Southie-Lexington - August 23, 2023

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 23 August 2023, Southie-Lexington

Ride leader:  Gary Williams

45 miles, 10:00 am start from South Boston, MA

Riders (11):  Gary, Adam Walpert, Bill Perry, Craig Tulig, David Goldberg, Frank Aronson, Gene Ho, Susan Broome, Tod Cochran, Zichen Niu, and first-timer Neil MacGaffey.

Ten riders left Castle Island State Park under a sunny sky with comfortable temps.  After working our way north, through the Seaport and the North End, we met up with Adam at the USS Constitution in Charlestown.  We continued to work our way north into Somerville and Assembly Row, and turned west along the Mystic River to Medford.

After a brief biological break at the Concon Band Shell, we continued west and entered the Alewife Reservation.  We then cycled on the Minuteman Trail to Lexington, where our crew paused for a break at Rancatore's Ice Cream, after which we turned south towards Waltham and dealt with two construction detours on Waltham Avenue.

Once in Waltham, we rode along the Charles River Greenway into Watertown, and then onto the Dr. Paul Dudley White Trail along the Charles River and back into Boston.  Massachusetts Avenue ultimately proved to be the disruptor, as a last-second detour to avoid traffic resulted in the group getting separated from two riders who were, understandably, unhappy about having to catch up.  In the end, everyone made it back to the start.

Thanks to Susan for sweeping.

Report by Gary Williams.