More digging. Making progress, got one more week to get finished. Trying to do something most days. My back starts to complain if I do too much. Amazingly, when I get on the bike the back is fine.
And, no, I don't mean I'm trying to dig while on the bike....
biking - dark blue bike1:36:46 21.39 mi (4:31 / mi) +1046ft4:19 / mi ahr:109 max:135 weight:137.5lbs
Easy pace. Windy from the south. Crossed the river and went north on River Road, very pleasant. Crossed back at the rail trail bridge and then had the prospect of 9 or 10 miles into the wind.
Avoided as much of that as I could -- did a little extra climbing to get away from the open fields along the river, and then went into mountain bike mode for the last couple of miles, up Gunn Cross and Gunn Mt. Roads, down the lower part of N. Mountain Road. When you're in the woods and the hills and going slowly, the wind is the last of your concerns.
Certainly more enjoyable than coming straight back along the river. :-)
biking - dark blue bike1:15:25 17.37 mi (4:21 / mi) +715ft4:11 / mi ahr:117 max:183 weight:138lbs
Mostly mellow ride. Wanted to do at least one of the local (and short) climbs just out of curiosity to see what my time would be -- I rarely test myself these days, but for some reason today seemed a good day to do so -- but when I got to the bottom of South Sugarloaf I had no desire to head up. So I didn't.
So I cruised a few miles north through the farms, a nice tailwind behind me, heading for option 2, Pine Nook Road up through Eaglebrook School. When I got there, I seemed to have at least a bit of enthusiasm, so up I went. 0.62 miles, 325' climb, average about 10%.
It was a proper test, meaning, as fast as I could. I had done it twice before this year (and never before then that I can remember), 7:08 in May, and 6:43 in August, though the latter trip I was also carrying three ears of corn, so perhaps not comparable.
A real hard effort all the way up. Looked at my watch a couple of times, thought I might get close to 6 minutes, but the last bit is steeper and a little longer than I remembered. Checked my heart rate once, 166 about a minute from the top, just right, my max is about 168-170 and I figured that was about what it would get to. So, again, a proper test, ie. a max effort.
The last 20 seconds or so my legs were getting real wobbly, but there was just enough left to crest the pitch and stop the watch, and fortunately the road flattens immediately. The time number was excellent, 6:20. :-)
On the other hand, the heart rate, well, the Garmin obviously got pretty excited about how well I was doing, because the number there was 183. WTF. Highest number I've for for a while. Bogus, of course. But pretty exciting for a moment...
And then a mostly mellow ride back home, except for a couple of miles into the wind that had me working harder, and a huge amount of traffic on the bridge that took quite a while to negotiate.
One of these I'll have to get up my gumption to do Sugarloaf again while I'm still young and fit....
4 PM
Note
And then a couple of hours of just plain hard work outside, finishing digging up a plant and then moving it and rotating it and replanting it properly. Lots of assistance from Gail. Wasn't sure we could actually get it done (or, maybe, wasn't sure we could get it done without breaking my back). But finished up just as it was getting dark, and I can still walk.
It would be nice if the thing survives. Hopefully it will flourish.
biking - dark blue bike5:45:02 65.17 mi (5:18 / mi) +6145ft4:52 / mi ahr:131 max:156 weight:137.5lbs
Went to another of the "gravel grinder" rides, this one in the southern Berkshires, starting/finishing in Beckett, to benefit a local school's XC and track teams, so another cause I was happy to send a few bucks to.
Beautiful day, beautiful route, many gorgeous vistas, minimal traffic, and a few hills of course. Quite chilly to start, about 45F, so I started with 2.5 shirts, 1.5 pants, and warmer gloves. Felt just right. As it warmed up, stripped off one layer, the now excess clothes fit nicely in my shirt pockets. Just right, temps probably maxed at about 60, couldn't be much nicer.
Ride was supposed to be 60 miles. I added an extra 5 by missing a turn. Suspected as much pretty soon, but just decided to make an adventure out of it. The downhill through Beartown SF turned out to be much longer than it should have. When I finally got back to a bit of civilization, I stopped and pulled out my phone to see where I was, but I wasn't getting enough of a signal.
So just had to use my wits, and they came through. Seemed like I must have been too far left, so I headed up the main valley to the right, and within about three miles I was back on course. And enjoying it all, not pissed in the slightest. :-)
Turns out I'd missed a right turn right at an aid station. Nothing on the cue sheet I was carrying about a right turn. I didn't see any signs (and the rest of the course was well marked), but there were lots of people there and signs might have been hard to see. And I was in and out quickly, didn't notice anyone else leaving while I was there.
Whatever, doesn't matter. A good adventure.
And, with the cool weather, nice to have decent energy right to the end.
biking - dark blue bike3:26:27 39.53 mi (5:13 / mi) +3286ft4:50 / mi ahr:126 max:153 weight:137.5lbs
Longish ride over to the Quabbin. Maybe 25% paved, 25% dirt, 25% old woods roads. Cool day, almost a little chilly. And had a few times when the sun was right in my eyes on the way back. The seasons are changing.