AdventuRides

2010-03-05T21:18:00.001-05:00

This site is no longer updated.

Visit us at AdventuRides.com.

Party Videos and WinterWalks

2009-12-02T22:32:00.001-05:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

Thanks to everyone for making our 12th season such a success! We couldn't do it without you.

We did 37 rides that covered 630 miles and visited almost 50 cities and towns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. We also participated in the (very soggy) Maine Lighthouse Ride and the (delightful) Seacoast Century Ride.

Here are some videos that Alex took at the End of Season Party. Thanks Alex!!!

A bit of business to take care of: If you get two copies of this email, you are already on the WinterWalks mailing list. Otherwise, you need to sign up at winterwalks.blogspot.com to receive further winter activities mailings. The AdventuRides list needs to rest :-)

Now that I am emerging from my Thanksgiving food coma, I would like to propose a WinterWalk to the Andres Art Institute in Brookline, NH. The weather is looking very nice for Friday.

I would describe Andres Art Institute as a vertical Decordova Museum. It is at the old Bear Hill Ski Area and the woods are filled with various " ob·jet d'art ". Its very fun to check out the art and have a great hike too! The view from the top of the hill is very nice too.

On Friday, December 4th, we will meet at the Andres Art Institute in Brookline, NH. According to Google Maps, its only 20 minutes from Groton. Here is a map.

At 10:00 AM, We will leave the parking lot. Here is a trail map.
Sometime, We will have lunch. We can always go to Parker's Maple Barn. The food is respectable and the atmosphere is delightful.

Hope to see you there,
Bill

GO - Dress Warmly

2009-11-23T07:58:00.000-05:00

Cardboard Carlin sends her video regrets. Check it out!

Bill

End of Season Ride and Party

2009-11-21T21:11:00.000-05:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

Here is what we have so far for the party:

Alcohol, beer, wine, etc - Bill
Gefilte fish and horseradish - Alex
Enchanted Broccoli Forest - Jane
Appetizer – mango slices/goat cheese/honey - Joe
Stuffed acorn squash - Carole
Wheat bulgar confetti salad - Darlene

It looks like we're pretty well covered except maybe dessert. Come join the fun on Monday! Everyone is invited.

They have taken the rain out of the Monday forecast, but its still supposed to be Mostly Cloudy and in the mid 40's.

The morning Combination Ride will start at Carole's house in Groton. We will visit Lost Lake, Duck Pond, and Knops Pond on our way to the Stone Arch Bridge. From there it is off to Cow Pond Brook and the Red Line trail. On the way back we will ride through the Black Land and Burnt Meadow Road. The route is about 15 miles long will some rolling hills. There will be quite a bit of civilized off road and gravel. Here is a map.

On Monday, November 23rd, we will meet at Carole's House in Groton. Here is a map.

At 9:30 AM - we will leave for our last official adventure of the season :-( Here is a map.
At 12:00 Noon - PARTY!!!

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

End of Season PARTY!!!

2009-11-20T20:49:00.001-05:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

I hope you got a chance to get outside this afternoon for the beautiful weather! Stupid weatherman, ^%@#$ ...

Anyhow, its time to get ready for the End Of Season PARTY. This season, we are going to have a pot luck lunch at Carole's house on Monday, November 23rd at noon. Not only are we going to have great food, great drink, and great companionship, we are also going to have a meet-and-greet with Carole's goats. Everyone is invited! Oh yeah, if the weather cooperates, we will have a morning combination ride too.

To minimize the number of duplicate dishes, I have opened up the mailing list so that anyone can post a message. Just reply to this email with what you plan to bring to the party. Please, no shell fish or pork dishes.

I will start by offering to bring the alcohol, beer, wine, glasses, and whatever else seems appropriate for the occasion.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

PS. If the real Carlin doesn't show up, I will have the virtual Carlin on standby...

STOP - Rain, Rain, Rain, ...

2009-11-20T07:47:00.001-05:00

Reminder - East Pepperell Center Tomorrow

2009-11-19T18:04:00.000-05:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

Well, tomorrow's forecast is looking decidedly unpleasant :-( Rain, Rain, Rain, ... I'll call it before 8:00 tomorrow morning.
I attached a picture of our sunny sidewalk lunch in Somerville yesterday to appease the weather gods.

The morning Recreation Ride will visit the Pepperell Town Pound and Fatima Shrine on the way to scenic Heald Pond. The route is about 13 miles and quite hilly. There is a bit of walkable offroad on the way down to Heald Pond Beach. Here is a map.

Lunch will be at the Pepperell Spa.

The afternoon Fitness Ride will go UP to the Beaver Brook Association and we will ride offroad along Beaver Brook to beautiful Hollis Center. Depending on my mood, we will come back via North Pepperell Road, or the Rail Trail. The route is about 16 miles, quite hilly, and a fair amount of offroad. Here is a map.

On Friday, November 20th, we will meet in East Pepperell Center at the Rail Trail parking lot. Here is a map.

At 9:30 AM - The Recreation Ride will leave for Heald Pond. Here is a map.
At 11:30 AM - We will have lunch at the Pepperell Spa.
At 12:15 PM - The Fitness Ride will leave for Beaver Brook. Here is a map.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

GO - Another Beauty!

2009-11-18T07:48:00.001-05:00

Reminder - Bedford Tomorrow

2009-11-17T18:22:00.001-05:00

Dear AdventuRiders,
Another fine November day is forecast for tomorrow! Sunny and mid 40's in the morning with very little wind. Mid 50's in the afternoon!

On Wednesday, November 18, we will meet in Bedford for a ride on the Minuteman Bike Trail to Somerville. Here is a map. There will be two starting points. From Fawn Lake, we will ride the unpaved narrow guage rail trail to the start of the Minuteman at Bedford Depot. Its about 27 miles round trip. For a shorter, paved, and very flat ride, you can meet us at Bedford Depot for a 22 mile round trip. Everyone is welcome.

At 9:45 AM - We will leave from Fawn Lake.
At 10:00 AM - We will leave from Bedford Depot.
At 11:30 ish - We will have lunch at Dave's Fresh Pasta in Somerville
At 2:00 PM - We should be back to Bedford Depot.
At 2:15 PM - We should be back to Fawn Pond.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

GO - Its A Beautiful Day.

2009-11-16T07:47:00.001-05:00

This Week - Stow, Bedford, & Pepperell + Party

2009-11-15T18:06:00.000-05:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

Well, this is the last full week of AdventuRides this season :-( Mark Your Calendars! Next Monday, November 23rd is our End of the Season Pot Luck PARTY!

The lunch menu this week is:

Monday - Nancy's Airfield Cafe.
Wednesday - Dave's Fresh Pasta - Somerville.
Friday - Pepperell Spa.

The weather forecast for tomorrow is looking really nice, mostly Sunny and 50 in the morning, mid 50's in the afternoon.

The morning Fitness Ride features a trip through the Assebet River National Wildlife Refuge. Its only recently been open to bicycling. Along the way we will also ride past Delaney Pond and check out the last paved section of the Assebet River Rail Trail. The route is about 18 miles with a few hills and a bit of off road. Here is a map.

The afternoon Recreation Ride will feature a beautiful unpaved portion of the Assebet River Rail Trail. We will also visit the restored Victorian houses in West Acton on the way back. We might even visit the CIA Headquarters! The route is about 14 miles with a couple of significant hill and some extremely civilized, unpaved rail trail. Here is a map.

On Monday, November 16, we will meet at the Minuteman Airport in Stow. Here is a map. Please park away from Nancy's.

At 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave for the Wildlife Refuge. Here is a map.
At 11:30 AM - Lunch at Nancy's Airfield Cafe.
At 12:15 PM - The Recreation Ride will leave for the Assebet River. Here is a map.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

On Wednesday, November 18, we will meet in Bedford for a ride on the Minuteman Bike Trail to Somerville. There will be two starting points. From Fawn Pond, we will ride the unpaved narrow guage rail trail to the start of the Minuteman at Bedford Depot. Its about 27 miles round trip. For a shorter, paved, and very flat ride, you can meet us at Bedford Depot for a 22 mile round trip. Everyone is welcome.

At 9:45 AM - We will leave from Fawn Pond. Here is a map.
At 10:00 AM - We will leave from Bedford Depot.
At 11:30 ish - We will have lunch at Dave's Fresh Pasta in Somerville
At 2:00 PM - We should be back to Bedford Depot.
At 2:15 PM - We should be back to Fawn Pond.

