Harold Parker Reversed - June 18. 2025

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 18 June 2025, Harold Parker Reversed

Ride Leader:  Tom Allen

31 miles, 10:30 am start from Ipswich River Park, North Reading, MA

 

Riders (3):  Tom, Frank Aronson, and first-timer Armen Kasparian.

The day started gray with some drizzle.  This reduced the attendance of an already thinly subscribed ride to a mere two riders plus the leader.  To mitigate the rain factor we started a half hour late, and that strategy worked.  Roads were clear and we remained dry - in fact, it was an ideal biking day.

With only three of us we agreed to simply stay together and did not designate a sweep.  Sounds simple and (almost) foolproof.  Anyway, we pedaled along some delightful roads with portions almost devoid of traffic.  A stop at Ingaldsby Farm in Boxford afforded us access to some tasty muffins and a restroom opportunity.

On the return leg of the trip the leader inserted a tiny wrinkle in the route that seemed to flummox one of the riders.  We saw him head off in the wrong direction, but we figured he would sort himself out and rejoin us.  That didn't happen and, after seeing him take the same wrong turn a second time, we set out to chase him down and bring him back into the fold.

We elected to skip lunch at Ryers Store, as time was getting a bit tight with the delayed start and the leisurely stop at the muffin shop.

Report by Tom Allen.

Sherborn to Norfolk - June 11, 2025

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 11 June 2025, Sherborn to Norfolk
Ride Leader:  Alan Cantor

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

Riders (11):  Alan, Betsy Harper, Ellen Gugel, Frank Calabrese, Joel Bauman, Keren Hamel, Renee Rees, Todd Palmer, Veronica Vedensky, Wing Chow, and first timer Richard Levine.

We had a glorious early summer day to enjoy each other’s company and the beautiful route. Thanks to all who arrowed and, especially, to Todd for sweeping and giving the safety talk at the ride start.

 

Report by Alan Cantor.

Concord to Littleton - June 4, 2025

RIDE REPORT

 Wednesday, 4 June 2025, Concord to Littleton

Ride Leader:  Gene Ho

33.3 miles, 10:00 am start from Concord, MA

Riders (11):  Gene, Barry Nelson, Bruce Gore, Dmitry Gorenburg, Frank Calabrese, Joel Bauman, Keren Hamel, Marc Baskin, Renee Rees, Scott Mandell, and Wing Chow.

 

Wednesday was a workday.  Therefore, the weather was perfect for biking.  Eleven of the fifteen registered riders showed up, at the right parking lot even.

 

Although all present found the streets on the route to be familiar, there were challenges.  Not the hills though.  All but the leader were in shape and found that they added texture to an otherwise bland undertaking.  We did encounter a section of dirt road which I thought would arouse the usual paranoia amongst road riders, but all biked over it without dismounting.  If the crappy winter had any benefit, it was inuring us to potholes and bad pavement.  The dirt road seemed smooth in comparison.  

 

You can actually get lost on the Bruce Freeman trail.  It gets a bit convoluted around Nara Pond where it comingles with other trails, all of which look the same.  There's signage, but its utility presumes that one can read and bike at the same time.  That's harder in practice than in theory, as some found out.

Report by Gene Ho.

Some scenes en-route:

Re-grouping on the BFR in West Concord:  

An unsuccessful attempt to extract a poem from the poetry booth.

Lunch at the Littleton Sub shop.  They have a liquor license and a Guinness woulda gone down nicely but navigating around Nara pond would have been even harder (or maybe not).

Ward's Berry Farm ride - May 28, 2025

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 28 May 2025, Ward's Berry Farm ride
Ride Leader:  Ellen Dirgins

26 miles, 10:00 am start from Sharon, MA

Riders (20):  Ellen, Ann Whaley-Tobin, Annemarie Altman, Barry Kaditz, Barry Nelson, David Goldberg, David Wean, Frank Aronson, Gene Ho, Gerry Sheetoo, Keren Hamel, Linda Moraski, Lisa O’Connor, Renee Rees, Ron Cater, Todd Palmer, Wing Chow, and first-timers Cheryl Schmidt, Cory Ward, and Joanne Candlen.

