Dear AdventuRiders,
I hope everyone had a wonderful and not too fattening Thanksgiving.
As always I want to thank everyone who rode with us this season. We couldn't do it without you! Everybody contributes their knowledge, jokes, companionship, ... I especially want to thank Eddie for hosting our end of season party. The food was delicious, the beer fantastic, and, as usual, the camaraderie was delightful.
Here are some pictures that Joe took during the season, Thanks Joe!
And finally, Wachusett opened today! I checked it out this afternoon, and the snow was pretty good, but it was mobbed with teenagers. Tomorrow should be much better, I'm planning to be there at 9:00 AM if anybody wants to join me.
BTW, I was going to do our annual trip to the Andres Institute of Art in Brookline, NH tomorrow, but ... I'll plan it for some day I don't feel like skiing.
See you in the Spring, if not on the slopes,
Bill and Carole
Thanks! + Pictures + Wachusett is OPEN!
GO - Cloudy and Chilly
Bring your warm clothes. Party at noon.
Reminder - End Of Season Tomorrow + Pictures
Dear AdventuRiders,
Well I FINALLY got around to putting my pictures up on Picasa. Here is a link.
For party details, check your email.
Bill
GO - A Sparkling Day
Bring your warm clothes.
End of Season PARTY + Reminder - Hudson Tomorrow
Dear AdventuRiders,
We are planning our End of Season Party and we are looking for a volunteer to host a pot luck lunch on Monday 11/22 at noon. Your reward is having a custom bike route designed from your house in the morning and not having to drive home after the party.
The weather for Friday is looking crisp. I hesitate to use the word cold, but the wind chill temperature will be hovering in the 30s all day. Dress warmly and we will have a great ride with Abundant Sunshine.
The morning recreation ride hasn't been finalized yet, but the plan is to explore over toward Northboro and then take the Assebet River Rail Trail from Marlboro back to Hudson. It will be about 14 miles with some hills and all on road.
The afternoon fitness ride will take us to the Assebet River Rail Trail in Stow (unpaved, but civilized) and then the Assebet River National Wildlife Refuge and the new visitors center. Then its backroads along the old Mass Central Rail Line back to Hudson. The route is 16 1/2 miles with about 4 miles of civilized off road and only 250 feet vertical. I am planning to bring my hybrid bike, although a road bike will work as well. Here is a map.
On Friday, November 19th, we will meet at the Horseshoe Pub in Hudson, 80 beers on tap! Here is a map. Its a public parking lot, but park away from the pub anyway.
- At 9:30 AM - The Recreational ride will leave for Northboro.
- At 11:30 AM - We will have lunch at the Horseshoe Pub.
- At 12:15 PM - The Fitness ride will leave for the ARNWR. Here is a map.
- At 2:15 PM - We will be back.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
STOP - The Wednesday Ride Is Postponed.
Reminder - Minuteman Bikeway Tomorrow
Dear AdventuRiders,
The weather forecast for tomorrow is looking very wet. I would slide the ride to Thursday, but I have a Dr. Appt. I will send out email and update the website before 8:00 tomorrow morning.
On Wednesday, November 17th, we will meet in Bedford for a ride on the Minuteman Bike Trail to Somerville. Here is a map. There will be two starting points. From Fawn Lake, we will ride the unpaved narrow gauge rail trail to the start of the Minuteman at Bedford Depot. Its about 27 miles round trip. For a shorter, paved, and very flat ride, you can meet us at Bedford Depot for a 22 mile round trip.
- At 9:45 AM - We will leave from Fawn Lake.
- At 10:00 AM - We will pick up riders from Bedford Depot.
- At 11:30 ish - We will have lunch at Dave's Fresh Pasta in Somerville.
- At 2:15 PM - We should be back to Bedford Depot.
- At 2:30 PM - We should be back to Fawn Pond.
- We can continue on to Billerica and back to get our 30 miles in if desired.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
Wachusett Season Passes - Last Chance To Save $100
Dear AdventuRiders,
For all you downhill skiers I have a Greatest Possible Saving club at Wachusett Mountain again this year. Here is the link to the GPS passes. I would recommend the Bronze or Silver season pass, since weekend days and holidays can be very crowded. The Bronze Pass is $229 and the deadline to buy GPS passes is November 17th. Surprisingly, the group name is ADVENTURIDES.
Bill
This Week - Lunenburg - Dave's Fresh Pasta - Horseshoe Pub
Dear AdventuRiders,
Where did the Fall season go? This is the last official week of AdventuRides this year, although we are planning an end of season party for next Monday.
Well, the weather tomorrow isn't going to be anywhere near as glorious as Friday, but it doesn't look too bad either. Its supposed to be cloudy, near 50 degrees all day, and hardly any wind.
On Monday, we will meet between the Senior Center and the Teen Center in Lunenburg Center. Here is a map.
The morning Fitness Ride will travel to Hickory Hills Lake before climbing Bayberry Hill and then zooming down to Pearl Hill State Park. From there, we will avoid as many hills as we can on the way to Lunenburg. The route is all on road, although there are some areas of broken pavement, quite a few substantial hills, and about 18 miles long. Here is a map.
Lunch (after a moment of silence for the late Trudy's Treats) will be at Village Grill in Lunenburg Center. Here is their menu.
The afternoon Recreation Ride will go south to Lake Shirley and then climb Flat Hill (it isn't flat) for great views and then we will follow Mulpus Brook back to Hickory Hills Lake and then back to Lunenburg. The ride is also all on road with some broken pavement, quite hilly, and about 13 miles long. Here is a map.
On Monday, November 15th, we will meet in Lunenburg Center. Here is a map.
- At 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave for Pearl Hill State Park. Here is a map.
- At 11:30 AM - Lunch at Village Grill. Here is their menu.
- At 12:15 PM - The Recreation Ride will leave for Lake Shirley. Here is a map.
- At 2:15 PM - We will be back.
On Wednesday, November 17th, we will meet in Bedford for a ride on the Minuteman Bike Trail to Somerville. Here is a map. There will be two starting points. From Fawn Lake, we will ride the unpaved narrow gauge rail trail to the start of the Minuteman at Bedford Depot. Its about 27 miles round trip. For a shorter, paved, and very flat ride, you can meet us at Bedford Depot for a 22 mile round trip. Everyone is welcome.
- At 9:45 AM - We will leave from Fawn Lake.
- At 10:00 AM - We will pick up riders from Bedford Depot.
- At 11:30 ish - We will have lunch at Dave's Fresh Pasta in Somerville.
- At 2:15 PM - We should be back to Bedford Depot.
- At 2:30 PM - We should be back to Fawn Pond.
- We can continue on to Billerica and back to get our 30 miles in if desired.
On Friday, November 19th, we will meet at the Horseshoe Pub in Hudson.
- At 9:30 AM - The Recreational ride will leave.
- At 11:30 AM - We will have lunch at the Horseshoe Pub. 80 beers on tap!
- At 12:15 PM - The Fitness ride will leave.
