The latest from the Gang ... 

Golf on the Cape was once again played at Blue Rock Golf Course. This year we not only had the normal course hazards, but in the middle of the round, we had a heavy rain storm. It did not stop many in the group. We just played on and had a great time.

The group consisted of four tee times. The first group off the tee consisted of Carol B, Kathleen C and Paula A. The second group was Maureen S, Joan W, Maureen D and Linda MH. Our third group was Ines and Marco A, Dave A, Richard T. And the final group was Maryann D, Pete C, Bob B and Paul MH.

After the round, we had a great time sitting on the club house deck reliving the round over a beer. Fortunately, the deck was covered!

Paul H

On a very warm, sunny day, six members of the Hub Mystery Group met at the State House on Beacon Street. We then walked to our mystery destination at 55 Mt. Vernon Street, the Nichols House Museum. This Beacon Hill Townhouse, built in 1804, was designed by Charles Bullfinch. In 1855 it was purchased by Dr. Arthur Nichols and his wife Elizabeth for its location and architectural significance. The family was involved in the social, cultural and political activities of the time and wanted their three daughters to have the advantages of this area of Boston. The doctor had his office and practice on the first floor of the house and the family occupied the three floors above.
They traveled extensively in Europe and collected artwork, tapestries and furniture with which they decorated their home. This lovely house/museum also includes the handiwork of their three talented daughters. Rose, the oldest, took classes at MIT, was a successful landscape architect, writer, artist and suffragist. Marian, the middle daughter, graduated from Radcliffe, was very involved in local politics and loved driving. One month after the 19th amendment was passed she filed papers to represent her Ward in the MA Legislature. She lost the election, but is remembered as one of the first women to run for office in Massachusetts. Margaret, the youngest and only one to marry, enjoyed athletics and carpentry. She opened her own furniture business and taught carpentry in the North End. All of the women were suffragists and pacifists. The Nichols family had a summer estate in Cornish, NH as part of the artist colony of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the daughter’s “Uncle Gus.” When Rose died in 1960 she had already made arrangements for the house to become a museum and remain as it was when the family lived there.
After this delightful tour we walked down Joy Street to our favorite Italian restaurant for lunch.

Peg T

The “non” West Mystery Group met at the deCordova Sculpture Park in Lincoln MA, a Trustees of the Reservations property.  Despite the very warm temperatures we walked around the park enjoying the varied sculptures and the shade of the trees.  We met one of the Trustee employees who was working on one of the bronze sculptures; when asked what she was doing she explained she was applying bowling alley wax to the sculpture to protect it from the elements.

The park has a new cafe, “The Twisted Tree”, where we had a lunch after as well as some great conversation.

Meredith P

Jayne J, Janet F, Don T, Beverly C, Polly M, Judith L, Cathy A, Neal S, Dan Y, Alan U, Dana R, Kimm & Kenn S

Glorious doesn't begin to describe our bike ride through Amesbury, Salisbury and Seabrook. The sun was out in full force and temps were in low 80s with no humidity. In short, a perfect day for a bike ride!

We started near downtown Amesbury and continued into Salisbury before heading north to the Seabrook line. Most of the trail was wooded providing lots of pleasant shade. After crossing into Seabrook we reversed direction and headed south towards Newburyport passing through extensive salt water marsh. We stopped where the former railroad bridge spans the Merrimack River and Newburyport before retracing our steps to Amesbury where we ended our ride with coffee and lunch. 

Alan U

Part of the Group in Stowe

Rain in the forecast didn’t put a damper on this wonderful trip! It was warm Monday afternoon for the Lake Champlain cruise on the Spirit of Ethan Allen. Members moved around two decks, enjoying the pleasant breezes, or sat inside at tables near the bar for panoramic views of Lake Champlain accompanied by commentary about the history, geography, and culture of the area.

After the boat ride, Gang members walked to Zachary’s for a delicious Italian buffet of salad, ziti, chicken, and pizza before returning to the hotel lobby for hot chocolate, lattes, and warm, chocolate chip cookies.

The weather held Tuesday morning for the 22-mile ride on the Island Line Rail Trail along the shores of Lake Champlain near downtown Burlington, then across peninsulas with glimpses of various bays of Lake Champlain, and finally partway along the Colchester Causeway which extends from the mainland to one of the islands.

After checking out of the hotel Wednesday morning, most Gang members met up in Stowe to ride the Stowe Recreation Path—a charming, 10-6-mile- roundtrip trail with ten bridge crossings over picturesque creeks and many options to access restaurants or comfortable benches along the way. Finally, the Gang stopped at Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream on the road from Stowe back to the highway. The rain held off until everyone was back on Highway 89. It made us realize how lucky we were to have had such a wonderful trip!

Alan U. Text by Anne W.

We had 11 ladies attend our mystery. We visited the beautiful grounds and home of the Stevens- Coolidge House & Gardens in North Andover.

We lucked out with the weather after a rainy week. The gardens were abundant with gorgeous tulips of all shapes, sizes and colors. We all strolled through the gardens at a leisurely pace. The home, originally a farm, that became an estate in the early 20th century, had the original furniture and multiple collections of art from all the family travels. After the gardens some of the ladies enjoyed a lunch at Bertucci's.  

Jane B and Judy T

Alan U, Helgard K, Mary W, Mike V, Jayne J

This ride was rescheduled from the previous week, when we were rained out. We had much better luck second time around as skies, although sometimes cloudy, did not rain on us. This was a beautiful 14 mile round trip ride on a paved trail through woods and along several streams and ponds. And we stopped at a park for our group photo in front of a large metal sculpture of a bicycle. Very appropriate!

Alan U

Alan U, Joel S, Jim W, Sheila P

Once again we set off on our bike ride under cloudy skies from Salem to Derry NH.  This is a beautiful ride through woods and along ponds and streams. On the way through Windham we noticed that the old B&M caboose was opened for visitors today. We were invited in to have a look and then posed for our group photo making for a very special day. We then rode to the end in Derry before heading to downtown Derry for coffee. 
Alan U.

On May 2 on a partly sunny 65 degree day twelve TOHG members walked the Rocky Woods trails in Milford.  Meeting at 9:45 in the Trustee’s parking lot on Hartford St. Kathy White agreed to lead the walk since she was familiar with the area.  We walked about three miles and covered parts of the Ridge, Cedar Hill, Hardwood Notch, Quarry, and Bridle trails.  

The wooded trails were rocky in parts but easily hiked.  We passed the warning sign suggesting that the nesting Turkey Vultures might attack as well as the Whale rock formation.  Wildflowers were starting to show up as well as beautiful green ferns in some of the moister areas.

After the walk we drove to the Blue Moon Cafe in Milford for lunch and sat and chatted for quite a while.  We also welcomed three new members to the gang.

Meredith P

Perry G, Kimm S, Kenn S, Mike V, Alan U, Sheila P, Kate K (front), Elizabeth B, Matt G, James W 

The day started off cloudy, cool and breezy as 10 Gang members gathered at Bedford Depot for a 4 1/2 mile bike ride to downtown Concord. Wild crabapple trees were in bloom and everything looked lush and green. Our ride took us past Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge which we would stop at on the return and eventually to downtown Concord where we stopped for coffee and muffins. On the return we made a short detour to The Old North Bridge where we stopped for a photo op before resuming our return trip. 

Alan U.