Too cool for school - July 17, 2019

RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 17 July 2019, Too Cool for School
Ride Leader:  Jack Donohue
31 miles, 10:00 am start from Bikeway Source, Bedford, MA

Riders (21):  Jack, Adena Schutzberg, Bill Widnall, Charlie Gordy, Chuck McWilliams, Cindy Chin, Dave Balaban, Doug Chin, Emily McPhillips, Gerry Sheetoo, Herb Kavet, Kaz Zelny(sweep), Marc Baskin, Margaret Coughlin, Mike Barry, Rich Taylor, Richard Fortier, Rochelle Holman, Sally Chapman, Will Umphrey, and Wing Chow.

The weather forecast was, to use a technical term, "iffy," so I was glad to see a goodly group show up at the ride start.  If I was going to get wet, I didn't want to be alone.  I fully well expected what usually happens - i.e., it starts raining just as you're at the farthest point from the start.

As it turned out, we got no precipitation at all.  I think I was responsible for this.  I eschewed my best carbon fiber bikes, which I try to keep rain free, and took my twenty year old Cannondale instead.  I encased my phone and wallet in plastic bags and packed rain gear - I was ready for a downpour.  I had learned my lesson from Climb to the Clouds, where I took my best bike and blithely opined at the rest stop, "Just a passing sprinkle."  Said sprinkle turned into a several hour, cold downpour.

I was wondering whom I could enlist to sweep, when Kaz showed up and volunteered for the position without being coerced.  Kaz has become my main man for sweep detail, replacing Butch who was my sweep extraordinaire for many years.

I was pleased that Bill Widnall was able to join us.  Bill had gone over to the dark side (running), but was back on the bike.  I took the opportunity to thank him for introducing the human arrow concept to CRW.  It's a brilliant concept that I've used successfully in the other bike groups that I lead.  Bill is also the founder of Wednesday Wheelers.

Mark Baskin, who had been recovering from a bad bike accident, also rode with us.  He doubled his mileage today by riding to and from the ride start, so I'd say he's back to his usual form.

The ride went very smoothly, it seemed like a well matched group, and most of the time all the riders were in sight of each other.  From my rear view mirror it looked like it mostly broke up into two smaller groups which was perfect for letting cars pass.

We did have a bit of dyslexia, with riders on the left instead of the right.  Straddling the centerline is not a good idea, period, but if you're going to do that you need to be doubly aware of overtaking traffic.

I hadn't planned a rest stop in advance, but the visitor's center off Keyes Road in Concord was perfect.  Indoor plumbing and water fountains helped maintain the correct water balance.  We had an opportunity to chat and have a photo op and then we were on the road again.

We passed the four advertised School Streets, though one was in fact a School Way.  Close enough.

A group went to Ken's for lunch.

Report by Jack Donohue.

Through the Woods (along the bay) and Over the River - Blue Hills and Neponset - July 10 2019

RIDE REPORT

Through the Woods (along the bay) and Over the River - Blue Hills and Neponset - July 10 2019
Ride Leaders:  Ron Beland & David Wean
25 or 27 miles, 10:00 am start from Houghton's Pond, Canton, MA

Riders (25):  David, Ron, Aliza Edwards, Ann Northup, Bruce Barnett, Bruce Lederer, Butch Pemstein, Carol Hartigan, Catherine Schroeder, Dave Balaban, Ellen Dirgins, Emily McPhillips, Gary Smiley, Gary Williams, John Springfield, Randy Stern, Rich Taylor, Rochelle Holman, Steve O'Brien, Stuart Kaufman, and first-timers Allison Easton, Bob Persons, Charlie Gordy, Lisa Cole, and Taylor Best.  There was also a random guy on a mountain bike who was on his way to Castle Island for a hot dog and tagged along for half the ride.

We started from Houghton's Pond over freshly paved and shady, forested roads and, in two miles, reached the only significant hill on the main route.  We paused there briefly at the Chickatawbut observation point for a photo op, followed by a fast, smooth and long downhill.  After a short zigzag through suburban streets, we reached Quincy Shore Drive which afforded a view of Quincy Bay and the Harbor Islands.  A half-mile later, we turned into Marina Bay for a restroom break and view.

We then rode on back roads and a multi-use path along the river leading to the Neponset Bridge, and crossed via the wide sidewalk added in the 2012 bridge rebuild.  We connected to the Neponset Trail, meandering through Pope John Paul II Park, followed by the newest section (opened in 2017) of the trail leading to Mattapan Square.  From there, we breezed back to the Blue Hills via peaceful Blue Hills Parkway, avoiding much of Rte 138 via a downhill along bucolic Green Street.  A brief climb led to the Hillside Pub, for lunch, or the straight shot back to Houghton's Pond.  Two riders took an energetic side trip to the summit of Great Blue Hill before the Green Street section.  There was one flat toward the end of the ride, but otherwise no mishaps or breakdowns.

