It was only 57 degrees out at noon when Margaret dropped me off at the parking lot at the north end of the summit road. Fortunately, the sky was mostly clear and the sun kept the chill at bay. Still it was a frosty start. Margaret took some pictures then headed to the top in the car. She brought knitting to occupy the time while I walked. The brisk air had at least one advantage - it was walk brightly or be cold.
The road to the summit rises steeply from the car park and a good portion of the vertical rise occurs in the first half of the climb. As I tired, the road leveled out. Traffic was very light. I saw more motorcycles than cars and only one bicyclist as I hiked, although there were two or three at the top, when I got arrived. Margaret and I stayed in touch by cell phone. The reception was good all the way, and when I got near the top, I let her know. Margaret walked down to meet me, and we both got to the summit together, about three o'clock.
We found a glorious spot for lunch-a picnic table indoors on the porch at Bascomb Lodge. The sun shone in the windows warming the room to a very relaxing temperature and the view out of the windows was some of the very best vistas to be found anywhere on the summit. The mountains and lakes went on until the limit of the air visibility. It was terrific place to celebrate the completion of our goal for the 2014 Pure Water Ride-to climb Blue Hill, Mt. Wachusett, and Mt. Greylock, even if we did have to resort to plan B!
Our heartfelt thanks go out to you, our supporters. Your generosity truly makes a huge impact on the health of the people that benefit from the projects the Pure Water Ride supports in Cameroon, West Africa and the Dominican Republic. We hope you will join with us again next year. Until then, may God bless you richly!
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Mt Wachusett - Sept. 10, 2014 - 3 miles
Following plan B, since my left arm is still far from being healed, and attempting to ride a bike at this time is ludicrous, today I walked up Mt. Wachusett along the access road. Like last year, the only other time I had climbed this mountain, the tower landing was homequarters for a group of hawk-watchers. With binoculars, spotting scopes, and cameras, they were observing, tracking, and counting the various kinds of hawks who frequent the area. Mt Wachusett is one of the premier spots in New England for hawk watching and the tower landing has a level, firm floor and extends all the way around the tower, enabling a 360 degree view of the horizon.
It was exciting to watch a group of hawks soaring but much more so in the company of the hawkers, whose commentary greatly added to the enjoyment. They easily identified the type of hawk, whether or not it was migrating and had names for their every manouvre.
The top was a great place to enjoy the lunch of chicken fried steak I had packed up. Despite what the website said, there were porta-potties at the parking lot at the top. Very convenient!
It was exciting to watch a group of hawks soaring but much more so in the company of the hawkers, whose commentary greatly added to the enjoyment. They easily identified the type of hawk, whether or not it was migrating and had names for their every manouvre.
The top was a great place to enjoy the lunch of chicken fried steak I had packed up. Despite what the website said, there were porta-potties at the parking lot at the top. Very convenient!
Blue Hill/Bradley Estate - Sept. 8, 2014 - 3 miles
Sunny, clear day with a hint of Fall in the air. Hiked up Blue Hill to the weather observatory, then over to the Eliot Tower for views of Boston Skyline. Also walked around the Bradley Estate, a Trustees of Reservations property in Canton, MA, on the cart path. The Bradley Estate is a beautiful brick mansion with a formal garden in the front yard. The grounds extend for about 90 acres, which is about 1/20 the size of Borderland State Park.
Monday, September 1, 2014
Blue Hill - Aug. 30 - 2 miles
Just two days after making this years first ascent of Blue Hill, we were back. My wife, my daughter, and I took advantage of the cool, dry air and a sunny day and climbed Blue Hill a second time. A large rock provided a resting spot at the top where we sat with the sun on our backs to keep the chill off. As we rested, a steady stream of hikers, runners, and bicyclists completed their conquests. Some turned around and headed back immediately, others lingered a few moments or explored around the observatory grounds, others, like us, hung around to appreciate the view and relish the accomplishment.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Blue Hill - Aug. 28 - 2 miles
My daughter and I hiked up the access road to the weather observatory at the top of Blue Hill. The observatory gift shop was open, but no tours of the observatory were being offered today as they were short handed. The bored shop attendant bounced around at random releasing more energy than he would have if he had taken us a tour and watched the shop at the same time. We enjoyed looking over what they had for sale, including many books on storms-the hurricane of 1938 and the famous blizzard of 1978. Outside, it couldn't have been a finer day.
