Sammy Rides Again

Yesterday was one of the first really warm days that we have had so far this spring, so I took Sam for a trailer ride. This was the first time that he has been in his "chariot" without his car seat and I think that he liked it more this way. Our ride itself wasn't all that exciting, as we just rode north out of Utica up along the road through the ammunition plant. At the end of that road, we took one of the other roads through the plant that has been opened up to traffic. We took a break so that Sam could have run around next to a big bulldozer. Sam thought it was pretty cool to sit in the drivers seat!

The Water Kept on Rising...

Well, not really, but we have seen the Ohio River keep rising and rising this week. I took these pictures on Thursday morning, close to what was supposed to be close to the cresting of the river (and yes, Dad, these pictures are for you).

These photos and the ones in the next post I took on Saturday night while I was walking around the back streets of Shinjuku. I came across a bike shop that specialized in single speed bikes, parts, and accessories. All the cool stuff I see on bikes around town (lugged Nitto threaded stems!) -- I guess this is where people get it. Still, nothing in the shop was as cool as the bikes parked outside. These four guys have a bike team (gang?) that they call "Far East Smoking Sliders" or something like that. The yellow t-shirt the guy in the middle is wearing is their uniform. Nice guys, but they didn't seem about to ask me to join their team or anything like that.

Riding in Nagano Prefecture

I found this ride report on Rapha's website about their rides in Japan (or Yonretto as they are calling it). This first ride was in Nagano Prefecture, from a small town called Nobeyama, situation at 1400m above sea level.

Introduction
Part I
Part II
Part III

Just a few more shots

of Sam from Sunday. He loved going to the park to play on the jungle gym.

Maple Syrup Festival

These are a few pictures from the Maple Syrup Festival that we went to this past weekend.

Sam hung out in his backpack for awhile, but mainly he just wanted to roam all over the place.

The maple syrup production took place in the main building, and of course they had to have a fire going constantly to boil the sap down.