Maintenance is a fact of life. As much as we’d like to simply have things work, there are times we have to spend time (and money) and effort to maintain things we depend on. We had put off getting our adaptive tandem repainted, but rust is a serious concern on a steel bike, so off it went last month to Pike Powdercoating of Allston, in an effort to protect the bike from rust. It was wonderful to get it back and take it for its first test ride, out on the Upper Charles Trail in Holliston.
This adaptive tandem, constructed by Roulez Cycles of Lynn is one of a kind, and required a lot of care to make sure we would be able to put everything back together when we got it back from painting. We were blown away with the care Pike Powdercoating took in carefully removing rust and paint that was there and baking on the coats of paint that we hope will keep the bike safe for years to come. It looks beautiful!
We were grateful for the bike repair station set up along the trail, and added some air to our tires before heading out on a ten mile jaunt.
We wanted to see the new finished section of trail into Sherborn, but started west of the Phipps tunnel and headed towards Holliston Center from there. We were dismayed at the damage recent storms have inflicted on the infrastructure of the trail itself. The east side retaining wall of the tunnel has been seriously undermined, and granite blocks have been dislodged and are in danger of collapsing.
Trails are not simply places to get daily exercise. We saw numerous memorial benches along the way, reminders that these are special places of remembrance. The flowers, kindness rocks, and other additions to these memorials make these a place to keep memories alive.
Some new picnic tables have been added north of where Rt. 16 crosses the bike path (near the Sherborn line). In one clearing next to the wetlands area, we spotted a small bunny.
Another stretch of quiet water next to the trail offered a Great Blue Heron a great fishing spot.
The finished surface as we crossed into Sherborn is a welcome contrast to the mud that used to wait for us at the town line. It is difficult to know if this is a final plan for the continuation of the trail, where the finished surface veers off sharply to the left. The historical path of the rail road remains quite muddy, nearly under water.
We wondered if the developers of the nearby condo housing created this finished trail as part of an agreement with the town. If so, it is really designed for walking. The width is narrow for standard rail trail development (just about six feet). Regardless, whatever has gotten done is welcome. Happy trails!
Marjorie
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors, and is the author of Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, More Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, Easy Walks and Paddles in the Ten Mile River Watershed, and Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are. Her memoir, the backstory of Easy Walks, is My Liturgy of Easy Walks: Reclaiming hope in a world turned upside down.
Marjorie Turner Hollman 
Very well written post, the pictures made it more interesting. I’m glad I came here.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Sara. You are most welcome!
Hi Marjorie — I had read that the Open Space Plan for Sherborn included the extension of the rail trail in Sherborn behind the Barber Reservation, to the Framingham town line. A Sherborn friend says it’s still a wish, but may be a long time before it’s completed
Indeed, it takes a long time to get these trail projects from the wish position to the reality. Here’s hoping!