Sunday, April 8th,  2007 (Easter)
Easter on The Charles
Riders: 9
Mileage:  21 
Terrain: Mostly Flat
Destination:  Arlington, Cambridge, Boston

This was by far the coldest Easter ride we have had in the 7 years we have been doing it.  Still 9 people showed up.  Jack and Bob came as usual.  It have become something of a tradition that Jack takes the lead on this ride and Bob sweeps.  As usual, they did a great job.  We were also happy to welcome Betty as a first timer.

We took pretty much the same route as last year.  Minuteman Bike Path, through Danehy  park, Garden Street to Harvard Square and then the Charles River Bike Path into town.  After a brief stop at a coffee shop on Boylston St, I insisted that we take a picture at the Arthur Fiedler statue on the banks of the Charles.  I thought my fingers were going to fall off while fiddling with my camera.  The swells in the river reflected just how windy and raw it it was.

By the time we reached Davis Square on the way back everyone had split off from the group because of other commitment and the ride ended.  I was very glad to get back to the warmth of my home, but happy to have been out riding.

Saturday, April 21st
Ride For Climate
Riders: 35

Mileage: 23

Terrain: Flat and rolling hills
Destination: Boston, Cambridge, Watertown and Newton
Meeting Place: Old North Church in Boston http://www.oldnorth.com/

On Saturday morning, we met at Old North Church in Boston to accompany David Kroozma and Bill Bradley as they began our journey across the United States to raise awareness of climate change. Reverend Patricia von Handloss of North Church said a blessing for our journey, and then symbolically presented us with two lanterns to symbolize the lanterns that were lit for Paul Revere during the Revolutionary war. The group of 35 cyclists cycled out of the city. Our route was mostly urban, but in the quiet hours of the morning, traffic was light. We arrived in Waltham Center, listed to David and Bill talk about their journey, passed the hat to help them out and bid them goodbye. For the ride back, we split up as people were going in many directions. The group of 5 that I lead took the bike path along the Charles all the way to Central Square in Cambridge where we stopped for lunch then the all headed home.

More picture and are available on the blog at http://www.rideforclimate.com/usa/

Sunday, May 6th

Figure 8
Riders: 17

Mileage:  29 miles 

Ride Leader: Bruce Lederer  617 710-1832 (c)
Terrain: Mostly Flat and rolling hill
Destination:  Concord, Carlisle and Lincoln (map)
Meeting Place: Concord Center parking lot behind the visitors center

The was the first time that I have created a route that goes in a figure 8, allow people to ride end their ride around the half way point and judging from all the new faces, it is something I will do more of.  Of the 17 people who started the ride, 12 were first timers.  The route took us first in a loop out to Carlisle on Lowell Rd, through some back roads I know in Carlisle and the back on River and Monument streets.  After a brief stop in Concord Center the remaining 8 riders road out Elm Street and crossed Route 2 by Emerson Hospital.  We took an immediate right on Old Marlboro Road and wound our way down to Rt 117.  We turned south on Rt 126 and looped back to Lincoln Center and took the usual route back to Walden St with some welcomed downhill and then back to Concord Center.