Saugus Iron Works and Nahant - June 12, 2019

RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 12 June 2019, Saugus Iron Works and Nahant
Ride Leader:  Tom Allen
38 miles, 10:00 am start from Sandy (Shannon) Beach, Winchester, MA

Riders (22): Tom, Adena Schutzberg, Aliza Edwards, Bruce Barnett, Bruce Lederer, Butch Pemstein, Carol Hartigan, Dan Bertko, Dave Balaban, Don Mannes, Doug Hobkirk, Gerry Sheetoo, Greg Stathis, Kaz Zelny, Nancy Cahn, Patty Grasso, Randy Stern, Richard Fortier, Sally Chapman, Steve Robins, Susan Sabin, and Veronica Vedensky.

We couldn't have ordered up a finer day to ride - bright blue skies, warm but not hot, and gentle breezes.  Start was delayed a bit when a rider noticed a flat tire as he mounted his bike.  Fortunately, we were able to assemble a small enough committee to deal with it. The time that the repair took enabled a late-comer to join the group.

We started out from Winchester, through Stoneham and Melrose, where the group was split by a passing commuter train, and on to Saugus.  A very educational stop at the Saugus Iron Works site was of interest to all thanks to a dynamic presentation by a National Park Service docent.

We then rode on to Lynn.  (How many of you have said, "Let's ride to Lynn today."?)  Anyway, that brought us to the Nahant Causeway and a ride past a very busy and well populated Nahant Beach.  The ride around the peninsula brought us to two lovely parks - Bailey's Point and East Point.

After that a small number of riders became concerned with the time, electing to leave the group and head back to the start.  That involved a change in sweep - Kaz Zelny relieving Carol Hartigan.  The ride back took us through some drab neighborhoods, but a stop at Kane's Donuts perked things up a bit when Butch bought a donut big enough to share.

The remainder of the return was pleasant enough on the Northern Strand Bikeway bringing us to Medford.  Between the earlier breakaway group and others who wanted to ride directly back to the start, that left a scant half dozen of us for lunch at Snappy Patty's in their cozy outdoor patio. 

Thanks to both Carol and Kaz for sweep duties, and to Adena as safety monitor, herder, and all around border collie - big help.  :)  Thanks also to the numerous arrowers who jumped in without prompting to keep us all going around the proper corners.

Report by Tom Allen.