Wow!  I know that I'm biased, but I have to say that today's NCC SMR was supercala fragalistic, expialidocious!  The combination of gorgeous weather, beautiful roads and scenery, and a better than expected attendance resulted in a memorable day of cycling.  

I expected a low turnout, having posted the ride on Friday afternoon.  I flatter myself that I planned the route on Ride with GPS, figured out how to load it onto the NCC calendar, and even got it loaded onto my Wahoo, no small feat for a Boomer of such limited intellect.   Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?  Only three had signed up on the app in advance, so I was pleasantly surprised to have eight arrive to Pulaski Park for the 9AM start.   I had sent out some personal invitations via text, which I think helped.   The crew included (but was not limited to) a special guest appearance by Owen Wright, a bona fide professional who rides for the Mexican team Canel's-Java.  The slackers in attendance included yours truly, Juff Barron, Mig Hempstead, Timmy Pitken, Madelyn Nage, Conan Deady, and Andy MacDonald.  

We went out on Rte 9, then took Maynard to Federal to Nonotuck to avoid the heavy construction in front of the high school.  Up Spring and into Leeds, then past Musante Beach.  Right on Chesterfield Rd, to Montague Rd, into Westhampton.  Then, North Rd to Hathaway, and from there came the big challenge of the day.... King's Highway.  This is a steep climb with pitches in the teens, and which turns to gravel after a brief section of 22+ %.  After that, Northwest Rd is no picnic either, followed by the up and down of Damon Pond Rd, into Goshen.  Rte 112 to Steady Lane, Norris Hill and Rte 116 led us to a new refueling stop called the Laughing Crow.  It had been recommended to me by Pamela Blalock.  The scones were excellent, but the popovers that she endorsed were sold out.  Andy, Mig, Juff, and Owen went their separate ways at this point, leaving me, Madelyn, Conan and Tim to enjoy Baptist Corner and Shelbourne Falls Rd.  Fun roads, minimal vehicles, and excellent scenery!  We came home on Mountain St., and North Farms.  We were done by 1 PM.  I had 57 miles, 3:33, and 3,759 feet of elevation gained.  Fantastic day, IMO.  

P.S. There's a group photo on my Strava feed, but I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out how to upload it here.  Epic fail!  I guess I flew too close to the sun.