Zig Zag Ride & local hike 12/31/2014

RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, December 31, 2014, Zig Zag Ride & local hike
Ride Leader:  Jack Donohue
31 miles, 10:00 am start from chez Donogrieb, 26 Fox Run Road, Bedford, MA

Riders (5):  Jack, Bob Apsler, Bob Wolf, Francie Sparks, and Russ Keene.
Hikers (10):  Mike, Adena Schutzberg, Dick Williamson, Ilkka Suvanto, Janet Miller, Marge Keene, Robyn Maislin, Sander Nydick, Steve Maislin, and Tom Allen.
Present at lunch (5):  Eli Post, Helen Greitzer, John Springfield, Lindy King, and Susan Grieb.

Today, most of the Wheelers deferred to the chilly weather and went hiking instead of biking, so we were left with only five riders.  Bob Wolf, pushing the envelope on arrival time, was apprehended by the Bedford PD, who were unimpressed by his full rolling stop and issued a stern warning.  This caused him to roll in a bit late, but we still managed to start more or less on time.

I had planned a rest stop at the visitor's center off Monument Street, but it was, alas, closed.  With quick thinking, we found an alternative by riding to the other visitor center in Concord.  There was some concern about the cold, but I stopped for a digit count mid-ride and everyone came up with 20 and seemed happy, so we soldiered on.  Hills were welcome today, since it allowed for a brief warmup.

We explored some newly paved roads in Carlisle, which were a treat, and then for a challenge we took on dreaded Dudley Road whose potholes are legendary.  Since we were in horse country, I suggested we do like the equestrians and post over the really bad bits.  This must have worked, since there were no flats or other broken bits.  At one point I confessed that the rest of the ride was largely gratuitous, and that, at mile 21, we were only about three miles from the start.  Francie elected to take the shortcut rather than spend another ten miles to get to the same spot.  The rest of us took the long way home.

The hikers were mostly gone by the time we arrived, but there was still plenty of food and a good time was had by all.

Photos here:  https://www.facebook.com/WednesDayWheelers/posts/311580479030536
Route here:  http://ridewithgps.com/trips/3924602

Report by Jack Donohue.

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HIKE REPORT

Nine of us started on a cold hike from the DonoGrieb abode.  It wasn't easy, but we all finally realized that to hike we had to leave the house.  Going into the woods from the back yard, we immediately passed the now abandoned home of the trolls, an interesting concrete and stone foundation with some creative modern art that some might call graffiti.  There was also a second ruin, apparently once a troll mother-in-law dwelling.  Just a minute or two beyond the ruins, we found the trail, which once supported a narrow-gauge railroad that went to the North Pole.  We turned left (south) and after only a minute or so, we became ten as Sander joined us.  Better late than never is not a universal truth, but it does apply to Sander.  We completed the first five minutes of the hike by pondering four large structures on the trail.  Apparently part of a culvert, we came up with no complete explanation for their hefty and tall construction.

We proceeded to head south on the trail as a pack (to keep warm), to explore, as side hikes, the Buehler Ponds, Fawn Lake, and the Murray York Conservation Area.  No mud today, as it was under twenty degrees.  As we entered the pond area, I was alerted by the group messenger (Adena) that we needed to go faster so as to warm up.  I got the hint and will not blame the messenger.

The Buehler Ponds were small but scenic, and seemed to be separated by a dam.  Steve threatened to go for a swim, but his bluff was called.  At Fawn Lake, there was a heated discussion as to whether the ducks were real, real but frozen, decoys, or just discarded cantaloupes.  This was never resolved, but the heat of the discussion was comforting.

The York area was nice - nondescript with hills and trees, streams and boardwalks.  The only significance I can think of was we had a group bathroom break there, which provided some relief except from the cold.  Because we had been moving fast and rumor had it that the lasagna was not yet hot, we extended the trek south on the main (rail bed) trail to Pine Hill Road, where we made an embarrassing U-turn (men don't U-turn) and headed back past the troll houses and into the DonoGrieb back yard. 

Hot cider, cold beer, lasagna, and heat were all welcomed and appreciated.  Also appreciated was the fact that the lunch was not served and eaten on the patio.

GPS maven Tom says that we wandered 5.0 miles.  You can find details at  WW rail trail hike  

Thanks to Tom for the GPS, Jack for the GPS lesson and familiarization tour, and Ilkka for sweeping.  A big thank you to Jack and Susan for hosting a great day of food, exercise, and hypothermia.  Happy New Year, too!

More on the Trail:

The Bedford Narrow Gauge Rail-Trail trail follows the bed of the 1877 Billerica & Bedford Railroad, the nation's first 2-foot narrow gauge railway.  In 1885, the Boston & Lowell Railroad built a standard gauge extension of the line.  The Lexington Branch served five passenger stations: Bedford Springs, South Billerica, Turnpike, Billerica, and Bennett Hall.  The railroad abandoned the extension in 1962, and the town of Bedford purchased it to create the trail.  See  Bedford Narrow Gauge Rail-Trail | Massachusetts Trails | TrailLink.com

Report by Mike Hanauer.

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HIKE ANNOUNCEMENT

WED, January 7, 2015, From Walden to Flint
Hike Leader:  Janet Miller, 978 610 2524 (home), 781 820 252 (cell), janetcmiller@mac.com
5-6 miles, 10:00 am start from Walden Pond parking lot, 915 Walden Street, Concord, MA

Hike description:  We will meet in the parking lot by Walden Pond, close to the replica of Thoreau's cabin.  From there we will turn our backs on Walden Pond and hike up Pine Hill, before descending towards Flint's Pond.  On the far side of the pond, we will pass through the DeCordova Museum's sculpture park (where we can make use of their restrooms, as well as look at the sculptures).  Then we continue through woods and fields back to the start.

There is snow on the ground and there is a chance of more on Tuesday night, so bring traction devices (Microspikes) for your boots.

After the hike, we will meet for lunch at the Trail's End Cafe, 97 Lowell Road, Concord.

Directions:  Heading west on Rte 2, take a left onto Rte 126 in Concord.  The entrance to the parking lot is about 0.4 miles on the left.

Parking is free if you are over 62 and have a pass for MA State parks.  Otherwise, parking is $5.  If you do not have a pass, you can obtain one at the Walden Pond office, located next to the Store at Walden Pond, which is a short distance south of the parking lot entrance.

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Upcoming rides:

January 14, Jean Zaniewski, winter walk
January 21, TBD, TBA 
January 28, Tony & Margie Lee, Winter Treats
February 4, John Nilsson, Mt. Wachusett hike
February 11, TBS, TBA

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Wednesday Wheeler 2014 Scoreboard:

Number of rides/activities:  44
Average & of riders:  25.5
Total rider-miles:  30,964

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Helen Greitzer, 508 878 6988, <helengreitzer@hotmail.com>

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