On Friday, November 20th, we will return to where we started the season - Good 'Ole East Pepperell.

At 9:30 AM - The Recreation Ride will leave.
At 11:30 AM - Lunch at the Pepperell Spa.
At 12:15 PM - The Fitness Ride leaves.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

GO - Dress Warmly!

2009-11-13T07:50:00.001-05:00

Reminder - Groton Center Tomorrow

2009-11-12T18:16:00.001-05:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

Surprisingly, the weather tomorrow will not be as nice as it was on Monday :-) The forecast calls for Mostly Cloudy and mid 40's in the morning and upper 40's and Cloudy in the afternoon. DRESS WARMLY! What do you expect on Friday the 13th?

The morning Recreation Ride will feature a tour of the Wharton Plantation via Dan Parker Road. From there we will wind our way to Dunstable on a hidden backroad. Then its off to Pepperell Center for an easy ride back to Groton on the Rail Trail. The route is about 14 miles with some mostly civilized off road in Wharton Plantation. There are rolling hills, but nothing significant. Here is a map.

Lunch will be at Filho's Cucina in Groton. YUMMY!!!

The afternoon Fitness Ride will check out the views from Surrenden Farm on our way to Ayer. Then its off to historic Shirley Center and West Groton. Finally, we will explore a bit of Groton Place and Groton School on our way back up the hill to Groton Center. The route is about 17 1/2 miles and is quite hilly with some civilized off road. Here is a map.

On Friday, November 13th, we will meet in Groton Center. Here is a map.

At 9:30 AM - The Recreation Ride will leave for Wharton Plantation. Here is a map.
At 11:30 AM - We will have lunch at Filho's Cucina in Groton.
At 12:15 PM - The Fitness Ride will leave for Shirley Center. Here is a map.

At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

Takin' Care O' Business

2009-11-11T21:17:00.000-05:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

I hope you had a nice Veteran's Day! Here are a few items of interest (hopefully).

AdventuVideos: Some of you may have noticed a new addition to the website (AdventuRides.com). Below the Photos sidebar is the new AdventuVideos sidebar. This is a collection of bike related videos featuring segments of the video that my son Keaton did this summer for the GrotonChannel. If you click the rectanglular icon next to the "play" button, you will get a listing of all the available videos. If you have videos on YouTube you would like included, let me know!

"Rivers and Rails and Riding": As noted above, this is the complete video that my son did this summer. You may recognize the voice of the narrator :-) You can view it in HD and/or full screen on OpenFilm.com. Here is a link.

Wachusett Season Ski Pass: You still have one week to get in on one of the best deals for downhill skiing. Until Novenber 18th, you can get a Bronze Season Pass through AdventuRides for only $199. This pass works every weekday except holiday periods and every evening. You only need to use it 5 times before it pays for itself! Be careful though, skiing weekday mornings at Wachusett will spoil you forever!

To sign up, go to the Wachusett group sales page and use "AdventuRides" as the group name. See you on the slopes!

Bill

GO - Indian Summer!

2009-11-09T07:46:00.000-05:00

This Week - South Chelmsford - Veteran's Day - Groton Center

2009-11-08T17:24:00.001-05:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

Picnic Season is back (for one day anyway)! The forecast is for Sunny and Warm tomorrow with mid 50's in the morning and mid 60's in the afternoon.

The morning Fitness Ride will go south on the new Bruce Freeman Bike Trail. From there we will explore the beautiful backroads of Carlisle. Finally we will do a bit of civilized off roading in Great Brook Farm State Park before heading back. The route is a little over 17 miles, but its not particularly hilly. Here is a map.

Lunch will be a picnic at Heart Pond with subs from Kate's Korner.

The afternoon Recreation Ride will go north on the new Bruce Freeman Bike Trail to Chelmsford Center. From there we will wind our way to the Cranberry Bogs and finally to back to the Rail Trail in Carlisle with a possible side trip to a "Scenic Westford Road". The route is about 14 1/2 miles with some civilized off road in the Cranberry Bogs and Little Bear Hill. There is one noteworthy hill on the way back from Chelmsford Center, but other than that its just rolling hills. Here is a map.

On Monday, November 9th, we will meet at Heart (Hart) Pond in South Chelmsford. Here is a map.

At 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave for Carlisle and Great Brook Farm State Park. Here is a map.
At 11:30 AM - We will get a picnic lunch from Kate's Korner and go to Heart Pond Beach.
At 12:15 PM - The Recreation Ride will leave for Chelmsford Center and the Cranberry Bogs. Here is a map.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

There is NO Exploration Ride on Wednesday due to the Veteran's Day holiday.

On Friday, November 13th, we will meet in Groton Center.

At 9:30 AM - The Recreation Ride will leave.
At 11:30 AM - Lunch - Filho's?
At 12:15 PM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

GO - DRESS WARMLY!

2009-11-06T07:49:00.001-05:00

Reminder - Lunenburg Tomorrow

2009-11-05T16:48:00.001-05:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

Well, the weather is looking much better for tomorrow. They've taken the rain / snow out of the forecast, and now it is supposed to be Mostly Sunny. Its going to be cold (low 40's) and windy though. DRESS WARMLY!

The morning Recreation Ride will start downhill (sorry) to Lake Shirley before climbing up Flat Hill (it isn't) for lovely views. Then its off to the Cowdrey Nature Center and Hickory Hills Lake before climbing back up to Lunenburg. The route is about 13 1/2 miles and all on road. There are two significant hills, but it will all be worth it! Here is a map.

Lunch will be at Trudie's Treats (YUM).

The afternoon Fitness Ride will climb Bayberry Hill with its farms and views. Then we will explore Hickory Hills Lake and the Cowdrey Nature Center on the way back to Lunenburg. The route is about 16 1/2 miles and is all on road and quite hilly.Here is a map.

On Friday, November 6th, we will meet between the Senior Center and the Teen Center in Lunenburg Center. Here is a map.

At 9:30 AM - The Recreation Ride will leave for Flat Hill. Here is a map.
At 11:30 AM - Yummy lunch at Trudie's Treats.
At 12:15 PM - The Fitness Ride will leave for Bayberry Hill. Here is a map.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

GO - Have a great ride!

2009-11-04T07:33:00.001-05:00

Reminder - Sterling Tomorrow

2009-11-03T16:27:00.001-05:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

Well, I have more good news and bad news.

The good news it that its supposed to Sunny tomorrow and Milo is feeling much better. The bad news is that the temperature will be in the low 40's with wind chills in the upper 30's. The other bad news is that my other son Keaton is sick now :-(

I guess it will be another DIY ride :-( I attached a PDF printable map and cue sheet.

This ride starts and ends on the Mass Central Rail Trail with its smooth crushed rock surface. In the middle we will climb Justice Hill, before descending to the plateau around Mount Wachusett. The views in this area are really fantastic especially with the foliage. We will visit the East Princeton Historic District before turning south to Jefferson. This part of the ride is relatively level along the ridge to Jefferson and back to Sterling. Along the way we will stop at Trout Brook Conservation Area.

Lunch will be at Countryside Cafe. Its the only place around, so I hope the good reviews are correct!

After lunch, its only 5 relatively level miles back to the starting point via the Rail Trail.

The route is about 25 miles and very hilly as we climb Justice Hill. Mostly rolling terrain after that. Its all on road except for the Rail Trail. Here is a map.

On Wednesday, November 4th, we will meet in Sterling Center at the Mass Central Rail Trail. Here is a map.

At 9:30 AM we will leave for East Princeton and views of Mount Wachusett. Here is a map.
At 12:30 PM we will have lunch at the Countryside Cafe.
At 2:15 PM, we should be back.

Have a good ride,
Bill

GO - Have a Great Ride!

2009-11-02T07:47:00.001-05:00

This Week - Westford - Sterling - Lunenburg

2009-11-01T16:55:00.001-05:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

The good news is that the weather forecast for tomorrow is mid 40's and Partly Cloudy in the morning and around 50 in the afternoon.

The bad news is that my son Milo has a "flu like illness" and I should stay home with him. Carole is still recovering, so tomorrow is going to be a DIY ride.

I attached a PDF file with a printable map and cue sheet.

So, I mapped out a combination morning ride, and the afternoon ride is CANCELLED.

