Wanted: my endurance

[dmaze]

After not really having been out for two weeks, I figured today might be a nice day for a bike plan that was "tackle Chickatawbut Hill in the Blue Hills, then go clockwise around 128 until I get tired and come home". I wound up taking the long way around in a couple of places (warning: all roads lead to the Arborway rotary), did just fine with the climb up Unquity Road, but had to stop partway up the steeper climb on Chickatawbut Hill proper. Once I got to the top I decided maybe "just go home" was a better plan, but then got to deal with little problems like the routing roach motel of Quincy. Did successfully make it back, for 41.04 miles in all in roughly four real hours. (Route map)

I did figure out that if you're in Central Square and want to head towards Inman, then you can turn right on Essex Street (the light before Prospect). This goes two blocks and forces you to turn right on Harvard Street. At the stop sign, you can turn left into a contra-flow bike lane, cross Broadway, and then turn left on Hampshire. This seemed much more pleasant than trying to deal with Prospect proper.