It was a perfect fall day for riding. After a morning of clearing leaves from the lawn (the downside to fall in NE), I had a couple of hours to head out on some of my favorite roads to enjoy the crisp autumn air. Some sights from along the way:



One of several cow pastures on the route:



I think this one was wondering why some dude in spandex was snapping pictures:



I passed through an apple orchard I hadn't seen before...they have pick your own apples, I think I'll bring my wife and daughter there next weekend.



My destination...the Quabbin Resevoir. It's located here in western Massachusetts, but it serves as the water supply for Boston and other cities in the eastern part of the state.





This is the view from the Enfield Lookout. The town of Enfield, MA once stood where you see the resevoir in this pic. Enfield, and several surrrounding towns, were closed down to be flooded and form the resevoir (I believe in the 1930's).



Me atop the Windsor Dam, lots of folks out enjoying the day, so it was easy to find someone willing to take a pic for me.



A leisurely-paced 32 mile trek with about 1800 feet of climbing. I'll have to head back up there next weekend, there should be even more color on the trees by then!

Yeah, I have to say, it is a great fall weekend here in Mass. Some of the most perfect riding weather that has ever existed on planet earth.

I took a nice ride today up here in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Foliage is in peak season this time of October

Oh I thought you were going to say you did the Great River Ride today in Westfield. 112 miles and ~8500 ft of climbing. It was extremely fun.

Very nice.

Thanks for the post.
I'm missing Fall in Massachusetts.
Down here in Florida taking care of family matters. Hope to be back home and on the bike next weekend.

Nice pics. Yeah, it was pretty nice today. I spent the day "biking" the Concord River in a canoe with my wife. Not quite as fast as the two-wheel variety.

nice pictures. I'm (theoritcally) at the other end of the seasons. The trees are just starting to come into blossom.

nice colors. thx.

Thanks for sharing the pics - they're very nice.

There is a possibility of the wife and I moving to New Hampshire - I'm excited to see trees, water, and the fall colors.

My favorite ride which I've done this same week for the past 3 years - start at White Lake St Park in Tamworth, ride up 16 to the Kank, and then riding the Kank over to Lincoln.
It's specatular enough to make you not notice all the traffic and tour busses.
My favorite part of the ride is coming into Lincoln and stopping at the little coffee shop/ bakery for a hot cup and a muffin.
The Woodstock Brewery isn't a bad endpoint either.

nice photos. thanks.

Thanks for posting. I can feel the cool crisp air.

No such thing as autumn here IMO it's the best riding season, all the fitness of summer with nice cool temps.

Look forward to more.

According to the news this morning, the foliage should just about be hitting peak color when you get back.

Nice pics Steve.

Yeah, I'm lovin' it in New York.

I've been riding everyday since I got my bike back from the shop.
I missed riding all summer (too busy with work),
but I'm taking advantage of the great riding weather now.

Great pics.

I haven't ridden in Western Mass much but I was hiking out there this weekend at a couple of places off RT. 2...High Ledges in Shelburne and off the Mohawk Trail in Charlemont.

We also checked out the east portal of the Hoosac Tunnel in Florida. Very cool. And my god there are some massive, massive hills out there. Whitcomb Hill Rd. in Florida looks like an absolute beast.

Wow OP you and me had the same idea. I took a few rides in the Worcester area this weekend, specifically to the Worcester Reservoir. Truly is a beautiful day and a great time of year to go both riding, and apple picking (My second favorite thing to biking is PYO apples)

Very nice post, Steve. This week I've ridden to Hollis, NH twice (76 mile solo and 62 mile group rides) and Nashoba Winery (38 mile group ride). Very close to peak color in NH. I live in Acton, so I aim for Wachusett instead of the Quabin, but my son went to UMass Amherst and I love that area. I wish loops around the Quabin were only about 60 miles.

What a great time of year in NE!

It is here in the Monadnock region for sure. In fact, I'm hiking Monadnock today. Did 30 miles around Peterborough/Hancock yesterday and the colors were pretty electric.

Nice pictures. It was a great weather riding weekend in Central NY as well, though I didn't bring my camera.

Exactly.

Quabbin?!?!? I live in Uxbridge and went to Holy Name for high school. Nice to see a fellow BF member is so close.

But while yesterday was gorgeous and today is better, I was stuck doing work on my thesis...the downside of being a senior in college. Would have gone for a ride here but I wouldn't trust this campus with my new Tarmac Expert and we can't keep our bikes in our rooms

Beautiful. I miss it there. Go ride up Mt Holyoke for me - another thread got me missing it.

i give this thread a seal of approval.

yep. That ride needs distinct attention. It is an extreme version of Steve's inspiration. Where Steve balances views, riding, climbing and the Fall season, the GRR hammers those things