Spingtime in Greater Boston is one of my favorite times for cycling. I still try to repeat some of the same treasured routes that I started doing 20 years ago.
Here’s one: a 32-mile ride out in apple orchard country around Littleton, Harvard, Bolton, Lancaster and Boxborough.
I was chafing at the bit to get out there this year, but I didn’t have time until Frdiay. It was a spectacular day, cool and sunny, windy but manageable. I was about a week late for the apple blossoms. There were a few gone-by popcorn-like clusters left. No matter.
The ride was a good, challenging workout and it revived the feelings evoked by the reliable cycles of nature, the countryside i don’t get to see often enough, the rustic scenes that can seem romantic to an urban dweller. When I got home, I quickly put together this rough video.
This was my route:
Start near Exit 39 off Rte. 2 West, just past Rte 495, on Porter Road at Taylor Road.
Porter to end, left on Whitcomb, past the AYH Hostel, continuing on Littleton County Road, right on Cleaves Hill Road, right on Oak Hill Road, down to Harvard Center, Rte 111 north, left on Depot, left on Prospect Hill Road, stop at Fruitlands Museum, right on Still River Road (Rte 110), stop at Bolton Farm Stand at Rtes 117 and 110.
Continue on Rte 110, High Street, right on Center Bridge Road, right on Main Street in Lancaster Center, right on Harvard Road, right on Neck Road, left on Center Bridge Road, cross Rte 110, straight on Old Common Road, right on Old Bay Road (extremely hilly), left on Watoquadoc Road, stop at Nashoba Valley Winery,continue Watoquadoc to end, right on Rte 117, left on Sugar Road, left on East End Way, continue on Stow Road, right on Eldridge, left on Old Harvard Road, left on Burroughs Road, cross Rte 110, Hill Road (extremely hilly), left on Taylor, left on Porter.
It took me a good four hours and at times, I was going 3 miles an hour on the steepest portions, but it was a fun workout. Not one to do every week though.