Monday, September 26, 2022

ABS (Acton, Boxboro, Stow) ride - September 21, 2022

 RIDE REPORT


Wednesday, 21 September 2022, ABS (Acton, Boxboro, Stow) ride

Ride Leader:  Ken Hablow

37 miles, 10:00 am start from Wayland, MA


Riders - 37 mi - (18):  Ken, Annemarie Altman, Bill Umphrey, Bob Wolf, Curt Dudley-Marling, Dale Ferguson, David Cooper, Dom Jorge,  Frank Aronson, Gary Williams, Gene Ho, John Aslanian, John Ho, Rick Lawrence, Rochelle Holman, Sue Amsel, Wing Chow, and first-timer Bill Furman.

Present at ride start:  Helen Greitzer.


On the last day of summer, and the International Day of Peace (who knew?) fifteen of us started out on a 37-mile rolling ride, mostly on quiet back roads through Concord, Acton Stow, and touching into Boxboro.  We met Curt and David in West Concord, and Rick in South Acton, to make a group of eighteen.


I offered a faster group to try to split the riders, but everyone was more comfortable staying together.  Several of the faster riders went ahead, but always stopped to arrow for the rest of us.  We pretty much stayed together, mostly within eyesight of the leader.  We had two planned “personal hygiene” stops - our favorite fire station in South Acton and the tennis courts on Elm Street in West Acton.  It was interesting to see how many times cars stopped at major intersections to let our whole group go through.


Riding back through Concord, several WWs, who either rode to the start or met us en route, left the group to head home.  Four riders stopped at the Twisted Tree CafĂ© in Lincoln center for lunch.  The rest of us took a scenic route back along Old Sudbury Road in Lincoln, past the infamous Ponyhenge, the extensive farm fields of Drumlin Farm, and a flock of free-range turkeys being fattened up for Thanksgiving at Codman Farm.


The day was enjoyable, cloudy with temperatures in the mid-50s.  We even had a Kaz sighting at the top of Strawberry Hill Road.  Thanks to Gene for sweeping and to all those who arrowed.


It was nice seeing Helen at the ride start.


Report by Ken Hablow.







Monday, September 19, 2022

Cape Ann Loop rides - September 14, 2022

 RIDE REPORTS


Wednesday, 14 September 2022, Cape Ann Loop rides

Ride Leaders:  John Aslanian & Clyde Kessel

67 miles, 9:30 am start from Wenham, MA

32 miles, 10:00 am start from Gloucester, MA


Riders - 67 mi - (8):  John, Frank Aronson, Gene Ho, Gerry Sheetoo, Marie Keutmann, Richard Vignoni, Sue Amsel, and first-timer Frank Scibilia.

Riders - 32 mi - (7):  Clyde, Betsy Harper, Dale Ferguson, Gary Williams, Ken Weber, Melissa Norton, and Steve Venizelos.

Present at ride start:  Helen Greitzer.


The Perfect Storm, the movie, is based on one of the most horrific weather days in the history of the Gloucester fishing community.  A fishing boat set out on that day, never to return to port.


Fortunately, today was the "Perfect Cycling Day!”  Eight strong riders set out from Gordon College, on a beautiful day, to enjoy one of the most spectacular coastlines in the world.  We stopped at different coastal spots to take in the views of the Boston skyline, the Gloucester and Rockport coastlines, and all of the lighthouses along the way.  What made the coastal views so special was the way the sunlight glistens off the water this time of year.


After an enjoyable lunch at Willows Rest, we rode inland, past pastures, farms, and an Equestrian Center, on perfectly paved roads as we made our way back to Gordon College.  Eight riders, with big smiles on our faces, returned safely after a wonderful day on our bikes!


I would like to thank Helen Greitzer for her years of dedication and help while being the coordinator of the Wednesday Wheelers.  Richard Vignoni and I were remembering the days when you had to contact Helen, far in advance, to request a spot on the WW ride schedule - to share a favorite local area that you wanted other WWs to experience.  I have experienced so many beautiful places and made many friends and memories over the years - that wouldn't have happened if this club didn't exist.


I would like to thank Richard, Frank, and Sue for helping with navigation, and Richard for pointing out interesting spots along the way, and Gene for sweeping.


Report by John Aslanian.


Yes, it was a fabulous day for cycling along the coast of Gloucester and Rockport.  The group was small and the leader could see the sweep nearly all the time, so we only needed a few arrows for the whole route.


We were treated to views of the ocean and more beaches than I could count.  When we saw the wind turbine with only 2 blades, Gary explained to us that the third blade had fallen off.  The turbine is so old that a replacement blade is no longer available.

The route was really a twisty little maze of passages (all different) which this leader has never led before.  Therefore, we occasionally twisted when we should have turned, and turned when we should have twisted.  It pretty much balanced out in the end.  However, we did accidentally miss most of the Eastern Point section of Gloucester (which is really the southern point).  'Twas a pity, but we did get to lunch two miles early as a result.  Thanks to Gary for calling out some of the turns - just in time so the leader didn’t miss them.

Six of us had a nice lunch together, in spite of all the hornets.

Thanks to Dale for sweeping, as well as to the arrows which we occasionally needed.


Report by Clyde Kessel.

















Monday, September 12, 2022

Drifting through Westport - September 7, 2022

 RIDE REPORT


Wednesday, 7 September 2022, Drifting through Westport

Ride Leader:  Susan Sabin

33 miles, 10:00 am start from Westport, MA


Riders (16):  Susan, Annemarie Altman, Don Buchholtz, Don Mannes, Elsa Lawrence, Frank Aronson, Gene Ho, Gerry Sheetoo, Joe Tavilla, Marie Keutmann, Melissa Norton, Richard Vignoni, Sue Amstel,  Susan Broome, Tom Lawrence, and first-timer Mark Gabrenya.


What a pleasure to have some old and new wheelers join us.  Welcome back to Melissa Norton and Joe Tavilla, and a big hello to first-time rider Mark Gabrenya.


The ride lived up to its description - very rural, quite flat, few gasoline vehicles (but not as few as I had led riders to expect), plus good pavement and great views.  We picnicked at a very civilized pavilion next to a beach, just on the far side of the bridge outside of South Dartmouth.  Unfortunately, a bunch of busy bees joined us.


This was almost half way, and by majority opinion, the best was yet to come - more views, more farms, glimpses of rivers, bay, and, instead of the mega mansions of metrowest, a good sprinklIng of very modest homes, some of them appearing to be handmade log cabins.  Much of the way we cycled in a very light mist, with the sky darkening in one direction and lightening in another.  But no real rain ever fell.  We pretty much stayed together, with enough gaps for safety.  No incidents.  A happy group returned to Drift Road at mile 33.5.


Thanks to Elsa for sweeping.


Report by Susan Sabin.