Paul Revere Reenactor
Ride: Minuteman Trail, Minuteman National Park, Reformatory Branch Trail
Distance: 40 miles
Difficulty: Some tough deep mud
Sights: Lexington Battle Green, Minuteman National Park, Old North Bridge, Paul Revere Re-enactor
Patriots' Day Ride
by Jesse Morrow (with a little help from Longfellow)
Listen my children and I shall list
The Patriots' Day Ride of Global Cyclist
On the Nineteenth of April, Two Thousan' Ten.
The sun was out shining then -
A Marathon Monday not to be missed.
He said to his friend, "once this race is done -
on Heartbreak the women are about to crack -
and I have seen which man and woman have won
(Hopefully Meb will be able to comeback),
Once on their heads laurels are places
off toward Minutemen I will make haste.
It's been two hundred thirty-five years
Since to Lexington the Redcoats spread fear
And the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere."
Then he said "Good-day" and with a muffled swoon
He crossed the apartment to his room
Where he packed his bag with with water and gear
So that he may survive his ride on this significant year.
Quickly he stuffed the sack like a loon
so he'd not be a bonk's again cheap fodder-
alone on the road without any water.
The shadows of the Baske Ostarije ride
loomed over him and hydration magnified.
Meanwhile, Erkesso over Newton hills
did all but one rival break
But her blast seemed a moment as mistake
Until pulling away three seconds to beat
Behind her a chariot did fulfill
with pride and record of his namesake
As over the finish line first were Charuiyot's feet
Thus, he climbed down the apartment stairs
With his bike in hand toward the street below
beneath his feet they bent and bowed
And out he went to Central Square.
Up Pearl Street against the signs he made his way
and onto Mass Ave on the empty holiday.
Thus by the bike lanes - that were there or not
He road from Central to the spot
Where he turns from road to the trail
Toward Alewife Station Rail
Passing those walking and in trot.
Then upon the Trail Minuteman
Our hero rode onto Arlington
Rails to trails in joy and fun.
Passing Spy Pond, and the first mile span
He rode into the town's main square -
and oddly, who should be there?
A strange man on a horse - looking quite funny
With his warning: "The Redcoats are coming!"
Two hundred thirty-five years, since he first ran
The rider now replaces the man
A farcical look to his run
Tar and asphalt now replaces the road
Upon which the first Paul Revere had rode.
This man without the fear of harm
Implores the cyclist at the light to spread the alarm.
Onward, our cyclist continued to ride,
Northbound, through Menotomy, he tried
To drop down to cogwheel two -
by kicking the derailleur on the side
and blackening the tip of his shoe.
As prepared they did for a parade -
Roads closed and grandstands made -
He touched the route at the Green
Of Lexington where could be seen
With the 76 flags unfurled
The site of the Shot Heard 'Round the World.
Through the crowds ahead of the parade
And out of town westward he made
his way catching Mass Ave again
Toward where more history laid
And the National Park - Minutemen.
Past all the gathering people
And around the Revolutionary field
down the side he wheeled
past the Congregationalist steeple.
After the Green the rider went straight
up the high school hill like dragging weights
and down again over One Twenty-Eight.
And there the park that does hail
our first battle and Minutemen detail
he started upon the Battle Road Trail.
Upon the wooden road our rider did meet
two redcoats in full gear on their trip
munching away on tortilla chips
away from the battle sites in retreat.
Through the woods and fields of the trail
He continued to ride
enjoying Spring bursting forth from winter's veil
Over the boardwalks upon the bogs
and past the white blossoms of wood - dogs
And out the Battle Road's other side.
It was two by the village clock
When he rode into Concord town
And to the village tourists had flocked
In remembrance of Seventy-Five.
He stopped at a hardware store for some screws
To fix his pedals that had unhinged beneath his shoes.
Repaired he was ready to onward ride
And further on the road he went down.
As up Monument Ave he went
And a left to see French's Minuteman
At the point where farmers sent
The Redcoats away from the ridge
and stopped them at the Old North Bridge.
There the river had fanned
out into a marsh deep and above the roots
of oaks and beeches where the regulars couldn't shoot.
After imagining the Minutemen's might feat
And the Redcoats' hasty retreat,
The rider returned across the span.
With lactic acid in his legs he couldn't stanch
He turned onto the old Reformatory Branch
(Go ahead try to rhyme with "branch" - bud)
Only to find it eight inches deep with mud.
Thus fighting his way across the muddy Concord dells
He made his way to Bedford on Hartwell.
Alone on the empty trail and muddy things
He decided ne'er to ride this part again in Spring!
Thereupon the warmth of the April day
had led the families that can
out upon the pleasant Minuteman
to join in the sun to play.
And retracing his way on the trail
Where once had run the northbound rail
and seeing where the nation began
and the trips of many Minuteman.
Now back to Cambridge-town he made his way
Finding the days when Adams and Revere were alive
Feeling the coming of the Summer and may.
Remembering that day in Seventy-Five.
