June Wildflowers in Randolph and Jefferson

Thursday, June 9th, 2011
Ready to Ride at 9:00 am!!

I was up in Randolph today, and it looks like Lupine Season! The lupine webcam at Sugar Hill also shows a beautiful display. So, although I had been thinking about the Franconia Ride, I think we'd better go see the lupine before they finish their display.

The other issue is the weather. I have looked at so many forecasts and it is clear that we will get hot weather and thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon. Most seem to indicate 1:00. I think that we can do this ride in the cooler morning hours and be done before we get wet (all you on the Willey House ride from last Thursday are probably chuckling at that prediction...).

This ride goes by some of the best displays of panoramic scenery and lupine fields in the area. The ride includes the entire length of Valley Road, a hidden treasure, running in the valley, parallel to Route 2 but without the traffic. Valley Road lacks pavement for about 2 miles. but the riding on it is just fine (better, in fact, than a lot of pavement we have around here...). Durand Road is a terrific ride also, lined with summer houses from the 30's and their nice gardens.

Start time: 9:00 am ready to ride at the parking lot on the west end of Pinkham B Road at the rail trail crossing.

Carpool: Meet at the Jackson Ski Touring/Wentworth Golf Club parking area across the street from the J-Town Deli at 8:10 am.

Ride length: 26 miles

Directions to the start:

The start is at the Randolph end of the Pinkham B Road. There is parking right next to where the Presidential Rail Trail crosses Pinkham B. Access Pinkham B road from the Dolly Copp Campground entrance off of Route 16.

As you drive down the hill on Pinkham B and come out of the woods, where there are 2 houses on the left, the rail trail crosses the road at a public works department building. There is parking on the left side near the rail trail.

If you don't want to do Pinkham B, drive route 16 to Gorham, follow it towards Berlin and take a left on Route 2 at the traffic light. Go up the big hill and down the other side (being glad you did not have to climb it on a bike...). Just after the hill flattens, Pinkham B Road will be on your left. Take the left and drive about 0.5 mile to the parking area near the rail trail on the right.

Ride description:


The ride will go down Pinkham B to Route 2, crosses Route 2 and enters Durand Road, a scenic quite road parallel to Route 2. If you have hiked the Randolph Mountain Club trail systems, you have likely used the many trial heads on this road. At the end of Durand Road, we ride Route 2 on a wide shoulder for a short distance.

Take the next left onto Valley Road. We ride Valley Road to Jefferson Meadows. We can do the 115 triangle then have a quick lunch near the Israel River Campground and stop at their snack shop.
return is by Valley Road and Durand Road, before the storm.

Map:

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/nh/jefferson/829127656358752350