Bike Maine 2013: Rolling into History Route Maps

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Leave Orono High School turning left at TTurn left on Main St. (Downtown Orono) Turn left on College Ave.Turn right on Long Rd. into UMaine campusTurn left on Gannett Rd. just past Health CenterBear left onto Orono-Old Town Bike Path Bike Path comes to a T; turn rightBike Path ends; turn right onto Perkins Ave. (Old Town)Turn left onto Brunswick St. Turn right onto Willow St. (one-way) Turn left onto S. Main St., US 2 (Downtown Old Town) Go straight at trafc signal (becomes ME 43, Gilman Falls Ave.)

ME 43 turns right in Hudson village; ME 221 joins

Bear right onto ME 221, Hudson Rd.

Turn right onto ME 155, East Rd. (Bradford Village)

Rest Stop 1, Bradford RecreationME 155 takes 90 degree left, joins Storer Rd.

Turn left on ME 6/16, Bennoch Rd. (LaGrange Village)

Turn left at stop sign onto East Main St. (Milo)

Turn left onto Riverside St. Lunch Stop, Milo American Legion HallTurn right onto W. Main St., ME 6/16 (Short route turns left)Bear left onto ME 11, Park St. at Milo Public Library

Turn left, becomes Williamsburg Rd. (Brownville Village)

Turn left onto Barnard Rd. Rest Stop 2, Sebec Village Continue straight thru ME 6/16 (Short route rejoins)Turn right onto unnamed roadFollow pavement at 90 degree left, becomes East Dover Rd.

Turn right onto Vaughn Rd.

Turn right onto Essex St. then immediately left on Lincoln St.

Turn right onto North St., ME 6/16, becoming ME 153 in 0.1mi

Piscataquis Regional YMCA, end Day 1Turn left onto Park St.

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You Can Get There From Here**Mileage is computed using GPS and may vary from your odometer.Verify turns by checking route markings, street names and odometer.

Orono to Dover-Foxcroft 71.1 mi (a modied route

of 61.5 mi is available) Flat early then a series of

short hills 3,491 ft elevation gain

Stores Along Route by Mileage: 5.7: Irving Circle K 6.6: Birminghams Family Mart 8.9: Dysarts Travel Stop 19.8: Rogers Market 25.5: Bradford General Store 49.6: Robinson Fuel Mart 60.2: Sebec Country Store

Quick Facts

Ride Descriptione ride starts through the UMaine campus and then traverses Maines rst ocial bicycle trail, connecting Orono to Old Town, home of Old Town Canoes and Kayaks for over 100 years. As you pass Old Towns Riverfront Park on your right, look for Ton Kalles Schoodic Sculpture, All Along the Watchtower. Aer passing along the Penobscot River we head west on the attest terrain of the entire ride, past Hirundo Wildlife Refuge and miles of woodlands. Well have lunch in Milo, the town of three rivers. As we approach the highlands, short hills come in waves and then, at Mile 47.6, the views open north toward Katahdin. en its on to Dover- Foxcro via Brownville over a series of hills. e nal 10 miles gently ow through farmland along the Piscataquis River.

e Nature Conservancy is a partner in the Penobscot River Restoration Project. When the project is complete, 11 species of native sea-run sh, including Atlantic salmon, American shad, river herring, and striped bass will have greatly improved access to nearly 1,000 miles of habitat. As the sheries rebound, other wildlife that feed on migrating sh will thrive. Project partner Black Bear Hydro, LLC, is completing projects to increase energy generation at dams not on the main stem of the river, maintaining hydro production.

Aernoon Speaker, BikeMaine Village: Bucky Owen, UMaine Professor Emeritus and former Commissioner of MDIFW.

Penobscot River Restoration Project

SundaySeptember 8, 2013

Rest Stop 1

Rest Stop 2LunchStop

**Mileage is computed using GPS and may vary from your odometer.Verify turns by checking route markings, street names and odometer.

MondaySeptember 9, 2013From Mountain to Sea ... Eventually

Ride DescriptionOn to the Coast! Our route today takes us through rolling hills, farm country, and back-country Maine, until we reach Belfast on the coast of Penobscot Bay. We start south through the heart of interior central Maine, past acres of elds, farms, and horse pastures. Mostly small hills characterize todays route, with periodic interruption by several signicant climbsand descents. Well ride through rural communities like Garland, Stetson, and North Dixmont on our way to Belfast. Lunch is in tiny Dixmont, and well camp for the night alongside Penobscot Bay.