The morning Combination Ride visits all sorts of water features around Westford and Chelmsford. You will cross Stoney Brook several times, visit Burgess Pond in the old East Boston Camps, and finally circle around Nabnasset Pond to the new playground and then back. The route is about 13 miles with some civilized off road around Burgess Pond.

On Monday, November 2nd, You will meet near the Roudenbush Center in Nabnasset. DO NOT park at Roudenbush! You can park on the other side of the playing fields on Laurel Ave. Here is a map.

At 9:30 AM - The Combination Ride will leave for Stoney Brook. Here is a map.
At 11:30 AM - Lunch at Silver Palate Pizza
The afternoon ride is CANCELLED

On Wednesday, November 4th, We will meet in Sterling Center at the Rail Trail parking.

On Friday, November 6th, We will meet in Lunenburg Center (Lunch at Trudie's Treats).

Bill (and Carole)

GO - Becoming Partly Cloudy and Mid 50s.

2009-10-30T07:52:00.001-04:00

Reminder - Littleton - Faye Park Tomorrow

2009-10-29T16:43:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

How does Partly Cloudy and mid 40's in the morning sound? Mid 50's in the afternoon? Not bad for the end of October. The foliage is still quite nice in spots too.

The morning Recreation Ride will visit the Alpacas, then cruise the rolling hills to Acton and finally climb Nagog Hill with the beautiful views of Nagog Pond, and the orchards. The route is about 12 miles with rolling hills. The actual route is all on road, but if we get back early, we can go up to Wilderness House for surprising mountain views. Here is a map.

Lunch will be at the Littleton Cafe. Very tasty!

The afternoon Fitness Ride, will go to Long Pond and check out the construction on Goldsmith Road. From there its over Nagog Hill to the aptly named Hill Road with nice views on the way back. The route is about 18 miles and it all on road. Here is a map.

On Friday, October 30th, we will meet at Faye Park in Littleton. Here is a map.

At 9:30 AM, the Recreation Ride will leave for Nagog Hill. Here is a map.
At 11:30 AM, we will have lunch at the Littleton Cafe.
At 12:15 PM, the Fitness Ride will leave for Boxboro. Here is a map.
At 2:15 PM, we will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill (and Carole)

STOP - The Sterling Ride Is Postponed.

2009-10-28T07:52:00.001-04:00

Reminder - Sterling Tomorrow

2009-10-27T18:48:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

The weather forecast is looking pretty hopeless, let's hope for the best! I attached a picture of one of the Tree Figures we saw at Fruitlands Museum on the Monday ride for good luck :-)

This ride starts and ends on the Mass Central Rail Trail with its smooth crushed rock surface. In the middle we will climb Justice Hill, before descending to the plateau around Mount Wachusett. The views in this area are really fantastic especially with the foliage. We will visit the East Princeton Historic District before turning south to Jefferson. This part of the ride is relatively level along the ridge to Jefferson and back to Sterling. Along the way we will stop at Trout Brook Conservation Area.

Lunch will be at Countryside Cafe. Its the only place around, so I hope the good reviews are correct!

After lunch, its only 5 relatively level miles back to the starting point via the Rail Trail.

The route is about 25 miles and very hilly as we climb Justice Hill. Mostly rolling terrain after that. Its all on road except for the Rail Trail. Here is a map.

On Wednesday, October 28th, we will meet in Sterling Center at the Mass Central Rail Trail. Here is a map.

At 9:30 AM we will leave for East Princeton and views of Mount Wachusett. Here is a map.
At 12:30 PM we will have lunch at the Countryside Cafe.
At 2:15 PM, we should be back.

Hope it doesn't rain,
Bill and Juror #1 (Carole)

GO - SUNNY and Cool

2009-10-26T07:49:00.001-04:00

This Week - Harvard, Sterling, and Littleton

2009-10-24T22:27:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

The weather forecast for Monday is looking really nice! Sunny and mid 40's in the morning, still sunny and mid 50's in the afternoon.

On Monday, October 26th, we will meet at the soccer fields on Depot Road in Harvard. Here is a map.

The morning Fitness Ride will climb Prospect Hill and then zip down to Vaughn Hill. From there it is a steep uphill to the ridge. We will ride along the ridge and stop at Bower Springs for a bit of offroading around the ponds. Then its off to the apple orchards on Oak Hill and back to the start. The route is about 15 miles, but very hilly and a bit of offroad. Here is a map.

Lunch will be at BYOL at the soccer field. You can get lunch at Sorrentos or Pizza Bella, but its a bit of a drive.

The afternoon Recreation Ride will go around Bare Hill Pond and visit several outstanding lakeside vistas and the town beach. On the way back we will climb Prospect Hill for amazing views of the mountains. The route is about 12 miles and hilly with some offroad. Here is a map.

On Monday, October 26th, we will meet at the soccer fields in Harvard. Here is a map.

At 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave for Bower Springs. Here is a map.
At 11:30 AM - Lunch at Trudie's Treats.
At 12:15 PM - The Recreation Ride will leave for Bare Hill Pond. Here is a map.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

On Wednesday, October 28th, we will meet in Sterling. Its only 30 minutes from Groton Center.

At 9:30 AM - The Exploration Ride will leave to explore the Mass Central Rail Trail.
At noonish - We will have lunch somewhere.
At 2:15 PM - We should be back.

On Friday, October 30th, we will meet at Faye Park in Littleton. Halloween costumes anybody?

At 9:30 AM - The Recreation Ride will leave.
At 11:30 AM - We will have lunch somewhere.
At 12:15 PM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and (Jury Duty) Carole

GO - Dress Warmly

2009-10-23T07:53:00.001-04:00

Reminder - Stow - Nancy's Airfield Cafe Tomorrow

2009-10-22T18:50:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

This ride has been jinxed by rain the last couple of weeks :-( but it makes my planning easier :-)

Check out the picture from Wednesday's ride.

Tomorrow's weather is supposed to be Partly Cloudy and mid 40's in the morning, put your shorts and tshirts away. Tomorrow afternoon is supposed to be near 50. Dress warmly.

The morning Recreation Ride will feature Elizabeth Brook and Delaney Pond. We will pass many farms and apple orchards on the way. The route is about 12.5 miles with a few hills. We may do a bit of off road around Delaney Pond. Here is a map.

Lunch is at Nancy's Airfield Cafe, YUM!

The afternoon Fitness Ride will explore parts of the Assabet River Rail Trail and the newly opened to bicycles Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge. The route is about 16 miles with some civilized off road. Here is a map.

On Friday, October 23rd, we will meet at the Stow Airfield on Boxboro Road. Here is a map. Please park away from Nancy's.

At 9:30 AM - we will leave for Delaney Pond. Here is a map.
At 11:30 AM - we will have lunch at Nancy's Airfield Cafe.
At 12:15 PM - we will leave for the ARNWR. Here is a map.
At 2:15 PM - we will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Virtual Carole

GO - Mostly Sunny and 60 Degrees

2009-10-21T07:51:00.001-04:00

Reminder - Brookline Tomorrow

2009-10-20T17:08:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

OK, here's an AdventuQuiz(tm) for you. What do the following things have in common?

Mostly Sunny
60 Degrees
Lake Potanipo Lighthouse
Nissitissit River Covered Bridge
Rocky Pond
Monson Center Ghost Town
Mountain Views from Federal Hill
Amigos Mexican Cantina

PULLED PORK WRAP
Our own Mexican pulled pork stuffed in a flour tortilla with red and green bell peppers and melted Jack and cheddar cheese.
BIKE SHOP MARGARITA
After your ride, sit back and relax with Herradura Reposado Tequila, Cointreau and Jamaican Lime Juice.

1889 Suspension Bridge
Souhegan River
Brookline Rail Trail

The answer is tomorrow's Exploration Ride starting in Brookline, NH!

Here is a video that my son Keaton and I did this summer around Brookline.

The route is only 21 miles, but there are plenty of hills and gravel roads. Here is a map. On the way back I plan to ride quite a bit of the Brookline Rail Trail. I haven't scouted the whole thing, but the parts I have explored are reasonably civilized. The surface is not as nice as the Mass Central Rail Trail, but the scenery is just as nice!

On Wednesday, October 21st, we will meet at the parking lot just off Route 13 and Mason Road in Brookline, NH. Here is a map. Google claims its only 21 minutes from Groton Center.

At 9:30 AM, we will leave for Milford, NH. Here is a map.
Before Noon, we will stop for lunch at Amigos Mexican Cantina.
At 2:15 PM, we will be back.

