Wake Up the Earth!

 We got lucky on last Saturday's KVBC ride from Augusta. The rains held off until we were packing up and leaving, and the six of us who gambled a bit with conflicting forecasts managed to get in a fine ride. After a bit of snow early this week we should all be ready for Spring to make an appearance, and we will hold our annual Wake Up the Earth ride this Saturday to top off Earth Week! This year we will meet at the Androscoggin Riverlands State Park and ride to the Nezinscot Farm Store in Turner. Hope you can join us!

Saturday, April 23 - TURNER

"Wake Up the Earth" - an Earth Week ride celebrating the coming of Spring, parklands, local organic farm producers, and biking of course!

START: 10:30 am at the north parking lot of the Androscoggin Riverlands State Park on Center Bridge Road in Turner. Detailed directions (and a nifty downloadable map of the park) can be found on their website: https://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/doc/parksearch/details.pl?park_id=98

DISTANCE: 22 or 24 miles

TERRAIN: moderate with several long hills

HIGHLIGHTS: a scenic ride along rivers and ridgetops through Turner and Leeds, celebrating Earth Week and the coming of Spring, with a stop at the Nezinscot Farm Store.

LEADER: Jim Merrick, 293-3784, hjmerrick@gmail.com

LINK to ROUTE MAP (longer): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39005991

LINK to ROUTE MAP (shorter): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39006194

For more information on the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim at 293-3784, hjmerrick@gmail.com, find us on Facebook, or check out our blog at http://postedroads.blogspot.com.

UPDATE: Sunday's Ride in Jay Moved to Saturday

The KVBC ride in Jay scheduled for Sunday has been moved up to Saturday at 9:30 am, due to forecasts of showers and thunderstorms on Sunday.  Sorry for the late notice - the weather for Saturday is looking very nice, and hopefully we can get a good ride in.  See you Saturday!

Saturday, May 25th - JAY

"May in Jay" - a scenic river ramble up and down the Androscoggin.

START: 9:30 am, Jay Plaza on Rt.4 near the junction of Rt.140. Park along the north end of the parking lot away from Hannaford's.

DISTANCE: 27 or 47 miles.

TERRAIN: mostly flat with a few hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: scenic roads and farmland along the Androscoggin River, Norlands Living History Center, and an adventurous option.

LEADER: Jim Merrick, hjmerrick@gmail.com, 293-3784.

LINK to ROUTE MAP (Long Ride): https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7340593

LINK to ROUTE MAP (Short Ride): https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7347142

Jay in May

We had a great ride last Saturday from Norridgewock, and we had a great turnout with another group of riders joining up with us for a ride through Norridgewock and Skowhegan. Our thanks to Denise and Brian - especially for the post-ride cookies - and to John and his group that came in from New Hampshire. It's hard to believe that Memorial Day weekend is upon us already. We will finish off the month of May with an all-new ride from Jay that will explore some little-traveled roads along the Androscoggin River. We'll look forward to seeing you; otherwise, have a great holiday weekend!

Sunday, May 26th - JAY

"May in Jay" - a scenic river ramble up and down the Androscoggin.

START: 9:30 am, Jay Plaza on Rt.4 near the junction of Rt.140. Park along the north end of the parking lot away from Hannaford's.

DISTANCE: 27 or 47 miles.

TERRAIN: mostly flat with a few hills.

HIGHLIGHTS: scenic roads and farmland along the Androscoggin River, Norlands Living History Center, and an adventurous option.

LEADER: Jim Merrick, hjmerrick@gmail.com, 293-3784.

LINK to ROUTE MAP (Long Ride): https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7340593

LINK to ROUTE MAP (Short Ride): https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7347142

Tour de Lacs on Sunday

We had a great ride last Saturday, and a terrific turnout for Denise's "Big Lakes Tour" from East Winthrop.  We had the pleasure of welcoming some new people and seeing some familiar faces - and the weather turned out to be great as well. Our thanks to Denise and her crew (Hi Brian!), and to Tom, who provided us with cold water at his shop at the ride's end.

This week's ride will feature another classic KVBC ride: the "Tour de Lacs" in Wayne.  PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DATE OF THE RIDE HAS BEEN CHANGED FROM SATURDAY TO SUNDAY.  Since many folks may be already signed up to do the BCM's Women's Ride in Freeport on Sunday, I will post the map and cue sheet for the Wayne ride for those who might like to do it on Saturday as a show-and-go leaderless ride.  Otherwise I hope to see you on Sunday, and have a great ride regardless!