- At 2:15 PM - We will be back.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
Reminder - Dunstable Larter Field Tomorrow
I just got back from the Portsmouth ride. It was kind of cold the first couple of miles, so we turned inland to get out of the wind and it felt much warmer. Lunch at the Portsmouth Brewery was fantastic. In the afternoon it was PERFECT biking weather; mid 50s, tailwind, totally sunny, and crashing surf.
Tomorrow should be a bit warmer, less windy, and still totally sunny. Probably not much surf in Dunstable though.
The morning Recreational Ride will enjoy the views from High Street and then we will go over to Nashua and ride some paved nature trails. From there we will ride a bit of the Nashua River Rail Trail and wind our way back to Dunstable along scenic backroads. The route is about 13 1/2 miles and the first half is a bit hilly. It is all on road and I plan to bring my road bike. Here is a map.
The afternoon Fitness Ride will visit the "field of dreams" in Dunstable and some pretty back roads in Tyngsboro. The route is about 16 miles and quite hilly. It is all on road and I plan to bring my road bike. Here is a map.
On Friday, November 12th, we will meet at Larter Field in Dunstable. The nearest intersection is Groton Street and Dogwood Lane.
- At 9:30 AM - The Recreational ride will leave for High Street. Here is a map.
- At 11:30 AM - We will have lunch at The Convenient Man in Dunstable Center. It might be warm enough for a picnic!
- At 12:15 PM - The Fitness ride will leave for "The Field of Dreams". Here is a map.
- At 2:15 PM - We will be back.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
Reminder - Portsmouth Tomorrow - RSVP
Dear AdventuRiders,
Well tomorrow is looking like a sparkling November day, 0% chance of precipitation, 0% cloud cover. It will be chilly though, with windchill temperatures in the low 40s all day. We may decide to take the inland route to Newcastle to avoid the wind in the morning, and enjoy the coast and a tailwind after lunch.
RSVP so we can plan carpools. If you want to carpool, let's meet at Shaw's at 8:30 AM so we can get to Hampton North Beach by 9:30 and get started for Portsmouth at a reasonable time.
Here is the plan:
There are several restaurants along Bow Street in Portsmouth that have decks overlooking Portsmouth Harbor. The Stockpot Restaurant is no more :-( but the River House Restaurant has taken over the location. If the weather doesn't fully cooperate, Poco's Cantina has an enclosed heated deck. If all else fails, we can always hit the Portsmouth Brewery downtown.
Lest you think that our rides are all about eating and drinking, we will be biking along the beautiful NH seacoast with stops at Rye Harbor, Odiorne Point / Fort Dearborn, Fort Stark, New Castle / Fort Constitution, Portsmouth Naval Prison, Strawbery Banke, and Prescott Park. On the way back, we will be riding along portions of the East Coast Greenway.
Its is almost all on road (perhaps a bit of civilized off road at Odiorne), and I will be bringing my road bike.
BTW, it is important to note that we are starting at Hampton North Beach, NOT North Hampton Beach.
On Thursday November 11th, we will ride from Hampton North Beach to Portsmouth along the coast via New Castle. The route is about 32 miles, but is almost flat. Here is a map.
* At 8:30 AM - We can meet at the Shaw's parking lot in Groton and carpool to Hampton North Beach (Real restrooms!)
* At 9:30 AM - We will meet at Hampton North Beach.
* At Noonish - We will have lunch on one the decks overlooking Portsmouth Harbor along Bow Street.
* At 3:00 PM - We will be back to Hampton North Beach.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
Change of Plans - Portsmouth on Thursday
Dear AdventuRiders,
The weather forecast for Wednesday has been deteriorating all week. Currently, the Portsmouth forecast is calling for "Mostly Cloudy, Windy, and Cold" :-( Thursday, its supposed to have "Abundant Sunshine" :-)
Based on that, I am moving the Portsmouth ride to Thursday, November 11th. Thursday also happens to be Veteran's Day and most kids have the day off from school. If you want to bring your kids along (and have a bunch of old people kick their butts), that would be great.
Since I don't have to drive anyone to school, let's meet Shaw's to carpool at 8:30 AM so we can get to Hampton North Beach by 9:30 and get started for Portsmouth at a reasonable time.
Here is the plan:
There are several restaurants along Bow Street in Portsmouth that have decks overlooking Portsmouth Harbor. The Stockpot Restaurant is no more :-( but the River House Restaurant has taken over the location. If the weather doesn't fully cooperate, Poco's Cantina has an enclosed heated deck. If all else fails, we can always hit the Portsmouth Brewery downtown.
Lest you think that our rides are all about eating and drinking, we will be biking along the beautiful NH seacoast with stops at Rye Harbor, Odiorne Point / Fort Dearborn, Fort Stark, New Castle / Fort Constitution, Portsmouth Naval Prison, Strawbery Banke, and Prescott Park. On the way back, we will be riding along portions of the East Coast Greenway.
Its is almost all on road (perhaps a bit of civilized off road at Odiorne), and I will be bringing my road bike.
BTW, it is important to note that we are starting at Hampton North Beach, NOT North Hampton Beach.
On Thursday November 11th, we will ride from Hampton North Beach to Portsmouth along the coast via New Castle. The route is about 32 miles, but is almost flat. Here is a map.
* At 8:30 AM - We can meet at the Shaw's parking lot in Groton and carpool to Hampton North Beach (Real restrooms!)
* At 9:30 AM - We will meet at Hampton North Beach.
* At Noonish - We will have lunch on one the decks overlooking Portsmouth Harbor along Bow Street.
* At 3:00 PM - We will be back to Hampton North Beach.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
STOP - All Monday Rides Postponed
Let's hope for better weather by Wednesday.
This week - Lunenburg - Portsmouth - Dunstable
Dear AdventuRiders,
The bad news is that the weather isn't looking good for Monday :-( The forecast calls for cloudy, windy, rainy, and cold. The weatherman has been wrong before, so I won't make the call until Monday morning before 8:00 AM.
The good news is that the forecast for Wednesday is looking very nice at this point. So, I am planning a special ride along the seacoast to Portsmouth, NH for lunch. The morning route will feature the beautiful NH seacoast, Newcastle Island, and the fort where the Revolutionary War really began in 1774. In the afternoon, we will cruise some of the scenic inland roads back to Hampton. The route is about 32 miles, all on road and 360 feet vertical (not much). Here is a map. Stay tuned for more details!
On Monday, we will meet between the Senior Center and the Teen Center in Lunenburg Center. Here is a map.
The morning Fitness Ride will travel to Hickory Hills Lake before climbing Bayberry Hill and then zooming down to Pearl Hill State Park. From there, we will avoid as many hills as we can on the way to Lunenburg. The route is all on road, although there are some areas of broken pavement, quite a few substantial hills, and about 18 miles long. Here is a map.
Lunch (after a moment of silence for the late Trudy's Treats) will be at Village Grill in Lunenburg Center. Here is their menu.
The afternoon Recreation Ride will go south to Lake Shirley and then climb Flat Hill (it isn't flat) for great views and then we will follow Mulpus Brook back to Hickory Hills Lake and then back to Lunenburg. The ride is also all on road with some broken pavement, quite hilly, and about 13 miles long. Here is a map.
