Road Roving

$3.79

2011-08-20T23:09:00.001-07:00

I'm sorry, motorists. I just had to rub it in. It only cost me $1.75 for the necessary snacks to keep me going 50 miles of uphill travel.

Road Shock

2011-07-30T19:35:00.000-07:00

I've been back in the States for about two months after almost a year of living abroad. By now, I would have expected all reverse culture shock to have faded away.
Wrong. It still amazes me that cars will actually yield for pedestrians. Granted, not all American drivers have adopted this etiquette, but it's safe to say that the pedestrian is king in most neighborhoods.
Months of winning games of chicken with incoming traffic have no value here. In the quiet northeastern suburbs, the traffic just doesn't want to play back.

La Cleta

2011-06-12T07:44:00.000-07:00

Tucked away in east Quito is La Floresta: a quiet neighborhood with an almost Bohemian flare. A roundabout stands at the heart, where bakeries, mom-and-pop shops, and small diners bring people out on the streets. There is a rock wall and two bouldering walls within walking distance, but most importantly (IMO), is one of the best coffee joints in town: La Cleta, a "bici" café. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves:

The café is less than a mile walk east from la Mariscal and a bus ride away from la Patria. The prices are decent and their cappuccinos are delicious.

Location: Calle Lugo N24-250 y Guipuzcóa, Quito, Ecuador
Hours: Mon-Sat, 15:00-23:00

When in Quito

2011-06-12T07:21:00.000-07:00

Quito, Ecuador: The capital city of Ecuador who's main roads are like gladiator arenas for vehicles. Buses quarrel with taxis who wrangle with cars who hate motorcycles and the sum of all these give pedestrians and cyclists no room to breathe. Those non-motorists who dare trespass the domain of exhaust-spitting fiends have death wishes. Several times did cars actually speed up just as I was crossing the street, only to miss me by inches.

Riding in the bus rapid transit lane--the only"safe" zone for cyclists

I didn't expect to find in this tangled mess of a city any desire to move towards more livable streets. But there is hope. There is a distinct cycling community that is getting frustrated, and is on the brink of gaining momentum. Already there are some rad initiatives that are making clear to that pedestrians and cyclists alike demand space and respect.

Every Sunday from 9am-2pm, one of the main roads is closed and transformed into a 20km bikeway. The Ciclopaseo began in 2007, in collaboration with city council and Ciclopolis--Quito's very own bike advocacy organization. For most people, this is the only time they feel safe enough to ride their bike in the city. At least there's a start.

Self-Explanatory

2011-03-27T18:58:00.001-07:00

Baños, Ecuador

2011-03-07T07:57:00.000-08:00

Slightly off-topic, but still consistent with the theme of misadventurs, this post will interest anyone visiting Ecuador.

I found myself in Baños, Ecuador- a tourist hotspot 2.5 hours from Quito. Getting there is easy: about a $2.5 bus ride from the Quitumbre station in south Quito. The Quitumbre station is accessible by the Trole- take any line south until you reach the terminal.

The first thing you'll notice on arriving to Baños is he lack of variety in its economy: the main roads are saturated with adventure businesses, all offering the same services, varying only slightly in prices. In almost every shop, you'll find the same thing: rafting, ziplining, puenting, climbing, dune-buggies, chivas, etc. After a while seeing the same type of food, artisanal goods, and adventure services in every shop becomes slightly monotonous, but at least convenience prevails. Didn't get a chance to check out that sweet-smelling taffy stand? There's guaranteed to be another two in the next corner.

Baños is best known for its natural baths and waterfalls that surround the area. Because of the high visitor volume, the baths aren't exactly the most pristine. Your experience at the baths depend on the time of the day- the earlier it is, the cleaner they'll be and the more enjoyable your visit. Some friends even told us that the early-morning wake up wasn't worth it.

Being the cyclophiles that we are, we decided that the best (and cheapest) way to spend our Saturday was to rent some bikes and ride to Puyo. Most adventure shops advertise this route as a simple, leisurely ride around the neighborhood.

Well it's not.

The 60km (35mile) -long route was tough, not because of the distance, but because of the crappy bikes. We payed $5 for mountain bikes that were on their way to extinction. Mine lacked brakes, another had a wobbly wheel and didn't shift, and there was even one whose tire blew out. The adventure agency was nice enough to give us a pump (that didn't work) and an eclectic collection of biking and equestrian helmets. I'd recommend walking around town and test-riding the bikes before taking them on a day-long ride. We didn't, so we suffered. Our bad.

