Soggy and Squeaky

Since Linda began a new life as an outdoor bike, ithas been raining heavily and continuously. I considered bringing the poor bike back inside, but resisted. In her 15 years of life she has probably seen worse. So I left her outdoors as it poured day after day.

So what's the damage to a Dutch transport bike after two weeks of being left out in the rain? Well, the main thing is that the front brake has developed a shrill squeal. I didn't know that could happen to hub brakes, but apparently it can. The stopping power is the same as before, only now it sounds like a hysterical piglet. The rear coaster brake makes no noise. Should I somehow lubricate the front hub? We are scaring people at intersections![Update: The front brake squeal stopped on its own as soon as the rains stopped. Works as well as before and just as silently.]

The other thing is that the leather grips are now completely soggy, since, unlike the saddle, I made no provisions to cover them. I installed these gripsin Octoberand they've been rained and snowed on many times with no adverse consequences, so I didn't think it would be a big deal to just leave them uncovered. But of course when it rains non-stop for so many days, it's a different story. Not sure what to do now other than just wait for the sun and let them dry out naturally. But in the future I should try Bobbin and Sprocket's smart solution.



Otherwise, nothing on the bike seems any worse for wear. I am especially pleased that my silver lug-lining (done with a Sharpie!)has held up and that the bottle dynamo isunaffected. Now if only it would stop raining!

Feels Like a Pacific Island Around Here

With all the beautiful sunny days and scorchin' temps we've been having lately, some visitors to Rainier might feel like they are actually visiting a Pacific Island rather than on a cold snowy volcano in the Pacific North Wet. It's actually kind of fitting since this month of May, is National Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.



Even though our high camps are far away from warm Pacific Islands, rangers have sometimes been known to imagine themselves on a tropical beach of some sort. So bring your sunscreen, some tropical fruits, your favorite swim costume and head on up to our glacial island where you can almost see the Pacific Ocean on a clear day. We'll be waiting.



On another note the Northwest Avalanche Center has issued another special statement visitors to our mountain should read. If anyone sees anything weird going on with out snowpack we'd love to hear about it.

Rains and Dirt Roads

This is what happens when we get our rains in New Mexico on our dirt roads. The water flooding down the roads causes lots of erousion and make ruts and ditches in the road and sometimes washs them out to where they are completely impassable until the wind comes, drys out the sand and blows sand back into the damage that was done. Or else man and heavy equipment repair it so it can happen again during the next rain storm.

South of the Border

Every time we travel up and down the east coast we crack up at the 999 billboards advertising South of the Border. For the longest time we only knew of this place from driving by it. At some point we actually stopped and stayed at the campground. To say this place is bizarre is truly understatement.



It starts out innocently enough. It looks a little dated, but still kind of cute and sweet.

Then as you look around, it seems dated and a bit strange. If you look closer, you can see what begins to be really strange.When we stayed here, Auburn joked that it looked like the set to a really cheesy horror flick. The fact we were the only people we saw, beyond the workers, made it seem even more that way. There is just no other place like this unique little complex.

The last time when we visited, I forgot to snap any pictures. I'm glad I remembered this time.



Poor Ava, who had been lying down for the entire car trip so far had to stand up to figure out exactly what was going on. After staring out the window for a few minutes, she turned around and looked at me as if to say...what the?????????

I don't know, Ava. I just don't know! Living the life in SC!

Wild Locust

Close up of a wild locust tree blossom.

Nene Way 4 - from Billing to Wellingborough Embankment

With Marta. 11.1 miles, including our wander round Earls Barton. Hot, sunny, dry underfoot in spite of yesterday's rain.A lot of up and down, to visit the villages above the flood plains.





From the info board at Billing Lock:




The River Nene is a particularly important navigation as it

links the Grand Union Canal to the sea and, via the 'Middle

Level' to the Great Ouse. Rising at Badby, Naseby and

Yelvertoft, the Nene becomes navigable at Northampton

where the three tributaries combine. The navigation, which

was opened on 7th August 1761 when "7 coal laden barges

reached Northampton with the customary band of music,

flags and streamers" begins at the junction with

the Northampton Arm of the Grand Union Canal near Cotton End

Lock, Northampton and extends 91 miles (147 km) to the sea.

There are 37 locks between Northampton and Peterborough.


We set off from Billing, via the lock with its two different styles of gate - the 'pointing door' and the 'guillotine'. The Nene Way marker showed the way across a bridge, and a couple of fields towards the Brafield Road. We took the road and turned left into Cogenhoe, now an attractive village on a hill above the Nene valley.







In a central position is a village sign erected by Cogenhoe and Whiston Parish Council . . . in commemoration of the millennium July 2000.





On four sides are pictures representing the history of the village, and in the base there is a time capsule compiled by local children.









The pictures show local scenes, transport and the past industries of brick-making and shoe and boot manufacture.





















There is an active local heritage society - Cogenhoe and Whiston Heritage Society.

I also happened upon a blog entry about Cogenhoe Football Club .

Cogenhoe church clock stands just after half past five, though it was late morning.

