GO - forge pond beach, Westford

Reminder - Forge Pond Beach, Westford on Friday

Dear AdventuRiders,

Well the weather isn't looking great tomorrow, but we should be able to get in the morning ride.

I was getting tired of being in Bar Harbor anyhow...

​

On Friday, May 30th - Forge Pond Beach, Westford.

The Morning Fitness Ride will ride around a bunch of ponds and stop by the Stone Arch Bridge.

• 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Forge Pond Beach, Westford.
• Route Map - Westford - Cow Pond - Stone Arch.
• Distance - 15 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 650 feet.
• Unpaved - 2 miles mostly smooth.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 20 flat, paved miles.

LUNCH is at Pizzeria Presti.

The Afternoon Recreation Ride will go to Nabnassett Pond and visit East Boston Camps on the way.

• 12:30 PM - The afternoon Recreation Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Forge Pond Beach, Westford.
• Route Map - Westford - Nabnassett.
• Distance - 12 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 500 feet.
• Unpaved - a bit of smooth dirt.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 16 flat, paved miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

This Week - Memorial Day - Bar Harbor - Westford

Dear AdventuRiders,

I have to go to Bar Harbor this week to keep the contractors on track. 

There is no ride on Monday since it's Memorial Day.

On Wednesday, it's another DIY ride unless you want to come to Bar Harbor. I'll work on something closer since the weather is looking pretty good.

On Friday we will attempt the Westford ride again.

On Monday, May 26th - Memorial Day.

No Rides.

On Wednesday, May 28th - Bar Harbor.

• 9:30 AM - We will leave for Acadia National Park.
• Starting Point Map - 8 Barberry Lane, Bar Harbor, Maine.
• Route Map - Bar Harbor - Jordan Pond..
• Distance - 26 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 1800 feet (3 category 5 hills)
• Off Road - 10 miles - mostly smooth.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• 12:30 PM - LUNCH at Jordan Pond House.
• 3:00 PM - We will be back to Bar Harbor.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 41 flat, smooth miles

On Friday, May 30th - Forge Pond Beach, Westford.

The Morning Fitness Ride will ride around a bunch of ponds and stop by the Stone Arch Bridge.

• 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Forge Pond Beach, Westford.
• Route Map - Westford - Cow Pond - Stone Arch.
• Distance - 15 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 650 feet.
• Unpaved - 2 miles mostly smooth.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 20 flat, paved miles.

LUNCH is at Pizzeria Presti.

The Afternoon Recreation Ride will go to Nabnassett Pond and visit East Boston Camps on the way.

• 12:30 PM - The afternoon Recreation Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Forge Pond Beach, Westford.
• Route Map - Westford - Nabnassett.
• Distance - 12 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 500 feet.
• Unpaved - a bit of smooth dirt.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 16 flat, paved miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

STOP - All Friday Rides Are POSTPONED

Reminder - Forge Pond Beach, Westford

Dear AdventuRiders,

Well the weather isn't looking that good for tomorrow. Let's hope it isn't mid 50s and raining...

The Morning Fitness Ride will ride around a bunch of ponds and stop by the Stone Arch Bridge.

On Friday, May 23rd - Forge Pond Beach, Westford.

• 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Forge Pond Beach, Westford.
• Route Map - Westford - Cow Pond - Stone Arch.
• Distance - 15 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 650 feet.
• Unpaved - 2 miles mostly smooth.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 20 flat, paved miles.

LUNCH is at Pizzeria Presti.

The Afternoon Recreation Ride will go to Nabnassett Pond and visit East Boston Camps on the way.

• 12:30 PM - The afternoon Recreation Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Forge Pond Beach, Westford.
• Route Map - Westford - Nabnassett.
• Distance - 12 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 500 feet.
• Unpaved - a bit of smooth dirt.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 16 flat, paved miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - Hampton North Beach

It looks like a beauty. 

Reminder - Hampton North Beach - Portsmouth on Wednesday

Dear AdventuRiders,

It looks like the weather gods will smile on us tomorrow! I suspect it will be much like the last couple of days with sunshine in the morning and partly cloudy in the afternoon. There could be a seabreeze cross wind in the afternoon, but I know how to deal with that.

The only glitch is that the Sagamore Creek Bridge on Route 1A is closed, so we will need to go back to New Castle after lunch adding a couple of miles to the ride.

RSVP if you want help setting up carpools.

NOTE: We want to LEAVE Hampton North Beach at 9:30 because I need to get back to Groton in time to drive my son to Barre (an hour in the other direction).