The route to Puyo follows a single winding road, with enough downhills during the first half, only to climb back up again during the second half. You share the road with monster trucks and buses that speed around the curves and sometimes get too close for comfort. Whenever there is a vehicle-only tunnel, the road rewards bikers and pedestrians with a scenic cobblestone path that follows the bend of the mountain.

The thing about this route is either you go all the way to Puyo or...else. Or else you'll have to hitch a ride back. There is a small town about 1/4 of the way to Puyo that has the only bus stop back to Baños. It's hard to miss, since it's a noticeable tourist attraction, catering to those wanting to get a closer look at its waterfall. From that town onwards, it's just you and your legs fending for yourself along the long road. Be wary of dogs and take your time to enjoy some of the many beautiful views of the valley.

Don't expect much once you get to Puyo. The only exciting aspect of Puyo is the promise of an inexpensive bus trip back to Baños. And ice cream. Just be glad that you made it.

Velocio

2011-02-28T18:53:00.000-08:00

Kudos to my partner in crime for introducing me to Paul de Vivie, aka Velocio (1853-1930). This little-known man left his legacy in the cycling world--for perfecting the art of riding a bicycle. His wikipedia page credits him as being the father of French bicycle touring and randonneuring. Velocio was one of the first and few who wrote about the freedom of riding. I'm sure he'll agree when I say that biking is probably the closest thing anyone can get to flying.

His seven commandments for the cyclist:

1 - Haltes rares et courtes, afin de ne pas laisser tomber la pression.
2 - Repas légers et fréquents : manger avant d'avoir faim, boire avant d'avoir soif.
3 - Ne jamais aller jusqu'à la fatigue anormale qui se traduit par le manque d'appétit et de sommeil.
4 - Se couvrir avant d'avoir froid, se découvrir avant d'avoir chaud et ne pas craindre d'exposer l'épiderme au soleil, à l'air, à l'eau.
5 - Rayer de l'alimentation, au moins en cours de route, le vin, la viande et le tabac.
6 - Ne jamais forcer, rester en dedans de ses moyens, surtout pendant les premières heures où l'on est tenté de se dépenser trop parce qu'on se sent plein de forces.
7 - Ne jamais pédaler par amour-propre

1. Keep your stops short and few.
2. Eat before you're hungry, drink before you're thirsty.
3. Never get too tired to eat or sleep.
4. Add a layer before you're cold, take one off before you're hot.
5. Lay off wine, meat and tobacco on tour.
6. Ride within yourself, especially in the first hour.
7. Never show off.

Boston-NJ 2010

2010-08-17T21:24:00.000-07:00

The saga continues! This year, three brave contenders- Melody, Paul, and one we'll refer to as "Chillywag"- will continue the Boston touring tradition. The twitter will provide instant updates, mainly to calm our concerned parents. Nevertheless, twitter.com/allezmelo should let you know where and how we are along the trip. Or you can just come to this page and read it on the sidebar. Whatever works.

(quasi-unrelated pic) Somewhere in MA. pictured: Foxy and Black Mamba

Hacking the Earthships

2010-08-11T13:01:00.000-07:00

"The Phoenix" for sale for $1.5m. interested?

Earthships are passive solar homes made out of natural and recycled materials that allow theirs residents to live off-grid. It's a fascinating concept, and 40 years ago, an architect named Michael Reynolds decided to experiment with various designs to optimize its different functions. Today, there are numerous earthships worldwide. Since off-grid homes are ideal in regions without utilities, there have been some Earthship projects in developing countries.

For a house to be considered an earthship, it must feature water harvesting, solar and wind power, natural and recycled materials, thermal mass heating/cooling, food production, and internalized sewage system. The end product is a house that has minimal energy bills. It's all pretty nifty, especially for hippies and miscellanous people seeking an alternative lifestyle.

APPLICATION

I first heard about Earthships when I saw the documentary, "Garbage Warrior." After visiting their website, I learned of their internships, To apply, you must follow the guidelines listed on their website and submit an application well in advance--at least 6-8 months before the session you intend to attend. I first submitted my application for July in December, and learned (after not hearing from them for a while) that the session was already full. Fast-forward to April, I receive an email telling me that some interns dropped out and there was room for more. and two months later, I was in a car with my great accomplice on our way to Taos, NM.

