Hub on Wheels 2019

This is the year for long city bike rides.  In the spring it was 40 miles on the Five Boro Bike Tour in New York.  Today it's 44 miles with Hub on Wheels here in Boston.  There are a few differences between the rides.  First of all, since this one's in Boston, it's a lot closer to home.  Instead of driving 4 hours to another city the day before, I got to sleep in my own bed before the big adventure.  Even better, instead of rain and showers, it's a blue bird day here in New England.  However, just like in the spring, Matt & I are doing this ride together. To add to the fun, though, we're joining several cyclists from the Veracode Burlington office.

For my part, I am nursing a knee injury suffered in an after-work volleyball game a few days earlier.  Hopefully, it won't hold me back today.

Matt didn't receive his info packet in time, so we need to go to registration in City Hall Plaza before we start.  After that, we look for our friends.

Matt & I are ready to go.  Little did I realize when I took this picture that we were right in front of the Old State House.

Some friends and coworkers:  Yun, Ryan (back turned), Kate, and Matt.

Kate & I must have registered at the same time;  her bib number (1625) is one number after mine (1624).

Looking down State Street past the Old State House, you can also see the Boston Custom House Tower against the sky.

The ride begins and we turn left onto Congress Street cutting between City Hall on the left and Fanieuil Hall on the right.  From there we head out onto Storrow Drive along the Charles River.  Sorry, no pictures here - there were lots and lots of bikes and people, but beautiful view of the river, the Esplanade, and Boston University. 
We turn off at The Back Bay Fens and start down the Emerald Necklace.

Our first rest stop is at in Arnold Arboretum about Mile 13.5.  We catch up with Kate for the first time.

This bridge wasn't too far after the rest stop, not sure exactly where, or if it has a name,
 but, I thought it was pretty neat looking.

The second rest stop is  at Neponset Park, just short of Mile 30.
There we found granola and energy bars, fresh fruit, and lines for the port-a-potties.
Next we're off to Pope John Paul II Park then heading onto the UMass Boston campus.

Reaching Columbia point, I take a picture break at the JFK Library where I visited last February.
I've seen this iconic building from the water several times paddling in Dorchester Bay, but never this close before.

From here, you get a great view of the city skyline.

Our third rest stop is at Carson Beach Mile 36.5.

We fell behind Kate and Ryan a bit and planned to meet them here.  Unfortunately, we couldn't find them,
but apparently they were here waiting for us just to the left of this photo.
From here, we're off into Southie, past City Point beach, another one of my paddling put-in spots for Boston Harbor.

We saw Serenade of the Seas when we passed the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, before riding into the seaport district.
This is the view up Seaport Boulevard.

We've had to obey the stoplights along the route, but now that we're back downtown, there's a lot more of them.

We cross the finish line back at City Hall Plaza, where we view vendors and food stations. 
We wait in line for our free burrito bowl.  It was worth the wait.

Another nice medallion to hang on my dining room lamp.  Just slightly bigger than the one from NYC.
Maybe because it was a few miles more.

My hyperextended knee didn't hold me back at all today.  Moreover,  I may have enjoyed this ride even more than the one in the spring; I'm sure the weather had something to do with that.  But even more than that, I got to see so many cool places that I've visited for other reasons or heard about and now finally got a chance to see.