Hope you can make it,
Bill and Carole (vicariously from jury duty)

The Weatherman Was WRONG!

2009-10-19T22:01:00.000-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

Our rider, Donna, said she would pray for good weather today. Great job, Donna!!!

Here are some pictures and videos from today's ride.

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1127999127158

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1128003287262

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1127997087107

Thanks for the videos, Alex!

Bill

GO - Dress Warmly!

2009-10-19T07:53:00.001-04:00

This Week - East Pepperell, Brookline, and Stow

2009-10-18T14:23:00.000-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

I'm looking out the window at the occasional glob of wet snow falling from the sky and hoping for some better biking weather! The forecast for tomorrow isn't much better :-( I'll schedule the ride anyhow and hope the weatherman is wrong.

The Fitness Ride goes up Wallace Hill to Brookline, NH. The route is about 17 miles, hilly, and is all on road.

The Recreation Ride goes to Hollis NH. The route is about 14 miles, a few hills, and has some gravel roads.

On Monday, October 19th, we will meet in Easy Pepperell Center. Here is a map.

At 9:30 AM, the Fitness Ride leaves for very nice mountain views on the way to Brookline. Here is a map.
At 11:30 AM, we will have lunch at the always quaint Pepperell Spa.
At 12:15 PM, the Recreation Ride will leave for stunning foliage on the way to Hollis Center. Here is a map.
At 2:15 PM, we will be back.

On Wednesday, October 21st, we will meet in Brookline, NH and ride to Milford, NH.

On Friday, October 23rd, we will try again for the Nancy's Arifield Cafe rides.

Carole is stuck on Jury Duty for the next couple of weeks :-( so it will just be me.

Hope to see you at the ride,
Bill

STOP - Tomorrow's Stow Rides are Postponed

2009-10-15T18:22:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

The weather forecast for tomorrow looks hopeless :-(

Even if its not actually raining / snowing, there are no combinations of "lower 40's", "north winds", "gusts", and "90%" that would entice me to ride.

Friday

Rain and snow in the morning...then rain likely in the afternoon. Little or no snow accumulation. Highs in the lower 40s. North winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.

Its supposed to warm up next week.

Bill

GO - Sunny with Foliage!

2009-10-14T07:39:00.002-04:00

Reminder - Jefferson Tomorrow

2009-10-13T17:55:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

The good news is that its supposed to be a sunny, bright blue sky day tomorrow. The better news is that the foliage is nearing peak in Central MA. The not so good news is that it will be chilly and breezy tomorrow. The wind chill will be about 35 degrees first thing in the morning and the high is only supposed to be 50. Dress warmly!

Your hands and feet are particularly exposed on a bike. Full gloves and warm shoes / socks / booties will make the ride much more enjoyable (CVS bags and arugula bands have been used in the past :-) Some sort of thin hat or ear muffs are also recommended.

The Exploration Ride on Wednesday is really far out! We are going to start in Jefferson, MA (where the heck is that?) and travel the new sections of the Mass Central Rail Trail through Rutland State Park and the Ware River Watershed (the what?) to Oakham, MA (I'm confused). From there it is back to Rutland Center (I thought that was in VT) for lunch at Heavy Evie's Happy Kitchen. After lunch we will visit the bison at Alta Vista Farm and zoom down to Eagle Lake Park and back to Jefferson. Its only 5 miles and downhill after lunch.

The rail trail has a nice crushed rock surface and we will be riding on some gated MDC gravel roads. A possible side trip takes us to the old Rutland Prison Camp, check out these pictures. The route is about 25 miles with lots of hills, crushed rock, and gravel. Its all quite civilized though. Here is a map.

On Wednesday, October 14th, we will meet in Jefferson Center at St. Mary's Church parking lot. Here is a map. According to Google Maps, its a 43 minute drive from Groton. Please park across the street away from the church. There are no facilities, so be prepared.

At 9:30 AM, the Exploration Ride will leave for Rutland. Here is a map.
At 12:30 PM ish, we will have lunch at Heavy Evie's.
At 2:15 PM, we will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

This Week - Jefferson and Stow

2009-10-12T21:15:00.000-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

They have 3 inches of snow in Wisconsin, so we should feel lucky with 50 degrees and sunny for Wednesday! The Friday forecast is pretty grim, so you may want to consider the Wednesday ride if you can. Everyone is welcome.

The Exploration Ride on Wednesday is really far out! We are going to start in Jefferson, MA (where the heck is that?) and travel the new sections of the Mass Central Rail Trail through Rutland State Park and the Ware River Watershed (the what?) to Oakham, MA (I'm confused). From there it is back to Rutland Center (I thought that was in VT) for lunch at Heavy Evie's Happy Kitchen. After lunch we will visit the bison at Alta Vista Farm and zoom down to Eagle Lake Park and back to Jefferson. Its only 5 miles and downhill after lunch.

The rail trail has a nice crushed rock surface and we will be riding on some gated MDC gravel roads. A possible side trip takes us to the old Rutland Prison Camp, check out these pictures. The route is about 25 miles with lots of hills, crushed rock, and gravel. Its all quite civilized though. Here is a map.

On Wednesday, October 14th, we will meet in Jefferson Center at St. Mary's Church parking lot. Here is a map. According to Google Maps, its a 43 minute drive from Groton. Please park across the street away from the church. There are no facilities, so be prepared.

At 9:30 AM, the Exploration Ride will leave for Rutland. Here is a map.
At 12:30 PM ish, we will have lunch at Heavy Evie's.
At 2:15 PM, we will be back.

On Friday, October 16th, we will meet at the Minuteman Field in Stow.

At 9:30 AM - The Recreation Ride will leave.
At 11:30 AM - We will have lunch at Nancy's Airfield Cafe
At 12:15 PM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

STOP - Rain is on the way :-(

2009-10-09T07:32:00.001-04:00

Reminder - Nancy's Airfield Cafe Tomorrow

2009-10-08T17:59:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

The weather tomorrow is not looking real good, but lets put a positive spin on it. In the morning, you won't be sweating since it will be in the low 50's and cloudy. There is a 70% chance that it WON'T rain. In the afternoon, you're also unlikely to sweat and there is still a 70% chance that it WON'T rain. I will send out email with a GO / STOP decision before 8:00 AM.

The morning Recreation Ride will feature Elizabeth Brook and Delaney Pond. We will pass many farms and apple orchards on the way. The route is about 12.5 miles with a few hills. We may do a bit of off road around Delaney Pond. Here is a map.

Lunch is at Nancy's Airfield Cafe, YUM!

The afternoon Fitness Ride will explore parts of the Assabet River Rail Trail and the newly opened to bicycles Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge. The route is about 16 miles with some civilized off road. Here is a map.

On Friday, October 9th, we will meet at the Stow Airfield on Boxboro Road. Here is a map. Please park away from Nancy's.

At 9:30 AM - we will leave for Delaney Pond. Here is a map.
At 11:30 AM - we will have lunch at Nancy's Airfield Cafe.
At 12:15 PM - we will leave for the ARNWR. Here is a map.
At 2:15 PM - we will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

Columbus Day Stuff

2009-10-07T20:22:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

Due to the Columbus Day Holiday, there will be no rides on Monday. Never fear though, we've got you covered.

Have you ever wondered how many different variety of apples grow in New England? Well here's your chance to sample some of the 119 varieties that are preserved at Tower Hill Botanical Gardens in Boyleston. At 2:00 PM on Saturday, Sunday and Monday there is a tasting tour. Admission is $10 or less. Here are the details.

This weekend is also the Wachusett Columbus Day Ski Swap. It starts tomorrow (10/8) and goes through Monday. Here are the details.

And speaking of skiing, there is still time to buy a Bronze Century Pass at Wachusett for $199. Here is a link to all the GPS passes. Use the group name "Adventurides" to get your discount.

Bill

STOP - Our First Rainout of the Season.

2009-10-07T06:53:00.001-04:00

Reminder - West Boyleston Tomorrow

2009-10-06T17:32:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

Unfortunately the weather forecast for tomorrow is looking pretty grim. Mid 50's, windy, and 70% chance of rain don't add up to a nice ride. I'll send out email before 8:00 AM tomorrow with a GO / STOP decision.

