Finally a dry Saturday. My first ride of 2009… correction my first ride out in the East End for 2009. I’ve been taking mostly short flat rides in the city. I chose to take a short loop of the ‘Tank Hill’ on Sound Shore Road. As I crested the hill a group of riders were comimg down in the opposite direction. The ride was pleasant with a short brake at the Beach for a view of the Long Island Sound. The ride back West was another story. The head wind was stronger than when I started out. Right now my legs are paying the price for cranking it up into the headwind.
My ride stats: average speed was 14.5 MPH, Distance was 20.1 Miles, Max Speed was 27.7 MPH, must have been on a downhill stretch.
What a beautiful Saturday. Rode 4 miles to meet the SBRA group at the Riverhead Water Front. The good weather certainly accounted for the large group. Interesting thought, can it also be the reason for so many polite drivers stopping at intersections to allow us to pass, and a pleasent wait staff at the deli stop? Some SBRA ride leader named their ride a de-stress ride. After a week of rain and work related stress, the leisurely C pace, a timely stop for lunch and the company of SBRA members this ride certainly qualifies as a de-stresser. However it was not 100% stress free, at least for one person. Halfway into the ride that member experienced a ‘Wardrobe Malfunction’, as their bicycling shorts decided to split apart exposing a full moon before lunch. I’m no bike fashionista, but I believe in the security of a new pair of shorts every season.
What a weekend of bicycling. Denis Mechov won The Giro d’Italia by a close margin. Lance Armstrong finished despite a broken collar bone. My fans waited to cheer me on my Tour of Jamesport despite my flating at the beach.
I’ve spent time in several Asian Cities while living in Hong Kong and never found the opportunity to visit Tokyo. It is the most populous metropolitan area in the world with a population of over 35 million people. Its population density is almost twice that of Hong Kong but somehow it feels a lot less frenetic. However the comparision may be unfair, my perspective is that of a tourist, whereas while in Hong Kong I had to work. The Asakusa area in Tokyo is a well known tourist destination with it’s traditional building dating back to the Edo period.
This is the largest seated Buddha in Asia. The Tian Tan Buddha was built in 1993 completely of bronze on Lantau Island, Hong Kong. I shot this from the seat of the Buddha.
It was longer ride starting from Riverheadto Shelter Island and back to Greenport than I had expected. As the sun started to set I decided to have dinner there and wait for the train back to Riverhead.
Back in 1997 while working in Hong Kong I became friends with a British expatriot. He invited me to visit him when he was repatriated back to the UK. During the time we worked together I never asked where in the UK he lived, I assumed it was somewhere in London. London is a great city. But he lived in an “area of outstanding natural beauty” known as the Cotswold. More specifically the “Village” as his wife frequently reminded me, not “Town” of Evesham His wife also insisted we visited the University “Town” of Oxford. I was transported to another time. Cars were the only reminder that we were still in 1997.
I shot this stranded Whelk during a lunch stop by the beach. The parking lot was littered with broken Whelk shells from Gulls dropping them onto the pavement and picking out the meat. Another good reason to wear a bicycling helmet.
