A Bike Ride from Revolution Hall - April 17, 2024

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 17 April 2024, A Bike Ride from Revolution Hall

Ride Leader:  Gene Ho

33.2 miles, 11:00 am start from Lexington, MA

Riders (16):  Gene, Barry Nelson, Bill Perry, Bill Widnall, Don Mannes, Frank Aronson, Frank Calabrese, Gerry Sheetoo, John Ho, Julie Dodd, Kim Wach, Linda Nelson, Mark Friedman, Susan Sabin, Zach Woods, and first-timer Scott Mandell.

All riders registered and, shockingly, actually showed up.  And, on time too!  Maybe the venue had something to do with this - a brew pub with a fan base that includes many CRW members.

Bill Widnall biked to the start with sad news - he's sold his Mazda RX-7 - once an offbeat, quirky sports car with an unorthodox engine, but now a serious collectible.

An uneventful start became mildly eventful when a loose fender started mouthing off at its owner by imitating a baseball card in the spokes.  As we all learn, sooner or later, mechanical problems fall into 2 categories:

     1.   Things that move but shouldn't.  Solution - duct tape

     2.  Things that don't move but should.  Solution - WD40

#1 applied in this case.  No one had duct tape, but Don saved the day with a roll of black electrical tape.  A couple of wraps in the right spot and we were underway in silence.

Heading towards our snack stop in Carlisle, some maundered en route, many meandered, and a few of us just moseyed along.  Most made it to Fern’s for a quick 45-minute snack.  A select few, unencumbered by reliable navigation, discovered a few shortcuts through the wilds of Carlisle and arrived early at the pub for a head start on the brews.  Fortunately, they left a bit for the later finishers.

Sheltered souls that many of us are, we were pleased to discover a new, to us, system of trigger warnings - the IBU scale.  No, it's not the International Brotherhood of Undertakers, it's the International Bitterness Unit.  The pub is self-serve and each spigot is labeled with the offering's name, description, ABV, and IBU #.  The higher the IBU number, the more bitter or hoppy it tastes.  Since any scale needs calibration, I personally undertook this effort as a service to the imbibing public.  After a sufficient sample size, I can confidently state that a high IBU number really can overwhelm any other of the beer's attributes.  The pub's management actively encourages advancing the state of the art and urges patrons to determine this for themselves with as many data points as possible.

Report by Gene Ho.

Two Rozzie Rides - April 10, 2024

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 10 April 2024, Two Rozzie Rides

Ride Leader:  David Wean

22 miles, 10:00 am start from Roslindale, MA

 

Riders (5):  David, Cynthia Zabin, Elsa Lawrence, Frank Aronson, and Jim Campen.

Present for two-mile section of ride:  Selig Saltzman.

 

This was a combination of two of the dozen short Rozzie Rides that RozzieBikes has offered as evening rides over the past three summers.  The idea is to show people that "you CAN get there from here" via relatively low-stress routes from our neighborhood.  Emphasis is on bike infrastructure of various types, new facilities, and interesting destinations.

 

“Infra” included a bike/bus lane, sidewalk level cycle tracks, park roads, a wide parkway bike lane resulting from a road diet, traditional off-street bike paths, painted bike lanes (both "protected" and "unprotected"), a pedestrian footbridge, contra-flow bike lanes, a separate bike signal that actually was useful, a closed-off service road, a barrier separating neighborhoods (but permeable by bikes).  

 

The first route took us along much of the Emerald Necklace.  We rode through a slice of the Arnold Arboretum, along the Jamaicaway and Muddy River, and continued over the restored Carlton Street footbridge (where we found Selig waiting for us).  After we crossed the BU Bridge to Cambridge, Jim joined us, and we briefly rode along the Charles, returning to Boston over the Harvard Bridge.  We followed Mass Ave to reach the Southwest Corridor, which led back through Jamaica Plain, back into the Arboretum where we ascended Peters Hill (the second highest point in the city of Boston), and rolled back down to Roslindale Square.  

 

The second route took us up to the Bellevue Hill water tanks (the highest point in Boston), rolling down through Stony Brook Reservation, along some newly paved paths, and eventually reaching one of Boston's urban wilds in Hyde Park.  We returned via the Rozzie Wiggle, a low-stress (and non-hilly) connection between Roslindale and Hyde Park.  

