Quite a large group amassed at Pulaski Park for the 9 AM departure of the SMR.  I think we had a dozen at the start, and we picked up Wendy K. at NHS, for a baker's dozen.  We went out to Burgy using the old TNR loop route- Audobon to South St.  Then, up Ashfield Rd to Ludwig.  Several regroupings along the way to keep us all together as much as possible.  Muggy conditions and some damp roads, but no rain.  We zoomed down Brier Hill to Creamery, then a short jaunt on 112 to 116 (aka Spruce Corner Rd).  I think that we lost a couple of riders along this stretch (Tim Pitken, Big Mig Hempstead, and then, Tim Cary), and we turned left onto Pleasant, which was aptly named- a little climb, then a sweet descent.  

We detoured off piste to refuel at the Cummington Creamery, and we were both surprised and delighted to find Big Don W. Frank there!  He had started the ride with us, but took a more direct route to Cummington.  Next, we took Fairgrounds Rd, and we were treated to a pastoral view of a doe and her fawn crossing in front of us.  The descent from the Fairgrounds to the Chesterfield Gorge was fun, but the climb up to Chesterfield Center wasn't.  Then, a right on South St with a nice descent followed by a couple of painful hills.  Finally, down the lower part of Chesterfield Rd to Reservoir Rd to Leeds, to the Rail Trail.  Most of the group was flying on this final portion.  I had 53 miles, about 3:45:00, and about 3650 feet of elevation (I was having Wahoo issues, so the numbers are estimates.)  It was a solid ride.  I have a nice photo of the group which a nice woman kindly took for us when we were at the Creamery, but I can't figure out how to upload it here.