Day 6 – Nashua, NH to Randolph, MA (via Boston)

By Scott McPhee, Millis, MA

Raining hard with a strong wind — I covered up with rain gear and headed out with the rest of the hardy souls. We rode safely to TCIA headquarters in Londonderry for a snack stop, tour of the facility and tree planting. They were all very nice. We shared some special moments with Terrill Collier on a video conference call via Skype. We all wished him well and looked forward to seeing him soon. He (Terrill) was the one who encouraged me to join the Tour des Trees.

We set out fast and hard (still in the rain) for Lexington, with Clem Desjardins in the lead position. It was a good ride with five of us working a pace line. We enjoyed the historic scenery in Concord and Lexington. After lunch and planting a tree, the sun came out and we headed to Boston Common.

My company, Hartney Greymont, and the Massachusetts Tree Wardens set up the break stop and tree planting ceremony there. My son, Shawn (22, and working at Hartney Greymont) was on the planting crew. My wife, Jennifer, and two other kids, Hadley and Braeden, were also there to share in the tree planting. The whole event turned out nicely, many thanks to Melissa Levangie.

We left through the beautiful streets of Boston and headed for the hotel in Randolph. I grew up in Randolph, but haven’t lived there since 1980. When we arrived, I looked down at my odometer and saw 90+ miles. I mentioned it to my friend and riding partner, Pete Orszulak, and told him that I had never done a “century” (100-mile ride). He said let’s go for it. Clem D. overheard us and was on board with us to set a blazing five miles out and five miles back. We hit the 100-mile mark back at the hotel. I was really excited to achieve this milestone with my good friend Pete O. and one of my riding mentors, Clem D., in my home town of Randolph.

As a first-time rider, I will cherish the memories of this Tour — the scenery, new friendships and all of the help and advice I received. I am also very appreciative of the advice I got from Jeff Carney who took me on my first group ride before the Tour started and answered my endless questions about biking and the Tour.

More on Day 5

from Mom’s number one Son

Actually, being the only son had nothing to do with the ranking; she said I was Number 1, and who am I to discount the opinion of an elder?

So Day 5 meant riding from Brattleboro, Vermont to Nashua, New Hampshire. Innocuous enough on the map, for sure, but any geologist can tell you that an east-west route across the drainages of the White Mountains means many ups, and many downs.

Up we pedaled over Monadnock ridge and then screamed down the other side, braking hard as the broken surface threatened to flatten tires, break spokes, or just bounce you into the woods at speed.

So that was exciting enough, but fun, being the contagion it is, continued. The next thing was Temple Mountain. More broken surface, but this time it was being paved!
Good thing – Bad thing. Good thing, the surface was now smooth, but it was still tacky and our wheels were gluing to it. Bad thing – they had paved over some of the route marks.

All in all, the Tour pulled into the hotel like the segments of a slinky toy. Everyone smiling and flushed with the success of their effort.

This morning looks different somehow, though, the sky is dripping, the sun is obscured. The riders are comparing notes on what to wear, and are the batteries in their lights well charged. Hmmm, it’s gonna be a sloppy ride to Boston.

Andy Kittsley, Orlando FL

Day Five – Brattleboro, VT to Nashua, NH

by Team Canada

Once again Team Canada is being represented by a strong contingent of 7 riders spanning our 2 coasts. Phil Graham and Dave Hein from B.C. Jim Urbanowsky from New Brunswick and Marian Makar, Greg Hill, John McNeil and Warren Hoselton all from the Greater Toronto area. As tradition has it Team Canada will look back at the 5 days and highlight some of our memories.

Warren Hoselton:
This being my 7th tour, I have come to fully appreciate the tour synergy and how it snowballs each day. It started from the spectacular ferry ride/marine landing at 35th Street and the launch out of Central Park and the ultra-urban riding of NYC to the “hills of hell” from Mt. Kisco to Waterbury. And then there was the torrential downpour for 70 miles to Springfield, CT. On day 3, I was bracing myself for the locusts, but it was a gorgeous 80-mile ride into Brattleboro, VT. Today was another 80 miler into Nashua N.H. Some of the snapshots from my mind’s eye include: Seeing the NYC skyscape as we sailed into the harbour; the hustle and bustle of the Central Park 6-mile loop; the endless hills of day 2; and the welcome warmth of a simple shower after 70 miles of liquid sunshine.

