Smoked Alewives

We had a splendid, sunny ride on Mothers' Day from South China to Albion. The newly-revised route was outstanding, with many scenic hilltop vistas. Our thanks to Duncan for leading and to all who turned out! We have another fine ride lined up for this Saturday in Winslow, winding its way through Benton, Fairfield and Clinton. The ride coincides this year with the Benton Alewife Festival - an optional stop near the ride's end: https://tockify.com/wabi.calendar/detail/2369/1747494000000. Hope you can join us! Saturday, May 17 - WINSLOW "Winsome Winslow" - a tour along the Kennebec through Winslow, Benton, Fairfield and Clinton START: 9:00 am at the Winslow Elementary School, 285 Benton Avenue, Winslow DISTANCE: 30.8 miles TERRAIN: Moderate with some hills HIGHLIGHTS: Scenic back roads with Kennebec River views and an optional stop at the Benton Alewife Festival LEADER: Tom Michaud, sdnytom@yahoo.com LINK TO RIDE MAP: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/70587004 https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/65546974

Run for your Lives - Alewives!

"Fish on a Bicycle" by Steven Gregory, 2005

"See the Alewives" - David Lipman has offered to lead a ride on Sunday afternoon, May 19 at 1:30 pm, from the Red Barn Restaurant, 455 Riverside Drive in Augusta. The ride will venture out to the Webber Pond Dam and fish ladder to view the spring run of the alewives, approx. 20 miles round trip. There will be opportunities for ice cream and other food at the ride's end. For more info, contact David at dlipman@lipmankatz.com. Thanks David!

Go Fish

We had a very nice ride from Skowhegan to Fairfield and all points in between last Sunday. The weather was a bit cool, but clear and sunny. We had some great scenery and a great group of folks on hand. Our thanks to John Lanoue for another fine ride. This Sunday the alewives return, and so shall the cyclists, so come join us as we go Biking with the Alewives! See you Sunday!

Sunday, May 20th, EAST VASSALBORO

"Biking with the Alewives" - a tour along the shores of Webber Pond, the Seven Mile Stream, and China Lake for the Spring Alewife Run.

START: 9:30 AM at Vassalboro Elementary School, 1116 Webber Pond Road, East Vassalboro.

DISTANCE: approx. 26 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate, with some hills and flat sections.

HIGHLIGHTS: scenic river views and a stop at the dam to view the historic alewife spring run.

LEADER: Tammy Jones, tjones@colby.edu.

LINK TO ROUTE MAP (2016): http://gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6864277

 

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at 293-3784 or hjmerrick@gmail.com, and check out the club's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KennebecValleyBicycleClub and the KVBC blog at http://postedroads.blogspot.com.

Alewives Run, We Bike

We had a fine ride in Readfield last Saturday, after a strategic rescheduling to avoid the rain on Sunday. Our gratitude to Lydia for rearranging her ride to suit the weather conditions, and all those who came out on short notice. If the weatherfolks are right, we are in for some sunny, warm (even hot!) weather ahead this week, and what better time to go biking with the alewives this Sunday! An always popular ride, and we hope you can join us!

Sunday, May 21st, EAST VASSALBORO

"Biking with the Alewives" - a tour along the shores of Webber Pond, the Seven Mile Stream, and China Lake for the Spring Alewife Run.

START: 9:00 AM at Vassalboro Elementary School, 1116 Webber Pond Road, East Vassalboro.

DISTANCE: approx. 26 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate, with some hills and flat sections.

HIGHLIGHTS: scenic river views and a stop at the dam to view the historic alewife spring run.

LEADER: Jeanine Libby, jjlibby13@roadrunner.com.

LINK TO ROUTE MAP (2016): http://gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6864277

BCM Calendar Link: http://www.bikemaine.org/event2/kvbc-biking-with-the-alewives-3

 

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at 293-3784 or hjmerrick@gmail.com, and check out the club's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KennebecValleyBicycleClub.

Swim with the Fishes, Bike with the Alewives

We had another fine turn-out for what I'm told was a fun ride last Saturday in Skowhegan. Thanks again to John Lanoue for leading the ride and to the folks at the Oak Pond Brewery. This Saturday's ride will be in East Vassalboro as we go biking with the Alewives on their run up the Sebasticook, as well as explore some back roads where Alewives go not. See you Saturday!

