Winter Cross Training

After a rather mild December, winter welcomed us with alternating snow and freezing rain and days of deep freeze. The streets and roads have been treacherous for driving and even walking. Bicycling was definitely out. The worst part was not being able to get any outdoor exercise at all. Greatfully this past weekend I was able to get to Fahnestock State Park and enjoy some Cross Country or Nordic Skiing. Combining Cross Country Skiing with another form of indoor exercise should keep me fit through the winter and ready for the bicycling season. Actually this being the first time skiing this season it was more straining than training.

Bicycle Lancaster, Pa.

'Experience Intercourse' was how the New York Chapter of AMC boldly titled a bicycling trip. As you can imagine, it got my attention and my lustful imagination. But in much smaller letters just below was 'Pennsylvania' which I, somehow did not notice until I had already registered. However it was a wonderful weekend of bicycling. I met some great people, ate some Penn Dutch food and got sticky buns from Intercourse Pennsylvania.

Singapore's Out Island

August 2001, I jumped at the opportunity to work in Singapore. I was motivated more by the opportunity to bicycle on weekends there, than furthering my career. I have my prioroities. This weekend we boarded a Bumboat to Palau Ubin. We rode the Island's dirt road through dense forests which seperated the villages. Singaporeans' food obsessed reputation is true. Every village we passed had a square with a food court. Each village had their own local speciality, all were exceptionally well prepared. You might say we bicycled food court to food court. If only Club Centuries had food like this at their rest stops.

A Tale of two Votes

It was the worst of times, It was the best of times. It was a long cold spell in early March 2007 when temperatures were in the teens. We were discussing plans for the family's annual Spring Holiday. I suggested we head West where there was good Spring Skiing as there wasn't any good snow in the Northeast. Other members had their own ideas. Being a good natured person and naive to a plot that had been hatched, I suggested we vote on it, secret ballots, everyone write on a piece of paper their destination choice. I lost, by two votes. I'm not a gracious loser, but in this case, hey, It's dirty job but somebody has to do it.

The Tour de France in French

Since Lance left the Tour de France American interest has declined but the French have figured how to 'arouse' American interest in it again.

Aquebogue and Jamesport

Out in the east end of Long Island the summer rental crowds are gone and everything seems to return to its bucolic state. The trees, compared to the Catskill Mountains are not as showy with their colors, the sandy beaches and the gold brown seagrass of the salt marshes all add to the tranquility. These photos were taken along my bicycle route from Aquebogue to Jamesport and Mattituck.

Bethpage State Park

This path runs from the middle of the Island in Bethpage to the south shore village of Massapequa New York, paralleling the southern section of the Nassau-Suffolk Greenbelt Trail. Despite the fact that it is in the heart of a densely populated area, it provides a quiet, bucolic environment that is rare in this part of the island. The northern starting point of the path is the Bethpage State Park picnic area.

Back To The East End

Back to the East End of Long Island this weekend, back to beaches, farms, vineyards and flat roads. The sun is setting earlier as winter is slowly but surly coming. Retuning later than expected from my ride I couldn't pass up the opportunity to capture the changing colors of the setting sun reflecting off the Peconic Bay. I paid the penality for stopping. My legs stiffened and my fingers numbed from the cold as I struggled to maintain a pace during the last few miles toward home. It's not too soon to plan for an alternative to my bicycling weekends. Door Number One or Door Number Two

Catskills Fall Foliage

The date of this MTB ride in Minnewaska State Park Preserve was agreed upon several months in advance. However no amount of planning assures that you will see the fall foliage at its peak. We got lucky as the colors and the weather couldn't be better. Minnewaska Preserve is part of the Shawangunk Ridge located in a sparsely populated area in the Catskills. The carriage trails provide the most spectacular views. The Nature Conservancy has designated the preserve as one of the "75 Last Great Places on Earth".

North Fork Pumpkin Picking

It's mid Fall, as I bicycle pass the farms they are full of families with children picking pumpkins and losing each other in the tall corn stalk mazes. Most pumpkins are made into jack-o-lanterns and with stacks of hay and corn stalks used as decorations for halloween and the fall season.