On Wednesday, May 21st - Hampton North Beach

• 9:30 AM - We will leave for Newcastle and Portsmouth.
• Starting Point Map - Hampton North Beach.
• Route Map - Hampton - Portsmouth - Kittery.
• Distance - 33 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 700 feet (pretty much flat)
• Off Road - None.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• 12:30 PM - LUNCH at Portsmouth Brewery.
• 3:00 PM - We will be back to Hampton North Beach.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 35 flat, smooth miles

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole.

GO - Lunenburg Center

This Week - Lunenburg - Portsmouth - Westford

Dear AdventuRiders,

I hope you all got out to enjoy this spectacularly nice day. Tomorrow is supposed to be similar except even nicer.

The Senior Center, to the right of our Starting Point, is open on Mondays, so we will have porcelain! For LUNCH we will have a picnic to the left of the Starting Point at the Teen Center. We can get food at the Village Grill.

The morning Recreation Ride will go to Lake Whalom and then to Lake Shirley. Then its off to see the alpacas on the way back.

The afternoon Fitness Ride will tackle Pearl Hill before a hugely fun downhill to the State Park. Then a nice smooth flat run back to Lunenburg.

On Monday, May 19th - Lunenburg Center

• 9:30 AM - The morning Recreation Ride will leave.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Lunenburg Center.
• Route Map - Lunenburg - Shirley.
• Distance - 13 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 700 feet.
• Unpaved - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 18 flat, paved miles.

LUNCH is a PICNIC at the Teen Center. We can get food at the Village Grill.

• 12:30 PM - The afternoon Fitness Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Lunenburg Center.
• Route Map - Lunenburg - Pearl Hill.
• Distance - 14 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 700 feet.
• Unpaved - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 19 flat, paved miles.

The Spring 2014 season is more than half over, so it is time to start scheduling the Portsmouth ride. The weather doesn't look great this week, but we'll find something closer if the weather is lousy, but not too lousy.

On Wednesday, May 21st - Hampton North Beach

• 9:30 AM - We will leave for Newcastle and Portsmouth.
• Starting Point Map - Hampton North Beach.
• Route Map - Hampton - Portsmouth - Kittery.
• Distance - 32 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 2011982.19 feet (according to MapMyRide)
• Off Road - None.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• 12:30 PM - LUNCH at Portsmouth Brewery.
• 3:00 PM - We will be back to Hampton North Beach.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 32 flat, smooth miles

On Friday, May 23rd - Forge Pond Beach, Westford.

• 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Forge Pond Beach, Westford.
• Route Map - TBD.
• Distance - TBD.
• Elevation Gain - TBD.
• Unpaved - TBD.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).
• AR Index - Roughly equal to TBD flat, paved miles.

LUNCH is at Pizzeria Presti.

• 12:30 PM - The afternoon Recreation Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Forge Pond Beach, Westford.
• Route Map - TBD.
• Distance - TBD.
• Elevation Gain - TBD.
• Unpaved - TBD.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to TBD flat, paved miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - West Acton, Elm Street Park

Reminder - Elm Street Playground, Acton on Friday

Dear AdventuRiders,

The morning FITNESS Ride will visit the Acton Arboretum which should have a bunch of flowers. We will then go and ride a bit of the unpaved Assebet River Rail Trail.

Lunch will be from Idylwilde Farm, hopefully at the outside picnic tables.

The afternoon RECREATION ride will visit the llamas before riding around Long Pond. We will take the "easy" way up Nagog Hill before a fast ride down and back to Elm Street Playground.

The weather is looking worse than it was this morning with a 30% chance of rain tomorrow afternoon but at least it will be warm. As usual, I will make the STOP / GO call before 8:00 tomorrow morning. 

On Friday, May 16th - Elm Street Playground, West Acton

• 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Elm Street Playground, West Acton.
• Route Map - Acton Arboretum.
• Distance - 14 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 550 feet.
• Unpaved - a mile of so.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 18 flat, paved miles.

LUNCH is at Idylwilde Farm in West Acton.

• 12:30 PM - The afternoon Recreation Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Elm Street Playground, West Acton.
• Route Map - Acton - Littleton - Nagog.
• Distance - 13 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 600 feet.
• Unpaved - a bit.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 18 flat, paved miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

DIY - Groton Center to Hollis

Fearless Leader is afraid he's not feeling well this morning :-( 

The weather looks OK, maybe an early sprinkle. The route is pretty simple too. Bring a map, or just wing it. 

Change of Plans - Groton Center on Wednesday

Dear AdventuRiders,

The weather tomorrow at the coast is forecast to be cloudy, and very chilly, with an onshore headwind in the afternoon. Not worth the drive in my book.

The weather is supposed to be better inland, although still cloudy. So, how about a ride from Groton Center to Hollis via West Groton and lunch at Hollis Country Kitchen. Then it's a straight shot down freshly paved Route 122 to Pepperell and we can take either Nashua Road or the Rail Trail back to Groton.