 

Lunch was enjoyed by four of us at Fornax Bakery in Roslindale Square.  

 

This was an unusual ride for the Wednesday Wheelers, in that only one of the riders drove to the ride.  Two riders were local, one rode from home, and two were picked up along the way (one a surprise!). 

 

Report by David Wean.

October Farm spring hike - March 27, 2024

 HIKE REPORT

27 March 2024, October Farm spring hike

Hike Leader:  Jack Mroczkowski

4+ miles, 10:00 am start from Concord, MA

 

Hikers (11):  Jack, Annemarie Altman, Betty Salzberg, David Wean, George Stromberg, Janet Miller, Kristina Leclaire, Lynell Stromberg, Marie Keutmann, Richard Vignoni, and Susan Broome.

 

The trails on this hike meandered through a wide range of scenery:  the Concord River, ponds, trees, and winding paths.  On the first figure-8 loop, we crossed into Brewster Woods - a museum may open there later this year.  On the second loop, everybody summited three small hills, including Rich Vignoni who only a few months ago had major foot surgery.  Kudos to Rich for being so brave!

 

Amongst the wildlife seen were two swans, several Canada geese, and the first mosquito of the season.

 

Report by Jack Mroczkowski.

Photos courtesy of Kristina Leclaire.

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Farrar Pond spring hike - March 20, 2024

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 20 March 2024, Farrar Pond spring hike
Hike Leader:  Marie Keutmann, 617 312 4739, marie.keutmann@gmail.com
~4 miles, 10:00 am start from Lincoln, MA

Hikers (15):  Marie, Annemarie Altman, Barbara Jacobs, Betty Salzberg, George Stromberg, Jack Mroczkowski, Kristina Leclaire, Lynell Stromberg, , Marlene Heroux, Melissa Norton, Mike Hanauer, Peggy Gelin, Phyllis Evan, Susan Sabin, and Ted Nyder.

Marie led fourteen hikers along scenic Farrar Pond.  We took two detours:  one to look at numerous kettle holes, and another to look at a waterfall in a stream that empties into the pond.  Kettle holes are formed by blocks of dead ice left behind by retreating glaciers.  The ice becomes buried in sediment and, when it melts, it leaves a depression called a kettle hole.

Approximately ten hikers had lunch in the greenhouse at Verrill Farm, a few miles away in Concord.

Report by Marie Keutmann.

Group photo courtesy of Kristina Leclaire.

Wayland - Hike the Eskers - March 13, 2024

 HIKE REPORT

 

Wednesday, 13 March 2024, Wayland - Hike the Eskers
Hike Leader: Betty Salzberg

~4.5 miles, 10:00 am start from Wayland, MA

Hikers (15) Betty, Barbara Jacobs, Barbara Pike, Ellen Harvey, Ernie Glickman, George Stromberg, Kristina Leclaire, Lynell Stromberg, Marie Keutmann, Melissa Norton, Mike Hanauer, Patrick Ward, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, and Ted Nyder.

It was a warm and sunny day.  We walked past the large hosta farm where all the potted plants were under white wraps, which made it look like snow from a distance.  We then passed a large house under
construction and walked parallel to the Sudbury River which we could see in the distance.  The Sudbury River is overflowing now and there was more water to look at than usual.

Then we crossed Trout Brook on Oxbow Road and went onto a path (on private land) which is used by many neighbors to get to the Trout Brook Conservation Area.  We immediately climbed onto a high esker with views over a large marsh.  As we hiked along the esker, we saw a couple of impressive kettleholes before descending to cross Sherman's Bridge Road on our way to the next esker in the Castle Hill Conservation Area.

 

After another ascent, we looked down at Schoolhouse Pond.  Hazel Brook feeds Schoolhouse Pond then goes over a dam and under a footbridge before reaching the Sudbury River.  We could not see the river when we were in Castle Hill, but the pond was large and
beautiful.

We then walked back on a different path on the Trout Brook esker.  We also hiked around a peninsula which was surrounded by reeds, before exiting Trout Brook.

We met for post-hike lunch at Verrill Farm in Concord.  Some excitement occurred when a bottle of Verrill’s root beer was mistakenly thought to be a real beer.

