After a few days of rain, it is time to bike! This is the season of EPIC bike rides with fall foliage viewing!!
The weather forecasts for Thursday, as of Tuesday evening, indicate a mix of clouds and sunshine with temps in the low to mid 60's and light wind. Let's get some warmer clothing out of storage and go for this great ride!
The ride is a 36 mile, counterclockwise loop which goes up the Franconia Notch Bike Path, turns off the path to head downhill via the Mittersill Ski slopes then skirts south of Franconia on Wells Road coming out near the glider airport. It then heads out Route 116 to the Kanc and climbs Kinsman's Notch from the easier, more gradual side. The downhill cruise back to the cars is a real treat!! Beautiful, epic ride, and the foliage is starting to turn!
We start and finish in Woodstock, at the public parking lot behind the storefronts across from the Woodstock Brewery. Great place to enjoy a burger and beer after the ride.
If the weather fails us we can make the call at the top of the bike path and return to the cars downhill by bike path. This is a fabulous 28 mile ride by itself.
Bring food for lunch at the glider airport and warm clothing for the downhills.
To get to the parking lot in Woodstock: Bear Notch Road and the Kanc to Lincoln, following the Kanc past the Route 93 interchange into Woodstock. Just as you are slowing down, after crossing the river, BEFORE approaching the traffic light in Woodstock at the Route 3 junction, there is an entrance to the public parking lot on your right. It is a big lot behind the storefronts on Route 3. If you miss this entrance, take a right into Woodstock onto Route 3 and drive about a block, looking for the parking lot entrance driveway on your right. It is BEFORE you reach the Woodstock Brewery.
Let's be ready to ride at 10:00 am.
Carpool from the Attitash parking lot (far end, away from the lifts) at 8:45 am. It is a one hour drive to Woodstock from Glen. If you have a NPR or NHPR discount book, bring it for the 2-fer deal at the Brewery.
Here is a map:
http://www.mapmyride.com/us/deerfield-nh/franconia-notch-bike-path-and-kinsman-no-route
Friday Ride!
If you would like to ride on FRIDAY, Sept 28th:
Edith and Bob have chosen the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, 11:00 am start at the trailhead in St Johnsbury. There may be some weather issues on Friday, but that is too far away to know for sure at this point. I will update this blog by Thursday.
Round trip we will have a 34 mile car-free adventure!!
Directions:
Take Route 302 over Crawford Notch towards Bethlehem and get onto Route 93 north to Vermont. At the Route 91 interchange, go north on 91 for a very short distance, hardly off the entrance ramp. Take this first exit, Exit 20, Route 5, then take a right at the end of the ramp and go a short distance, noticing the sign for the bike path on the right. It is called Railroad Street or Main Street depending on map. Take the right and then immediate right again down a short steep slope into the trailhead parking lot. It is a very quick succession of right, right, right, right. The map app says it is a 1 hour 15 minutes drive.
Carpool? If you like, meet at Attitash parking lot, far end away from the lifts, at 9:30 am to carpool, otherwise, meet at the trailhead in St Johnsbury.
Carpool? If you like, meet at Attitash parking lot, far end away from the lifts, at 9:30 am to carpool, otherwise, meet at the trailhead in St Johnsbury.
No porta-potty at the trailhead, so stop at the Welcome to Vermont Visitors Center on the right side of RT 93 soon after you cross the CT River.
Bring snacks and lunch or stop at the General Store in West Danville. We can eat at picnic tables on the beach at Joe's Pond.
Here is more info on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail:
The eastern end of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail runs about 17 miles from St. Johnsbury to Danville, ending alongside Joe's Pond. It is part of a project that is patching together pieces of the rail line to eventually establish the longest continuous rail trail in New England, stretching about 100 miles across Vermont from St. Johnsbury to St. Albans.
The surface is hard packed smooth stone dust. There are tunnels and bridges, lots of forest, good views of the Vermont hillsides and some lakeside biking. When we have done the trail in the past there were bikers, pedestrians, dog walkers, and horses out enjoying the trail.
The surface is fine for most bikes. Teeny tiny skinny tires have been used on this trail, but will slip in the rougher spots, not as much fun as compared to wider tires. The occasional surface issues are at some of the road crossings, the interface between the trail and the road is sometimes soft and sandy with a bump. The trail climbs gradually all the way to Danville, a hardly noticeable climb. The downhill trip back, however, is a hoot! It is certainly the easiest, flattest way to travel east-west across any part of Vermont!! A Thank You to the railroad designers, and surveyors.
Check out the website: www.lvrt.org
The surface is hard packed smooth stone dust. There are tunnels and bridges, lots of forest, good views of the Vermont hillsides and some lakeside biking. When we have done the trail in the past there were bikers, pedestrians, dog walkers, and horses out enjoying the trail.
The surface is fine for most bikes. Teeny tiny skinny tires have been used on this trail, but will slip in the rougher spots, not as much fun as compared to wider tires. The occasional surface issues are at some of the road crossings, the interface between the trail and the road is sometimes soft and sandy with a bump. The trail climbs gradually all the way to Danville, a hardly noticeable climb. The downhill trip back, however, is a hoot! It is certainly the easiest, flattest way to travel east-west across any part of Vermont!! A Thank You to the railroad designers, and surveyors.
Check out the website: www.lvrt.org
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