Lost and Found

Cargo Ship from Panama arrived yesterday

 As always. Click any photo for big


A few months ago I lost my best glasses.  I gave it a few weeks to see if they would turn up then decided to replace them when BJ's had a 1/2 price sale.  Three weeks ago, I lost the BJ's glasses and ordered a new pair last Tuesday.  Friday I found the first pair in an old glass case in my catch all basket in the kitchen.   Today I was packing my rain gear for the ride to work and found the replacement pair I lost three weeks ago in a pocket.

In a matter of four days I went from two pair of glasses I don't like to five pair.  It's like the old days with telephones.  One in every room.  But I do get to see things more clearly on the daily commute.

Living along a working waterfront is pretty neat.  There is always something interesting going on.

Calm Waters

You have heard the phrase, "the water was calm as glass".   This is what that looks like. 

It was unusually nice for a November commute this morning.  On the lighter side.  I wear a strap to keep my pant leg from getting tangled in the chain ring and this morning after crossing the bridge and portaging the stairs to the lower roadway, I notice the strap was missing.  It's a nice one I got at REI so I decided to back track.   The problem is that the bridge opens to allow boat traffic on the hour and it was getting close to that time.  If I'm on the wrong side, I will be late for work.

I road back looking for the strap at a good clip but had no success.  After carrying the bike back down the stairs for the second time I decided to pull up a sock over my pant cuff as a temporary fix.   Sure enough the strap didn't fall off and was still attached to my ankle, hidden from view under the cuff.  I got to work on time but as the first sentence mentions, it was an unusually warm day.  I was sweating profusely when I got to the office.  Then my shirt began to stink.   Then all the bell ringers piled into the van that I was driving to bring them to the shopping centers.  peeeeee  u.

Bell Ringers

Today was the first chilly day of the season.  It was around 40F and windy on the way to drive the Salvation Army bell ringers.   Naturally I got caught in the middle of the harbor when the bridge opened.  Both ways as a matter of fact.

BTW Here is the reason for my not posting for a couple of months.

I ride to the city daily to deliver the Salvation Army bell ringers to their stores.  In this setting one gets to see a different side to these people.  They are mostly down and out,  but all are nice.

Salvation Army bell ringers

Derelict boat in New Bedford, Ma harbor.  

It's That Time Again.

Road construction is not good for bike tires. 

High School soccer is done for the year and now it's back to bike commuting.  This is the time of year that I volunteer to drive the Salvation Army bell ringers to their posts.   It gives me a reason to bike commute again, and a reason to update this blog.   There were a couple of commutes before the holiday but yesterday actually began the regular driving duties.   It was also my first flat in years.  Without losing a beat, that tire was back in service lickity split.  But,  but,  the nut that holds the skewer on the wheel fell off.  For the life of me I couldn't find it and consequently couldn't put the rear wheel back on.   Call the wife, get a ride to work.

I did manage to find the part when I returned after working and everything worked out.   I did get to ride again today.

 Part of the scallop and fishing fleet is in  port.

 Portuguese Whale Boats

Freighter off loading in the Port of New Bedford.

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.