On the summit was a monument summarizing interesting weather highlights recorded at the observatory. The deepest snow on the ground was 42" in January of 1948. The highest wind was 186 mph, calculated during the hurricane of 1938 and the greatest monthly average percent of possible bright sunshine was 76% in June of 1971 - it was a good day for sunshine!
The hike back down was great. A refreshing breeze sprung up and clouds shaded us from the direct heat of the sun. We were starved by the time we got back to the car, and thought of food the whole way home.
On the summit was a monument summarizing interesting weather highlights recorded at the observatory. The deepest snow on the ground was 42" in January of 1948. The highest wind was 186 mph, calculated during the hurricane of 1938 and the greatest monthly average percent of possible bright sunshine was 76% in June of 1971 - it was a good day for sunshine!
The hike back down was great. A refreshing breeze sprung up and clouds shaded us from the direct heat of the sun. We were starved by the time we got back to the car, and thought of food the whole way home.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
A Bump in the Road - Aug. 1, 2014 - 7 miles
Todays ride began on a wet and wild woods road that led into a broad and level meadow where yellow daises bloomed beside the path. After a steep climb to the top of a ridge, I was enjoying a 100 mile vista without pedaling as the road now descended.
Suddenly a black dog streaked across a yard on my right. The next thing I knew, I was picking myself off the ground, with the dog barking at me as I checked over my bike. Noticing that the front wheel was too bent to fit through the forks-rendering it unrideable, I glanced across the street to the nearest house, whose yard the black dog had come from, but decided to avoid any further encounter with the dog, and walked uphill instead to a house where another dog's bark greeted my knock. Fortunately, the husband and wife soon responded. Seeing my torn and bloody T-shirt, and learning of my accident, the young man called an ambulance, who was there in just a few minutes, arriving nearly at the same time as my wife and mother-in-law, who I had phoned earlier.
X-rays and CAT scans at the emergency room at Central Maine Medical Center revealed a broken right and left clavicle, first rib right side, and left neck bone. The doctor warned it would likely be a six week recovery for the bones to heal and then more time for the muscles to rehabilitate. This bump in the road forced a change in strategy for the Pure Water Ride.
With bicycling out of the picture for prime weather for the rest of the summer and likely the better part of the Fall, I would have to switch to hiking, if I was to have any hope of completing this year's three hill challenge.
Suddenly a black dog streaked across a yard on my right. The next thing I knew, I was picking myself off the ground, with the dog barking at me as I checked over my bike. Noticing that the front wheel was too bent to fit through the forks-rendering it unrideable, I glanced across the street to the nearest house, whose yard the black dog had come from, but decided to avoid any further encounter with the dog, and walked uphill instead to a house where another dog's bark greeted my knock. Fortunately, the husband and wife soon responded. Seeing my torn and bloody T-shirt, and learning of my accident, the young man called an ambulance, who was there in just a few minutes, arriving nearly at the same time as my wife and mother-in-law, who I had phoned earlier.
X-rays and CAT scans at the emergency room at Central Maine Medical Center revealed a broken right and left clavicle, first rib right side, and left neck bone. The doctor warned it would likely be a six week recovery for the bones to heal and then more time for the muscles to rehabilitate. This bump in the road forced a change in strategy for the Pure Water Ride.
With bicycling out of the picture for prime weather for the rest of the summer and likely the better part of the Fall, I would have to switch to hiking, if I was to have any hope of completing this year's three hill challenge.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Monmouth, ME - July 31, 2014 - 8 miles
Short ride today around favorite routes. Stopped by a new kiosk put up by a local conservation group, but was dismayed to learn that mountain bikes were prohibited from using their trails. Why do so many conservation groups ban mountain bikes? It seems they should welcome human powered, green means of transport. Isn't it less green to drive to a conservation area and walk around, than to bike to the same area and bike around?
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Bowdoin and Sabattus, ME - July 29, 2014 - 20 miles
A beautiful ride on a beautiful day. Mostly on an ATV trail in Bowdoin and Sabbattus.
Exploring this year much further south than ever before, I kept pushing further and further until I knew that I was going to exhaust myself getting back. Finally arriving at a paved road, I rode a half mile down to the next intersection. Try as I might, there was no locating the intersection on my map, a page from DeLormes Atlas of Maine. Ordinarily an invaluable resource, it turned out to be practically useless today.
