Day 85 - a reflective walk to McCall Middle School and back

Today was my 85th consecutive day of activity since January 7. For some strange reason, it was also the hardest day, because getting some activity in just wasn't top of mind. Plus, 30 days of biking begins tomorrow, and although I enjoy doing it, I have really loved the variety afforded by consecutive activity as opposed to riding, riding, and more riding. But I'll be thankful to get a month of gentle riding in, although most it will be of the paved variety as opposed to general off road fun, silliness, and grinning.

Here's the view from the top of the hill near my house. The lights in the center of the picture in the distance are the Prudential Center in Boston.

Day 84 - day 32 of snowboarding!!

It was a wet a drizzly day at Sugarbush Sunday March 30. The lower mountain was skiing well, but the upper mountain was crusty and not that great as a result of the mixed precipitation. Katie and I managed to not ski Spring Fling the entire weekend! We did have two great runs down Deeper Sleeper and Katie really did a great job snowboarding on her second day.

Day 83 - 31st day of snowboarding.

Katie is doing well on her first day of snowboarding in 4 years.

It was very spring like - great fun!!

And there was pond skimming!

Day 31 of snowboarding!

Day 82 - intense gym session

30 minutes of grinding away indoors. Ready for the Rippah Openah for certain!

Day 81 - March 27 - icy Mountain Bike Loop

I decided to head into the Winchester side of the Fells and do the Mountain Bike Loop for a change. Unlike the Medford side there was a lot of ice - I managed to get through relatively unscathed - my ice riding skills are definitely improving!!

Day 80 - March 26 - walking Horn Pond

Anita and I went for a really nice walk together around Horn Pond. It was very blustery and there was almost no one there. Towards the end we saw some ducks and geese. The geese were crossing the road, but I was slow on the draw with my phone and the battery died just as I was about to take a picture. 

Day 79 - Singlespeeding

Not much ice in the Fells compared to Topsfield. Had a great time single speeding. 

Day 78 - Strava shortchange!

March 24. Went for a 40 minute walk in the Fells behind my house and Strava said I walked for 7 minutes. Argh!

Day 77 - horror show

March 23 - headed into Willowdale State Forest without studded tires (took them off that morning) into trails sheeted with ice. It completely sucked. But at least Matt didn't have studs either!

Day 76 - Another frozen day in the woods

Day 75 - nice short ride along part of the Rippah course

It was 45 degrees out and muddy on the trails. Went for a 11 mile road ride on part of the Rippah route. 

Day 74 - walking to the center of town

Anita and I had a really nice walk to the center of town to take her to work. Then I walked home, for a total of nearly 3 miles. A good break from cycling. We saw a couple of ducks crossing the road in the center of town. 

Day 73 - stationary bike at the gym - again!

Still getting ready for the Rippah Openah.  Double meh!

Day 72 - stationary bike at the gym

Meh... Getting ready for the Rippah Openah 

Day 71 - putting around on the bike

Slick out there!

Day 70 - first tracks!

Day 30 of snowboarding!

Katie and I were invited to first tracks. I promptly lost my snowboard getting on the lift but enjoyed the fresh powder for a couple of hours. We ended with a super run down Spillsville and then headed to the Hostel for a great brunch. 

Day 69 - spring at the Bush

Day 29 of snowboarding!

Crowds and spring conditions were there in force at Sugarbush Saturday. 

Katie and I enjoyed the natural features on Birch run a lot and took a couple of trips down Castlerock as well. 

Day 68 - single speeding in the Fells

It was cold, fast, and kind of smooth in sections. 

Day 67 - winter storm Vulcan surfing!

Day 28 of snowboarding!

19" of pow and third chair! We had great fun crusing around for good spots to ski and Katie and figured out Spring Fling was superb because the wind kept blowing over the tracks. Here she is tearing it up. 

Day 66 - start of the storm

Day 27 of snowboarding!

Katie and I did laps of Castlerock chair and skied Rumble for the first time. It was hard!

Day 65 - walking to the town library and back

With my lovely wife Anita. 3 miles. Happy conversation.  

Day 64: a couple miles of walking with Emilia

Emilia and I had a good chat and walk around the neighborhood - we logged about two miles in all. A great Monday warm down.

Day 63 - fast and firm at the mountain.

Day 26 of snowboarding!

The groomers were ok, and the ungroomes runs were definitely challenging. My butt was sore from falling on hard moguls - although we started at opening, I had to call it a day by 3. 

Day 62 - Mt Ellen morning and Castlerock afternoon.

Day 25 of snowboarding! 

I took Katie's friend Ellie out to Sugarbush for the weekend. We started off today with a bunch of runs at Mt Ellen and then after lunch headed to Slidebrook to get to Lincoln Peak where we mostly did laps of Castlerock. Conditions were mostly good and everyone was smiling but tired by day's end. 

Day 61 - road ride

Friday, March 7. Just 45 minutes around Mystic lake and then up by the golf course in Arlington. 

Day 60 - singletrack on the Winchester side.

I did part of my regular mountain bike loop on the Fells orange trail this afternoon. The conditions were good and it was definitely fun to make it through the frozen chop. 

Day 59 - another fascinating day at the gym - NOT!

Gettting ready for the Ripper Openah a few weeks from now with some focused stationary bike time. 

Day 58 - frozen singletrack!

It was cold and frozen in the Fells. But the riding was great and the scenery quiet and beautiful. 

Day 57: Quick 1.5 mile walk with Anita

I snuck in a quick 1.5 mile walk with Anita tonight. It was very brisk, but it was good to walk around the neighborhood and talk and keep the streak going. Only 13 more days left!

Day 56 - overnight snow at the Bush

Day 24 of snowboarding!

4-5 inches of new snow disappears fast at a Sugarbush. Katie and I got second chair today at Superbravo and were in the first 20 chairs on Castlerock. It was weird to see Castlerock and Middle Earth groomed. Katie and I did have a lot of fun today and we ended the day with some big airs (for us) on the Slowpoke terrain park. 

Day 55 - fast and firm at the Bush

Day 23 of snowboarding!

Katie and I had fun riding Slidebrook back and forth between the two peaks at Sugarbush yesterday. Not icy, but off trail it was firm!