Took the Surly Trucker DeLuxe out on Saturday afternoon for another iteration of the
Rivers & Hills route, an East-facing mix of parkland next to water (Mystic River, Mystic Lakes, Aberjona River, Malden River) and hills of the sort one notices going up and going down, all part of the Fells Escarpment if I understood the geologist correctly. It's a good mix of leisurely cruising, strenuous cranking, and Wheeeeee! The ride begins and ends in East Arlington, and transits parts of Medford, Winchester, Malden, Melrose, and Stoneham. Lots of variations and extensions are possible.
Winchester: mystery bird perched on a snag in the Upper Mystic Lake, near the mouth of the Aberjona River. I don't think it's a cormorant, but I can't quite place it. (Note: My naturalist daughter has since suggested that this is a juvenile cormorant; makes sense to me.)
Mystic River, Riverbend Park, Medford: a couple paddle a canoe (no kayaks here!), framed in greenery.
Mystic River State Reservation, Medford: what do Medford and Lincoln have in common? This musical sculpture (Lincoln's is in the DeCordova sculpture park).
Mouth of the Malden River, as seen from the Wellington Greenway. The coign of vantage is in Medford, most of what's seen is either in Everett or Somerville. For most of it, certainly the casino and the generating plants, this is close enough.
Still looking across the Malden River, from the Wellington Greenway, at another trail that runs along the Everett bank. I think that may be accessible from the southern end of the Northern Strand Community Trail (a.k.a., Bike to the Sea), but have yet to see for myself. If so, it's part of Gateway Park, Everett.
The Park at Rivers Edge, Medford: this little park runs along the Medford bank of the Malden River, N of Route 16. There are some pretty views, including this nice stretch of wild river bank on the Everett-Malden bank, possibly Rivergreen Park, but maybe N of that.
Fellsway East, Melrose: an early section of the longest climb on the ride. A swift descent will follow, but no pictures of that.
Fellsmere Park, Fellsway East, Malden: the longest, fastest descent of the ride finishes next to water, with the lively
jets d'eau in Fellsmere Pond providing a bit of whimsy.
Kurukulla Center for Tibetan Buddhist Studies, Medford: I've made it a habit to pay my respects at the stupa here whenever I ride East. With luck, the flags waving in this animation will multiply the mantras of the the flags waving in the yard. Illusion, reality, mind: your call.
This ride has become one of my standard routes, my legs like it and my brain likes it.
rod