There was a period of frustration prior to arriving Taos. The office is short-staffed so email replies are infrequent and it's nearly impossible to get ahold of anybody. My biggest concern was how we were going to survive the month in Taos. The program doesn't provide food nor lodging during the intern session, so interns must fend for themselves. I should note that for $400/month, there is housing for interns, but you still have to buy food. No way. That's more than I would've spend a month on any vacation. So we decided to camp. Sounds easy enough, except for the fact that I am used to camping out in the northeast- trees, mosquito, water, etc etc. not in the desert of New Mexico. Not to mention that one of the staff stressed that it was "very difficult" camping out, as there are rattlesnakes and no water. To be honest, I was expecting relying on my survival skills to pull it through. Never would I have guessed in being so easy.

SHELTER

Someday, someone will finish this chicken coop.

We camped on the Earthship Greater World Community, not far from the visitor center. There is a flat area available for those want to camp. There is a fire pit and bits of log thrown around for firewood. We felt safe leaving our tents up while we went to the work site. The only danger was getting it ripped out of the ground by the strong winds that roll around in the afternoon.

Other interns camped in Carson National Forest. It is located higher in altitude and has vegetation akin to the Jersey barrens-- it's a forest. Trees and et cetera. An advantage is that there is a running creek close to some campsites. The donwside is that it is a 30-45 minute commute from the Earthship headquarters. (And did I mention that there was a murder close to an intern's campsite the first week we were there?)

Someone brought his RV and did the RV thing at the RV park located about 5 miles from the visitor center. It's not my scene, but they do have showers...

side view of the "Angel's Nest"

The intern housing is several minutes away from the visitor center in the "Angel's Nest" (or "the Hive" I think they're still playing around with a good name.) --By the way, that link takes you to an old youtube video about the old Angel's Nest. Try not to puke--The building is an Earthship catastrophe and a big, pink enigma. It is what remains of a multimillionaire's cockamamie investment in a pseudo-yoga retreat. Originally a functional Earthship, a millionaire purchased it so his wife could have an illusion of spiritual awakening, or something idiotic of the like. People paid hundreds of dollars to spend a week in this house, sleeping in tiny rooms and doing weird yoga during the day. While you're there ask somebody about the "body condoms." Yeah-it gets pretty weird. The worst part is that the millionaire couple made some expensive additions that compromised the Earthship's functionality, leaving a building that gets too hot during the day, too cold at night, and looks like some type of extraterrestrial poop.

I digress, there is a kitchen, (but no refridgerator) so interns must bring a cooler too keep their food from spoiling. There is wireless inside the building, so it comes in handy if you can't stay away from Facebook. I'm sure that there are other aspects of the Angel's nest that I am not familiar with because we didn't want to pay to live anywhere. It is another source of income for the company, but we were not ready to dig deep in our wallets for this trip.

TL;DR Do what we did and camp at the Greater World, It's easy, cheap, and you have coyotes as your neighbours and an excellent view 24/7.

WATER

Our water situation could not have gotten more convenient. There is a rest stop 1.5 miles down the road next to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. It has plumbing. Toilets and a water pump. Nice.

FOOD

My accomplice stocked up on canned foods for this trip. We ate at our campsite almost every day, except for when we wanted to take a break from canned chicken. Check the "food" section of the previous post for tips on dining out in Taos. ProTip: Sid's Food Market, located on the main street is apparently dumpster diver-friendly. The store closes at 8pm. Arrive at least 30 minutes in advance to collect their goods. Some interns went to see what they could find, but came back empty-handed.

WEATHER

Taos has fairly predictable weather. It is sunny an average of 300 days/year. We were there for the month of July. During the day, the temperature waivered in the 90s, but the temperature dropped by about 20° at night. Strong winds enter in the afternoon and seem to spin around on the mesa before they move beyond the distant mountains or dissipate. At times, these winds bring in rainclouds that may or may not burst as they cross the mesa. These often leave with the winds. When you're lucky they throw hail. By nightfall, expect a clear night and stars stretching across the sky.

When the sun didn't wake us up in the morning, it was the heat. The air inside our tent heats up very quickly in the morning. Sometimes I woke up sweating in my sleeping bag. Gross.

