WED, June 6, 2018, Deer Island
Ride Leader: Tom Allen
36 miles (in an urban setting with some interesting bike paths), 10:00 am start from Mayor Danehy Park, Cambridge, MA
Riders - (16): Tom, Adena Schutzberg, Andy Brand, Bob Wadsworth, Butch Pemstein, David Fay, Don Mannes, Harriet Fell, Jeff Kushner, Jeff Smith, Jim Campen, Rochelle Holman, Stuart Kaufman, Susan Sabin, Veronica Vedensky, and Wing Chow.
The day started cool and gray. A few of us were in long pants and all of us were wearing windbreaker tops. Starting off through Cambridge and Somerville we rode to the current eastern end of the Somerville Community Path and took the ramp up to Lowell Street. This being the season for road construction, we detoured onto Trull Street and on up to Broadway.
We then pedaled along the bike path, sandwiched between Rte 93 and the Mystic River, where we saw a great blue heron and numerous black-crowned night herons. Crossing the river, we entered the Mystic River Reservation where we encountered more construction. Paths are being re-bedded and prepped for paving, forcing us to do a bit of dirt biking.
From the Wellington Station parking lot, we headed north and intercepted the Northern Strand Bikeway that brought us through Malden and into Revere. Construction once again forced a detour on our way to Revere Beach, where we posed for the group photo. Meanwhile, Wing Chow who had missed the muster at the start managed to catch up just in time to be in the picture.
By the time we reached Deer Island, the sun appeared and some layers were shed. The ride around the perimeter of Deer Island was very scenic and pleasant. Only a brief whiff of sewage from the treatment plant met our noses as we achieved the appropriate alignment with the light sea breeze.
The return route brought us through East Boston and over a white-knuckle grid deck bridge to Chelsea. The rather idyllic Commandants Way in the Admiral Hill section spit us out onto Beecham Street where we enjoyed the company of very large trucks and some moonscape-like potholes. As we left this area we were able to get an up-close view of the new casino construction.
The rest of the way back was uneventful and we lost a couple of riders along the way who sought more direct routes back to their individual homes. Six of us enjoyed a Mexican lunch at Jose's, conveniently located hard by Danehy park.
All my warnings about urban riding seem to have brought out a hardy group that thoroughly enjoyed the ride and adventure. We did the entire ride without arrows, keeping the group together. Thanks to Stuart Kaufman for serving as sweep and keeping us safe and in tow.
Report by Tom Allen.
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