We had a fabulous ride on Wednesday.  The weather could not have been more perfect.  The turnout was awesome - all twenty registered riders were present, and one rider came all the way from Stow.  Two guest riders and a new member joined us and a warm welcome was bestowed upon them.

 

We used the human arrow system - a big thanks to all who arrowed, and a big thank you to Gene for sweeping.

 

With about a mile to go we stopped and enjoyed lunch at Ward’s Berry Farm.  All seemed to enjoy the food, as well as the bike ride!

 

Report by Ellen Dirgins.

Cape Ann - May 21 , 2025

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 21 May, 2025, Cape Ann - remote start

Ride Leader:  Clyde Kessel

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

Riders (2):  Clyde and Lisa O’Connor.

Two is a manageable group size and the tree lined parking area wasn’t windy, so we started off in good spirits and at a very fast pace, hoping to catch up with the other group of riders on the out-and-back stretch of road to Eastern Point Lighthouse.  As we proceeded and the route got more complex, the wonderful ocean views got more numerous, and the ride leader started to get tired, we slowed down to a more reasonable speed and didn’t catch up with the short group.

 

The view from Eastern Point was lovely, so we continued in good spirits up the coastline towards Rockport and the lovely restroom and water stop at the tiny, well-protected harbor.  Remember the time the police officer wouldn’t let a cyclist arrow that turnoff?  Bizarre!  Anyway, he wasn’t there today.  So as we continued in good spirits around the northern tip of Cape Ann, we started to get a few sprinkles, but not enough to dampen our trousers (did I mention this was an obligatory long-pants day - cold, breezy, and, as you will soon learn, a little damp?), let alone our good spirits.

We rolled into the lunch stop just as the short group was leaving, so we chatted a bit, but not too much because the sprinkles were getting a bit more insistent.  Lisa and Clyde split a coffee and a muffin.  Lisa got the coffee and Clyde got the muffin.  And then we were off again, in good spirits because it was the last leg of the ride and the radar picture indicated no rain.  We were away from the coast and the complex route, so we picked up our pace and so did the sprinkles.  Eventually the sprinkles changed from intermittent to continuous, to the point that Lisa declared it was drizzle, although that is really debatable.  In any case, we pulled into the finish comfortable and in good spirits.

I have a suspicion that Lisa would have enjoyed the ride more if Clyde had been willing to linger longer at the ocean views.  Thanks to everyone involved, and especially to Lisa for sweeping.

 

Report by Clyde Kessel.

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RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 21 May, 2025, Cape Ann - core ride

Ride Leader:  Tom Allen

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

Riders (5): Tom, Dale Ferguson, Frank Aronson, Rena Sokolow, and Scott Mandell.

The weather was seasonable for March, but this is May!  The temperature was 50 degrees, with a very persistent northeast wind.  This, I'm sure, kept our numbers down.  At 10:00 am, with only five riders present, we set off in search of biking adventure.  We kept together with little demand on our designated sweep, Dale.

We proceeded through the Gloucester waterfront and headed toward the southern part of the peninsula, taking a brief detour through the Rocky Neck neighborhood, a former artists' colony.  Heading further south, the winds were mostly at our backs.  From Eastern Point we were able to see the Boston skyline, stark against the grey skies.

Heading back north along the eastern side of Cape Ann we faced the full brunt of the wind, making the level parts feel uphill and the uphills steeper.  We did pause for a photo; a failed selfie attempt.

Three of us went to lunch at Destino's sub shop while the other two headed for their cars. As we were leaving the lunch stop Clyde and Lisa (the entirety of the long ride) rolled up.

Thanks to Dale for sweeping.

Report by Tom Allen.

