AdventuRides Season 25. Groton and Carlisle and lots of news

Welcome back AdventuRiders! 

Our 25th season will start on Monday, April 4th.  The weather gods are laughing at us.  While it is 66 degrees out now, the forecast for Monday predicts a high of 35 degrees, with snow showers in the morning and steady snow in the afternoon - with 1-3 inches of accumulation!   Watch your email Monday morning for a go/no go and a possible change in plans (snow shoeing or hiking?).  

In the meantime…. 

Housekeeping

•  Sign up.  (If you are new to AdventuRides, your first ride i free so you can check us out, but you still need a signed waiver.)

Littleton Recreation page 10

Acton Recreation page 47

Pepperell Recreation - Not live yet on website.  Come anyways.

•    Bring a signed and initialed waiver to your first ride of the season.  I will bring extras.  Remember- you need both a HELMET and a signed WAIVER to ride.

•    Check out your bike NOW. Please make sure your tires are pumped, your chain is lubed, and you have a spare tube.

•    Don't forget the normal things:  water, a snack. spare tube, layered clothing, gloves, a sense of humor and a smile.  

Coming Events

There are two exciting activities next weekend:

• Saturday evening, on  April 9th, there will a Bikes not Bombs Fundraiser in Groton, in memory of Bill.  

• Sunday afternoon,  come view a film and take a hike with us.  Sign up for the free  event at the Groton Public Library,  featuring our own Susan Edward's documentary Work of 1000  Both she and Marion Stoddart, the main character in the film will be there. Afterwards, we will meet at the Williams Barn for a 1.5 hour hike, with naturalist Stacey Chilcoate and Geologist Nancy Jackson.

What's New this Season

Your Fearlful and Directionless Leader has enlisted the support of experienced AdventuRiders, who have volunteered to lead some rides.  If you are interested in this wonderful opportunity, let me know and I will give you more information.

AdventuRides now has a club account with Ridewithgps   When you register for AdventuRides, I will add you to our club group, cleverly named AdventuRides.  This will give you access to really nifty features that otherwise cost money. You will be able to download any AdventuRides route to the Ridewithgps mobile app on your phone.  You will get turn-by-turn instructions by voice as you ride.  You will also have access to the routes and cue sheets to print and/or use on your phone.  I am still in the process of setting things up,  but this is just one more benefit to riding with us (besides the exercise, camaraderie, and fun.)

 Finally, you may want to know where we are riding this week.

On Monday, April 4 - Groton Center

 

The Morning Recreation Ride will be really lazy and use the Fitch Bridge to get to the other side of the river on our way to East Pepperell Center. We will go to the Nissitissit River and then check out the covered bridge and the Prudence Wright memorial. Then we can cruise the NRRT (Nashua River Rail Trail) back to Groton.

The Afternoon Fitness Ride will stop at the Storybook House, Shirley Center, West Groton, and Fitch Bridge.  

Starting Point

•   Name - Rail Trail Parking

•   Address - 2 Station Ave.

•   Town - Groton, MA 01450

•   Navigation - Google - Waze

•   Parking - Plenty - Park facing away from Buckingham Bus to keep the "Groton Precision Parking Police" happy.

•   Facilities - Porcelain at Town Hall.

9:30 AM - The Morning Fitness Ride will leave.

•   Route Map - Groton - Pepperell - NRRT

•   Distance - 13 1/2 miles.

•   Elevation Gain - 400 feet (easy - peasy)

•   Unpaved - 1/2 mile

•   AR Index - Roughly equal to 15 flat smooth miles.\

 

11:30 AM - We are scheduled to be back.

 

11:30 AM - Lunch Time

 

Blah, blah, blah, Filho's.

 

12:30 PM - The Afternoon Recreation Ride will leave.

 

•    Route Map - Groton - Shirley - Fitch's Bridge

•    Distance - 16 miles

•    Elevation Gain - 600 feet

•    Unpaved - 1 mile.

•    AR Index - Roughly equal to 19 flat smooth miles.

 

2:30 PM - We are scheduled to be back.

  

On Friday, April 8 - Carlisle Center

 

The Morning Fitness Ride will take us to the Olde North Bridge and beautiful Monument Street. There are porcelain bathrooms at ONB. Jane and Nancy will be our Fearless Leaders today.

The Afternoon Recreation Ride will take us to a cranberry bog and Great Brook Farm State Park, home to the first robotic milking system in Massachusetts, installed in a state-of-the-art "smart" barn designed specifically for this technology. Who knew?

  

Starting Point

•   Name - Center Park

•   Address - Lowell Street

•   Town - Carlisle, MA 01741

•   Navigation - Google - Waze

•   Parking - at Center Park just up the street from Fern's - Please DO NOT PARK at FERN'S.

•   Facilities - Fern's outback PortaPotty, or buy something at Fern's.

 

9:30 AM - The Morning Fitness Ride will leave.

•    Route Map - Carlisle - Old North Bridge.

•    Distance - 15 1/4 miles.

•    Elevation Gain - 275 feet (average)

•    Unpaved - a little bit.

•    Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike (as usual).

•   AR Index - Roughly equal to 21 flat, paved miles.

  

11:30 AM - We are scheduled to be back.

 

11:30 AM - Lunch Time

 

 Fern's Country Store or BYOL

 

12:30 PM - The Afternoon Recreation Ride will leave.

•   Route Map - Carlisle - GBFSP.

•   Distance - 12 miles.

•   Elevation Gain - 230 feet, 2 noticeable hills.

•   Unpaved - none.

•   Equipment - I plan to bring my road bike.

•   AR Index - Roughly equal to 15 flat, paved miles.

 

2:30 PM - We are scheduled to be back.

 

Hope to see you there,

Carole

 

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I will send out email the morning of the ride with either a GO or a STOP status. If you don't get an email, check your SPAM folder, or go to AdventuRides.com for the latest update. If you are late / lost, Carole's cell phone is 978-857-7203.