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• Bike Ride Salem NH to Derry NH Bike Ride and Picnic

  • When
    Thursday, June 05, 2025
  •  
    10:30 AM
  • Location
    Parking lot across the street from former Tuscan Kitchen, 67 Main St., Salem NH

  Register

  

  Join us for a cool ride and picnic as we bike from Salem NH to Derry NH. This trail is mostly shaded, and as we pass through several rock cuts on the trail the temperature drops making for a cooler ride.  This is a paved trail suitable for all bikes.  Approx 20 miles round trip

  Bring your lunch and beverage (no alcohol please) as we will stop at Hood Park in Derry NH for a picnic lunch. There are picnic tables and benches mostly in the shade. There is a Market Basket nearby in Tuscan Village on Route 28 in Salem that sells large premade sub sandwiches for $5.29 if you prefer to buy your lunch. 

   Meet at parking lot across the street from Tuscan Kitchen 67 Main St., Salem NH.  Look for the orange Subaru!  This parking lot is a little tricky to get into if you're approaching from Route 28 so best bet is from Main St. off Route 93 (Exit 2) or from Tuscan Village itself (although it can be done - just pay attention when making the left turn!)

  RIDE DESCRIPTION

  Helmets are required. Tail light or blinker recommended.  Also, bring a spare tube and a water bottle.

  Please be sure to cancel online if you need to or call if canceling day of.

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• Neponset River Greenway Bike Ride

  • When
    Tuesday, June 10, 2025
  •  
    10:30 AM
  • Location
    Pope John Paul II Park, 757 Gallivan Blvd., Dorchester

  Register

  

  We hope you can join us for a short (about 8 miles round trip) bike ride on the beautiful Neponset River Greenway.  The Greenway winds through the Neponset River valley as it goes from Tenean Beach to Mattapan Square.  We'll enjoy views of downtown Boston, the old fashioned trolley car running from Ashmont to Mattapan, the historic Baker's Chocolate building dating to 1765, murals galore, a boardwalk suspended along the Neponset River and plenty of history. The Greenway is fully paved and is suitable for all bikes.

  DIRECTIONS: 

  From the north: Route 93 South to Exit 12. When the ramp ends at Gallivan Blvd at the Staples parking lot, stay right and make an IMMEDIATE right into the Pope John Paul II parking lot

  From the south: Take Roue 93 North to Exit 11 towards Gallivan Blvd.  Follow Granite Ave. over the drawbridge about 1/2 mile to Gallivan Blvd. Take a right at McDonalds.  Follow Gallivan Blvd about 1/4 mile and you will see the Staples parking lot on your right.  Take an IMMEDIATE right into the Pope John Paul II parking lot.

  LOOK FOR THE ORANGE SUBARU

  Helmets are required. Tail light or blinker recommended.  Also, bring a spare tube and a water bottle.

  Please be sure to cancel online if you need to or call if canceling day of.

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• Fairhaven to Mattapoisett Bike Ride

  • When
    Thursday, June 19, 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM
  • Location
    Fort Phoenix State Reservation, Green St., Fairhaven MA

  Register

  

  We hope you can join us for one of the most beautiful bike rides of the year along the southeast Massachusetts seacoast.

  Park at Fort Phoenix State Reservation at Green Street in Fairhaven, MA.  Free parking and restrooms.  We’ll bike on the street for a short distance and meet the Fairhaven bike path. We’ll bike the path onto the Mattapoisett Bike Path to a quiet street, bike that and back to the pathway.

  The ride is approximately 17 miles round trip.  Bring a lunch to eat back at the picnic tables. There is a beach if anyone wants to take a swim.

  RIDE DESCRIPTION

  Helmets are required. Tail light or blinker recommended.  Also, bring a spare tube and a water bottle.

  Please be sure to cancel online if you need to or call if canceling day of.

  
  

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• MARY'S Spring Bike Ride and Potluck

  • When
    Sunday, June 22, 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM
  • Location
    North Billerica MA

  Register

  

  Bike Ride: 10 mile and 20-mile options

  We will meet at Mary's house at 10 AM.   Both rides will have some hills.  Allan G has re-routed Mary's original ride to cut down on some of the bigger hills.  (Ten years ago, we didn’t call them hills.)

  Helmets are required. Taillight or blinker recommended.  Also, bring a spare tube and a water bottle.
  

  We will ride through Carlisle and Chelmsford, stopping for ice cream at Kimball’s in Carlisle, or Great Brook Dairy Farm ice cream also in Carlisle, depending on which option participants choose to ride.  It is on back roads through wooded preserves with water views and abundant sightings of turtles and birds, as well as neighborhoods with lovely homes and landscaping.   

  We will gather at Mary's afterwards for a potluck feast in the back yard. Please bring lawn chairs.

  Bring whatever you want for food.  Mary doesn’t orchestrate the food and no one’s gone away hungry in all these years. 