Here is a link to the route which was provided by Mike:   https://ridewithgps.com/trips/154326120:

 

Report by Betty Salzberg.

Hopkinton State Park winter hike - March 6, 2024

 HIKE REPORT

 

Wednesday, 6 March 2024, Hopkinton State Park winter hike

Hike Leader:  Ann Northup

~4 miles, 10:00 am start from Hopkinton, MA

 

Hikers (9):  Ann, Barbara Jacobs, Barbara Pike, Betty Salzberg, Kristina Leclaire, Marie Keutmann, Susan Broome, Ted Nyder, and first-timer Ellen Harvey.

 

It was a cloudy, comfortable day to hike Hopkinton State Park.  We started at the Boathouse parking lot.  Beginning on the Foxtrot trail, we hiked the perimeter of the park, following the forested Long Trail.  When we came out of the trees, we passed the kiddie swimming area, public changing facility, and picnic area, and headed to the dam.

While hiking across the dam, we watched the water rushing through the spillway and enjoyed looking down on the nearly dry kiddie area on the eastern/Ashland side of the park, as well as the large, deep reservoir with swimming and boating opportunities on the park's western/Hopkinton side.  We then followed the direct route, hugging the reservoir, back to our cars.

Seven of us went on to Mauro's Village Cafe, in Southborough, for lunch and pleasant conversation.

Report by Ann Northup.

Loop around Ponkapoag Pond winter hike - February 21, 2024

 HIKE REPORT

 

Wednesday, 21 February 2024, Loop around Ponkapoag Pond winter hike

Hike Leaders:  Elsa & Tom Lawrence

~4.5 miles, 10:00 am start from Canton, MA

 

Hikers (17):  Elsa & Tom, Annemarie Altman, Barbara Jacobs, Carol Hartigan, Dan Nelson, Don Mannes, Judy Perrin, Marie Keutmann, Mike Hanauer, Rick Ward, Steve Venizelos, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, Tom Allen, and Zach Woods.

 

It was a lovely sunny, cool day.  We hiked around Ponkapoag Pond starting at the golf course parking lot.  The trail is mostly through woods and follows the shore of the pond.  Along the way, there were great views of the pond and of the Great Blue Hill across the pond, as can be seen from the attached photo.

 

The trail also goes past an AMC camp which is available for use year-round.  We met a woman camper who described her early morning bath in the pond - after breaking through the ice.  There is no running water at the camp and the facilities are minimal.

 

After the hike, sixteen of us had a delicious lunch at Thyme Restaurant in Canton. 



Zach sent this entertaining podcast that focuses on the Blue Hills:

 

     https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-atlas-obscura-podcast/id1555769970?i=1000645819537

 

Report by Elsa Lawrence.

Fairhaven Bay from Sudbury Road winter hike = February 14. 2024

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 14 February 2024, Fairhaven Bay from Sudbury Road winter hike

Hike Leader:  Jack Mroczkowski

~4 miles, 10:00 am start from Concord, MA

Hikers (12):  Jack, Barbara Jacobs, Don Mannes, Janet Miller, Judy Perrin, Julie Dodd, Marie Keutmann, Phyllis Evan, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, and Zach Woods.

Our hike was through an eclectic landscape, with twisting paths and small hills, close to the Sudbury river for the first half.  We stopped several times to admire a landscape covered in places by a dusting of fresh snow - much less than was forecast.  After the Fairhaven Bay overlook we made our way to the top of Fairhaven Hill.  There, we paused near a private skating rink surrounded by a safety buffer.  We noticed several speakers which could provide a musical background for skaters.

Most of us stopped at Verrill Farm for a post-hike lunch.

Report by Jack Mroczkowski.

Adams & Wright Woods winter hike - February 7, 2024

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 7 February 2024, Adams & Wright Woods winter hike

Hike Leader:  Marie Keutmann

~5.5 miles, 10:00 am start from Lincoln, MA

Hikers (23):  Marie, Ann Northup, Annemarie Altman, Barbara Jacobs, Barbara Pike, Ed Hill, Elsa Lawrence, George Stromberg, Gerry Sheetoo, Janet Miller, Jim Whinfield, Joanne Samuels, Judy Perrin, Julie Dodd, Melissa Norton, Mike Hanauer, Richard Fortier, Steve Venizelos, Susan Broome, Susan Linz, Ted Nyder, Zach Woods, and first-timer Richard Stimpfle.

