Dear AdventuRiders,
Once again the weather doesn't look good enough to make the trip to Providence :-(
Hopefully the weather will cooperate enough to get a local ride in between the Showers and Thunderstorms forecast for tomorrow. Its supposed to be Mostly Cloudy, Warm and Humid with temps in the mid to upper 70s.
I had so much fun on the afternoon Recreation Ride in Harvard a few weeks ago that I decided to "re-cycle" it tomorrow.
The Substitute Exploration Ride features the Shaker Villages and Shaker "lollipop" Cemetery. No trip around Harvard would be complete without riding UP Oak Hill, yes, its a category 5, but its not that steep, just long. Hopefully there will be some views from the ridges. Then its a bunch of downhill fun on the way back.
We can have lunch at Sorrento's afterwards.
On Wednesday, May 30th - Harvard Track
- The Substitute Exploration Ride will leave at 9:30 AM.
- We will return by 12:30 PM.
- Starting Point Map - Harvard Track
- Route Map - Harvard - Shaker Villages.
- Distance = 15.4 miles.
- Elevation Gain = 500 feet (more difficult).
- Unpaved = none.
- Equipment - Any sturdy, well maintained bike will work.
AR Index - Roughly equal to 20 flat, paved miles.
The Friday ride will start and end at Meadowbrook Orchards in Sterling. They will be open for coffee, pastries, and porcelain in the morning and a full lunch when we get back.
I couldn't work in the Wachusett Reservoir and still get out to the Mass Central Rail Trail on this ride. The 750 feet elevation gain looks kind of daunting, but almost half of it is one category 5 hill in West Sterling. The payback is nearly 8 miles of mostly downhill back to West Boyleston.
On Friday, June 1st - Meadowbrook - Sterling - MCRT
- 9:30 AM Start time.
- 12:30 PM Return time.
- Starting Point Map - Meadowbrook Orchards.
- Route Map - Meadowbrook - Sterling - MCRT
- Distance - 26 Miles.
- Elevation Gain - 750 feet (just 1 challenging category 5 hill).
- Unpaved - 5 miles of beautiful, smooth, crush rock on the MCRT.
- Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
AR Index - Roughly equal to 33 flat, paved miles.
Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole