Training Log Archive: CleverSky

On the rail trail in Groton with Nancy. Her seat was adjusted badly, but I got it better when we finished. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there's a little station by the parking lot that has a pump built into it, as well as a bunch of tools on retractable cables. Very nice touch, and there was a wrench that was exactly what I needed.

Gunstock, streamering for the Older Dash. I think I've got all the locations that I need now, these were the ones furthest from the event center. Time and distance should maybe be a bit longer than shown, because I inadvertently stopped my watch for a bit (about 300 meters), though it appears that it was just interpolated as if I were traveling in a straight line during that time, so I suppose it's close enough.

I saved myself considerable time by using my mountain bike to get up to the vicinity of where the controls were. On the way up, the bike was pretty clearly faster than I could have gone on foot, although with more effort than I would have been expending. On the way back, it was almost zero effort and much faster than almost anyone could have done running.

Fairly warm, and somewhat buggy (mostly mosquitoes), but repellent kept them at bay fairly well (they were still forming a cloud around my head). I did spend some time eating my favorite food prepared my favorite way -- they were sparse, but brought me great joy.

Weather didn't coooperate for paddling, but while we were checking out a boat launch on Lake Champlain (Vermont side), we did spot a specimen of the rare One-Legged Gull (Larus unidexter).

C • one leg 3

With Nancy, group hike at Crane Beach organized by the Trustees, timed to be at sunset and full moon rise. Took my shoes off once we got to the beach. Lovely warm evening, and a little beach fire at the end as the stars came out.

With Nancy, Merrimack from Tyngsborough to Chelmsford. Some powerboat traffic, very slightly annoying. Nice evening.

Midstate Trail from Rte. 2 to Wachusett parking lot, with Nancy. It was a little longer than this, my watch ran out of juice near the end. After we applied inect repellent, I absentmindedly tossed the can in the car instead of putting it in Nancy's pack, which was a major mistake. Nice afternoon, but the mosquitoes were ravenous (and as usual, mostly going after her). There were some FDFs, and we also found something like 10 ticks, one of which was on Winston's foot, to his great amusement (bears of his type are not very delicious to ticks).

Gunstock, mix of mountain biking and walking. The bike was definitely worthwhile, got me between areas with less effort and a lot less time than if I'd been walking, but for the last section that I did, it would not have been helpful, so I tossed it back in the car. Hot (low 90s) and pretty humid, totally draining, and this was all I could take. After having had quite a bit of water, I had no trouble draining a liter of Coke on the way home. Mosquitoes were getting bad at the and, but I only found one tick (on the seat of my car). I'm hoping that one more day out there will do it, or close to it at least.

Lake Massabesic, with Nancy, leisurely paddle at the end of the day on the west side. Forgot my watch, lifted the distance from hers.

CCW, ahead of The Dim, just a few of everybody's favorite bugs* out at the end. Felt pretty good through to the end. Not really muddy anywhere, just a bit soft in a few places, and Old City Road was mercifully dry (though the footing was still terrible). Either there's a fair bit of MTB traffic here on the weekends, or somebody raked these trails, becausenow they're really easy to follow. This appears to be a PR in terms of time, though not in terms of pace, because other times the GPS distance came out longer. Not clear why. There was a bit at the beginning when I think there was an alternate trail routing, but I don't think it made a difference in terms of length.

If we manage to get the permission issues straightened out and get a map of this place, I need to remember to hold a meet here some year the last weekend in June, because the laurel is so beautiful. Actually, Townsend State Forest is probably about the same, and we have a map there. I wonder is this is a particularly auspicious year.

C • Laurel 3