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Leave Piscataquis Regional YMCA; proceed east on Park St.Bear right onto Mechanic St. Turn right on Winter St. Turn left onto W. Main St., ME 6/15/16Bear right at trafc signal onto West Main St., ME 15

Turn right at trafc signal onto South St., ME 7

Turn left on Oliver Hill Rd. Joins ME 94 (Garland Village) Turn right onto unnamed roadBear right, staying on paved road (no sign)Bear left, staying on paved road (no sign)Join ME 11/43, pavement poor (Exeter Corners)Stay straight onto Stetson Rd.; ME 11/43 turns rightContinue straight but join ME 143, Lakins Rd. (Stetson Village)

Turn right onto Old County Rd., becomes Allen Bridge Rd.Bear left onto Allen Bridge Rd. at intersection with Loud Rd. Turn right onto North Rd. Turn left onto ME 7, Moosehead Trail (N. Dixmont Village)

Turn right onto Cates Rd. Lunch Stop, Dixmont Gold Crest Snowmobile ClubReverse route on Cates Rd. to ME 7; turn right

Junction with US 202, ME 9; stay straight (Dixmont Village)

Rest Stop 2, Brooks Town Ofce on right

Turn right on ME 139(Short route continues straight on ME 7)Turn left on ME 203, Lang Hill Hwy.Turn right on ME 131 Turn left onto Poors Mill Rd., then becomes Marsh Rd.Turn right onto ME 7/137 (Short route rejoins)Turn left onto Primrose St. then right onto High St. (no sign) Turn left onto Main St. at trafc signal

Turn right on Front St., proceed to Belfast Boathouse, end Day 2

Rest Stop 1, Helen Stewart Memorial Park

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Unity Wetlands is one of the largest remaining unfragmented areas of natural land in central Maine as well as one of Maines most productive dairy farm areas. It oers a promising opportunity not only for conservation of freshwater and wetland sh and dragonies and diverse wetland habitats, but also for maintaining wide-ranging upland species, from black bear to bobcat, that are becoming increasingly uncommon in more developed landscapes to the south. roughout the six days biking you will pass areas protected by land trusts like the Sebasticook Regional Land Trust. Land trusts work with landowners to help them voluntarily protect their land for the public and future generations as both wild and working lands.

Unity Wetlands and the Work of Land Trusts

Dover-Foxcroft to Belfast 68.9 mi (a modied route of

63.7 mi is available) Small hills, punctuated by a

few attention-grabbers 4,725 ft elevation gain

Stores Along Route by Mileage: 12.3: Garland Village Store 16.4: Exeter Corners Store 23.3: Stetson Store 29.2: Etna Village Variety 41.3: Dixmont Corner Store 60.8: Morrill General, Inc.

Quick Facts

Distance (mi)

Penobscot Bay Pedal into History

TuesdaySeptember 10, 2013

Belfast to Castine 72.8 mi (a modied route of

53 mi is available) The most challenging ride of

the week 5,197 ft elevation gain

Stores Along Route by Mileage: 1.2: Big Apple 6.1: Toziers Family Market 7.0: Sunoco/Dunkin Donuts

7.1: Irving Circle K 10.3: Main Street Market 11.0: Perrys Store 18.0: JDs Island Market 18.5: Irving Circle K 20.5: Orland Market 22.4: Big Apple 36.0: Blue Hill 50.8: Eggemoggin Cntry Store 59.2: C&G Grocery 63.0: Northern Bay Market

Quick Facts

e Gulf of Maine is one of the most biologically productive marine ecosystems on the planet. e Conservancy is working to restore critical habitats and rebuild depleted sh populations. We are working directly with shermen to research more sustainable shing practices and are sharing the results with shermen, scientists, and various governmental agencies responsible for managing the Gulf s sheries.

Aernoon Speaker, Emerson Hall: John Sowles, recently retired Director of Ecology at the ME Department of Marine Resources.

The Gulf of Maine

**Mileage is computed using GPS and may vary from your odometer.Verify turns by checking route markings, street names and odometer.