Marian Makar:
This is also my 7th tour and I truly love seeing all the familiar faces that have become my Tour Family. The first memorable tour experience this year was when Tom Ordway was wondering if I had lost my Canadian flag that was mounted on my bike on the first day of riding. I told him that I indeed had lost my flag and then he proceeded to tell me that my roommate, a very sweet American who lives in Pennsylvania, had willfully and recklessly run over it with her tire while cycling. Tom witnessed what she did, picked up the tire streaked flag as he rode by so he could show me the evidence. The running over of the flag has now become an international incident. On a more serious note, I do want to thank all of my riding buds who have taken care of me during this year’s Tour. Warren and Greg who many times stay back to ride with me and pull me along. Dan who came back up the mountain looking for me when I blew out my front tire descending Mount Tom. Melissa, who showed up just in time on her motorcycle, to change my flat on the mountain. Sara who kept me company through endless miles of riding. Kathy and the rest of the support team who are always there when you need them. Paul who always makes sure I get my “special” meal. And last but not least, Kristin, my roommate, who put up with me this week. It takes a lot of people to take care of a princess.  

Greg Hill:
Riding through New England is a real treat and anyone who enjoys riding should take the time to experience the scenery and hospitality. I have never been to New York and to be introduced by taking the ferry from New Jersey, past the Stature of Liberty, riding a 6-mile loop through Central Park …down Madison Avenue and through Harlem was worth the price of admission. Over the past few days we have had more than our fair share of hills, rough roads and torrential rainfall. In fact, if it weren’t for our traveling massage therapists (generously sponsored by West Coast Arborists), there would likely be many riding in pain and a few riding in the van.
Riding through New Hampshire reminds me of my first Tour des Trees in 1994…Stowe, Vermont to Halifax, Nova Scotia. It’s been great to reminisce with one of the riders from that Tour, Mike Skivington. Mike is a powerful rider who is so enthusiastic about the sport he sometimes loses track of his calorie intake. In fact, on the 1994 Tour, Mike unfortunately “bonked” at the end of one day after riding a few extra miles and Team Canada of the day took it upon themselves to watch out for him. Mike is back again this year and Team Canada has again been monitoring him closely….indeed even Gord Hunter, a rider from the 1994 ride has called several times to encourage Mike to stay focused. Mike was so delirious after bonking that when he first saw Gordo he called him Captain Hingrinder and the nickname has stuck to this day. This is a testament to the closeness of the Tour family ….the Tree Family.
Dave Hein:
Fabulous Tour!!!

Phil Graham:
Tour number 5 for me, and once again it has been awesome. I have had supper with Chuck Leavell, ridden in more rain than I can remember ever seeing in one day, climbed more than a few hills (even if they aren’t British Columbia style mountains), and renewed old friendships. Oh, and with the huge numbers of new Tour riders this year, I’ve made lots of new friends as well. There’s Big Ring Ben, who climbs every hill in a monster gear, and Aussie Dave who is doing his best to convince us all to ride in Australia in 2011. Sounds pretty inviting, especially if he throws some shrimp on the barbie for us! I’ve had a chance to ride with all the hammerheads, and enjoyed every second of it, rain or no rain.
John McNeil:
Being the “urbane” forester of the Team, I arrived at Central Park, not by bike, but on New York’s subway system with my family, who came along to cheer on Dad and all the riders at Central Park. A proud moment! My bike was late for the official start, however, in the spirit of the Tour, Greg road back to the Park and ‘pulled’ me through the Bronx to catch up. This spirit of positive energy is evident every day: from the offers to “break wind” by Fraser to ease the effort on a windy stretch of road in Connecticut to Jim making time to soak in the taste of a microbrewery tucked beside a wonderful roadside waterfall in Vermont. My thanks and appreciation to my Tour Family.
James Urbanowsky – NB Power – Fredericton, NB
The “Spirit of the Tour” is one of life’s great treats. Unimaginable efforts at many levels, from fund raising and training, to riding the Tour. But one element that is constantly apparent, is the “spirit” that pervades all that we are doing. Our mechanics work tirelessly into the night to ensure each bike is performing. They even replaced my entire drive-train for $100. Our ‘donated’ massage therapists have given each one of us personal treatments, lovingly designed to melt away our pains. Our road support crews are always right where we need more water and food. The road signage, tour luggage crews, admin staff, all right on the ball. And the riders themselves, assisting every rider who stops for any reason along the way, with flat tires, gear problems, chain problems, or plain old exhaustion Other parts of the Tour are equally enjoyable. The food has been plentiful and tasty. The scenery constantly rolling with incredible homes and endless trees. And what rider doesn’t love the 300 miles uphill through New England. Finally, from a rider’s perspective, the Tour comes down to the people. The mutual support, respect, and daily humour are what makes the pain go away and what allows us to be at our best when we arrive in a community to plant a tree and support an educational event with a bunch of young children. The STIHL Tour des Trees is a fulfilling event, both for the TREE Fund and tree research, and for the many people involved along the way. Hope to see more of you on the Tour in the future. May the Force be with you.

Tuesday — the day from …

By John Leffingwell, Oakland, CA

Well, maybe that is a bit of hyperbole, but I have to admit that if it is raining at home (the San Francisco Bay Area, CA), I don’t get on the bike. Probably would have been a good idea to stay off the bike, but there is the pride of riding the entire Tour, grinding out every mile and claiming that sweet, sweet victory at the end. Too bad I let my ego get in the way, because it was a tough day to grind it out. The rain started light as we left Waterbury, CT, picked up after an hour and then it was just a steady downpour the rest of the day. First the body is wet, then the shoes fill with water and pretty soon the spray coming off the rider in front is a rooster tail from which there is no escape. The good part was that it wasn’t a particularly cold rain, and as long as I was moving, I was fine.

I have to admit a certain amount of guilt about our brief – as brief as possible – stops at the planned events. Those behind the scenes work extremely hard to coordinate the media and local dignitaries for tree plantings and photo ops, and there was just no way to we could stop and hang out for a half hour waiting for the events to happen. However, the day was not a total loss. It was a memorable day and considering the conditions, it was a mercifully quick pace – 80 miles in about four and a half hours. Good people to ride with also make the miles go by quickly.

If Tuesday was the day from …., Wednesday made up for it. Rolling hills, lovely weather and a really fast pace!!! Ok, got to ride now, more to follow.

Day Four – Springfield, MA to Brattleboro, VT

By Deanna Zoerb, a newbie from East Aurora, NY

This being my first Tour, I haven’t known exactly what to expect from day-to-day, but I would say that so far, this has been the most beautiful day for me! We left Massachusetts with some clouds in the sky and I was really praying that we weren’t going to get any more rain (had enough of that yesterday!).

Anyways, as we wound our way through the hills and fields of Massachusetts, I couldn’t stop looking around and thinking how lucky I was to see all of this beauty! I was riding with a great group who were enjoying everything as much as I was. We even had our own tour guide – Clem Desjardins – who was telling the history of the area as we pedaled along. We stopped at a great little place, the Montague Mill bookstore/café/bar for a great photo by the river.

As we headed toward Vermont, another rider and I actually met up with a local rider from Brattleboro who was just out for his daily ride. He was telling us more about the area and told us if we needed anything, where to go. I would say that one of the greatest things about being on this Tour is the people you meet who are your ‘Tour mates’ and the wonderful people you meet along the way!

Day Three – Waterbury, CT to Springfield, MA

By Ben Tresselt III
Lancaster, PA

For us, going the 70-plus miles from Waterbury, Connecticut to Springfield, Massachusetts started out innocent enough.
When I took my bags outside at 6:45 am to be loaded into the trailer, the skies were in a heavy overcast, breezy and somewhat cool. Asking Carlos of Northeast STIHL, one of our luggage truck drivers, if it was going to rain, he said, “Yes, and in some places it’s predicted to be up to two inches.” Well, it wasn’t raining at that time, so I was hopeful for the best.
Our route took us quickly out of the city and within 30 minutes our overcast skies turned from an intermittent shower to a full rain. After 60 minutes on route, it became an unrelenting windy downpour all the way to Springfield, which was at least three and a half hours riding time away!
I have ridden in the rain before, although not for three and a half hours and never on completely unfamiliar roads. Needless to say, it was a very challenging, unnerving, unpleasant and a very uncomfortable journey. The small group of four riders that I was with to the end intentionally stayed together, even if we had to slow down considerably to wait for a rider. It was not the time or the place to let anyone drop behind.
In what felt a lot longer than three and a half hours, drenched, we finally arrived at the beautiful Sheraton hotel in downtown Springfield. To our dismay, we found out that in our zeal to get out of the rain we were so early that none of our rooms were ready for us to use! Fortunately, our luggage was there (thanks Carlos!) and with some quick thinking from one of our riding Canadian friends, we quickly realized that we could shower and change in the health club, which we did right away.
Even with the extreme weather and unfamiliar roads, everyone who started the day’s route arrived to Springfield safely and without any serious incidents. A few flat tires did occur, one of which happened to yours truly. However, according to our tour director Paul Wood, this was the first time ever since he has been directing the Tour des Trees! Quite an accomplishment on such an adverse cycling day! Cheers to all the riders who accomplished this noteworthy feat!

Day Two – Mt. Kisco, NY to Waterbury, CT

By Don Roppolo

Today was a great ride! We started off with a nice, long hill to get the blood flowing. Everyone was chattin and then a few hundred feet into the climb, it got silent just like when dinner is served on the Tour. Shortly after, the silence was replaced by the sounds of people huffing and puffing trying to get enough oxygen in their lungs to make it up the hill.

That hill was the foreshadowing for the rest of the day. We were either going up or down. The climbs were a good challenge and made you better appreciate the downhill runs. It was not uncommon to be going only four to six miles per hour climbing up and in excess of 40 miles per hour on the way down. On some of the long down hills, I was a few tenths away from 50 mph! What a great incentive for the hard work going up. What goes up, must come down!

We rode through some picturesque forested countryside. It was profound riding in the shade of the very organisms we were riding to help. It felt as though we were helping each other out today.

For awhile, we were riding parallel to a beautiful, quaint stream framed on each side by moss, ferns, and one of my favorite trees, hemlock. Along that stretch, the road was relatively flat, so it was a peaceful respite in a day of long and plentiful hill climbs.

Lunch was a fantastic reward as Tim Womick did yet another fun and inspiring presentation, educating young minds about the value and importance of trees. We wrapped it all up with the planting of a nice dogwood tree. Experiencing Tim work with the children and watching them backfill the hole with soil was the icing on the cake for the day. The down hills were a repayment for our long climbs. However, they did not bring anywhere near the gratification I received from Tim’s program and the tree planting event that occurred today. It is wonderful knowing those children will always have a special memory of the tree they planted and the fun they had while learning about trees with Tim. The kids’ faces and interactions really affirmed the reason and importance for all of our hard work, both on the bike as well as the fundraising we all did.

We’re Off!

By Clem Desjardins

The first day of the 2009 STIHL Tour des Trees began at 4:30 AM in the cool pre-dawn air of the New Jersey shore. With only a bagel and a glass of orange juice for fuel the riders rolled out on the 14-mile trip to the Jersey Highlands terminal and quickly boarded the high-speed boat that whisked them under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge and into Upper New York Bay in no time flat.

The view that unfolded was fascinating. From the cargo cranes at the Bayonne docks to the Statue of Liberty to the Manhattan skyline to the Brooklyn shoreline, we were treated to a perspective of New York City that revealed it in all its grandeur. As we passed Battery Park and beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, the downtown skyscrapers took center stage and then the even more impressive assemblage of tall buildings in Midtown came into focus. We docked just south of the UN Building and ventured forth into the concrete canyons, passing directly in front of the Empire State Building before turning north and being enveloped within the inviting greenery of Central Park. It’s the mother of all parks, a lasting achievement of America’s first landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmstead, offering solace, tranquility and recreation to all the citizens of New York City, as well as all their guests.