This ride is a blast from the past, our first AdventuXRide (now called Exploration) ride from 3 1/2 years ago. Here is a map.
This is our first AdventuXRide! It should be quite an expedition. The basic route is 27 miles long and explores the new Mass Central Rail Trail. The pace and difficulty will be similar to the Fitness rides except longer. We will visit all sorts of places that I never knew existed including Alta Vista Bison Farm. AdventuXLunch will be in Rutland. We have our choice of Heavy Evie's Happy Kitchen or Rutland Pizza. It is about 35 minutes from Groton to our starting point, so please plan accordingly. If we leave on time, we can be back by 2:15 without rushing.

On Wednesday, October 7th, we will meet in West Boyleston at the Mass Central Rail Trail parking. Here is a map.

At 9:30 AM - We will leave for Rutland.
At noonish - Lunch at Heavy Evie's Happy Kitchen.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

GO - Mostly Sunny and 60s!

2009-10-05T07:51:00.001-04:00

This Week - Lunenburg, West Boyleston, and Stow

2009-10-03T18:08:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

This week is "Cafe Week" here at Adventurides! On Monday we will have lunch at Trudie's Treats, Wednesday at Heavy Evie's Happy Kitchen, and Friday at Nancy's Airfield Cafe. We will have 5 very nice rides too!

The weather forecast for Monday is looking really nice too. Sunny and upper 50's in the morning, still sunny and low 60's in the afternoon with a westerly breeze.

We will meet between the Senior Center and the Teen Center in Lunenburg Center. Here is a map.

The morning Fitness Ride will travel to Hickory Hills Lake before climbing Bayberry Hill and then zooming down to Pearl Hill State Park. From there, we will avoid as many hills as we can on the way to Lunenburg. The route is all on road, although there are some areas of broken pavement, quite a few substantial hills, and about 18 miles long. Here is a map.

Lunch will be at Trudie's Treats. She has homemade Ring Dings to die for! Oh, and she has delicious soups, salads and sandwiches too.

The afternoon Recreation Ride will go south to Lake Shirley and then climb Flat Hill (it isn't flat) for great views and then we will follow Mulpus Brook back to Hickory Hills Lake and then back to Lunenburg. The ride is also all on road with some broken pavement, quite hilly, and about 13 miles long. Here is a map.

On Monday, October 5th, we will meet in Lunenburg Center. Here is a map.

At 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave for Pearl Hill State Park. Here is a map.
At 11:30 AM - Lunch at Trudie's Treats.
At 12:15 PM - The Recreation Ride will leave for Lake Shirley. Here is a map.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

On Wednesday, October 7th, we will meet in West Boyleston.

At 9:30 AM - The Exploration Ride will leave to explore the Mass Central Rail Trail.
At noonish - We will have lunch at Heavy Evie's Happy Kitchen.
At 2:15 PM - We should be back.

On Friday, October 9th, we will meet at the Minuteman Field in Stow.

At 9:30 AM - The Recreation Ride will leave.
At 11:30 AM - We will have lunch at Nancy's Airfield Cafe
At 12:15 PM - The Fitness Ride will leave.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

GO - Sunny and Chilly This Morning

2009-10-02T07:49:00.001-04:00

Reminder - Groton Center Tomorrow

2009-10-01T17:56:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

The weather tomorrow is looking very nice, but chilly in the morning. Sunny and upper 40's in the morning and partly cloudy and 60 degrees in the afternoon. Dress warmly!

We will meet in Groton Center tomorrow.

The morning Recreation Ride will travel to West Groton and Mount Lebanon on the way to Pepperell. The mountain views and the tranquil pastures are not to be missed! We will have an easy ride back on the Rail Trail as we pass Pepperell Ponds on the Nashua River. The route is about 13 miles with some gravel and there are some hills in Pepperell. Here is a map.

We will have lunch at Main Street Cafe, or Filho's Cucina if we have time.

The afternoon Fitness Ride will also enjoys mountain views of Wachusett across the fields at Surrenden Farm before going up to Shirley Center. From there we will explore around Devens a bit before returning via the Rail Trail. The route is about 18 miles with some gravel and the hills around Shirley. Here is a map.

On Friday, October 2nd, we will meet in Groton Center. Here is a map.

At 9:30 AM - The Recreation Ride will leave for Pepperell. Here is a map.
At 11:30 AM - We will have lunch at the Main Street Cafe or Filho's.
At 12:15 PM - The Fitness Ride will leave for Shirley Center. Here is a map.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

PS. I attached a picture of the cows in Ashby from the Wednesday Ride.

GO - partly cloudy and 50s

2009-09-30T07:51:00.001-04:00

Townsend Center Tomorrow

2009-09-29T17:19:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

The weather for tomorrow is looking better than it did earlier in the week. The forecast is for low 50's and partly cloudy in the morning and mostly cloudy and upper 50's in the afternoon. Dress warmly.

I finally figured out a nice ride for tomorrow. Sorry for the delay.

We will meet just past Townsend Center and ride UP to Ashby. We have our choice of short and steep, or long and more gradual, but the end result in either case is beautiful views off the ridges. One of the options is to ride to New Ipswich "High Bridge" and then on to Greenville, the other option explores more of Ashby before returning by way of Mason, NH.

The ride will be 25 to 30 miles with some killer hills getting up to the plateau, but then its rolling hills and distant views. Its all on road, but there are some gravel roads on the way. BTW, the killer hills are easily walkable, so everyone is welcome.

On Wednesday, September 30th, we will meet just past Townsend Center. Here is a map. Google claims its only 14 minutes from Groton Center.

At 9:30 AM - we will leave for Ashby.
Sometime, some place - we will get a bite to eat.
At 2:15 PM - we will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

GO - Another Beautiful Day!

2009-09-28T06:37:00.001-04:00

This Week - Dunstable, TBD, and Groton Center

2009-09-27T16:10:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

Tomorrow is looking like another gorgeous Fall day! In the morning the forecast calls for low 60's and sunny, and low 70's and sunny in the afternoon. The leaves are just starting to turn, so the sunshine and colors should be very nice tomorrow.

The Fitness Ride will visit the "field of dreams" in Dunstable and some pretty back roads in Tyngsboro. The route is about 16 miles and quite hilly. It will be all on road. Here is a map.

The picnic weather continues, so we will get sandwiches from The Convenient Mann and have a picnic at Larter Field.

The Recreational Ride will enjoy the views from High Street and we will ride a bit of the (very civilized) NA&B Rail Line and see the stone arch bridge. The route is about 12 miles and a bit hilly. Here is a map.

On Monday, September 28th, we will meet at Larter Field in Dunstable. The nearest intersection is Groton Street and Dogwood Lane. Here is a map.

At 9:30 AM - The Fitness ride will leave for "The Field of Dreams".
At 11:30 AM - We will have lunch at The Convenient Mann.
At 12:15 PM - The Recreational ride will leave for High Street.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

On Wednesday, September 30th, TBD

On Friday, October 2nd, we will meet in Groton Center.

I attached a couple of pictures from yesterday's Seacoast Century, enjoy.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

Middlesex Canal Tour next Saturday

2009-09-25T14:41:00.000-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

If you are interested in learning more about the canal we passed this morning, here is your opportunity!

On Saturday, Oct. 3rd, the Middlesex Canal Association is organizing a bike ride from Sullivan Square in Charlestown to Lowell tracing the old Middlesex Canal. The canal was built starting in 1794 and was used until the early 1850's when the railroads were built. Today, there are some restored sections and two surviving aquaducts. It should be interesting.

I'm planning to go, if anyone wants to join me.
Bill

GO - a bit chilly today.

2009-09-25T05:56:00.001-04:00

Reminder - Heart Pond Tomorrow

2009-09-24T17:39:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

Beautiful Fall weather will be making a return tomorrow. It will be a bit chilly in the morning with mid 50's and sunny. The afternoon will feature more sun and mid 60's.

The morning Recreation Ride will travel the brand new Bruce Freeman Rail Trail to Lowell and then wind our way back through back roads in Chelmsford. The route is about 12 1/2 miles, all on road and not very hilly. Here is a map.

The afternoon Fitness Ride will explore the Cranberry Bog, Great Brook Farm State Park, and the back roads of Carlisle before returning by way of the Bruce Freeman. The route is about 17 miles with some civilized off road and a few hills. Here is a map.

Lunch will be a picnic lunch at Heart Pond Beach from Kate's Corner.