TL;DR, Hot by day, cold at night, lots of wind and sometimes hail.

THE WORK

It's all manual labour that can be adjusted depending on your skill level. What you do depends on what phase of construction is the worksite. The interns that have done previous work in construction did some carpentry on the site. We all became well acquainted with mixing cement and adobe plaster and mortar.The crew tries to expose its interns with as much variety as possible- which wasn't much more than laying bottle-walls, plastering, digging, mixing, pounding tires, making basic installations.

If you wanted to learn anything, you have to ask the foreman or crew. Interns do have classroom time, but it is only one hour a week (and not the first week..for whatever reason). For a four week session, we spent 3 hours learning, and about 127 hours working. There is something to be said about what you might learn through the hands-on experience you receive on site. But let's get real, "volunteering" is a more appropriate title to what we were doing.

I recommend the 'internship' to anyone who has a month to spare and who won't mind the opportunity cost of giving free manual labour. Don't get me wrong, it is rewarding, especially when you see how the site progresses during the week. There is a solid familial bond between everyone in the crew and they make sure to include you in their greater Earthship family. There are very interesting individuals who dedicate their entire lives to Earthships. It is definitely worthwhile going back there for another round of beers.

in the Land of Enchantment: Taos, NM

2010-08-10T11:26:00.000-07:00

From here on forth, allezmelo will be designated for travel bugs only. Sticking true to the adventurous theme of allezmelo, the entries that follow will cover my latest excursion to the great mesa of Taos, NM. I spent a month down there with my beloved friend. It will be impossible to document all that we've seen in a single entry. Even this entry is pretty lenghty, but I chopped it into different sections.

The drive from El Paso to Taos was an experience on it's own. Before this summer, I've never left the shady groves of the east coast. I couldn't stop taking pictures once we entered the "Land of Enchantment". As we neared Taos, the highway turned to state road NM68 which cut through the valleys of northern New Mexico. It was a scenic drive through sage-spotted hills, with a couple of small towns in between. A trio of tepees welcomed us to the southern branch of Taos.

Driving down US HWY 64 (a.k.a. "Paseo del Pueblo Norte") takes you straight through the hub of town. Once we passed the WalMarts, Wendy's and McDonald's, the road suddenly changed-- traffic slowed down and pedestrians popped out of hidden alleys. We passed the town plaza, where the streets are lined with adobe galleries, boutiques, and restaurants. Tourists were everywhere. California, Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Texas, Kansas, Massachussetts, we saw license plates from all over the place. People drove hundreds of miles to wander through the mysterious town of Taos. A mile down the road, kitschy shops came down to a trickle and cowfields interrupted the line of stores and supermarkets. We were on our way to the Mesa.

About four miles down, we hit the Ole Blinking Light, a four-way intersection that decides whether you enter the Taos Ski Valley, the mesa, go straight back to town, or leave Taos for the next town over, some 20 miles away. We made a left and headed to the mesa, where it seems that everything goes and no one really cares. Homes were sparce, save for the litter of trailer homes that appeared every now and then between sagebrush. Several miles ahead, we saw a steel cantilever bridge that connects the land divided by a 700-foot gorge carved by the Rio Grande. (Appropriately named the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge.) Vendors were set up on the roadside to add to the roadside curiosities. They were selling the same things you'd find in town- cowboy hats, turquoise jewelry, wooden carvings, emu oil, and "really good jerky." A colorful old schoolbus, dubbed the "Hippy Bus," sold ice cream and coffee. Not reccomended, unless you want to donate some bucks to the hippies who live in it. For the price of a scoop of ice cream, you can buy a pint of the same exact ice cream at a WalMart. Not a bad business plan- resell scoops of ice cream for the price you paid for the gallon.

View from one side of the gorge. Notice the clouds.

There were two men with leathery brown skin sitting at a booth selling jewelry. I poked around their display tables and started conversation when one of them tried to convince me to buy something I didn't need. I asked him how long he's been making jewelry- "since always." I caught him say something in spanish and then I asked him where he was from. He replied that he was from Taos. Thinking that he didn't understand my question, I asked him where he learned spanish. But he insisted- he was a Taoseño. "Spanish is my language." He was born in Taos, raised in Taos, and will die in Taos, but spanish is his language. It struck me how deep the history of the southwest has soaked into the daily lives of the locals. Any other place in the country, people would identify that their family came from Mexico and passed the language to the next generation. Here was this guy, an American from Amurikah, asserting that spanish is his language. It's something I wouldn't expect in a place where you see "You're in America- speak English" bumper stickers flying around.

