HIKE REPORT
Wednesday, March 16, 2016, Rattlesnake Ramble
Hike Leader: Winslow Green
~3 hours, 10:00 am start from Lime Kiln trailhead, Rte 117, Bolton, MA
Hikers (22): Winslow, Adena Schutzberg, Andy Lewis, Barbara Jacobs, Betty Hoffman, Dick Harter, Dick Lawrence, Jack Mroczkowski, Janet Miller, John Springfield, Mike Hanauer, Nancy Smith, Patrick Ward, Rini Kester, Richard Fortier, Roy Westerberg, Sander Nydick, Susan Sabin, Terry Gleason, Tom Allen, Tom Clark, and Winnie Parker.
Present at lunch (4): Jacque Smith, Jerry Green, Kathy Halmi, and Richard Vignoni.
Twenty two hikers gathered at the Lime Kiln trailhead in Bolton on an overcast, but pleasant, late winter morning for the last scheduled hike of the season. We visited the lime kiln where lime was made from the limestone obtained from nearby quarries. The Whitcomb house, built in 1711, is still standing nearby and has been continuously inhabited for 305 years. We stopped to see the quarries and then passed west of Rattlesnake Hill, and made our way to Old Sugar Road and saw the Whitcomb Tavern built in 1700, Bolton’s oldest house. We returned through beautiful fields where horses are pastured, through the woods, and back to our starting place.
After the hike we all went to Slater's for pizza and beer. I thank all for their presence, for their kind Happy 80th Birthday wishes, and for the two cakes that we all shared. I was pleased that Jerry Green and Mike Hanauer were able to attend. They are the only Wednesday Wheelers still active who were present in 1999 when I joined the group - back then the Wheelers were a much smaller group and not yet connected with the CRW. Being 80 is not so bad when one has such good company.
Report by Winslow Green.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Monday, March 14, 2016
Flint's Pond Ramble Hike/Farm to Farm to Bogs - March 9, 2016
HIKE REPORT
Wednesday, March 9, 2016, Flint's Pond Ramble
Hike Leader: Janet Miller
~5.5 miles, 10:00 am start from Walden Pond State Reservation
Hikers (13): Janet, Alan Fierce, Ann Northup, Chuck McWilliams, Elsa Lawrence, Everett Briggs, John Springfield, Margie Lee, Mike Hanauer, Nancy Smith, Patrick Ward, Tom Lawrence, and Tony Lee.
Although this was billed as a winter hike, the warm temperatures made it feel most definitely spring-like. Thirteen people, including myself, gathered in the Walden Pond State Reservation parking lot. Everett Briggs arrived on his bicycle, which may have validated our hike as a CRW event, and Sander Nydick confirmed that by wearing a CRW shirt. We all enjoyed good conversation as we hiked up Pine Hill and around Flint’s Pond to the de Cordova Museum gift shop, where most of us took advantage of their restrooms and some enjoyed browsing in the shop.
We then walked briefly on Sandy Pond Road (although the pond’s name was changed, the road’s was not . . . . . ) before re-entering the woods and finding trails that led us back to the start. Our total distance was about five and a half miles. I appreciated the many comments at the end of the walk, congratulating me on choosing a nice, hike as well as not losing my way!
Report by Janet Miller.
RIDE REPORT
Wednesday, March 9, 2016, Farm to Farm to Bogs
Ride Leader: Doug Hobkirk
30 miles, 10:00 am start from Verrill Farm, Concord, MA
Riders (18): Doug, Bob Wadsworth, Butch Pemstein, Chris Stix, Harriet Fell, Jack Mroczkowski, Jim Cant, John Allen, Mike Byrne, Pat Brennan, Richard Vignoni, Robyn Maislin, Roy Westerberg, Selig Saltzman, Steve Page, Tom Allen, and first-timers Amy Waltch and Hugh Folsom.
Present at lunch: Helen Greitzer.
What a splendid day! How can it still be winter? It even confused the Concord Highway Department - they had a sweeper cleaning up the pavement on Monument Street.
By seemingly unanimous agreement, eighteen riders set off on the 30-mile ride option. We regrouped several times, usually selecting an appropriate spot. My average speed (moving) was slightly under 14 mph, but several riders took advantage of my encouragement to ride on ahead and wait at a particular spot. I was impressed by the group's fitness - it didn't seem much different than in-season.
We had a great stop at Great Brook, and a bad stop at the end of Curve Street (should have been on Curve, not on the edge of Rte 225). There was one incident with cars: four cars passed as we were about to turn left onto Minot in Acton. I didn't signal because I didn't want to confuse the car drivers, but a fifth car (who'd moved into the left, oncoming lane) swung through us when I started the turn. The kid honked, I cursed. Bad choices by me, and embarrassment that I didn't see the fifth car, despite the traffic.
Maybe we would have ridden faster if we'd known the hikers were going to go to Verrill Farm and jump in front of us in the deli line. It was sweet to see the others, and, of course, our Helen. Thanks to all for coming, and special thanks to Butch for sweeping.
Report by Doug Hobkirk.
