Hollis in Summer - July 26, 2017

RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 26 July 2017, Hollis in Summer
Ride Leader:  Lindy King
34 miles, 10:00 am start from Nashua River Rail Trail parking area, Groton, MA

Riders (25):  Lindy, Bob Wadsworth, Bob Wolf, Butch Pemstein, Chuck McWilliams, Dave Balaban, Dick Lawrence, Elizabeth Wicks, Everett Briggs, Herb Kavet, Judith McMichael, Julie Dodd, Kaz Zelny, Ken Hablow, Kevin Donnelly, Marc Baskin, Martha Soper, Maureen Nelting, Pat Brennan, Robert Wilson, Rochelle Holman, Stuart Kaufman, Susan Sabin, and first-timers Nancy Cole and Nebojsa Miskovic.

Starting off on a 34 mile “Summer in Hollis” ride on a cool morning, the Wednesday Wheelers had a gorgeous day of temps in the 70’s and glorious sunshine after a couple of days of rain.  It felt great to be on the bike with some new friends and old ones, too.  We had a great start down Long Hill Road in Groton and, rounding the corner onto Hill Road, I got the call from Butch, our capable sweep, about a mechanical.  All was under control and they’d be coming along at any minute.  The group was very good about stopping to wait for an update from Butch and, mostly, pulling off the quiet road.  We continued into Pepperell for a wake-up ride UP Shirley Street with its bucolic views.  The human arrows were plentiful and riders were fighting it out for their turns - a welcome event for any WW ride leader!  The scenery got even more beautiful once we rode into Hollis, up Worcester Road.  For a change of pace we proceeded down Blood Road and then up Dow Road, passing open green fields until we got to Monument Square where we took a break, with restrooms at the Town Hall and snacks and drinks from the Market, at the half-way point.  We had a long break, socializing and waiting for Kaz.

Once he returned, we set off DOWN Broad Street over to some new side roads in Hollis.  When we got to Depot Road, we found that it was being repaved and everyone waited quietly until we were asked to ride on the wrong side of the road up to the traffic light.  The construction crew even said “have a nice ride!”  From this point the group really moved along the open roads onto Gregg Road in Dunstable where we crossed over Rte 113 and pace-lined up to Groton-Dunstable HS.  From there it was Reedy Meadow Road meandering downhill, where we zig-zagged onto Sand Hill Road and an upward finish on Common Street.

So many riders commented on how much they liked the route - I think this one is a keeper.  Several people went to Filho’s Cucina for lunch, dining al fresco.  Marc Baskin remoted from home and bagged a century for the day.  Sadly our intrepid photographer did not attend the ride, so we are without photographs, but have plenty of memories!

Many thanks to the plentiful human arrows and to Butch for sweeping.

Report by Lindy King.