On Monday, November 8th, we will meet in Lunenburg Center. Here is a map.
- At 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave for Pearl Hill State Park. Here is a map.
- At 11:30 AM - Lunch at Village Grill. Here is their menu.
- At 12:15 PM - The Recreation Ride will leave for Lake Shirley. Here is a map.
- At 2:15 PM - We will be back.
On Wednesday, November 10th - We will meet at Hampton North Beach. Here is a map.
- At 10:00 AM - We will leave Hampton North Beach for Portsmouth. Here is a map.
- Noonish - Lunch in Portsmouth.
- At 3:00 PM - We will be back to Hampton North Beach.
On Friday, November 12th, we will meet at Larter Field in Dunstable. The nearest intersection is Groton Street and Dogwood Lane.
- At 9:30 AM - The Recreational ride will leave for High Street. Here is a map.
- At 11:30 AM - We will have lunch at The Convenient Man in Dunstable Center.
- At 12:15 PM - The Fitness ride will leave for "The Field of Dreams". Here is a map.
- At 2:15 PM - We will be back.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
STOP - All Friday Rides Postponed
It's very wet out there.
Reminder - Dunstable Larter Field Tomorrow
Well, the weather is looking pretty grim for biking tomorrow :-( The chance of rain is 60%, but the weatherman has been wrong before. I'll make the call tomorrow morning before 8:00 AM.
The morning Recreational Ride will enjoy the views from High Street and then we will go over to Nashua and ride some paved nature trails. From there we will ride a bit of the Nashua River Rail Trail and wind our way back to Dunstable along scenic backroads. The route is about 13 1/2 miles and the first half is a bit hilly. It is all on road and I plan to bring my road bike. Here is a map.
The afternoon Fitness Ride will visit the "field of dreams" in Dunstable and some pretty back roads in Tyngsboro. The route is about 16 miles and quite hilly. It is all on road and I plan to bring my road bike. Here is a map.
On Friday, November 5th, we will meet at Larter Field in Dunstable. The nearest intersection is Groton Street and Dogwood Lane.
- At 9:30 AM - The Recreational ride will leave for High Street. Here is a map.
- At 11:30 AM - We will have lunch at The Convenient Man in Dunstable Center.
- At 12:15 PM - The Fitness ride will leave for "The Field of Dreams". Here is a map.
- At 2:15 PM - We will be back.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
Wachusett Ski Passes
On my wanderings after the ride today I happened by Wachusett Mountain and found that they were making SNOW! Check out the picture.
That reminded me to remind all of you to get your season passes before November 17th when the price goes up $100. You can get a weekday season pass for just $229. After just 5 trips to the mountain, you will be ahead and you never have to wait in the ticket line either. Check out all the passes here. Just use the group name ADVENTURIDES to save $110.
Think SNOW (after biking season anyhow).
Bill
PS. We had a very nice ride to Barre today. It was a bit cold this morning, but after a good lunch at Kozy Kabin, it turned into a wonderfully bright and sunny day!
Reminder - VOTE - Jefferson Tomorrow
Dear AdventuRiders,
I hope everyone got out and voted today. Democracy needs you!
Tomorrow's weather is looking very nice. It should be a bit "warmer" than Monday and much less wind. When we leave Jefferson, it should be Mostly Sunny and mid 30s and it will get up to near 50 degrees by the time we get back.
Tomorrow morning we will ride past Eagle Lake on our way UP to Rutland and Pine Hill Reservoir. We then join the Mass Central Rail Trail just before Rutland State Park. From there we will explore the brand new section in Oakham before riding on the road along the Ware River to Barre.
We will have lunch at the Kozy Kabin Restaurant in Barre. I hope its good, since its the only choice for miles around.
After lunch we will retrace our path on the Mass Central back to Rutland State Park and then continue on the Mass Central to the beautiful views on Muschopauge Road. "Its all downhill from there!"
The route is about 28 miles and almost 900 feet vertical, but much of the vertical is on the gentle slope of the rail trail. We have one category 5 (easiest) hill to warm us up in the morning, and about 1/2 the route will be on gravel / dirt / crushed rock. Its certainly doable on a road bike, but I will be bringing my hybrid bike for more comfort off the pavement. Here is a map.
On Wednesday, November 3rd - We will meet in Jefferson, MA. Here is a map. It is about 45 minutes from Groton. Please park across the street from the church.
- At 9:45 AM SHARP - We will leave for Rutland and the Mass Central Rail Trail. Here is a map.
- At Noonish - We will have lunch at the Kozy Kabin Restaurant in Barre.
- At 2:15 PM - We will be back to Jefferson.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
PS. The weather for Friday is looking better at this point.
GO - Beautiful Sunshine, But Chilly
See you at the Pepperell ROTARY.
This Week - Pepperell ROTARY - Mass Central - Dunstable
Dear AdventuRiders,
Sorry for the late planning for this week, but I have been out in Central MA working on a new ride along the beautiful Mass Central Rail Trail. There is a new section to explore, and sadly, Heavy Evie's Happy Kitchen is all boarded up.
Welcome to November! Its going to be sunny, chilly, and breezy for the next few days. If you are properly dressed, it is still very enjoyable bicycling weather though. Tomorrow morning is supposed to be mid 30s in the morning and mid 40s in the afternoon with plentiful sunshine.
The morning Fitness Ride will feature country roads and beautiful views on the way to Hollis, NH. Then its off to Beaver Brook Association for some off road riding through the woods before returning past the Nissitissit River and Pepperell Center, The route is about 15 miles, 370 feet vertical, considerable dirt / gravel roads, and civilized off road through Beaver Brook. I am planning to bring my hybrid bike. Its is doable on a road bike, but a hybrid would be much more appropriate. Here is a map.
The afternoon Recreation Ride will feature the beautiful hills of Pepperell Center and West Groton. After crossing the Nashua River, we will explore the old Groton Fairgrounds and the Petapawag Canoe Launch before heading back on the Nashua River Rail Trail. We will also stop at the new park by the covered bridge for a history lesson. The route is about 14 miles, 210 feet vertical, and all on road, but there is a bit of dirt / gravel in West Groton. I will have my hybrid bike, but a road bike will work too. Here is a map.
On Monday, November 1st. We will meet at the Pepperell Rotary - NOT East Pepperell Center. Here is a map.
- At 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave for Beaver Brook. Here is a map.
- At 11:30 AM - We will have lunch at C&S Pizza.
- At 12:15 PM - The Recreational Ride will leave for West Groton. Here is a map.
- At 2:15 PM - We will be back.
On Wednesday, November 3rd - We will meet in Jefferson, MA and explore the Mass Central Rail Trail out to Oakham, MA. More details to come.
On Friday, November 5th, We will meet in Dunstable at Later Field.
- At 9:30 AM - The Recreation Ride will leave.
- At 11:30 AM - Lunch.
- At 12:15 PM - The Fitness Rive will leave.
- At 2:15 PM - We will be back.
Hope to see you there!
Bill and Carole
GO - Partly Cloudy and Chilly
Bring a warm Halloween costume :-)
Reminder - Halloween Ride Carlisle Center Tomorrow + Tour de Grave
Dear AdventuRiders,
I hope you all had a chance to get outside today. We had a great ride UP to Greenville, NH for lunch and a breezy ride back DOWN to Townsend. The weather for tomorrow is looking nice, but considerably cooler. It should be mid 40s in the morning and mid 50s in the afternoon with partly cloudy skies.
Don't forget, best Halloween Costume wins dessert from Fern's Country Store.
We will meet in a little park just north of the Carlisle Center rotary. Here is a map. Please DO NOT park at Fern's. If the parking lot is full, there is another parking lot at Carlisle Town Hall just around the corner.
The morning Recreation Ride will zip over to the new Bruce Freeman Rail Trail for a short ride to Heart Pond. Then its off to the Cranberry Bog and Great Brook Farm State Park before returning to Carlisle. The route is almost 15 miles and 250 feet vertical. We will probably do a bit of off road exploring, but I'll be bringing my road bike tires at least, so the off road will be limited and very civilized.
The afternoon Fitness Ride will cruise past a bunch of Acton Conservation land on the way to the Old North Bridge in Concord. From there we will ride on Monument Street and admire the farms and views of the Concord River Valley on our way back to Carlisle. The route is 16 1/2 miles, 350 feet vertical, all on road and I plan to bring my road bike / tires.
On Friday, October 29th, we will meet in Carlisle Center for our Halloween Ride. Best costume wins a dessert from Fern's Country Store. Here is a map.
- At 9:30 AM. The Recreation Ride will leave for the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and Great Brook Farm. Here is a map.
- At 11:30 AM. We will get lunch at Fern's Country Store in Carlisle Center.
- At 12:15 PM. The Fitness Ride will leave for Concord and the Old North Bridge. Here is a map.
- At 2:15 PM. We will be back.
On Saturday, October 30th, *MassBike Spins Presents: Tour de Grave*
Thanks to Lindy for suggesting this!
*What: *A MassBike trip to some of the Boston area's famous and lesser-known
graveyards in honor of Halloween. Trip leaves at 9:30 AM in order to avoid
the majority of ghosts, and will be about 20 miles and take about 4
hours. Helmets are required and appropriate costumes are encouraged for this ride!
We will visit the following burying grounds and cemeteries: Old Cambridge
Burying Ground, Belmont Cemetery, North Cambridge Catholic Cemetery, Old
Arlington Burying Ground, Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Oak Grove Cemetery, Salem
Street Burying Ground, Phipps Street Burying Ground, Bunker Hill Cemetery,
St. Francis de Sales Cemetery, and we will end the ride at the newly
restored Milk Row Cemetery in Somerville.
*Where*: We will meet at the Old Cambridge Burying Ground at the corner of
Garden Street and Mass Ave in Harvard Square.
*When*: Saturday October 30, 2010 at 9:30AM until 2 PM.
Steady rain cancels.
*Who*: For more information contact Dick Bauer <dick.bauer@alum.mit.edu>
<http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Tour-de-Graves-2010>
Route Map and Cue
Sheet<http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Tour-de-Graves-2010>
MassBike Spins <http://www.massbike.org/newsevents/ride-listings/>
<http://www.massbike.org/>http://www.massbike.org
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
Change of Plans - Greenville on Thursday
Dear AdventuRiders,
It looks almost certain that tomorrow's ride will be rained out :-(
So, I rescheduled this week's Exploration Ride to Thursday, October 28th, and changed the starting point to Townsend Center. The weather is looking extraordinarily nice with sunny skies and mid 60s on Thursday. The foliage in the high country is fading a bit, but in the towns and along the rivers it can best be described as "a riot of colors"!
We will meet about 1/2 mile past Townsend Center and ride UP to Ashby then DOWN to historic New Ipswich "High Bridge" and then on to Greenville for lunch (NOT Nennie's 5 Star!). Lunch will be at the Heart's Desire Bakery / Deli or the Panda Wok in Greenville. After lunch, we have a steady climb up to amazing views from Adams Hill. We should be able to see Boston (almost 50 miles away). From there it is almost all DOWN. We will zip through Mason, past the cascades on Rocky Brook, and then enjoy a breezy cruise back down to Townsend.
The ride will be about 25 miles and 1050 feet vertical with 2 category 5 hills (easiest category) getting up to the plateau, but then its rolling hills and beautiful distant views. After lunch we have another cat 5 hill. Its all on road, but there are a few gravel / dirt roads on the way. I plan to bring my road bike, or at least my road bike tires. BTW, the killer hills are easily walkable, so everyone is welcome. Here is a map.
On Thursday, October 28th, we will meet just past Townsend Center. Here is a map. Google claims its only 14 minutes from Groton Center.
* At 9:30 AM - we will leave for Greenville. Here is a map.
* At Noonish - Lunch in Greenville.
* At 2:30 PM - we will be back.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
GO - No Rain In Sight
It is a bit chilly, bring something warm.
This Week - Stow - Groton - Carlisle + Tour de Grave
Dear AdventuRiders,
After a somewhat wintry (but beautiful) ride on Friday, we have a mild but cloudy day in store for tomorrow. In the morning the forecast calls for near 60 degrees and cloudy, the afternoon forecast is for more of the same but mid 60s.
The morning Fitness Ride features a swing past Delaney Pond on our way to the golf courses in Stow. Then its off to the unpaved (but extremely civilized) portion of the Assebet River Rail Trail and a visit to the CIA headquarters! After following the Assebet River and enjoying the foliage for a while we will head back to Nancy's for lunch. The route is about 16 1/2 miles and 300 feet vertical. Here is a map. I am planning to bring my road tires / bike.
The afternoon Recreation Ride, we will visit a different part of Delaney Pond on the way to Boxboro and Hill Road (yes, its a hill). We will stop at the old school house and zoom down to Boxboro Center before heading back past old Flagg Hill Ski Area.
The route is about 13 1/2 miles and 300 feet vertical, most of it is on Hill Road. Here is a map. I am planning to bring my road tires / bike.
On Monday, October 25th, we will meet at Nancy's Airfield Cafe at the Stow Minuteman Airfield. Here is a map.
- At 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave for Hudson and the Assebet River Rail Trail. Here is a map.
- At 11:30 AM - We will have lunch at Nancy's Airfield Cafe. YUM!
- At 12:15 PM - The Recreation Ride will leave for Delaney Pond and Littleton. Here is a map.
- At 2:15 PM - We will be back.
On Wednesday, October 27th, we will meet in Groton Center. Here is a map. I again have kid chauffeur duty in the afternoon, so we will do a 25 mile ride in the morning.
- At 9:30 AM - The Exploration Ride will leave for Lunenburg. Here is a map.
- At 12:30 PM - We should be back.
- Lunch at Filho's? Perhaps the Groton Inn? Main Street Cafe?
On Friday, October 29th, we will meet in Carlisle Center for our Halloween Ride. Best costume wins a dessert from Fern's Country Store.
