As anyone who knows me can attest, I do not like the heat. Anything over 80 degrees feels uncomfortable; at 90 degrees I can barely function, so for me to plan on a 50 mile ride when the temperature was close to 90 and the humidity on the high side was very close to miraculous, but it had to be done. I leave for Seattle in two weeks. The next 3 days are forecast to be hot and humid. 
The plan was to get out early, at least by 7:00 so as not to have to bike at midday. Nice plan, but it just didn't materialize, although I was on my bike and on my way at 7:45. First stop the Hingham Library to return some books on CD.  Next stop Wompatuck State Park to refill my water bottle and use the facilities. Next, ride around Wompatuck through Hingham and Norwell. Mostly shady, which was nice, but also very windy roads with no shoulder. Followed the road into Scituate Harbor.  Stopped for breakfast around 10:00 at a place I had stopped before and the waitress remembered that I was biking X country.  They were so nice, making sure I had plenty of water. From there I retraced my route back to 3A and east to Kennedy Gardens.  Perfect. It's a large nursery, with bathroom, Poland Springs water bubblier, and a shady patio area with comfortable chairs where no one bothers you. I made myself at home. I thought it best not to bike between 11;00 and 1:00. After resting I had no problem killing some time exploring the many shrubs and perennials. 
Back on the bike, again riding through Scituate Harbor. Stop at Dunkin donuts for an iced coffee. It really does seem to give me an added boost.  Stop at the bike shop in Cohasset to buy a bike pump that can be attached to my bike and also to make arrangements for them to pack up my bike so I can take it with me on the plane. 
From there it's only 10 miles back to home. As soon as I get into Hull I can feel the difference in temperatures. There's a wonderful cool breeze. Not sure if it's coming from the bay or the ocean, but it feels great. And I've made my goal of biking 50 miles.  

I picked my bike up from REI yesterday evening, so I'd be all set today to take it out for a long ride. While I was at REI I bought a new helmet and my very first bike shirt, the kind with the pockets in the back of the shirt. " Sleek enough for riding, chic enough to transition indoors."  That's what it says on the tag.
The weather forecast for today sounded great for a ride.  And this would be my first time using clipless pedals. I practiced inside at first, holding on to the counter while I attached my foot into the clip and out again. Than I took the bike outside and practiced just up and down the street. It seemed to go pretty smoothly. Not a big deal at all.  But now for the real test. I had planned to ride to Marshfield, stopping at the bank in Cohasset to deposit some checks and than continue on. 
The good news is that I did not fall. And also that I made it to the bank, which happens to be next door to a plant nursery and across the street from a consignment shop. I was only going to check out the nursery.  I needed one tomato plant, some basil plants, and a rosemary plant. I think they'll fit in my bike back carrier. Why not just get them while I'm here.  And than there's the consignment shop. Just a few minutes. But now do I really want to continue on to Marshfield. This is only my first day using clipless pedals.   They do use different muscles.  Besides that my right foot is hurting in my new Keen sandals.  Maybe 22 miles is long enough for my first day with my new clipless pedals and new clip-on sandals.    

clipless shoes

Who would have thought that buying sandals to use with clipless pedals would have been such an ordeal. And why are they called clipless - that really makes no sense.  My search for clipless sandals started 3 - 4 weeks ago. First by researching on the internet, than ordering a pair by Nashbar, which had received very high marks; waiting a week to get them, trying them on in the house, trying them on while biking, and saying - there is no way that these are comfortable. Start new search. And now I am thinking I should have started this process earlier. Let's try Keen.  Shimano also makes a pair but many people did not like them. There is no way to try them on locally. Most people like them, but they run big. Couple people complain that they are narrow. That's not good because I have a wide foot. I order two pairs. Actually I am riding to Waltham that day. I ask Butch to order them. He tells me later it took him an hour to actually complete the order. The size 6 1/2's will be shipped here, the size 6's to the REI store in Hingham. Both will arrive by May 24. They are coming from two different locations, and I am still not clear on why they both couldn't be sent here. The 6 1/2 arrive May 22 and feel pretty good. They are plenty wide and feel comfortable. Not as open as I am use to, but I was willing to let that go to try a clipless pedal.  I drive to REI Thursday afternoon, May 23 with my bike and Keen sandals in hand. The size 6 sandal has come in. I try it on, but stick with the 6 1/2.
It's time to have my bike tuned up and refitted.
I opt for the "gold tune-up".  I am also putting on new tires, new gears, new pedals, and handlebar extensions. The service person asks me if I have thought about getting a new bike. No, I love my bike. It will be ready Monday afternoon. 
I will have two weeks to get use to riding with clipless pedals.
 