Saturday, May 14th, EAST VASSALBORO

"Biking with the Alewives" - a tour along the banks of the Sebasticook River to the Spring Alewife Run at the Benton Dam.

START: 9:00 AM at Vassalboro Elementary School, 1116 Webber Pond Road, East Vassalboro.

DISTANCE: approx. 25 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate, with some hills and flat sections.

HIGHLIGHTS: scenic river views and a stop at the site of the Benton Alewife Festival celebrating the return of the historic alewife spring run.

LEADER: Jeanine Libby.

Jersey Update: we are gathering orders for KVBC jerseys, and I neglected to say where you could mail your payments to.  The address is Jim Merrick, P.O. Box 214, Mount Vernon, Maine 04352.  It would be helpful if you could get your orders in to me by early next week. Many thanks!

 

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at 293-3784 or hjmerrick@gmail.com, and check out the club's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KennebecValleyBicycleClub.

 

Go Fish.

We had a cool, misty, foggy start to last Saturday's ride over the Back 40 in Windsor, but we had a good group of a dozen riders who rewarded for their troubles when it dried up and the sun even came out for a bit.  Many thanks to Leanne for another fine ride.  Here's hoping it continues to warm up for our next Spring venture, checking in with the Spring Alewife Run in Benton.  Go Fish!

Sunday, May 17th, EAST VASSALBORO

"Biking with the Alewives" - a tour along the banks of the Sebasticook River to the Spring Alewife Run at the Benton Dam.

START: 9:00 AM at Vassalboro Elementary School, 1116 Webber Pond Road, East Vassalboro.

DISTANCE: approx. 25 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate, with some hills and flat sections.

HIGHLIGHTS: scenic river views and a stop at the site of the Benton Alewife Festival celebrating the return of the historic alewife spring run.

LEADER: Jeanine Libby, jjlibby13@roadrunner.com.

BCM Calendar Link: http://www.bikemaine.org/event2/kvbc-biking-with-the-alewives

 

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at 293-3784 or hjmerrick@gmail.com, and check out the club's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KennebecValleyBicycleClub.

No Biking with the Alewives Tomorrow

RIDE UPDATE: SATURDAY'S KVBC RIDE SWITCHED TO SUNDAY.

After some discussion (and forecasts of 100% rain tomorrow) we decided that we didn't want to ride with the fishes quite that much, and given that the weather on Sunday looks a lot more favorable, we have opted to change this week's ride in Clinton to SUNDAY, May 18, same time and place.  Be sure to stay tuned for any additional changes as we move into the weekend.  Thanks for your understanding, and we'll see if we can get a ride in this weekend.

Sunday, May 18th, CLINTON

"Biking with the Alewives" - a tour along the banks of the Sebasticook River to the Benton Alewife Run.

START: 9:30 AM at the Old Mill Park off of Rt.s 100 and 11 in Clinton.

DISTANCE: 25 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate, with some hills and flat sections.

HIGHLIGHTS: scenic river views and a stop at the Benton Dam to view the return of the historic alewife spring run.

LEADER: Jeanine Libby.

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com, and check out the club's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KennebecValleyBicycleClub.

Biking with the Alewives

We had a beautiful day, at long last, for a splendid Mother's Day ride in China on Sunday.  It was a great ride with lots of rolling farmland and scenic lakeside runs, some historic cemetery stops, and some great tailwinds!  Many thanks to Jeanine for putting the ride together and offering to shift the ride date at the last minute to take advantage of the weather.  Jeanine is doing double duty this week, as she will also be leading our ride Saturday in Clinton to the Benton Alewife Festival: https://www.facebook.com/events/377947635659942/?fref=ts.  The alewives, a vital resource going back to prehistoric times, have made a remarkable comeback, and here's your chance to see the spring run in action.  As always, hope you can join us!

Saturday, May 17th, CLINTON

"Biking with the Alewives" - a tour along the banks of the Sebasticook River to the Benton Alewife Festival.

START: 9:30 AM at the Old Mill Park off Rt.s 100 and 11 in Clinton.

DISTANCE: 25 miles.

TERRAIN: moderate, with some hills and flat sections.

HIGHLIGHTS: scenic river views and a stop at the Benton Alewife Festival celebrating the return of the historic alewife spring run.

LEADER: Jeanine Libby.

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com, and check out the club's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KennebecValleyBicycleClub.

Alewife Harvest in Benton, Maine