- At 9:30 AM. The Recreation Ride will leave for the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and Great Brook Farm. Here is a map.
- At 11:30 AM. We will get lunch at Fern's Country Store in Carlisle Center.
- At 12:15 PM. The Fitness Ride will leave for Concord and the Old North Bridge. Here is a map.
- At 2:15 PM. We will be back.
On Saturday, October 30th, *MassBike Spins Presents: Tour de Grave*
Thanks to Lindy for suggesting this!
*What: *A MassBike trip to some of the Boston area's famous and lesser-known
graveyards in honor of Halloween. Trip leaves at 9:30 AM in order to avoid
the majority of ghosts, and will be about 20 miles and take about 4
hours. Helmets are required and appropriate costumes are encouraged for this ride!
We will visit the following burying grounds and cemeteries: Old Cambridge
Burying Ground, Belmont Cemetery, North Cambridge Catholic Cemetery, Old
Arlington Burying Ground, Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Oak Grove Cemetery, Salem
Street Burying Ground, Phipps Street Burying Ground, Bunker Hill Cemetery,
St. Francis de Sales Cemetery, and we will end the ride at the newly
restored Milk Row Cemetery in Somerville.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
Today's Ride, Wachusett Passes, and AppleFest
Dear AdventuRiders,
I hesitate to use the work "cold" to describe today's ride, perhaps "invigorating" and "Fall foliage spectacular" would be more fitting.
Anyway, Alex took this video of this morning's ride. Thanks Alex!
And hot off my GPS, this morning's route to West Boyleston and this afternoon's route to Clinton. BTW, if you are ever out that way and get hungry, I would definitely recommend Village Pizza and More on Main Street in Sterling.
As long as I'm plugging stuff, for all you downhill skiers I have a Greatest Possible Saving club at Wachusett Mountain again this year. Here is the link to the GPS passes. I would recommend the Bronze or Silver season pass, since weekend days and holidays can be very crowded. The Bronze Pass is $229 and the deadline to buy GPS passes is November 17th. Surprisingly, the group name is ADVENTURIDES.
And finally, don't miss the AppleFest this weekend at Wachusett featuring the Great New England BBQ Festival. They have Wachusett Country Ale on tap ...
Have a great weekend,
Bill
Reminder - Sterling Tomorrow
Dear AdventuRiders,
If you noticed the bright sunshine, breeze and chill this afternoon, you have a good idea what tomorrow's weather will be like. Bring some warm clothes, gloves, etc, and enjoy the spectacular Fall colors in Central Massachusetts.
To take advantage of the sunny weather, and to try something new, I thought we would meet in Sterling, MA. Google claims its 35 minutes from Groton and 25 minutes from Harvard. Here is a map.
My son, Keaton, and I made this video last summer that covers much of the area we will be riding.
The morning Recreation Ride will explore the Mass Central Rail Trail from Sterling to Holden. We will also stop at the Old Stone Church on the Wachusett Reservoir. Its an out and back sort of trip, so we will be spending quite a bit of time off road on a beautiful crushed rock surface. The route is 17 miles with about 750 feet vertical and 8 miles off road. Much of the elevation gain is on the 2% grade of the rail trail, so its not as hard as it sounds. I am planning to bring my road bike anyway. Here is a map.
Lunch will be at Bambi's Corner Cafe in Sterling Center.
"A little slice of the American pie, the Corner Café, in Sterling Center, offers basic diner fare at very low prices. Informal and chatty servers make for a nice experience, as do reliably prepared comfort foods."
NOTE: Last time we sort of overwhelmed Bambi, so we may go to Village Pizza and More instead.
On Friday, October 22nd, - We will meet at the Rail Trail parking in Sterling Center. Here is a map.
* At 9:30 AM, the Recreation Ride will leave for Holden. Here is a map.
* At 11:30 AM, we will have lunch at Bambi's Corner Cafe or Village Pizza.
* At 12:15 PM, the Fitness Ride will leave for the Wachusett Dam. Here is a map.
* At 2:15 PM, we will be back.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
GO - Partly Cloudy and 47 in Gloucester
Bring something warm.
Reminder - CAPE ANN Tomorrow
Dear AdventuRiders,
Well is looks like another nice Fall bike riding day! The Gloucester forecast calls for low 50s and partly cloudy in the morning with increasing clouds and near 60 in the afternoon. Wind shouldn't be an issue, but bring a warmth layer and a wind layer anyhow. Since my road bike's crank is still clicking, I am planning to bring my hybrid bike. The route is all on road, so a road bike will work fine too.
On Wednesday we will have a SPECIAL ride on beautiful Cape Ann. We also have a guest leader to show us around Gloucester and Rockport and wherever else he chooses. This should be a real treat, especially for me, and a true Exploration Ride for all of us. And a special thanks to Joe for helping to arrange this trip.
it is a little over an hours drive from Shaw's parking lot in Groton to Gloucester. If you want to carpool, RSVP and show up at Shaw's at 8:45 AM. Here is a map.
On Wednesday October 20th - We will meet at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. Here is a map.
* At 8:45 AM - We will meet to carpool in Shaw's parking lot at 4 corners in Groton. Here is a map. RSVP so we can get a headcount and arrange bike racks etc.
* At 10:00 AM - We will leave Stage Fort Park for a tour of Cape Ann. The route is about 27 miles.
* At Noonish - Lunch!
* At 2:30 PM - We will be back to Stage Fort Park.
* At 3:30 PM - We should be back to Groton.
A note from our guest leader "I can recommend a stop for food – Halibut Point, a tavern on Main Street in Gloucester - http://www.halibutpointrestaurant.com/. (I can also recommend the Italian fish chowder – tomato based and spicy.) After the ride, for the beer drinkers there's Cape Anne Brewing - http://www.capeannbrewing.com/". Our guest leader obviously understands our prime motivations :-)
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
GO - Another Beauty
Bring something warm and a wind layer.
This Week - Westford - Cape Ann(?) - Sterling
Dear AdventuRiders,
The weather is looking very nice tomorrow, sunny and mid 40's in the morning, partly cloudy and mid 50s in the afternoon. It will be a bit breezy, so bring a warmth layer and a wind layer. The routes are doable on a road bike, but there will be some loose surfaces, so I plan to bring my hybrid bike.
On Monday October 18th - We will meet at Forge Pond Beach in Westford. Here is a map. From the intersection of West Prescott Street and Pleasant Street, follow the narrow paved road along the railroad tracks to the beach.
* At 9:30 AM the Fitness ride will leave to explore Lost Lake and Massapoag Pond. Here is a map.
* At 11:30 AM we will have a picnic lunch at the beach or the restaurant.
* At 12:15 PM the Recreational ride will leave for the Stone Arch Bridge and Graniteville. Here is a map.
* At 2:15 PM we will be back.
The Fitness Ride will explore Lost Lake, Duck Pond, Massapoag Pond, and Keyes Pond as well as parts of the NA&B rail line. The route is a little over 16 miles with a significant amount of off road. I plan to bring my hybrid bike.
