1/19/09 – SKIING THE CLIFFSIDE BRIDGE LOOP: One day before the Inauguration! We had a lovely 14-16 inches of snow falling all day yesterday and until 10:00 this a.m. Temp. was just under 20 degrees. I decided to ski from Checkpoint 16 over the Cliffside Bridge because I thought with such deep snow I wouldn’t have to worry about the downhills. It was slow going, more like snow-shoeing than skiing. It was pristine, sunny and beautiful. There weren’t even any footprints. Just up over the West Branch Bridge was spectacular. I took some camera phone photos. It took me 40 minutes to get to the Cliffside Bridge. After Checkpoint 21 the downhill there was really fun. I wouldn’t dare try to ski down it in snow that was any shallower.
Then I decided to do something really daring (for me) and come back on the Asticou Trail. It turned out to be a good decision. It was not as flat as I remembered it. One of the first obstacles I encountered on the trail was a pretty steep but short downhill. I had to stop and consider it. “Oh, it’s not that steep. And the snow is soft. You won’t get hurt if you fall. Come on. Try it!” So I did and it was fun. The only really serious obstacle is a footbridge made of boulders. I actually went over it on my skis, but considering it now it probably would have been much more prudent if I had taken off my skis.The entire loop took one hour and 40 minutes. The distance is only about 2 ½ miles. Skiing back in my tracks from Checkpoint 15 to 16 was fun.
12/3/08 – I decided to walk to day because I rode yesterday. At 2:00 pm the weather was about 38 degrees, sunny and dry. I took a great 1-hour walk & hike. I drove to the JPH lower parking lot because the upper was closed for construction. My plan was to hike the loop starting at Checkpoint 15 at Jordan Stream, hike up the Spring Trail (?) to the Cliffside Bridge, take the shortcut down to the carriage road via the Penobscot Mtn trail, then return on the Asticou Trail.
I chose this route because I thought the steep “stairway” on that trail would be a good workout for my knees and that the rougher terrain would exercise different muscles. It turned out to be a great workout which took exactly 1 hour and probably just under 3 miles. I got a little spooked when I heard some guys behind me when I was climbing up the Spring Trail, so I picked up a big stick just in case. I guess they continued on up to Jordan Cliffs because they were no longer behind me once I got onto the carriage road. I stopped to savor the view at the Cliffside Bridge. There was a lot of blowdown and quite a few toppled trees leftover from Sunday’s rain storm. A flock of birds flew chattering overhead on the Asticou Trail.
I realized how important it is to have a watch with you so you can reassure yourself that you’re not lost. I knew the Asticou Trail leg would take about a ½ hour. I started to wonder about it when I looked at my watch and I had only been on it for 10 minutes. I knew I would hear Jordan Stream when I was close to the end. It was mucky in places and I was wishing for my hiking boots. There was the delightful discovery of a little footbridge in what seemed the middle of nowhere. I stopped there to listen and was very comforted by the silence. There was only the sound of the far-off drone of the heavy equipment in the JPH parking lot. Just a few steps later a little red squirrel stopped to look at me.
Both of those trails are really well constructed. The only really difficult part is the stairway climb up to the Cliffside Bridge with some hand-over-hand climbing included. Fun! Let’s do it again!
12/2/08 – CYCLING THE LOOP: Hey I did a 12-mile ride a couple of weeks ago but forgot to log it in. Today was beautiful, dry and sunny and 43 degrees, pretty unusual for the first week of December, so I decided to go for a ride even though I have recently gained weight and am out of shape. I still have this plantar fascitis pain in my left heel so I thought it best to go for a ride instead of a walk, even though about a week ago I had a pretty good 6-mile run/walk up to the Cliffside Bridge, around Redfield Hill, etc.
I was very comfortable in Pearl Izumi knickers, tights, wool jersey and Paco’s 66 North jacket which I had to borrow because I’m too fat to fit in my own clothes. Jacket was awesome, what a wind stopper! Also wore wool socks and headband, Toko gloves, and my regular glasses. My feet were a little cold and I will probably wear the foot warmers next time.
