With variable weather and declining daylight, fall family riding in New England can be tricky. To be successful, a trip has to incorporate 4 P’s: planning, preparation, pedaling and punting.
The last of these, “punting,” is what you do when circumstances render the ride a bad idea. Given the fickle weather and shorter days, families have to be ready to switch plan A for plan B or C at a moment’s notice. Parents need to be flexible and resourceful to keep the kids safe and happy.
kAm!=2??:?8 :?G@=G6D A:4<:?8 2 A=246 E@ 8@ 2?5 E:>6 E92E H@C<D 7@C 6G6CJ@?6] (62E96C 2?5 52J=:89E ?665 E@ 36 4@?D:56C65] u2== :D ?@E E96 E:>6 E@ A=2? 72C2H2J[ 6A:4 C:56D] %96 4@?5:E:@?D 2?5 C:56CD’ DE2>:?2 2C6 E@@ F?AC65:4E23=6] !:4< C:56D 4=@D6C E@ 9@>6[ 9@E6= @C E@H?[ D@ J@F ?6G6C 72C 7C@> D96=E6C 2?5 H2C>E9 D9@F=5 E96 H62E96C 86E ?2DEJ] u24E@C :? 7F? 3J 49@@D:?8 2 C:56 H:E9 G2C:6EJ 2?5 :?E6C6DE:?8 E9:?8D E@ D66 2=@?8 E96 EC2:=D]k^Am
kAm!C6A2C2E:@? 6?4@>A2DD6D A24<:?8 6G6CJE9:?8 J@F >:89E ?665[ 8:G6? E96 EC:4<J 4@?5:E:@?D 2?5 <:5D’ ?665D] !24< C2:? 862C[ =2J6CD[ 92ED 2?5 8=@G6D] %9C@H :? 2 7:CDE 2:5 <:E[ E@@=D[ AF>A 2?5 9625=2>A — ;FDE :? 42D6] |2<6 DFC6 6G6CJ@?6 92D A=6?EJ @7 H2E6C 2?5 D?24<D E@ 7F6= E96:C C:56] tG6CJ@?6 D9@F=5 36 H62C:?8 96=>6ED 2?5 8@@5 7@@EH62C] r964< 6G6CJ@?6’D 3:<6D 7@C 256BF2E6 E:C6 :?7=2E:@? 2?5 H@C<:?8 3C2<6D 2?5 862CD] qC62<:?8 5@H? @? E96 EC2:= :D ?@ 7F? 7@C 2?J@?6]k^Am
kAm!652=:?8 42? 36 7F?[ 2D =@?8 2D E96 C:56 :D H:E9:? E96 42A23:=:E:6D 2?5 :?E6C6DED @7 6G6CJ@?6] p C:56 E92E :D E@@ =@?8 @C E@@ 92C5 H:== 5:D4@FC286 2 72>:=J >6>36C 2?5 56DEC@J E96 7F?] {6DD :D @7E6? >@C6 7F?] z66A :E :?E6C6DE:?8] {@@< 7@C A=246D E@ DE@A 2=@?8 E96 H2J E@ C67F6=[ 42E49\FA[ 2?5 4964< @FE 2 H2E6C @C C@4< 762EFC6] x7 J@FC <:5D C:56 2E 5:776C6?E =6G6=D[ DA=:E E96> FA H:E9 6249 A2C6?E E@ 8@ E96:C @H? A246] %96? >66E 324< 2E EC2:=’D 6?5 7@C 72>:=J A:4EFC6D 2?5 D?24<D]k^Am
kAm!F?E:?8 :D C64@8?:K:?8 H96? :E 5@6D?’E >2<6 D6?D6 E@ 4@?E:?F6 E96 C:56] #2:?[ 4@=5[ 52C<?6DD[ C:56C 72E:8F6 @C :?;FCJ 2C6 2== C62D@?D E@ 232?5@? A=2? p 2?5 8@ E@ A=2?D q @C r]k^Am
kAm%96 7@==@H:?8 2C6 D@>6 DF886DE:@?D 7@C 72== 72>:=J C:56D 4=@D6 E@ E@H?ik^Am
kAm(9:E2<6C (@@5Di {@42E65 :? }@CE9 r@?H2J[ (9:E2<6C (@@5D @776CD 2 cdz EC2:= ?6EH@C< 7@C >@F?E2:? 3:<6 6IA=@C2E:@?] %96 62D:6DE EC2:= 2446DD :D 7C@> E96 (9:E2<6C w@>6D:E6] w625:?8 D@FE9 @? #@FE6 `e^b_a E@H2C5 }@CE9 r@?H2J[ 4C@DD E96 C2:=C@25 EC24<D 2?5 =@@< 7@C E96 A2C<:?8 =@E 2?5 H9:E6 3F:=5:?8 @? J@FC =67E] xE’D C:89E 367@C6 E96 EC277:4 =:89E 2E !:?6 $EC66E 2?5 #:G6C #@25]k^Am
