Dartmouth, MA

Wood Hole to Martha's Vinyard Auto Ferry

Distance       29 Miles
Time            2 hrs. 27 Minutes
Max Speed  29.4 MPH
Ave speed   12 MPH

Twin Falls in Dartmouth was a regular riding route back in the summers of 64 and 65.  It was a daily ride from the south end of New Bedford before work at the beach snack bar.  15 miles round trip was no big deal on a Schwinn three speed cruiser.  My buddy rode his single speed banana bike and cursed constantly both directions.

Today was a roundabout route there and in stead of turning back from the Falls, the ride continued deeper into the southern section of Dartmouth before looping back at the Dartmouth harbor. 

Lunch was at a neat little farm stand with small animals wandering the property. Things like donkeys, sheep, goats and some critters.  There was not much in the way of lunch food and I had to settle on a cheese and berry danish with a chocolate milk. Both hit the spot while sitting at the falls.

At the top of the long Union St. climb.

Settled for a cheese and berry danish with milk for lunch

Lunch at the falls.

The longer route meandered through the winding roads of the southern point of Dartmouth before looping back to the harbor. A man, a bike and the wind was all the activity on that section of the ride.

Just the bike and the road.

Yahd full a cahs (and trucks) 

Dartmouth Harbor looking toward the ocean

Looping back home on Smith Neck Rd in Dartmouth, MA.

There was every intention of ending the day with a swim at Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven, MA till the weather changed.  The wind picked up dramatically, the sky darkened and drops of rain began to fall. The tide was high though which makes for wonderful swimming.   Alas, maybe tomorrow.

Little Toot

Beach goers watch the approaching storm and the fleet going to sea. (click photo for closer look)

High Tide

Festival, Factories and Other Stuff

Distance        29 miles
Time             2 hrs. 23 mins
Max speed    25.1 MPH
Ave Speed   12.0 MPH

The town of Acushnet is celebrating it's annual Apple Peach festival this weekend.  It's a real old fashioned country affair where lots of people attend but nobody does anything.  Sit around waiting for the parade, then walk around the grounds and nearby flea markets and garage sales. Many of the items have been sold and resold at this event for years.

Waiting for the parade

Festival grounds

After breaking away from the festival area, things got really quiet on the roads.  Very little traffic allowed for meandering along the country roads which lead to lots of stops at newly discovered places. The head of the Acushnet River is a nice wildlife area that gradually winds it way to the factory areas before breaking out into the bay and finally the Atlantic.

Old road to somewhere

Fantasy lot in Rochester, MA

Rivers End (Acushnet River in New Bedford, MA)

Rivers End Pub

The problems of the 20th century become evident as the river passes along the old factory areas.  New Bedford was twice the richest city in the country. During the Whaling era and again the Manufacturing era when cotton mills ruled.

Bellville Ave has massive factory building lining both sides

The early 20th century when cotton ruled.

High tech communications strapped to low tech waste disposal

Note the handicap entrance sign

Converting massive old mills to apartments in New Bedford, MA

More waste disposal into the river

All the factory waste and sewer overflow lead to this

All that will be left after the super fund clean up is new roads to nowhere

Much Better Today

Click photos for big.  Click again for bigger

Main St. Wareham, MA.

Distance        31.5 miles
Time             2 hrs. 25 mins pedaling
Max Speed   26.7
Ave speed    13.1 mph
Temp:           85F

Today's ride was a whole lot better than yesterday's 25 mile slog.  The weather cooperated for the back road ride from Fairhaven to Wareham MA. but the wind picked up considerably on the return trip.

Cumberland Farms is the usual lunch spot for this ride. Somehow they managed to contract with a company that really knows how to make prepackaged sandwiches.  Every once in a while a chain place like Cumby's hits the nail on the head.  The egg salad on wheat is one of those things.   Today was ham salad on wheat, just to try something different.  The ham salad doesn't hold up to the egg sandwich. 

Again it was a quick change into bathing wear, a change of bikes and an additional 4 mile ride to the beach for a late summer swim after the road ride.  The ocean temperature is at it's warmest this time of year, and is a really good time to be swimming.

 The high and low tides are running extreme this week, and the late afternoon swim was during the lowest of the low.  Even by walking 50-60 yards out, the water was still only thigh deep and filled with seaweed. The wind was whipping out of the south causing whitecaps and the combination of all that caused the swim to be cut short.  Although the State Reservation is now closed for the season, the ranger leaves the showers available till the swimmers for a few weeks so we can rinse the salt off.

Lunch at Cumby's

The long and winding road home

Herring Run in Rochester MA. 

Crissy and her big dog Angel and new pup befriending a pug behind the bike wheel. 

Gone swim'n

Labor Day Ride

Distance 25.3
Max Speed 24.7
Ave Speed 13.7
Pedal time 1:51

The choice was a long road ride or a short ride to the beach for a swim and some reading.  The road was 25 miles of blahhh!.   It was one of those days that a long ride did not hit the spot.  That happens and there is nothing wrong with finishing something we don't feel like doing.  This rider certainly won't be sapped of energy tomorrow because of doing to much today. 

There will be no choice of beach or bike tomorrow.  I'm planning on doing both.

Shaw's Cove. Fairhaven, Ma.

Summer home in Fairhaven, Ma.

No Parking. Lot Is Full

We had some pretty uppity visitors enter our harbors over the last 24 hours.   All the dock space and all the moors are taken.  Boats have resorted to anchoring out in the harbor. 

Made a quick run to the post office that is around 2 miles away.   It began to drizzle as I left the house and when I left the PO is was a downpour.  I thought the hurricane had arrived so just kept pedaling.  Everything was soaked through and naturally 10 minutes after I got home the rain stopped and the sun emerged. 

It reminded me of our bike tour when we got caught in similar rain.

Meeting #2 Son's lady tomorrow.  Ma and I are both excited about that.

Hurricane Preparation

Click any photo for big.  Click again for bigger.

Sue meets Audry the flower.

New Bedford is a very popular hiding place for boats and ships wanting to escape the fury of a hurricane.  Yesterday a tall ship entered the harbor which prompted us to bike into the city for some closeup photos. The news reports about the hurricane are increasing in frequency.  Both radio and TV have many interruptions with the weathermen giving updates on the possibilities of the storm track.  Living on the ocean, and in the vicinity of the largest fishing ports in the country give us a head up on most when it comes to weather.  Because of the fishing industry and tourism, we all have grown up with a good education pertaining to weather. This storm is taken both seriously and with a grain of salt, because we know how to prepare.

After visiting the tall ship we biked back to Fairhaven to spend some time at the beach. It was stifling hot again, but nothing a dip in the ocean can't cure.

Working aloft

Captain's patio.  Lots of boats in the background

The cannons still work

We have to portage from the bridge to the street to get to and from the city of New Bedford, Ma.

Seeking Shelter From Hurricane Earl

Click photo for big.  Click again for bigger.

Spotted on the horizon

 It was too hot for a long roadie ride, but not at all for  biking to the beach.  I was considering taking a second swim when I noticed a unique ship on the horizon.  It looked like an old English Frigate or a Pirate Ship.  Fortunately the camera was in the handlbar bag and it was a short ride out to the center of the harbor on the hurricane barrier.

The barrier offers safe haven for the local fishing and scallop fleet as well as anyone in need of shelter from a storm.

The closer she got, the more she looked like a pirate ship

Traversing the barrier.

Exiting the barrier.

Aerial view of barrier