The colors are out, so here is a bike ride that I think provides a great fall foliage panoramas. This is a fall version of The Lupine Ride, with great views of the Presidentials, Wambek and Cherry Mountain. It is an easier ride than most, lots of flat roads and no big climbing.
Start time: 10:00 am ready to ride
Bring lunch or snacks.
Meet at the parking lot on the west (Randolph) 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 9:15 am.
Ride length: 28 miles, with a 22 mile option if you don't ride the route 115-115A triangle and just go to the campground on Israel River Road. 34 miles if we add the Jefferson loop.
Route description: Cross Route 2 over to Durand Road. Ride it all the way up to the end of the dead end and walk the path up to Route 2. Ride about 2 miles and take a left onto Valley Road. Ride out Valley to Route 115. Take a left and ride up to the intersection with Cherry Mountain Road (on left) and Route 115A (on right). For something different and more views, take a LEFT onto Cherry Mountain Road. Ride out and back, soak up the views on the flat road, turn back where the road goes uphill. Return to Route 115, cross over it onto Route 115A and ride this out past the raircar home and cemeteries to the dairy farm in the Jefferson Valley. If Whipple Road's packed dirt is in good shape, we can ride it to Route 116 and make a loop through Jefferson. Return to the Israel River valley, stop at the campground for lunch. The store there is closed on Thursday, but we could use the picnic tables there, or eat by the pond next to the campground. Head back by Valley Road then choose either Route 2 or Durand Road for the smiling downhill back to Pinkham B.
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 drive Pinkham B's dirt and "pavement", drive route 16 to Gorham, follow it left at the intersection towards Berlin and then take a left on Route 2 at the traffic light. Go up the big hill and down the other side. Just as 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.
For a map:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/18419892
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