A Quick Dozen

While trying to eat an ice cream cone in the heat and humidity, I got a call offering a spot on a bike ride. This after wifey took me on the 2 mile each way "death march" at Horseneck Beach in Westport, Ma. Naturally I accepted and regretted it as soon as I agreed. It all worked out, albeit the ride was kind of slow.

We cruised around the oceanfront town of Mattapoisett, Ma. for a twelve mile spin.





Healthy Day

Sunday Spin

Sue and I decided to go for a long ride on this sunny Sunday on the South Coast of Massachusetts. Sue has also gotten back into running and we took a detour to get the mileage of her route. That took us east on the new section of the Mattapoisett MUP.

We rode the 1.6 miles to the turnaround and decided to detour down Brandt Island Rd. I rode it last week and this time brought the camera.





The wind picket up the clouds rolled in and it really looked like we were in for a humdinger of a storm. We decided to continue into Fairhaven, MA, with the intention of riding to Ft. Phoenix. Meeting a couple of friends and stopping to chat forced us to cut the ride short and race home to beat the storm.

We did beat the storm by a really long way. A few minutes after we got home and put everything away, the clouds cleared and the sun again showed itself. We ended up doing yard maintenance.

Mattapoisett Rail Trail

Full picture slideshow


The Phoenix MUP extension into Mattapoisett, Ma. is expected to begin very shortly. All the NMBY's have been coddled, the money has been procured and the contract awarded. Phase 1 extends from the Fairhaven town line to the YMCA's Camp Massasoit in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts. It's not far from Ansinpi Rd. that is part of the Antasawamock neighborhood. Many of the names of rivers, towns and areas were named by, for, or about the local Native American culture, that originally settled the area.



The former New Bedford to Onset RR was a thriving tourist venture carrying thousands of passengers weekly. The right of way has never been developed and has been used by local kids as shorcuts between towns and neighborhoods.






A relatively wide area that buffers the homes from the right of way, was not enough for a couple of "not in my back yard" folks. There is always a small, very vocal group in opposition to any changes that occur near them, and this small town is not without it's MUP opponents. They have been appeased however, and the construction is moving forward.




After a couple of miles, the extension break out of the canopy of trees into the wide open harbor of Mattapoisett, Ma. The YMCA's Camp Massasoit, is the end boundary of the phase 1. Beautiful vistas, quiet secluded sections of the bay, teeming with water fowl greet anyone who travels this section of the MUP.





For the full slideshow Click here

Here is a Good Story

Part of the soon to be developed MUP in Mattapoisett Ma.



Back in 1976, some 31 years ago, the smart folks over at SRPEDD had a terrific idea.

Wouldn't it be great if the cities and towns of Bristol County had bike paths where local folks could have some fun, get some exercise, and even get around short distances without using fossil fuels?

If you're old enough to remember 1976, you know that was the last time the country faced a Middle East oil crisis.

The folks at the Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Planning and Economic Development District even envisioned a classy bike path that would start in Fairhaven, run through some breathtaking SouthCoast scenery, and end up at the Cape Cod Canal
Read the whole article here



My favorite spot on the MUP in Fairhaven, Ma.

Bang, scrape, exhale.

I did a couple of rides with my neighbor Joey and he enjoyed them enough to talk about them with his family. His brother, Brandon asked, "Why don't we go sometime?".


Sunday evening Brandon and I set out on a 20+ mile ride through Mattapoisett, Ma.




Brandon was a very good skateboarder in his younger days, and he could be seen on his BMX bike on any given day, doing tricks and stuff. Most often though, he was picking his bike of the ground and dusting himself off. While we were standing in front of my house deciding on a time to ride, a couple of younger neighbors stopped by to say hello. The talk somehow turned to music and a couple of tv shows that the younger ones didn't know of. Brandon said, "You never heard that/them?" One of the kids responded sarcastically, "What was that, like 1988, or something?" I'm sure it was the first time Brandon was called old.
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I let Brandon ride my commuter bike, the Marin. This is the one with the brand new cassette and chain. Also a full maintanence was done in preparation for NYC this comming weekend. My goodness.....I have never heard so much banging, clanking and chain slips, like I did on this ride.

Most of the time he was lagging behind me. I say that with toung in cheek. He was behind but usually in the middle or on the opposite side of the road, one hand on the bar, and using the other for his cigarette.

Tonight I may ride with the Applichian Mountain Club group. Then again, I may stay home and see if the commuter needs any repairs.

Politics

***From the "someone finally looked under the rock", files

According to those early 21st century poets--Three-Six Mafia--it's supposedly "Hard Out Here For A Pimp".

I beg to differ with these latter-day Bards. Nowadays you see, it's actually much, much harder out here for a Wingnut. But just like in the movie "Hustle & Flow", the root cause of the trouble...

Is those pesky "Hos", of course

The Lower Manhattanite has quickly become my favorite blogger.

And this from Digby:

On September 11, 2001, Ashleigh Banfield was reporting from the streets of Manhattan, where she was nearly suffocated from the debris cloud from the collapsing World Trade Center. Banfield continued reporting, even as she rescued a NYPD officer, and with him, fled to safety into a streetside shop. After the initial reporting of the tragedy had ended, Banfield received a promotion, as MSNBC sent her around the world as the producer of a new program, A Region in Conflict.

more

Mattapoisett

The wind was unexpected, I was tired and it wouldn't have taken much for me to ditch this ride. As usual, it passed un-noticed and the ride becomes the natural thing to be doing.

I took note of the progress of the rebuilding of the East Fairhaven School. Both the kids went there and it's also where the Mariner Soccer League was born in 1977.

I was going to ride out to Marion, Ma. where the annual Boat race to Bermuda originates. The tired legs told me to make this an easier recovery ride. The back roads to Mattapoisett would suffice.

Those roads took me past old fish hatchery


and a cemetery dating to the early 19th century. Most of the houses also have plaques that tell of the original owners and the dates of the home. It's very common around here and most date to the early or mid 1800's.

Thinking about lunch at the Oxford Creamery had me drooling. It's a seasonal business and the place is packed on the warm summer evenings. The line was outside the door, the parking lot was full and there was no room at any of the outdoor tables. Water would have to do for now.

The ride then took me down to the waterfront. Crescent Beach and Point Connett were devastated by Hurricane Bob in the early 90's. Strawberry point had twenty two homes vanish when a thirty foot tidal surge hit. Those homes are now rebuilt, and all on stilts.

There was a woman rider I saw a few places. I caught up to her at the crossing that took us back to the country roads for the return leg, and tried to start a conversation. I asked her where she was heading, she was very vague and very slow in getting started. I took the hint and moved off. Not long after, I was taking a couple of final photos and heard "on your left". I caught the faintest smirk as she passed and let her put some distance between us. We ended up taking the same roads and I wonder if she thought me a predator?

Lots of families, people on bikes and lots of teens on bikes. That's nice to see.
The wind on the return leg made the ride difficult. I ended up doing a pretty good training ride along with a photo taking ride.

The weather will allow commuting to work for at least the first three days. If I can get out of bed at 5AM.

Here is what I saw with some music.