Not wanting to risk extending my ride even further with a wrong turn, I doubled back and re-traced my route northward through the woods, until I came to another paved road, which I was also unable to locate on the DeLormes. This time, I was reasonable sure, by the position of the sun, that the paved road was heading north, the direction I wanted to go and that it would be much faster than continuing to re-trace the ATV trail.
This turned out to be a rare good decision-an almost straight, level, mostly paved road leading back to my starting point at the Litchfield fair grounds.
When I got home, I signed onto Google maps, hoping to learn where I had been. Google had the road names right and I was able to identify where I had been. Had the road names been changed since the atlas was printed? Why would a town re-name roads?
Exploring this year much further south than ever before, I kept pushing further and further until I knew that I was going to exhaust myself getting back. Finally arriving at a paved road, I rode a half mile down to the next intersection. Try as I might, there was no locating the intersection on my map, a page from DeLormes Atlas of Maine. Ordinarily an invaluable resource, it turned out to be practically useless today.
Not wanting to risk extending my ride even further with a wrong turn, I doubled back and re-traced my route northward through the woods, until I came to another paved road, which I was also unable to locate on the DeLormes. This time, I was reasonable sure, by the position of the sun, that the paved road was heading north, the direction I wanted to go and that it would be much faster than continuing to re-trace the ATV trail.
This turned out to be a rare good decision-an almost straight, level, mostly paved road leading back to my starting point at the Litchfield fair grounds.
When I got home, I signed onto Google maps, hoping to learn where I had been. Google had the road names right and I was able to identify where I had been. Had the road names been changed since the atlas was printed? Why would a town re-name roads?
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Pure Water Ride 2014 Begins!
The Pure Water Ride is starting soon. This year we have an exciting new way for you to support improved health through pure water. Your choice of donation level and what maximum donation you would like to contribute. We will be biking up three mountains during the summer and fall of 2014.
Blue Hill in Canton, MA is the highest peak in Eastern Mass, rising to a height of 635 feet. Massachusetts gets its name from the Indians who lived in the area around blue hills whose name means 'people of the great hills'. We are asking for a donation of $5.00 for each time we ride up the access road to the top, up to the maximum number of times you chose to support.
Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, MA is the highest peak in central Massachusetts at 2006 feet. We are asking for a donation of $20.00 for every time we ride to the top, up to the maximum number of times you pledge to support.
Mt. Greylock in Adams, MA is the highest peak in Massachusetts. At 3491 feet, the summit offers dramatic views of the beautiful Berkshires. We are asking for a donation of $40.00, the cost of one water filter for a single household, if we manage to ride to the top. Due to the distance and the arduous climb, we plan only one ascent this year.
Follow our progress-check this blog throughout the season. Like to get some exercise, see some fantastic scenery, and have some fun? Then bring your bike and join us for one of these rides. Contact me at purewaterride@msn.com and we will try to find a date and time that will work. All riders must make a contribution. After all, the purpose of the pure water ride is to help provide pure, clean, healthy water to those who often have to drink dirty, contaminated, unhealthy water.
Blue Hill in Canton, MA is the highest peak in Eastern Mass, rising to a height of 635 feet. Massachusetts gets its name from the Indians who lived in the area around blue hills whose name means 'people of the great hills'. We are asking for a donation of $5.00 for each time we ride up the access road to the top, up to the maximum number of times you chose to support.
Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, MA is the highest peak in central Massachusetts at 2006 feet. We are asking for a donation of $20.00 for every time we ride to the top, up to the maximum number of times you pledge to support.
Mt. Greylock in Adams, MA is the highest peak in Massachusetts. At 3491 feet, the summit offers dramatic views of the beautiful Berkshires. We are asking for a donation of $40.00, the cost of one water filter for a single household, if we manage to ride to the top. Due to the distance and the arduous climb, we plan only one ascent this year.
Follow our progress-check this blog throughout the season. Like to get some exercise, see some fantastic scenery, and have some fun? Then bring your bike and join us for one of these rides. Contact me at purewaterride@msn.com and we will try to find a date and time that will work. All riders must make a contribution. After all, the purpose of the pure water ride is to help provide pure, clean, healthy water to those who often have to drink dirty, contaminated, unhealthy water.
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