. But I was motivated enough to try and finish at least the sprint. So I'd run a little, walk some, keep repeating.
Of course, that actually meshed pretty well with the orienteering demands. My brain and eyes can't really manage reading the map on the run any more, so lots of walking breaks are just fine.
Got around with no mistakes of significance. Could have planned better to arrive at the correct entrance to the mini-maze, but no big deal. Really quite pleased to have done it.
Maps are here.
Butt still hurts. But I was motivated enough to try and finish at least the sprint. So I'd run a little, walk some, keep repeating.
Of course, that actually meshed pretty well with the orienteering demands. My brain and eyes can't really manage reading the map on the run any more, so lots of walking breaks are just fine.
Got around with no mistakes of significance. Could have planned better to arrive at the correct entrance to the mini-maze, but no big deal. Really quite pleased to have done it.
Maps are here.
5 PM
orienteering 55:24 3.23 mi (17:09 / mi) +3ft 17:08 / mi
ahr:134 max:158
Corn Maze Champs Classic. Well, I hadn't killed myself in the sprint, nor were any body parts complaining other than my butt, so why not have a go at the classic. Though it seemed like it was going to be a long and rather painful outing.
But you know how it works in orienteering -- you find the first control, and then the next, and then the next, and pretty soon you notice you're just about done. And so it was. About 18:30, seemed like an outstanding time. :-)
No real mistakes again, helps to be going slowly and walking a lot. And between the sprint and the classic I'm sure I claimed a few scalps, though I'm not sure who qualifies as a scalp these days. I mean, I know Tori does (got her in the sprint), and I know Phil doesn't, the line is somewhere between them but who knows where.
(Seems I forgot to save my route, so it and the night course are all part of the same track. Whatever.)
------------
Corn Maze Night Champs. I was on a roll. A nice dinner with JJ and Nancy and Gail, and then there really was no excuse not to try the night. Well, except for the matter of skips, of which I was given only two by JJ, a travesty if there ever was one. Clearly should have been a number in the double digits, were there any justice. But it seems not.
This seemed more of a challenge for my aging brain, and in fact there were times my brain was not up to the challenge. I think twice I was rescued by arriving at a control that I was not looking for -- just had to check the code numbers in the clues to find out where I actually was. It was certainly not inspired orienteering.
But I got around, a little over 35 minutes. I suppose an advantage of only two skips is that it was easier to keep track of how many you had left. I made it even easier, skipped the first control and the last.
Most memorable was the last 100 yards, in a (losing) sprint with Kristin to the finish, the fastest I've run in several years. I kept expected some body part to suddenly seize up, but fortunately the finish came soon enough.
Afterwards, sitting around, Phil suggested that I clearly should get back into running and orienteering. I think I already have. Got the next outing planned, should be just bout a year from now, back at Mike's Maze.
But you know how it works in orienteering -- you find the first control, and then the next, and then the next, and pretty soon you notice you're just about done. And so it was. About 18:30, seemed like an outstanding time. :-)
No real mistakes again, helps to be going slowly and walking a lot. And between the sprint and the classic I'm sure I claimed a few scalps, though I'm not sure who qualifies as a scalp these days. I mean, I know Tori does (got her in the sprint), and I know Phil doesn't, the line is somewhere between them but who knows where.
(Seems I forgot to save my route, so it and the night course are all part of the same track. Whatever.)
------------
Corn Maze Night Champs. I was on a roll. A nice dinner with JJ and Nancy and Gail, and then there really was no excuse not to try the night. Well, except for the matter of skips, of which I was given only two by JJ, a travesty if there ever was one. Clearly should have been a number in the double digits, were there any justice. But it seems not.
This seemed more of a challenge for my aging brain, and in fact there were times my brain was not up to the challenge. I think twice I was rescued by arriving at a control that I was not looking for -- just had to check the code numbers in the clues to find out where I actually was. It was certainly not inspired orienteering.
But I got around, a little over 35 minutes. I suppose an advantage of only two skips is that it was easier to keep track of how many you had left. I made it even easier, skipped the first control and the last.
Most memorable was the last 100 yards, in a (losing) sprint with Kristin to the finish, the fastest I've run in several years. I kept expected some body part to suddenly seize up, but fortunately the finish came soon enough.
Afterwards, sitting around, Phil suggested that I clearly should get back into running and orienteering. I think I already have. Got the next outing planned, should be just bout a year from now, back at Mike's Maze.
Saturday Sep 1, 2018 #
12 PM
biking - dark blue bike 1:36:39 22.28 mi (4:20 / mi) +1583ft 4:04 / mi
ahr:125 max:160 weight:137lbs
Passed on the bike-O outside of Boston, just wasn't particularly motivated to go on my own (Phil's travel plans were different). Plus I wanted to lend a bit (a very small bit as it turned out) of assistance to Gail, who was setting up a one-person show (first ever!) at the hospital in Greenfield. 20+ paintings. She had a couple of artist friends to help with decisions on what to hang where, so all I contributed was carrying stuff in and out.
But it's pretty cool to see it happening. Will be up for about two months.
And then off to Northfield to do a loop from there that I'd been thinking about -- up the long but gradual hill to Warwick, then north on 78 into New Hampshire, back over Burt Hill (shorter but steeper climb, 8%). And, most important, a side trip in Warwick to check whether biking up the fire road on Mt. Grace was at all possible. I don't really think it is, but I wanted to check.
It was a fine ride, but I blew it. Went sailing right by the access to the fire road. It was just before the turn onto 78, I'd thought it was a little ways after, and before I knew it I'd gone downhill a ways, turning into where the hiking trails start from. But no access to the fire road. And I just couldn't talk myself into going back up the hill, and then starting the climb for real. So it will have to be another time, or maybe never.
But it was a good ride anyways, much cooler than it's been, and Burt Hill was quite fine, the grade always changing as were my gears. Learn a little something each time I do a hill like that, and not just how slow I am.
But it's pretty cool to see it happening. Will be up for about two months.
And then off to Northfield to do a loop from there that I'd been thinking about -- up the long but gradual hill to Warwick, then north on 78 into New Hampshire, back over Burt Hill (shorter but steeper climb, 8%). And, most important, a side trip in Warwick to check whether biking up the fire road on Mt. Grace was at all possible. I don't really think it is, but I wanted to check.
It was a fine ride, but I blew it. Went sailing right by the access to the fire road. It was just before the turn onto 78, I'd thought it was a little ways after, and before I knew it I'd gone downhill a ways, turning into where the hiking trails start from. But no access to the fire road. And I just couldn't talk myself into going back up the hill, and then starting the climb for real. So it will have to be another time, or maybe never.
But it was a good ride anyways, much cooler than it's been, and Burt Hill was quite fine, the grade always changing as were my gears. Learn a little something each time I do a hill like that, and not just how slow I am.