Report by David Wean.

Three Cemeteries and the tales they tell - July 3 ,2019

RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 3 July 2019, Three Cemeteries - and the tales they tell
Ride Leader:  Susan Sabin
33 miles, 9:30 am start from 40 Seaver Street, Wellesley, MA

Riders (21):  Susan, Adena Schutzberg, Barry Nelson, Bill Lane, Bill Widnall, Butch Pemstein, Dave Balaban, David Fay, David Wean, Dmitry Gorenburg, Elsa Lawrence, Gary Williams,  Julia Zhogina, Kaz Zelny, Margaret Coughlin, Randy Stern, Rich Taylor, Rochelle Holman, Sally Chapman, Tom Lawrence, and first-timer Joan Fenster.
Present at ride start & lunch:  Helen Greitzer.

Twenty-one wheelers gathered for a ride that was also to be a historic tour:  Three cemeteries and the tales they tell.  We had a problem (besides the high temps) right at the get-go.  The street where I recommended parking was about to be repaired (no advance warnings), so people had to scramble for alternate parking).  That settled, we left only ten minutes late and, by then, Helen had all the lunch orders in hand (a big applause for Helen!).  Three riders missed the start because of this confusion, but caught up at cemetery # 1, just four miles from the ride start.  Thereafter, we stayed together, although the ride leader took a private rest stop on two subsequent hills, while most everyone else politely waited for her.

The most unusual thing that happened was a chance visit from the chair of the cemetery commission of Sherborn, as we were leaving cemetery #2 (cemetery of Sherborn Reformatory).  She contended, contrary to the information I had just delivered, that no doctor was buried in said cemetery.  So, I followed up and she and I have had a 'Very Interesting' exchange.  That gal sure knows how to do cemetery research and is wildly efficient.  Using info I provided, she found the doctor (whose name was disguised in the reference material that I had had).

     Dr. Catharine W. (Cavannah) Castle
     Born January 1867 in England.
     Daughter of Edward and Zilphah Cavannah
     Immigrated 1886.
     Naturalized 1896.
     Married Sept. 19, 1896 in Boston, MA, to Henry C. Castle.
     Living in Boston, MA, June 4, 1900 -  "medical student."
     Graduated from BU as an MD in 1903.
     Divorced from Henry, who was in Westborough State Hospital during the 1910 census.
     Gave birth to one child, Elaine (Castle) Trombley, 1901-1933.
     Living at Reformatory in 1930 - "attendant in hospital."
     Living at Reformatory in 1935.
     Living at Reformatory in 1940 - "Reformatory Officer."
     NOT buried in Sherborn, MA!

FYI for those not on the tour:  said MD performed at least seven abortions.  She was jailed, one after the other, for each.  She was also an alcoholic - (so might I be, in her situation!).

Anyway, Susan, the cemetery chairwoman, is still on the case and looking for where Catherine IS buried.  Interesting, too, is that the (erroneous) burial info comes straight from the (non-fiction) book, "Maternal Justice," by Estelle Freedman (a former professor of history at Stanford), published by U. of Chicago Press.  So now, there are two experts:  Susan from Sherborn, who is researching primary data, and Freedman, with sterling credentials, saying opposite stuff.  Hmmm . . . . .

I know this info is more than most people want to read, so I apologize for the extra verbiage.  Am hoping that someone besides me finds this interesting!

Finally, thanks to Elsa for sweeping and to Rich for the photos.  I received a lot of positive comments about the ride and believe that most participants enjoyed having the variety of a historic tour in the mix of "normal" WW rides.

Report by Susan Sabin.

Not Quite Haverhill - June 26, 2019

RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 26 June 2019, Not Quite Haverhill
Ride Leader:  Tom Allen
34 Miles from Ipswich River Park, North Reading, MA

Riders (20):  Tom, Adena Schutzberg, Aliza Edwards, Bruce Lederer, Carol Hartigan, Cindy Chin, Dave Balaban, Don Mannes, Doug Chin, Everett Briggs, Gary Williams, James Hsia, Judith McMichael, Julie Dodd, Margaret Coughlin, Mike Barry, Randy Stern, Sally Chapman, Susan Sabin, and guest of the leader, Anita Paton.
Present at start:  Rochelle Holman.

On short notice I was able to offer a ride that is always a crowd pleaser:  thirty-four miles of very scenic and lightly trafficked roads through Harold Parker State Forest and on to North Andover.v We had warm and humid weather, but fortunately the sun remained hidden and we remained comfortable.

