Top of the Hill Gang upcoming events

Patriots Day Week Bike Ride Bedford to Concord (Tuesday, April 21, 2026)

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Come join us as we ride back through history along the Reformatory Rail Trail from Bedford Depot to downtown Concord. We will pass the Great Meadows National WIldlife Refuge and Revolutionary War markers before stopping for coffee and a bite in downtown Concord before continuing on to the Old Manse and Old North Bridge.

This is an unpaved trail (hard pack dirt mostly) about 8 -10 miles round trip. Suitable for hybrid, mountain E bikes and most street bikes.

Meet in the parking lot behind Bikeway Source at 111 South Rd. Bedford and 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.

Private Tour of The Museum of Printing (Wednesday, April 22, 2026)

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT

The Museum of Printing is dedicated to preserving the history of printing, graphic arts, and typography while showcasing their continuing influence on our culture. In addition to many special collections and small exhibits, the Museum contains hundreds of antique printing, typesetting, and bindery machines, as well as a library of books and printing-related documents.

CORRECTED Cost: $10, per person, be collected that day. Please bring exact change, thank you.

Limited to 15 guests.

Lunch will follow at Yalla's Middle Eastern Restaurant in Methuen immediately following our tour.

Reading Town Forest (Wednesday, April 22, 2026)

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Join Neal for a walk in the Reading Town Forest.

The Forest is about 300 acres and includes about 7 miles of trails. We will hike a total of perhaps three to four miles (Level 2) through a swamp on a short boardwalk to the Ipswich River and then hike along the river for about a mile and return. It is a well defined path with some rocks and roots. It is relatively flat with some short climbs. All of the trails are tree covered. You will want bug spray and hiking shoes and a water bottle

There are no restrooms on the trails, but you can use the bathroom at Neal's house if necessary. Leashed dogs are welcome. You can find more information about the forest on Google though they describe only an inner loop trail of 1.9 miles.

After the hike, we can eat lunch/breakfast at Half and Half (607 Main Street) in downtown Reading or one of the other restaurants in Reading.

PEM - East India Marine Hall (a National Historic Landmark) (Thursday, May 21, 2026)

Thu, 21 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

SAVE THE DATE

Let's do a deep dive into PEM's first home in 1825 (when PEM came out of homes and store fronts and found its way into the realm of becoming a world class museum in Salem, MA!) Let's have fun learning about some of the earliest acquisitions for the museum and the stories they tell.

Limited to 20 people.

$5.00 cash to be collected on that date (no memberships or passes, please).

Lunch to follow, location TBD.

2026 Cape Cod Weekend - Early Bird Golf (Thursday, May 28, 2026)

Thu, 28 May 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Come play golf at Blue Rock Golf Course on
Cape Cod.

Course Website: www.bluerockgolfcourse.com
Club House: 508 398 9295

We have arranged five tee times, starting at 11 am, please arrive at 10:30 am. It is an 18 Hole Par Three / Executive course.

The cost for the 18 holes with a cart is $85 per person,, and it includes taxes and fees. TOHG has to pay for the whole group ahead of time, so please pay at registration.

Cancelations have to be made before May 23. After May 23, registration cannot be refunded, unless we can find a golfer to replace you. All refunds will lose the 3% Credit Card fee per the refund policy.

Please bring your equipment, water, sunscreen and a hat.

2026 Cape Cod Canal Lunch and Bike or Walk (Thursday, May 28, 2026)

Thu, 28 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Join us for a Thursday, early bird bicycle ride or walk along the south side of the Cape Cod Canal.

We will begin with lunch at Seafood Sam’s at noon.

After lunch we will move our cars and bikes to the Canal Recreation Area Parking lot to begin our ride or walk, less than a mile away. The trail begins there and runs about 8 miles with benches, restrooms and scenic sites available at various points along the way.

Riders can go on their own and can stop and turn around at their discretion. Water bottles, helmet and an extra tube are required.

Cape Cod Weekend 2026 (Friday, May 29, 2026)

Fri, 29 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Cape Cod Weekend 2026

Join The Top of the Hill Gang for a great weekend of biking, golfing, kayaking, walking and socializing.

We have reserved 50 rooms once again at the Bayside Resort Hotel. Check in starts at 3:00PM.

The cost is $230.00 per person double occupancy or $450 single occupancy, and includes two nights lodging, a Friday night pizza party, nightly cocktail hours, and two breakfasts.

The Captain's room will be available to us Friday through Sunday. Details on bike rides, kayak, and golf will appear in the newsletter and on the calendar website, with separate registrations.

Registration for Lodging at Bayside:

Registrations are accepted on a first come first serve basis. Please don't delay and pay with your credit card by May 2 when we must release the unused rooms.
Payment must be received to be considered confirmed.
No refunds for cancellations after May 2, unless someone can be found to take your place.

Roommates:

If you need a roommate please use the Roommate and Carpool page under the calendar menu.
Each Roommate needs to register separately to be included in the count.

TOHG membership dues must be up to date.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

We start Friday at 10 am on the Shining Sea Bike Path (GPS: 1 Depot Rd - Extension Route 151, North Falmouth, MA 02556). The ride is open to all members, no registration required. This bike path is a very scenic ride from North Falmouth to Woods Hole, a flat 22 mile round trip. Feel free to bring your lunch or enjoy one of the eateries in Woods Hole. Please don't ride alone, at the parking lot wait for others to be ready and ride in groups. There is no ride leader.

NOTE FOR 2026: Park at Shining Sea Bikeway Parking North or 33 County St North Falmouth MA

REMINDER FOR ALL BIKE RIDES: WEAR A HELMET, CARRY A SPARE TUBE, AND WATER AND DO NOT RIDE ALONE.

2026 Cape Cod Weekend Activities & Pizza Party - Not Staying at Bayside (Friday, May 29, 2026)

Fri, 29 May 2026 14:01:00 GMT

SELF LODGING MEMBERS ONLY. Only register if you are NOT staying at the Bayside Resort.

(The Cape Cod Weekend lodging registration at Bayside Resort includes the Pizza Party)

Join The Top of the Hill Gang for a great weekend of biking, golfing, walking, kayaking, and socializing.

If you are making your own lodging arrangements and already have a place to stay at the Cape, you are invited to join the group for all activities and social gatherings. There is a $10 flat fee to cover the expense of the Pizza party on Friday at 5 pm but everything else is free. Please pay online with your credit card.

Please register to let us know you are coming so we can provide enough food for the party.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

We start Friday at 10 am on the Shining Sea Bike Path (GPS: 1 Depot Rd, North Falmouth, MA 02556). The ride is open to all members, no registration required. This bike path is a very scenic ride from North Falmouth to Woods Hole, a flat 22 mile round trip. Feel free to bring your lunch or enjoy one of the eateries in Woods Hole. Please don't ride alone, at the parking lot wait for others to be ready and ride in groups. There is no ride leader.

REMINDER FOR ALL BIKE RIDES: WEAR A HELMET, CARRY A SPARE TUBE, AND WATER AND DO NOT RIDE ALONE.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Meet on Saturday at 10 am at the Bayside parking lot. Bike ride destination will be announced at the Pizza Party.

2026 Cape Cod Weekend - Saturday Kayak - Swan River (Saturday, May 30, 2026)

Sat, 30 May 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Join us for our paddling outing on the Swan River. Bring water, snacks, a hat, and your enthusiasm.

* Exact time will depend on the tides.

Kayak rental at Cape Cod Waterways.

Single kayaks for $25 for one hour $32 for two hours. Additional hour $15.

Life jackets are provided and required!

Learn to play Canasta - A Strictly Social Event (Wednesday, June 17, 2026)

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Save the date

Canasta is all the rage these days. Let’s learn the game together and have some fun. Please join us if you already know the game! All levels of players are welcome! Limit 12

Alnoba Art Park Tour (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

SAVE THE DATE

Join Beverly and Marina for the 3rd art tour at Alnoba, a retreat and leadership center where art awakens the spirit and refreshes the soul.

This tour will take us to the "other side" of the property . . . the side we have not yet explored!

Join Beverly & Marina once again for this popular tour in beautiful Kensington NH followed by lunch.

Visit the Alnoba's website for more information and directions.

This is a rain or shine event! The price is $10.00/per person, paid in cash to Beverly at the event. Limited to 20 people.

We will meet in the parking lot of Alnoba at 10:00 a.m.

MARY's Spring Bike Ride and Walk and Potluck (Saturday, June 27, 2026)

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT

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.)

Mary does not have a leader for the 20-mile ride. If someone would step up to do this, I’d appreciate it. I have maps and crib notes for it. Please let me know. Call or text Mary, to get together before the date to go over the ride if you would like.

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

For members who prefer to walk, there will be a trek through the woods down the street from Mary's house the same day.

We will gather at Mary’s afterward for a potluck feast in the back yard. Please bring lawn chairs and whatever you want for food. Mary doesn’t orchestrate the food, but no one has gone away hungry in all these years.

Please park only on one side of the street.

Mary W

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.

Summer Picnic 2026 (Sunday, July 19, 2026)

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT

SAVE THE DATE

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.

Registration closes on Monday, July 13.