It's Ten Degrees Cooler On the Coast

I was sweating bullets getting the bikes ready for our special Tuesday ride with the kids Uncle Terry, who is up from the Smokies for a conference in Boston. The LBS owner said, "stay along the coast" when he heard me moan as I spotted the 101F sign on the bank across the street. When we began riding we noticed the cool breeze instantly took some of the bite out of the heat.

Wifey and Terry on the boardwalk.


The guy was right though. As soon as we approached the coast the temps became very comfortable. The three of us, (uncle Terry, wifey and I)followed the Village Bike route Brandon and I did two weeks ago in the heavy fog. This time we meandered and noticed that the area seems much more "hoitty toitty".

A small house in a field of really big houses.

One of the really big houses.


Cabins for rent on the water


Quiet and very hot.


The oldest General Store in America


We road along the beach for a few miles to The Bayside Restaurant. It's the first certified "green" restaurant in Massachusetts. The outdoor dining area provided a great view of Audubon's Alens Pond Sancturary, Buzzards Bay and the Elizabeth Islands. They serve a variety of flavors from the Buzzards Bay Brewers located two miles away.



Terry at the entrance to Buzzards Bay Brewery



Earlier in the day, Terry and I took a ride around Fairhaven and split a small order of some really good New England style clam cakes. Smothered in vinegar.





That's where we ran into John Kennedy the son of a friend, who was one of the better soccer players of Fairhaven High. Johnrecently returned from a stint working in Taiwan, and he was good enough to help us even out the portions of the clam cakes.

John at Tiananmen Square

Villiage Bike Sunday Spin

The day began in a dense fog as we set out on the Village Cycle Sunday spin. Today's ride maxed out at 50ish miles and covered four towns and two states. Westport and Dartmouth, MA. as well as Adamsville and Tiverton, R.I.

As usualy the 20+ riders led off followed by the rest and very quickly the groups organized accordingly. I got dropped early when my shoe lace caught in my chain at around the fifth revolution of the pedals. There were plenty of side trips, cut outs and turn around options to satisfy any number of mileage or levels of difficulty.

Westport Point is a small portion of the village section of town. A mix of locals (turnips) and summer residents (skewks). Not being of either genre, I find it amusing to watch the bantering between the two groups. Actually, the summer residents are the "Old Yankee" money form New York and Connecticut.

Quiet country roads lead to the Acoaxet (ah coax it)Club, a very exclusive private place with golf, tennis, beach and all that. It is located on the point of a peninsula and there was a noticable drop in temperature the cold ocean breeze embraced us.



Grand homes and 19th century Inn's were our companions, some beginning to fall into disrepair for who know why. But some are also very well maintained.


The price on the pumps was 32.9 cents/gallon



The thirty mile route we chose took us along the ocean for a bit before bringing us inland through the farm country and rolling hills of Westport.

Lobster boats at Westport point

The road to the beach.

Buzzards Bay Brewery

Finally the sun poked through and it started to get really warm.

Crossing the Wesport River

The homestretch and last hill.

As usual, Midnight couldn't contain himself when I came home.

Day off Work Ride with Sue

SLIDESHOW


A hot an humid day off. After working at the pound Sue agreed to ride the Westport point route. We drove to Village Cycle, and embarked on a 30 mile ride around the county and seaside sections of Westport Point.


The ride began in the farmlands of the town, Charlotte White (pronounced, cha lott' ay) by the locals. It's kind of a code to let them know who is native and who is tourist from NY or Conneticut. Funny thing is though, the out of state people have had family in Wesport for many more generations than the natives. The "point" has always been a summer getaway for the big money families of those states.

The area is mostly quiet country roads that criss cross the southern part of the town. Westport is large town that in it's heyday was mostly farms. Dairy and some crops, but mostly dairy. Many of the large farms have been broken up and sold off as housing developments. Clusters of these pop up in what initially seems, the strangest out of the way places.







The country road loops back to Main Rd and Westport point, and the Paquachuck Inn. It's an area of old Yankee money. Most of the homes were summer getaways for the well-to-do city folk. One can easily visualize horse and carriages traveling the narrow streets among the stately 18th and 19th century homes.







The pier at the tip of the point is filled with lobster boats. They are all back from a days work by noon and the captains are making deliveries to wholesalers or directly to some restaurants. Although there are some pleasure craft, it's basically a working pier.




To get to the beaches it is necessary to back track a half mile to Drift Rd. the original access road to the point from the town of Dartmouth. A short stretch of highway riding before crossing the Rt88 bridge that access Horseneck Beach State reservation.




Rt 88 Bridge from Westport Pt.




Drift Rd. Home



Wesport Point from Rt 88 Bridge



Riding Rt 88




The far end of the reservation is East Beach. It's another summer spot where residents move thier trailers onto their lots for the season. The town requires them to remove them during the winters because of the severity of the ocean storms.




oooffahh



The turn from East Beach to Horsneck Rd was made just in time to have lunch at the The Bayside. A light lunch complimented with a sweet Reisling served as a great break. Roy the cook struck up a conversation when he saw the bikes and took the time to fill our supply of water.



The loop was completed one rolling hills thru the wine district and finally crossing the Westport river over Hix Bridge.





Rolling hills of Westport River wine country



Approaching Hix Bridge


Riding the back roads and main street of Westport proved to be a great way to spend a summer's day away from the daily grind of work.

The slideshow of the day is HERE

Village Bike Shop Ride

Slideshow of todays ride

As always, click on any picture to make it big.


Finally. I have been wanting to join the Sunday ride at Village Bike for two years. When I arrived this morning and saw the riders preparing I began to think, "well....another group ride alone". I don't have any interest in riding with the fast groups. My bike is not set up for that with the handlebar bag, rear rack and trunk bag. I also don't think they would allow me to ride with them unless I change clothes. I don't wear road kits. Mine are a cross between commuting and messenger wear. Actually one rider thought I was the farmer who provided a cooler full of water and gator aid at the 40 mile mark.


The shop owner, Jim, gave a brief safety lecture and also explained the goodies the ride was offering. If you saw a flag, stop and grab and envelope. They contained LBS gift cards. He put us all on the honor system and said "one per person". Being last I didn't expect to ever see an envelope and was surprised to find one at the last flag. My riding partner and I shared the 2 pack gift of anti chaffing stuff.


This route started us on quiet country roads that took us to this unique barn that has been converted into a breakfast restaurant.


Next we visited Westport Point with it's neat harbor filled with lobster boats and kayak adventures.




Quiet roads, country homes and wonderful scenery greeted us at every turn. The cool 70 degree temperatures kept us comfortable enough to do the 40 miles with only a couple of very short breaks.





We passed the Buzzards Bay Brewing company. I don't know if anyone outside the area knows about this local micro brew. Some get know nationally and some don't.



Next Sunday, I'll try to convince Sue to join me on the alternate loop. We may even stop at the beach and have lunch while making this an all day ride. Could happen.