Crossing busy Rte 114 (Turnpike Street), we were able to take the officially closed and perpetually flooded (and aptly named) Brook Street to save several hundred yards of harrowing riding on Rte 114.  Arriving at the rest stop at Ingaldsby Farm, we enjoyed some of their fresh strawberries and other goodies, as well as their well-sequestered restroom.  From there, our rested legs tackled the 100 foot climb on Uptack Road and then quickly surrendered all that stored potential energy on the downhill side.  As we continued south the roads became, remarkably, even more scenic as we passed woods, ponds, and horse stables.

Wending our way back to North Reading we arrived at Ryers Store lunch stop at just about 1:00 pm.  About half of us stayed for lunch at Ryers and enjoyed their sandwiches and salad bar.

Rochelle Holman arrived hoping to ride, but experienced a flat just out of the gate and returned to her car.  Dave Balaban arrived at the start about a half hour after we all left. Following the posted route he managed to catch us up at about mile 20.  Way to push it, Dave!

Thank you to Susan for serving as sweep, and to the gang of enthusiastic arrows.

Report by Tom Allen (who's not in the photo).

Assabet River Beach Bash - June 19, 2019

RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 19 June 2019, Assabet River Beach Bash
Ride Leaders:  Bill Lane & Tom Fortmann
39 or 27 miles, 10:00 & 10:30 am starts from Concord Town Lot, Concord, MA

Riders - 39 mi (30):  Tom, Barbara Martin, Beth Rosenzweig, Bill McCarthy, Bill Umphrey, Bill Wachur, Bruce Lederer, Clyde Kessel, Curt Dudley-Marling, Dan Bertko, Dave Balaban, Dom Jorge, Everett Briggs, Gene Ho, Gerry Sheetoo, Jack Donohue, Jerry Skurla, Kaz Zelny, Ken Hablow, Margaret Coughlin, Randy Stern, Ray Komow, Rich Taylor, Richard Vignoni, Rita Cramer, Robert Joseph, Rudge McKenney, Steve Bader, Steve Delaney, and Steve Miller.
Riders - 27 mi (24):  Bill, Adena Schutzberg, Al Berardi, Ann Northup, Bill Lane, Bruce Barnett, Butch Pemstein, Chuck McWilliams, Cindy Chin, Don Mannes, Doug Chin, Doug Hobkirk, Ellen Gugel, Harriet Fell, Herb Kavet, Julia Zhogina, Mike Hanauer, Patty Grasso, Penny Leslie, Richard Fortier, Robert Wilson, Rochelle Holman, Susan Sabin, and first-timer Hank Holstein.
Ad hoc routes (2):  Marie Keutmann and Steve Kolek.
Lunch only (3):  Eli Post, Elizabeth Wicks, and Judith McMichael.
Bushwacking (1):  Bob Apsler

The weather was cloudy, but dry, and the pace brisk going out Strawberry Hill and Newtown Roads through Concord and Acton to Westford.  The sun came out briefly as we climbed through Graniteville to reach the radars and radio telescopes on Millstone and Haystack Hills.  The return through Westford and Chelmsford was pleasant with little traffic.  The only mishap was a flat, at around mile 29, which delayed the sweep and stranded two arrows temporarily.  We arrived at Bill and Connie's house shortly after the 27-mile group and enjoyed the customary outstanding lunch.  Steve Bader performed admirably as sweep, keeping the peloton ruly and overcoming broken tools and other problems to fix the flat.

Report by Tom Fortmann; photos by Jack Donohue.


With the previous weekend's forecast promising a work-week of rainy days, lunch orders and preparations were made nonetheless, and nature granted a midweek reprieve.  A pleasant 71 degree, overcast day at ride start gave way to an even more pleasant mixture of sun and clouds.

Leaving a half-hour later than the long riders, we followed their route, shortcutting on the lovely Old Lowell and Parkerville Roads to Heart Pond Beach for a brief rest stop.  At this point one very self-aware and GPS-equipped rider, who was substantially slower than the rest of the group, took it upon themselves to proceed on ahead.

After a song by Butch and the traditional group picture we were off to a record early arrival at lunch, only a few minutes ahead of the long riders.  A few miles out, we were intercepted by Steve Kolek who had missed the start but navigated his own path.

Thirty-three enjoyed lunch and camaraderie overlooking the Assabet River at our home. We’d like to especially thank my wife, Connie, for preparing the lunch, augmented by helpers Elizabeth Wicks, Bob Apsler and Eli Post.  We especially want to thank everyone for their generosity to the PMC.  We will be able to contribute $364 to the PMC, another record for this annual bash.  Thank you.  Final thanks go to Butch for his ever convivial sweep and song, and to those who arrowed.

Report by Bill Lane; photo by bystander.

