The Old and New

We spent the afternoon in Boston while wifey's new car was being prepared. We had time for a leisurely lunch at a really good Italian place on Brighton Ave. This place is as good as  most of the North End Trattorias, and when you add in the cost, it puts most of them to shame.   I did spot this three story wonderful bike shop on the same street.  It reminded me of the shops in Austria and Germany whree I did lots of drooling when I walked in.  Just like this place.  Three floors of bikes and stuff.  The trek 520's really got my attention.  Except for the $13000 bike, most were priced very nicely, and the 520 was a few hundred under the MSRP.

 It looks like the old red Mini has been sold.  Less than an hour on  Cars.com got a call.  The prospect came by the house, made an offer and we had a deal.   The new Mini is big.  Actually they called it an SUV at the dealer.  Wifey bought this car sight unseen and got one of the first ones shipped to the US from Germany.  Going over all the electronics with the sales agent felt and looked an awful lot like a pre flight check for a jet.  It's going to take a bit of studying and playing around to get to know all the features. 

I have a strong feeling that when the old mini is being driven away, wifey may shed some tears.  She really loves that car. Her baby she calls it.

It also looks like we got into the NYC Five Boroughs ride in May.  The 32,000 spots sold out in one day.  At $75 bucks a pop, that's a chunk of change if I say so myself. But, it's also a deal for what you get and how it's organized. 

Goals galore in Barclays Premier League

The Barclays Premier League went goal crazy as records tumbled on another remarkable weekend.

A total of 43 goals were scored over the two days as the clubs turned on the style to the delight of the fans.

The thrilling tally beat the previous Premier League best of 41 set on 8th-10th November 1997 and equalled on 27th-28th November 2010.

A stunning, sensational and scintillating Saturday saw 41 goals fly in, the most in a single day in Premier League history.

Eight penalties were awarded, breaking the the previous record of seven in a day. Seven were converted, also a new best.

It was a truly remarkable afternoon, even by the standards of this thrilling campaign which has seen a feast of goals and eye-opening results.

Shame On Fairhaven, MA

It's been over a month and the MUP has still not been maintained. It's use is designated as the town's alternate transportation route. Letters have been written, complaints have been aired and not even a response from the town BPW.

As things are now, those who need to get across town have to walk on the very busy and very fast, interstate Rt 6, where there is no shoulder or sidewalks. A disaster waiting for the right moment.

The Mayflower is also in town for repairs. The two shipyards in town bring in some very big and sometimes very famous boats.

NYC Five Boroughs Ride

What a great way to see New York.  Riding your bike on traffic free streets.   Admittedly there will be 32,000 other bikers, but it's not as bad as that number suggests.    This will be my fifth time and it's always a hoot. Registrations are filling very quickly.   http://www.bikenewyork.org/index.html. 

The Finale

The birthday week in California was a hit.

We had a Thursday midnight flight to Boston out of LA which allowed us to lallygag some before the two hour drive to LAX. We decided on the Mount San Jacinto tram. . It was the Palm Springs highlight and the $23 fee was a bargain.

The bike ride around Palm Springs was lame. We both found the place a very mundane. It's pretty much a retirement city with a casino. The casino people fit the stereotype perfectly. You know the type. It's the guy at dinner wearing his cap, but his lady doesn't notice because she is on her cell phone. They are both fat and smoke. The world famous Follies made us both feel like we had been flimflammed. Kind of like the Irish clan that offers to put a new roof on your home for an unbelievable cheap price. Watch the video on the link and decide for yourself.

The boys only stayed for the weekend but before they left we took a hike to Deep Creek. A 10 mile drive up dirt roads, a five dollar entrance fee per person allowed us to hike two miles into a canyon, cross a creek so cold that it felt like someone was banging your feet with a hammer. It was neck deep in places by the way. The reward was to sit in natural hot springs. The family loved it. I liked the hike, even the strenuous hike out of the canyon.

We finished the trip with dinner in Santa Monica, where the week began with a bike ride to Venice Beach, before returning to LAX for the red eye to snowy Boston.

California is a place we both like as a winter getaway. Especially Santa Monica which is very cool. We will be back.

View of Palm Springs Valley from Mt. San Jacinto

Round Valley Trail Mt. San Jacinto

 Hiking the trail at the top of Mt. San Jacinto

View from the tram

Birthday Adventure Part II

The birthday adventures continued with a hike to Deep Creek in San Bernardino county. A desert hike that took us two miles into the canyon, to the river.  We had to cross the river that was unbelievably cold.  It was worth the hike and the crossing pain because once across there were hot pools of water that had seeped out of the mountain. It was bath temperature

As always, click for big. Click again for bigger

Beginning the hike to the river

The hike got steep

And steeper and deeper

We were not alone, but who is complaining

 

 The water was so cold it felt like we were walking on nails 

The landowners cabin.  $5 per person to access the trail

 A long dusty ride to the main road

For part three of the birthday trip the boys flew home to Boulder and Atlanta and wifey and I drove to Palm Springs. 

Stay tuned

Biking The Beaches of Southern California

The Surprise birthday trip took us all to Santa Monica California.  After an evening arrival we gathered at a Mexican restaurant for a light dinner and heavy drinking. That combination eliminated one rider from our Saturday bike ride along Santa Monica and Venice beaches.

There were lots of running groups this day and my suspicion is that they may be the same club but different levels of runners.

 

The beaches are full of fitness "freaks" who do some out of the ordinary routines and most are really fit, naturally. 

 Besides the fitness freaks there are plenty of the regular type of freaks. (so to speak)

It has been said that dog and owner often resemble each other.

 Most importantly.   Bikes and their riders. 

We ended the day at the US/Chile soccer match at the Home Depot Center and got a new Facebook wall photo.

Next stop on the birthday bus.......Palm Springs  for a bath