Forty Miles for the MUP

The Friends of the Mattapoisett Bike Path sponsored a ride to raise money and awareness to complete that towns section of the tri town bike path extension. Seven of us chose the 40 mile option. The ride from Mattapoisett to Wareham and back.

The start was a little over 2 1/2 miles from my house and I was able to ride there mostly on the old rail bed that has not yet been converted. It's a really beautiful section, as you can see.



Being the first organized riding event for the committee they kept their goals to a minimum and they were easily exceeded. They offered a very basic flat ride through the towns of Mattapoisett, Marion, Wareham, Rochester and Acushnet MA. placing water stops and people to direct the riders at what could have been confusing turns. The seven of us saw a few larger groups of riders going on shorter rides that originated on one of the other two towns involved in the event. A nice mix of country roads, waterfront streets and lakeside avenues kept the ride interesting and the sights always changing.
Riding under the RR


Lakeside Avenues


Country Roads


Turn here (after I take your picture)


Posse path crossing.


Saddle sores and cramped legs were the only complaints about this ride. Being the first long ride of the season for many and temperatures topping off at 95F, make those very understandable. Everyone would do it again next week if were offered though.

We all hope for another of these events and suggest that the organizers get more press from the local daily papers. The general consensus was that the long ride numbers would increase ten fold if the word got out to the larger cities. There is a very big bike community in the area and a solid fund raising ride could attract those riders in big numbers. Comments like that are a testament to the organizers. It was done well, and we want more, more.