Double Your Fun

26.7 miles Saturday
26.7 miles Sunday

Friday evening Sue found a local ride with the Appalachian Mountain Club. It is a 43 mile ride through much of the territory I do quite regularly.

I arrived at the designated meeting spot only to have forgotten my helmet. They would have let me tag along bringing up the rear, but riding without a helmet is stupid.

Sue reluctantly, but graciously agreed to deliver the helmet at a location along the route. I told the guys I would drive there, get the helmet and backtrack to join them. The delivery went smoothly and as I was about to depart I noticed I had no pump. Since I was going to be a reeeeealy long way from home, riding without a pump is...well, stupid.

Off I scurried in my Pontiac Vibe ( which needs a good washing by the way), home to get the pump. I had remembered it dropping on the garage floor the night before as I was preparing for the ride. It was no where to be found. Thinking back, "I know I put it on the bike". A recheck of the car found it on the floor of the car. An hour wasted. I know where they would be at the 90 minute mark and I was still determined to meet the guys. I had a 10 mile ride to catch them, and a little over 30 mintues to get there. Just as I was about to leave the house, Sue pulled up with a disguisted look. After all she did, I drove home anyhow.

I made good time on the bike and did meet up with them. They had just finished their stop and I needed one bad. I decided to forgo riding with them till next week and did a rided alone. It was so nice that I did the same route today (Sunday) and had Sue join me. Here is the descripton.

Quiet country roads, cool temperature in the high sixties combined for a nice Sunday ride with my best friend.


A typical old building on one of the quiet country back roads.
We found a wonderfull country farm that offered fresh fruit, ice cream and other treats. They has a couple of boros who were very friendly, enjoyed being pet and also were willing subjects for pictures.




The farm also offered wagon rides around the multi acred property using Clydesdale horses they raise.



Things wouldn't be the same without ole "blue" in the picture.


Sue and I also stopped to visit an old friend who runs an apple orchard. Because it is prime picking season we didn't stay too long. She was't picking, because the customers are allowed to pick thier own. It is a custom with many fruit growers in the area. Blueberries, apples etc. Anything that grows in tall vines or trees.

This being the big protests weekend in DC, one of the locals let thier feelings be known.





On the way home we say a house that had been destroyed in an arson fire. The insurance had posted a reward. I originally saw this shell three or for months ago.






I'm going out on a limb and guessing the owner on this one

Ride a little, eat. Ride a little eat.

Sue and I finished a great week with #1 son Keith. I am very much more active when he is around. Especially biking. However, I tend to waaaay overeat also.

The latest ride was through the villages of Little Compton and Tiverton RI. This is the epidomy of the Old Yankee areas of New England. Most notably the low traffic roads and the free standing stone walls. The readers will notice that most photos have stone walls somewhere to be seen. The stone was origianally dug up by farmers in the seventeen and eighteen hundreds while preparing the land for growing. Building stone walls became a craft these farmers perfected as a way to dispose of the rocks gracefully and mark thier land. It is not unusual to be hiking through forest land and see stone walls in the most unlikely places. However, when you look at the trees it is obviousl that they are much younger growth around these walls and that not too long ago the forest was farmland.

The ride was just under 20 miles and the scenery was typical New England coastal. For riders the coastal translates to flat.

We unloaded the car and Sue led the charge on her brand spanking one day old Marin bike.

Final preparations for the day ride



Sue leading the charge

We headed down the main road in Tiverton on our way to Little Compton and Sakonett Point. Again there was next to no traffic and the road was ours. Keith was having difficuly adjusting to yet another borrowed bike. Also he forgot to change the pedals on the bike he borrowed in Saratoga NY. This left him having to ride on classic pedals no clips or straps. Just straight-off-the-rack flat pedals.


Flat straight long and a wall.


Checking bike during shakedown ride

The midpoint of the ride brought us to the harbor area of Little Compton RI called Sakonett Point. The style of houses here are typical New England ocean front, old money homes. This is a summer vacation area for wealthy New York Conneticut families to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.


Keith checking out the ocean at Sakonett Point


Beach houses


Stonehedge RI


Sakonette point beach


This house made me think of the book and movie, Shipping News

During the return ride #2 son Todd called. He was in Boston and was going to meet up with Keith and go see the Red Sox play on Friday night. Sue was so proud of her new wheels and Keith and I were just as happy that she wants to ride more.





Sue, happy as a clam at high tide with her new wheels


There were more good sights on the return ride, including.....Yup.. stone walls





Some great old houses.







A driveway made of clam shells, leading to the waterfront






Sue with a forced smile. Her riding is two hands on the bike and look forward at all times.

When Keith was a youngster, he sometimes did things that made me call him "goober".


Goober

After fattening up on some ice cream, we headed home to get ready for dinner at Margeretts in Fairhaven. The best kept secret in this little fishing village in Massachusetts. Bring your own liquor makes for a very inexpensive evening.