On Wednesday, May 14th - Groton Center

• 9:30 AM - We will leave for Hollis
• 11:30 AM - Lunch at Hollis Country Kitchen.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point - Groton Center.
• Route Map - Groton - Hollis - Nashua Road
• Distance - 29 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 600 feet.
• Unpaved - 2 miles smooth dirt.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 34 flat, smooth miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - Harvard Center

This Week - Harvard - Portsmouth - West Acton

Dear AdventuRiders,

I hope you all got out to enjoy this spectacularly nice day. Tomorrow is supposed to be similar except cloudier.

So, the Harvard Apple Blossom Festival was yesterday and it was so beautiful that I scheduled another Harvard ride for Monday. Its always hilly in Harvard and the 2 new rides for Monday are no exception, but I tried to maximize the scenery and minimize the climbing. 

The morning Recreation Ride will go over the hill to Delaney Pond and back. Remember, for every uphill there is a corresponding downhill.

The afternoon Fitness Ride will tackle Vaugh Hill Road in Bolton after a breezy run downhill through Still River.

The Starting Point is still near Town Hall, but it is open on Monday's so please park away from Town Hall but around the common.

On Monday, May 12th - Harvard Center

• 9:30 AM - The morning Recreation Ride will leave.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Harvard Center - Town Hall.
• Route Map - Harvard Center - Delaney Pond.
• Distance - 12 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 400 feet.
• Unpaved - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 16 flat, paved miles.

LUNCH is at Harvard General Store.

• 12:30 PM - The afternoon Fitness Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Harvard Center - Town Hall.
• Route Map - Harvard Center - Bolton.
• Distance - 13 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 900 feet.
• Unpaved - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 21 flat, paved miles.

The Spring 2014 season is somewhere around half over, so it is time to start scheduling the Portsmouth ride. The weather doesn't look great this week, but we'll find something closer if the weather is lousy, but not too lousy.

On Wednesday, May 14th - Hampton North Beach

• 9:30 AM - We will leave for Newcastle and Portsmouth.
• Starting Point Map - Hampton North Beach.
• Route Map - Hampton - Portsmouth - Kittery.
• Distance - 32 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 2011982.19 feet (according to MapMyRide)
• Off Road - None.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• 12:30 PM - LUNCH at Portsmouth Brewery.
• 3:00 PM - We will be back to Hampton North Beach.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 32 flat, smooth miles

On Friday, May 16th - Elm Street Playground, West Acton

• 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Elm Street Playground, West Acton.
• Route Map - TBD.
• Distance - TBD.
• Elevation Gain - TBD.
• Unpaved - TBD.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).
• AR Index - Roughly equal to TBD flat, paved miles.

LUNCH is at Idylwilde Farm in West Acton.

• 12:30 PM - The afternoon Recreation Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Elm Street Playground, West Acton.
• Route Map - TBD.
• Distance - TBD.
• Elevation Gain - TBD.
• Unpaved - TBD.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to TBD flat, paved miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

STOP - Today's Rides are POSTPONED

Cloudy...  Drizzle... Cold... 

Reminder - Elm Street Playground, West Acton on Friday

Dear AdventuRiders,

Sorry for the late reminder. I've been taking a course in advanced pipe organ moving from my son, followed by a nap :-)

Anyhow, the weather is looking iffy with a 50% chance of rain tomorrow afternoon and kind of chilly. As usual, I will make the STOP / GO call before 8:00 tomorrow morning. 

On Friday, May 9th - Elm Street Playground, West Acton

• 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Elm Street Playground, West Acton.
• Route Map - TBD.
• Distance - TBD.
• Elevation Gain - TBD.
• Unpaved - TBD.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).
• AR Index - Roughly equal to TBD flat, paved miles.

LUNCH is at Idylwilde Farm in West Acton.

• 12:30 PM - The afternoon Recreation Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Elm Street Playground, West Acton.
• Route Map - TBD.
• Distance - TBD.
• Elevation Gain - TBD.
• Unpaved - TBD.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to TBD flat, paved miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - Mine Falls Park, Nashua

It will be breezy. 

Mine Falls Park, Nashua on Monday

Dear AdventuRiders,

Happy Cinco de Mayo! We will be celebrating tomorrow by having lunch at El Colima in Downtown Nashua. Since driving / parking in Downtown Nashua is a pain, we will be stopping for lunch before we get back to the starting point. 

Since it is only 1.3 miles back to the starting point, I will take non-lunchers back and pick up any lunchers at 11:30 AM at the Starting Point.