Island Cruise - May 14, 2025

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 14 May 2025, Island Cruise

Ride Leader:  Alan Cantor

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

Riders (6):  Alan, Barry Nelson, Gene Ho, Kim Wach, Linda Nelson, and Mark Friedman.

A cool, cloudy day warmed and cleared up for a beautiful ride through the countryside.  All rode at a comfortable pace with frequent regrouping.  Gene did a wonderful job sweeping, although we did not use the human arrowing system.

A big thank you to the people who had registered and then could not make it, as they all let the leader know prior to the ride.

Report by Alan Cantor.

Prospect Hill - Waltham - May 7, 2025

RIDE REPORT

 Wednesday, 7 May 2025, Prospect Hill - Waltham

Ride Leader:  Tom Allen

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

Riders (9): Tom, Alan Cantor, Bill Perry, Frank Aronson, Gerry Sheetoo, John Trotter, Keren Hamel, Tod Cochran, and Wing Chow.

We met up at the rear of Bikeway Source in Bedford.  Most arrived by car and a couple of folks by cycling.  The weather was slightly overcast and the temperature ideal for cycling.  With a small group and familiar roads we made spare use of arrows.

Before getting to the main event (the Prospect Hill climb), we meandered to Lexington and thrilled on the somewhat twisty downhill on Lincoln Street in Waltham.  The climb up Prospect Hill was indeed challenging (except for those of us with battery-assist bikes).  We took our time; it was not a race.

 

After checking out the view (and the somewhat primitive bathrooms at the top), we descended via the southern roadway to the newly completed Waltham portion of the Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT).  At that point two riders, who did not have cars in Bedford, set off on their own ways home.

 

The rest of us made our way back via the Cambridge Reservoir and Lincoln and Concord centers. Having little fear of anyone getting lost, I encouraged folks to set their own pace (typically faster than mine) on the return.

 

Four of us had a pleasant lunch at Ken's Deli.

 

Thanks to Bill Perry for sweeping.

 

Report by Tom Allen.

Through the Woods and Over the River - Blue Hills and Neponse0t - April 30, 2025

Wednesday, 30 April 2025, Through the Woods and Over the River - Blue Hills and Neponset

Ride Leaders:  David Wean & Ron Beland

Pre-ride safety talk:  Todd Palmer

25 or 27 miles, 10:00 am start from Canton, MA

Riders (11):  David, Ron, Frank Calabrese, Gerry Sheetoo, Harry Spatz, Keren Hamel, Steve Bogue, Todd Palmer, Veronica Vedensky, Wing Chow, and first-timer Alissa Leonard.

The sun came out just before the ride start and we enjoyed beautiful weather, though it was quite windy on some stretches.  We ascended Chickatawbut, catching our breath and enjoying the limited view of downtown Boston, nine miles away (by crow).  We descended through the Blue Hills Reservation into Quincy, where we fought the wind along the water and made two brief stops:  Marina Bay for a restroom, and Squantum Point Park for a better view of downtown and a chance to ride through the (defunct) airfield.

We then crossed from Quincy into Boston over the Neponset Bridge (separated sidewalks on both sides!) and connected through Pope John Paul II park, picking up the Neponset Trail to Mattapan Square.  From there we headed back to the Reservation, with three of the group, not having had enough climbing, taking a side trip to ride up the Great Blue Hill.  About half the group stayed for an outdoor lunch at Trillium Brewery.

Report by David Wean.

Photos courtesy of Todd Palmer.

 

Western Greenway - Waltham, Lexington, and Belmont - April 16, 2025

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 16 April 2025, Western Greenway - Waltham, Lexington, and Belmont

Hike Leaders:  Barbara Jacobs & Ted Nyder

5.5 miles, 10:00 am start from Waltham, MA

Hikers (10):  Barbara, Ted, Kristina Leclaire, Marie Keutmann, Marlene Heroux, Patrick Ward, Renee Rees, Richard Vignoni, Susan Sabin, and William Feiring.

