Martha's Vineyard ride - August 6, 2025

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 6 August 2025, Martha's Vineyard ride

Ride Leader:  Tom Allen

45 miles, 10:00 am start from Oak Bluffs, MA

Riders (8): Tom, Christine Corr, Renée Rees, Rich Levine, Shawn Corr, Susan Broome, Wing Chow, and first-timer Dick Katz (Tom's neighbor on MV).

I met five riders at the Island Queen ferry landing with the expectation of meeting the other two en route.  After a nearby restroom break we set out around East Chop and made a brief stop at the lighthouse.  (Martha's Vineyard has two peninsulas called East Chop and West Chop.)  We rode past a house that was featured in the "Jaws" movie of 50 years ago.  We then continued on a new bike path, past the MV Hospital and on into Vineyard Haven.  We paused to take in the view at Tashmoo Overlook, then proceeded to Lambert's Cove Road where we met up with Dick and Susan.

We continued to the small fishing port of Menemsha, where we looked at the fish dock and found the bike ferry across to Aquinnah (Gay Head).  We were more riders than the little bike shuttle could accommodate, so we split into two groups. The second group befriended a solo rider (Latesha) who joined us for the rest of the ride.  At Gay Head we briefly considered visiting the light house, but decided to simply keep going.

Returning from Aquinnah via roads (no ferry), we stopped at the Chilmark General Store to find some lunch.  Wing decided that he was set for lunch and elected to continue the ride solo.  It is assumed that he completed the ride and caught an early boat back to the mainland.  The rest of us bought simple sandwiches at exorbitant prices, sat on a bench outside, and took in the Chilmark vibe.

We continued east on the scenic and pleasant Middle Road where, at the end of it, Dick and Susan split off to take a more direct route back to Lambert's Cove.  The rest of us, including Latesha, continued on through the West Tisbury town center and found the State Forest bike path to take us back toward Oak Bluffs.

As we arrived at the main intersection in Oak Bluffs, I was asked, "What's the best ice cream store?"  I replied, "The nearest one!"  So we had a treat while waiting for the next ferry departure.

With excellent riding weather (not hot, cloudy skies) and varied and interesting scenery, I would rate this ride a "10".

Report by Tom Allen.

New Hampshire Seacoast ride - July 30. 2025

RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 30 July 2025, New Hampshire Seacoast ride
Ride Leader:  Gene Ho
37 mi, 10:00 am start from Seabrook, NH

Riders (6):  Gene, Armen Kasparian, Francine Sparks, Frank Aronson, Gary Williams, and Susan Broome.

 Some newish words for a tune familiar to those of us of a certain age:

Needing my thirst slaked.

Getting my face baked.

Legs feeling tired from all of the toil.

Got cramps in my hamstrings.

And itches from bug stings.

Let's get to lunch cause I'm beginning to boil.

Wastin away again on Hampton's cool sands.

Looking for any break from the heat.

Some people claim that global warming's to blame.

All I know is, it feels really hot.

Susan Broome, Frank Aronson, Gary Williams, Armen Kasperian, and Francine Sparks shared the sentiments of the above, if not in those words, and joined me in my quest for seabreeze on a ride from Hampton Beach to Portsmouth.

ne point fog rolled in briefly as we approached the Wentworth hotel and it actually got chilly.

Lunch at Geno's, a restaurant new to most of us, was especially appealing with awning covered outdoor seating next to the Piscataqua river.

Such a seductive setting was a challenge from which to depart but more riding remained.

Comfortable temps notwithstanding, some us, attentive to our post ride rehydration obligations, elected to discharge these at Bernie's Beach Bar, a Hampton Beach landmark.

Tough duty but health needs must be met.

The beach below us, along which we rode for much of the trip, made for a constantly changing panorama.

Can't say that this was hard to take considering the temps back in Boston.