From Station Road turn left into Church Street, and follow the Nene Way signs through a small lane and gate into an open field.





When we left Cogenhoe I was surprised how high we had climbed above the river. It's only about 300 feet above sea-level and 100 feet above the valley, but there are lovely views over sloping fields of cows, and trees, and the path descends quite steeply to the Nene. Over to the South East Whiston Church is prominent on the hillside.





By the river we found a great stash of ripe blackberries, the best so far this year, and pretty early.





Follow the river as it winds its way to Whiston Lock. At this point a man was sitting next to a boat -la Sabatera.

'You've found a nice quiet spot', I commented

'Not by choice,' he replied. 'Have you seen a boat making its way along here?'

He was stuck at the lock for the moment - but was 'rescued' as we saw him two or three times later.





We crossed the river here and made our way towards Earls Barton. The route includes a slightly hair-raising crossing of the A45 using a flimsy-feeling footbridge. Then along a track parallel to the road (B573) past a farm shop/garden centre and uphill towards Earls Barton. Turn right and walk the length of the village.





As you walk in the church tower is very striking. The centre of the village is attractive, though it was impossible to get a view of the church again without going into the churchyard itself - there are huge trees in full leaf, and I think we'd have missed it if we'd arrived from the other direction.











We had lunch in Jeyes Apothocoffee shop's Walled Garden. Some interesting history on their website.







Lunch over, time to move. Just about the half-way point, we reckoned. Loins girded, and packs backed we walked to the end of the village to Mill Lane. We turned right and follwed the Nene Way down to Mill Farm and over the river, following the path between the river on our left and the lakes on our right.







We didn't cross the bridge over the weir but continued on the right of the river to Hardwater Mill, where, according to Mia Butler in her book Exploring the Nene Way a miller fell in the water and was drowned in 1309, and Thomas à Beckett called in on his way to France, after he escaped from Northampton Castle.

Hardwater Mill

The bridge takes the Nene Way over the mill pond, which was teeming with fish

We followed the path over the bridges and to the right. At this point we went slightly off course by following a concrete track tot he right of the sewage farm. We were able to cut back and find the path with gates leading up hill to Great Doddington. The village has a shop - handy for a cold drink, and a public area with a seat just across the road too.





On through Great Doddington, with a short diversion when we saw a sign for the Nene Way, followed it for a while, then decided it was leading us in the wrong direction - back to Cogenhoe. The path we wanted is to the right shortly before the Stag's Head.





It leads downhill through fields, and another mill where several boats were moored.







The path stays on the left hand side of the river, all the way to the Embankment. We were overtaken by La Sabatera only to catch it up at Wellingborough Upper Lock.

We refused to resist the temptation of an ice-cream before making for the car, and seeing another section of the walk completed.













Billing - Cogenhoe - Earls Barton - Great Doddington - Wellingborough

Minuteman Bikeway

The Co-Habitant and I finally took Marianne and Miles to the Minuteman Bikeway. The Minuteman Bikeway is an 11 mile paved bike trail that runs from the edge of Cambridge, Mass., through Arlington and Lexington, ending in Bedford.

The trail was built along the old Boston-Maine railroad line, which you can see a glimpse of in Bedford. This train car has been converted into a cafe serving hot dogs and ice cream to hungry cyclists.

What I loved most about the Minuteman Bikeway is the abundance of shade! I am one of those persons who burns horribly and gets instant heatstroke at the mere whisper of direct sunlight in temperatures over 75F. A bike trail that runs almost entirely under overarching trees is a rare blessing. I can come here at any time of day and do a 22-mile loop without falling into a heat-induced delirium!

What I did not love so much, is that the trail interrupts for road intersections. The cars were courteous, but still I dream of an endless bike trail without interruptions -- Is there an American version of the Danube Cycling Path?

I was warned that going on the Minuteman on weekends was not a good idea, as it gets congested with slow-moving families and joggers. But we went mid-day on a Saturday, and didn't find it too bad. Certainly less crowded than the Charles River Trail.

Conveniently, there are several cafes and grocery shops, and two bike shops along the trail. Pictured above is the Bike Stop, selling lots of nice used bikes in addition to new ones, as well as cold drinks and snacks.

And at the end of the trail is the Bikeway Source, selling new bicycles, athletic bike clothing and many accessories, including some neat grocery panniers made of bamboo. We were told by the employees that after the Bikeway ends in Bedford, there is an unpaved dirt trail that continues all the way to Concord. It is accessible by mountain bike, but only during dry weather conditions, turning swamplike when it rains.

The Minuteman Bikeway is a scenic 22-mile round trip trail that is useful for pros and accessible to beginners. Riding Marianne was great fun and the longish ride made me a lot more comfortable with handling her. The most difficult part was cycling to the start of the trail from our house, in busy traffic through Somerville. Those who live around Boston know that this area is not ideal if you are not 100% steady on your bike! As I've mentioned earlier, I am not comfortable riding a road bike in traffic yet, so this was a challenge. The Co-Habitant gallantly made it easier by riding and signaling in a way that made us both visible. I probably could not do it alone at this point. One step at a time!