We can have a Picnic Lunch at Forge Pond Beach and we can get subs at Pizzaria Presti across the street.
The Recreation Ride will feature one of the wonders of the Merrimack Valley: the Stone Arch Bridge in Westford. We will also visit Nabnasset Lake and possibly Burge's Pond. The route is about 12 miles with a some civilized off road and a few hills. I plan to bring my hybrid bike.
PortaPotty Warning: There is no PortaPotty at the starting point! There will be some along the ride.
On Wednesday, October 20th, we are working on a trip to Cape Ann. Stay Tuned.
On Friday, October 22nd, - We will meet at the Rail Trail parking in Sterling Center. Here is a map.
* At 9:30 AM, the Recreation Ride will leave for the Wachusett Dam. Here is a map.
* At 11:30 AM, we will have lunch at Bambi's Corner Cafe or Sterling Pizza.
* At 12:15 PM, the Fitness Ride will leave for Holden. Here is a map.
* At 2:15 PM, we will be back.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
STOP - All Friday Rides Are Postponed
Definitely NOT a top 10 day!
Local Events + Reminder - Stow - Nancy's Airfield Cafe
Dear AdventuRiders,
Well the weather is looking pretty grim tomorrow :-( 100% chance or rain in the morning. I will send out email and update the website before 8:00 AM with GO / STOP status.
In the mean time, let me plug a few local bicycle related events:
Human Powered Vehicle Festival
On Saturday 10/16 (rain date 10/17) from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, come to the Nashua River Rail Trail between Groton Center and Ayer and see all sorts of strange human powered vehicles. Carole and I will have a table for AdventuRides stuff and I am going to bring some of my wheeled creations Including Carole's new "hybrid" bike.
Bikes Not Bombs
If you have some old bikes laying around the house, I know I do, you can donate them to Bikes Not Bombs. They ask for a $10 per bike donation to help pay for restoring the bike.
"For 25 years, BNB has been a nexus of bike recycling and community empowerment both in lower income neighborhoods of Boston and in the nations of the Global South. BNB's programs involve young people and adults in mutually respectful leadership development and environmental stewardship, while recycling thousands of bicycles."
Here are some local dropoff spots.
- Sat Oct 16th
- Sat Oct 16th
- Sat Oct 23rd
- Sun Nov 7th
On Friday, October 15th, we will meet at the Stow Airfield on Boxboro Road. Here is a map. Please park away from Nancy's. I plan to bring my Hybrid Bike.
- At 9:30 AM - we will leave for Delaney Pond. Here is a map.
- At 11:30 AM - we will have lunch at Nancy's Airfield Cafe.
- At 12:15 PM - we will leave for the ARNWR. Here is a map.
- At 2:15 PM - we will be back.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
GO - Another Beautiful Day!
Bring something warm.
Reminder - Groton Center Tomorrow
Dear AdventuRiders,
Are you ready for another TOP 10 day? It will be a bit chilly when we leave, mid 40s and Sunny, but it should be near 60 when we get back. Bring a warmth layer and a wind layer and you should be fine. Check out the picture from yesterday's ride.
Tomorrow we will meet in Groton Center, here is a map. The Groton Precision Parking Police seem to be more interested in Dunkin Donuts these days, but park facing the "correct" way just in case.
Then we will leave for Dunstable by way of Martin's Pond Road, Baddacook Pond, and Massapoag Pond. From there we will stop at the Stone Arch Bridge and ride a portion of the NA&B Rail Road before heading back to Pepperell. Then its the good ole Nashua River Rail Trail back to Groton. The route is about 25 miles and 450 feet vertical (moderate). There is some gravel and the NA&B has a fairly loose surface. I am planning to bring my Hybrid Bike. Here is a map.
On Wednesday, October 13th - We will meet in Groton Center. Here is a map. I need to be back by 12:30.
* At 9:30 AM - We will leave for the Dunstable Stone Arch Bridge. Here is a map.
* At 12:30 PM - I need to be back.
* Lunch at Filho's ???
On Friday, October 15th, we will meet at the Stow Airfield on Boxboro Road. Here is a map. Please park away from Nancy's.
* At 9:30 AM - we will leave for Delaney Pond.
* At 11:30 AM - we will have lunch at Nancy's Airfield Cafe.
* At 12:15 PM - we will leave for the ARNWR.
* At 2:15 PM - we will be back.
On Saturday, October 16th - Human Powered Vehicle Festival, Groton Center. Rain date 10/17.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
GO - It's A Beautiful Day!
Bring something warm.
Reminder - Hudson - 5 Boro Bike Tour
Dear AdventuRiders,
It looks like another TOP 10 day tomorrow. Sunny and 50 degrees in the morning, sunny and low 60s in the afternoon! There are not too many of these days left this year. So, even though its Columbus Day, let's ride.
Not to be outdone by the NYC 5 Boro Bike Tour, I present the Central Massachusetts 5 Boro Bike Tour. We will ride through Marlboro, Southboro, Westboro, Northboro, and Boxboro. Along the way, we will ride on the Assebet River Rail Trail, have a snack at Chauncy Lake, explore the old Westboro State Hospital, stop at the Horseshoe Pub for lunch (80 beers on tap!), and then circumnavigate Delaney Pond to pick up our last "boro".
The morning 4 Boro ride is about 23 1/2 miles with 550 feet vertical including one Cat 5 hill (easiest category). Here is a map. The afternoon Boxboro ride is about 15 1/2 miles and 225 feet vertical. Here is a map. There are bits and pieces of gravel, but I am planning to bring my road bike anyway.
On Monday, October 11th - We will meet at the Horseshoe Pub in Hudson. Here is a map.
* At 9:30 AM - We will leave for the 4 Boro Bike Tour. Here is a map.
* At 12:30 PM - We will have lunch at the Horseshoe Pub. They have 30 new menu items for Oktoberfest as well as the usual 80 beers on tap.
* At 1:30 PM - If people are interested, we can continue on to Boxboro and pick up our 5th "Boro". Here is a map. Take that NYC!
* At 3:30 PM - We should be back.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
Next Week - Groton - Hudson - Groton - Stow
Dear AdventuRiders,
Ok, the weather tomorrow is looking WAAAAY too nice to pass up, 60 degrees and SUNNY! There is also a Charity Chili Cook Off at Deven's Common ($10 donation) that we can stop by on our ride. I haven't planned a ride, but we can figure out something appropriate. Skip lunch, and maybe breakfast too and join as at noon in Groton Center. Everyone is welcome, the more the merrier. Bring your kids, your spouse, your friends!
On Sunday, October 10th - Not only is it 10/10/10, but it is also Carole's 29th Birthday (again).
"Join us at 31 Station Ave. and the Rail-Trail, Groton center Sunday Oct. 10, 10AM to 3PM to support 350.ORG's world event '10-10-10' Climate Action day. See http://www.350.org/ for more information."
* At Noon - We will meet in Groton Center at the Rail Trail. Here is a map.
* At 1:00 PM (until 4:00) - Chili Cook Off - Devens Common - $10 Donation - ALL YOU CAN EAT.
* Sometime - We will be back.
