Village Park Chill Out The Year

Me and Jesse.... froze our butts off.     But I did clear my mental block regarding the jump on Ridge Trail...piece of cake, frozen cake that is.

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Village Park Mud

Took Jesse out for some mud jumping.  He forgot about the jumping part.  Although given how much rain we had yesterday, the trails were in pretty decent shape.  Gave me a chance to track a couple of the newly cut trails for the map.  Should be ready for the January 2014 release!

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Big Bad Barrington Hike

Jesse and I took our fav for a walk on the trails behind the YMCA.  Brickyard Pond area.  A little mushy but not too bad.  Nice walking trails.

I quote... "Why didn't anyone tell me about this place?"    ...hmmm

Happy Trails,
OMMB

A Crunchy Roll - Village Park

Took Jesse for a little fat burner... burned a little fat... very little.  Crunchy dirt and ice conditions did not pose a problem.  About 5-ish miles at a slow pace.  

BB crashed, so no complete track recorded. Boo.

Tidbit:  The elves have been back to work...some new cut throughs and other trail options of technical nature (tried one drop trail by accident!)   ...good stuff!

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Ice has gone, get pedaling... Village Park

Me and Jesse finally got out again.  Conditions were good...that is, good winter conditions.  Hardpack grippy snow with some icy spots, but not too dangerous.  Bridges were a little sketchy though. No issues.

GPS Track:  http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/278307277/3798052

So I'm about 40 rides short of last years total.  Think I can make it up before January?  Right.

Happy Trails,
OMMB

First snow ride - Big River

• Trailhead: Hopkins Hill
• Riders: OMMB  and 8 others
• Miles: 10
• Temp: 25
• Trail Conditions: inch or two of snow in places, not bad
• GPS Track:

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Big River is... slippery when wet!

• Place:Big River
• Trailhead:Greasy Joe's
• Riders: Tom, Mike, OMMB
• Miles:9-ish
• Weather: rainy, humid
• Trail Conditions: wet leaves, wet roots, wet rocks, wet bridges
• Technical Level: high... these guys kill me, still sore after 2 days
• Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets:  an Oh Sheet by OMMB, followed Tom and Mike over a drop, but went left when should have gone right... straight down endo front flip... good times.
• GPS Track:

Tidbits:  oh and 3 weeks off,  too long!

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Village Park - Hey Jesse...you're getting flabby!

• Riders: OMMB and Jesse Dog

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Big River

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OMMB

Village Park

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OMMB

Village Park

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OMMB

Zipping through the Village

• Riders with OMMB: bob, matt, jim
• Miles:8
• Weather:clear
• Temp:32-24
• Trail Conditions: dry

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Hey Bob!

Notes: Now that the morning temps have returned to the 30's (34 at ride time today), Bob is back for his pilgrimage to the trails for the Winter.  He welcomed me with a blazing fast tight turning sprint through the woods for around 7 or more miles.   Um, Bob... you ain't on the road no more, slow down and smell the... leaves!

Tidbits: Scott and Sol joined us for a bit too... good times.

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Big River

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Village Park

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/261174648/3798052

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Big River Hike

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OMMB

Big River

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OMMB

Massasoit

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OMMB

Big River

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OMMB

Arcadia

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Village Park

http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/2446901

Happy Trails, OMMB

Village Park

http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/2443314

Happy Trails, OMMB

Big River

http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/2441538

Happy Trails, OMMB

Village Park

http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/2439296

Happy Trails, OMMB

Village Park

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/250008441/3798052

Happy Trails, OMMB

Big River

http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/2438132

Happy Trails, OMMB

Big River

http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/2433086

Happy Trails, OMMB

Big River

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/247457335/3798052

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Village Park

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/246830593/3798052

Happy Trails,
OMMB

Middletown, RI

Happy Trails,

OMMB

17 rides logged here!

Ok...it's November 11 and here's a lame bail out post......between September 11th and October 25th, I rode on Sep 11, 12, 17, 18, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30 and Oct 1, 4, 8, 10, 13, 22, 24.

So I obviously have had a hard time keeping up with my rides.   What I plan to do, starting with this ride, is post the link to my track and maybe some pertinent notes.  This will at least help me keep track of ride history.

Here's the first of my "Tweeter version" rides...

http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/244567190/3798052

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Stowe Vermont Day 2 - Ride 2 - Sterling Forest

Pretty interesting area. Has a self guided historical hike route if you feel so inclined.  Also a nice gorge to hike along for some sight seeing.  The bike trails were a bit shabby in areas and markers were a bit tough to follow.  But Stowe Mtn Bike Club is working this area and I'm sure it will be just as well maintained as the other areas they oversee.   Also hosts the site of the yearly pond jump event.

