Westford in Spring - March 27, 2019

Wednesday, 27 March 2019, Westford in Spring
Ride Leader:  Ken Hablow
37 miles, 10:00 am start from North Bridge parking lot, Concord, MA

Riders (20):  Ken, Bernie Flynn, Bob Wadsworth, Bob Wolf, Butch Pemstein, Curt Dudley-Marling, Dan Krechmer, David Cooper, David Fay, Dom Jorge, Frank Hubbard, Gerry Sheetoo, Greg Trerotola, Judith McMichael, Judy Trerotola, Marc Baskin, Maria Noya, Rich Taylor, Richard Lawrence, and Selig Saltzman.

The first WW ride of 2019 was, well, nice and uneventful.  We left Concord and made our first stop at Great Brook, where we picked up two riders who had been late at the start and had caught up.  From there we rode through Chelmsford, Westford, Acton, and back to Concord, with only a couple of short stops to collect people, although we were not spread too far out (or so I thought).

We managed to lose only two riders near the end - they missed a turn and took a short cut back to Concord.  The turn was rough and riders had slowed way down.  They were bunched up a bit and the arrow probably thought everyone was through.

There was bright sun all day with very light wind.  However, the humidity was in the 25% range which is quite dry, so any wind and/or moving on the bike made the air feel cold.  The temperature was just above freezing when we started and rose all the way to 42.  It wasn't until we got back to Concord that the wind finally changed direction.

Thanks to Butch for sweeping and to all who arrowed. Bob Wadsworth joined us four miles from the end, as he was recovering from pneumonia.

Report by Ken Hablow.

Hidden Harvard Hike - March 20, 2019

HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 20 March 2019, Hidden Harvard Hike

Hike Leader:  David Fay

~2.5 hours, 10:00 am start from the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge parking lot, Harvard, MA

Hikers (9): David, Don Mannes, Jack Mroczkowski, Kaz Zelny, Patrick Ward, Rochelle Holman, Roy Westerberg, Sally Chapman, and Susan Sabin.

In gorgeous weather and warming temperatures, we left the Oxbow parking lot equipped with both waterproof boots and microspikes - good thing because we needed them.

As we walked north on the old Fort Devens tank road we heard stories about real-life tanks coming down the trail at 40 mph; about Johnny Appleseed, who was born nearby.  We also crossed the Union Turnpike which was constructed in 1805.  After a perilous pond crossing, we reached Route 2 and bushwacked east on a deer trail to the nearby 1840's railroad tracks, where Kaz discovered an ancient telegraph pole.

We made made our way south on the railroad tracks, keeping a careful eye out for the train from Worcester (which passed us later).  We then crossed over to the 1650 county road from Groton to Lancaster which brought us to the Fruitlands farmhouse (see photo) where Louisa May Alcott spent the winter of 1843.  Kaz was awarded the hike door prize of an antler from a 3-point buck, which he is holding in the photo.

From there we proceeded south on a mid-1700s road to the remains of the Phineas Willard farm, deep in the woods, and finally on an undated farm road back to our cars.

Most of us went to lunch upstairs at the Harvard General Store where Scott, the owner, told us how the acoustics of the room, which were truly excellent, had been designed by a guy who was once the soundman for Jimi Hendrix.  We also heard about Sally's recent trip to Austria and Pat's trip to Norway.

Report by David Fay.

Hike around Ponkapoag Pond in Blue Hills Reservation - March 13, 2019

HIKE REPORT


Wednesday, March 13, 2019, Winter hike around Ponkapoag Pond in Blue Hills Reservation
Hike Leaders:  Elsa and Tom Lawrence, 671-631-2334(c), etlaw144@gmail.com
4.6 miles, optional additional 0.8 mile in and out in cedar bog, 10:00 am start from Ponkapoag Golf Course parking lot, 2173 Washington St., Canton, MA 02021

Hikers (14): Elsa, Tom, Barbara Jacobs,Ted Nyder, Barbara Martin, Marie Keutmann,
Gerry Sheetoo, Marjorie Lee, Tony Lee, Susan Sabin, William Feiring, Rochelle Holman, Margaret Coughlin, and John Riley.

As we made our way from the parking lot to the trail around the pond, we passed a group collecting maple sap to be used to make maple syrup for the upcoming festival at Brookwood Farm on March 23 & 24. When we reached the frozen snow section, most hikers put on their Micro spikes making the walk over the ice and snow easier. At about the half way point, two hikers with a time constraint made their way back to the cars on their own while the rest of the group walked a more leisurely pace and covered the extra 0.8 miles in and out of the bog. This was a highlight for some. Here the group photo was taken. The weather was perfect with clear skies, little wind, and temperatures reaching the 40's.  We were happy to be able to show most of the group an area they weren't familiar with.

Eleven of us had planned to go to Pho 29 for lunch. When I called to tell them we were on our way, the woman said she was by herself and wouldn't be able to accommodate us. Gerry suggested Mai Place where we all enjoyed different Asian dishes.

“Roller Coaster” hike - March 6, 2019

HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 6 March 2019, “Roller Coaster” hike, October Farm conservation area, Concord

Hike Leader:  Jack Mroczkowski
Participants: Rochelle Holman, Margie and Tony Lee, Greg Stathis, William Feirling, Richard Fortier, Patrick Ward, Susan Sabin, David Fay, Julie Dodd,
Appx 2.5 miles, but with 6 to 8 inches of snow and many short hills.

We met at North Bridge Parking lot, Concord in order to car pool a short distance to the limited parking at October farm. A few people did not bring snow shoes, but they seemed so enthusiastic that it was hard not to grant them waivers.

At the hike parking lot our cars had to take the last three handicapped spots !  However, we firmly believed that these spots were very unlikely to be occupied considering the snow conditions… but you never know, we took a risk.

The hike was quite eclectic.  The variety of pleasant scenery included ponds, the Concord river, tall conifers, and several small hills which were fun scampering up and down.

Where we broke trail in the snow, the snow shoes were very useful, but in other places the trail had already been well used, so the people without snow shoes had it even easier than people with snow shoes.

Eight people turned up for a pleasant lunch at Verrill Farms.

Wellesley's Longfellow Pond to Newton Upper Falls - February 27, 2019

HIKE REPORT

Date: February 27, 2019
Wellesley's Longfellow Pond to Newton Upper Falls
Participants: Barbara Martin, David Fay, Elsa Lawrence, Jack Mroczkowski, Janet Miller, Margie Lee, Rochelle Holman, Tom Lawrence and first timers Gadi and Pnina Steiner.  Leader, Susan Sabin

Once again, Wellesley and Newton surprised some home-grown Wheelers by the existence of so many interconnecting trails.  After circumnavigating Longfellow pond we followed an esker across an aquifer to Needham.  We were then forced onto city streets for about .1/8 of a mile in order to pass under route 128.  Now in Newton Upper Falls with the Charles River running behind the buildings south of us, we admired some very old houses, some of which likely served as pre-industrial mills.  One, the "Petit" house, dated 1835, is my favorite.

We then ducked onto the Hemlock Gorge trails and those of us wearing microspikes were able to follow a trail up and down and over a little bridge, then around the gorge to experience the falls close up.  We played under the arches of the bridge, testing echoes, before climbing back up to the village via an impressive staircase.  Now, with microspikes off, we continued downhill to Dunn Gaharin's to meet the non-microspikes contingent.  All(!) hikers enjoyed a very convivial meal at the restaurant. 
We more or less reversed course home and arrived at the parking lot by about 2PM.

Report by Susan Sabin