Turkey Hill

I have lived in Hull, either year round or summers, for 36 years and I had never gone up to Turkey Hill in Hingham.  My first time biking up there was last week. The Hingham Library is about a 7 -8 mile ride, depending if I go around Sunset Point in Hull, which I usually do because it's a very pleasant ride and adds a mile or two to my ride. Last week I stopped at the library and went to the magazine area thinking that it would be nice to browse through the latest issue of Fine Gardening. Up until this spring, when my focus has been on biking, I would have spent all my time gardening. Going to the magazine area I chanced upon a map of Hingham highlighting the natural areas in green. Turkey Hill Farm and Reservations was at a dead end about a mile past the library going off the main road. Perfect. As it turned out Turkey Hill Road is about 1/2 a mile of nicely stretched out rolling hills until you get to the end, at which point you come to a beautiful meadow that overlooks all of Hull plus on a clear day the North Shore.  I can't wait to go up there in the fall to see the foliage or to take Eytan up there to see the cows that are mostly black with a broad white circle around their middle. It also has many walking trails. I met someone at the picnic table (set right in the middle of the meadow) who said he doesn't tell anyone about it because he doesn't want it to get too crowded. So of course now anytime I take a ride to the Hingham library, Turkey Hill is part of the ride. Sometimes to relax and have a snack, sometimes to ride up the hill and back down again. Either way, I'm happy to have found it.

biking through the Blue Hills

Yesterday seemed like it would be a perfect day for biking. Warm, but cloudy with a 8 - 10 mph wind.  Butch and I had plans to meet family at Corinne's house in Waltham. Why not bike to Waltham and ride home with Butch. Mapped it all out staying clear of 3A. As it turned out it brought me within a block of an old friend who lives in Braintree that I hadn't seen for years. She was home and we spent an hour catching up. I was at my 15 mile mark - 25 miles to go. Had two huge glasses of water, but no food. Didn't even think about eating. It only took me a couple miles later to realize I was biking on empty and stopped and ate the apple I had brought. Two more miles brought me to the beginning of the Blue Hills. The first mile was mostly uphill and my calf muscles where crying out to stop. Also that 8 - 10 mph wind was from the west so I was riding into it the whole ride. I saw some big boulders in the shade on the other side of the road - time to stop again. Have some nuts. At this point I wasn't sure I was going to make it. I was only at mile 20 and had 20 more to go.  Luckily most of the rest of the way through the Blue Hills was downhill and I knew there was a Dunkin Donuts at the end. Not sure if the iced coffee and chocolate glazed donut did it or the next 20 miles where just much flatter, but I had no trouble making it to Waltham.  Only one wrong turn. In full disclosure I only biked to the Newton Whole Foods where I met Butch and helped him decide on what to buy for dinner for 10 of us, which was a good thing. We may have eaten much later if I had not stopped.

Early morning ride

For the most part I ride by myself.  I would love to ride with someone as long as they wanted to ride at exactly the time I wanted to ride and ride exactly the place and distance I had in mind, but that is hard to find. So this morning was a change for me. I joined a group of three Hull riders who bike together every Sunday morning leaving from 'H' Street at 7:00 A.M.; biking a circular route of 15 miles through Cohasset center. As it turned out two of the three bikers like to bike a bit faster than the third biker, which worked out perfectly because he and I biked at a very similar speed.  The time flew by as we found various spots along the way where we could ride side by side and chat away. I got home around 8:15, leaving my bike out telling myself I'd take a second ride later in the day. Not a good plan. Found other outdoor activities, like gardening, calling to me. I'll go for a longer ride tomorrow.  But I must say, it was a very pleasant way to start the day.

I'm riding from Seattle to D.C.

