Friday (June 27) was a gorgeous day for outdoor activities. In the morning, I had the option of swimming, paddling, mountain biking or gravel riding with friends. In the afternoon, there was also an invitation to go downhill mountain biking with my son and grandson.
Unfortunately, Friday morning chores got in the way of fun. However, the afternoon was open. I loaded up my mountain bike and arranged to meet my son, Joe, and grandson, Iver, at Cranmore.
kAmx 925 ?6G6C C62==J 6IA6C:6?465 =:7E\D6CG65[ 5@H?9:== >@F?E2:? 3:<:?8] w6C6 H2D 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ ECJ D@>6E9:?8 ?6H H:E9 >J 72>:=J] x 564:565 E@ 8@ 7@C :E]k^Am
kAm~7 4@FCD6[ x H2D ?6CG@FD[ E@@] x 4964<65 @FE rC2?>@C6’D H63D:E6 D@ x <?6H H92E E@ 6IA64E] x 6G6? H2E4965 2 G:56@ 23@FE =@25:?8 J@FC 3:<6 @? E96 =:7E] yFDE :? 42D6 E9:?8D 8@E 8?2C=J[ x E9C6H :? D@>6 6=3@H 2?5 <?66 A25D]k^Am
kAmy@6 2?5 9:D <:5D H6C6 E2<:?8 25G2?E286 @7 rC2?>@C6’D “$49@@=’D ~FE” DA64:2=] {2DE H66<[ 2== =@42= DEF56?ED F?56C `g 4@F=5 FD6 rC2?>@C6’D |@F?E2:? p5G6?EFC6 !2C< @C q:<6 !2C< 7@C 7C66] vC2?552F89E6C yF=:6E 2?5 96C 7C:6?5D 49@D6 E96 p5G6?EFC6 !2C<] xG6C 2?5 9:D 3F55J[ {6:7 |2??:?8[ @AE65 E@ 8@ 5@H?9:== >@F?E2:? 3:<:?8 H:E9 y@6 2?5 >6]k^Am
kAmqJ E96 E:>6 x >6E E96>[ E96J 925 2=C625J 925 D6G6C2= CF?D @? 8C66? 4:C4=6 7=@H EC2:=D =:<6 {62C?:?8 rFCG6[ s2J 2E E96 q6249 2?5 %96 vC62E %C2G6CD6] %96J’5 D2>A=65 %H:DE6C[ 2 3=F6 DBF2C6 H:E9 C@==6CD 2?5 @AE:@?2= ;F>A =:?6D]k^Am
kAmx 3@F89E >J Sbd A]>] E:4<6E 2?5 A652=65 @G6C E@ E96 $@FE9 "F25 — q:<6 ~?=J — r92:C=:7E] x H2E4965 9@H A6@A=6 AFE E96:C 3:<6D @? E96 =:7E’D 3:<6 C24<D[ E96? H2:E65 7@C E96 ?6IE 36?49 492:C=:7E] (96? :E H2D >J EFC?[ x 2=>@DE 5:5?’E >2<6 :E E@ 86E >J 3:<6 @? E96 =:7E[ 3FE E96 96=A7F= =:7E @A6C2E@C D=@H65 :E 5@H? 7@C >6] %96? y@6 2?5 x 9@AA65 @? E96 ?6IE 492:C=:7E E@ 7@==@H @FC 3:<6D FA E96 >@F?E2:?]k^Am
kAm%96 C:56 FA H2D D=@H] pE E96 E@A[ y@6 E@=5 >6 E@ 92G6 >J 766E FA 7@C E96 5:D>@F?E 2?5 86E C625J E@ CF?] x 2=>@DE ;F>A65 E96 8F?[ 3FE >256 :E @? EH@ 766E] |J 3:<6 H2D H2:E:?8 7@C >6] }@H H92En w@H H@F=5 x 86E 5@H? E96 >@F?E2:?nk^Am