Another 1.5 miles and we noticed a pair of buildings by the road sticking out from the flatness of the mesa. They looked like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. We had arrived at the Earthship's visitor center. For the next month, we would be setting our camp about 500 feet from the visitor center. For the next month, these odd-shaped buildings marked the entrance to our home.

Enough of this long introduction. Needless to say, we learned a lot about Taos during our stay. On to more travel-related topics:

The town plaza is where you collect your Taos mementos. Many shops sell crafts allegedly made by the Pueblo Indians (After all, the Taos Pueblo is located 5 miles from town), but these will cost you a pretty penny. There was a nifty store (Seconds Ecostore) in the historic John Dunn Plaza that sold goods made out of recycled materials. I later learned that the owner's husband works full-time for Earthships. According to a brochure I picked up, 30% of the Taos population are artists, which explains why every other store is an art gallery. I never do more than window shop, but it's pleasant walking around, nonetheless.

FOOD

We had a meager budget, but when ramen and canned food didn't satisfy our foodie tastes, there were a few places that relieved our cravings. The SuperSave discount foods store, located south of town had a wide selection of hispanic/mexican foods. During the day a tortilla machine prepares freshly-made warm tortillas. In the evening, they mark down the price of prepared foods. You can buy a good-sized chicharron burrito for no more than a buck. There is a yellow tamale truck parked permanently in the corner of the parking lot where you can satisfy your tamale/burrito/torta needs for relatively cheap.

If you're looking to dine out, skip all the restaurants and go to Doc Martin's. I gague good food on how many days/weeks/months after the meal I salivate thinking about it. Doc Martin's is it. With rattlesnake-rabbit sausages, elk burger, and bison steak, it has a menu for any exotic pallate. Their duck and goat cheese quesadilla with pumpkin mole was exquisite. The bonus: If you go between 5:00pm-6:30pm, you get a free entree (salad or chili).

It may seem unsurprising that Doc Martin's would shine after weeks of eating canned tuna, but we also ate at Michael's Kitchen Cafe and Bakery after a friend's recommendation. This place was more like a diner than any cafe and bakery I've ever visited. The restaurant is highly rated but the plate didn't meet my expectations. I wasn't convinced. Ultimately, it comes down to a matter of quantity over quality.

TAOS PUEBLO (http://www.taospueblo.com/)

This is what Taos is known for, and this is its primary source of inspiration. Native American influence is found everywhere, from kitschy tourists traps to fine art galleries. Wikipedia cites that 1,900 Pueblo people are living there today. They held a powwow during the time we were there, so we went to check it out. Everyone, including toddlers, were decked in bright colors, bells and feathers. Outside the performances, there was not much. Vendors circled the powwow with food and crafts and even more kitsch, but all was forgiven. They have to make money somehow.

We went to the pueblo on a cloudy day. Only a section is open to the general public. The rest is closed to non-members. There were small family-owned shops selling even more trinkets and mutts running around everywhere, with some curious white foks poking about. The Pueblo was old and tired. It felt as if the it couldn't stop sighing. The overcast made our visit a even more depressing. One of the shops had bare walls with beaded necklaces hanging on nails on one side, and some bags of horno-baked bread sitting on a table against the other side. At the entrance sat an elderly lady who sat like a statue and reminded me of a modern-day living ent. We gave her $4 and walked away with a slice of her homemade cherry pie. You don't say 'no' to anyone who resembels the ghost of your grandmother. As we stepped out from her shop a mutt jogged up to us. I took one look at him and my heart broke even more. Its left eye was infected. There was an oozing green and pink orb rolling around in its socket.

We walked around the perimeter but didn't stay too long at the pueblo.

HOT SPRINGS

There are several natural hot springs along the Rio Grande in Taos. I won't disclose their location for fear of spilling a local secret--they're not really advertised in any of the tourist brochures. However, anybody who lives there knows where they are, and Google probably has a plethora of information about them anyways. Ojo Caliente is the other set of hot springs. The town revolves around the resort and spa that was built around them. For only $20 you can sit in hot pools with other people. After weeks of living in the desert and doig manual labour, Ojo Caliente was a soothing escape. But I still would rather hike down to the Rio Grande and have a hot pool to myself. The view is unmatched.

