Tuesday, June 27

Well, according to the Globe, the rainfall for the past two months has set a record: 22.26 inches in May and June as of this past Sunday. Blue skies today, however (see photo for proof).

Very blustery today - wind was from the SSW, so it was good for the work-bound commute, but will be a battle on the way home. But not as much of a battle, however, as the sailors in the photo. It's too bad that the camera I use most of the time is really only good for close-ups of sub-atomic particles, cause what I saw this morning was pretty funny.

As I came around to the outcrop, I saw a capsized Community Boating sailboat with two people in the water. The boat wasn't entirely capsized, though, and was more laying on its side. As a Community Boating safety boat was motoring out to do some recon on the situation, an especially vigourous gust of wind righted the sailboat and it sailed off by itself. Unfortunatley it was a short-lived journey. As the boat came about, the wind smacked it down again, this time in a true mast-down, centerboard up capsize.

Wednesday, June 21

A couple of days ago I was talking about being forced off the Cheese Grater sidewalk by a woman with a Yorkshire Terrier. Well, here they are. The furry little wretch tried to nip at my tires, and then the dog tried as well.

Anyway, today was another spectacular morning. I'd give it a 10.

I have included one more POP pic I snapped on my homeward journey last night. Note the purposeful stride of the fellow in the pink shirt and brown slacks.

Tuesday, June 20

There was a parade of POPs on First Street in Cambridge today. Luckily I was able to snap a couple of pictures.

Monday, June 19

Ah, look at that picture. The haze of summer hanging over the city. Finally.

Thursday, June 15

Wow, another beautiful day.








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Wednesday, June 14

'Nother gorgeous morning. Here's the entrance to the Abattoir from Mass Ave. Dangerous place for bikes if your heading straight and not making the right. This fellow nearly clipped a guy who was riding ahead of me - he had to swerve way around the bike - the line shows his trajectory. He wasn't paying attention at all. Tons of traffic, too.

Tuesday, June 13

Beautiful weather today - second day in a row. Here are two pictures of the Cheese Grater. I was riding on the sidewalk but a lady and her Yorkshire Terrier forced me off.

I hate riding on the sidewalk anyway, but the Grater is so goddam dangerous, especially in early evening when people are popping in and out of their cars.

The second picture shows what little room you have if someone opens their door.

Friday, June 9

MIT graduation today had the Mass Ave bridge backed up all the way over. Look at these miserable clouds. Nothing but miserable clouds and rain since Tuesday. Thursday was was a fright - absolute deluge with gusting winds blowing the rain sideways. Riding this week has been nothing but something to forget.




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Tuesday, June 6

Sunny, 60s. Billy Preston died today. What does this have to do with cycling? Well, he wrote "Will it Go 'Round in Circles."

Monday, June 5

Ah, what a difference a season makes! Here's a beautiful June morning along the Abattoir (June 5, to be exact). I haven't seen any carcasses here in a while. I took last week off from posting because, frankly, I had nothing to say - the weather was fine (despite several downpours), the Mass Ave bridge now has a bike lane, and the annual exodus of students means fewer SAPs and POPs.

Friday, May 26

Friends, today is Jack Kevorkian's birthday (no lie, it really is - born in 1928). Anyway, if this weather keeps up, I'm going to need his services.

I just can't get enough of this new Mass Ave Bridge bike lane.

Also, I have supplied a picture of Like A Virgin in all her rain-soaked miserable glory.

Wednesday, May 24

Now they've painted the bike sign on the Mass Ave bridge. Temp really isn't that much better than it was a month ago.

Monday, May 22

New white lines have just been painted on the Mass Ave bridge. This makes riding the bridge feel a lot safer. It's like your own bike lane without the spectre of a "door zone" incident.

Friday, May 19

National Bike-to-Work Day:

Just when you thought the sun might stick around for a while...

Wednesday, May 17

Massachusetts Bike Week - Day 3:

Here's a guy riding a tandem bike solo. There has to be a joke here, I just can't think of it.

Tuesday, May 16

Massachusetts Bike Week - Day 1:
I'm not going to talk about it. You know what I mean. Not going to mention it at all. Anyway, 40-something degrees. Photo is of traffic on Beacon leading into the Dragon. Never have seen this at this hour.

Friday, May 12

Morning:
48 degrees. The fog this morning was incredible. This is the densest fog I've ever seen in Boston. I said that to Stanley, the company janitor, and he said, "Yeah, Boston can get foggy." I said, "Yeah, no kidding Stanley, but but look at this goddam fog! I'm saying this is the absolute densest fog I've ever seen." But, as usual, he wouldn't budge. All I got was "Well...." and a shrug. I swear, if he had said that thing about tornados again, I would have hit the roof.
Anyway, I went overboard on the fog photos. First is from the MIT sailing hut looking toward Beacon Hill. 2nd one is Longfellow Bridge - you can barely see the other side. 3rd is of the Sinkhole. 4th is of a rather forlorn looking Betty, The Aluminum Canoe. She's listing to port, half filled with rain water. You can just make out a Duck Tour riding up the river behind her.

Evening:
Nothing of note. Game at Fenway tonight, so the Dragon was filled with POPs 'n SAPs. Photo is of a big, aimless group of SoxPOPs.

Thursday, May 11

Morning:
47 degrees, damp, no sun. The red car cut me off in the Dragon. The driver (beard, very thick glasses, confused) looked right at me then yanked the steering wheel to the left while I jammed the brakes. Then the UPS guy farted.

Evening:
49 degrees, dense fog and mist. I snapped the pic while crossing the Mass Ave bridge. Can't even see Beacon Hill. Forecasts through Saturday of next week call for rain every day.

Wednesday, May 10

This is a picture of May 10.

Tuesday, May 9

Morning:
Well now we're in for it. Nine days of crap. 55 degrees this morning, cloudy. See photo for classic Kenmore Chaos. #1 is SUV, #2 Crazy Cab, #3 Car that was double parked but is now trying to get out, and #4, Big Fat Van setting a pick. Moving Target passed me on Beacon riding a fixed and I snapped this of him right in the thick of things. Nice illustraion of why I call Kenmore "Enter the Dragon".

Evening:
Good Lord, what a godawful ride! 48 degrees, wind was howling, drenching downpour -- rain seems to have killed the rat in the photo! This was along the Cheese Grater. I was riding the sidewalk out of fear I'd be blown by the 30mph winds into the roadway when I espied this poor critter. Seems the Grater is vying with the Abbatoir for mammal-killing supremacy. Anyway, the abysmal weather did not deter me from leaving home this evening to procure the antidote to Spring in NewEngland. Screw the goddam freakish weather, I'm drinking martinis.