Day 209 (Tuesday July 29) - Ripper ride and this blog is done!

It turned out that I just never got around to exercising today. I actually slept in.

After 209 straight days of activity (and taking photos each of those days except for one), I figured that it wouldn't hurt to skip a day and wait until next year to start a new blog for 2016.

I might post the occasional photo here and there, but for now, I'm glad to be done writing this and constantly being behind!

The Ripper ride: https://www.strava.com/activities/355763079

I actually clocked my fastest time of the year on The Ripper, which was a bit of a surprise. It must have been the tailwind!

Contemplating a sticky and hot start to the morning

Day 208 (Monday, July 27)- the first real ride back home

I fixed my flat, packed my pump and actually went for a real ride the next day.

https://www.strava.com/activities/355076162

And I saw a cool set of mushrooms.

Impressive mushrooms!

Day 207 (Sunday July 27) - half hearted bike ride attempt

Oops - first bike ride back and I have a flat tire with no pump.

The walk and ride docs: https://www.strava.com/activities/354614076

At least I took a couple of nice photos with my phone. 

My favorite subject under the summer heat

These camera phones aren't half bad!

Day 206 (Saturday July 26) - last day at Monhegan - wow!

This was our last day on Monhegan. There wasn't really a sunrise to speak of, but I was able to capture a little sliver of it and also take a few long exposure photos of the ocean - the overcast morning was perfect for this subject matter. I started at Gull Cove and then went to Burnt Head and Gull Rock before heading home. A perfect morning walk to start the day.

We had an interesting detour in Darmariscotta Maine, since the car was making a regular thumping noise with every wheel rotation. It turns out that some moisture and other crud had accumulated where we had the parking brake clamped down for a week while the car was parked on the mainland. Whew!

As we left the Island, we enjoyed watching some folks get very wet and cold jumping off the dock!

Until next year, Monhegan...

This seagull photobombed my sunrise! (actually I wanted that to happen)

On the rocks

Looking down at Gull Cove

Jumping off the dock

Day 205 (Friday, July 24) - the vacation from Strava has been great

Without Strava, photographs are a much quieter and nicer way to recall and document your tracks. They force you to think about where you've been as opposed to laying it out in clinical detail.

Friday morning I headed out to Whitehead to photograph the sunrise. Then I headed to Lobster Cove later in the day to watch Katie painting and attempt to photograph the surf. She succeeded at painting; I was much less successful with the surf photos.

Katie and I skipped a few rocks together at Fish Beach.

And then at the end of the day we spent some time by the harbor and had a great family dinner together at the Island Inn. I had the seared salmon with a bourbon glaze - a very nice way to end the day.

The sunrise illuminating a splash

Katie dubbed this seagull "Edward"

Monhegan Laundry

Black Duck Emporium feline lounging

Day 204 (Thursday July 23) - the perfect summer day

It was another beautiful day at Monhegan (what isn't?)

I went out to Burnt Head to photograph the sunrise, the family went for a lighthouse tour, and we saw a beautiful sunset over at the dock.

It was a slow and lazy summer day - just perfect.

Gulls on Uncle Henry's House

Sunset at the dock

The boat at the lighthouse

Anita at the Island Inn

Day 203 - (Wednesday July 22) - stars, stars, stars

The family went for a very nice hike around a good part of the Island through Burnt Head and Gull Cove. After the sun set, I spent several hours taking photos of various Monhegan subjects with the Milky Way. The results were superb.

Lobster traps under the Milky Way

Lobster cove cross

The DT Sheridan

Rope house under the stars

Monhegan Church under the Milky Way

Day 202 (Tues, July 21) - fog rolls back in

Wow - the fog rolled back in on Tuesday and it was Sunday all over again. I decided to take flower macro photos as we walked around the island. Below are a couple of my favorites. Emilia said we walked for about 4 miles - no hiking - just walking around the town part of the Island to see galleries and such.

A sunflower on a foggy day

Tropical-themed fairy house in Cathedral Woods

Day 201 (Mon July 20) - amazing sunset on a clear day

The weather Monday was completely different from Sunday - it was clear most of the day and then some clouds rolled in, and provided some great drama at the end of the day.

We went on a hike through Cathedral Woods and then finished up by heading counterclockwise around the Island. Emilia is logging the amount of walking we are doing, and it was about 4.5 miles.

A couple from Vermont enjoying the start of the sunset at Horn Hill

One of my favorite sunsets ever, even if we never saw the sun

Day 200 (Sunday July 19) - the drama of fog at Monhegan

It was foggy and rainy today. With some sun mixed in!

We did some hiking, and I was able to get a really nice photo of the sunrise in the morning.

Katie skipping rocks in front of the Red House at Swim Beach

Sunrise over Burnt Head

Day 199 (Saturday, July 18) - Day 1 of our Monhegan vacation

Vacation = no Strava!

