Biking and Breakfast

 It's our first Wednesday Wandering! 

Due to the predicted very warm weather we decided on a short bike ride on the Nashua River Rail Trail with a stop mid-point for breakfast at Breen's Diner in Pepperell, Massachusetts.  

It was time to try out the new bike that Gerry built for me last year to replace my ancient Fuji Palisades (the bike I bought after we got married). We opted to bring both of my bikes in case there were any issues in the fit. The parking for the Nashua River Rail Trail is pretty good so we chose to park in Groton. The parking area is right next to the trail so it is easy getting on and off the trail. 

The trail was fairly quiet due to it being a weekday and the early hour of our ride.  Being my first ride of the year my butt was a little sore and the new bike seat was a little light on the padding. Gerry was kind enough to swap bikes with me for the one with a more padded seat. My bike mechanic will make adjustments as needed (mirror and case for my phone will be nice additions).  

We briefly stopped at a section of the trail by the river where it was visible to take a few pictures and enjoy the peacefulness that riding in the woods offers. The birds were quite chatty but no sightings of any wildlife (well of the non-human kind).  What is nice about this rail trail is that there are not many road crossings and it passes through a lot of old farm land and areas where the river is pretty visible.  The ride north Gerry says is downhill but it seems pretty flat to me. The whole trail is 12.3 miles but that is more than what I wanted to do today.

We dismounted in Pepperell, locking our bikes in racks next to the trail, to have breakfast at Breen's Diner. It is a small spot right across the street from the rail trail . Having been there before with friends I was not new to Breen's but it was Gerry's first time. The food and coffee is always good. It was fairly busy when we arrived and it was completely full by the time we left.  The decor has a 50's feel to it with a few booths and a long counter with stools like the ones you sit on and spin around. There is a juke box in the back and lots of cool knickknacks to look at.

I had not believed Gerry when we said we had ridden downhill until the ride back where it was necessary to downshift in some spots. But really it is a flat trail for the most part. I am sure being out of riding shape and having just had a yummy breakfast contributed to being slower on the way back. According to my FitBit I was averaging 4.1mph which is decent I guess for it being a leisurely ride. No Tour de France stage wins for us but it was a fun time out.  

Now time to decide on our next wandering locations...