It's official. I have signed up for Hazon's Cross USA ride. We need to be in Seattle, WA by June 13 and we start the ride on Sunday June 16. June 13 and 14 are orientation days and because Hazon is a Jewish organization we observe Shabbat. To learn more about the ride go to: http://www.hazon.org/programs/cross-usa-ride/
I have my fundraising page from last year, but I am having trouble logging into it. I'll call Adrienne at Hazon tomorrow and hopefully she can walk me through it. The really amazing thing is that I actually figured out how to post this blog. I'm really still in the twentieth century.
Today was a tough riding day. I left relatively early, around 10:00 A.M., with plans to bike to Marshfield, around 20 miles from Hull.  I thought it would be relatively easy.  No strong winds, good familiar roads, rested for two days. Well, my legs felt like I had cement in them. I did hear this clicking noise the whole way there and back, so I'm hoping that maybe there is something rubbing on my bike and it's not me having a very tough day. I haven't had my bike checked out since my tumble over the handbars last Wed, so I will do that tomorrow. But I did manage to bike to Marshfield and back, a total of 46 miles, even though it took me most of the day. 
The good thing - tomorrow is a new day.
 

Back from a 20 mile ride. I've been doing longer rides, mostly between 30 and 40 miles, but this one was with a strong SSW wind off the bay and  rain, so I thought I did pretty well.  I decided to try to conquer Allerton Hill before my ride, since I'm usually too tired on the way back to even think about it. Allerton Hill starts two streets over from where we live and so instead of heading out of town as usual I turned right, went two blocks and than took on the hill. I can't say that I actually conquered it, but I did manage to get very near the top. I have noticed a change in my biking since going over the handle bars. I am much more cautious on down hills. I use to love going as fast as a could on the downhill, but since Thursday I bike down like a little old lady.  I'll be back on Monday. Tomorrow being Mother's Day I will drive into Boston at 7:00 A.M. to walk 3 1/2 miles with Corinne & Jill for the Mother's Day Walk for Peace 2013 sponsored by the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute.   
 

Conquering the seven hills of Hull

A little known fact, except for those of us who live in Hull plus a few other select people, is that Hull has seven hills. I am very familiar with Strawberry Hill, which is in the center of Hull, which I partly ride up almost everytime I bike. Some of the other hills offer a greater challenge. Today I tried conquering the Coast Guard Hill. I'm not sure if that is it's real name, but the road I ride up goes right by the Coast Guard Station. It is a fairly long, fairly steep hill with beautiful water views at the top. On my first attempt I got 2/3 of the way up and took a left off the hill which took me down to the bottom. Not to be outdone by the hill I rested a bit and went up again, this time managing to get to the top. I rested a bit again to take it on a third time, but realized my legs were not going to let me up to the top another time, so I turned around to try another hill. I decided on my old familiar one, but instead of just going part way up I rode all the way to the top. Next was to take on Allerton Hill, my all time nemesis. Well, I did make it to the top, but not in one continuous stretch, which really doesn't count, at least not for me. I'll give it another shot tomorrow. 
 

Flip over handlebars

Where to begin.  It's windy, cold and rainy , but that is not why I am not riding my bike today, but instead playing around with starting a blog. It came to me in the shower today.  And yes, all my best thinking occurs in my morning shower. I've decided to rest my body today after tumbling over my handlebars yesterday. I was very lucky. Only a few bumps and bruises, mostly my right elbow and shoulder. Of course I was wearing a helmet, and I landing right on the top of my head. It all happened so quickly. My first thought was "I wonder if I have a concussion" my next thought was " here I am lying on the sidewalk and no one is even stopping to see if I am dead" as the cars went whizzing by. So after a minute or so I decided I might as well try to get up and see if I was OK and just than someone did stop. He said he saw me flip over the handlebars and came back to see if I was OK. By that time I felt OK enough to stand up and assure him I was.  After resting for a few more minutes I walked myself and bike down to the Hingham rotary and stopped at the Hingham boathouse to rest. A very kind gentleman who was working there offered to take me home, but I declined saying that I would call my husband if I needed a ride home. My bike was fine and I decided I could make it home. I scraped my plan to continue my ride to EMS. I took a different route home, using 3A which has a nice wide breakdown lane instead of Summer Street, which is two lanes, but no space between the road and sidewalk. Mistakenly I had chosen to use the sidewalk instead of the road on my way out.  I made it home and than either rested or sleep until this morning, when I got the brilliant idea to start a blog.
This will be my way of telling of my possible travel across the USA and also of my trials and tribulations of training. I have given myself until May 14 to make my final decision about going, but I think if I had to decide today I would say yes.