Ride DescriptionBy the numbers, this is the most challenging day of the week, with spectacular scenery to balance and boost spirits. We spend the rst 23 mi on US 1s wide shoulders with little morning trac. First stop is historic Fort Knox on the Penobscot River and the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory (tallest bridge observatory in the world at 420 ). We leave US 1 to explore one of Maines best-kept secretsthe Blue Hill Peninsula. Lunch is in Blue Hill, where you can check out e Window of the Sea Wind, a Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium piece by Hitoshi Tanaka, located next to the town boat landing. e views along Parker Point Rd (Blue Hill Falls) and from the top of Caterpillar Hill will take your breath away. As you arrive in Castine, be ready for a memorable welcome. Camp tonight is within the boundaries of historic Fort George.

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Rest Stop 1Rest Stop 2Lunch

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Leave Belfast Boathouse, going north on Front St. to Water St. Turn right onto Belfast Pedestrian Bridge (walk bikes) Resume bicycling on other side of bridge, Footbridge Rd.Turn right onto US 1, Searsport Ave. Turn right onto W. Main St. (Stockton Springs)Turn right rejoining US 1Turn left onto ME 174/Fort Knox Historic Site

Turn left onto US 1, ME 3, crossing Penobscot Narrows Bridge After bridge into Bucksport, turn right onto US 1, ME 3/15Turn right onto ME 175 (Orland Village)Bear left onto Gray Meadows Rd. (ME 175 bears right)Turn right onto US 1, ME 3/15Turn right onto ME 15, Front Ridge Rd. Turn right onto ME 172/15, Main St. (downtown Blue Hill)Continue straight on ME 15/172/176 becomes Tenney HillLunch Stop, Blue Hill Congregational Church on leftTurn left on ME 15/176/172; turn right onto Parker Point Rd. (Short route turns left on High St., then left on ME 177)Turn left onto ME 175 (Blue Hill Falls in 1/2 mile)Turn right onto Hales Woods Rd. Continue straight, becomes River Rd. Turn right on ME 175, Reach Rd. (Sedgwick Village)Bear right on ME 175, join ME 15, Caterpillar Rd. (Sargentville)Turn left with ME 175, Coastal Rd (ME 15 continues straight)Bear right with ME 175; ME 176 stays straight (Walkers Corner)Turn right with ME 175; join ME 176 (N. Brooksville)Rest Stop 2, Bagaduce Lunch on left Turn left with ME 175, Graytown Rd. (ME 176 turns right)Continue on ME 175, S. Penobscot (Short route rejoins)Continue on ME 175, Bayview Rd., ME 199 joins (Penobscot)Continue straight on ME 199, Dunbar Rd. (ME 175 bears right)Turn left on ME 166, Castine Rd.Enter Castine, bear right at golf course (Battle Ave., no sign) Downtown Castine, Fort George, end Day 3

Rest Stop 1, Fort Knox/Penobscot Narrows Bridge

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Roll with the Rusticators

WednesdaySeptember 11, 2013

From Fort George, proceed north on Battle St. Turn left on Castine Rd., becomes ME 166Turn left on ME 166A, The Shore Rd. Turn left on ME 166 at Penobscot Town lineTurn right on ME 175, New Rd.Turn left, keeping on ME 175 (Bayview Rd.), joining ME 199Continue straight on ME 175 (ME 199 turns left) (Penobscot)

Continue right on ME 177 (Hinckley Ridge Rd.)Bear left, staying on ME 177, Union St. (enter Blue Hill)Turn left on Main St., ME 15/172/176Continue straight on ME 176 (ME 172 turns left)

Rest Stop 1, East Blue Hill Village Playground and Boat RampTurn right onto ME 176 (now Morgan Bay Rd.)Turn right on ME 172, Blue Hill Rd. (Surry Village)Join US1, Rt. 3; caution on descent into downtown Ellsworth Turn right on ME 230, Franklin St., which becomes Water St.Lunch Stop, Union River Harbor ParkContinue straight on ME 230 past Goose Cove Rd.Turn right on ME 3 (Trenton Village); lobster pound on right Rest Stop 2, Acadia Welcome Center on rightContinue straight on ME 3 (ME 198/102 bears right)Turn right onto Knox Rd.Turn left on Gilbert Farm Rd. Turn left on Crooked Rd. (no sign)

Turn right into Acadia National Park; Visitor Center to right Turn left onto Park Loop Rd. Continue straight on Park Loop Rd., ignore signs for Bar HarborTurn sharp left toward Sand Beach on one-way Park Loop Rd.Turn left onto unnamed road, becomes Ledgelawn Ave.

