Dear AdventuRiders,
Can you say TOP 10 DAY? If you believe the forecast, and why wouldn't you, it should be SUNNY, mid 60s to low 70s, low humidity, and a light NE breeze.
Google Maps claims its a 35 minute drive from Groton Center, so leave plenty of time to enjoy coffee and pastries before the ride to negate any possible weight loss :-)
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. Just as a side note, Meadowbrook Orchards is celebrating its 100th anniversary on June 16 with a pig roast, tours, and more!
Please park at the far end of the parking lot so their regular customers don't have to walk.
The ride will feature some Mary Had A Little Lamb stuff in Sterling, 5 miles of the Mass Central Rail Trail, a very pleasant backroad to Holden, and the Old Stone Church. 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