On May 4^th I was riding the Tour the Vineyard bike tour, 50 Kilometers . It was a benefit for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Check out their web-site to get more information about the research that they are funding to fight MS and about the North East Chapter of the MS Society.

I got up at 4:30 AM and packed my stuff and strapped my bike to my car. I left Worcester at 5:30 AM and reached the ferry at Woods Hole at 7 AM. Unfortunately the ferry parking lot in Woods Hole was already full and I had to drive back to the parking lot in Falmouth. After some time the bicycle bus came and brought us to the ferry terminal in time for the 8:15 AM ferry.

The ferry got delayed and we reached Martha's Vineyard after 9:00 AM. Most riders from this ferry road to the starting point of the tour, only some took a cab. On the way to the starting point a large group of riders approached us. It turned out that this was the 50k group which started on time at 9:30 AM. After checking in and eating some breakfast it was too late to start the 50k. I was told that the support stops for the 50k tour might already be dismantled again and that there will be no assistance anymore. So I waited for the start of the 25K tour at 11:30 .

The weather on this day was great for riding, sunny, warm and not too much wind. The 25K tour went almost exclusively on bicycle paths through the Martha's Vineyard state forest. After one hour I already completed the look and was back at the start. Then I realized that it was only 25 Kilometers and not miles. All other routes for MS are specified in miles, but not the ones on Martha's Vineyard. I'm sure that Martha's Vineyard does not belong to Canada.

The big bonus of getting back so early was that there was no queue at the BBQ. The Martha's Vineyard Boys & Girls Club was running the BBQ and also prepared a delicious soup. As I promised my sponsors to ride the 50K tour and not just 25K I rode the 25K again. I got back one hour later. Now the BBQ was in full swing and there were lines. I took the 2:30 PM ferry back. There was not much traffic on the way back to Worcester. It was a great day.