Wednesday, March 9, 2016, Flint's Pond Ramble
Hike Leader: Janet Miller
~5.5 miles, 10:00 am start from Walden Pond State Reservation
Hikers (13): Janet, Alan Fierce, Ann Northup, Chuck McWilliams, Elsa Lawrence, Everett Briggs, John Springfield, Margie Lee, Mike Hanauer, Nancy Smith, Patrick Ward, Tom Lawrence, and Tony Lee.
Although this was billed as a winter hike, the warm temperatures made it feel most definitely spring-like. Thirteen people, including myself, gathered in the Walden Pond State Reservation parking lot. Everett Briggs arrived on his bicycle, which may have validated our hike as a CRW event, and Sander Nydick confirmed that by wearing a CRW shirt. We all enjoyed good conversation as we hiked up Pine Hill and around Flint’s Pond to the de Cordova Museum gift shop, where most of us took advantage of their restrooms and some enjoyed browsing in the shop.
We then walked briefly on Sandy Pond Road (although the pond’s name was changed, the road’s was not . . . . . ) before re-entering the woods and finding trails that led us back to the start. Our total distance was about five and a half miles. I appreciated the many comments at the end of the walk, congratulating me on choosing a nice, hike as well as not losing my way!
Report by Janet Miller.
RIDE REPORT
Wednesday, March 9, 2016, Farm to Farm to Bogs
Ride Leader: Doug Hobkirk
30 miles, 10:00 am start from Verrill Farm, Concord, MA
Riders (18): Doug, Bob Wadsworth, Butch Pemstein, Chris Stix, Harriet Fell, Jack Mroczkowski, Jim Cant, John Allen, Mike Byrne, Pat Brennan, Richard Vignoni, Robyn Maislin, Roy Westerberg, Selig Saltzman, Steve Page, Tom Allen, and first-timers Amy Waltch and Hugh Folsom.
Present at lunch: Helen Greitzer.
What a splendid day! How can it still be winter? It even confused the Concord Highway Department - they had a sweeper cleaning up the pavement on Monument Street.
By seemingly unanimous agreement, eighteen riders set off on the 30-mile ride option. We regrouped several times, usually selecting an appropriate spot. My average speed (moving) was slightly under 14 mph, but several riders took advantage of my encouragement to ride on ahead and wait at a particular spot. I was impressed by the group's fitness - it didn't seem much different than in-season.
We had a great stop at Great Brook, and a bad stop at the end of Curve Street (should have been on Curve, not on the edge of Rte 225). There was one incident with cars: four cars passed as we were about to turn left onto Minot in Acton. I didn't signal because I didn't want to confuse the car drivers, but a fifth car (who'd moved into the left, oncoming lane) swung through us when I started the turn. The kid honked, I cursed. Bad choices by me, and embarrassment that I didn't see the fifth car, despite the traffic.
Maybe we would have ridden faster if we'd known the hikers were going to go to Verrill Farm and jump in front of us in the deli line. It was sweet to see the others, and, of course, our Helen. Thanks to all for coming, and special thanks to Butch for sweeping.
Report by Doug Hobkirk.
Monday, March 7, 2016
Estabrook Woods hike - March 3, 2016
HIKE REPORT
Thursday, March 3, 2016, Estabrook Woods hike
Hike Leader: Jack Mroczkowski
~7 mi, 10:00 am carpool from Trail’s End Café, Concord, MA
Hikers (3): Jack, Allan Fierce, and Andy Lewis.
All participants reported first at the meeting point which was the Trail’s End Café. With just one car driving to the hike start, we took the last limited parking spot near the entrance to the woods! In the woods, we came across a notice reminding the public that all the Estabrook land is really private, but that some owners have generously conceded access to the public on designated trails.
We moved along at a brisk pace. After two miles, we hiked a short distance on Estabrook Road in Carlisle before entering the Carr reservation trail off Bellows Road. Shortly after that, we came across a remote dwelling deep in the woods which looked like a homesteader's cabin. We wondered if it was still inhabited(?). From there the trail soon took us to Two Rod Road (a trail) which formed the return part of our loop. In total, we covered almost seven miles, some of which were on some delightful patches of tall old growth pine.
Lunch was taken at the Trail’s End Café where a table had been reserved for us.
Report by Jack Mroczkowski.
Thursday, March 3, 2016, Estabrook Woods hike
Hike Leader: Jack Mroczkowski
~7 mi, 10:00 am carpool from Trail’s End Café, Concord, MA
Hikers (3): Jack, Allan Fierce, and Andy Lewis.
All participants reported first at the meeting point which was the Trail’s End Café. With just one car driving to the hike start, we took the last limited parking spot near the entrance to the woods! In the woods, we came across a notice reminding the public that all the Estabrook land is really private, but that some owners have generously conceded access to the public on designated trails.
We moved along at a brisk pace. After two miles, we hiked a short distance on Estabrook Road in Carlisle before entering the Carr reservation trail off Bellows Road. Shortly after that, we came across a remote dwelling deep in the woods which looked like a homesteader's cabin. We wondered if it was still inhabited(?). From there the trail soon took us to Two Rod Road (a trail) which formed the return part of our loop. In total, we covered almost seven miles, some of which were on some delightful patches of tall old growth pine.
Lunch was taken at the Trail’s End Café where a table had been reserved for us.
Report by Jack Mroczkowski.
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