I decided to ride part of the Loop and was delighted to find out that the Loop was now closed to traffic. It was a little rough going and my enthusiasm started to wane about halfway up the first big hill right after Jordan Pond House. I decided to take it easy and turn around after I had ridden for ½ an hour to make it an hour ride. There were several other cyclists out taking advantage of the good weather and the closed Loop. Things started to get a whole lot better coasting down to Bubble Pond and I thought maybe I would turn around there, but it was just shy of ½ an hour so I decided to do the big climb up to the turnout right before the base of Cadillac. It wasn’t too bad and I was in the zone by the time I reached the turnaround. I stopped to savor the view and have a drink of water before turning around to go back.
The ride back was very enjoyable as expected because it’s practically all downhill. There was a very strong, 20 mph southwesterly headwind coming up over the crest at Bubble Rock all the way to the downhill right before Jordan Pond House. That’s when I seriously appreciated the jacket! A nice cyclist in red and black smiled and waved. I barreled home from JPH in the usual style without any dog encounters. I hope there are a few more good days left before it gets too cold and icy to ride.
10/16/07 – Today did the 13.8 mi ride starting at 6:55 am. 40 degrees, wore microfleece base layer, wool cycling jersey, wind jacket, shorts and tights, wool socks, cycling shoes and ear covers. Found that wearing the ski gloves over the cycling gloves was too tight, perhaps try it the other way ‘round? Was warm and comfy by the “500 ft to Carriage Road” sign anyway. Feet were a little cold, should probably switch to leather shoes. The ride took 70 minutes. Did not push it except for hills.
As I was bombing down the big hill on the west side of Eagle Lake I saw the sullen fisherman. This time he had a dog on a flexi-lead, and I had a hairy moment there maneuvering around them at top speed. This a.m. he said hello! Saw him again coming back around Eagle Lake. Saw two walkers by Bubble Pond. Also saw a deer coming down the hill near the sharp turn just before Jordan Pond Gate Lodge. No foot tingling
.10/14/07-MDI marathon was today, we went down to the village to check out the runners. Beautiful crisp, sunny fall day. We only rode 13.8 mi with because we had to come back early to plant bulbs before Frank went off to play guitar with Steve.
10/13/07 – We rode did 26 miles today: high c’s, Aunt Betty, Paradise Hill & Witch Hole, Bubble Pond. Then we built a new flower bed in the front yard. We went to the Chart Room for lunch on Peggy’s recommendation. It was great! Received our Louis Garneau ear covers in the mail, they were just the ticket. Temp was 42 when we started out, probably 50 at the end. I wore tights, jersey, and wind jacket. Did not need full-finger gloves. Frank’s feet were cold because he didn’t wear wool socks. He wore tights, long sleeved jersey and 66 North jacket, and was comfortable all over except for his feet.
10/9/07 – 13.8 “three lakes” ride in 71 minutes. Started out at 7:03, 42 degrees, windy @ 10-15 mph winds. Ate shredded wheat before leaving. Wore jersey, tights, and beanie, and was warm by the time I reached the 500 ft to Carriage Road sign. Should wear ski gloves over bike gloves if it gets any cooler than that. Was 46 degrees when I got back 71 minutes later. Did not push this ride. Saw 2 runners and 2 walkers. The hill after Bubble Pond was easier this time, as was the Tumbledown. Took it easy on the last half of Eagle Lake and I think that paid off. No foot tingling to speak of.
9/21/07-today was the first time I rode in the morning. Did the 13.8 “three lakes” ride in 65 minutes. Temp was 55. Wore knickers, long-sleeve jersey and wind jacket, which was perfect. Saw a deer, a couple of rec. cyclists, a couple of runners and a great blue heron. Figured out how to drink water without stopping!
9/23/07 – today we did our 30 mile ride, “The Perimeter.” But we left out the “Amphitheater loop” and I wish we had left out Day Mountain, because it royally sucked, very pitted due to horse and carriage use. The rest of the ride, however, was great, mostly because the day was amazing, sunny and 69 degrees, with about 20 mph winds.
9/25/07 – started out at 6:48, 48 degrees. Rode 20 miles, “Three Lakes” plus Witch Hole. Arrived home 8:16, 58 degrees. Averaging 13.64 mph! Wore long sleeve jersey plus wind jacket, perfect again, with my Pearl shorts. The halfway point is Checkpoint 4 on your way back from Witch Hole.
Saw the sullen fisherman on the playbike who never says hello, and two deer. Beautiful warm and sunny around Witch Hole. Probably should have paced myself better around Witch Hole because I was really feeling it when I got back to Eagle Lake. Hills are really starting to feel like nothing. The worst one today may have been the one right before Duck Brook Bridge.
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