We will meet at Heart Pond Beach. Here is a map. Its a bit hard to find, and I'm told there are no street name signs. First you need to get to South Chelmsford on Route 27. If you are coming from the north, continue south on RT 27 to the gas station on your right. Turn right (Pond Street) and continue to the beach. From the south, turn left just before the gas station.

On Friday, September 25th, we will meet at Heart Pond Beach in South Chelmsford. Here is a map.

At 9:30 AM - the Recreation Ride will leave for Lowell. Here is a map.
At 11:30 AM - we will have a picnic lunch at Heath Pond Beach.
At 12:15 PM - the Fitness Ride will leave for Carlisle. Here is a map.
At 2:15 PM - we will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

GO cloudy and warm today

2009-09-23T07:35:00.001-04:00

Reminder - Hollis Exploration Ride Tomorrow

2009-09-22T17:35:00.000-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

It looks like the first full day of Fall will be fairly summer-like. Tomorrow is going mostly cloudy and 70 degrees in the morning and mid 70's in the afternoon. There is a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon, so we'll need to keep an eye on the iPhone :-)

Joe and I did this ride last week and we got to Nashua early, so we actually did some exploring and found some nice off road that bypasses much of the traffic in Downtown Nashua.

In the morning we be riding through the farms and orchards in Hollis. After we get to Nashua, we will go to the Merrimac River at Greeley Park and then ride past the fine Victorian homes on our way downtown. We will ride past Margherita's and have a moment of silence for Carlin :-) before continuing across the river on a bike path and riding along the river to downtown.

Lunch will be at Martha's Exchange in Downtown Nashua: Great food and micro-brewed beer! I had the

Will's Fault Wicked Good Beah

Will said we should make this beah cuz it was wicked good. Supah smooth. Coppah cullahed. Drinkable to the max.

After lunch we will head back by way of Mine Falls Park where we will visit the falls on the Nashua River. Then its back to the farms and orchards of Hollis.

The route is about 25 miles long and is mostly downhill in the morning and mostly uphill in the afternoon. I reversed the direction of the ride from last year, so the hills back to Hollis are not as steep and are well spaced out. There will be quite a bit of civilized offroad and gravel roads on the route. Here is a map. Everyone is welcome.

On Wednesday, September 23th, we will meet at the Lawrence Barn in Hollis, NH (PortaPotty equipped). The nearest intersection is Depot Road and Richardson Road.

At 9:30 AM - We will leave for Nashua.
Lunch will be at Martha's Exchange in Downtown Nashua.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

GO - it's a Spectacular Day!

2009-09-21T07:51:00.001-04:00

Reminder - West Groton - Cutler Field Tomorrow

2009-09-20T17:41:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

Another Top 10 day tomorrow! The forecast calls for 60 degrees and sunny in the morning and mid 70's and sunny in the afternoon. Light winds, low humidity, and blue skies, how can you beat that?

So, we are meeting at Cutler Field in West Groton tomorrow, - NOT at the Water Department. Cutler Field is more convenient to our lunch stop, and it is PortaPotty equipped. The approximate address is 155 Townsend Road. if you are coming from West Groton Center, it will be on your left. Here is a map.

If you're still not convinced, here is a video that my son Keaton and I made this summer that covers some of the area we are going to be riding tomorrow. Here is a link. The password is adventurides.

The morning Fitness Ride will travel to the beautiful hills of Pepperell and return by way of the old Pepperell & Brookline rail line. A particularly interesting part goes through the Pepperell Ponds on the Nashua River. If we have time, we will do a quick loop through the Groton Town Forest. The route is 16 1/2 miles with a significant amount of civilized off road. Here is a map.

We will get a yummy lunch from the Clover Farm Store in West Groton and have a picnic along the Squannacook River.

The afternoon Recreation Ride will explore along both sides of the Squannacook River. First stop will be the old Leatherboard Mill and then it is on to the Cooperage in Townsend Harbor. From there we will ride a bit of the Squannacook River rail line to the river rapids at Bertozzi WMA. Our final stop is the West Groton Water Department on the mill pond. The route is 11 miles with some civilized off road along the rail line and on our way to Bertozzi. Here is a map.

On Monday, September 21st - We will meet at Cutler Field in West Groton. Here is a map.

At 9:30 AM, the Fitness Ride will leave for Pepperell. Here is a map.
At 11:30 AM, we will have a picnic lunch from Clover Farm Store.
At 12:15 PM, the Recreation Ride will leave for Townsend Harbor. Here is a map.
At 2:15 PM, we will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

This Week - West Groton, Hollis, and South Chelmsford

2009-09-19T19:04:00.000-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

This coming week will be Picnic Week here at AdventuRides. To take advantage of the fine fall weather, we are going to have lunch outdoors this week. On Monday, September 21st, we will have lunch from the Clover Farm Store in West Groton. On Wednesday, September 23rd, we will have lunch on the sidewalk at Martha's Exchange in Nashua. And on Friday, September 25th, we will have lunch from Kate's Corner Store (WOW, are they fast!) at Heart Pond Beach.

Oh yes, we are having rides too :-)

Stay tuned for more information.

Bill and Carole

GO - A top 10 biking day!

2009-09-18T07:50:00.001-04:00

Reminder - Forge Pond Beach Tomorrow + Lighthouse Pictures

2009-09-17T17:41:00.000-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

Fine Fall weather is supposed to return tomorrow! Its supposed to be 60 and sunny in the morning, 70 and partly cloudy in the afternoon.

PortaPotty Warning: There is no PortaPotty at the starting point! There will be some along the ride.

The Recreation Ride will feature one of the wonders of the Merrimack Valley: the Stone Arch Bridge in Westford. We will also visit Nabnasset Lake and possible Burgess Pond. The route is about 12 miles with a some civilized off road and a few hills.

The Fitness Ride will explore Lost Lake, Duck Pond, Massapoag Pond, and Keyes Pond as well as parts of the NA&B rail line. The route is a little over 16 miles with a significant amount of off road.

We will have a Picnic Lunch at Forge Pond Beach and we can get subs at Pizzaria Presti across the street.

On Friday 09/18 we will meet at Forge Pond Beach in Westford.

At 9:30 AM the Recreational ride will leave for the Stone Arch Bridge and Graniteville.
At 11:30 AM we will have a picnic lunch at the beach.
At 12:15 PM the Fitness ride will leave to explore Lost Lake and Massapoag Pond.
At 2:15 PM we will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

PS. Joe sent me some pictures from the Maine Lighthouse Ride. I will post them on the Fall 2009 slideshow.

GO - it will be a bit chilly

2009-09-16T07:50:00.000-04:00

Reminder - Hollis Exploration Ride Tomorrow

2009-09-15T17:09:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

It looks like our mild Fall weather is taking a break for a few days :-( Tomorrow is going mostly cloudy and mid 50's in the morning and near 60 in the afternoon. Dress accordingly.

In the morning we be riding through the farms and orchards in Hollis. After we get to Nashua, we will go to the Merrimac River at Greeley Park and then ride past the fine Victorian homes on our way downtown.

Lunch will be at Martha's Exchange in Downtown Nashua: Great food and micro-brewed beer!

After lunch we will head back by way of Mine Falls Park where we will visit the falls on the Nashua River. Then its back to the farms and orchards of Hollis.

The route is about 25 miles long and is mostly downhill in the morning and mostly uphill in the afternoon. I reversed the ride from last year, so the hills back to Hollis are not as steep and are spaced out. There will be quite a bit of civilized offroad and gravel roads on the route. Here is a map. Everyone is welcome.

On Wednesday, September 16th, we will meet at the Lawrence Barn in Hollis, NH (PortaPotty equipped). The nearest intersection is Depot Road and Richardson Road.

At 9:30 AM - We will leave for Nashua.
Lunch will be at Martha's Exchange in Downtown Nashua.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

New Website Feature

2009-09-14T21:57:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

If you've ever wondered where the heck we went on the rides, there is a new feature on our website. If you click on the "RIDES" link at the top of the page it will take you to the Workout Calendar. Mouse over and click on the ride of interest. This will take you to the Workout Page, click on the Route/Map button to go to the Map of this Route Page. Then click on the map to get a detailed view. Whew ... these free websites are never easy. These are GPS tracks of the actual ride, ... when I remember to reset my GPS.

Beautiful weather, great rides today, 16 miles on the Fitness Ride and 12.5 miles on the Recreation Ride + 5 miles to the end of the rail trail and back. Thanks to everyone who rode with us today!

