I got out of the house uncharacteristically early for me, rolling out on the Surly Trucker DeLuxe a few minutes after 8 a.m. This odd behavior was triggered by a sadness that the warm weather was coming to an end, the knowledge that I had unavoidable errands in the afternoon, the inevitability of an early nightfall (curse you, EST!) and the likelihood of rain to follow. Besides, it was Veterans Day.

Once again, I rode East, in pursuit of that mix of hills and urban streets that's both close at hand and strangely compelling to ride.


After getting up and down the High Street hills in Medford, paying my respects at the Kurukulla Center, and rolling across the urban flatlands of Medford and Malden, I picked up the Northern Strand Community Path at the Bell Rock Cemetery, Malden's Old Burying Ground, harking back to 1649.


Northern Strand Community Path, Malden: rides occur both in the personal time of the ones who ride, and in the historical time of the larger community; in that spirit, I report this bit of street art, painted on the Path's surface.


West Wyoming Avenue, Melrose: trouble coming every day, as Frank Zappa once put it.


Main Street, Melrose: oak leaves were mustering out.


Fellsway East, Melrose: a warm wind kicked up and the clouds marched overhead. Started the long descent that my GPSlogger clocked at 31mph.


Fellsway East, Melrose: the warm wind blew, and the leaves flew down to dance in the street.


High Street, Medford: commencing the final descent of the ride. Traffic had been almost non-existent earlier, but was picking up now.


All the hills done with, I rode home and then went out to get a haircut.

rod