Birthday and Bad Back

Todd came home to celebrate my birthday with dinner at the Fireside Inn in Middleboro, Ma. He was also here for a friends wedding, which worked out well.



I was still reeling from a strained back from racquetball, but mangaged, with the help of a caraff of house red, to be good company.

Two weeks of rest and stretching allowed me to get back on the court last night. Playing two full and a few minutes into the third match. Toby and I took a short break between match two and three that allowed my back to tighten up. At the first twing, I called it a night.

A little tight today, but a lunchtime walk should losen it up sufficiently.



Bike commuting can start any day. All I need is the hutzpa to get out of bed in the morning. Any day now.

Why I Own Henry Shirt

No Wait, Now It's Winter

Today is the first really cold day of the year. With the wind chill the temperature hit a low of -3 F. Lunchtime 3 mile walk was actually not bad at all. A wool hat, face mask, gloves and a medium weight coat kept things just below toasty.

Friday will be the first racquetball test since tweaking my back. Rest and "medication" is working.

Friends are suggesting going to a chiropractor. I may as well boil the eye of a newt with a wing of bat and sing kumbya, for all the good a chiropractor will do.

Winter Weather Finally

I really like winter. 35 degrees, sunny and little wind made for a very nice lunchtime
walk/jog. It's only three miles, but is so much better than sitting in the cafeteria watching the news. The walk took me through the abandoned Paul Dever School in Taunton, Ma. Not as many others walking this day. I guess many were spoiled by the balmy weather of the past few weeks.

Racquetball in the evening was not so good. Twenty minutes into warm ups my back twinged. Today I am walking like a crab. Two or three days is the usual full recovery, but it has been a couple of years since the last incident. Tomorrow I'll try walking. Fingers crossed.

First Ride of "07"

The AMC was doing their postponed New Years Day ride. The Narragansett Bay Wheelmen had their route planned. I did not feel like either. So I headed out on my own with camera.

Moorings sitting unused for the winter. Normally there are hundreds of boats tied up here. Mostly 25-40 footers.

I had heard that there was going to be some sort of celebration at the zoo and rode on over. What ever it was, I missed. I think it had something to do with the Patriots football team, of which the following pictures are coincidence and not any sort of opinion.






















A couple of places in Dartmouth got my attention.



Collecting shells















Riding over the Padanaram Bridge













I also have to give props to one of my LBS's and one of my favorite Portuguese restaurants.































I did ride by one of my favorite areas, which by the way is where another of my favorite eateries is located, Freestones.



The background building is the old Customs house. It's where a lot of us got suckered into the military.











The original Third District Court House. circa 1870













An upscale city grill. Freestones was originally "Citizens National Bank" (mid 1800's). It was also a very rough bar under two names, "Haskell's" then the "Pequod Lounge" (of Moby Dick fame), in the 50's thru the 70's.








I eventually made my way back to Fairhaven and the comfortable Phoenix bike trail.


A stream from the Naskatucket water supply.
















Another look









I did get back to Evergreen St. and was greeted by my neighbors Austin, and Zack.




Austin
















Zack










The first 25 miles of the 2000 mile club is in the book.

German waterbed

While waiting for the rain to subside and head out for a ride I was perusing Youtube. This one is a side splitter.

The last two woman are classic

Early Morning Lake Photos

When I work weekends I take roads that I avoid during the week because of the traffic. The early morning was bright and crisp when this pond got my attention.