Intermezzo Hike- December 27.2017

HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 27 December 2017, Intermezzo Hike
Hike Leaders:  Jack Donohue & Susan Grieb
~4 mi,10:00 am start from 26 Fox Run Road, Bedford, MA
Hikers (4): Jack & Susan, Gardner (Sandy) Gray, and Mike Hanauer

 So named since it's in the middle of the period between Christmas and New Year’s Day.  This turned out to be the last WW event of the year, as well as the smallest.  Maybe it was the last minute posting, the scary weather, or the scary hike leader, but we ended up with only four hikers.

 Two brave souls showed up to join Susan and me on what turned out to be a very pleasant hike.  Conditions were either bare pavement or several inches of snow, so traction devices were not required.  Temperatures rose to around 18 and, with no wind, it was practically balmy.  We had to break trail in some spots, but it was pretty easy with only a few inches of snow. The trees were still covered in ice which made for a dazzling effect in the sun.

 We walked around most of Fawn Lake then headed onto the road/trails at Middlesex Community College.  We exceeded the advertised three miles when Susan threw in a loop around yet another scenic pond.  She also took us to visit to a group of Stonehenge style obelisks which she identified as the stations of the cross.  Despite being brought up Catholic I had a hard time remembering exactly what they were about.

 We returned to Chez Donogrieb for a bit of warmth and a spot of tea.

If you're feeling pangs of regret at missing a fine winter outing, you can redeem yourself next week by joining Mike and Other Jack on their hike.

Report by Jack Donohue.

The Andovers and Harold Parker - December 20, 2017

RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 20 December 2017, The Andovers and Harold Parker
Ride Leader:  Gardner (Sandy) Gray
26 miles, 10:00 am start from Andover Park and Ride, Andover, MA
Riders (8):  Gardner, Clyde Kessel, Dan Krechmer, David Fay, Gerry Sheetoo, Ron Cater, Selig Saltzman, and Tom Allen.

Due to mild temperatures and great weather, eight hardy souls were in great spirits for this winter ride.  We started on Dascomb Road, with busy traffic for the first quarter mile.  We were then able to leave most of the traffic behind and cruise the back roads of Andover and North Andover.  After a couple of short, steep hills and a few more miles, we came to a frozen Steams Pond in Harold Parker State Forest, where the compulsory group pictures were taken.

After returning to the parking lot, a few of us got together to enjoy a hot cup of tea and a great lunch at Origin Thai Bistro.

Report by Gardner Gray.

Photo by Tom Allen

Winter Walk & Hanukkah Party - December 13, 2017

WINTER WALK & PARTY REPORT

Wednesday, 13 December 2017, Winter Walk & Hanukkah Party
Walk Leader:  Marie Keutmann
Party Hosts:  Marie Keutmann and Richard Vignoni
~ 4 miles from Marie’s house, 68 Birchwood Lane, Lincoln, MA

Walkers (17 + one canine):  Marie & Zoe, Adena Schutzberg, Barbara Martin, Bob Anderson, Carol Anderson, Chris George, Ilkka Suvanto, Jack Mroczkowski, Janet Miller, Judith McMichael, Karen Saltus, Margie Lee, Richard Fortier, Roy Westerberg, Russ Keene, Sander Nydick, and Tony Lee.

Party Only (25):  Richard, Barbara Jacobs, Bob Wolf, Doug Hobkirk, Eli Post, Elizabeth Wicks, Francie Sparks, Gene Ho, Greg Stathis, Jack Mroczkowski, Joan Laxson, John Allen, Judi Burten, Julie Dodd, Ken Hablow, Mary Counihan, Mike Counihan, Patrick Ward, Richard Mandel, Robyn Maislin, Sandi Hartwell, Steve Maislin, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, and Winnie Parker.

Gene Ho bravely biked to the party - other adverbs might also be used.

With the forecast for cold, windy weather and less than ideal road conditions, the planned ride to be led by Ken Hablow was cancelled, but the walk and party were to take place, as scheduled.  Marie and her dog, Zoe, led sixteen hardy walkers on a trail skirting Farrar Pond.  The trail consisted of iced-up snow.  Most walkers took Marie's advice and used traction devices.

During the walk, the cooks were hard at work in the kitchen.  Richard cooked/overcooked a turkey on the grill.  A week before the party, Marie discovered that one of the heating elements in the oven was not working.  Barbara Jacobs and Ted Nyder came to the rescue.  They cooked a turkey and a kugel at their house and showed up at 10:00 am with food in hand, including dozens of latkes that they had prepared Monday afternoon (with Judi Burten).