Present at lunch:  Richard Vignoni.

Twenty-three hikers met at Red Rail Farm in Lincoln.  The hikers set out through the woods, along the many ups and downs of the kettle holes left behind by glacial activity.  We walked around a bicycle race track (velodrome) that is the sole visible remains of a late 1800’s fairground which people reached by steam locomotive on the Fitchburg line.  At the velodrome, I gave a brief talk about the history of the fairgrounds (see the links below) before we walked around the perimeter of the track.  We then worked our way over to a route along the Sudbury River and Fairhaven Bay with great views of the water, as well as a large stone chimney and stone boathouse.  From there it was back into the woods and then back to our cars.  The crisp temps and bright skies made for a great day of hiking.

Thanks to Barbara Jacobs for helping me navigate the route, to Gerry for sweeping, and to Judy for the photos.

Approximately a dozen hikers ate lunch in the greenhouse at Verrill Farm.  We were joined by Richard Vignoni who is recovering from an ankle replacement.

Additional information:

Information on the race track/fairgrounds - the bicycle race track was part of the fairgrounds from the late 1800's.  The track is about 500 ft in circumference and has a pronounced bank on one end.  In its heyday, the fairgrounds included a dance hall, restaurant, baseball field, race track, and amusements.  On weekends, people flocked by the thousands to “Lake Walden” on the Fitchburg train line to go boating, swimming, and use the fairgrounds.  The fairgrounds were built by the owners of the railroad to encourage ridership.  There were several fires over the years, likely due to sparks from the steam locomotives, so in the early 1900s it ceased to exist.  Today, the only visible remains are the race track and cleared ground between the trees.

Information on Wright woods where we hiked

Online Exhibition of Walden Pond images

Report by Marie Keutmann.

Auburndale - Two Famous Swing-Era Ballrooms, plus lots more! winter hike - January 31, 2024

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 31 January 2024, Auburndale - Two Famous Swing-Era Ballrooms, plus lots more! winter hike

Hike Leaders:  Zach Woods & Judy Perrin

5.8 miles (~4 hours including lunch), 10:00 am start from Auburndale, MA

 

Hikers (21):  Judy, Zach, Ann Northup, Annemarie Altman, Barbara Martin, Betty Salzberg, Dan Nelson, Elsa Lawrence, George Stromberg, Gerry Sheetoo, Greg Stathis, Janet Miller, Joanne Samuels, Julie Dodd, Lynell Stromberg, Marie Keutmann, Patrick Ward, Phyllis Evan, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, and Tom Allen.

 

The weather was cold and there was dampness in the air, but our big group enjoyed exploring along the Charles River starting in Auburndale, moving east to Waltham, and then crossing the river to head back west to Weston and, eventually, back east into Auburndale.  Along with enjoying the scenery and chatting along the way, we stopped to talk about recreation, industry, and history.  At about the halfway point lunch was enjoyed at the South Street Deli in Waltham.

 

There were some good laughs along the way as we passed by the Norumbega Tower which was built in an effort to reinforce the inaccurate claim that Vikings settled along the Charles River in the early 1000’s, and as we passed the Boston Marriott which is no longer owned by Marriott and is located in Auburndale, not Boston.  There was also a lot of interest in the life and significant first-in-history achievements of early woman architect Ida Annah Ryan.  We even discovered, as we walked by the location of the no longer extant entrance to Norumbega Park, that one member of our group had attended their high school prom in the Totem Pole Ballroom in Norumbega Park before it burned down!

 

Group photos were taken at the South Street Deli along with various photos at other spots along the way.

 

Report by Zach Woods.

Lincoln Twin Pond to Pigeon Hill Folly Ruin - January 24, 2024

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 24 January 2024, Lincoln - Twin Pond to Pigeon Hill Folly Ruin and Back winter hike
Hike Leaders:  Zach Woods & Judy Perrin
5.5 miles (~2.75 hours), 10:00 am start from Lincoln, MA

Hikers (17):  Zach, Judy, Annemarie Altman, Barbara Martin, Betty Salzberg, Greg Stathis, Janet Miller, Jim Whinfield, Julie Dodd, Marie Keutmann, Martin Hemler, Renee Rees, Romaine Randall, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, Tom Allen, and first-timer Patricia McCaffrey.

