The latest from the Gang ... 

It was a picture perfect day as blue skies and white puffy clouds greeted six TOHG members as we biked about 14 miles round trip on the North Central Pathway.

We started near several old, perhaps abandoned, mill buildings in Winchendon riding past a lake and stopping for a photo op in front of a large bicycle sculpture. This portion of the trail was newly repaved making for a pleasant ride as we passed woods, bogs and streams towards Gardner. Along our route we passed mountain laurel, a heron, red squirrels and several chickens foraging in the underbrush near the trail edge. 

Shortly after crossing into Gardner the trail came to an abrupt end and although open for riding previously was closed off this time.  At this point we turned around and headed back to Winchendon enjoying the scenery along the way. 

Alan U

Sure to become a Top Three Contender for Most Scenic New England Rail Trail, the Sugar River Rail Trail stretches from Claremont to Newport NH about 9 miles each way on a dirt and gravel bed. 

The trail crisscrosses the Sugar River several times and includes two trestle bridges and two railroad covered bridges. We saw several wild turkeys, beautiful densely wooded portions of the trail, dirt roads and a number of friendly bikers and hikers. We stopped in downtown Newport at an Irish pub for lunch before returning to Claremont and passing the same flock of turkeys foraging in a field. 

Alan U

The weather was more mid summer than Spring as five TOHG members met to ride on the Tri-Community Greenway. 

This ride winds mostly through suburban neighbourhoods as it cuts across the old General Foods (Jell-o) factory grounds, past several cemeteries, Winchester Hispital Oncology Centre and along the Aberjona River and some very welcome shade. We continued along quiet residential streets before passing through downtown Winchester and past the Wedgemere commuter rail station. We elected to go on a bit further to one of the Mystic lakes dams where we stopped to look at cormorants and other birds before resuming our ride and stopping for coffee in Winchester on our return. 

Alan U

Seven TOHG hikers walked trails in Reading Town Forest. 
We walked slightly over three of the seven miles of trails.  It was a very hot and muggy day so we took our time. We crossed over several long boardwalks next to an old cranberry bog.  We also observed many tress that were cut down because they were disease-ridden (many of the logs were still there).  However, the trails were almost totally shaded making the heat less overbearing.  We walked up to the Ipswich River, saw an abandoned beaver dam, a couple of swans and what appeared to be the fireplace of an abandoned cabin next to the Ipswich River swamp.

After the hike, three of us enjoyed a lunch at Half and Half in Reading.

Neal S

Three Hub Mystery group Members visited the Boston African American Museum on Beacon Hill. It is housed in two buildings.  

Above we are pictured in the restored meeting house that was built in 1806 by the black community that lived in the area. It served as an African Baptist Church, a meeting house, and the locale for the first school for black children. 

A guide explained that it was a safe place for early abolutionists to speak freely and many did.T he second building, The Abiel Smith School, the first public school for black children,  opened in 1835. Now it houses an exhibit honoring the highlights of black Boston. 

We then went to Antonio's Cucina for a delicous Italian lunch. 

Merle W

Spring has sprung and four TOHG took advantage of the nice weather to ride the Clipper City Trail in Newburyport.

One of the most scenic rail trails in New England, the trail parallels the Merrimack River as it winds past downtown Newburyport before it heads inland. Along the way the trail boasts numerous sculptures, murals, swings, benches, gardens of various sorts and even a kids train.

The trail is paved and mostly flat making for an easy and enjoyable ride. After we finished our ride we joined three Gang members for an alfresco lunch at the Riverside Cafe. A great day for a ride and to get together with Gang members.

Alan U

Golf on the Cape this year at Blue Rock Golf Course was very different than a number of past years. The sun was shining; it was a cool but comfortable day, unlike the past few years when we played through rain and wind. So to say the least we had a great day as far as the weather was concerned. Although no individual scores were reported everyone had a nice day.

After the round a number of us gathered at Captain Parker’s Pub to replay all the great shots that had been made.

Paul M. 

The cool weather that greeted us on this ride was a welcome relief from the oppressive heat earlier in the week.  We had a large group of 18 who met at the trailhead in Woonsocket to bike about 10 miles to Cumberland RI.  This is a beautiful scenic trail which parallels not only the Blackstone River but also an active railroad utilised by the Providence & Worcester Railroad. 
We passed two dams, bridges, an old barn with picnic tables, a large recreational area but amazingly enough no coffee shops!

Well what's a Gang bike ride without a coffee stop?  When we returned to our starting point most of us went off to the nearby Coffee Connection while a couple of others had ventured off trail in Cumberland to  another coffee shop.

Alan U

North Mystery Group viewed the beautiful Fuller Garden in North Hampton on a lovely warm May Day. We had the place to ourselves and thoroughly enjoyed the peaceful spring setting. 

The formal rose gardens designed in the Colonial Revival style were commissioned during the late 1920s by Massachusetts Governor Alvan T. Fuller and designed by the Olmstead Firm as an ornament to his summer estate.  The meticulously maintained rose gardens with hundreds of varieties begin their season long bloom cycle in late June and continue through October.  The Japanese garden is usually in bloom in May and English the perennial plantings provide a continuous array of color and interest from spring until fall.  A DAHLIA display garden also is full of color all season.  The gardens are lined within large sculpted hedges, and the rose beds are framed in an array of superbly kept turf paths.

Afterwards we enjoyed a delicious lunch at Petey’s Summer Seafood restaurant in nearby Rye, NH.

Sheila P

Eighteen Gang members enjoyed a beautiful day riding from Amesbury to Seabrook NH to the Newburyport line. The trail consisted of paved, gravel and short on road portions as it wound from downtown Amesbury, through woods and eventually to a salt march at the Salisbury/Newburyport line. 

Along the way we stopped at the exact spot where the last successful New England train robbery occurred in July 1926.  The bandits escaped with $65,000 worth over $1 million dollars today in 2026. We also talked about how the “Ghost Trail” got its name. 

The trail was surprisingly quiet so it seemed we had the trails all to ourselves. And what bike ride is complete without a coffee stop at the end where we enjoyed some camaraderie?

Alan U