On Monday, October 11th - We will meet at the Horseshoe Pub in Hudson. Here is a map.
* At 9:30 AM - We will leave for the 4 Boro Bike Tour. Here is a map.
* At 12:30 PM - We will have lunch at the Horseshoe Pub. They have 30 new menu items for Oktoberfest as well as the usual 80 beers on tap.
* At 1:30 PM - If people are interested, we can continue on to Boxboro and pick up our 5th "Boro". Here is a map. Take that NYC!
* At 3:30 PM - We should be back.
The morning 4 Boro ride is about 23 1/2 miles with 550 feet vertical including one Cat 5 hill (easiest category). Here is a map. The afternoon Boxboro ride is about 15 1/2 miles and 225 feet vertical. Here is a map. There are bits and pieces of gravel, but I am planning to bring my road bike anyway.
On Wednesday, October 13th - We will meet in Groton Center for a longish morning ride. I need to pick up my kids at school before 1:00.
* At 9:30 AM - We will leave.
* At 12:30 PM - We should be back.
* Lunch ???
On Friday, October 15th, we will meet at the Stow Airfield on Boxboro Road. Here is a map. Please park away from Nancy's.
* At 9:30 AM - we will leave for Delaney Pond.
* At 11:30 AM - we will have lunch at Nancy's Airfield Cafe.
* At 12:15 PM - we will leave for the ARNWR.
* At 2:15 PM - we will be back.
On Saturday, October 16th - Human Powered Vehicle Festival, Groton Center. Rain date 10/17.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
GO - It's A Beautiful Day!
Dress warmly.
Reminder - Harvard Track Tomorrow - NOT Depot Road
Dear AdventuRiders,
YAY, the sun is back! Tomorrow looks like a TOP 10 biking day. Sunny and mid 50s in the morning, sunny and mid 60s in the afternoon. It will be a bit windy though, so be sure to bring a wind layer. I also figured out a great ride for Monday (see below).
On Friday, we will try a new starting point in Harvard. We will be meeting at the Harvard Track behind the Harvard Post Office on Route 110. Here is a map. Janet told me about a new path that connects Depot Road to the area on the other side of Route 2. Thanks Janet! The path is loose gravel and not very suitable for road bikes, so I will be bringing my born again - again Bianchi Hybrid Bike. The gravel is about 1/2 mile long, so it would be possible to bring your road bike if you don't mind walking.
The morning Recreation Ride will take us UP Prospect Hill for some spectacular views of the Nashoba Valley and the Tree People at Fruitlands Museum. Then we will ride around Bear Hill Pond and finally past the South Shaker Village on the way back to lunch. The route is about 13 miles and 325 feet vertical (mostly Prospect Hill). Here is a map.
The afternoon Fitness Ride will take us UP Oak Hill to Carlson Orchards and their new solar energy farm. Then we get a breezy 2 mile DOWNHILL run to Delaney Pond. From there we explore some hilly backroads of Harvard before returning via the new gravel path. The route is almost 16 miles with 650 feet vertical. Here is a map.
On Friday, October 8th - We will meet at the Harvard Track, NOT Depot Road. Here is a map.
* At 9:30 AM - The Recreation Ride will leave for Bear Hill Pond. Here is a map.
* At 11:30 AM - We will have a picnic lunch from Sorrento's or Pizza Bella.
* At 12:15 PM - The Fitness Ride will leave for Oak Hill and the Stow Road downhill run. Here is a map.
* At 2:15 PM - We will be back.
On Sunday, October 10th - Not only is it 10/10/10, but it is also Carole's Birthday.
Join us at 31 Station Ave. and the Rail-Trail, Groton center Sunday Oct. 10, 10AM to 3PM to support 350.ORG's world event '10-10-10' Climate Action day. See http://www.350.org/ for more information.
By riding your bicycle and registering the distance you traveled you will help Groton reach a goal of at least 350 miles. The final total will be used towards 350.ORG's worldwide effort to educate everyone, and to send a message to world leaders the need to take serious action to solve the worsening problem of 'Climate Change'.
On Monday, October 11th - We will meet at the Horseshoe Pub in Hudson.
At 9:30 AM - We will leave for the 4 Boro Bike Tour. Here is a map.
At 12:30 PM - We will have lunch at the Horseshoe Pub. They have 30 new menu items for Oktoberfest as well as the usual 80 beers on tap.
At 1:30 PM - If people are interested, we can continue on to Boxboro and pick up our 5th "Boro". Take that NYC!
At 3:30 PM - We should be back.
On Saturday, October 16th - Human Powered Vehicle Festival, Groton Center. Rain date 10/17.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
Reminder - Shirley Center Tomorrow
Dear AdventuRiders,
The weather is definitely looking better tomorrow. Mid 50s and partly cloudy in the morning, mid 60s and windy in the afternoon. You will want to bring a warmth layer and a wind layer.
Tomorrow, we will meet in historic Shirley Center (NOT Shirley Village where the train station is). Here is a map. Then its off to Flat Hill (it isn't) for beautiful views and foliage. We will visit Hickory Hill Lake and climb UP toward Pearl Hill before turning back to Lunenburg. Trudy's Treats is gone :-( so we won't be stopping in Lunenburg, but instead we will zoom down to Lake Shirley before climbing back up to Shirley Center. The route is about 24 miles and quite hilly with over 600 feet elevation gain. Here is a map.
I will probably bring my born again - again hybrid bike even though the route is entirely on road. Road bikes will work well on this route.
On Thursday, October 7th - We will meet in historic Shirley Center. Here is a map.
* At 9:30 AM - We will leave for the hills of Lunenburg. Here is a map.
* At 12:30 PM - We should be back.
* LUNCH - At Bull Run Restaurant. Here is their new Fall menu. I have my eye on the "Turkey Gobbler" sandwich!
On Friday, October 8th - We will meet at the Harvard Track, NOT Depot Road. Here is a map.
* At 9:30 AM - The Recreation Ride will leave for Bear Hill Pond. Here is a map.
* At 11:30 AM - We will have a picnic lunch from Sorrento's or Pizza Bella.
* At 12:15 PM - The Fitness Ride will leave for Oak Hill and the Stow Road downhill run. Here is a map.
* At 2:15 PM - We will be back.
On Friday, we will try a new starting point in Harvard. We will be meeting at the Harvard Track behind the Harvard Post Office on Route 110. Here is a map. Janet told me about a new path that connects Depot Road to the area on the other side of Route 2. Thanks Janet! The path is loose gravel and not very suitable for road bikes, so I will be bringing my born again - again Bianchi Hybrid Bike.
On Sunday, October 10th - Not only is it 10/10/10, but it is also Carole's Birthday.
Join us at 31 Station Ave. and the Rail-Trail, Groton center Sunday Oct. 10, 10AM to 3PM to support 350.ORG's world event '10-10-10' Climate Action day. See http://www.350.org/ for more information.
By riding your bicycle and registering the distance you traveled you will help Groton reach a goal of at least 350 miles. The final total will be used towards 350.ORG's worldwide effort to educate everyone, and to send a message to world leaders the need to take serious action to solve the worsening problem of 'Climate Change'.