Check out the slide show...







Happy Trails,
OMMB

Stowe Vermont Day 2 - Ride 1 - Adam's Camp

• Place: Adam's Camp, Stowe VT
• Trailhead: Ranch Brook Rd

Notes: This is excellent loop tucked in an area just north of and shared with the Trapp Family Trails. Maintained by the Stowe Mtn Bike Club and well marked on their map.  A very steep climb at the trailhead, but after that just continue up Derby (take a left at the bench) to Hardy Haul.  Take either of the Double Bypass routes to Ranch Camp, take a right back up to Kimmer's...my favorite trail here.  Kimmer's takes you back to the bench near the trailhead.  This loop offers a great variety, including climbs and bridges. Loves it!




Happy Trails,

OMMB

Stowe Vermont Day 1 - Cady Hill Forest

Notes:  Jesse and I escaped up to Stowe to take care of some trail scoping...our first ride was Cady Hill, aka Town Loops.  This place is nicely maintained by the Stowe Mountain Bike Club.  There are some new areas still under construction and I unintentionally got stuck on one of them heading back to the trailhead.  Other than avoiding the new construction... ALL GOOD!  I will be back!

Tidbits:  Didn't get a good GPS signal at first, so the track is manually filled in as best I recall.  I recommend buying the 10 dollar map from local shops in Stowe.  Trails ridden were Climb to Squirrel Land and Green Chair.  Then Arynn's Loop, down Bridgey, up Zog's, then Schween Haus Loop (Inner).   I returned on Cady Hill Road but ran into the new construction area...connected over to Arynn's Loop with some hike-a-bike.  Returned to parking lot via Green Chair and Bear's Trail (fun downhill!).

My edited track:

New stuff.

Break time!

Very well marked area.

What's a Zog?

Working end of the trail building business!

Camp is ready for the night's rain!

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Yay September...time to find that lung brush!

Notes:  Yes the air is dry, the trails are dry, and time to build up the lungs (and legs) again.  Out with Jesse at Village Park.  There were reports of damaged trails but I didn't see too much of it.   Although the jump on Ridge was smooshed.  I do know someone that chased a couple kids out after catching them putting on logs a trail.  Weird kids.

Let the biking begin...

Happy Trails,

OMMB

I guess I went to Village Park today...

...but I don't remember it!

Oh and on the 25th we rode, with dog on leash, down the bike path to give him a run.  But some fussy lady thought it was "a bit overboard".  Lady you're a jeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrk and you know nothing about my dog or me! 

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Beech Mtn Hike - Acadia

• Place: Beech Mtn, Acadia National Park
• Trailhead: Long Pond parking lot, south
• Hikers with OMMB: T and J
• Technical Level: Climbing up the west side of the loop was pretty steep.  The east side down was a real nice trail!
• Wildlife: Surprisingly none... Jesse's Bear Bell may have something to do with that!  Speaking of bears, we were told by a park ranger that the last bear on the island had been killed when hit by a tourist's car.  Damn tourists. :)

Looking back at the trailhead.

Tidbits:  GREAT 360 from the summit.  Also a fire tower, but unfortunately access to the top of the tower is locked.

Happy Trails,

OMMB

A, A, A, Acadia!

• Place: Acadia National Park
• Trailhead: Eagle Lake (southeast end)
• Riders with OMMB: T and J
• Miles: 7
• Weather: perfect
• Trail Conditions: Carriage Roads...smooth gravel
• GPS Track: http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/248127088/3798052

Notes: As part of our camping trip all the way up the coast of Maine to Canada, we stayed on Mount Desert Island and tried out a peice of the carriage roads in Acadia. Very nice, easy, recreational ride around Eagle Lake.  Didn't really need mountain bikes because the dirt roads are in immaculate shape...and no autos allowed. A bit too fast paced for Jesse, as he is accustomed to zig zagging on single track. Teri on the other hand LOVED flying down the long winding hills on this loop.  The other drawback for Jesse... no swimming in the lake (apparently a public water supply...yet they allow gas motors... go figure).

 

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Just a little leg stretcher!

