Friday, July 31, 2009

7/31/09, another Three Villages ride, 19.5 mi (approx)

Rounding out an active July of biking with a bizarre route that is not accurate on the map, because I followed a new bike path off of Gnarled Hollow Road that Google Maps doesn't show (I approximated below). It led me in circles and dumped me off near Pt. Jeff Station somewhere (near the infamous "bump" on Sheep Pasture Road). I found my way to Old Post Road then somehow was back on Gnarled Hollow again, which took me way past where I thought it went and came out on Lower Sheep Pasture Road, where I finally knew where I was again.

I went on roads on the northwest side of Strong's Neck that I'd never been on before (despite having lived 11 years of my life here, 1967-1978), seeing water views I'd never seen. I always thought it was Poquott you could see from Pt. Jeff Harbor, it's actually part of Strong's Neck. The Strongs still live in the "manor house" according to the sign at the end of Dyke Road, I wonder if it's any of the "kids" I knew.

So many places in the Three Villages are saturated with memories for me as I ride around. Some good, some not so good. Some of the roads I remember something happening on practically every foot; others are empty from that point of view. Some places (like the "Irving Hart" district near the Setauket Mill Pond) have barely changed. Others are full of new streets and McMansions. Many beautiful views and wetlands. I passed places I had walked, swam, skated, snuck, biked, parked, fell, fought, broke down, drank, etc. There were some interesting times.



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Thursday, July 30, 2009

7/30/09, Three Villages+1, 17 mi

The map is not quite accurate. Google Maps insisted on putting a strange round trip down to Conscience Bow from the 'corner' of Mt. Grey and Old Field Road. Couldn't convince it not to do that.

Very warm and humid (typical Stony Brook summer day).

The distances are all much shorter, and the hills lower, than I remember from my childhood. I guess it's what you're used to.



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Tuesday, July 28, 2009

7/27/09, South Quaker Hill loop (17.7 mi)

A shorter ride than the last couple of days, legs were complaining and it was the end of the day. Beautiful out with mist and sunset up in the hills, though I did get rained on again, this time mostly in the last half mile or so of climbing.


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Sunday, July 26, 2009

7/26/09, Towners-Sherman-Wingdale, 39.1 mi

Not as spectacular as yesterday's ride but still good. Got drenched coming back from Wingdale, 2nd time in a week. You know that sound you hear when you are just about to get hit by a huge wave of rain -- the sound of a million raindrops hitting the tree leaves? Heard it on West Dover Road 30 sec before getting doused. I could see the wall of rain as I was laboring up the hill towards it. Took a good break at the Star 22 diner, toasted bran muffin and coffee, conversation with a customer sitting there and one of the waitresses restored some faith in humanity. He asked whether I was going to go up the Wingdale Mountain Road, I said not today. He said he used to run up and down it, all the way to the circle in Unionvale (that I crossed yesterday). "That's back when I was doin' martial arts," he growled. Big middle-aged black man in a dark blue suit. Got up after a while and said "Now that my spiritual belly is full, I can go home and sleep." She asked whether it got lonely riding alone, and said she was going to Spain, Paris, and Italy next week with her boyfriend. "You'll be breakin' all our hearts when you leave, Kath," he said. I like that place, the farthest thing from fancy but the food is good and it feels like a real diner, not one of the modern imitations.



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Saturday, July 25, 2009

7/25/09, Clove Valley-Chestnut Ridge-Lime Kiln (41.9 mi)

One of the "this is why I bike" rides. Perfect weather, gorgeous scenery (hills, valleys, farms, streams), little to no traffic, felt good. No breaks except for a couple of 60 second stands. Down 3.5 lbs from waking weight after the ride (I'm sure it's back up close to it now).



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7/24/09, Short village loop (8.2 mi)

But still that climb back up Mt. Tom...

Wheel fixed and new kevlar back tire, we'll see how long til next broken spoke. Two so far this season.




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Sunday, July 19, 2009

7/19/09, Around the village and back (13.1 mi)

On J's mountain bike. More of a thigh workout than the road bike but otherwise fine. Gorgeous weather. Some rumor that 2 or 3 of us might do the Amenia bike trail later.


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Friday, July 17, 2009

7/17/09, Wingdale and back in the rain (19.7 mi)

Had to wait out a thunderstorm under an awning in Wingdale, broke a spoke, got completely drenched on the way back. Remembered again that once you're wet, it doesn't matter that much if you keep getting rained on... but not the most enjoyable.


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Thursday, July 16, 2009

7/16/09, Village and back, then Pleasant Ridge / West Dover (27.9 mi)

Warm and humid. Long climb up Pleasant Ridge. Working off the curried noodles.



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Monday, July 13, 2009

7/13/09 Workday loop (12.0 mi, ~45 min) *

With a couple of stops in the village, treated to a Mckinney & Doyle cookie by a staffer. Never thought before to ride through Trinity Pawling and down Westmont to avoid that stretch of 22.


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Sunday, July 12, 2009

7/12/09, Towners-Sherman-Webatuck loop (37.1 mi, approx 3 hours)

The biggest salvo yet in the 2009 anti-belly campaign. Perfect weather, some headwind when heading west.




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Saturday, July 11, 2009

7/11/09 - Sands Point/Plandome/Roslyn/Pt. Washington, 23.4 mi, 1h50m

Some of these streets are guesses, took some little roads in the Sands Point / Manorhaven area.


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Sunday, July 5, 2009

7/5/09, Tom Tom Loop (26 mi)

With J, longest ride he's done yet. He did great. Kind of hot in the sun but gorgeous out. Long break for excellent bagels and cool drinks at Tom Tom Bagel Club in Brewster, then stopping for a gear adjustment at Pawling Cycle & Sport. The big long climb home didn't faze the "zombie".


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Saturday, July 4, 2009

6/19/09 -- Wolverton-Open Univ (UK), ~14 mi r/t, 2 30 min rides

Forgot about this one, biked to and from the Open U, Milton Keynes, GB w/Simon. Milton Keynes has a huge bike path network, this map is just an approximation.


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7/4/09, Denton Lake Loop (doubling back through village 2x), 21.5 mi, about 1hr45min

Good ride with Pak, remained fat but not old/slow. Now that all the parties and celebrations are over maybe I can stop pigging out. Lost 3 lbs (temporarily) on the ride. Took coffee/english muffin break at Mckinney & Doyle.


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7/3/09, S. Quaker Hill Loop (17.6 mi, 1h20m) *

Got rained on a bit, but no matter, it was a beautiful ride. Felt neither old nor slow, but still fat. Gotta ride more, I will get out today also.



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