Witches and Pitches 2.0 - June 23, 2021

RIDE REPORT

 

Wednesday, 23 June 2021, Witches and Pitches 2.0

Ride Leaders:  Lindy King & Roy Westerberg

29 and 39 miles, 10:00 am start from Groton, MA

Riders - 29 mi (7): Roy, Aliza Edwards, Bernie Mango, Bill Widnall, Jim Whinfield, Kaz Zelny, and Rochelle Holman.

Riders - 39 mi (7): Lindy, Beth Rosenzweig, Dan Bertko, Dave Balaban, Frank Aronson, Gene Ho, and Greg Stathis.

On a beautiful, cool, sunny June day (what is so rare as a day in June?), seven of us set out a few minutes after the long-ride group. We were honored to have Bill Widnall, the founder of the Wednesday Wheelers, as one of our members.

Since both rides followed the same route for the first ten miles, we met up in Hollis center.  Lindy had laid out a beautiful route over mostly rural roads with light traffic, including about ¾ mile on hard-packed dirt.  It was a lovely day, and we passed many homes with flowers in bloom in their front yards, but also many sections of woods with full foliage, and many chipmunks and squirrels scampering away as we passed.  We mostly stayed pretty close together, and only needed arrows occasionally.  We proceeded over the route without incident. Many of our group commented on what a lovely route it was.

Three of us went to have lunch at Salt and Light, a couple of blocks from the start, but found that they were only open for takeout.  Since we didn’t have any good place figured out to get together and dine, and didn’t want to stand on the sidewalk waiting until our orders were ready, we called it quits and went our separate ways.

Thanks to those who arrowed and, especially, to Kaz for sweeping the entire route.

Report by Roy Westerberg.

On the same beautiful, cool, sunny June day, six of us set out a few minutes ahead of the short ride group.  Being a congenial and compatible group, we generally rode together and, when needed, Beth would arrow and Gene would sweep.

We climbed up to Hollis the “quick” way, taking in the lovely Dow Road in Hollis and adding another climb.  There we met up with the short ride group, hung out briefly, said our hellos and then goodbyes.

We passed Fulcini Vineyards on Pine Hill Road and it was generally gentle ups and downs until we got off of Witches Spring Road onto Rte 122 (briefly).  We then took a right turn and looked up at the steep climb onto Hayden Road which took us over to the dirt part of the route on Rocky Pond Road.  There was a screaming descent into Brookline.  At this point Greg decided he was going to discover new dirt roads in Mason and beyond and rode on his own to Wachusett Station.  The rest of us did some climbing up to Pepperell and as we approached the covered bridge, Dave caught up to us (having been late to the start and rode until he rendezvoused with us).

Then we were six again.  It was a pleasant ride back through Groton to the Nashua River rail trail where we had started the ride.   Several of us stayed and chatted for quite some time after the ride.  A good time was had by all.  The consensus:  it was worth the drive out to Groton for riding on some beautiful, traffic free, scenic roads.

Thanks to Beth for arrowing and to Gene for sweeping.

Report by Lindy King.

 

Sherborn to Norfolk - June 16, 2021

RIDE REPORT

 

Wednesday, 16 June 2021, Sherborn to Norfolk

Ride Leader:  Alan Cantor

34 miles, 10:00 am start from Sherborn, MA

Riders (19): Alan, Al Berardi, Barry Nelson, Bernie Mango, Betsy Harper, Bill Widnall, Butch Pemstein, Dave Balaban, David Kaiser, Don Buchholtz, Ellen Dirgins, Gary Smiley, Gary Williams, James Hsia, Linda Nelson, Lindy King, Rochelle Holman, Tom Allen, and first-timer Wes DeNering.

Present at ride start:  Helen Greitzer.

Great people, great weather, great route.  A big thank you to all the arrows who cooperated and did their jobs impeccably, and a huge thank you to Butch for sweeping.

Report by Alan Cantor.