Sunday, June 7th - WAYNE

"The Tour de Lacs" - a loop of Androscoggin Lake, with a couple detours for special Wayne sights. 

START: 9:00 AM, at the Wayne Elementary School, Pond Rd (turn north from Rt. 133, just west of Wayne village; go 1/4-mile, park in lot at north end of bldg.)

DISTANCE: 26 miles

TERRAIN: Moderately hilly

HIGHLIGHTS:  beginning loop goes by the Wayne Ring cemetery (Pond Rd) and the Wayne Desert (Berry Rd).  Great views eastward in Leeds (Rt. 106).  A detour near the end climbs Morrison Heights for a beautiful view westward over Lake Androscoggin.  Food and ice cream at Tubby's at the finish?

LEADER:  Jim Merrick, hjmerrick@gmail.com.

BCM Calendar Link: http://www.bikemaine.org/event2/kvbc-tour-de-lacs 

 

For more information about the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com, or follow us on Facebook.

Le Tour de Lacs

Passing the base of an early windmill on Morrison Heights

 

 

We had a great ride in Freeport on Saturday, despite the overcast and cool weather.  The roads were first rate and the traffic was light (except for Rt. 1 in Freeport on the return, although not as bad as in mid-summer).  We had a nice, long, flat run out to the end of Merepoint, and some great ocean views with fall foliage along the way.  Many thanks to Ken Louis for setting up the joint ride with MOAC.  This week we will return to Wayne for the "Tour de Lacs" with a great climb up Morrison Heights - ought to be great for foliage views!  Hope to see you Saturday!

Saturday, October 12th - WAYNE

"The Tour de Lacs" - a loop of Androscoggin Lake, with a couple detours for special Wayne sights. 

START: 9:00 AM, at the Wayne Elementary School, Pond Rd (turn north from Rt. 133, just west of Wayne village; go 1/4-mile, park in lot at north end of bldg.)

DISTANCE: 26 miles

TERRAIN: Moderately hilly

HIGHLIGHTS:  beginning loop goes by the Wayne Ring cemetery (Pond Rd) and the Wayne Desert (Berry Rd).  Great views eastward in Leeds (Rt. 106).  A detour near the end climbs Morrison Heights for a beautiful view westward over Lake Androscoggin.  Food and ice cream at Tubby's at the finish?

LEADER:  Jim Merrick.

 

For more information about the Kennebec Valley Bicycle Club, contact Jim Merrick at hjmerrick@gmail.com and check out the KVBC Facebook page.

 

The Wayne Refrain

Setting Out on Another Leg Back to Wayne

We had another fine ride from Gardiner on July 15. although due to temperatures well up in the 90s we decided to cut the ride short a bit.  It was a great ride with very little traffic - maybe it was too hot for the air-conditioned bohemoths?  Our thanks to Geology Joe for another great improvised ride.  Word is that the BCM Lobster Ride last Saturday was such a success, they had to close registration before the ride even started!  And the gorgeous weather looks like it will continue this weekend, when we will meet again in Wayne for the Wayne Refrain around Androscoggin Lake, with a possible post-ride stop at Tubby's Ice Cream.  Don't refrain from showing up!

 

  

Saturday, July 28th - WAYNE

"The Wayne Refrain - Androscoggin Lake Loop" - a loop of Androscoggin Lake, with a couple detours for special Wayne sights. 

START: 8:30 AM, at the Wayne Elementary School, Pond Rd (turn north from Rt. 133, just west of Wayne village; go 1/4-mile, park in lot at north end of bldg.)

DISTANCE: 26 miles

TERRAIN: Moderately hilly

HIGHLIGHTS:  beginning loop goes by the Wayne Ring cemetery (Pond Rd) and the Wayne Desert (Berry Rd).  Great views eastward in Leeds (Rt. 106).  A detour near the end climbs Morrison Heights for a beautiful view westward over Lake Androscoggin.  Food and ice cream at Tubby's at the finish, and if before noon, grocery shopping at the adjacent Wayne Farmers' Market.

LEADER:  Ray Giglio.