Bill

GO "Its a beautiful day in the neighborhood"

2009-09-14T07:50:00.001-04:00

This Week - Heart Pond, Hollis, Forge Pond

2009-09-13T15:46:00.002-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

Sorry for the late announcement of this weeks rides, I'm still drying out from yesterday's ride in Portland :-)

Tomorrow's weather is looking fantastic! Sunny and low 60's in the morning and mid 70's in the afternoon.

We will meet at Heart (Hart) Pond in South Chelmsford tomorrow and ride on the new Bruce Freeman Rail Trail to Lowell. The morning fitness ride will return by way of the Lowell Cemeteries and a bit of Great Brook Farm. The afternoon recreation ride will return by way of the Westland area of Chelmsford.

I haven't completely figured out the rides yet, but the recreation ride will be all on pavement and about 10 - 12 miles. The fitness ride will be about 15 miles with some off road through Great Brook Farm State Park.

Please try to be a few minutes early so we can finish the paperwork and be on our way.

On Monday, September 14th, we will meet at Heart (Hart) Pond in South Chelmsford.

At 9:30 AM - The Fitness Ride will leave for Lowell
At 11:30 AM - We will go the Kate's Corner Store to get sandwiches for lunch at the pond.
At 12:15 PM - The Recreational Ride will leave for Lowell.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

On Wednesday, September 16th, we will meet at the Lawrence Barn in Hollis, NH

At 9:30 AM - The Exploration Ride will leave for Nashua, NH.
At 12:30 PM ish - We will have lunch and refreshments at Martha's Exchange in beautiful (really) downtown Nashua.
At 2:15 PM. - We will be back.

On Friday, September 18th, we will meet at Forge Pond in Westford.

At 9:30 AM - The Recreational ride will leave for the Stone Arch Bridge.
At 11:30 AM - We will get lunch from Pizzaria Presti and have a picnic at the pond.
At 12:15 PM - The fitness ride will leave,
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

GO I changed my mind, be prepared for rain.

2009-09-11T12:09:00.001-04:00

STOP rain is on it's way

2009-09-11T11:55:00.001-04:00

GO it's not raining yet :-)

2009-09-11T07:55:00.001-04:00

The rain should hold off until noon. If you are coming for the
afternoon ride, check for updates.

Bill

Reminder - East Pepperell Center Tomorrow

2009-09-10T16:41:00.002-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

The good news is that the rain is supposed to hold off until late afternoon. The bad news is that its going to be cloudy and chilly, upper 50's in the morning, low 60's in the afternoon. Dress accordingly!

Please try to arrive a few minutes early to get all the paperwork done so we can be on our way.
Here is a link to the Registration Page.

A word about bicycle locks if you stay for lunch. We generally don't park the bikes down dark alleys on the wrong side of town :-) and I have a light steel cable and lock that will secure a large pile of bikes. The cable will defeat the best kitchen scissors, but not much else. Of course you can bring your own bike lock for insurance.

The Recreational Ride will go to the Nashua end of the rail trail and return by way of Dunstable for a visit with the alpacas, pigs, cows, Colonel Sanders, and who knows what else. There is a possible side trip to the rapids on the Nashua River if we have enough time. The route is 12.5 miles long, all on road, and pretty flat. Here is a map.

The Fitness Ride will travel up to Hollis, NH. There are some dirt roads on the way, but they are pretty smooth. The route is a bit hilly, but there are really nice views. On the way back, we will visit the rapids on the Nashua River. The route is 14 miles long with the return leg on the rail trail. Here is a map.

On Friday, September 11th, we will meet in East Pepperell Center.

At 9:30 AM - The Recreational ride will leave for the Alpacas in Nashua. Here is a map.
At 11:30 AM - We will have lunch at the Pepperell Spa.
At 12:15 PM - The Fitness ride will leave for hills and views in Hollis, NH. Here is a map.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

Maine Lighthouse Ride - LAST DAY TO REGISTER

2009-09-09T15:47:00.002-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

TODAY is the LAST DAY to REGISTER for the Maine Lighthouse Ride this Saturday! Several of us are doing the 40 mile, 8 lighthouse ride. We can arrange carpools to decrease our carbon foot print.

Here is the website.

The weather has been looking iffy for Portland, but the current forecast is Partly Cloudy, High near 70.

Bill

Registration and Reminder - Forbush Mill Field tomorrow

2009-09-08T15:33:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

The Registration Page is up and (hopefully) running. You can download and review the registration forms for either Littleton Recreation or Acton Recreation. You can fill one out and bring it along to the first ride, or we will have some copies that you can fill out. You can also use credit cards or PayPal at the website, or bring cash or a check to the ride.

Please try to be few minutes early tomorrow so we can get the paperwork done and be on our way.

On our new website, there is a Ride Status block in the upper right hand corner. It is powered by Twitter, and we are still experimenting with it. I will also send out email before 8:00 tomorrow morning with the ride status. You will also notice that this mail gets posted to the website.

The weather is looking pretty nice tomorrow. Low 60's and Partly Sunny in the morning, upper 60's in the afternoon. Oh, I forgot to mention that we will be passing 2 ice cream stands and we will be visiting Mary-Had-A-Little-Lamb's lamb.

We will kick off the season on Wednesday with a brand new Exploration Ride to Lancaster, Sterling, Wachusett Reservoir, and Clinton. Along the way, we will ride past Atlantic Union College, Maharishi Ayurveda Health Center, and the old Lancaster Industrial School. We will also ride parts of the Mass Central Rail Trail on our way to the Wachusett Reservoir. Much of the route is through rolling orchards and corn fields.

We can eat drink and be merry at lunch in Clinton since its only 5 miles back to Bolton.

The route is about 25 miles with some hilly terrain, but nothing like the AltaVista ride. There is also some offroad on the MCRT and some rather broken pavement in places.

On Wednesday September 9th, the first Exploration Ride will meet at the soccer fields on Forbush Mill Road in Bolton. The nearest intersection is Forbush Mill Road and Still River Road (RT110).

At 9:30 AM - We will leave for Sterling and the Wachusett Reservoir..
At 12:30 PM - We will have lunch at the Old Timer Restaurant in Clinton.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back to Bolton.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

This Week - Bolton and Pepperell

2009-09-07T23:36:00.006-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

Can you believe it, our 12th season starts this week!

We will kick off the season on Wednesday with a brand new Exploration Ride to Lancaster, Sterling, Wachusett Reservoir, and Clinton. Along the way, we will ride past Atlantic Union College, Maharishi Ayurveda Health Center, and the old Lancaster Industrial School. We will also ride parts of the Mass Central Rail Trail on our way to the Wachusett Reservoir. Much of the route is through rolling orchards and corn fields.

We can eat drink and be merry at lunch in Clinton since its only 5 miles back to Bolton.

The route is about 25 miles with some hilly terrain, but nothing like the AltaVista ride. There is also some offroad on the MCRT and some rather broken pavement in places.

On Wednesday September 9th, the first Exploration Ride will meet at the soccer fields on Forbush Mill Road in Bolton. The nearest intersection is Forbush Mill Road and Still River Road (RT110).

At 9:30 AM - We will leave for Sterling and the Wachusett Reservoir..
At 12:30 PM - We will have lunch at the Old Timer Restaurant in Clinton.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back to Bolton.

On Friday, September 11th, we will meet in East Pepperell Center.

At 9:30 AM - The Recreational ride will leave for the Alpacas in Nashua. Here is a map.
At 11:30 AM - We will have lunch at the Pepperell Spa.
At 12:15 PM - The Fitness ride will leave for hills and views in Hollis, NH. Here is a map.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

Hope to see you there,
Bill and Carole

AdventuRides Fall 2009 Starts This Week.

2009-09-06T18:31:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

I hope everyone had a good summer, but right now we have a bunch of business to take care of, so PAY ATTENTION

We have made several improvements to AdventuRides.

The Recreation Rides will be easier paced, mostly onroad, with limited and very civilized offroad.
The Fitness Rides will be faster paced with more challenging hills and offroad.
We are adding Exploration Rides on Wednesday's which be longer rides, usually with lunch in the middle.

We've also made registering easier with our new Register and Ride program. You can now register with us at the first ride and we will schlep the paperwork to the appropriate recreation department for you. We accept cash or checks in person, and credit cards or paypal at our website (coming tomorrow).

We still offer two pass options, the descriptions have changed a bit though.

The $80 One Day A Week Pass entitles you to ride one day a week during the season.

