Breakheart Reservation - August 14, 2019

RIDE REPORT

WED, 14 August 2019, Breakheart Reservation
Ride Leader:  Tom Allen
30 miles, 10:00 am start from Sandy Beach parking area, Winchester, MA

Riders (19): Tom, Adena Schutzberg, Allison Easton, Bill Widnall, Bob Wadsworth, Bruce Lederer, Butch Pemstein, Gary Williams, Geoff Allard, Greg Stathis, Herb Kavet, James Hsia, Margaret Coughlin, Patty Grasso, Roy Westerberg, Sally Chapman, Susan Sabin, and first-timers, Dave Carlson and Frank Aronson.

(Besides myself, we had the following remoting riders: Adena, Bill, Bruce, Butch, Greg, and Frank!)

It was a moderate and pleasant day with an easterly breeze bringing in some moisture that occasionally produced a couple of drops of spritz (not really worth noting).

We headed north through Winchester to Horn Pond and its car-free paved and very scenic way, where we stopped briefly to take in the view over the water.  Then back to the streets through Woburn toward Wakefield.

In Wakefield, we crossed a bikes-only bridge over RR tracks and made our way around Lake Quannapowitt.  Then over to the Northeast Metro Tech school where an entrance to the reservation is located.

We then entered the Breakheart reservation area and tackled its roller coaster-like paths.  These are paved paths which feature some short, but strenuous, uphills and exhilarating downhills, as well as lovely scenery.  We did two loops over different paths, separated by a stop at the park headquarters facilities (see photos).

Leaving the Reservation, we followed the Lynn Fells Parkway toward the Fells and negotiated a construction site by riding past the "Road Closed" signs and going a short distance on the sidewalk.  We then pedaled up Ravine Road and continued down Woodland Road.

Those of us who opted for lunch split off from the rest of the group at a point close enough to the end so no one would get lost.  Six of us headed back toward Winchester center via the new Tri-Community Bikeway and had a pleasant and leisurely meal at First House Pub in Winchester.

Thanks to Adena for so ably sweeping and to the many arrows who spontaneously volunteered.

The GPS route was omitted from the ride announcement, so riders had to pay attention to the arrows and other cues.  This seems to have resulted in a particularly ordered ride and a bit of a throwback to the old WW days.  Anyway, here is the route in retrospect:

     https://ridewithgps.com/routes/25725235

Report by Tom Allen.