Training Log Archive: PG

The sun showed up again after a couple of days with lots of rain, so no reason not to get out. Breezy, out of the NW, roughly. Seemed like I was working harder than usual, but not necessarily making all that much forward progress. Some days are just like that.

On the flats across the river plus a little bit up in the Whately hills.

C • Westbrook Rd 4

The beautification project is almost done. The place has certainly improved, now has at least a smidgen of self-respect.

And certainly looks better than the local football team, now #5 in the rankings.

C • UMass 2

The low average heart rate notwithstanding, it wasn't all, well, mellow, or easy, or meandering don't quite describe the ride properly. Lazy comes pretty close. But I think the best adjective for describing a good chunk of the ride is scientific. And that certainly sounds better than lazy.

Did a tour of some of the watering holes in the southern part of Franklin County, and I don't mean bars, just to see what might be around. Had my binoculars and camera in a small pack, in case they were needed.

Pretty slim pickings, as it's still early in the fall.

Chard Pond, zip.
Montague Center Pond, zip, but really nice fall colors.
Turners Falls Rod and Gun Club (along the CT River), some geese, a couple swans, some mallards, essentially zip.
Unity Park (also along the river), geese, cormorants, one lonely great black-backed gull.
Turners Falls Power Canal, still more geese, a couple of mallards.
Wetlands in Old Deerfield, zip.
Tri-Town Beach, lots more geese and a few wood ducks.

As I said, very slim pickings. But a nice way to see the countryside.

And there were a few times, like some small hills early on or three miles into the wind on route 5, when I was anything but lazy...

In the flats south of town. Included a short side trip down the trail to the east part of Lake Warner, just to see what might be happening there (not much, as it turned out).

I love the fact that my bike will take me a lot places. Not everywhere, for sure, but it expands the possibilities. Sort of like my Subaru. :-)

C • The magic of bicycles 1

South Deerfield and Whately, mostly flat, put out a little effort through the rollers in Whately. Pleasant outing.

Towards the end, stopped at the boat launch by the bridge to chat up a guy about his kayak.

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....

C • bike digging 6

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. :-)