You may ride a different day each week if you choose.
You may ride morning and/or afternoon rides on Monday,
OR the Exploration Ride on Wednesday,
OR morning and/or afternoon rides on Friday.

The $120 Season Pass entitles you to all the all the rides you want during the season.

We also have a new website coming tomorrow. Here is a preview.

The new features include the latest news on the front page and a nifty slide show.
A color coded ride status.

No more wondering if I've gotten around to canceling yet.
I will post a GO or STOP status before 8:00 AM for each ride.

And FINALLY, since the weather is supposed to be near perfect this week, I've added a Wednesday Exploration Ride on 09/09/09. Stay tuned for more information.

Hope to see you this season!
Bill and Carole

Let's GO

2009-07-02T19:34:00.001-04:00

Beautiful weather!!!

STOP - Its Raining Cats and Dogs and Walruses

2009-07-02T19:30:00.003-04:00

Today's rides are POSTPONED.

Bill

Reminder - Bolton Center Tomorrow

2009-07-01T17:53:00.001-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

We had a really nice tour of history intensive Lexington and Concord yesterday with Bob and Lee. The rain held off and we didn't need any sunscreen :-)

Tomorrow's weather is looking a bit more iffy. If we need to postpone, I will send out email before 8:00 AM.

Here is the map for the Nashoba Valley Winery / Assebet River Rail Trail route. It starts about a mile from 495 (exit 27) in Bolton Center. I found a ball field with PortaPotty's just down the hill from Nashoba Valley Winery. Here is a map. The route goes over Sawyer Hill (great views) to South Berlin, and Northboro and then Marlboro. We catch the ARRT for a breezy downhill run to Hudson and then head back to Bolton. Its all on back roads with little traffic and about 22 1/2 miles. Here are some pictures that Joe took last fall before the monsoon started.

Thursday, July 2nd, we will meet in Bolton Center.

10:00 AM - We will leave for Berlin and Marlboro.
noonish - Lunch and "refreshments" at the Horseshoe Pub in Hudson.
2:00 PM - We will be back to Bolton
Apres Bike - Wine tasting at Nashoba Valley Winery just up the hill from our starting point.

Hope to see you there,
Bill

This Week: Lunenburg + Party? + Summer Kick Off

2009-06-21T14:23:00.000-04:00

Dear AdventuRiders,

As we slosh our way to the end of our 11th season, we have a bit of planning to do for the End of Season Party. The only day we have available is this Wednesday, June 24th. So, a few questions.

Would you be able to attend?
Do you want a 'ride first - then potluck party'? Any hosting volunteers?
Or a 'ride first - then restaurant party'? Any suggestions?

On Friday June 26th, we are going to join the "Show and Go Adventure" led by our mentors Bob and Lee. We are collaborating with Bob and Lee, and anybody else who is interested, to organize free summer rides, walks, etc. The first ride will be an end to end ride of our very own Nashua River Rail Trail.

The weather tomorrow is not looking promising :-( We rode in the rain on Friday morning and it wasn't so bad, but its supposed to be chillier tomorrow.

We will meet in Lunenburg Center between the Teen Center and the Senior Center.

The morning Fitness ride will go UP to Pearl Hill State Park. There are beautiful vistas along the ridge. I haven't figured out the exact route yet, but it should be about 16 miles, quite hilly, and maybe a bit of off road around the park.

Lunch is at Trudie's Treats of course. Yummy!

The afternoon Recreation ride will explore the farms, fields, and yes, hills between Lunenburg and Shirley Center. This route is also a work in progress, but it should be about 12 miles, hilly with great views, and all on road.

On Monday, June 22nd, we will meet in Lunenburg Center. Google claims its only 17 minutes from Groton Center.

At 9:30 AM - The fitness ride will leave.
At 11:30 AM - We will have lunch at Trudy's Treats!!!
At 12:15 PM - The recreational ride will leave.
At 2:15 PM - We will be back.

Hope the weather cooperates!
Bill and Carole

Favorite Videos

2008-10-25T23:02:00.011-04:00

Other

2008-09-08T00:21:00.002-04:00

Coming Soon

About Us

2008-09-08T00:16:00.000-04:00

Coming Soon

FAQ

2008-09-08T00:12:00.000-04:00

Will this ride be hard and long enough for me?

AdventuRides Fitness rides typically cover sixteen to eighteen miles of roads and wooded trails in about two hours, with some climbing and descending. They are moderately paced, not races, but the uneven terrain can be challenging and tiring.

Will this ride be too hard and long for me?

AdventuRides Recreation rides are more leisurely paced and we try to accommodate the desires and capabilities of the group.

If I can’t keep up, should I turn around and go back?

No. Rides are designed to be comfortable for just about everyone. If however, you find the speed too demanding, we don’t recommend giving up and turning back. We never leave anyone behind: we feel responsible for returning you safely to the starting point and will make an on-the-trail accommodations to assure this happens. If you insist on leaving the group, we will either detach someone to return with you, provide a map, or issue verbal instructions.

May I bring a child?

No. Our routes are not conducive to child carriers or tag-a-longs.

Do you ride in the rain?

No, if there is heavy rain we will reschedule the ride to the end of the session.

What about special clothing?

Wear (or bring in a rucksack) several layers of clothing which can be added, removed, or adjusted as the ride proceeds. We swear by shirts with zippers. A waterproof, wind blocking jacket is a must. You must wear a helmet and may appreciate an ear covering if it is chilly. You will need gloves. A lightweight glove and maybe a glove liner will help in cold weather. Disposable hand warmers available in many sporting goods stores work well if you have a cold-hand problem We also recommend long underwear or fleece-lined tights with wind blocking features. Of course, all of this depends on the temperature and wind velocity. We strongly recommend bicycling shorts with a padded crotch liner. Your body will thank you. By May and certainly June shorts and light shirts will do.

Do I need special equipment?

No, but your bicycle must be in good working order and you need a spare tube which fits your wheel, tire irons, and a frame pump.

How will I know where the starting point will be?

We will e-mail you directions each week. Rides usually start from a location no more than a half hours drive from Groton, Massachusetts.

Do you cancel because of cold weather?

No and Yes. It is possible to dress properly for an enjoyable ride even in New England. However, we have been known to cancel in cold, cloudy, and windy conditions.

Registration Information

2008-09-07T21:01:00.001-04:00

We've made registering easier with our new Register and Ride program. You can now register with us at the first ride and we will schlep the paperwork to the appropriate recreation department for you. We accept cash or checks in person, and credit cards or paypal at our website.

You can fill out either the Littleton or Acton form and bring them with you to the first ride, or we will have copies for you to fill out before the ride. We are waiving all the Littleton extra fees silliness, so it doesn't matter which one you use.

We still offer two pass options, the descriptions have changed a bit though.

The $80 One Day A Week Pass entitles you to ride one day a week during the season.

You may ride a different day each week if you choose.
You may ride morning and/or afternoon rides on Monday,
OR the Exploration Ride on Wednesday,
OR morning and/or afternoon rides on Friday.

The $120 Season Pass entitles you to all the all the rides you want during the season.

Thank You!

Bill and Carole

Snacking Between Rides

2008-06-01T17:47:00.001-04:00

All that riding sure makes a leader hungry ...

How many bikers does it take ...

2008-05-30T17:18:00.001-04:00

... to patch a tire?

Thanks for the picture Carlin!

Last Ski, I Promise!

2008-05-01T14:12:00.000-04:00

Sugarloaf May 1st 2008

8" of new snow!

Not A Good Day To Explore ...

2008-04-28T14:32:00.000-04:00

The new Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

Not The Best Biking Day

2008-04-28T14:26:00.000-04:00

Where The Heck Are We???

2008-04-27T15:58:00.000-04:00

Nashua or Bust

2008-04-23T22:01:00.001-04:00

We explored some really cool areas in Hollis along the Nashua River.

Lunch at Seedlings was good but somewhat forgettable. I think we'll
try Martha's Exchange Brewery in Nashua next time.

We stopped at Mine Falls on the way back for an extended sit-around-
and-enjoy stop.

I picked up this piece of wire on Route 111 and we got an unscheduled
stop to fix my tire.

Nashua River

2008-04-20T16:31:00.000-04:00

One of our rest stops for Wednesday.

Hollis Off Road Map

2008-04-18T21:42:00.002-04:00

Map from Hollis Trails Committee

posted from iPhoneSlide.com