It was a cool day, but quite pleasant.  We began our 5.5 mile walk at the old Metropolitan State Hospital property on the Waltham/Lexington Line.  Our hike took us on the trails and carriage roads of the old hospital grounds and into Belmont's Rock Meadows and Lone Tree Hill.  We hiked the trails to Habitat and had a quick break, checked out the goats and turkeys, and then continued back to our cars by way of the MetFern Cemetery where approximately 317 residents of the Fernald School and Met State Hospital were buried between 1947 and 1979.

Seven of us had post-hike lunch at Bánh Mì Ơi  (a Vietnamese restaurant).

Report by Barbara Jacobs.

Weston Wonder(ful) Walk - April 9, 2025

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 9 April 2025, Weston Wonder(ful) Walk

Hike Leader:  Jim Whinfield

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

 Hikers (13):  Jim, Barbara Jacobs, Barbara Martin, Don Mannes, Judy Perrin, Karen Brody, Marie Keutmann, Phyllis Evan, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, William Feiring, Zach Woods, and first-timer Dana Christensen.

The weather was sunny and brisk as we left from outside the Weston Community Center.  Thegroup walked through the Case Estates Conservation Area, where we saw an old stone incinerator, then crossed Chestnut Street into the Highland Town Forest.  The route skirted the edge of the Regis College campus and the channel connected to the Weston Reservoir before turning back to complete the 4-mile loop.

After the hike, eight members of the group had lunch at the Craft Food Halls in Waltham.

Report by Jim Whinfield.

Farrar Pond early spring hike - April 2, 2025

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 2 April 2025, Farrar Pond early spring hike

Hike Leader:  Marie Keutmann

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

 

Hikers (18):  Marie, Annemarie Altman, Barbara Jacobs, Barbara Pike, Betty Salzberg, Don Mannes, Eileen Maloney, Judy Gertler, Judy Perrin, Karen Brody, Kristina Leclaire, Lynell Stromberg, Phyllis Evan, Richard Vignoni, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, William Feiring, and Zach Woods.

 

Description: The weather was sunny and cool and, while we started in Wayland, almost all of the hike was in Lincoln.  We walked along Farrar Pond with lots of ups and downs and great views of the pond, including a view of a swan nesting on a small island with her male partner guarding against intruders.  We crossed a boardwalk over a lovely swamp caused by beavers.

 

After the hike, about half of the group had lunch in the greenhouse at Verrill Farm in Concord.

 

Report by Marie Keutmann.

Walden Pond, another late winter hike - March 19 2025

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 19 March 2025, Walden Pond, another late winter hike

Hike Leaders:  Janet Miller & Marie Keutmann

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

Hikers (17):  Janet, Marie, Aiko Pinkoski, Ann Northup, Annmarie Altman, Barbara Pike, Debra Mello, Harry Spatz, Jack Mroczkowski, Mike Hanauer, Phyllis Evan, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, and first-timers Ellen Harvey, Gail Spatz, Joyce Bailey, and Karen Brody.

Thanks to the generosity of the Lincoln Food Project, who gave us permission to park on their property, seventeen people gathered on a beautiful sunny day to explore Heywood Meadow, Walden Pond, and some Lincoln conservation land.  We started out by heading to the end of Baker Bridge Road before crossing over Rte 126 and entering the woods on a trail to Heywood Meadow.  There is lots of beaver activity, with freshly cut trees and older signs of beaver activity, at Heywood Meadow.  We then walked along the meadow before turning off on a trail that took us to Walden Pond, where we took a slight detour to stop at the site of Thoreau’s cabin before continuing around the pond to the Visitor Center.

 

From there we climbed Pine Hill, descended part way down the other side, and continued on a trail that took us past the Thoreau Center before descending to Rte 126 and then to our cars.  The total distance was about 4.5 miles.  This was a repeat of the hike that was inspired by Judith McMichael and which I co-led with her. 