But we walked around the Island a lot trying to find a place to stay since our rental house was double booked!

I am taking lots of photos, so here is the "photo of the day"

Monhegan Island at dusk

Day 198 (Friday, July 17) - Sun

It was a beautiful morning to go for an easy spin on the bike with my camera.

Short, sweet, and with some great light in the morning. Nothing better!

https://www.strava.com/activities/347912295

Foggy water

Sun circle

Day 197 (Thursday, July 16) - Fun Fells ride with Paul, Peter and Joe

Paul and I met up with a couple of other guys who were pretty fast and had a great ride in the Fells with Peter and Joe. We'll be riding with them again this summer, I'm certain.

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/347219577

The only time the camera came out was to take a photo of Katie reading later in the day.

Katie enjoying a good book

Day 196 (July 15) - fastest ride of the year

I decided to try the Ride Studio Cafe's "Wednesday Morning Worlds" road ride. It wasn't all that fast, but I am not used to sustaining that level of effort without a break, and when I hit the final big hill of the ride, my right calf starting cramping fiercely. I was able to ride out the cramp, but I was done for the day. Needless to say, the only photos of the day came at home at night. Not bad for a flash shot...

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/346523800 - oof - 50 miles before work!

Steve Austen rose at night

Day 195 - (Bastille Day - July 14) - Fun ride with Ted and Petr

Bastille Day is always a good day for a bike ride! I joined Ted and Petr for a reasonably fast ride in the Fells.

Strava https://www.strava.com/activities/345760448

Looking at the land bridge in the Fells

Ted finishing up a hard effort through the Peninsula in the Fells

Day 194 (Monday, July 13) - Lunch ride at the LLF

Riding at lunch at work definitely is better than riding to or from work!

I was a little bit befuddled having used the flat pedals for the first time in a week, but it worked out just fine, although it did take up a lot of clock to before and after the short ride itself.

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/345265972

I didn't take any pictures, but here are the chickens in their element...

Day 193 (Sun, July 12) - another day on the Cape - walking through Provincetown

On our second day in the Cape, we visited a Lavender farm and Provincetown.

It was extra hot, but it was a fun way to end a nice weekend away.

Freshly picked lavender

Cape Cod sunrise - Harwich, MA

Lavender and lemon jelly

Encouraging tourists to attend the Sunday evening performance at the theatre in Provincetown

Day 192 (Saturday July 11)

We were on at Cape Cod on July 11 and spent time just walking around Harwich, exploring and goofing off at the beach. No Strava logs - its vacation.

Katie and I playing Ninja at the beach in Harwich

Day 191 (Fri July 10) - solo easy spin in the Fells

No one was around for the Friday ride, and I never recorded it on Strava, but I did go for a foggy spin around the Fells.

Fog from the "Island" in the Fells

Day 190 (Thursday July 9) - The Fells is more fun with friends

That title doesn't sound that good, given the history of the Fells. But this is mountain biking I'm talking about and completely G-rated... Matt and Paul and I put together a nice loop here:
https://www.strava.com/activities/342254476

Paul heading over another trail obstacle

Day 189 (Wed, July 8) - hot solo circuit

I headed out on the single speed on a hot muggy day with the goal of going a little bit faster.

I definitely achieved that goal with one PR and a few 2nd best times

https://www.strava.com/activities/341541721

And mixed in some nice photos as well.

Sunrise over sheepfold (ok - it had already risen a bit!)

Wildflowers in the Fells

Day 188 (Tuesday, July 7) - Fast hot Ripper

The Ripper ride Tuesday the 7th was fast and hot.

Proof: https://www.strava.com/activities/340859670

Ripper christenings happen even in the summer

Day 187 (Monday, July 6) - round trip of Kilometres du Garbage to and from work

I've already expressed how much I don't feel cycling to and from work is really cycling. Well, Monday July 6 didn't inspire me to feel differently! Anita had to take her car in, and needed mine while she was having her serviced, so off to work I went with cleats and a bag in tow.

To work:
https://www.strava.com/activities/340259046

Back home:
https://www.strava.com/activities/340591884

Like the riding, the view on the way to work is pretty boring

Day 186 (Sunday July 5) - Greenwood in Beverly

I'm sold on dropper posts now. We rode some very sketchy steep terrain at the Greenwood trails in Beverly, MA and a dropper was mandatory (at least for me) on one particularly steep rooty section.

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/339602807

A juvenile black racer snake we saw while riding at Greenwood

Day 185: (Sat July 4) - Independence day ride with the Spot Rockersingle speed

I hadn't been on the SS for a while, and July 4 with its many family obligations was a good day to get back on the horse. I had the special effects turned on with the camera and used them to a little bit much. It will probably be the last time I use this particular effect for at least several months.

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/338845604

Rocker in its native habitat

Into the light

North reservoir, Middelsex Fells