Saturday, April 9, 2011

Ideal commuter location

Many homes adjoin the trail. Some have private access with their own gates, paths, or stairs. Only one home faces the trail and has a private crossing: 1359R Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington, now for sale.

1359R Mass. Ave., Lexington

Today: 8.5 miles. This year: 37.2 miles.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Trail Cleanup, Saturday April 30th

From the ABAC mailing list:

Mark your calendars - save the date!
Meet on the Bikeway - Don't be late!

Please join the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee in a spring cleanup of the Minuteman Bikeway in Arlington. The cleanup will take place on Saturday April 30 from 9:30am to 1:00pm. If it rains on Saturday, we will try Sunday at the same time.

We will first meet at the three locations listed below then fan out along the path; pick the location where you and your friends might like to work:

Arlington Heights, by the path by the Park Ave. Bridge.
Arlington Center, by the path at Water Street.
East Arlington, by the path at the Rt. 2 overpass near Thorndike Field.

Bring gloves if you have them. Trash bags will be provided.
For further information, contact Stephan Miller via email (steffmiller@mac.com) or by phone (781-641-2845).

Friday, March 18, 2011

Downhill downwind, uphill upwind.

Skating from Lexington Center to Mill Street in Arlington was a pleasure today, with the temperature in the 60s and the wind at my back. I stood and coasted like never before. Returning uphill and upwind? That was work.

The pavement was dryer today than yesterday, with snowbanks perishing rapidly in the heat. Most notable was the absence of yesterday's puddle crossing the Seasons Four driveway in Lexington.

Today: 8.7 miles. This year: 28.7 miles.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Weather perfect. Trail OK.

The anemic remains of this winter's epic snowbanks still dribble their waning moisture onto the trail. Small sticks are the most common litter on the trail today. I kicked up a few as I skated and heard them bounce behind me, sounding like pencils on the pavement.

East Lexington

Near Hartwell Avenue

Today: 12 miles. This year: 20 miles.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Slightly off-trail

It's been a tough winter for street furniture.

Along Mass. Ave., Arlington Heights

Friday, February 11, 2011

Far from clear

I crossed the trail behind Trader Joe's in Arlington Heights a couple of days ago. The stairs from Trader Joe's are meticulously clean from edge to edge, unlike the landing below with its narrow lane between ice banks. The trail itself is fully covered in hard-packed snow and ice. This might be the worst location in Arlington not to plow because the shade of the high wall preserves ice on the trail there after everything else has melted. Continuing across the trail, the Hurd Field parking lot is a wilderness of snow, ice, water, and seemingly random obstacles. My guess is that parked cars hindered plowing and led to the lot's sorry state.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Trail Clearing in Lexington: A Day Later

Thursday's work to clear the trail brought it down almost to the pavement. You can cycle in these conditions, with snow tires, if you really want to. And it seems a few people do.

West from Bow Street, Lexington

Bicycle track near Bow Street