Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Brownfield is Golden

Important Notice!! End of season Pot Luck Dinner will be 6:00 pm, Saturday, November 21st at Leslie Schomaker's home in Jackson. More details will follow - keep checking this blog for info.

Thursday, October 29th

The weather and the foliage should be perfect for a ride in the golden leaves of Brownfield!

The ride makes a loop in the trees with some rolling hills on the east side of route 5/113 near the Brownfield 5-corners. No mosquitos this time, guanranteed. On the return trip, there is a gradual climb for an excellent view from the top of Sam Brown Hill. The scenery on the way back down is beautiful! On the return, the ride overlaps with the Snowville Loop for about 2 miles - a downhill cruise near Asparagus Hill (does NOT include the hill; just smile as you ride by it!!).


Distance: The entire ride is 33 miles. It can be shortened to the "Brownfield is Beautiful" ride from the Maine Bike Rally for 18 miles (includes Sam Brown Hill viewpoint).

Start: Maine Visitors Information Center parking lot, just over the Maine border in Fryeburg, on the right side of Route 302 (the new building that looks like a railroad station). We will begin riding from there on Haleytown Road (new pavement!).

Be ready to ride at 11:00.

Car pool - If you want to carpool from the Bartlett Jackson area, meet at the Grant's parking lot at 10:00. Otherwise, see you at the Maine Info Center!

Here is the map of the ride:



View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com

Monday, October 19, 2009

Thursday, October 22nd

Ride is Cancelled

Enjoy the better weather tomorrow, and hopefully next Thursday will be good for ThursdayBike!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Thursday, October 15th, 11:00 am ride

Cold but Colorful Ride??

It may be cold for a ride, but very colorful! Today the view looking at the peaks covered in snow and the fall colors all around was spectacular. So, I think if we ride, it should be to see this wonderful mix of winter and fall. So, how about a ride up route 302 to the Willey House
to enjoy the views?

The temperature will be in the low 40's, but sunny with very light wind. A warm day for cross country skiing or alpine skiing!! So just find those xc ski pants, jackets and gloves for the ride!

Meet at 11:00 at the Attitash parking lot ready to ride. The ride to the Willey House and return is 30 miles. We could decide to turn around sooner if needed!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Thursday, October 8th: North Road

Fall Colors on North Road!

North Road should be stunning this week with this season's fall foliage!

Start at the usual spot in Shelborne at the intersection of North Road and Hogan Road, on the north side of the Androscoggin River, ready to ride at 10:00 am. To get to this point, drive north over Pinkham Notch on Route 16. Turn right at the intersection with route 2 in Gorham. Drive about 3 miles, and turn left onto North Road, just after a beautiful stone house and barn. Cross the river at the dam, and proceed about 1/4 mile to where North Road bears sharply right. Hogan Road, a dirt road with access to several trailheads, comes in from the left at this point, and there is a dirt parking area there.

The entire ride on North Road to the picnic area alongside the river in Bethel, and back, is 39 miles. The ride is not difficult, no notches! There are flat sections, sections of rolling hills, lots of scenery and occasional views of the river. Near the end, just before reaching Route 2/Route 5, there is a bike path that turns right at a red fire hydrant and goes behind the water slide park. The path goes for 1.1 miles, ending at a nice picnic spot (and porta-potty). If it is too chilly to sit and picnic, we can go to a cafe about 1/2 mile into town.

Shorter Options: Since the ride is out-and-back, you can decide when you've had enough and turn back to the parking lot: To Shelburne and back is 10.2 miles round trip. To the Gilead steel trestle bridge is 18.6 miles round trip. Or, to have fewer miles, but still join in on the eating and chatting in Bethel, drive to the Gilead bridge (Bridge Street), park there at the canoe parking area on the southwest side of the bridge, and join the riders there as they ride by on North Road at about 10:45-11:00. Starting at the bridge and riding to Bethel will give you a 20 mile round trip.

Longer Option: For those who might want another scenic 6 miles, there is a nice view loop in Bethel that can be added. It goes through town and up Paradise Road, returning on Vernon St. It is on the map, below.

CARPOOLING! To carpool, meet at the Grants parking lot in Glen at 8:45-9:00 if you can either take a bike or two in/on your car, or if you would like to join a carpool. Carpools will leave at 9:00.

For a map including the loop in Bethel, click either of the links below:

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/nh/-gorham/854125488029482602

View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com