Here is my cut and pasted version that I put in the September thread... duh. I deleted it from there.
Sharon, that ride sounds nice. I remember every fall, feeling the "change." Too bad, that in Phoenix, it's often not until the end of October! I've never been to the Santa Ritas. Tucson has much nicer scenery, closer to the city.
I did get myself out there, but not for the 38 miles. I did do a 21 mile ride that is very pretty and goes into Westford and South Chelmsford. I've done this ride a lot in the past couple of years, but only a couple of times this year. Was not sure how to dress. It was 54 when I left, with sun going in/out of the clouds. And windy. Very gusty. It wasn't supposed to get much warmer, so I wore light weight tights because of the wind, a regular LS jersey with no thermal, sleeveless base layer and a light weight head cover, light weigh long fingered gloves, and light wind jacket. I brought regular gloves with me, though. After about 6 miles, and some climbing, I was getting warm, so I decided the best way to cool down would be to take off the head cover. It worked. The back of my knees felt a little sweaty (weird) at times, but the sun stayed in for most of the second part of the ride, so that was good. It felt like I was riding into a headwind for 3/4 of the directions, though. Kind of like an early spring ride. On part of the ride I go by the street where there's a little farm, at the end of a regular neighborhood; I used to take my kids there for pumpkins and apple picking when they were little and we had first moved here. But, since I had no place to carry anything, I didn't go there, although it's still there, after 25 years.
Going to commute Tuesday. I haven't ridden to work in a month, due to road construction, horrible traffic, and having to get there at times when I don't want to mess with the traffic. I can ride more miles, too, if I go out early in the AM. Anyway, I have to be there at 8, so I'll leave super early, change, eat breakfast there, and enjoy the quiet.