Rainout This Thursday. Here is info on July 4th parades, Bartlett 11:00 am and Conway1:30 pm

Thursday, June 28th, 2018

No matter how many weather forecasts I search through, all are in agreement that this Thursday is a washout, not a bike day.  See you next week!

Parades:

4th of July is NEXT WEEK, Wednesday, wow, so here is information for you if you, your friends and family would like to proudly ride your bikes in a parade!! It is crazy, silly fun.. Dress up in red, she and blue bling, and enjoy!  Do Bartlett or Conway or both.

Information on the BARTLETT 4th of July Parade, marching with the Bicycling Club Banner:  Same routine as in the past:

If you have never been to the Bartlett 4th of July Parade, it is worth a trip. What a hoot!! It drips with small town charm. Lots of fire trucks (bring ear plugs...), old cars and "floats". Politicians and Miss Mt. Washington Valleys in tiaras perched in convertibles. It starts at 11:00. This is a big deal --- they actually close Route 302 for this event, causing a huge 4th of July traffic jam of confused, surprised and cranky tourists (and locals). But the show must go on! 

Best way to see this spectacle is by bike. Meet at the Attitash parking lot at 9:45 am, ready to ride, at the far west end of the lot, away from the lifts, in the shade. We can ride over to Bartlett Village before Route 302 turns into a linear parking lot of annoyed drivers. After the parade, get a bowl full of strawberry shortcake made by the church ladies and gents. 
By then the traffic should clear for our return to our cars at Attitash. 

Meet at 9:45 am, ready to ride at Attitash.


Information on the CONWAY 4th of July parade, marching with the Recreation Path Banner. Parade starts at 1:00 pm. Information below from Jill at the Gibson Center:

“July 4th parade information for Conway 2018

Update from Sally McMurdo,  on Tuesday July 3rd:

Can you let people know that the time for Conway parade was changed to 1:30,not 1:00.Anyone who want sto march with the rec group should show up at Hillside Avenue around 1:00.

The parade will run from Hillside Ave (near covered bridges) to the Kennett Junior High School, and floats will dismantle by HAM Arena.

The parade starts at 1PM and will last for 20 minutes (that is all the time we are allowed since it is a State Road)   

People are welcome to line up, starting at noon.  But don’t wait in line too long without keeping cool, we don’t need anyone passing out (as has happened in the past).  All floats and vehicles need to be in place by 12:30.

We are allowed to hand items to people along the way, but not allowed to just throw stuff that might cause people to run into the street.

The Community Outreach Committee is planning on marching/riding, etc. in the Conway 4th of July parade to promote the Rec Path. We're looking for people of all ages and abilities to be in the parade behind our banner.

It'd be fun for people to" dress up" as rec path users- runners, walkers, bird watchers, roller skiers,  snow shoers (carrying their shoes of course), dog walkers,,  people with carriages, wheelchairs and the like. Bring a group and come join us! The more the merrier!”

Presidential Views: Bretton Woods to Jefferson 10:00 am

Thursday June 21, 2018

Here is a ride to celebrate the first day of summer. This ride also celebrates the beauty of the Presidential Range and the great views from Bretton Woods, Twin Mountain and the Jefferson Valley.  This ride has some long gradual climbs, but nothing too serious. The lupines are still in bloom and we will pass some fields of them along the way.

Meet at the Bretton Woods Ski Area. Park in the big lot across from the fitness center, which is on the right just after you turn off Route 302 into the Bretton Woods Ski Area entrance.

Meet at 10:00 am, ready to ride.

The route will head out onto 302 west to Twin Mountain, and takes right onto Route 3 at the lights. Another right onto Route 115 for a gradual up and then over to the scenic vista, overlooking Pondicherry and the Jefferson Range. We continue on a great downhill all the way to a left onto Israel's River Road. We will head up to the village of Jefferson to the general store/gas station where there is food, ice cream and a grassy park to picnic. We then return to Route 115A, head back up to the Scenic Vista and return to Bretton Woods.

Total distance is 39 miles. To shorten the route to 30 miles you could park at the tourist info center with the gazebo and cog railway locomotive in Twin Mountain at the junction of Route 302 and Route 3 and join in as the riders pass by, maybe around 10:20ish.

If you want to carpool, meet at the far end of the Attitash ski area parking lot at 9:15 am, otherwise, see you at Bretton Woods!

map:  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27844638

Weather issues...RIde Cancelled

Thursday, June 14th, 2018

I just don't like the forecasts for this Thursday-- looks like cool temperatures with clouds and wind in the early morning but as the morning progresses the showers will come in.

I regret to just have to cancel the ride.

See you next week!

The Lady Slipper Orchid Ride: Kanc to Bear Notch Road 10:00 am

Thursday, June 7th, 2018

The Lady Slipper Orchids are now blooming in the woods. Over the past few years there has been a nice display of these orchids alongside Bear Notch Road from the Kanc up to around the gate area.

Let's go up the Kanc along the Swift River, head past Lower Falls and Rocky Gorge. We turn right onto Bear Notch Road. The goal is to head up past the gate and enjoy the typically beautiful display of Lady Slipper Orchids along the right side of the road. Head to the summit of Bear Notch Road if you like, otherwise just go to see the orchids. 

Our return will be that great downhill on Bear Notch and the Kanc to the Albany Covered Bridge. On the way back we could stop at the Russel Colbath House, it might be open by now.

We could stop to regroup at Rocky Gorge for a lunch break if the bugs are tolerable, then return to Conway via Passaconaway Road and the short ride on West Side Road and back over the Saco Covered Bridge to the parking lot.

Meet at the parking lot on Route 16 in Conway at the NH Liquor Store Plaza (used to have a Shurfine/IGA and bank). If we park at the ShurFine/bank end, the south end, we can access the road that goes over the Saco Covered Bridge directly by a back driveway. We then ride into Conway Village and then take the right turn up the Kanc. A bathroom stop at the Ranger Station might be required.

Meet at the ShurFine parking lot, ready to ride at 10:00 am. Bring a snack or lunch.
Distance: about 26 miles, longer if you climb to the summit of Bear Notch.