Saturday, August 23, 2014

Ammonusuc Waterfalls Ride, try again! 10:00 am

Thursday August 23, 2014

If the great weather holds through Thursday...here is a retry of the ride from 2 weeks ago that was moved due to drizzle and 54 degrees:


This ride is relatively short in mileage but big on scenery and attractions. It includes panoramic Presidential views, the Cog Railroad (if you decide to climb up to the station), Upper and Lower Ammonusuc Falls, the Mount Washington Hotel. Eat lunch or snacks on the rocks next to the Lower Ammonusuc Falls.

Start at the Eisenhower Wayside Park which is on the right side of Route 302 a couple of miles after passing through Crawford Notch. We ride back up the notch to Mt Clinton Road. The road is probably not in much better shape than before, but is OK to ride if you take it easy and enjoy the shady green tunnel. We could climb up to the Cog Railroad or just enjoy the downhill cruise, stopping to look at Upper Ammonusuc Falls. We then ride out to the Twin Mt 4 corners and return to enjoy the Lower Ammonusuc Falls.

Start:  10:00 am at the Eisenhower Wayside Park

Total distance: 25 miles; with shorter options.

Carpool:  Attitash parking lot, far end, 9:15 am.

Here is a map:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/137821612

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

North Road to Bethel 9:00 am

Thursday, August 21, 2014

With the traffic in the valley, let's escape to The North Road for a good place to get a calmer, quieter place to ride.

Start at the intersection of North Road and Hogan Road, on the north side of the Androscoggin River, ready to ride at 9:00 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 trail heads, comes in from the left, and there is a dirt parking area there. (Those of you from the Fryeburg area probably do best by driving up and over Evans Notch).

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 - it has a mix of flat sections, rolling hills, a few short granny gear climbs, lots of farm and mountain 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 riverside picnic spot (and porta-potty). 

Bring your lunch.

If you want to carpool:  Meet in Jackson at the golf course parking lot across from the J-Town Deli at 8:00 if you can either take a bike or two in/on your car, or if you would like to join a carpool. 


Shorter Options:

Option 1. For the best shorter option, do the eastern (Bethel) portion of North Road. This starts at the Gilead bridge at a parking area for boaters. This option allows you to meet up with everyone and have lunch together at the riverside park. This is a 20 mile option.

Drive to the Gilead steel trestle bridge (Bridge Street) via Route 2 (look for it on the left soon after the intersection with the road that goes over Evans Notch - after the new Route 2 bridge), park at the canoe parking area on the southwest side of the bridge, ride across the bridge and join the riders there as they ride by on North Road at about 10:45.
You could also drive from the Hogan Road parking area 9.3 miles down North Road where you will come to an intersection with the bridge on your right. Starting at the bridge and riding to Bethel will give you a 20 mile round trip. To lengthen this a bit, start earlier, cross the bridge, turn left and ride until you meet the riders coming from Hogan Road. Turn and join in with the group!

Option 2:

If you wish to start at the Hogan Road parking area, you can ride out with the group and turn back when you've had enough:

To Shelburne and back is 10.2 miles round trip
To the Gilead steel trestle bridge is 18.6 miles round trip


For a map you can play with, click on: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/871217

If you cannot get this link to work, go to www.mapmyride.com and search for the ride called: "North Road to Bethel". All my rides on this site are listed under "marianneb".

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Ammonusuc Waterfalls Ride 10:00 am

Thursday, August 14th, 2014

Looks like this weather will clear out so that we can ride tomorrow. With all this rain, the rivers and waterfalls should be flowing fast and worth a look.

This ride is relatively short in mileage but big on scenery and attractions. It includes panoramic Presidential views, the Cog Railroad (if we decide to climb up to the station), Upper and Lower Ammonusuc Falls, the Mount Washington Hotel. We eat lunch or snacks on the rocks next to the Lower Ammonusuc Falls. They should be roaring tomorrow!

Start at the Eisenhower Wayside Park which is on the right side of Route 302 a couple of miles after passing through Crawford Notch. We ride back up the notch to Mt Clinton Road. The road is probably not in much better shape than before, but is OK to ride if you take it easy and enjoy the shady green tunnel. We could climb up to the Cog Railroad or just enjoy the downhill cruise, stopping to look at Upper Ammonusuc Falls. We then ride out to the Twin Mt 4 corners and return to enjoy the Lower Ammonusuc Falls.

Start:  10:00 am at the Eisenhower Wayside Park

Total distance: 25 miles; with shorter options.

Carpool:  Attitash parking lot, far end, 9:15 am.

Here is a map:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/137821612

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Fryeburg Village and Menonomy Road 9:00 am

Thursday, August 7th, 2014

OK, here's a plan. The weather folks say that wet weather comes in the afternoon, leaving the morning for a ThursdayBike ride. I am setting up a close-to-home short ride that should get us out and back for a good ride before the weather comes in.

Meet at the Maine Visitor's Center on Route 302 just over the border in Fryeburg. We start with a lap on the bike path and Porter Road, then go into Fryeburg Village, head over to the Snow School and Ice House Road. We cross Route 302 onto Menonomy Road, which is a very scenic out and back ride. It has short climbs that will keep us exercised. On our return we could stop in Fryeburg Village for a coffee or tea and a pastry at Riverstones. More miles, if the weather holds, can be achieved on Haleytown Road. 

Distance?  Probably about 20 miles.

Ready to ride at 9:00 at the Maine Visitor's Center.