Planted: May 25, 2002

Length: Bedford to Thorndike Field; 10 miles.

Bedford to Letterbox; 3 miles.

Lexington to Letterbox; mile.

Thorndike Field to Letterbox; 6 miles.

Difficulty: Easy. Flat, paved surface.

Directions: To start in Bedford; From I95, take exit 31B to Routes 4/225 Northwest for 1.9 miles.

Turn left Loomis Street and follow to the end. On your left is where the trail begins.

Parking is behind the old Bedford Depot, next to the trail.

To start in Lexington; From I95, take exit 31A to Routes 4/225 Southeast for 1.7 miles.

Turn left (after Meriam Street) at Depot Square and park in the municipal parking lot

located straight ahead. Trail runs next to the lot.

To start at Thorndike Field; From I95, take exit 29 to Route 2 East to Alewife. Take

the exit for Routes 3/16 Northeast. Turn left onto Massachusetts Ave. at the next

intersection and continue for a mile. Turn left on Lake Street and left on Margaret

Street. Parking lot at the end next to the trail.

The Minuteman Bikeway follows the former route of a railroad line between North Cambridge and Bedford. Built in 1846 and extended in 1874, the rail line was finally discontinued in 1981. The bikeway was then constructed between 1991 and 1993. The 12 foot wide, paved surface is divided by a yellow line for its entire length. Road crossings are well marked with signs and crosswalks. Starting May 28, 2002, some sections will be repaired near the Arlington area and you may encounter some detours. For more information, check out the website; www.MinutemanBikeway.org

Starting in Bedford, be sure to check out the old Bedford Depot Freight House, if its open. It has railroad related items and some refreshments. Across the street, next to an old Boston & Maine Railroad passenger car, is a bike shop. Also from this point, you can access the Bedford Narrow Gauge Rail Trail Spur Letterbox. From Bedford, the trail has a generally, slight uphill grade to Lexington and then a slight downhill grade to Arlington. After a couple of miles you cross over I95 via an old railroad bridge. After 3 miles, spot a grassy area on your left with a long granite bench suspended between two rocks. Another rock has a memorial dedicated to Albert Lester. To the left is a small path through the woods. Go up the path to a sign that reads "Lexington Conservation Land" and look to your left. Youll see three large Maple trees in a row. Behind the third tree, under some sticks is the prize you seek. This is close to the bike trail, so please be discreet. Continuing along the trail, at the 4 mile mark you will enter Lexington Center and pass by a Visitors Center and the old Lexington Depot. The Depot is currently undergoing some restoration and plans call for converting the old "ticket windows" for use selling drinks and snacks to trail users. A parking lot is located here. You can take a quick detour here to check out the historic sights, such as Lexington Common, the site of the first battle of the Revolutionary War. There are also shops and restaurants. After 9 miles you reach Arlington Center, where the trail takes a detour through town via two crosswalks. The railroad used to cross the street at this point and they have preserved some of the old tracks in a small park. Shops and restaurants here as well. Another mile will bring you past Spy Pond on your right. You then come to Thorndike Field after about 10 miles.

Another miles will bring you to the Alewife T Station, a stop on the commuter rail line into Boston. From here you may take a mile detour to Fresh Pond, where a 2 mile paved trail encircles the pond. This is a public water supply area. To reach the pond, go around the station to a large metal circle with a T cut out, sitting on the sidewalk. Cross over the road at the crosswalk and head straight down the path. This sidewalk brings you alongside the Alewife Brook Parkway, which then crosses over a railroad freight yard. You come to a traffic circle, which is currently being repaired and cross over the road to the right of the circle. Please use caution as the crosswalk is currently being installed. Turn left and head down the sidewalk along the traffic circle. You will soon come to a right turnoff and the start of the Fresh Pond Loop. Following the loop to the right, the pavement is a bit old, but navigable. A wire fence encircles the pond and has a lot of poison ivy growing up it, so please dont touch. You then encounter a short unpaved section. If you look to your right, you will see some old railroad tracks. You then come to newly paved asphalt, as the trail brings you around the water purification facility. A detour to your left takes you up a small hill into a shaded area with two stone overlooks. It then loops back down to the trail. You then pass by the Cambridge Water Works building and continue around the pond back to where you entered. I was going to plant another Letterbox somewhere around the pond, but forgot to bring a second box, so if anyone wishes to hide a box here while visiting, Ill be glad to add it to these clues.