kAm%96 EC2:=D DE2CE @? E96 @E96C D:56 @7 E96 32== 7:6=5] %96C6UCDBF@jD ?@ >2A 2E E96 9@>6D:E6[ 3FE J@F 42? 86E @?6 2E E9:D =:?<i k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^Jga37bB2QmE:?JFC=]4@>^Jga37bB2k^2m] %96 62D:6C[ 7=2EE6C EC2:=D 8@ 7C@> E96 32== 7:6=5 E@ E96 C2:=C@25 EC24<D] p4C@DD E96 EC24<D[ EC2:=D 6:E96C A2C2==6= E96> @C 4=:>3 E96 9:==D] %C2:=D C2?86 7C@> 7=2E[ 5@F3=6 EC24< E@ DE66A6C EC2:=D 2?5 D:?8=6 EC24<] &D6 A@H6C =:?6D[ C2:=C@25 EC24<D 2?5 C@25D E@ @C:6?E J@FCD6=7]k^Am
kAm*@F 42? 4@??64E 7C@> E96D6 EC2:=D E@ E96 |6>@C:2= w@DA:E2=’D s6|2C< u:E?6DD %C2:=[ x?E6CG2=6 rC@DD:?8 #@25 2?5 z62CD2C86 #@25] u@C >@C6 25G6?EFC@FD 72>:=:6D[ E96J 42? 36 FD65 2D 2 =:?< E@ 62DE D:56 EC2:=D ?62C rC2?>@C6]k^Am
kAm(9:E2<6C (@@5D @776CD 72>:=:6D 2? 62DJ @77\C@25 @AE:@? E92E 42? 36 E2:=@C65 E@ E96 =62DE 6IA6C:6?465 C:56C’D 23:=:E:6D] xE’D D925J[ 62DJ E@ 2446DD 2?5 4@?G6?:6?E E@ 27E6C\C:56 EC62ED]k^Am
kAm!F55:?8 !@?5 E@H? AC@A6CEJi uC@> #@FE6 `e^b_a :? }@CE9 r@?H2J[ 24C@DD 7C@> |F55J |@@D6[ EFC? @? E@ pCE:DE u2==D #@25] v@ 23@FE 2 92=7 >:=6 2?5 EFC? C:89E @? %9@>AD@? #@25] v@ 92=7 2 >:=6 E@ E96 !F55:?8 !@?5 EC2:=9625 2?5 A2C<:?8 ?62C E96 A@H6C =:?6D] %96 !F55:?8 !@?5 E@H? AC@A6CEJ @776CD 72>:=:6D C:5:?8 @AE:@?D E92E C2?86 7C@> C:5:?8 E96 A@H6C =:?6 2?5 EC2:=D @? 6:E96C D:56 @7 :E[ ECJ:?8 @FE E96 AF>A EC24< 2?5 C:5:?8 E96 E649?:42= $E:4<D 2?5 $E@?6D =@@A]k^Am
kAm*@F 42? 7:?5 2 >2A @7 E96 EC2:=D ?62C !F55:?8 !@?5 2E E9:D =:?<i k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^E:?JFC=]4@>^Jg55D4<5QmE:?JFC=]4@>^Jg55D4<5k^2m] u@C 2 >2A D9@H:?8 2== E96 62DE D:56 EC2:=D[ =@@< 7@C ?6H }6H t?8=2?5 |@F?E2:? q:<6 pDD@4:2E:@? >2A[ 2G2:=23=6 2E =@42= 3:<6 D9@AD]k^Am
kAm(:E9 @C H:E9@FE 2 >2A[ J@F 42? FD6 E96 A@H6C =:?6D 2?5 E96 }@CE9 $@FE9 #@25 2D J@FC 8F:56D 2?5 3@F?52C:6D 2D J@F 6IA=@C6 E96 62DE D:56 EC2:=D] }t|qp 92D 2=D@ :?DE2==65 EC2:= D:8?D E@ D9@H J@F E96 H2J E@ $E:4<D 2?5 $E@?6D[ !F>A %C24<[ 2?5 @E96C EC2:=D]k^Am
kAm!F55:?8 !@?5 @776CD EC2:=D @7 5:776C6?E =6G6=D[ 7C@> A@H6C =:?6 C@25D E@ 62D:6C D:?8=6 EC24< EC2:=D @? E96 C:89E @7 A@H6C =:?6D E@ DE66A6C EC2:=D @? E96 =67E D:56]k^Am
kAm#:56CD 42? AFE E@86E96C G2C:65 4@>3:?2E:@?D E@ C6249 E96 w6>=@4< {2?6 6?5 2?5 E96? C:56 324< 2 5:776C6?E H2J]k^Am
kAmr@?H2J #64 !2E9i %FC? =67E 7C@> #@FE6 b_a :? #65DE@?6 3J r@?H2J !@=:46 $E2E:@? @?E@ t2DJ r@?H2J #@25] yFDE A2DE E96 A@=:46 DE2E:@?[ EFC? C:89E @? |66E:?89@FD6 w:== #@25] pE E96 6?5 @7 E9:D C@25[ E96C6’D 2 A2C<:?8 =@E 2?5 E96 $>:E9\t2DE>2? !2C<] *@F’== D66 3C:586 23FE>6?ED E96C6[ >2C<:?8 H96C6 E96 $>:E9\t2DE>2? 4@G6C65 3C:586 FD65 E@ 4C@DD E96 $24@ #:G6C[ 367@C6 :E H2D 56DEC@J65 3J 2CD@?:DED :? `hfe]k^Am
