Autumn Riding

Wachusett Reservoir
Saturday, October 7, 2017

Bright days of autumn, of October though oddly humid days in Woo City and across the Bay State, residual hurricane breath perhaps, the big up-gust of wind and moisture from the tropics after all the destruction of Maria, Irma, and Jose. But in my small moment on the spinning orb, I welcome this beneficent anomaly, take advantage of balmy temperatures in the low 70s, a warm sun and a cool shade, perfect days for riding.

Second Wachusett summit 2017, this time by a new route, rt 70 around Wachusett Reservoir and into Clinton where I picked up old reliable roads through the Princeton Hills & up to the base of Wachusett. That's one serious climb that "up to the base of Wachusett." Then the mountain climb itself, almost two and half miles base to tower, caps it off. Sturdy stuff.

Today, October 10, another weirdly humid day. Feel good on the 29+ mile ride but the energy on the road was harsh, aggressive. A lot of traffic on the main roads forced a lot of in-a-hurry commuters onto the back roads where their impatience was evident. Several close calls with trucks coming too close to me had me growling and muttering invective.

Eventually I did enjoy long stretches of pristine October afternoon back roads bereft of traffic. But in the end, today was a reminder (not exactly a needed one, but still useful) that the roads are the domain of the automobile and that I, as a diminutive cyclist, have to glower and glare and gesticulate without hesitation in order to claim my right of way and my tarmac terrain.