North Troy

Big Falls

Today's ride was really good, just over 30 miles, main roads and back roads.  Took a break at big falls, and came back on East Hill Rd for the first time. I had my fastest mile (3'20"), and two consecutive miles under four minutes.  Came back over Vance Hill. Slow going but I didn't stop until I got to the top. First time for that, too (although it was the backside, which isn't as steep).   Felt really good about this long ride.  On my way back, though, I was almost to Newport Center when I heard a flurry of sound behind me.  I looked and saw a big fat rottweiler as it caught up to me.  He only barked once, and seemed satisfied that I wasn't stopping, so he gave up.  I may have surprised him when I talked to him, too.  I wish everyone would tie up their dogs - this is the third time this summer I've been chased.  This one was the closest, though not the scariest (that was the dogs on Nelson Hill that I never saw....)

Over 200!

This week my goal was to reach 200 miles on the summer.  I got it by doing two days of bike path riding, since I didn't have too much time and had done the long ride over Nelson Hill earlier in the week.  They were both good, fast rides, ending at the "Wetlands Overlook" at the Eagle Point Nature Preserve.

Deer!

Nelson Hill

I decided I needed to update my bike picture on bikejournal.com, so I took some pics of the bike when I was at a spot that could have been the top of Nelson Hill in Derby.

  What I did not take a picture of was the dogs that chased me away from what was probably a private road.  My iPhone showed that there was a road, but it got smaller and smaller until it was just a path, and eventually unpassable.  When I turned around, I passed a house (camp?) just out of sight and the dogs heard me switch gears.  I rode very fast up a wet, slippery trail through the woods until back on the Nelson Hill Road.  I never looked back at the dogs, but they sounded scary and chased for quite a while.  Really, it was pretty dumb - I should have known better.

 

 

 

 

 

Not Quite the top of Nelson Hill

Overall, this 21-mile trek that started in Derby Line, went over Nelson Hill, around Derby Pond, between the two Salems, a break at the Wood's Camp, and then home, was very enjoyable.  Rides around 20 miles are very doable now. Where to go next?

Too long

I rode 33 miles through Brownington to Evansville.  Lots and lots of hills.  My legs were so dead by the end.  Saw some vultures by the side of the road.  I thought they were coming after me....

1st Day of Summer Vacation

So it's the 1st day and I got 20 miles in about 2 hours. Feels like I could have kept going, too!

South Bay

Rode around South Bay tonight - down the Coventry Road, past the dump, took a few lefts, ended up on the Glen Rd.  A few good hills, and some dirt roads.  No wildlife, very little traffic.  The dump stunk, but it's a really nice ride other than that.  My original plan was to go almost to Irasburg and turn back on the Back Coventry Road, but I was afraid it was going to be too long.  As it was, it started to get dark before I got home.

I got a cheap bag for the handlebars, and my iphone works really well in it.  The ENDOMONDO app works great.  I need to start taking some pics, too.  Maybe a movie once in a while.

Dark!

I headed out a bit later than I'd planned, and it was really dark when I was at Eagle Point at 9pm.  But I headed back, and the bike path was REALLY dark where the trees closed in.  My little light didn't quite cut it, but it did help.

So it's not even June yet, and I've got three rides in, for nearly 40miles. Tonight's ride was very cold and rainy. I almost turned around three times but kept going. Each ride this year has been a little longer than the last, although they all have been down the bike path.  Hopefully I can get at least 15 miles on the next ride, and in a different direction.