Barbra and Ted pretty much took over the kitchen and food orchestration, including various WW food contributions.  This was a welcome relief because Richard, who was recovering from a knee replacement, started fading as the day progressed.  When the walkers returned, the turkeys, as well as the many contributions of salads, side dishes, and desserts, were on the tables and ready to go.   As a special treat, Roy Westerberg brought an assortment of his home brewed ale.  After eating, Sander recited a prayer and lit the menorah.  This was followed by the traditional Yankee Swap.

It was great seeing some of the "old" WW faces, including Chris George and Mike and Mary Counihan. Thank you to all those who participated with their food contributions, to those who stayed behind and helped clean up, and, especially, to Barbara and Ted who, in Richard’s mind, saved the day.

Russ Keene's photos HERE

Farm to Farm to Bogs - December 6, 2017

RIDE REPORT

 

Wednesday, 6 December 2017, Farm to Farm to Bogs

Ride Leader:  Doug Hobkirk

38 miles, 10:00 am start from Verrill Farm, Concord, MA

 

Riders (15):  Doug, Barry Nelson, Bob Wadsworth, Curt Dudley-Marling, Dan Krechmer, David Fay, Elizabeth Wicks, Francie Sparks, Jack Donohue, Julia Zhogina, Rich Taylor, Roy Westerberg, Selig Saltzman, Susan Sabin, and Wing Chow.

 

Fifteen intrepid riders showed up at the start - fifteen WWs who were willing to trust the weatherman that the deluge would end by 10:00 am.  We rode together through Concord center and re-grouped in the Monument parking lot.  We lost Elizabeth when she rode ahead rather than re-group on the bridge over the swamp on Maple.  When we left Great Brook, Curt and Bob wanted to ride ahead (the group was a tad slow).

 

Atop Curve Street we encountered a Subaru Sampar, a TINY van (200# lighter than a Smart car!) imported from Japan under special rules that apply to cars over 25 years old.  Julia and Rich were not interested, so they rode on, although we caught them fairly quickly. Then I stopped on Acton Road to explain that the green car in the first driveway was a 25-year-old Nisan Figaro, imported under the same special rules.

 

Barry and Rich needed more speed and announced they would ride ahead to the end.  On West Road, Roy and Julia split to take a slightly shorter route back to the start.  So our group of fifteen had now become a group of eight and we rode the rest of the route together.

 

Thanks to Dan for sweeping.  Lunch was had from the deli at Verrill Farm.

At the start

Regrouping

Bustin’ In - November 29, 2017

Ride Leaders: Roy Westerberg & Ken Hablow
Core Ride 29 miles, 10:00 am start from Stow Shopping Center
Remote Start, 47 miles, 9:15 am start from Verrill Farm

Riders - 29 mile relaxed-pace (9): Roy, Bob Wilson, Chuck McWilliams, David Fay, Doug Hobkirk, Richard Fortier, Selig Saltzman, Tom Allen, and Winslow Green.
Riders - 29 mi spirited-pace (8): Clyde Kessel, David Cooper, Dmitry Gorenburg, Duncan Warden, James Hsia, Julie Dodd, Rick Lawrence, and first-timer Glenn Pransky.
Riders – 47 mi (11): Ken, Barbara Martin, Bernie Flynn, Bill Wachur, Bob Wadsworth, Curt Dudley-Marling, Dom Jorge, Gerald Sheetoo, Marc Baskin, Ray Komow, and Wing Chow.

The weather was remarkably pleasant for late November, with temperatures in the 50s, bright and cheerful sunshine for most of the ride, and light winds.  The core riders had gathered and, at precisely 10:00 am, the remote riders, ably led by Ken, pulled into the parking lot.

The relaxed pace group set off a couple minutes after the spirited (and larger) group had left, only to catch up and pass them at about mile 5, where they had stopped.  Over the next several miles they all passed us in groups of ones, twos, or threes, but we still kept seeing them ahead until we stopped for a regroup and pit stop at about mile 12.

We mostly kept together and only occasionally left an arrow.  There were no mechanical problems.  There was an unpleasant moment on Arlington Street.  We had been stopped for several minutes by a policeman, at a construction site where only a single lane could sometimes pass.  After he waved us on, a man operating a Bobcat backed up abruptly, almost running into a couple of us.  Fortunately, there was no contact and we kept going without incident.

Thanks to all those who arrowed and to Tom Allen for sweeping the core ride.  Thanks to Ken Hablow for leading the remote start group and to Ray Komow for sweeping that group.