Vietnam Ride last Friday

[Hawk491]

Went for a ride at Vietnam last Friday after work with a friend of mine. We popped out under the power lines close to the Rt. 16 side which is where we normally end our ride, and noticed someone standing on the trail. As we approached, he was quick to point out that we weren’t supposed to be there because it was private property and that we shouldn’t come back. We talked to him for a bit and he said that they were planning to begin quarrying the granite in the area they owned, the 57 acres between Rt.’s 16/85 and 495. He seemed to be knowledgeable about NEMBA’s activity to purchase a part of the land, and about bikers desire to continue riding in the area in general. However, he made it very clear he was not very fond ( to put it nicely ) of the “New England biking association” because he felt that “they” had been trying to backstab the landowner in an effort to keep the trails open. He didn’t want to go into detail about what he had found out, he only mentioned that his boss ( the land owner ) had tried to work something out with the association and it didn’t happen. He was pretty civil and we chatted for a few more minutes and then left.

Anyways, obviously a lot of this is second hand info, and I have no clue who this guy, or his boss, were but I thought I’d mention the encounter since if he’s legit some of you will probably run into him in the near future.

[pk]

The powerlines and adjacent lands next to Rte. 85 are indeed private property and we urge everyone to respect this and not use the private road entrance.

NEMBA has not entered into any conversation with the landowner mentioned and we certainly have not "backstabbed" this person (whoever it may be). This is the first I've heard of any plans for granite quarrying next to 495 on this side of the highway.

We did have a meeting with the power company to pursue a right-of-way agreement but this broke down because the power company didn't own the land bordering Rte. 85 and we weren't able to contact the landowner.

Please donate to our cause. We have $34K left to go and really need EVERYONE's support.

best,

pk

[knucklebuste]

PK, what will Nemba do if anything to resolve the parking situation once you own it? I mean I had fun when I went with Splat, but for the average person going there it's a nightmare to get to the trails parking at Target and hike a bike up the powerlines. BTW, donation of $100 arriving soon. Knuck

[CouchingTiger]

You should be able to park down by the ballfield, just past Wendy's and ride the ~1.5 miles of road to go in on the old trail tracks. I think that the power line entrance is 100% off-limits and posted as such.

I also believe that the proposed NEMBA purchase land won't have street access so don't look for a parking lot at the trail head ;)

-Couch

[knucklebuste]

Yeah thats what I figured so I wont be going to nam anymore again unless I hook up with splat. The only way I know how to get in there is up the powerlines under the bridge. knuck