Privately-funded Plowing in Lexington

A Lexington Minuteman article announces that Lexington will join Arlington in plowing the bike path this winter, but using private donations. Amusingly the article was originally headlined "Lexington to pave bikepath this winter", but it's been corrected.

Coban™ Self-Adherent Wrap

This is only off-topic if you never get a road rash. I donated my 82nd pint of blood last week, not that much of a feat spread over 26 years, and asked for a Coban™ bandage to avoid the itchy rash that I used to get on my arm from the adhesive tape. The lingering rash with intense itching was by far the worst part of donating, edging out the inconvenience of skipping skating the day after. I've used Coban and store-brand imitations mostly after blood donations, but it's also good for large abrasions such as you get from falls.

Lexington Construction Notes

Already repaved, Woburn Street had its curbs reset on Tuesday and Wednesday. The bike path still detours around the construction to Fletcher Avenue.

The pedestrian crossing of the trail just short of the Lexington Depot, previously just a painted path often covered with an illegally parked car, is being rebuilt. The new approach has granite curbs and brick surfaces, much like the steps to the trail a hundred feet east.

Near Lexington Depot

Yesterday: 14 miles. This year: 1546.7 miles. To Stillwater: 89.8 miles.

Growing Nippy

Mid-day on Friday I skated comfortably in shorts and a t-shirt. At eight this morning I wore long pants, a flannel over-shirt, and running gloves, yet it took nine miles for my thumbs to warm up. My halluces were cold after thirteen miles despite double socks. Maybe I skated at the wrong time of day: the afternoon forecast calls for warming to 54°F.

Today: 13 miles. This year: 1518.7 miles.

Dry Leaves, No Problem

Looking east from Fletcher Avenue, Lexington

This barrier at the end of Hancock Avenue in Lexington is made from old rails.

Today: 12 miles. This year: 1505.7 miles.

Wet Leaves are the Black Ice of Inline Skating

Wet leaves are easier to see, of course. The resemblance to black ice is in the slickness and the difficulty of assessment. How wet are they? How rotten, and how deep? The more fortunate connection is that black ice and wet leaves both fade in the warmth of the day.

Just as Yury suggested, the shallow excavations later topped with concrete are the foundations of new benches. The one below is on the outbound side of the trail west of Wiggins Avenue in Bedford.

It's hard to keep track, but I don't think this tree leaning out from the tree line used to be so prominent. My guess is that its great height and the rain-softened ground are slowly tilting it over the trail just outbound from Fletcher Avenue in Lexington. There are high wind warnings tomorrow afternoon into Wednesday morning. Don't stand right there.

Today: 13 miles. This year: 1493.7 miles.

Construction Updates

Woburn Street's beautiful new pavement isn't yet finished out to the curbs. The detour to Fletcher Avenue continues.

The small rectangular excavations in Bedford are filled with concrete now. Are these are foundations for benches?

Today: 13 miles. This year: 1472.7 miles. To Stillwater: 163.8 miles.