On Monday, October 11th - Even though it is Columbus Day, I am planning to do a 25 - 30 mile ride with lunch afterwards.
adv
On Saturday, October 16th - Human Powered Vehicle Festival, Groton Center. Rain date 10/17.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
Ride Updates
Dear AdventuRiders,
Although we have ridden in the rain on the coast before, tomorrow is looking particularly wet and windy on Cape Ann. So, unfortunately tomorrow's Cape Ann Ride is POSTPONED.
Because of all the rainouts, I have scheduled some special rides. I haven't worked out all the details yet, but here is what I am thinking.
On Thursday, October 7th - We will meet in historic Shirley Center and ride 25 - 30 miles with lunch afterwards.
On Friday, October 8th - We will meet at the Harvard Track, NOT Depot Road. Here is a map.
* At 9:30 AM - The Recreation Ride will leave for Bear Hill Pond. Here is a map.
* At 11:30 AM - We will have a picnic lunch from Sorrento's or Pizza Bella.
* At 12:15 PM - The Fitness Ride will leave for Oak Hill and the Stow Road downhill run. Here is a map.
* At 2:15 PM - We will be back.
On Friday, we will try a new starting point in Harvard. We will be meeting at the Harvard Track behind the Harvard Post Office on Route 110. Here is a map. Janet told me about a new path that connects Depot Road to the area on the other side of Route 2. Thanks Janet! The path is loose gravel and not very suitable for road bikes, so I will be bringing my born again - again Bianchi Hybrid Bike.
On Sunday, October 10th - Not only is it 10/10/10, but it is also Carole's Birthday.
Join us at 31 Station Ave. and the Rail-Trail, Groton center Sunday Oct. 10, 10AM to 3PM to support 350.ORG's world event '10-10-10' Climate Action day. See http://www.350.org/ for more information.
By riding your bicycle and registering the distance you traveled you will help Groton reach a goal of at least 350 miles. The final total will be used towards 350.ORG's worldwide effort to educate everyone, and to send a message to world leaders the need to take serious action to solve the worsening problem of 'Climate Change'.
On Monday, October 11th - Even though it is Columbus Day, I am planning to do a 25 - 30 mile ride with lunch afterwards.
On Sunday, October 17th - Human Powered Vehicle Festival, Groton Center.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
STOP - All Monday Rides Are POSTPONED
Ugh, cold, windy, and rainy :-(
Reminder - Forge Pond Beach Tomorrow
Dear AdventuRiders,
Well, the forecast for tomorrow isn't looking real swell at this point. It just calls for sprinkles in the morning and about 50 degrees. The afternoon is looking worse, but I will wait until tomorrow morning to call it.
Bring your hybrid bike and warm clothes.
On Monday October 4th - We will meet at Forge Pond Beach in Westford. Here is a map. From the intersection of West Prescott Street and Pleasant Street, follow the narrow paved road along the railroad tracks to the beach.
* At 9:30 AM the Fitness ride will leave to explore Lost Lake and Massapoag Pond. Here is a map.
* At 11:30 AM we will have a picnic lunch at the beach or the restaurant.
* At 12:15 PM the Recreational ride will leave for the Stone Arch Bridge and Graniteville. Here is a map.
* At 2:15 PM we will be back.
The Fitness Ride will explore Lost Lake, Duck Pond, Massapoag Pond, and Keyes Pond as well as parts of the NA&B rail line. The route is a little over 16 miles with a significant amount of off road. I plan to bring my born again - again hybrid bike.
We will have a Picnic Lunch at Forge Pond Beach and we can get subs at Pizzaria Presti across the street.
The Recreation Ride will feature one of the wonders of the Merrimack Valley: the Stone Arch Bridge in Westford. We will also visit Nabnasset Lake and possibly Burge's Pond. The route is about 12 miles with a some civilized off road and a few hills. I plan to bring my hybrid bike.
PortaPotty Warning: There is no PortaPotty at the starting point! There will be some along the ride.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole
Next Week - Westford - Cape Ann - Harvard
Dear AdventuRiders,
To help lift your spirits on this rainy day, here are some pictures from last weekend's Seacoast Century. Thanks Ralph!
Also we are planning a special trip to Cape Ann on Wednesday. Thanks to Joe and Alex, we will have a local guest leader to show us around Gloucester, Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Rockport. Stay tuned for more details.
On Monday, the weather forecast looks a bit iffy, but its waaaaaaay to early to make any accurate predictions.
On Monday October 4th - We will meet at Forge Pond Beach in Westford. Here is a map. From the intersection of West Prescott Street and Pleasant Street, follow the narrow paved road along the railroad tracks to the beach.
* At 9:30 AM the Fitness ride will leave to explore Lost Lake and Massapoag Pond. Here is a map.
* At 11:30 AM we will have a picnic lunch at the beach.
* At 12:15 PM the Recreational ride will leave for the Stone Arch Bridge and Graniteville. Here is a map.
* At 2:15 PM we will be back.
The Fitness Ride will explore Lost Lake, Duck Pond, Massapoag Pond, and Keyes Pond as well as parts of the NA&B rail line. The route is a little over 16 miles with a significant amount of off road. I plan to bring my born again - again hybrid bike.
We will have a Picnic Lunch at Forge Pond Beach and we can get subs at Pizzaria Presti across the street.
The Recreation Ride will feature one of the wonders of the Merrimack Valley: the Stone Arch Bridge in Westford. We will also visit Nabnasset Lake and possibly Burge's Pond. The route is about 12 miles with a some civilized off road and a few hills. I plan to bring my hybrid bike.
PortaPotty Warning: There is no PortaPotty at the starting point! There will be some along the ride.
On Wednesday October 6th - We will meet at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester. Here is a map.
* At 10:00 AM - We will leave for a tour of Cape Ann. The route is about 27 miles
* At 3:00 PM - We will be back.
A note from our guest leader "I can recommend a stop for food – Halibut Point, a tavern on Main Street in Gloucester - http://www.halibutpointrestaurant.com/. (I can also recommend the Italian fish chowder – tomato based and spicy.) After the ride, for the beer drinkers there's Cape Anne Brewing - http://www.capeannbrewing.com/". Our guest leader obviously understands our prime motivations :-)
On Friday October 8th - We will meet at the Harvard Track, NOT Depot Road. Here is a map.
* At 9:30 AM - The Recreation Ride will leave for Bear Hill Pond. Here is a map.
* At 11:30 AM - We will have a picnic lunch from Sorrento's or Pizza Bella.
* At 12:15 PM - The Fitness Ride will leave for Oak Hill and the Stow Road downhill run. Here is a map.
* At 2:15 PM - We will be back.
On Friday, we will try a new starting point in Harvard. We will be meeting at the Harvard Track behind the Harvard Post Office on Route 110. Here is a map. Janet told me about a new path that connects Depot Road to the area on the other side of Route 2. Thanks Janet! The path is loose gravel and not very suitable for road bikes, so I will be bringing my born again - again Bianchi Hybrid Bike.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole