Essex to Boston

View 2011-08-13 16:38: Essex to Boston in a larger map

Yesterday afternoon I got a ride up to Essex, got dropped off near my old house, and rode back down to Boston. I was meeting some people for drinks and dinner so I wanted to keep a good pace. In spite of a wrong turn that took me down into East Boston and required me to back-track maybe a mile or so, I was able to get back in a bit over two hours. The majority of the ride was great, the roads were actually in pretty good shape. The only glaring exception was after I had back-tracked out of East Boston and headed west through lower Everett back to Rt.99. This is the same road where I got a flat tire a few weeks ago (the one that required me to grab a cab). The roads there are in horrible condition - I was really wishing I had a mountain bike! I will have to find a different way to head north bypassing this road in the future.

Random Saturday ride

View 2011-08-06: Random loop in a larger map

Today I was meeting a friend at the Moakley Courthouse to talk business over coffee. After the meeting I headed off in a somewhat random direction. I started by heading into Southie, then over to Castle Island for the loop. From there I decided I would try to get to the Franklin Park Zoo, but got a bit sidetracked and ended up on Savin Hill. There is very nice park there with a great view of the Harbor.

From Savin Hill I managed to find my way to the Zoo, and then rode down and through the Arnold Arboretum. I have always liked the Arboretum, today I rode to the top of Peter's Hill, which has an amazing view toward downtown Boston. From there I rode up to and around Jamaica Pond, then north and west to Chestnut Hill Drive. I followed that up to Washington St. in Brighton, where I headed left and drove past my old house at #58. I toyed with the idea of stopping to say hello, but I was pretty sweaty and I did not see anyone outside, so I rode past. From there on down to the Charles, past the boat house at Community Rowing, then over toward the Arsenal Mall, and eventually wound my way back to the Eliot bridge, and finally along the Charles and back home. Total distance: 36 miles. Getting easier!