Dear AdventuRiders,
We are down to the last 4 ride days of AdventuRides for the Fall 2011 season :-( We have a full schedule this week and then next Monday 11/21 is the official end. If we have good biking weather after that AND Wachusett Mountain isn't open yet, you never know ...
Anyhow, the weather for Monday isn't looking the best, but I guess Mostly Cloudy and mid to upper 50s isn't that bad for the middle of November. So I scheduled a couple of Recreation Rides starting in Groton Center that I call the Broken Branch Tour due to the tree damage from Snow-tober. The Nashua River Rail trail is officially closed so we will be using the roads instead.
The Morning Recreation Ride will travel to Baddacook Pond on the way to Larter Field in Dunstable and the PortaPotty. On the way back we will explore the area around Kirk Farm and avoid the NRRT on back roads to Groton Center.
Lunch will be at Filho's Cucina in Groton Center.
The Afternoon Recreation Ride will zoom down the hill to West Groton, explore the Squannacook River on our way to the Most Historic Small Town in America. From there we will ride past Surrenden Farm Conservation Area and a corner of Groton School while continuing to avoid the NRRT on the way back to Groton Center.
*** On Monday, November 14th - Groton Center
- The Morning Recreation Ride will leave at 9:30 AM.
- We will return by 11:30 AM.
- Starting Point Map - Groton Center.
- Route Map - Groton - Dunstable - BBT.
- Distance = 15 miles.
- Elevation Gain = 250 feet (easy).
- Unpaved = 1/2 mile.
- Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
AR Index = Roughly equal to 17 flat, paved miles.
Lunch will be at 11:30 AM at Filho's Cucina in Groton Center
- The Afternoon Recreation Ride will leave at 12:30 PM.
- We will return by 2:30 PM.
- Starting point Map - Groton Center.
- Route Map - Groton - Shirley Center - BBT.
- Distance = 15 miles.
- Elevation Gain = 400 feet (moderate).
- Unpaved = none.
- Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
AR Index = Roughly equal to 19 flat, paved miles.
*** On Wednesday, November 16th - Jefferson - MCRT
Since I only got one taker for this ride last Tuesday (Thanks Wick!), I will do it again this Wednesday. We had a wonderful time, and the Mass Central Rail Trail is as scenic and remote feeling as ever. Its a bit of a hike to get to the starting point (45 minutes from Groton Center), and there are some significant hills, but I LOVE the wildness yet smoothness of the trail and Heavy Evie's Happy Kitchen for lunch makes it all worthwhile.
*** On Friday, November 18th - Bolton - Bower Springs
We will start at Bower Springs in Bolton which is UP on the ridge, so we don't have to climb the hill from Harvard. We will have fabulous views from several hill tops and I have tried to minimize the elevation gain / mileage so its not a killer ride.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole