Home to Hudson Overnight Bike Tour - Day 1

Shortly after returning from my Maine bike tour I begin planning a second overnighter. I like maps and designing routes, whether for running, hiking or cycling, is a process I’ve always enjoyed. I live approximately one mile from the East Coast Greenway (ECG) where it passes through Saugus on the Northern Strand Community Trail. I cross-referenced the ECG map with the Atlantic Coast Route (ACR) trail map to see if the routes intersected nearby as they do in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. By comparing maps, I could see that the trails intersect in the town of Berlin approximately 33 miles west of my hometown.

The ECG travels in an east-west direction through Berlin while the ACR travels in a north-south direction. (The East Coast Greenway has been rerouted since my ride and no longer goes as far west as Worcester before turning south to Rhode Island, thereby shortening the distance to Providence by 30 miles.) Further investigation of the ACR map revealed a Boston spur to Alewife station in Cambridge via the Minuteman Bikeway. From there I could use city streets through Somerville and Charlestown to get back on the Northern Strand and home.

My plan for this overnighter was to ride 47 miles on the ECG from Saugus to Hudson on day 1. On day 2, I would pick up the ACR in Berlin, turning north towards Littleton. In Littleton, I would take the Boston spur for the return to home. This would make for a 57 mile ride on day 2 and 104 total miles for both days. Total elevation gain would be approximately 3,500 feet.

Home to Hudson Loop via the East Coast Greenway and Atlantic Coast Route

OK, I may love maps but you're probably bored out of mind by now so let's get on to the ride itself.

Day 1
Distance - 74.7 kilometers (46.4 miles)
Elevation gain - 484 meters (1587 feet)
Max Grade - 10.6%

Home to Hudson via the East Coast Greenway

After breakfast and some last minute packing I departed my house at 10:30am. The forecast called for a sunny, 70 degree day. Perfect riding weather! I was soon on the Northern Strand riding through the cities of Revere, Malden and Everett. It's a nice local bike path but there are too many busy street crossings in Malden. After passing under Route 16 I took the Mystic River path to the Encore Casino. 

I couldn't afford to lose any money so I kept riding.

Crossing the Route 99 bridge over the mystic river, the ECG is well marked through Charlestown. I commuted to work for years over the Tobin and Zakim bridges but it was an entirely different perspective riding my bike under them. Pretty cool! Before reaching the Charles River I rode past the Charlestown Naval Yard and the USS Constitution. I'm embarrassed to admit I didn't even notice the old ship as I was more concerned about avoiding tourists and pedestrians out for a stroll on this fine day.

Riding under the Tobin Bridge in Charlestown

Paul Revere Park Playground under the Zakim Bridge

The next 12 miles were traffic-free riding on the Dr. Paul Dudley White bike path which parallels the Charles River. As I passed the Charles River Canoe and Kayak launch area I saw a woman waving at me. At first I thought it must have be meant for another person but when she asked if I was riding the East Coast Greenway I knew she was waving at me. She was with Timberline Adventures in Colorado and co-leading a 825 mile guided tour on the ECG from Calais, ME to New York city. She was waiting for a few cyclists on the tour who were spending some extra time exploring Boston. I explained I was only out for a two day ride but would like to do a longer tour in 2023. 

The bike path in Boston and Alston-Brighton was paved and exposed to the sun. Although it was late September, I was feeling the heat of the sun beating down on me. When I reached Watertown I was pleasantly surprised to find dirt paths meandering under a canopy of trees. It felt much cooler in the shade. The ECG was not marked and I made a wrong turn when leaving the river behind. My GPS quickly alerted me of my error and I was back on track again.

Charles River in Boston

View of Charles River in Watertown

After two miles of busy traffic on Route 117 in Watertown, I reached the Mass Central Rail Trail in Weston. I enjoyed this quiet, four mile trail knowing Route 27 was soon to follow. I was not looking forward to this twisting, two-lane road with little to no shoulder. Leaving the trail, I took a short break at the Wayland Country Club to refill my water bottles.  I saw several golfers enjoying an alcoholic beverage in the afternoon sun. I thought to myself, "I hope they're not heading in my direction any time soon".

This train depot in Weston has seen better days. So have I.

Mass Central Rail Trail in Weston (photo taken from Google)

The next 14 miles on Routes 27 and 62 were a little stressful. I was constantly checking my mirror for oncoming traffic. Most drivers were courteous and gave me plenty of room but occasionally vehicles passed a little to close for comfort. I did get a short reprieve from traffic when I reached the Assabet River Rail Trail. My lower back had been bothering me for the past few miles so I stopped here to do some stretching and take ibuprofen. The stretching seemed to help and I rode pain free to my destination for the evening.

Google image of a narrow, shoulder-less street I had to ride. Traffic was heavy when I rode it in the afternoon.

Old boxcar on the Assabet River Rail Trail

After all the hectic miles, I was relieved to reach the Holiday Inn Express in Hudson. It was directly on the ECG route and the only lodging option. It was fitting that the final mile to the hotel was uphill. After checking in and getting to my room, (not easy getting a fully-loaded bike on a small elevation) it was time for a well-deserved shower. The only thing left to do was to eat, rest and do it all over again tomorrow!

Day 2