 

Some of us gathered at Verrill Farm for post-hike lunch in their very cosy greenhouse.

Report by Janet Miller.

Exploring Wellesley, North of Route 9 - March 12, 2025

 Wednesday, 12 March 2025, A late winter hike – Exploring Wellesley, North of Route 9

Hike Leader:  Susan Sabin

~5.7 miles, 10:00 am start from Wellesley, MA

Hikers (12):  Susan, Aiko Pinkoski, Annemarie Altman, Eileen Maloney, Judy Perrin, Marie Keutmann, Mark Friedman, Phyllis Evan, Renee Rees, Susan Broome, Zach Woods, and first-timer Jamie Merritt-O'Toole.

We headed north from the Longfellow Pond parking lot, along the western edge of the pond.  The pond is man-made, put into use to expand the successful production of paper that had already begun in Newton Lower Falls and Wellesley in the 19th century.

The wooded reservation is interrupted by Route 9, which we crossed before heading back into the woods and continuing to Lower Falls.  There, we stopped to note the sites of several industries (curing of leather and production of paint and paper) that used and polluted the Charles River.

After a picnic break, we headed back to our cars by a somewhat different route.  The weather smiled on us all the way and we, in good spirits and friendship, all smiled back.

Report by Susan Sabin.

Waltham Prospect Hill Park winter hike - March 5. 2025

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 5 March 2025, Waltham - Prospect Hill Park winter hike

Hike Leaders:  Barbara Jacobs and Ted Nyder

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

 

Hikers (15):  Barbara, Ted, Aiko Pinkoski, Ann Northup, Deb Mello, Jim Whinfield, Marie Keutmann, Marlene Heroux, Melissa Norton, Steven Venizelos, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, Tom Allen, William Feiring, and Zach Woods.

Present at lunch:  Helen Greitzer.

 

Our hilly, icy, and snowy hike took us through historic Prospect Hill Park in Waltham.  The park was divided through Dividend Land Grants in the 1600s.  As people obtained these land grants, they built stone walls demarcating property boundaries that were established between 1636 and 1638.  The properties were used as woodlots, providing timber for building homes in nearby neighborhoods and firewood for cooking and heating.  There was some pasture land, but very little farming because of the hilliness of the area.

 

Our first stop was at the lean-tos and stone fireplace built for the Boy Scouts in 1934 by the Emergency Relief Administration.  We continued walking up the hill and came to two water towers built in 1974 by the City.  These water towers contain eight million gallons of water, providing water pressure for fire hydrants. Then we checked out the trails and old rope tow buildings of the old ski area (1948-1989).  Alongside the water towers we came to an old Radio Telescope which was used by the Air Force to look for sunspots and solar storms in the 1960s.  It is now used by amateur radio clubs. 

 

As we walked the Ridge Trail we came to Big Prospect and checked out the view.  Even though it was cloudy we could see the Boston skyline and snow on the Blue Hills. 

 

Twelve of us, including Helen, had post-hike lunch at the Craft Food Hall.

 

Report by Barbara Jacobs.

Lincoln Off the Beaten Track winter hike - February 26, 2025

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 26 February 2025, Lincoln - Off the Beaten Track winter hike

Hike Leaders: Marie Keutmann & Richard Vignoni

~5 miles, 10:00 am start from Lincoln, MA

Hikers (20):  Marie, Richard, Aiko Pinkoski, Ann Northup, Annemarie Altman, Barbara Jacobs, Betty Salzberg, Eileen Maloney, Harry Spatz, Janet Miiller, Jim Whinfield, Judy Perrin, Marlene Heroux, Melissa Norton, Rick Lawrence, Sharon Ellis, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, William Feiring, and Zach Woods.

It was a gorgeous, sunny, but cool, morning.  Almost all of us put on our microspikes in the parking lot, which proved to be very helpful on the slippery snow and ice on the trails.  We went through open fields, horse pastures, backyards, and woods.  We traversed Flint Fields above the Flint Farm which has been continuously occupied and farmed by the Flint family since Thomas Flint came over from England in 1636.