A great day for a winter hike, although sometimes the wet snow falling from the trees was easily confused with rain.  No wind and thirty-two degrees.

 

The group enjoyed seeing several historical sites:  Garfield cellar hole, Pigeon Hill Folly, and the former site of a colonial era rope walk (where hemp fibers were worked into lengths of rope).  We hiked up a hogback ridge formed by a glacier and learned that Pigeon Hill was named for all the countless, now extinct, passenger pigeons that used to flock there.  We also learned about several of the Modernist houses viewable from the trail.

 

Nine hikers enjoyed lunch at Revolution Craft Food Hall in Lexington.

 

Photos were taken by Judy and Barbara, at the Pigeon Hill Folly ruin and along the hike.

 

Report by Zach Woods.

Urban Wilds, Wetlands, and the Arboretum winter hike - January17, 2024

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 17 January 2024, Urban Wilds, Wetlands, and the Arboretum winter hike
Hike Leader:  David Wean
~5 miles, 10:00 am start from Jamaica Plain, MA

Hikers (9):  David, Elsa Lawrence, Gerry Sheetoo, Jim Whinfield, Judy Perrin, Renee Rees, Susan Broome, Tom Lawrence, and Zach Woods.

With plenty of fresh snow and ice the day before, only nine of us managed to clear off our cars and brave the traffic.  (Appreciation from the hike leader that people who'd signed up, but were unable to come, had either cancelled online or notified him via text or email.)  At the starting point, we found that the street was parked up as far as the eye could see, but we ventured a little farther than that and all found our way back to the starting point.

We toured three sections of the Arnold Arboretum, including views from Peters Hill (the second highest point in Boston), the Weld Hill research building with its experimental plots and solar farm, and the main section, where we found at least one Witch Hazel in bloom - we're told that every month of the year there's something blooming there.  

Though most in the group had visited the Arboretum at some point, some of the hikers commented that they enjoyed two less-familiar urban wilds that are nearby:  the Roslindale Wetlands (10-acres tucked into a residential neighborhood, recently upgraded with a loop trail, board- and bog-walks), and Allandale Woods (86 acres, just on the other side of the VFW Parkway, with many trails and the ruins of an old building, including abandoned marble ornamentation and farm equipment, as well as a historic spring house that was either a great restoration or recreation).

After the hike, five of the group made it to Sharon Korean, a recent addition to the West Roxbury dining scene, where we enjoyed some authentic Korean dishes.  We also were able to see the new (and locally controversial) protected bike lanes along Centre Street.  

 

Report by David Wean.

Great Brook Farm State Park winter hike - January 3, 2024

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 3 January 2024, Great Brook Farm State Park winter hike

Hike Leader:  Julie Dodd

4 miles, 10:00 am start from Carlisle, MA

Hikers (30):  Julie, Ann Northup, Annemarie Altman, Barbara Jacobs, Betty Salzberg, David Goldberg, Don Mannes, Ed Hill, George Stromberg, Gerry Sheetoo, Jamie King, Janet Miller, Jim Whinfield, Joanne Samuels, Judy Perrin, Kristina Leclaire, Lindy King, Lynell Stromberg, Lynne O'Riorden, Marie Keutmann, Maureen Febiger, Melissa Norton, Patrick Ward, Phyllis Evan, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, William Feiring, Zach Woods, and first-timer Bob Mitchell.  [Bob was a CRW Guest; I hope he becomes a member.]

We started by taking Cow Path trail to the hilly Turkey Run trail.  After regrouping, we headed off to the seriously twisty Stone Row trail.  We then walked through the weird, glacial depositional landscape known as eskers.  The long line of thirty hikers made quite a sight on the winding trail along the sides of the ravine.

Pausing to admire a vista of the River Meadow Brook, we then continued on flatter terrain.  Other trails of note included Tophet West, Heartbreak Ridge, and Maple Ridge.

Thirteen of us met for post-hike lunch at Fern's Country Store.

Report by Julie Dodd.