One loop through the Park was not enough and so we joined the joggers and local cyclists for a second pass around, savoring the views and drinking in the scene. But duty called and we headed to the Harlem Meer at the Park’s northeast corner to add our exuberance to the festivities that were well under way. Spruce tree seedlings potted up by John Bowne H.S. students were being distributed from a Bartlett truck and a big banner hung from an Asplundh lift truck. TREE Fund President David McMaster introduced NYC Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe who spoke about the MillionTreesNYC program, along with folks from ISA, STIHL and National Grid. There were TV cameras and plenty of people checking out the hoopla.

With a rousing send-off of “Start Me Up” led by Chuck Leavell, keyboardist for the Rolling Stones and tree farmer, we headed north up Malcolm X Boulevard to officially begin the 18th running of the biggest tree research fundraising event in the world. Rounding the corner onto 112th street, we came upon a support van and like a horde of locusts we stripped it of all its bananas and Cliff bars, throwing back the banana peels in playful merriment. And then we continued on through the Bronx, past Yankee Stadium (actually both of them, the old and the new) and on to the cool and shady environs of Westchester County.

The hills got a little steeper as we approached Westchester Community College and its Native Plant Center where grateful riders feasted on sandwiches and vitamin water, thanks to the New York State Arborists. After lunch we joined our benefactors and visitors to the Native Plant Center to plant a lovely Nyssa sylvatica or tupelo and gave it a great start in its new location with a presentation by Tim Womick and Professor Arboretum. They helped to remind us of all the great things trees do, and how when we plant trees together we become linked in a TREE FAMILY.

Dr. Alex Shigo taught us that trees never exist in isolation, but only as an inter-connected web of associates that depend on each other for survival. Tim hit the nail right on the head when he turned to an elderly lady in the crowd next to him and gently holding her hand asked her to join our TREE FAMILY.

It is moments and scenes like these that keep me coming back to the Tour, this time for my eighth ride for research. But that is not the only reason that I’m a ‘repeat offender.’ It is also seeing that smiley face painted on the pavement at the top of the next hard climb, or descending swiftly through dappled shade into a turn that looks too tight to possibly negotiate and shooting out the other side with a thrill of exhilaration. That is when I know that it is good to be here, in this moment, in this family.

A NJ Warm-Up for STIHL Tour des Trees

Saturday, July 18, 2009 – Tinton Falls, NJ – Warm-up ride (55 miles)

By Dave and Penny from Australia

On Saturday morning we caught the ferry from NYC to Highlands where we were picked up by Greg and Dean. Dean carefully navigated Greg via his GPS to the Tinton Falls Holiday Inn. Dean also attempted to keep Greg under the speed limit to ensure we were not pulled over by the super-alert Highlands police.

We arrived barely in time for the ride but with the awesome help of Carlos and the team of mechanics we had our bikes put together in a flash – even getting our aussie brakes on the right way!

We set off on our ride to the chatter of old friendships being re-established and newbies like us being warmly welcomed into the group. We were struck by the beauty of the New Jersey landscape. We passed through maple and oak forests, large expansive houses on acres of well kept turf. We were also very excited when we passed Bruce Springsteen’s acreage.

A ripper tree planting in memory of large and sorely missed personalities in the NJ arboriculture scene preceded lunch.

The lunch tucker was fantastic with several bonza pasta dishes and meatballs. Thankfully no bloomin’ onions!

Riding out from our lunch break the head stem of a rider’s bike inexplicably snapped and the rider fell. Thankfully, the tour is so well supported that within minutes he and his bike were transported back to Tinton Falls Holiday Inn.

We really noticed how well riders in the bunch take care of each other – many riders stopped to help this rider and anyone experiencing a puncture was always given help by others. The Tour des Trees is made up of a great bunch!

On returning to the hotel we heard that one rider’s tires had been badly slashed. We’re not all that familiar with the local fauna, but wondered if a fierce raccoon had a go at it at lunchtime.

Cocktails and dinner rounded off the day before everyone headed off for an early night in preparation for the 4:30 wake-up.

We’re here, the tour’s under way, and we’re in great company. Bewdy.

One month to go!

Good evening my Tour des Trees friends!