kAmz?@H:?8 vC2?5>2 H2D ?6H E@ 2== E9:D[ E96 3@JD E@@< >6 5@H? 2 8C66? E649?:42= EC2:=[ y24<2=@A6[ E96? 5@H? %H:DE6C E@ vC62E %C2G6CD6]k^Am
kAmy24<2=@A6 H2D C@4<J 2?5 C@@EJ[ 3FE E2>6 6?@F89] %H:DE6C H2D D>@@E9 2?5 7=@HJ H:E9 7F? C@==6CD E@ 4C6DE] x 5@?’E C6>6>36C A652=:?8 2E 2== — :E H2D 2 8C2G:EJ\765 C:56 7C@> E@A E@ 3@EE@>]k^Am
kAmpE E96 3@EE@>[ H6 5632E65 H96E96C E@ E2<6 2?@E96C CF?] %96 3@JD H6C6 FA 7@C :E 2?5 4@?G:?465 >6 E@ 8@ 282:?] p7E6C 2==[ :E H2D?’E E92E D42CJ 2?5 H2D <:?5 @7 7F?]k^Am
kAm|J D64@?5 =@25:?8 2?5 F?=@25:?8 H6C6 D>@@E96C] (6 4@?G6?65 2E E96 =2C86 EC2:= >2A E@ 5:D4FDD EC2:= @AE:@?D] #6E:C65 y@D:29 q2CE=6EE t=6>6?E2CJ $49@@= AC:?4:A2=[ ?@H rC2?>@C6 q:<6 !2C< A2EC@==6C[ y@6 *2?92[ 42>6 @G6C E@ 8:G6 FD 25G:46] w6 6?4@FC2865 FD E@ ECJ %96 $E6>3@86?[ 2 3=F6 DBF2C6 EC2:=] xE H2D =2E6 :? E96 52J 2?5 H6 H6C6 2== E:C65[ D@ H6 564:565 E@ D2G6 :E 7@C 2?@E96C 52J] x 5:5 ECJ 2 ?6H EC2:=[ s2J 2E E96 q6249[ H9:=6 E96 3@JD E@@< %H:DE6C 282:?] x 362E E96> E@ E96 3@EE@>] vF6DD >J EC2:= H2D 2 D9@CE4FE]k^Am
kAmxE H2D 2 8@@5 :?EC@5F4E:@? E@ 5@H?9:== 3:<:?8 7@C 2== @7 FD] }@3@5J 8@E 9FCE 2?5 H6 2== 925 7F?] rC2?>@C6 EC2:=D H6C6 2== H6==\>2C<65 2?5 >2:?E2:?65] }@E9:?8 H6 C@56 H2D @G6C @FC 9625D @C 23:=:E:6D] %96 =:7E @A6C2E@CD 2?5 3:<6 A2EC@= DE277 H6C6 7C:6?5=J 2?5 96=A7F=[ 2?5 H2E4965 @FE 7@C FD ?6H3:6D] u@C 368:??6CD =:<6 FD[ :E H2D E96 A6C764E 4@>3:?2E:@? @7 E9C:==D 2?5 D<:==D]k^Am
kAmrC2?>@C6 |@F?E2:?’D q:<6 !2C< H2D 2 8@@5 A=246 E@ ECJ sw 3:<:?8] (96? 2 fb\J62C\@=5 8C2?5>2[ 96C ca\J62C\@=5 D@? 2?5 EH@ 25@=6D46?ED 42? 6?;@J E96 D2>6 EC2:=D[ E92E’D D@>6E9:?8] |J 8F6DD :D E96 ?6IE E:>6 E96 3@JD 8@ sw C:5:?8[ E96J’== C2>A :E FA 2 3:E[ 3FE x’== 36 ~z H:E9 DE2J:?8 @? 8C66? 2?5 3=F6 EC2:=D]k^Am
kAmp7E6C @FC C:56[ x D6?E 2 BF6DE:@??2:C6 E@ y@6 2?5 xG6C E@ C67=64E @? @FC 6IA6C:6?46D 2?5 x 7:==65 @?6 @FE >JD6=7] &?7@CEF?2E6=J[ {6:7 H2D 2H2J 2E 42>A[ D@ x 4@F=5?’E :?4=F56 9:>] w6C6’D H92E x =62C?65ik^Am
kAm(6 H6C6 2== 7:CDE\E:>6CD E@ =:7E\D6CG65 sw >@F?E2:? 3:<:?8] p== @7 FD H6C6 ?6CG@FD[ 3FE 2=D@ 6I4:E65] y@6 H2D 4@?7:56?E E92E 96 4@F=5 92?5=6 E96 C:5:?8 2D =@?8 2D 96 DE2J65 “H:E9:? 9:D =:>:ED]” xG6C 6IA64E65 :E E@ 36 D42CJ[ 3FE :E 5:5?’E EFC? @FE E@ 36 2D D42CJ 2D 96 E9@F89E :E H@F=5 36] x 28C66 H:E9 E92E]k^Am
