Again this week I am setting up a ride out of the valley. This is in an attempt to get us away from all the tourist traffic, and perhaps also to make all of US the tourists for a change so that we can go explore new terrain and see beautiful scenery!
Again, this is one of my most favorite rides! Farms, fields, horses, cows, mountain views, covered bridges, rivers, streams, villages, little white churches, closed papermills, etc. This ride has everything the region can offer.
The Lost Nation Loop starts in Whitefield at the town green with the gazebo in the center. We ride east towards Jefferson on route 116, then North Road through Grange and Lost Nation to Groveton. We then ride about 2.5 miles down Route 3 (wide shoulder) to Northumberland and cross the CT River into Guildhall, VT. We ride the VT side of the CT River on Route 102 then cross the Mt. Orne Covered Bridge just south of Lancaster. We ride almost to Dalton along the NH side of the CT River and then take route 142 back to Whitefield.
I know that it is more driving than we typically do, and more miles biking than we typically do, but I think this ride is worth it!!! Bring a camera and bring plenty to eat and drink, as there are not many places to get supplies until we reach Groveton. We will eat lunch at the park at the Groveton Covered Bridge.
For the map try either of these links:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/nh/lost-nation/300382908
Carpooling: If you want to carpool, meet at the Attitash parking lot at 7:50 am
Directions to Whitefield: Route 302 through Crawford Notch to the light at Twin Mountain four corners. Take a right onto Route 3 and follow it to the center of Whitefield, a tiny town green with gazebo.
Parking in Whitefield: There is parking around the town green in the center of Whitefield (intersection of routes 3, 116, 142) and behind the bank which is across the street from the green in the center of town. Wherever you park, meet the riders on the town green at 9:00 am. Allow at least one hour drive time.
Options? Unfortunately, there are no really good shorter options here. Do the whole loop for the ultimate experience!
Difficulty? No notches. No Asparagus Hills. A bit harder than last week's ride from Bethel to Andover. There are some good rolling hills. The toughest climb (probably not even a quarter mile long) is not far out of Whitefield, so it is at the beginning of the ride when we have more energy to get it over with.
History: Lost Nation seems to always be associated with The Republic of Indian Stream, (perhaps because of the book written about this interesting region of NH?). The place called Lost Nation, where we will ride (don't blink or you may miss it...), is not geographically contained within The Republic of Indian Stream, so I am curious as to how they are historically related. Can anyone help with this history?Information about the Republic of Indian Stream: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Indian_Stream
About the novel, Lost Nation, by Jeffrey Lent: http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Nation-Jeffrey-Lent/dp/0871138433
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