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