Monday 30 May 2011

More Than A Feeling...Boston...27-30/05/11

Another early start to catch the 7am shuttle van into my hotel in Boston means saying goodbye again to the half of us who are still around: nobody in their right mind enjoys this bit, do they? Actually, you might get a different answer if you asked the other chaps, hah-hah!

Despite staying in a lovely hotel (who had my room ready and checked me in at 9.30am!) and the weather being set fair for the weekend, it was as if someone had pulled the plug, energy-wise. Even after a full-on lunch I was toast and had to retire for an old man's nap. Disgrace.

I felt fully able to get my 'arris down for the complimentary wine tasting/guzzling that occurs each evening at 5pm in the hotel lobby. This was something that I feel could only be of benefit to riders of future A.B.B. tours. I'll suggest this to Mike, who is doing well for 323.

I knew that Boston was a compact city and suited to walking around, but I didn't appreciate how easy it is to cover the ground, even at  my 'snail wearing flip-flops' pace.


Torch this place before this madness is allowed to get out of control!




In place for Memorial Day on Monday: Boston Common.


"If I'd been christened Kermit I could've had class. I could've been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am."
"Ribbit."


Thoroughly enjoyed the Freedom Trial trudge. Tell you what though, these Colonials don't half bang on about the independence that they were allowed, ahem...


Splendid fellow, splendid ale...


What a way to earn a crust: and no, it's not the 'Fathers For Justice Synchronised Abseiling Team'. I think the bloke on the right missed a bit...



Old Ironside: not the great Raymondo Burr, but the U.S.S. Constitution.


...which means the obligatory, cheesy photo.


But nowhere near as cheesy as this beauty, hah-hah!


Sightseeing took a hiatus as I sought out a place to watch the Champions League cobblers: at short-notice it had to be the Marriott's bar. They have more screens than The Enterprise. It was just like watching Palace...
The only thing that marred an otherwise fine match was Fergie being so gracious in defeat, hah-hah!


I don't know what happened to me but I couldn't fight the urge to get the bike out early-doors on Sunday: two hours later and a lot of ground was covered...




About as close as I'll ever get, hah-hah!


Thought I was done with hills...


The Monument to the Battle Of Bunker Hill. Which wasn't fought on Bunker Hill. Ohio Bob, what do you say?
"Go figure."



The great Bobby Orr. Everyone was Bruins-mental as they had made it through to the final of The Stanley Cup...


Shame that the Red Sox were away this weekend. Another time, I hope...


As well as shuffling around town, I also enjoyed the trolley car tour and of course getting out on the Charles River cruise. Corona was $6.25. Scandalous. Mind you, it was about 85F out there, so they had us over a barrel...well, bottle really.


"There was a boat from Nantucket...".
You can fill the rest in yourselves.




There followed a fine meal in one of the many Italian restaurants on Hanover Street: the people of Boston certainly do know how to eat well.

That's pretty much it: after over five weeks away from home it's time to go back to it. I miss the company and BS of the group already, as well as the cycling, remarkably. We'll try to keep in touch: I have an idea for the next run...

Unbelievably, I have already seen one of the guys again: as I was sauntering along The Freedom Trail on Saturday morning I heard the unique booming tones of The Big Man, Lasse from a passing street trolley tour. I had just enough time to run across and shake his hand,
"I am tourist."
Yeah, unique is the word, hah-hah!

There were three reasons for this ride:

- to raise money for cancer charities and honour Linda's memory, as she lost her life to the disease, also

- for my own personal ambition and sense of achievement, and finally

- this one is difficult to explain without coming across as a pompous tool (imagine that), but bear with me...there is a chap who is a cancer survivor from the U.K. and he did a similar ride earlier this year.

He wrote about how one of the reasons for him doing it was just because he could as a celebration of life and what was possible, and not solely because he was in greatly improved health.
In no way was this meant in an arrogant manner, but really an appreciative one I think. Not sure if this makes any sense to you but I think I know what he meant.

As Daryl noted: "If we put one tenth of this effort into our personal lives, well then we wouldn't be such a bunch of losers!". I'm paraphrasing slightly here, but that was the gist of it. I think. He's right as well.

Alright, here endeth the sermon. Thanks to everyone who sponsored  and supported me: you know who you are. I hope that you enjoyed this blog too: I did!


Cheers!