kAm!2C< E96C6[ 2?5 4C@DD E96 A2C<[ 9625:?8 E@H2C5 E96 D:8?3@2C5 2?5 D>2== 3C:586] ~? E96 D:8?3@2C5[ 2? 26C:2= A9@E@8C2A9 8:G6D 2 “3:C5’D 6J6 G:6H” @7 E96 C:G6C 2?5 EC2:=D] rC@DD E96 3C:586 E@ DE2CE J@FC C:56] %96 A2E9 :D >@DE=J 7=2E[ 3FE C@@EJ :? D64E:@?D] xE 7@==@HD E96 $24@ #:G6C] x? 23@FE 2 92=7 >:=6 :E 4C@DD6D F?56C E96 #@FE6 b_a 3C:586] pE 2 >:=6[ 2 3C2?49 @7 E9:D EC2:= 9625D C:89E[ E@H2C5 z6??6EE w:89 $49@@= 2?5 E96 9:DE@C:4 |:?6C2= $AC:?8D] *@F EFC? E96C6[ C:56 2 >:=6 E@ E96 9:89 D49@@= E@ G:6H E96 |:?6C2= $AC:?8’D 82K63@[ E96? EFC? 2C@F?5 2?5 C:56 324<]k^Am
kAmx7 J@F DE2J @? E96 C:G6C D:56 EC2:=[ J@F’== A2DD 3J 2 &?:E65 $E2E6D v6@=@8:42= $FCG6J C:G6C 82F86 DE2E:@? ?62C ~56==’D u2==D[ 2=@?8 H:E9 2 423=6 4C@DD:?8 ?62C E96 82F86] r@?E:?F:?8 @? E9:D A2E9[ C:56CD H:== 4@>6 E@ E96 {2>A=:89E6C’D 36249] %96 A2E9 @77:4:2==J DE@AD E96C6]k^Am
kAmxE’D 2 c]d >:=6 @FE 2?5 324< E@ E96 9:89 D49@@=[ H:E9 8@@5 G:6HD @7 E96 C:G6C 2D J@F C:56 E9C@F89 E96 H@@5D] q24< 2E E96 A2C<[ DE@A 2E E96 A:4?:4 E23=6 7@C A@DE\C:56 D?24<D]k^Am
kAm!=2? q 2?5 ri x7 C:56D @C H62E96C 5@?’E 8@ H6==[ E96C6’D 2=H2JD A=2? q] xE >2J 36 E@ D9@CE6? E96 C:56[ E2<6 62D:6C EC2:=D @C H2:E F?E:= E96 H62E96C :>AC@G6D] v@ E@ A=2? r H96? E96 H62E96C EFC?D 2H7F=] p32?5@? E96 3:<6D[ C:56 E96 r@?H2J $46?:4 #2:=C@25[ G:D:E E96 :?E6C24E:G6 |@F?E (2D9:?8E@? ~3D6CG2E@CJ (62E96C s:D4@G6CJ r6?E6C @C 8@ E@ E96 |(' r9:=5C6?’D |FD6F> :? }@CE9 r@?H2J]k^Am
kAmw625 9@>6 7@C H2C> 5C:?<D 2?5 D?24<D 2?5 >@G:6D @C 3@2C5 82>6D]k^Am
kAmt?;@J E96 BF2=:EJ 72>:=J E:>6[ H96E96C J@F’C6 C:5:?8 J@FC 3:<6D @C DA6?5:?8 E:>6 E@86E96C 5@:?8 @E96C 24E:G:E:6D] u2== 72>:=J E:>6 :D AC:46=6DDPk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m$6AE6>36C 6G6?EDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm$6AE] ah W$2EFC52JXi }@CE9 r@?H2J {:3C2CJ’D q:<6 7@C q@@<Di “q:<6 7@C q@@<D |@F?E2:? q:<6 p5G6?EFC6 #:56D” :D 2 52J @7 >@F?E2:? 3:<:?8 7F? :? E96 (9:E6 |@F?E2:?D 2?5 2? 2??F2= 7F?5C2:D6C 7@C E96 }@CE9 r@?H2J !F3=:4 {:3C2CJW?@CE94@?H2J=:3C2CJ]4@>X]k^Am
kAm$6AE] ah W$2EFC52JXi qC6EE@? (@@5D |@F?E2:? q:<6 u@?5@ W3C6EE@?H@@5D]4@>X]k^Am
kAm$6AE] b_ W$F?52JXi z:?8 !:?6 r) #246 W3:<6C68]4@>X]k^Am
kAm$2==J |4|FC5@ :D 2 3:<6 D276EJ :?DECF4E@C 2?5 4J4=:DE H9@ =:G6D :? r@?H2J]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.