The shoulder season is a perfect time to ride the coast of Maine! We start in Portsmouth, NH, just off I-95, and head up the coast to Nubble Light and Perkins Cove. You might assume the best part of the ride is along the coast, but many peope enjoy the inland return options, including the Piscataqua River, even more.
The short ride cuts inland at mile 10.6, shortly before York Harbor and Nubble Light, while the long ride continues up the coast past Nubble Light up to Ogonquit before turning inland through rolling terrain. A new option is to follow the long route up to Nubble Lighthouse, then return down the coast to rejoin the short ride.
Both routes return through Eliot ME and then follow the Piscataqua River before recrossing the historic Memorial lift bridge back to Portsmouth.
This week we will tour the country roads, hills, and fall vistas around Groton, Pepperell, and Hollis, NH, before turning back south thru Tynsbourough to the starting point. We'll cross the gentle Nashua River twice and several working farms. Fall foilage may be starting to show.
This ride starts at 9:30 due to a slightly longer drive to the starting point on Westford Rd.
Come join your fellow club members for a ride from Groveland through the New Hampshire / Massachusetts borderlands, where NSC rides rarely venture.
All three rides are somewhat shorter than usual (albeit no less hilly, hello Corliss Hill!) to allow riders more time to return to Groveland for our fall picnic.
All routes begin at the Pines Recreation Area in Groveland, cross the mighty Merrimack, and head north together past the Whittier Homestead into NH.
The 22 mile route continues through Newton NH before returning along Bear Hill Rd. to the Merrimack valley.
The 36 and 48 split from the short route around mile 8 to continue northwest through South Kingston and Danville. The 48 splits off again (around mi 15) to explore less-known roads further north with scenic views of ponds and woodlands.
The 36 and 48 reconnect 3/4 of the way through the ride to follow the pretty shorelines of Tuxbury Pond and Lake Attitash.
All of the routes return along the north side of Merrimack River before recrossing the Bates bridge for our picnic back at the ride start in Groveland.
Ride counter-clockwise along the Cape Ann coastline, through Gloucester, out to the Eastern Point Lighthouse and Atlantic Ave, to Rockport and back through Annisquam Village. The short and medium routes return to the start location in Manchester from Essex. The longest option continues to Ipswich before looping back to Manchester. The coastal shoreline offers many scenic vistas by taking short excursions from the route.
Some challenging hills lead to Chester NH, a historic small town with a good General Store for lunch or a snack. Expect mostly wooded roads, old farms, and out-of-the-way historic districts such as North Danville. Chester's October scarecrow festival adds great local color, with over 1,000 scarecrows placed around the region. The 27 and 54 mile routes depart from the Amesbury Elementary School. The 40-mile remote start option begins in Newton NH, partway into the long ride. That will allow more riders to get to Chester and the scarecrows!
The Stone Wall Ride is a beautiful fall ride as the brilliant fall colors complement the stone walls all along the 26 mile route. The beginning of the ride uses roads in Hamilton that we do not travel on often and then the roads become more familiar in Topsfield.
There are no bathroom facilities at the start. Cumberland Farms is across the street from the 15 Walnut Tavern plaza parking lot. For those who drive by Bradley Palmer on the way to start, there are porta potties in the parking lot. The ride goes through Bradley Palmer at mile 14.5
Please park in the area near RT 1A and Walnut Rd.
Please join us for lunch at 15 Walnut Tavern following the ride.
27.7 miles (51% paved / 46% unpaved / 3% unspecified)
Fairly flat mixed terrain ride. Almost half of the unpaved portion is on the Topsfield rail trail. Other segments include dirt road, wide double track, and lesser stretches of pasture trail and single track. Some roots and loose rocks.
Parking available at MASSDOT Park and Ride at Main and Park Sts. and along Main St.
Flat to rolling loops through the North Shore. All rides pass through Boxford, Topsfield and Rowley. Medium ride adds Newbury and Newburyport. Long ride adds Plum Island including the paved bike lane on the Plum Island Causeway. Short ride lunch stop is in Topsfield. Long and medium ride lunch stop is in Newburyport at Abraham's Bagels. Abraham's is in the same block where a 17th century woman named Elizabeth Morse lived. She was convicted of witchcraft a dozen years before the Salem witch trials. Visit the plaque dedicated to her on the north side of the building. An optional stop is at Tendercrop Farm on the long and medium rides. Feel free to visit the farm store for coffee and fresh local products!
This week's ride is a mix of hard packed rail trail and a few urban miles through Portsmouth to the rolling coastal views in Maine. I found my gravel bike most comfortable for the 16 miles of gravel rail trail, but it could be done on a road bike. There are category two options available in Fort Foster and some additional single track miles at the trails end in North Hampton.
Please be ready at 9:15 am for the safety talk and welcome for new members.