kAm~FC 7:CDE CF?D 3C@F89E @FE 5:776C6?E E24E:4D 2?5 766=:?8D] u@C >6[ :E H2D 2== 23@FE DE2J:?8 :? 4@?EC@=[ 3C2<:?8 E@@ >F49 F?E:= x 7:?2==J C62=:K65 x 4@F=5 C6=2I[ =6E E96 3:<6 C@== 2?5 92G6 7F?]k^Am
kAmy@6 H6?E :?E@ >2?286 >@56 — =@H6C E96 5C@AA6C A@DE[ 7:?5 E96 36DE 3@5J A@D:E:@? 2?5 “=6E E96 3:<6 5@ E96 H@C<]” w6 H2D 8=25 H6 DE2CE65 @? 62DJ 8C66? EC2:=D E@ 86E 2 766= 7@C :E]k^Am
kAmxG6C 76=E :E H2D “DFCC62=]” w:D “25C6?2=:?6 H2D AF>A:?8[ 3FE :E H2D 7F?]”k^Am
kAmp7E6C E92E 7:CDE CF?[ 96 H2?E65 E@ 8@ 282:? D@ 96 4@F=5 86E 36EE6C 2E :E] y@6 2?5 x 2=D@ 76=E E92E H2J] (6 H2?E65 E@ 8@ 324< FA E96 >@F?E2:? “E@ :>AC@G6 @FC D<:==D[ C6=2I 2?5 6?;@J E96 C:56 >@C6 E96 D64@?5 E:>6]”k^Am
kAm%96 E9C66 @7 FD 2C6 32D:42==J EC2:= C:56CD^4C@DD\4@F?ECJ >@F?E2:? 3:<6CD] %96 :562 @7 C:5:?8 5@H?9:== H:E9@FE 92G:?8 E@ 4C2?< FA :E :D ?6H E@ FD] !2J:?8 >@?6J 7@C :E :D[ E@@]k^Am
kAmx’> 2? @=5\DEJ=6 >@F?E2:? 3:<6C[ FD65 E@ 62C?:?8 >J 5@H?9:==D 3J C:5:?8 FA9:== 7:CDE] x =@G6 E92E D6?D6 @7 244@>A=:D9>6?E 2?5 E96 26C@3:4 H@C<@FE] x 42? C:56 7@C 7C66[ ?@ =:7E =:?6D[ ?@ 4C@H5D[ 8@ 2=>@DE 2?JH96C6 >J =68D 2?5 7@CE:EF56 42? E2<6 >6]k^Am
kAm%96 J@F?86C 86?6C2E:@?D 925 5:776C6?E G:6HD] y@6 2=D@ =:<6D 492==6?8:?8 4=:>3:?8[ 3FE 76=E E96 EC2:=D H6C6 :?E6C6DE:?8 2?5 H6==\3F:=E 7@C 5@H?9:== EC2G6=] xG6C D2:5 E9:D <:?5 @7 C:5:?8 H2D “=6DD DH62EJP $2>6 2>@F?E @7 25C6?2=:?6 7@C 2 =@E =6DD H@C<]”k^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 H6 2== 6?;@J65 @FC 6IA6C:6?46[ E96C6 H6C6 5@H?D:56D] }@?6 @7 FD H2D 7@?5 @7 E96 =@?8 492:C=:7E C:56] pD y@6 D2:5[ “x =:<6 E96 >@C6 E649?:42= EC2:=D[ 3FE x H2D?’E 2 72? @7 D:EE:?8 @? E96 492:C=:7E 7@C >@C6 E:>6 E92? x C@56]” xG6C 2?5 x 3@E9 28C665 — E@@ >F49 5@H?E:>6 367@C6 5@H?9:== 7F?]k^Am
kAmy@6 2?5 xG6C D2:5 E96J H@F=5 =:<6 E@ 8@ 282:? D@@?] x’> >@C6 ?6FEC2=] |2J36 t?5FC@ C:5:?8 WC:56 FA 5@H?9:== D=@A6D[ DH@@A 5@H? E96>X :D >@C6 >J DEJ=6]k^Am
kAmu@C 2 5:776C6?E DF>>6C 6IA6C:6?46[ E2<6 J@FC 72>:=J E@ rC2?>@C6 E@ ECJ 5@H?9:== 3:<:?8] %96 q:<6 !2C< W4C2?>@C6]4@>^3:<6\A2C<X :D @A6? (65?6D52JD E@ $F?52JD[ `_ 2]>] E@ d A]>][ E9C@F89 {23@C s2J] !FC492D6 A2DD6D @?=:?6 @C 2E E96 E:4<6E 3@@E9] p== D62D@? A2DD6D 2C6 Sabh[ 2? 25F=E W`b 2?5 FAX 7F== 52J A2DD :D Scd[ 2 A]>] A2DD :D Sbd] p ;F?:@C W`a 2?5 F?56CX 7F== 52J A2DD :D Sbd] %96 A]>] A2DD :D Sad]k^Am