• Place: Big River
• Trailhead: Greasy Joes
• Riders with OMMB: Jesse Dog
• Miles: 6.5
• Weather: clear
• Temp: 75-85
• Trail Conditions: good, some mud still around, but not bad
• Wildlife: A Black Racer (that's a snake, not a rider), about 4 feet long, haven't seen one since a kid.  Another snake (looked like a Milk Snake) that swam towards me while I was swimming...thankfully it was heading for a pile of rocks, not me.
• Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: nope, but a little clumsy given too much time off.
• GPS Track:
  

  

Notes: With today's slightly more tolerable temperatures I figured a month long hiatus was enough!  Jesse also needed some exercise so I planned a "ride a little, swim a little" route around Carr Pond.  Stopped at several real nice swimming holes.  The water was perfectly clear but oddly warm (considering it's spring fed)...but no complaints.  Great day.

Tidbits:  I met a published wild mushroom expert (Ryan Bouchard), great guy.  He was new to Big River so I gave him a printout of my tracks to use as a map...he gave me his calendar "Gourmet Mushrooms of Rhode Island".  Pretty sweet, now I know which ones are okay to throw in the spaghetti sauce!

After a bit of riding the first rest stop was very welcome!

Second rest stop came with a tennis ball to play with.

Third stop had a giant turtle.  Oh wait, that was a boulder.

Fourth stop came with a butterfly (or moth, I dunno).

There were several other water stops, but this one was last...

...it came with a snake! (just under the top rock)

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Too hot, too tired, too f*in LAME!

Notes: Yeah that was me...again. I truly have to come to the realization that I am worth crap on a bike when it's hot.  Alfonso and Craig catered to my three legged dog, no wait, two legged dog pace for about 10 miles through Big River.  We went out and back to Allan's Ave from Burnt Sawmill (I was already cooked on the "out", nevermind the "back").  It really was a great route...but man I suck!   When the temp is over 80 and humid, I really really really have to learn to say "no" to riding (a difficult task for me).

Happy Hot Humid Trails,

OMMB

Time to Ride!

• Place: Big River
• Trailhead: Hopkin's Hill
• Riders with OMMB: Bruce, Tom, John, Rex, Alphonso, Remi, Richard, Skip
• Miles: 7.5 to 8 -ish
• Weather: warm and humid
• Trail Conditions: very good, slightly muddy in areas
• Technical Level: I don't think these guys know (or like) anything other than "technical"
• Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: Single speed Rex made a great save on a possible endo...no damage

Notes: After 2 weeks of pretty much nothin, back with the West Bay gang.   As always, a technical route, with plenty of ass-busting.   Good ride.

Tidbits: "Down and Out" is not called "Down and Up and Out".... gees   

 
Happy Trails,

OMMB

See trails by switching map to "Street Map" (openstreetmap)...

More water than trail!

• Place: Village Park (or River)
• Trailhead: Case Jr High
• Riders with OMMB: Jesse K9
• Miles: not much
• Weather: rain, we caught a couple of hours of sun in between storms
• Trail Conditions: see title
• Wildlife: a couple of turkeys (the gobble kind, not the human kind)

Notes:  A break in the rain gave Jesse and I a chance to head out for a bit (he needs the exercise).  Also gave me a chance to test another GPS tracking app, MapMyRide.  It's website has plenty of great features, but the app has no map mode (maybe the pay-for-upgrade does?).  Not much good if off in the woods without your bearings, no track view to loop back with.  Other than that, works good.

Tidbits:  Hey Trail Elves, there's a tree down on Ladies Room.  Not that I took Ladies Room, because I usually go up Men's Room.  Oh all right, some times I take Ladies Room.  Well maybe most of the time.  All right all right, I take Ladies Room, now go clear the trail with a chain saw!  :)

Create Maps or search from 80 million at MapMyRide
               

Happy Trails,

OMMB

Arcadia - The Mt. Tom Pearson Loop

• Place: yep, Arcadia
• Trailhead: end of Austin Farm Road (beautiful drive)
• Riders with OMMB: Tom, Bruce, John, and Skip
• Miles: 10.5 by GPS app, it was more
• Weather: perfect!
• Temp: 57 at trailhead (almost chilly),  70 afterwards
• Trail Conditions: excellent, technical
• Whoops, Yikes, and Oh Sheets: several whoops, no blood

Notes: Tom lead us on an entertaining loop with Mt. Tom at the midway point.  Fun trail with lots of variety. I hope I redeemed myself, after the shellacking I took the last few rides.  Temps were right for me, kept up with the group almost to the end of the ride!

Skip, Bruce, and John cranking up Mt Tom.

Great whalebacks.

And nice views.

Bruce focusing on "up".

And quite a bit of this too!

Skip getting ready to hop up some ledges.

Skip and Tom

Some old dude on his Niner, showin us how it's done!

House at the trailhead...hmm let's move here!

Pack it up...ready for another day.

Happy Trails,

OMMB