RIDE REPORTS
Wednesday, 24 May 2023,Annual Cape Ann Loop rides
Ride Leaders: Zach Woods, assisted by Clyde Kessel, and Selig Saltzman
67 miles, 9:30 am start from Wenham, MA and
32 miles, 10:00 am start from Gloucester, MA
Bikers - 67 mi (6): Zach, Clyde, Craig Tulig, Ken Weber, Lauren Hefferon, and Renee Rees.
Bikers - 32 mi (16): Selig, Dale Ferguson, Dick French, Frank Aronson, Frank Scibilia, Joan Fenster, Joanne Samuels, John Ho, Linda Moraski, Marie Keutmann, Martin Hemler, Matt Osber, Richard Vignoni, Steve Venizelos, Susan Broome, and first-timer Patricia McCaffrey.
On Ride with GPS the route is called Cape Ann WW 2023 XL, and it was excellently plotted by Richard Vignoni to provide a great and diverse tour of Cape Ann, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester, Rockport, Essex, and Hamilton. The ride includes a bit of everything from coastal views, through cities and towns, around or over rivers, and past bogs and horse farms.
Lovely, bright sun tempered what started as cool temperatures and helped to keep the sometimes-strong coastal winds from being too chilly. We managed to avoid missing nearly all of the occasional sudden and quick turns. That said, we did miss a bit of the route out to the Eastern Point Lighthouse, but we made up for it with a bonus stop at Ocean Alliance (http://www.oceanalliance.org/
Everyone enjoyed the lunch stop at Willow Rest in Gloucester, with some picking up one of their tasty sandwiches. The energy that lunch provided was welcomed by all as we still had nearly thirty miles to ride.
We made up some more distance when we had to find an alternate, longer route to avoid the closed bridge out to Conomo Point, but we were still able to catch the great views which that spot offers.
The ride went very smoothly from start to finish with everyone staying close together and arrows only needed occasionally. Thanks to Clyde for serving as sweep, and to the folks who acted as arrows when needed.
Report by Zach Woods.
The core ride group was larger than expected, because several riders, who had planned to do the long ride, decided it would end too late. We stopped at various sites of scenic, historic, or cultural interest, and enjoyed views of the Boston skyline and the NH coast.
A few riders ate on benches next to the Blynman Canal in Gloucester, having bought lunch at Poseidon’s (across the street) or at a lobster place in town.
Although there were no mechanical issues, there was one stationary fall. Thank you to the several arrows and, especially, to Susan Broome for sweeping the entire ride.
Report by Selig Saltzman.
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