THE MESA

The Mesa has a culture of its own. It attracted a filmaker to summarize the area and its people in an exaggerated documentary, Off the Grid: Life on the Mesa (released 2007). It is worthwile mentioning that while some of the people interviewed for the documentary do exist, the majority of those who live on the mesa just want to have an unconventional lifestyle. What is true is that the Mesa has a "Las Vegas effect" where what happens on the mesa stays on the mesa.

We picked up a hitchiker who told us he was 17, but looked no younger than 21 on our way to town one day. He hitchiked to Taos from Florida the previous year for the Rainbow Gathering. --Y'all are working for Earthships for free? Why? You're living in a tent? Sounds like you guys aren't well off, I can help you guys out, if you want. Sayyy, d'you guys need bud?-- says the 17-year-old with a 3-year old son in Florida. Plenty of irony in the fact that he pitied us, but all in good spirit. Told us that if we ever want anything, just wait in front of a downtown coffeeshop and someone will have what we're looking for us. Anything. Also told us that a we could buy a half acre of land on the mesa for $400. And that he's selling his van for $600, in case we were interested. Our exchange with the hitchiker is much more accurate than a 68-minute documentary.

Taos can be summarized in a comment another intern made- Taos is cool, but it does have a creepy side. Two murders and at least one suicide (off the Gorge Bridge) occurred while we were in town. Not to mention that a fellow intern was chased by a chainsaw while he was visiting a friend. Taos is a center of cultural and historical richness, but it does has its sinister side.

Nonetheless, the mystique and beauty of Taos is in its landscape. I miss being able to escape the busy noise of town and find tranquility in the desert. I miss watching sunset in a 360° panoramic spectacle of light against the mountains. I miss listening to the chorus of coyotes and seeing the milky way and the billion stars, and feeling infinite and insignificant against the grandeur of the natural world.

Next time on...

2009-09-06T21:36:00.000-07:00

I'm terrible at doing follow ups. School came up from behind and abducted me without my realizing it.

To put a long story short, the trip to NJ was more than successful; "I would do it again in a heartbeat" as my great accomplice, Paul, so said it. Details to follow (someday)

To put a developing story short: Harbor to the Bay- September 12

Same starting line, different endpoint. We're going to Provincetown on an AIDS benefit ride. Do help (if you can) with a small $$ donation. OR in moral support. Either or is fine by me. Hooray, more adventures.

Another happy tidbit: Boston patched up my bone of contention by making new bike lanes on the dam by the Museum of Science. The traffic became dangerous on the bridge and the available sidewalk seemed to be a mere accessory. Its narrow width made it inadequate to accommodate the sweaty joggers, lost museum-goers, dawdling stroller-pushers, and flustered bikers that made those 50 meters a living hell. Thanks, Boston. This was long overdue.

The Official Txt-to-Tweet-to Blog Feed

2009-07-31T06:14:00.000-07:00

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The Route

2009-07-30T08:25:00.001-07:00

View Boston to NYC....er NJ in a larger map

321

2009-07-29T13:05:00.000-07:00

It is hot and humid and I'm leaving in three (count them: THREE) days.

The pre-departure saga hasn't gained much in preparation. Some sunny days, some crummy days, some good rides and some bad, overall having a net zero gain.

I successfully recruited a friend to ride home to NJ. He's coming to Boston on the Eve and we're leaving as early as possible on the Day. I doubt we'll see any setbacks as far as getting to the starting line. So that's a plus.

On the downside, the bike's back tire mysteriously popped last week. I took it to a shop to get it changed and also to get a crash course on changing tires and the like. When I nonchalantly mentioned the trip, Bike Dude stops his work and mumbles something about getting a new bike. I asked him if my bike would make it all the way and he goes, "aueahh...I mean sure, why not? back in the day people did all sorts of trips on worse bikes...with fixed gears and...sure"

"Would you do it on this bike?"

"AhhhhhI'd get a new one."

So I guess that means filling half of my cargo with tubes, tools, and patch kits. I've also been running around trying to find a bike rack. Maybe I should just bring some cash to buy a new bike.....just in case.