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23.4Turn right in East Blue Hill onto Curtis Cove Rd.Use caution on descent, steel grate bridge at bottom 23.3

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59.059.160.962.164.365.2Turn right onto Park St. (Bar Harbor)

Turn right on ME 3 (Hulls Cove) 58.8

Ride DescriptionWe leave historic Castine and cut east across the Blue Hill Peninsulanew roads and vistas, and similar rolling terrain that forms the granite backbone of this area. e route skirts downtown Ellsworth and follows the Union River and Bay before cutting over to Trenton and onto Mt. Desert Island (MDI). On MDI, we take some less traveled roads before joining a portion of the Park Loop Road where we will make a nal climb with great views of Frenchman Bay and Bar Harbor before descending into town for a much-deserved two-night stay close to the heart of the village.

Castine to Bar Harbor 65.3 mi Rolling hills 3,867 ft elevation gain

Stores Along the Route: 12.0: Northern Bay Market

18.1: Blue Hill 29.9: The Surry Store 36.0: Bens Market 36.5: Ellsworth Downtown 42.9: C&G Mini-Store 51.9: Steamboat Landing 58.8: Hulls Cove General Store

Quick Facts

Many of Maines coastal islands have been protected by organizations like e Nature Conservancy, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Many of these islands oer important habitat for migratory seabirds like endangered roseate terns, Atlantic puns, razorbills, black guillemots, Leachs storm-petrels, laughing gulls, and common eiders. Acadia National Park is one of the smaller national parks and is one of the most visitedby almost two and a half million people a year who are drawn to the rugged coast of Maine. e park is home to many plants and animals, and the tallest mountain on the US Atlantic coast.

Maines Coastal Islands & Acadia National Park

**Mileage is computed using GPS and may vary from your odometer.Verify turns by checking route markings, street names and odometer.

Turn left on ME 177, Western County Rd. (S. Penobscot) 12.0

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Rest Stop 1 Rest Stop 2LunchStop

65.3YMCA is immediately ahead, end Day 4

Distance (mi)

Camp Night FridaySeptember 13, 2013

Ride Descriptione day begins with a reasonably at (for Maine) stretch traveling o Mount Desert Island, then onto busy Route 3 for approximately ve miles before returning to rural roads. We'll have a short section of US 1 to Sullivan before heading away from the coast and into the hilly lakes country. In Hancock, keep your eye out for Ray Murphys Chainsaw Art Studio near the intersection of Routes 1 and 182. Just aer crossing the bridge following Rest Stop 2, look for Jo Kley's Schoodic Sculpture Sullivan Tower on le. Lunch is in Eastbrook, at the Cave Hill School. Our nal ten miles today is on Route 1A before we head into Bangor YMCAs Camp Jordan for all sorts of activities alongside Branch Lake. On your way into Camp Jordan, check out the Telephone Museum, located on Winkumpaugh Rd., 1/4 mile past turn onto Hansons Landing Road.

Bar Harbor to Bangor YMCAs Camp Jordan (Ellsworth)

68.5 mi Gentle rolls on mostly

quiet roads 3,606 ft elevation gain

Stores Along Route by Mileage: 3.7: Hulls Cove General Store 8.6: Town Hill Market 10.7: Steamboat Landing 17.3: Lamoine Marketplace 22.0: Tideway Market 42.5: Eastbrook Variety 58.1: Ellsworth Falls Mini-Mart

Quick Facts **Mileage is computed using GPS and may vary from your odometer.Verify turns by checking route markings, street names and odometer.

Sea level rise due to climate change could move the Gulf of Maines shoreline hundreds of meters inland, stranding coastal habitats between the open ocean and seawalls built to protect homes, roads and other human structures. By analyzing high resolution maps of seacoasts and estuaries, e Nature Conservancy identies the coastal lands that are most vulnerable today and works to protect the land that will become tomorrows marshes. At the same time, the Conservancy works to reduce carbon emissions at the state, regional, federal and global levels.

Aernoon Speaker, BikeMaine Village: George Jacobson, UMaine Professor Emeritus of Biology, Ecology, and Climate Change and Maine State Climatologist.

Slowing and Adapting to Climate Change

Leave YMCA heading east on Park St.Turn left on Main St., ME 3Continue straight on Main St. (ME 3 bears left) Turn left on Cottage St. Turn right on ME 3, Eden St. Turn left on Crooked Rd. Turn right on Main St., ME 102/198Turn left at trafc signal, joining ME 3 (Leave Mt. Desert Island)

Turn right on ME 204Turn left on ME 204, joining ME 184 (Lamoine)

Turn right on ME 204, leaving ME 184Turn left on Mud Creek Rd. Turn right on US 1Turn right on Old Route 1Turn right on US 1Rest Stop 1, Schoodic Scenic Byway Turnout (caution on turns)Turn Left on ME 200Continue straight joining ME 182 (Franklin Village)

Turn right on ME 200, leaving ME 182Lunch Stop, Cave Hill School, Eastbrook Turn left on ME 179, Waltham Rd.

