Yesterday I biked to Salem

My cousin, her husband, and their 2 adorable kids live in Salem, and they were having a backyard party sort of thing yesterday with a bunch of their friends and their friends' kids.  I had been meaning to visit, and what better day than a day when they would feed me and I'd get to play outside with a bunch of cute kids?  Biking there was easier said than done, though.  It should have been about 18.5 miles, but considering how much I got lost, it was probably at least 20.  Every few miles, I'd have to call my fiance, tell him where I was, and ask for the next step so that I could get back onto the directions I'd written out beforehand.  I don't know if it's a Massachusetts thing or what, but there are an incredible number of intersections where none of the roads are labeled, or only one is, and you get to play the game of guessing what road you're on or crossing.  But in the end, I made it to Salem safe and sound, and just in time to put in my order for a veggie burger on their new grill :)

I hung around for the whole afternoon, including a brief rain shower.  I got to hold my 3-month-old first-cousin-once-removed for a good amount of the time, and he is so cute and snuggly!  On the down side, he did spit up on me at one point.  His older brother is 2 years old, and similarly adorable.  Unlike the stereotypical terrible twos, he was friendly, well-behaved, and excited to play with me.  I also got to see my cousins' new house, which they moved into less than 6 months ago.  It has some fun 1950's decor, which I like because I've been watching Mad Men.  Unfortunately, they don't have period furniture.  Well, one step at a time.

Getting home was much less of an adventure because I decided to take the commuter rail.  It's really convenient, even with a bike, since they have slot sorts of things to slide bikes into, and straps to secure them.

I figure this bike ride was good for me, though, since I've signed up for a triathlon that's coming up in less than 3 weeks.  I somewhat spontaneously joined the Triathlon Club here, and I've been to a couple of their swim practices now.  With my running for my half marathon in September, I should be ok to make it through a triathlon in 3 weeks, even if I don't leave my competitors in the dust.  I'm actually just planning to finish :)

On a surprising note, my research has been going a bit better lately.  In fact, we might even get to put some of it in the Science Museum!  I don't know how certain that is, so I won't describe it too much now, but I'm very excited and hopeful!

Leave me some comments if  you're still reading!  Good night!