  Please park only on one side of the street. 

  Mary W

  Please be sure to cancel online if you need to or call if canceling day of.
  

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• Great Herring Pond Kayak

  • When
    Monday, June 23, 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM
  • Location
    144 Herring Pond Rd, Bourne, MA

  Register

  TOHG members are invited to join BASK (Bay Area Senior Kayakers) to paddle on the Great Herring Pond. We will launch at 10:00 am at the Great Herring Pond Access Site. The Great Herring Pond Access Site is located on the Bourne/Plymouth town line. It features a shallow gravel boat ramp, suitable for kayaks and canoes.

  There are no kayak rentals so you must bring your own boat.

  Life jackets are required.

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• TOHG Board Meeting

  • When
    Wednesday, July 09, 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    ZOOM Video Call

  Board Meeting

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• Saco River (White Mountains NH) Canoe or Kayak

  • When
    Monday, July 14, 2025
  •  
    11:00 AM
  • Location
    North Conway NH

  Register

  

  Kayak or Canoe on the Saco River, near North Conway. This trip is a 5-Miles Adventure/2-4 hour paddle.  This adventure is an easy trip that begins from Saco River Tubing Center private 15-acre beach and features pristine sandy beaches and lots of panoramic mountain views.  

  Kayaks: Please email the Saco River Tubing Center at reservations@sacorivertubingcenter.com to reserve your kayak and shuttle.

  Check in at the office of Saco River Tubing Center first (558 White Mountain Highway in Conway). Then go to their boat landing (behind Ruthie's Flower Shop), then they shuttle you to a private put-in spot (behind Abenaki Trail Restaurant), and you float down the river back to the boat landing. 

  The rates are single kayaks $30, double kayaks $50, canoes $40.  Shuttle per person is $10.

  If you bring your own kayak or canoe, you will park your car at the end of the river trip and make arrangements with Saco River Tubing Center for shuttling it to the beginning of the river trip. 

  Life jackets are required.

  Overnight: You will have the option to stay overnight as a guest at the Lawrencian Ski Club Lodge on Sunday, July 13 and / or Monday, July 14 at $40 per night per person, or $80 for two nights.  You need to bring your own sheets, blankets, and towels.  You also bring your own toiletries and pillows.  You'll share bathrooms.  Men and women sleep separately.  The beds are bunk bed style and only the lower bunk bed is used.  Payment is in person at the lodge, to Sandy Spekman (not to the LSC or the TOHG). In case of hot weather, please bring a portable fan. The building does not have air conditioning. 

  You're welcome to stay at your own lodging and meet us on the Saco River. 

  Deadline to register: Monday July 7.

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• Summer Picnic 2025

  • When
    Sunday, July 20, 2025
  •  
    12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    NARA Recreational Facility, 25 Ledge Rock Way, Acton, MA 01720

  Register

  Join us for our Summer Picnic at Nara park.
  

  The Park is located on the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail and the picnic will be preceded by a walk and  bike ride at 10 am on the rail trail for those interested.

  Aside from walking and biking on the Rail Trail, Nara Park has other hiking trail around the lake, or you can go swimming or renting boats and canoes. Also if you would like to play some lawn games, please bring your favorite one with you.

  Parking is free.

  There will be a catered BBQ luncheon including ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, grilled boneless chicken, grilled veggies, baked beans, moroccan couscous, quinoa salad, garden salad, cucumber salad, corn bread, and lemonade/iced tea. Options that are vegan/ gluten free are available (please indicate when you register). BYOB (beer and wine only). If you want to bring appetizers or a dessert to share, these would be welcomed!

  We will again be using the large pavilion with about 20 picnic tables sheltered from the elements.

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• Concord/Sudbury/Assabet River Kayak

  • When
    Tuesday, July 29, 2025
  •  
    10:30 AM
  • Location
    South Bridge Boat House, Rt. 62 (496 Main Street), Concord, MA

  Register

  

  Join us for an interesting trip on three rivers, paddling north to the North Bridge at Lexington and Concord Battleground. The trip begins on the Sudbury River. About halfway there, we’ll paddle up the Assabet River, where you’ll feel like you’ve entered another land. Those rivers turn into the Concord River and the trip continues up to the Battlefield.

  Rentals are $26/hour. People with their own kayaks can launch from the boathouse for a fee of $10. CASH ONLY.

  We will aim for a 2-hour outing.  Bring a picnic lunch and we will try to find a place to gather after the paddle. 

  Life jackets are required.

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• Kayak - Ipswich River

  • When
    Thursday, August 07, 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    230 Topsfield Rd, Ipswich, MA 01938

  Register

  

  Join us for a paddle on the Ipswich River. Meet at the Foote Brothers, Willowdale Dam and paddle up river and come back. This is a 2 hour trip.

