Training Log Archive: PG

East Chestnut Hill Road, from where the pavement stops in Montague to a little past Ruggles Pond in Wendell. Warm, but a breeze much of the time so not at all unpleasant. Except for Gail crashing once. A few bruises and scrapes but apparently nothing more.

Been a long time since I saw any sassafras, but spotted a couple of small plants today. Used to see it often when we lived in DC. It seems to be good for whatever ails you. We seem to be at the north edge of its range.

C • mitten tree 9

Warm afternoon but not humid, figured I'd best take advantage of it. Not a whole lot of energy, but not terrible either.

Nice ride, steady effort. Another beautiful June day. July and August (and September) will be here soon enough with the humidity, so have to enjoy these days while it lasts.

With Phil, Leverett and Montague Center. No hurry pace, other than a good effort up Bull Hill Road for all of 90 seconds. Perfect day, light northerly breeze.

And then a hike with Phil and Margi, first part on Whately Glen Road, then the old road up to the reservoir. One group of people and dogs (possibly more of the latter). We managed to avoid the former as we were on a short spur trail down by the water though some of the dogs knew just what they wanted.



Also spotted a garter snake --



Gail suggested it might be a nicer photo without the blade of grass across its face. The snake must have been listening in (and agreeing), as it soon thereafter moved slightly to a better spot for a photo op.

With Gail, first time she's been on the bike in 10 months. Gorgeous day, NW breeze.

Got a note from Phil that that he was off for another go at the '79 Billygoat, so I figured the least I go do in the way of psychic support was do at least one proper hill myself. The obvious candidate was South Sugarloaf. The obvious goal was to get up it but not too fast, pace myself well (a psychic message to Phil) and finish with something left in the tank (another psychic message).

Successful on all counts. 10:52 for the climb, slow but not as slow as expected, and I really did pace myself, heart rate stayed pretty low most of the way, only bumped up at the end because of the law of round numbers.

Moseyed home, then sat outside on the stone wall listening to the wood thrush and enjoying the sparkling late afternoon. I was in no hurry to leave.

Until I heard a noise not too far away and I looked up and there was a raccoon not too far away coming out of the flowers and heading in my direction. Right in my direction. Like it thought I was holding dinner for it. Or like it thought I was dinner.

The guy was coming pretty quickly. Raccoons approaching people = maybe rabies until you know otherwise. I yelled at it. It growled. And fortunately it did an immediate u-turn and headed away. Stopped at the edge of the woods for a look over its shoulder at me, and then kept going. Right in the direction of the neighbors' house, where perhaps it has had dinner a few times.

I don't know what I would have done if it hadn't turned away.

Flats south of town. Nice day, light breeze from the south.

Conway and Williamsburg Roads in West Whately.

Pine Nook Road, by myself as Gail was taking a day off. Got out between the raindrops. Going as quick as I could.

South part of town, easy pace.

A nice walk with Gail in mid-afternoon to go visit a local heron rookery, though it looked like a better name would be a heron condo. Six nests on one tree. I didn't see any herons on the fourth floor, though there might have been young ones out of sight. Total of 16, 8 adults and 8 young ones.



And a closer look at the first floor, father (or mother, or maybe a nanny?) and son (or daughter?).

C • First floor 2