pavedwave longboarding

scooterdad

Here are some photos taken on one of my routine trips from Easton, where I live, to Oxford and back. It is about 10 mile one way and the round trip is often shorter than that due to time constraints. Due to the demands of family and work, my best time to ride is between four and six am, and this route is pretty nice that time of day with a headlamp and reflective vest. I have been fortunate to have quickly recruited two friends, Charlie and Mike, to join me at that crazy hour. It can be a busy road during the day but has a decent bike lane. Of course at 4 am, we have the road almost to ourselves! The sight of the sun rising makes the hour seem not so absurd.

We'll probably incorporate this route into Ultraskate, as well as the bike path shown at the bottom.

View from bridge over one of two creeks

Recent snow

Pausing on a bridge. Those grooves in the concrete used to really shake me. In fact, the first couple trips I carried my board across. Now I pump hard all the way across!

Sunrise half-way through our trip

Another view

Charlie and I pumping on the short rail trail in Easton(taken by Mike). This route, while only 2.5 miles long and containing several road crossings, is quite nice during the day.

Belegnole · Joined: 23 Jul 2008 Posts: 86 Location: Appleton, Wisconsin

Pretty area, looks like your starting to get spring, as I wish we were. My daughter and I have gone so far as to hang out on our boards in the house..lol
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No matter where you go, there you are....

scooterdad · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 12:04 pm Post subject:

Compared to where you are, no doubt it is almost spring. Unfortunately, right now it is snowing outside Smile

We do get some pretty nice days followed by terrible ones. March is even worse that way.

930chas · Joined: 07 Feb 2009 Posts: 7

Landy, good stuff!! Makes me want to get back out there.

Belegnole · Joined: 23 Jul 2008 Posts: 86 Location: Appleton, Wisconsin

Ah, sorry to hear that spring is not on it's way. I was happy that someone was getting it for a moment. We just got enough snow in the last day or so to get the plows back out....which explains practicing rail grabs inside...lol
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No matter where you go, there you are....

scooterdad · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:18 pm Post subject:

Well, the snow was short lived- only for show, now it's just super windy. I can't complain about the weather. It could always be worse, like Wisconsin. Wink

Then again, it could always be better. Those Florida videos looked pretty nice...

angelo_pb · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:00 am Post subject:

I think those look great. The Winter scenery is very picturesque. I assume once you are warmed up and moving, the cold becomes balmy.
Thanks for posting those.

pavedwave · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 1120 Location: seattle wa usa

Those shots rock! I imagine you guys stay pretty warm having all the running gear already, the tricky part is not stopping anywhere too long. The rail trail looks really nice -- maybe that would work for your overnighter on the ultraskate?

scooterdad · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:02 pm Post subject:

Yeah, the core stays pretty warm with the right gear. My hands and feet always get cold easily though. I find it easier to stay warm than biking but not as easy as with running.

The local rail trail closes officially at dusk. There are also these gates that require pretty tight navigation at every road crossing to discourage kids riding across the road. Those would get challenging in the overnight hours. We may hit the Oxford Rd route out in back really early on Ultraskate day (4 am) to get some miles under our belt, then hit the trail during daylight. There is another longer trail in decent shape 30 minutes north of here that we may drive to to mix it up a little too. That one closes at dark too. Knowing we are all new to LDP, we may end up stopping at sunset and see how far we make it, rather than bumbling around on the road in the dark our first event. Looking forward to an Ultraskate in warmer weather with longer days Wink