  Kayak rental is $40 (42.50 w/tax) for a single or a double kayak. For those making kayak reservations, go to: https://www.footebrotherscanoes.com/planning-your-trip/

  Bring life jackets, paddling gloves, water, snacks.

  Lunch will be held at the Clam Box in Ipswich.

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• Burlington Vermont Bike Trip

  • Start
    Saturday, August 23, 2025
  • End
    Wednesday, August 27, 2025
  • Location
    Burlington Vermont

  Register

  

  Our previous biking trips to Burlington VT have been such a great trip that we're repeating it this year.  This year, however, we have changed our dates to the end of August.  And I promise no snow this year!  

  Once again we'll be staying at The Best Western Windjammer Inn, 1076 Williston Rd., South Burlington VT Tel. (802) 863-1125.  They are again offering TOHG a special rate of just $149.00 per room plus 9% VT state tax, 1% City of South Burlington tax and $2.50 Destination Marketing Fee, per room per night (taxes and fees subject to change).  The room rate includes 2 double beds, complimentary daily full breakfast, complimentary Wi-Fi, complimentary warm cookies and complimentary coffee & lattes in the lobby.  Bikes may be stored in your room.

  We have blocked rooms starting with Sat. 8/23 but please register for however many nights you wish to stay.  For those choosing to arrive on Saturday be sure to detour to Quechee to take in the Quechee Vermont Highland Games and visit me at the Scots Charitable Society tent.

  Reservations can be made by calling the hotel directly at (802)863-1125 (be sure to mention TOHG to receive special rate) or online at https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.46013.html?groupId=J90EU7M1  

  To Register: First call the Best Western  at (802) 863-1125 to make your room reservations for August 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th, and identify yourself with TOHG.

  Please register with TOHG after you made your hotel reservation, to let the leader know you are coming.
  

  If you are sharing a room and each paying separately then you would need to call the hotel directly at (802) 863-1125 and be sure to tell them you are part of the Top of the Hill Gang to get the group rate. Each person must register separately on tohg.org.

  Planned bike rides include Burlington Wildways Ethan Allen Park to Salmon Hole, Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail St. Albans to Sheldon, Island Line Rail Trail Burlington to South Hero Island and Stowe Recreation Path.  All rides weather dependent!  Hybrid, E Bikes and mountain bikes recommended as some of the trails are gravel or stone dust.

  We are also planning on a 4:00pm Monday evening excursion again on The Spirit of Ethan Allen as we cruise Lake Champlain (please call 802-862-8300 and mention TOHG to reserve. Tickets $38.03 per person)

  We will meet as a group at 3:30pm at the ticket booth, 1 College St., Burlington.

  There are 2 paid parking lots near the ticket booth. Pease Lot and Echo Lot parking lots are $3.00 per hour, or use ParkMobile app for a discounted rate.

  Our cruise will be followed by dinner at Zachary's Pizza just a few doors down the street from our hotel at 6:30pm Monday   Cost is $25.00 in cash total each.  Please reserve with Alan Ulrich at massprocess@msn.com directly.

  Tuesday we'll meet at Oakledge Park by 10:00am for our bike ride.  Bike rentals, including E Bikes are available trailside at Local Motion Bike Shop at Mile 2 on the trail.  Anyone renting bikes can meet the rest of the group at Mile 2.  After our ride you may wish to take in the Champlain Valley Fair in nearby Essex Junction!  There are also many other fun attractions nearby including an open glass blowing studio, farm to visit and the Shelburne Museum.

  After check out on Wednesday as we head home we'll stop to ride the Stowe Recreation Path which is about 10.6 miles round trip.  A stop at Ben & Jerry's Factory afterwards is a must!

  To get to the southern trailhead in Stowe from I-89, take Exit 10 onto SR 100. Follow SR 100 N toward Stowe 10 miles, where the entrance to the Stowe Recreation Path parking lot will be in Lintilhac Park on the left next to Stowe Community Church. There is parking for the trail behind the Stowe Communty Church.  This path is fully paved and suitable for all bikes.

  PLEASE PRINT AND SAVE TO REFER TO LATER

  Helmets are required. Tail light or blinker recommended.  Also, bring a spare tube and a water bottle.

  Please be sure to cancel online if you need to or call if canceling day of.
  

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• TOHG Board Meeting

  • When
    Wednesday, September 10, 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Reading Public Library (tentatively)

  Board Meeting

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• TOHG Board Meeting

  • When
    Wednesday, November 12, 2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Boyden Library, Foxboro, MA

  Board Meeting

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• TOHG Board Meeting

  • When
    Wednesday, January 14, 2026
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Reading Public Library (tentatively)

  Board Meeting

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• TOHG Board Meeting

  • When
    Wednesday, March 11, 2026
  •  
    10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Boyden Library, Foxboro, MA

  Board Meeting

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