Bogieblog

Record Heat

According to the Weather Channel, yesterday Concord hit a record high of 90 degrees F. Previous record was of 85, set in 1942.

It was way too hot to do anything considering our recent weather history; Friday, we were in the high 60's and previous to that we were in the 40's and 50's - heck, we had used the wood stove a couple of evenings last week.

So, after our usual Friday chores, we joined up with Jimmy and went for a ride (surprise, surprise). We hit Alton Bay, where the fire was at - man o man, could see why the town worried about more stuff going up than what did (which was bad enough).

Then we hit Gilford, Chan's part of NH, actually, we stayed in the Lakes region most of the ride (cooler there). Saw a lot of boats still wrapped up for winter - bet a lot of people had had the foresight to get theirs ready for this weekend!

Got home shortly before 6 and dragged out the grill and deck furniture. Karen showed up and we had a good dinner outside until just before dark - when the black flies started coming out. Then we moved inside (which had cooled off to a reasonable 80 something (it's 76 degrees up there right now). Never turned on the tube, just listened to music off WS's iPod (set up to the stereo) and played guess the artist/group.

Everyone left by 9, and I went to bed shortly after.

I wouldn't be surprised if WS goes for another ride today. Although it is supposed to be a bit cooler today, it will still be mighty warm.

Me, I've got a project for class that I have put off long enough - wish me luck on it!

Afternoon Riding

It was so nice yesterday, after completing my test for class (a multi-hour take-home test), I decided to not work on my project and go for a bike ride. Actually the plan was to go take care of some pet sitting (the first since Jan 1) - taking the long way there and the long way back, then come back and work on my project (due on Tuesday).

If I went straight to the client's house in Weare, it is 11 miles each way.

As it was, I went the opposite way, down to Hillsboro, took Rt 202 to Henniker, then Rt 114 to my clients house. All told, the mileage thus far was 13 miles.

After taking care of the cat and gerbil, I once again hit Rt 114 headed for Goffstown. The plan was to hit Rt 13 to New Boston and take Rt 136 to Francistown, connect to 147 to Bennington then get back on Rt 202 (from the opposit direction I started from) to go thru Antrim and eventually get back to Hillsboro then home.

After missing the turn onto Rt 13 to go to New Boston, I pulled on a side street to try to turn around. Foolish me, school had let out and apparently everyone was on the roads and there was no way I was taking a left. So, after waiting 5 minutes, I pulled back out onto Rt 114 and headed towards a gas station to turn around in. Once I got to the gas station, I neglected to pull over and decided to head down to Rt 101. I took that all the way down thru Milford to Wilton, where I pulled over at a gas station and called WS.

I had left a note that I had left at 2:30 and would be back in an hour or two. It was now 4:15, with a good 45 minute ride to get home. After talking to WS (who had gotten home a short bit ago and was putting new highway pegs on his bike), it was decided I would meet him at Jimmy's and then we would cruise home.

So, I took Rt 31 down thru Wilton, Lyndeborough, and Greenfield, to get to Bennington. There I stopped at Jimmy's (who wasn't home) and waited for WS. When he got there, we hung around for a couple of minutes then headed home.

 

After all was said and done, I had put on just under 100 miles.

Yep, it was a good afternoon for a ride!

Forced Forsythia

It is officially spring:

 

 

These are forced forsythia blooms (technically not blooms - only leaves). I cut these off the plants last weekend and brought them in. The ones on the stove have had to be moved on a couple of nights as I didn't think that either the vase or branches would survive the temperatures of a lit woodstove. I am pleased with my first attempts to force blooms for inside the house and will have to remember to do it again next year.

Actually, the forsythia outside have started to bloom this week, and we have a couple of early daffodils that came up yesterday. With the nice temps of yesterday and coming up this weekend, I expect more stuff to make an appearance.

Welcome to Spring!

I'm a Terror

From Reason Magazine (found thru who remembers where).

Saturday Funny

WS took me out for a belated birthday dinner last night.

Okay, I drove,

Okay, WS didn't have his wallet and I paid.

Let me rephrase that, we went to dinner last night.

Heh.

Blooms in Early Spring

I spent a couple hours out yeasterday cleaning up some of the flower gardens and re-mulching a few places (got plenty more to go, but it is a start). There are actually a couple things blooming:

  iris reticulata (Cantab) is only 6-8" tal

  Crocus - out in the middle of a pathway because chipmunks so nicely re-decorated for me a couple of years ago.

Sighting

Saw a Pileated Woodpecker yesterday. We hear them quite a bit, but rarely see them (last one I saw was at least 7 years ago).

• If I hadn't had to wait for the truck service for two hours
• If I hadn't had to do blankets and stuff at the laundry mat
• If I hadn't come home and gotten more quarters and the load I had washed at home
• If I hadn't turned around 1/2 way up the road to get a book to read while waiting for the laundry
• If the turkey hadn't been attempting to cross the road when I rounded the corner
• If I hadn't looked around to see if there were more turkeys

I would have missed the Pileated. Quite a bit of stuff had to happen to juxtapose our being in the right places at the right time.

Back on the Road

Got to go for a 45 mile putt on the bike yesterday - felt good to have the wind in my face!

Motley or Main Stream?

So, the Concord Monitor claims that it was a 'Motley Bunch" at the Concord Tea Party on Wednesday.

By looking at the photos on Amy's site, it seems as if the people were really main stream America.

Alright, so I know that "motley" means a variety of elements, or not homogeneous. However, the common use of motley is more of either the court jester type or raggedy hobo type. Although technically correct wording, it seems to me as if they deliberately used wording that would be misunderstood - especially considering the one picture they decided to publish with it.

Just my two cents worth

Fire in Alton

Went to BIL's place for dinner last night. Had great ham, potatos and asparagus (green beans for those who have less refined tastes). We took cheesecake with homemade freezer jams (strawberry and blueberry) for toppings.

While there, watched the news and saw this heap big blaze - you know it was serious when it hits the national news! They were worried about the woods and portions of the town going up - the wind was high (still is) and snow is gone - good job to all the firefighters for getting under control as quickly as they did!