I spent the rest of my morning typing up cues from the GoogleMaps and bikely routes. Paul has his GPS, but nothing compares to having directions on paper and tucked away in a sports bra. If all goes well, we'll be moving 80 mi/day and getting home on the third day. There'll be two ferries, one night of stealth camp, and one night at a friend's place in Long Island.

Oh, speaking of which...who knew Long Island was so.......long?

Wikipedia did:

Both the longest and the largest island in the contiguous United States, Long Island extends 118 miles (190 km) from New York Harbor, and has a maximum width of 23 miles (37 km) between the northern (Long Island Sound) coast and the southernAtlantic coast. With an area of 1,401 square miles (3,629 km²), Long Island is the 11th largest in the United States, and the148th largest island in the world. The land area of Long Island is larger than that of the state of Rhode Island and larger than any U.S. territory except Puerto Rico.

That would explain why 2/3 of the entire ride is in Long Island.

Ouch

2009-07-09T20:04:00.000-07:00

This post is not a storytale. Just a bunch of disjointed remarks, nothing more nothing less.

After 7 months of cruising on Beacon St, I decided to change the scenery- took the week off to go to North Jersey. Part of the reason why I bussed south was to visit the family and the other part was so I could take advantage of the trails that litter Sussex County. I figured I should comfort my inner woodland creature and bike through dirt and mud- as a way to reassure myself one month before takeoff.

But there's nothing more comforting than wanting to revert to the fetus position at the base of a nearly vertical climb. The flat, paved roads of Boston have spoiled me to the core. My thighs right now stopped responding. I've even renamed them. My left is Misery and my right is Anguish. So yes, "Ouch"...ouch is right.

Besides my new dependency on pain relievers, I had a stupendous ride today. I did an out-and-back of the Sussex Branch Trail- which follows what used to be a railroad path. The route totalled about 40 miles on dirt and mud, but it felt like 400 when including the route to and from the trailhead.

It took me a while before I found a decent route of the Sussex Branch Trail on Google, but I did stumble on some interesting sites:

www.traillink.com

Maps of the SBT and the Paulinskill Trail

Kittatinny Valley State Park (from the NJDEP)

For the record, let it be known that this post is also my response that cute thing people say: "New Jersey? What's in New Jersey?" The state has a HUGE backyard to its notorious turnpike. I'm almost ashamed to say that I forgot how many animals run around on the streets. A black bear greeted me on my first day home. Granted, it was in our neighbour's yard, but the last bear I've seen was stuffed and in a museum. I saw a generous number of deer...enough to make me wonder why we don't see venison on the market, Deer is delicious AND they don't know how to look both ways before crossing. I also saw a fair share of cute furry rodents. one red bird, one blue bird, four bikers and two cats.

I commend my dad's bike for its plushie seat, lightweight frame and smooth cruising. Its gears mastered the 90° inclines that seem to dominate the neighborhood. Great bikes like these almost make me think that my decade-old, $10, greasy purple Garage Sale mountain bike is obsolete. But of course, I'm just being seduced by this shiny blue one. I'm totally bringing the plushie seat back to Boston with me.

by the way...Berries are EVERYWHERE. They've saved me before and saved me again when I was becoming delirious. If you're ever spending time in the woods in the NE zone, look out for mulberries (June/July), blueberries (mid-June-August) and blackberries (July/August)

As summarized in these two pics, NJ is a juxtaposition of noxious chemicals and natural beauty.

and terrible suburban graffiti....

The Route

2009-07-01T19:24:00.000-07:00

thanks to bikely.com

Boston-New York City 2007.05.09-11

Share your bike routes @ Bikely.com

Bicycle Dreams Trailer

2009-06-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

Walden Pond: check

I am long ways away. 50 mi for next Saturday

I think I can.

"I stand in awe of my body"

2009-06-06T07:08:00.001-07:00

For having a completely clean medical record after almost 12 years of living in the polluted state of jersey, after rolling with the horses, train beds, and gypsy-punks of the French countryside, after spending a summer under the canopy of mosquito jungles, quite literally eating monkey poo, after living exclusively on the 5-second rule and a "what-won't-kill-you-makes-you-stronger" maxim. All of a sudden my body takes a swerve during my first summer in Boston and succumbs to the New England pollen. I am currently a walking snot machine. I mean, it's either allergies or I contracted the swine flu--which would make me feel like total badass were it not so improbable.