kAmpE E96 `_E9 |@F?E2:? !2G:=:@?[ C6?E2=D 2?5 25G:46 2C6 2G2:=23=6] uF== DFDA6?D:@? sw 3:<6D 2C6 Sb_ 7@C 2 7F== 52J^Sad 7@C 92=7 2 52J 7@C <:5D[ Sgh 7@C 7F== 52J 2?5 Sfd 7@C 2 92=7 52J 7@C 25F=ED] uF== 7246 96=>6ED 42? 36 C6?E65 7@C Sa_[ 2?5 <?66 2?5 6=3@H A25D 7@C S`_] p5G:46 :D 7C66]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m&A4@>:?8 3:<:?8 6G6?ED 2E rC2?>@C6k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmU3F==jU?3DAj(9:E6 |@F?E2:?D }6H t?8=2?5 |@F?E2:? q:<6 pDD@4:2E:@?UCDBF@jD *@FE9 q68:??6C |@F?E2:? q:<6 !C@8C2>i p? 6:89E\H66< AC@8C2> @? %9FCD52J >@C?:?8D 7C@> h 2]>] E@ ?@@?] #F?D E9C@F89 pF8] `c] %96 AC@8C2> :D 7C66 H:E9 2 }t|qp >6>36CD9:A[ 6:E96C J@FE9 WSa_X @C 72>:=J WSedX] u@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 8@ E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^b6A3D6FbQmE:?JFC=]4@>^b6A3D6Fbk^2m]k^Am
kAmU3F==j rC2?>@C6 |@F?E2:?UCDBF@jD |:?:\|6:DE6CD $6C:6Di #F?D (65?6D52JD 368:??:?8 yF=J h E9C@F89 pF8] `b[ 7C@> b\f A]>] s@H?9:== q:<6 $6C:6D 7@C <:5D `e 2?5 F?56C] $6C:6D C68:DEC2E:@? :D Shh @C Sac 7@C 2 D:?8=6 C246] #68:DEC2E:@? :?4=F56D =:7E 2446DD DE2CE:?8 2E b A]>] u@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ 8@ E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^A9?dh2DhQmE:?JFC=]4@>^A9?dh2Dhk^2m]k^Am
kAmU3F==j !@A6 |6>@C:2= {:3C2CJUCDBF@jD q:<6 7@C q@@<Di w6=5 @? yF=J ae[ 7C@> `_ 2]>] E@ ` A]>][ 2E rC2?>@C6 |@F?E2:? #6D@CE] !2C6?ED 2?5 <:5D 42? 49@@D6 E@ 6:E96C C:56 E96 |(' #64 !2E9 7@C 7C66 @C rC2?>@C6 s@H?9:== %C2:=D U>52D9j 25F=ED W`b 2?5 FAX 2C6 Sbd[ <:5D W`a 2?5 F?56CX 2C6 Sa_] !C@4665D 8@ E@ DFAA@CE !@A6 |6>@C:2= {:3C2CJUCDBF@jD 49:=5C6?UCDBF@jD C@@>[ AC@8C2>>:?8[ 36DE\D6==6C =:DE 2?5 >F49 >@C6] u@C :?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 E@ C68:DE6C[ 8@ E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^2464g;IhQmE:?JFC=]4@>^2464g;Ihk^2m]k^Am
kAmk6>m$2==J |4|FC5@ :D 2 3:<6 D276EJ :?DECF4E@C 2?5 4J4=:DE H9@ =:G6D :? r@?H2J]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.