Saturday, August 30, 2014

End Of August 25-30






Sun Sculpture at Phillips Academy
Andover, MA



Streetlights After Hill Ride
Littleton, MA
(did not have my camera to capture an awesome rainbow that came out on this ride)


In Memoriam
Andover, MA


River Street Garden
Andover, MA

This is part of a fantastic little garden that I've enjoyed seeing on my morning commutes.  It is a creative and beautiful use of what was a gravel parking space.  I have viewed it as what more of earth could be if there were fewer cars.  I met the creator of the garden this evening and was saddened to learn that her parents have sold the house so the garden does not have much time yet to exist.  



Mocha in Queen Anne's Lace
Nason Property, West Boxford, MA

bonus for today
Patrick at Hovey Pond




View of Lake House Porch
Southern New Hampshire

Sunday, August 24, 2014

D2R2 12868 feet of vertical bliss

D2R2 seemed a bit seriously questionable this year because of the trouble I've been having with my hamstring.  The last long hilly ride I had done was Greylock century after which my leg seriously hurt.  In fact,a 3 hour mountain bike ride the previous Sunday had also caused by leg to seriously hurt, not just that afternoon, but the entire week.  Friday night pre-D2R2 at 10:30 pm I laid on my back in the cornfield near Deerfield and worked on one final round of hamstring stretching.  I considered doing one of the shorter routes, but hell, August only comes once a year - 180 k or bust.  As it was, the combination of cool weather, mountain bike cassette, unhurried pace, and packed roads made for a delightful ride.  Sunday morning, I felt like I had woken up after a day at the D2R2 spa.  Yes, I never thought such a thought would be possible either.  12868 feet of vertical bliss.  The legs felt great and I enjoyed some exploration of the area, including climbing Northfield mountain.  Then bought a 2 bags of veggies from the local farm stand and headed back to Boxford. 

 Saturday morning, I set off alone at 6:10 after a bit too long of lingering at camp.  Made full use of my mountain bike cassette and enjoyed the cool weather and view of mist.  I made it up the Archembo climb no problem at all - thanks to the solid pack and my super easy gears.  I met some new guys, Bruce from Acton with a hot pink jersey and socks and Gavin, a randonneur from Pennsylvania with an orange jersey.  (I know all cyclists by color.    I can take on a new identity by putting on a different jersey.) They made nice company through the hills on a wonderful ride.  Enjoyed some watermelon on Patton Hill and thanks to my awesome cross tires, had the least stressful  ride down the Hawk hill jeep track yet,  Seems like D2R2 is getting better and better.  This was my 6th year and no doubt the most comfortable.  Yet again, one of my best days of the year.  I will say it tied with the Saturday is June I spent wandering around Luxembourg Gardens in Paris.  

There was an article in cycling magazine which described this ride as magical.  Indeed.



6 am, start of D2R2


Cow near the First Rest Stop

Bike Explosion at Lunch Stop - check out the hot pink kit
The stop was moved away from the river this year because the covered bridge is closed.


 but I did have a view of apple trees for lunch
 Clouds over dirt climb


Birds over Patten Hill
 Little Big House

This photo was taken by Glenn Fraser and is representative of a good portion of the terrain at D2R2.




 Home Grown
The beast relaxes while I eat maple cream ice cream
 Yellow Fields at end of D2R2
 Historic Deerfield
 The "corn maze" spin after the end of the official cue sheet


 Sunday morning on the bridge over the Deerfield River
Cows in the Connecticut River Valley

 Trails on Northfield Mountain
 Sign with picture of panorama of the view of the reservoir from the top of Northfield Mountain.  It was too misty for me to see any of these mountains.
Closed gate which caused an abrupt end to what was promising to be a sweet decent down the mountain road.

Friday, August 22, 2014

Pre D2R2 week

 Backyard ferns
West Boxford, MA

Suburban Sunflowers
Andover, MA


 Summer Sky Stars
West Boxford, MA


 Black Eyed Susans
Andover, MA
Summer Bounty
Andover, MA

Monday, August 18, 2014

Red Mushroom

West Boxford, MA

A day for birds.   It's getting dark earlier now and our walk near Stiles Pond required a flashlight.  We heard two or 3 barred owls which the path seemed to circle.  Just as it got dark, it seemed that we were right under one.  In the afternoon I saw two large birds, perhaps hawks on separate occasions while mountain biking in Bradley Palmer State Park.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

July Bleeds into August

The summer has been passing through fantastically quickly.  With few set plans, the days come and go- many cluttered with the happenings of office life.  Over the course of the summer, my hamstring has healed and I like to think I'm very close to 100%, certainly ready to undertake some training  to build the fitness should my self discipline and inclination allow.  In August, I missed the daily picture one day when it rained and I forgot to take the camera out, the next day because I thought it might be time to abandon the project.  I hope that I can take the project the rest of the way through for the full year.  Following this, I plan to start a new blog The Mistral.

July 26- Aug 16th

Piece of Sky July 26th
West Boxford, MA



Contrail
West Boxford MA



Ripening
West Boxford, MA




Evening Commute Sky
North Andover, MA



Sweeping Road before Hill,
Topsfield, MA



Four Deer
Topsfield, MA



 Night Sky Clouds
West Boxford, MA


One Antler Tourist Moose
road to The Forks, Maine




Maine Lake View
near The Forks, Maine


 Moose Bones on Wall
The Forks, Maine (Bonus pic from Aug 3rd)
If I am calm I will hear it wherever I am (The River)
road home from The Forks, Maine



Stars under Awning
 road home from The Forks, Maine (bonus pic from Aug 3rd)

 Backyard Clouds and Moon
West Boxford, MA
 Hastas in August
West Boxford, MA

 Tree Reflections in West Boxford Pond,
West Boxford, MA
Morning Tomato Harvest
West Boxford, MA


 Moon Over Osceola Vista Campground
White Mountains, NH

Cookout after Ultramarathon
 White Mountains, NH



Town Line
Topsfield, MA


Treescape
West Boxford, MA



Sunset at Herold Parker State Forest
North Andover, MA


 Fully Blooming
North Andover, MA


Flag Catches Morning Light
West Boxford, MA



Hula Hoops and Bicycle
West Boxford, MA (bonus pic for Aug 16th)