Bear left continuing on ME 179

Rest Stop 2, Your Place, Ellsworth FallsTurn right on US 1ATurn right on Bohn Rd. and receive assistance to cross US 1A

Cross US 1A perpendicular to trafc into Winkumpaugh Rd.

Turn left on Hansons Landing Rd.

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Turn right on Camp Jordan Way, gravel begins

Arrive at Camp Jordan, Branch Lake; end Day 6 68.3

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Leave Camp Jordan on Camp Jordan WayTurn left on Hansons Landing Rd. Turn right on Winkumpaugh Rd. Turn right on US 1ATurn right on Red Bridge Rd. Turn left onto Christian Ridge Rd. (no sign) Turn left onto US 1ATurn right onto ME 180Rest Stop 1, Beech Hill School, OtisBear left on ME 180, Otis Rd. (ME 181 bears right)Turn left on ME 9 (The Airline)Rest Stop 2, Eddington Municipal Ofce, Fire Dept.Turn right on Hill St. (Caution: pothole at bottom of hill)Turn right on ME 178, Riverside Dr. At trafc signal, turn left on Main St., US 2 (Milford)Turn left at trafc signal on S. Water St. using left turn lane

Turn left on South Main St., US 2Turn right on Carroll St. Turn right on Brunswick St.

Turn left on Perkins St.Turn left onto Old Town bike pathCommunity riders join from Old Town Elementary School

Turn left onto bike path leading to Orono/UMaineBike path ends; turn left onto Hilltop Rd.BikeMaine ofcially ends by First Year Dorms on Hilltop Rd.

Follow Hilltop Rd. to Long Rd., turn leftTurn left onto College Ave./US 2ATurn right onto Main St./US 2Cross Stillwater River, turn right onto Bennoch Rd./ME 16Turn left onto Godfrey Dr. Turn right into parking lot for NexxLinx

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To continue to the parking lot to pick up your vehicle:

Follow signs back to University campus for luggage, shower, and lunch.

Ride DescriptionAer all our miles this week, today will seem like a warm up ride (almost). Aer leaving camp and skirting Ellsworth, we travel up the west side of picturesque Graham Lake before heading across country on rural roads past places like the Springy Ponds. You might want to eat an extra banana, or pack away a little extra for the second leg of todays trip. Rebel Hill in Clion approaches, and the Route Map encouragingly tells us that this is the Last Big Climb. Its all downhill (mostly, well, not really entirely) from here. Well cycle a short stretch on ME 9 that is low speed and less hilly than the rest of e Airline (with one notable exception). We then follow the Penobscot River upstream from Eddington to Old Town for the nal spin into Orono and a celebratory harvest lunch and farewell.

Bangor YMCAs Camp Jordan (Ellsworth, ME) to the University of Maine at Orono

53.4 mi victory lap ride 2,915 ft elevation gain

Stores Along Route by Mileage: 20.4: Otis General Store 32.5: Clifton Country Store 34.7: Tradewinds Variety 39.1: Eddington Store 49.0: Spencers Market 49.5: On the Run

Quick Facts

Giddy-Up to Orono SaturdaySeptember 14, 2013**Mileage is computed using GPS and may vary from your odometer.Verify turns by checking route markings, street names and odometer.

Rest Stop 1Rest Stop 2

e Sunkhaze Meadows Wildlife Refuge was established in 1988 when e Nature Conservancy worked with the USFWS to acquire the land to prevent a large scale peat mining operation. It was made part of the Refuge system to ensure that the ecological integrity of the peat bog and its wetland, stream, forest and wildlife were maintained. e refuge protects the second-largest and most unique peatland in Maine. It contains several raised bogs, or domed peatlands, separated from each other by extensive areas of streamside meadows. Sunkhaze Stream bisects the refuge along a northeast to southwest orientation and, with its six tributaries, creates a diversity of wetland communities that provide important habitat for many birds, mammals, and sh.

Sunkhaze Meadows Wildlife Refuge

Distance (mi)