Swansea/Somerset/Warren Interstate Bike Ride, October 15th

"In continuing to raise awareness for the planned South Coast Bikeway,SRPEDD hosted a bike ride through Swansea, Somerset and Warren on Saturday, October 15th at 10am. The ride was approximately 23 miles long and began and ended at the Hugh Cole School at 50 Aslyum Road in Warren, with a break and refreshments at Pierce Playground in Somerset. The route took advantage of the newly constructed Warren Bike Path as well as the Swansea Bike Path and bike lane network. The overall route  mirrored a segment of the South Coast Bikeway and also the southern end of the Taunton River Trail in Somerset, another regional bikeway planned in SRPEDD’s Southeastern Massachusetts Bicycle Plan."


 High sustained winds with gusts exceeding 50MPH and hills.  Lots of hills.  I thought I was going to need defibrillation..

Hold onto your hat with the cross winds here. 

Swansea MA. Town Hall

Swansea MA Library

Crossing into Somerset MA

Nice wide bike lane.

Riding down by the River.

My tooth filling started playing a radio station here

Taking photos of the power plant.  

Myles Standish State Forrest

Sue and I packed up the bikes and drove to Myles Standish State Forrest near Plymouth MA. for a Columbus Day bike.

Columbus Weekend Ride

Click any photo for big

Distance 39 miles
Time 3:05
Ave 11.7
Max 28.8

It's a long holiday weekend and the weather cooperated   The initial plan was to ride down to the harbor for the Buzzards Bay Regatta.

Billed as the showcase event for New Bedford Community Rowing, the regatta is attracting teams including juniors, scholastic and masters teams in a variety of racing shells. There will be men's, women's and co-ed teams taking part, and five colleges are sending teams, including UMass Amherst, Fordham, Roger Williams, Massachusetts Maritime Academy and the Wentworth Institute of Technology. Boats will take 20-30 minutes to complete the course, and the event will conclude around 1 p.m. more

Since it was such a beautiful day with temperatures in the 80's doing a bike ride first seemed natural.  We set out to do one of our regular routes.  After a couple of miles I made an offer to do something different.  Dave accepted and we set out on a route that would make Captain Kirk proud.  

There were a couple of times when neither of us knew where we were and any biker worth his salt know that if you just keep riding, you will get somewhere.   I did mention that if we were in a mall there would be a map with a red dot saying, "you are here".  It all worked out obviously and it turned out to be a really good riding day.  "A cut above" as they say.

Wifey and I ended the day at our favorite bistro in Seekonk, Chardonay's , who on Sunday's offer a free bottle of wine with the purchase of two entries.  The best part about this place is that the main dining area is out of sight and sound of the tvs and the bar.

Here is the proof.

There was lots of this traffic free riding. 

Dave is a law abiding citizen who waits for the traffic "OK" before crossing the bride.  I'm a scofflaw. Ergo the photo from inside the traffic controls. 

Notice the draggers in the background. 

Woony River 2011

Click any photo for big.    Feel free to copy and use anything here.

We chose the 25 mile over the 50 mile this year because of the threat of rain.  Sleeping in an extra hour seemed like the thing to do on this day.  Dave and I arrived at the designated parking lot in Providence and the first thing we noticed was how many cars in the lot had multiple flats.  We were told there was a vandalism spree the night before and that it was the first time that has happened in this area.    Those Brown University kids.  Sheesh.

 Preparing for Waterfire

We're off

Your going to be famous

Riding the west side of Providence

Tandem 

The WBRU peeps

Low bridge, everybody down

The temperature settled in at around 80F but the humidity was wicked, 95%.  The hills seemed much steeper and longer because the humidity sapped everyone's energy.  Fortuitously, there were only a couple of minor rollers after the halfway point and the return trip was a can of corn.

The humidity got to a few people on the hills

Halfway point

Capital Building in Providence, R.I.

Another sponsor, REI

Everyone was treated to a pretty nice spread at the end of the ride.  Pulled pork, veggie burgers, beans, slaw, and yellow jackets were served.  A nice bag of "swag" was given to each rider and radio station WBRU had a spin to win game, giving away hats, Frisbees and other stuff.

This is a well organized ride on a moderately challenging route.  Put it on your calender for next year or better still book mark This link and sign up for their e-mails.  There is much more to offer in addition to this ride.