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

Thursday, June 9th, 2011

Check this blog Wednesday night for the final plan. I want to get the best weather forecasts between 5 and 6:30 before setting up this ride.
I would like to do the Franconia Notch Bike Path - it is a shady ride on a hot day and it is good to do it before the tourist season starts, but, I would like to be sure we are done with the ride and either in the car or at the Woodstock Brewery if the thunderstorms come in!

A ride that is coming up soon is the Randolph-Jefferson Lupine Ride. The lupine bloom seem earlier this year. I am going to be in Randolph today and I will check the lupine progress.

Crank Some Crawford, 9:00 am

Thursday, June 2

Let's do a ride out on the western side of the valley this week, with a little elevation gain to get our hill climbing gears warmed up!

Destination: Lunch at the pond across from the Willey House. Pack your own lunch or get it there.

Note that the start is at 9:00 am, earlier now that the warmer, spring weather has finally arrived!

Meet at the Attitash parking lot, ready to ride at 9:00 am.

The ride to the Willey House from Attitash up route 302 is about 29 miles round trip. It is NOT HARD -- it is WAY easier than Bear Notch Road, a gradual climb with flatter sections of relief. The ride back is marvelous. Those that want to burn some extra calories can continue 2.5 miles up the notch to the Crawford RR station, then return to meet everyone else for lunch at the Willey House.

For a shorter option, start in Bartlett Village (24 miles total) or at the parking area for the Fourth Iron Bridge (~18 miles total). Join the crowd as they ride by: ~ 9:15 at Bartlett Village, ~9:25 at Fourth Iron.

For a longer ride, 40 miles, start out of the Grants parking lot (8:30 am), meet the folks at Attitash for the 9:00 departure.

Do you need a map?? See the link below. Even if you don't need one, take a look at the elevation profile AFTER you finish the ride.

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/2356636

Thursday, May 26th

Cruise Fryeburg Harbor from the Peace With Inn with Lunch at the Stow Store

Let's check out the springtime green grass and potato fields over in North Fryeburg! After all the rain and damp weather, perhaps they are planting rice this season?


The Peace With-Inn once again will allow us to park in their yard - a great place to start the ride. The Inn is 7 miles from North Conway: Take East Conway Road past Sherman Farms, bear left onto Route 113 North. At Webster's Country Store bear right to continue north on 113, and continue 1 mile north to the Peace With-Inn, on the left.

Here is more info on the Peace With-Inn: http://www.peacewithinn.com/directions.htm

As you all know by now, the Stow Store is now open, and the new owners, Maureen and Jim are excited to get the word out and show everyone what they have done.

No need to bring lunch - just some $ - Maureen and Jim know we are coming are are preparing pastries, soup and a special pasta salad for us to enjoy.


Time: 10:00 Ready to Ride


Place: The Peace With-Inn, parking area on the left side of the Inn

Anyone form Bartlett/Jackson want to carpool? Meet at Grant's Parking lot at 9:00 am.

Route: there are so many excellent options here!

For the longer ride - Cornshop Rd- Fish St - McNeil - Union Hill - Meadow - Stow Store and the 113B loop, then back via Union Hill, Harbor and 113 South (30 miles).

To make it even longer, from the Stow Store, keep North on 113 as far as you like -- The Basin? Evans Notch?

To make it shorter, eliminate the loop north of the Stow Store and return via 113 South (20 miles).

Here is a map:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/6664331

Camp Grenada

Ride Cancelled Thursday, May 19

OK now, this is not funny anymore.

There has been only one ThursdayBike ride so far this season.

This means to me that when the current lingering low pressure system moves east, we will have amazing spring (summer?) weather.

Remember Alan Sherman's "Camp Grenada" song??? (1963!)

"...camp is very entertaining,
And they say we'll have some fun if it stops raining." (see links below for the lyrics and youtube)

So, perhaps it is necessary to try to ride on an alternate day, to keep in shape and in good spirits.

Looks like Friday morning could be OK for a short ride before the rain comes in the afternoon-- anyone want to try for a short ride in Bartlett - River Road and/or Bear Notch Road?

Meet on FRIDAY morning at the Attitash parking lot at 10:00 am if it is not raining and the roads are starting to dry out.

I will likely post for a ride on Sunday or Monday, since the weather should be nice. The Crank the Kanc is on Saturday, how about if we try a Crank Some Kanc (or all of it) on Sunday?? Check the blog -- I will set a time and place when I'm sure about the weather!


For the lyrics to Alan Sherman's famous song:
http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/granada.htm

and the youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2Hx_X84LC0

Thursday, May 12th

Brownfield is Turning Green

...So let's go check it out in the warm sunshine!!!!

The ride is a GO for this week and I am so confident of good weather that I am posting it on Tuesday instead of waiting until Wednesday night!!

Meet: 10:00 am Ready to Ride

Where: Maine Visitors Center, just over the border in Maine, right side of Route 302

Route: Haleytown Road into Brownfield. Return by Sam Brown Hill (great views!)

The ride will split into 2 groups, you choose:

Longer option: Cross route 5/113 and get some hill climbing on the triangle loop. 31 miles total

Shorter, easier option (for those who haven't been on the bike much yet this season !) 21 miles (does not include the hilly triangle on the east side of route 5/113). There are options to make this ride even shorter if desired.

We will check out the black fly status on the northern shore of Burnt Meadow Pond (on route 160, just south of Pig Street). It could be a good lunch/snack stop.

Map:

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/9015244

RIde for May 5th Cancelled

Another Cancellation.

It is amazing that we just cannot get a good Thursday for the 2011 season opening ride. There is a good chance of rain and the temperature will only get into the 40's.

Last week 6 hearty ThursdayBikers went out for a (un-official!) ride. They got wet on the way back to the cars, but when they arrived it stopped raining. Three flat tires were attained during that ride. Fortunately I had cancelled the official ride. No way are we kicking off the ThursdayBike season with 100% wet riders and 50% having to fix a flat...

The long term forecast for next week's "opening day" looks much better!!!!!!!!!