Anyways, today is Week II (or Day 2). I was scheduled for an early morning bike run but it's already 11:00 am, so everything's moved up 4 hours. I've been wanting to go to Walden Pond for a while. So I went online and found a handy 40 mi route that uses the Minuteman Trail on www.bikely.com.

And here are my Walk-thru notes that will guide me through tomorrow's ride. Note the lack of details. I'll be depending on my awesome photographic memory, but mostly my reliable phonebook contacts.

START AT BU BRIDGE (Cambridge-Side)

1. Take Memorial Drive west along the Charles

1.a Continue past JFK Bridge

1.b continue past Arsenal Bridge

2. RIGHT on N Beacon St

2.a [6.6 mi] Mt Auburn/ N Beacon intersection

3. Continue on N Beacon St --> Main St

4. RIGHT on Lyman St [9.4 mi]

5. LEFT on Beaver St (taking the Rotary)

6. RIGHT on Lexington St [10.3 mi]

7. LEFT on Totten Pond Rd

7.a Continue on Totten Pond-- road turns into Winter St at [11.5 mi]

7.b Follow Winter St. through Rt 128

7.c Continue on Winter St around the Cambridge Reservoir

7.d Winter St. bends left at around [13.5 mi], and intersects Old Country Rd.

7.e Winter St. bends right at [14 mi]

8. LEFT on Trapelo Rd.

8.a Intersects Bedford/Lincoln Rd

8.b Trapelo turns to Sandy Pond Rd at [15.8 mi]

9. LEFT at Baker Bridge Rd [16 mi (?)]

10. RIGHT on Concord Rd/Rt 126 [17.5 mi]

11. WALDEN POND at mile 18.

12. Continue north on Rt 126/Concord Rd/ WALDEN ST

12.a Crosses Concord Turnpike/2A

13. LEFT on Thoreau St

14. RIGHT on Sudbury Rd [19.7 mi]

15. Merge (RIGHT) on Main St/ Rt 62

16. Slight LEFT on Lexington Rd

17. RIGHT on Bedford St./ Rt 62

17.a Continue (left/north) onto SOUTH BEDFORD St/ Rt 62

17.b Countinue South Bedford onto CONCORD Rd

18. RIGHT on Hartwell Rd [23.4 mi]

19. LEFT on South Rd [25 mi]

20. RIGHT ON MINUTEMAN BIKEWAY [25.2 mi]

21. END MINUTEMAN BIKEWAY [35.2 mi]

21.a Mere to Cambridgepark Way ( go around parking lot)

22. LEFT on Cambridgepark Dr. (around parking lot)

23. RIGHT on Alewife Brook Pkway/Rt3/Rt16/Rt2 [35.4 mi]

24. LEFT on Concord Ave (taking the Rotary) [36 mi]

25. RIGHT on Garden St [37.3 mi]

26. RIGHT on Mason St

27. LEFT on James St

28. LEFT on Brattle St

ARRIVE TO HARVARD SQ.

............

Wish me luck

And so it begins

2009-06-06T07:07:00.000-07:00

I don't regularly blog.

But sometimes an idea needs a ground, albeit a digital one, to take its roots and grow into whatever metaphorical plant it chooses to take.

Anyways, I've set my mind on taking my/(a) bike south to New York City this summer. I'm known (to myself) to start projects and forget about them halfway through. Given that I only have the first week in August to pedal 300-400 miles, and that this is as close to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as my little mind can envision, I figured this is one of the few instances where not only determination but preparation is absolutely necessary.

In other words, I can't half-ass this project. The last thing I want is ending up with a flat tire in Dildo, Newfoundland, though I would be as impressed with myself as I would be fucked.

So, first post.

So far what have I done?

First training ride last saturday:

26 miles loop to Waltham, MA via the Greenway.

...next one to come next saturday.

Road Roving

$3.79

Road Shock

La Cleta

When in Quito

Self-Explanatory

Baños, Ecuador

Velocio

Boston-NJ 2010

Hacking the Earthships

in the Land of Enchantment: Taos, NM

Next time on...

The Official Txt-to-Tweet-to Blog Feed

On the road....

The Route

321

Ouch

The Route

Bicycle Dreams Trailer

"I stand in awe of my body"

And so it begins