We stopped in the field to look at rows of young American Chestnuts which have been planted in an experiment to try to grow them to be resistant to the fungus that destroyed most of these magnificent trees a century ago.  In the horse pasture above the field, a very vocal horse kept whinnying for attention and food to no avail.  At the Decordova Museum we used the restrooms and continued on through the grounds.  We then crossed Baker Bridge Road on the way to the remaining two miles of the hike by the elementary school and onto lesser known trails which brought us back to the Pierce House.

A dozen or so of us had lunch at Verrill Farm, eating in the warm greenhouse which we shared with tiny seedlings in pots on the floor.

Report by Marie Keutmann; photo by Richard Vignoni.

XC Skiing at Great Brook Ski Touring Center - February 12, 2025

 XC SKI REPORT

 

Wednesday, 12 February 2025, XC Skiing at Great Brook Ski Touring Center

XC Ski Leaders:  Margie & Tony Lee

9:30 am start from Carlisle, MA

Skiers (4): Margie, Tony, Annemarie Altman, and Renee Rees.

Great Brook Ski Touring Center had been posting very positive ski condition reports, but none appeared on Tuesday.  We hoped for the best and were rewarded with conditions that exceeded our expectations.  We found well-groomed packed powder with virtually no exposed roots or rocks.

Temperatures stayed just below freezing and, though the sun tried to break through, it remained overcast.  We skied most of the groomed trails in about two hours.

We intended to go to lunch at Fern's Country Store in Carlisle, but it was teeming with school kids (apparently they get out early on Wednesdays) and we decided not to stay.

We all agreed that it was a fun outing.

Report by Margie Lee.

October Farm Riverfront/Brewster’s Woods winter hike - February 19, 2025

HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 19 February 2025, October Farm Riverfront/Brewster’s Woods winter hike

Hike Leader:  Janet Miller

10:00 am start from Concord, MA

Hikers (15):  Janet, Annemarie Altman, Barbara Jacobs, Don Mannes, Elsa Lawrence, Jack Mroczkowski, Judy Perrin, Marie Keutmann, Richard Vignoni, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, Tom Lawrence, Zach Woods, and first-timers Eileen Maloney and Phil Euling.

Fourteen hikers joined me on a cold, but sunny, day at October Farm Riverfront in Concord.  The parking lot there is small, but there is a second lot a short way back on Balls Hill Road (a single-track road).  Three or four cars arrived at once, after the lower lot was filled, causing a bit of chaos, but they all managed to either turn around or reverse to find parking in the second lot.

We started on a flat trail toward the Concord River, but it was hard work as we were breaking through the crusty snow.  The river was mostly frozen over and a few people joked that they wanted to check out the ice, but, I am glad to say, nobody did.

Then we walked south along the river and looped around to return to the river and head north.  Tom and Elsa decided they wanted to drop out and Zach and Judy returned with them because their car was blocking the Lawrence’s car.

The rest of us continued and passed by the foundation of William Brewster’s riverside cottage, together with a well and a canoe storage shelter.  Brewster, who was a renowned ornithologist and the first President of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, had purchased the October Farm in the 1890s.

From there we left the October Farm Riverfront conservation land and entered Brewster’s Woods, now owned by the Mass Audubon Society, continuing to follow the river before going inland and crossing a causeway.  We then walked back to the start along the Fisher Trail.  As we were the first to walk that trail since the last snowfall, it was definitely an energetic way to finish our hike.  Zach and Judy found their way back to the start to meet up with the rest of us after trying unsuccessfully to catch up with us.

After the hike, fourteen of us gathered for lunch at the Concord Market.  This venue was Jack’s suggestion – he had learned recently that the mezzanine there now has tables, making it the perfect place for a large group.

Report by Janet Miller.