I hope you all are doing well and are getting excited about the upcoming 2009 STIHL Tour des Trees…we are only a little over a month away from the roll out of this year’s Tour! I wish you much success as you make the final push towards preparing for this year’s event and applaud your continued efforts to meet the fundraising goals you have made for yourself. Below is a quick review of the final month of the training plan that Ed Pavelka and I put together for TDT participants:

One Month before Tour des Trees:

• 200-250 miles per week
• Two days per week, around 70 miles (back-to-back if possible)
• At least one fast group ride each week
• Have your bike serviced in preparation for the event

One Week before Tour des Trees:

• Ride enough to keep your legs fit, but rested
• Get plenty of sleep
• Eat well and stay hydrated
• Pack your gear two days before you leave, then double-check your list
• Try to arrive at the start a day early so you can be rested, not rushed

I know for many of you, getting in 200+ miles a week simply isn’t feasible, but I would encourage you to get in long rides on the weekends and find a fast group ride you can join during the week. You will be amazed how effective speed work can be for quickly gaining fitness and extending endurance.

Thanks to the efforts of Anita Gambill of STIHL, Kate Davis of the Meridian Group, Elaine Mattern of The Davey Tree Expert Company, Mary DiCarlo of the TREE Fund and countless volunteers from NJ, NY and New England, this year’s Tour will incorporate significantly more opportunities for us to promote the event and the TREE Fund. Those opportunities include a grand kick-off in Central Park with a ride around the park with Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe, a presentation by P. Allen Smith, and a musical send off by Rolling Stones keyboard player Chuck Leavell, to a tree planting in Boston Common (the country’s oldest park) and many more events along the way. There will be numerous opportunities each day for us all to be ambassadors…Elaine is certainly going to keep Timmy hopping this year! For the new folks, Tim Womick is our Trail of Trees presenter and a veteran Tour rider. Don’t miss his show!

There was a suggestion made by members of the TDT advisory committee that we should have our riders really make a splash during our rides into and through Central Park and into Roger Williams Park. To do so, we would like to encourage riders to ring bells, blow whistles, etc… Also, riders are encouraged to demonstrate the geographical diversity of the group by displaying a small state and/or country flag on their bike!

A Google map of the route for this year’s STIHL TDT can be viewed at the following link – http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=114866381483697119807.00046b6208e497f0ea8a0&num=200&z=7

 Once I have had a chance to physically review the route, I will publish maps using MapMyRide that will not only include cue sheets and stops, but will also show elevation profiles so you can know what to anticipate in regards to how much climbing each day presents.

The following is a list of hotels for this year’s TDT:

Night 1:
Holiday Inn Tinton Falls |700 Hope Road – Tinton Falls, NJ 
Phone | (732) 544-9300           Web | http://www.hitintonfalls.com/

Night 2:
Mount Kisco Holiday Inn | One Holiday Inn Drive – Mt. Kisco, NY 
Phone | (914) 242-2851           Web | http://www.himtkisco.com/  

 Night 3:
Waterbury Holiday Inn Express | 88 Union St. – Waterbury, CT 
Phone | (203) 575-1500           Web | http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hotel/wbyus  

 Night 4:
Sheraton Monarch Place | One Monarch Place – Springfield, Ma 
Phone | (413) 263-2127           Web | http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=989   

 Night 5:
Brattleboro Holiday Inn Express | 100 Chickering Drive – Brattleboro, VT 
Phone | (802) 257-2400           Web | http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ex/1/en/hotel/btbvt

 Night 6:
Nashua Marriott Courtyard | 2200 Southwood Drive – Nashua, NH
Phone | (781) 537-5583           Web |http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mhtnc-courtyard-nashua/

 Night 7:
Holiday Inn Boston-Randolph | 1374 North Main Street – Randolph, MA 
Phone | (781) 961-1000           Web | http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/bosrd   

  I want to personally thank each and every one of you for the efforts and sacrifices you have made to participate in the 2009 STIHL Tour des Trees!

Thanks for reading…see you in Jersey!

PAUL WOOD

Tour Director, Tour des Trees
http://www.tourdestrees.org/
Phone 843.886.9365