 

Bubbling Brook Ride - June 9, 2021

RIDE REPORT

 

Wednesday, 9 June 2021, Bubbling Brook Ride

Ride Leaders:  Dmitry Gorenburg & Susan Sabin

28 or 45 miles, 10:00 am start from Chickering Fields, Dover, MA

Riders (19): Dmitry, Susan, Alan Cantor, Barry Nelson, Bernie Mango, Betsy Harper, Bob Wadsworth, Dave Balaban, Don Mannes, Gary Williams, Gerry Sheetoo, Joel Bauman, Julia Zhogina, Linda Nelson, Lindy King, Ray Komow, Tom Allen, Wing Chow, and first timer Keith Gilbert.

Present at ride start: Helen Greitzer.

My concerns overnight about thunderstorms had dissipated by ride start, but the heat was certainly an issue.  Nevertheless, nine people joined the long ride.  The first fourteen miles were smooth, with the group staying pretty close to each other.  Thanks to Ray for sweeping and to Alan, Lindy, and Wing for doing the bulk of the arrowing.  We regrouped at the Millis police station, at which point two riders and the sweep decided that the heat was too much and went off on their own, following the short route.  The remaining six riders decided to try to ride together without the benefit of a sweep.  This may have been an error, as we rapidly split into two groups, with the ride leader falling behind the faster riders.  Fortunately, everyone had the route on their GPS devices.

Most of us eventually reconvened at Bubbling Brook, where we met up with the shorter ride group.  Some of us had ice cream, while others chose to press ahead to beat the heat.  With the faster riders having departed, I joined the remaining short riders, led by Susan, and took the more direct route back to our cars.

Thanks to everyone for coming out and braving the heat.  Special thanks to Susan for volunteering to lead the short ride, despite the somewhat extreme heat.

Report by Dmitry Gorenburg.

The weather forecast was very changeable, up to and through the ride.  However, nineteen riders showed up at the ride start, ten of whom took the short option.

  
As leader, I invited the group to go up Glen Road at their own speed, but I was not happy when only the sweep was waiting at the top of the hill.  (Not cool guys . . . . .).  Eventually, all but one (who had a time constraint) were reunited.

  

The long and short groups did overlap briefly before arriving at Bubbling Brook, where many indulged in long, cool drinks.  From there, it was an easy hop back to home base.

Thanks to all for tolerating my slow pace (12.6 mph), and to Dmitry for suggesting great modifications to my planned short route.

Report by Susan Sabin.

 

Concord via Heard Pond and Callahan State Parks - June 2, 2021

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 2 June 2021, Concord via Heard Pond and Callahan State Parks

Ride Leader: Linda Nelson, with assistance from Barry

36 or 42 miles, 10:00 am start from Burchard Park, Weston, MA

Riders (29): Linda, Barry, Adam Walpert, Al Berardi, Alan Cantor, Allison Easton, Bernie Mango, Betsy Harper, Bob Wadsworth, Butch Pemstein, David Wean, Don Mannes, Gary Williams, Gene Ho,Gerry Sheetoo, Glenn Pransky, Joel Bauman, Kaz Zelny, Lindy King, Rich Taylor, Sally Chapman, Sid Kadish, Stan Kay, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin,and first-timers Betsy Kimball,Catherine Widgery, Lynn DeWitt, and Terry Snyder.

Present at ride start: Helen Greitzer.

June 2ndmarked the start of the 2021 post-pandemic Wednesday Wheeler rides. It had been 448 days since the last WW ride and the 29 riders were eager to chat and ride with one another on a CRW group ride without masks and social distancing. It had been too long since we had seen each other. We all talked about how good it felt to be participating in a “normal” group ride.

Two ride options were offered: 36 or 42 miles. The short ride, with human arrows, was led by Linda Nelson and swept by Barry Nelson. It started at Burchard Park in Weston and went through the scenic rolling hills of the western suburbs - Weston, Wayland, Sudbury, Framingham, Concord, and Lincoln. The longer ride added the scenic hills of Carlisle.

There was no lunch stop due to the many restaurant closures in the western suburbs, as well as lingering health concerns about indoor eating. So the group had a snack stop in Concord in the Main Street Café alley or the Haute Café Alley before regrouping and returning to Weston. A special shout out to Stan Kay, who repeatedly volunteered to be the human arrow, and a “boo” to the human arrows who, even after listening to a thorough explanation of the human arrow concept, left their positions before the sweep passed by.

Report by Barry Nelson.