Buzz and I carried off our plan today -- I rode to Easthampton, rode the Manhan Rail Trail, and met up with Buzz at the midpoint, where the mural is. The wind was strong out of the northwest -- it was mostly out of the north when I started and swung around to more out of the west by the afternoon, which made things easier for me. I rode the UMass Bikeway Connector, the Norwottuck trail to Noho, then south on route 5 to the Manhan. I had heard that one bridge will wasn't open on the Manhan trail, but that it was possible to go around it. When I got to the unfinished bridge, it looked threatening to try to get around it, so I backtracked and took the road around. I got to the midpoint before we were to meet, so I rested a bit and then rode on to the end of the trail -- just another mile or so. It was interesting to see that after the trail ends, the abandoned train tracks continue -- the rails are gone, but the ties are still in place. Buzz arrived just after 1pm with a friend and they rode with me back to Northampton and then they turned west on route 9, while I headed back east. I had taken the cell-o-phone, in case I ran out of energy, and I called Lucy from the beginning of the Norwottuck trail and asked her to meet me at Bread and Circus. I wanted to ride west with the wind behind me, but I could tell I wasn't going to enjoy the last few miles that are mostly uphill and north (into the wind). At the end, I had ridden 30.43 miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes, for an average speed of 9.34mph. That was enough for me for today.
After I got home, I took a long nap and then Lucy and I went out to La Veracruzana. I figured after a long bike ride, I could enjoy some real food. We had been careful about what we'd eaten all week, so it was nice to splurge a little and not have to feel guilty for it. I don't mind eating a low carb diet most of the time, but it's nice to have some additional variety now and then.
For some reason, it seems like I end up going to Veracruzana every year on the day of Cannabis Reform Movement's party on the common. After dinner, we took a quick stroll through. Lots of people playing hacky-sack and various wares for sale. It was funny to see the little pipes and bongs being sold with the warning: For Tobacco Only! Yeah, right.
I think I've decided on my next long ride -- I will circumnavigate the Connecticut River. Not the whole river -- just the piece between the Sunderland bridge and the Northampton bridge. But that will still be a very respectable ride. I did a quick analysis and find that, if I continue increasing the length of my rides at the same rate, I should be able to ride a century by October. In fact the rate looks like it's increasing faster than a linear rate, but I'm not sure it should be. I'll just take my time and keep riding and maybe, in the late summer or early fall, if I feel up to it, I'll aim for riding a century.