Tag: Mattapoisett

Back On The Road And Feeling Good

Source: Garmin Connect for today’s route.

I don’t really care about my average speed, but it is a good indication of improving fitness.  Today was the last warm day for a while and I decided to get one more comfortable long ride under my belt.  Tomorrow is movie day, so I doubt if I will get much of a ride in.  Could happen, but probably not. I didn’t stop much on this 27 mile ride.  I lost two miles on my Garmin trying to figure out again how this Touring one works.

I lost my Edge 200 which is nothing more than an expensive speed o meter.  I do like it for long rides though.  The Touring Garmin I own was used when I downloaded a gps route with turn by turn directions.   The Edge will show up.  I’m guessing when I clean the work bench in my bike shop which was nothing more than a junk draw all summer.

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Abandoned Trail
Abandoned Hiking Trail
Clydesdales 2
Clydesdales
Old House Foundation in the middle of the forest
Old House Foundation in the middle of the woods.
The Bogs Hiking trail in Mattapoisett, Ma
The Bogs Hiking Trail in Matapoisett, Ma

Mattapoisett/Marion, MA Scenic Ride

Gang at Marion Wharf

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CLICK HERE for the Flickr photo album
Nine of us gathered at Stop & Shop in Fairhaven, MA for our 30 mile ride to the coastal villages of Mattapoisett and Marion. Both are small towns with populations of under ten thousand. Both are tourist destinations for those who love Cape Cod but find “the Cape” much too hectic.  Falmouth is a fifteen minute boat ride from either town across Buzzards Bay. Mattapoinsett is where the well to do might summer and Marion is where the “very well to do” summer.  For example, when we pulled in to a Cumberland farms convenience store there was also  a group of five teens on bikes.  One sported a Portland Timbers shirt and I asked if he was a fan and had ever been to a game.  “Actually I live in Portland” was his response.  One of his friends lived in Minnesota and another was from the Chicago area.  All of them said they spend the summers in Marion sailing and playing soccer and lacrosse every day.

Back to the ride.  It was a short ride to the center of Mattapoisett and one section had us portaging our bikes of some nasty rocky sections of the soon to be bike path extension.  The extra work was well worth it when we came to the Mattapoisett River Bridge that was recently installed as part of the extension. The view was spectacular. 

Mattapoisett River

It was around 10 miles on the back roads to get to Marion Center.  The traffic was very light and those who were sharing the roads gave us plenty of clearance.

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The wharf in Marion was abuzz with Portland and Midwesterners preparing for their three hour cruises on Buzzards Bay.

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After visiting the Marion Art Center we set off on our 15 mile ride back to Fairhaven.  We threw in a quick lunch stop in Rochester, Ma  to top off this near perfect day of bike riding.

Rochester center

Marion/Mattapoisett Scenic Ride

Sunday August, 2.

8:15 AM gathering for an 8:30 start.  I’ll be in McDonalds a block away at 7:30 for coffee if you want to join me.

This is a flat intermediate paced ride visiting the coastal towns of Mattapoisett and Marion MA.   There are some spectacular sights on this ride.  Bring your camera. Bring along a lunch if you wish but there are plenty of places to grab a quick bite along the route.  We will be stopping at Plumb Corner for a break and regrouping at the 23 mile mark

Some of the highlights.

  • CLICK HERE for the GPS route
  • Mattapoisett River Crossing at Camp Massasoit
  • Ned’s Point Light
  • Mattapoisett Center and Waterfront
  • Tabor Academy
  • Plumb Corner in Rochester for snacks and rest.
  • Multiple regrouping spots for slower riders to catch up at all road changes and highway crossings.
  • If you don’t feel like riding on the roads you can take the zip line.