Long Riders At Haystack

Approach to Haystack

Short Riders

Saugus Iron Works and Nahant - June 12, 2019

RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 12 June 2019, Saugus Iron Works and Nahant
Ride Leader:  Tom Allen
38 miles, 10:00 am start from Sandy (Shannon) Beach, Winchester, MA

Riders (22): Tom, Adena Schutzberg, Aliza Edwards, Bruce Barnett, Bruce Lederer, Butch Pemstein, Carol Hartigan, Dan Bertko, Dave Balaban, Don Mannes, Doug Hobkirk, Gerry Sheetoo, Greg Stathis, Kaz Zelny, Nancy Cahn, Patty Grasso, Randy Stern, Richard Fortier, Sally Chapman, Steve Robins, Susan Sabin, and Veronica Vedensky.

We couldn't have ordered up a finer day to ride - bright blue skies, warm but not hot, and gentle breezes.  Start was delayed a bit when a rider noticed a flat tire as he mounted his bike.  Fortunately, we were able to assemble a small enough committee to deal with it. The time that the repair took enabled a late-comer to join the group.

We started out from Winchester, through Stoneham and Melrose, where the group was split by a passing commuter train, and on to Saugus.  A very educational stop at the Saugus Iron Works site was of interest to all thanks to a dynamic presentation by a National Park Service docent.

We then rode on to Lynn.  (How many of you have said, "Let's ride to Lynn today."?)  Anyway, that brought us to the Nahant Causeway and a ride past a very busy and well populated Nahant Beach.  The ride around the peninsula brought us to two lovely parks - Bailey's Point and East Point.

After that a small number of riders became concerned with the time, electing to leave the group and head back to the start.  That involved a change in sweep - Kaz Zelny relieving Carol Hartigan.  The ride back took us through some drab neighborhoods, but a stop at Kane's Donuts perked things up a bit when Butch bought a donut big enough to share.

The remainder of the return was pleasant enough on the Northern Strand Bikeway bringing us to Medford.  Between the earlier breakaway group and others who wanted to ride directly back to the start, that left a scant half dozen of us for lunch at Snappy Patty's in their cozy outdoor patio. 

Thanks to both Carol and Kaz for sweep duties, and to Adena as safety monitor, herder, and all around border collie - big help.  :)  Thanks also to the numerous arrowers who jumped in without prompting to keep us all going around the proper corners.

Report by Tom Allen.

Two Glen Ascents - June 5, 2019,

RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 5 June 2019, Two Glen Ascents
Ride Leaders:  Barry Nelson & Kathy Horvath
45 or 42 miles, 10:00 am start from Burchard Park, Weston, MA

Riders (21):  Barry Nelson, Kathy Horvath, Adena Schutzberg, Barry Kaditz, Beth Rosenzweig, Bruce Lederer, Cindy Chin, Doug Chin, Gerry Sheetoo, Harriet Fell, Ira Weinberg, Jim Whinfield, Julie Stephenson, Rich Taylor, Rochelle Holman, Rudge McKenney, Selig Saltzman, Susan Sabin, Veronica Vedensky, and first-timers Lauren Johnson and Tom Wilmot.


Kathy led the faster group that did not want to eat mid-ride at the Blue Moon.  I was surprised that my group was larger (11), suggesting that there are WWs who want a different type of ride.  Perhaps we should offer, more often, the option for lunch during the middle of the ride instead of at 2:00 pm.  I promised that our group would be slower than Kathy's, and our average speed was 13.1mph.

Thanks to Jim for sweeping, although the group stayed together for almost all the turns except for the two Glen ascents.  We had a leisurely lunch at the Blue Moon, and a few riders requested a 22 minute delay so they could finish their nap before continuing on the ride.  There is a very short video of our group at the end of the ride.

Report by Barry Nelson.

There were ten 42 mile Through-Riders, and nine of us started out while Rich made a quick trip home for missing equipment - suffice it to say “We’ve all been there.”  The group was evenly matched for riding preferences, except for the stronger hill climbers   Regrouping at the top of a hill or at the next intersection kept the group together and very little arrowing was needed.

We stopped for a nature break at Dover/Sherborn High School and, as we were leaving, said a quick "Hi" and "Bye" to Barry, et al. as they pulled in.  We continued on and enjoyed a fuel/rest stop in Dover center where a kindly gentleman saw us discussing options and offered his shady lawn and fresh water from an outdoor hose.  Soon after, we were joined again by Rich and were back at ten riders strong.

As we began the second Glen ascent, the leader was seriously lagging and, in effect, became the sweep!  Kathy thankseveryone for the collective leadership skills at the end, especially since I began sinus/viral symptoms upon returning home.  Thanks also to Rudge for sweeping, to Gerry for filling in at the end, and for the courtesy and safe riding habits of everyone.

We returned to the start before 1:30 pm for an overall average speed on the leader’s odometer of 14.2 mph.

Report by Kathy Horvath.