The end

i thought it was going to be anticlimatic.  after all, i was essentiially done, less than 10 mi from the harbor.  it was a mere formality.

but i was pleasantly surprised.  maurice and i both got up by 6:00, even though we were in no rush and told our host we would probably leave between 8 and 9.  the sky was overcast with a few rain drops sprinled in; temperature was mild; and, pleasantly, the streets were void of traffic.  so rather than get on bike trail, we just road down massachusetts ave. to harvard square.  we road across the commons, then we found a cafe a block or two away.  sat outside, drinking our espresso and chai, watched the people walk by.  according to a tourist director i talked to, people have gone to the beach for the final weekend of summer.  things are quieter than usual.

off again, we continued down massachusetts and across longfellow bridge into boston proper.  over the bridge (scene of my one and only 5k race triumph a few years back), we took a hard right into the beacon hill area.  we saw a coffe shop, and since it had been at least 30 minutes since we finished our previous drinks, we stopped at panificio, which maurice explains to means 'bakery' in italian.  another espresso and a chai, accompanied by a cinnamon twist, and we're ready to go again.

down the street to the boston commons.  oh, for the days when american towns had a 'living room'.  across the commons, we rode down throgh the financial district, picked up the gardens above 'the big dig', over to state street, and out the long wharf.  shezaam.  the other coast.  technically, boston's inner harbor, but who's being picky?  and what better scene than with a harbor full of ships moving in and out?  ferries, sailboats, yachts motoring about.  after the obligatory photo documentation, i just had to sit there for a bit and let it soak in.  it felt good.  it felt satisfying.