I haven't figured out the routes yet, I'm busy with the pipe organ, but there is a bunch of new stuff to explore in the park.

The starting point takes a bit of explanation. It is just off Exit 5A (Simon Street) from Route 3 North. If you are coming north on Route 3, get off at exit 5 but DON'T take 5E or 5W. Wait for 5A. If you are coming East on 111 from Pepperell, take the Route 3 North Entrance and get off almost immediately on Exit 5A. Take a left at the stop sign and bear left onto Whipple Street. PortaPotty Equipped!

On Monday, May 5th - Mine Falls Park, Nashua

The Morning Recreation Ride will explore Mine Falls Park in Nashua, NH.

• The Morning Recreation Ride will leave at 9:30 AM.
• We should be back by 11:30 AM. or 12:30 if you stop for lunch.
• Starting Point Map - Exit 5A off Route 3 - PortaPotty equipped.
• Route Map - TBD.
• Distance - TBD.
• Elevation Gain - TBD
• Unpaved - a bunch of smooth dirt.
• Equipment - Any sturdy, well maintained, bike will work.
• AR Index = roughly equal to TBD flat, smooth miles.

11:15 AM - Lunch will be at El Colima in Downtown Nashua.

The Afternoon Fitness Ride will also explore Mine Falls Park in Nashua, NH.



• The Afternoon Fitness Ride will leave at 12:30 PM.
• We should be back by 2:30 PM.
• Starting Point Map - Exit 5A off Route 3 - PortaPotty equipped.
• Route Map - TBD
• Distance - TBD
• Elevation Gain - TBD
• Unpaved - a bunch of smooth dirt.
• Equipment - Any sturdy, well maintained, bike will work.
• AR Index = roughly equal to TBD flat, smooth miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

This Week - Acton - DIY - Nashua + Senior Project

Dear AdventuRiders,

I just wanted to send out a quick note of what I am planning for next week. More information will follow.

I'm up to my knees in saw dust right now helping my son Milo get his homemade pipe organ ready for his Senior Project Exhibition. He does all the work, and I just stand around asking stupid questions. I have to help him setup on Wednesday and Carole has an important meeting, so the Wednesday Ride is DIY.

Everybody is invited to Parker Charter School in Devens to learn everything there is to know about pipe organs. Milo's exhibit is Thursday May 8th at 10:55 AM. Just sign in at the main office and proceed to the Lunch-atorium. Turn left from the office and follow the hall to some big doors on the left. The building is an abandoned Army elementary school, and the dress code is "yes, please".

On Monday, May 5th - Nashua

We will meet at Mine Falls Park in Nashua.

I'm not quite sure how this is going to work, but I want to have Cinco de Mayo Lunch at El Colima in Downtown Nashua.

On Wednesday, May 7th - DIY

If anyone wants to be a volunteer "Fearless Leader", let me know and I can give you route ideas and mailing list access.

On Thursday, May 8th - Milo's Senior Exhibition

10:55 AM - 11:55 AM Parker Charter School - Devens

Here is a time lapse video of part of the building process. Each second captures 48 minutes of real time.

On Friday, May 9th - Elm Street Playground, Acton

Lunch at Idylwilde

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole

GO - Harvard Center

Not the track or the soccer field, but right by Town Hall (Closed on Friday). 

Reminder - Harvard Center on Friday

Dear AdventuRiders,

After all this rain, tomorrow is looking REALLY nice. It should be Mostly Sunny, 60s, and breezy. We will go to Harvard General Store for LUNCH and if it's nice enough, we can have a picnic.

The morning Fitness Ride will visit the "Lollipop" Cemetery and the old Shaker Village before climbing Oak Hill for a GREAT roller coaster ride back to Harvard.

LUNCH will be at Harvard General Store.

The afternoon Recreation Ride will climb Prospect Hill before riding around Bare Hill Pond and hopefully not getting throw out of Town Beach. 

On Friday, May 2nd - Harvard Center

• 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
• 11:30 AM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Harvard Center - Town Hall.
• Route Map - Harvard Center - Rollercoaster.
• Distance - 14 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 500 feet and 1 category 5 hill.
• Unpaved - none.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 19 flat, paved miles.

LUNCH is at Harvard General Store.

• 12:30 PM - The afternoon Recreation Ride will leave.
• 2:30 PM - We should be back.
• Starting Point Map - Harvard Center - Town Hall.
• Route Map - Harvard Center - Bare Hill Pond.
• Distance - 10 miles.
• Elevation Gain - 300 feet, 1 Category 5 (easiest) hill.
• Unpaved - 1 mile smooth dirt.
• Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.
• AR Index - Roughly equal to 13 flat, paved miles.

Hope to see you there,

Bill and Carole