New England clam chowder group ride

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

I'm liking the idea of sticking around Acadia for the day and riding some of those awesome roads, then ending the day a bit shorter to allow for a shower, dinner, a few drinks and socializing after two full days of riding.

Just my two centavos!

So, I have several lighthouses along the intended route staked out. . . . . . . how many stops do we want to make in a day and how many times to sample chowder/other delectables?! :dribble:

 

[Fred W]

Lots! Tons! .........But not too many.

I'm just kidding. But whenever I'm planning a ride I like to shoot for two rest stops before the longer lunch stop, and two stops after lunch. Any more than that and you never seem to get anywhere. Photo-stops and such where you don't actually take your gear off don't count.

So if you are going to stick with the chowder run theme, the chowder stops should be long enough to grab a sample of chowder and scarf it down. Lighthouses would probably be 4-5 minute photo ops. See what I mean?

These are just suggestions. I'll happily go with whatever is planned. Can't wait!!

Spring is in the air!! :yahoo:

 

[Charlie Hoss]

OK, I need to know! For day three, leaving from approximately the Rockland/Camden area, who wants to ride to Bar Harbor and spend the last day cruising Acadia Nat. Park and the surrounding area versus continuing on up to Eastport? I need to know for mapping routes, so if you all can chime in, I'd appreciate it!
My thought after careful consideration and from what a few have suggested, is to end the ride in Bar Harbor on Sunday afternoon/eve and spend the third day doing Acadia..... but again, we'll take a look at what y'all think, so POST UP!

Here is another thought. Freeport or Brunswick to the Rockland area can be done in just over an hour with a straight shot up Rte 1. I think we could see a few places along the way as previously mentioned and still get to Bar Harbor by the second night. That would leave the entire 3rd day to ride Acadia and even make a break for home in the afternoon. You can make it back to Bangor and I-95 in one hour from BH.

 

[Fred W]

Yeah, I think that would be the latest plan.

Friday - York to Brunswick.

Sat - Brunswick to Bar Harbor with lots of coastal exploration on the way.

No need to get to Bar Harbor too early as Sunday would be open to exploring the Acadia area.

Sunday night or Monday AM ride home.

 

[TheAxeman]

I just checked rates at the Bar Harbor Motel for the 22nd and 23rd and they are $69.00/night, very reasonable IMHO.

 

[Fred W]

Wow, that's great. It is much more "in-season". I mean, it's not the Taj Mahal, but it should be good enough for our "crowd".

 

[TheAxeman]

Its right across from the CAT ferry that runs to Nova Scotia so if we really want to play hooky from work for another week or so we always have a new place to explore.

 

[Fred W]

Oh, oh... This is sounding very tempting.

"<cough> Yes boss, that's right. I've come down with a freak case of Anaplasmosis. Probably as a result of my close encounter with that deer last September. Doctors say I should be quarantined for a full week."

:yahoo:

 

[S76]

Yeah, I think that would be the latest plan.
Friday - York to Brunswick.

Sat - Brunswick to Bar Harbor with lots of coastal exploration on the way.

No need to get to Bar Harbor too early as Sunday would be open to exploring the Acadia area.

Sunday night or Monday AM ride home.

That is perfect for my situation, which is....well I don't really have a stiuation, but I like that plan.

 

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

"Ouch, hurt my back hauling scuba tanks, boss. Gonna be outta work a few days." That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!

As for the breakdown of the ride, Fred pretty much has it. I do have several spots marked out along the way to look at some lighthouses and other POI offerred up in this thread by others, but if time is getting short and the group would rather get into Bar Harbor instead of stopping in Rockland/Camden area, we can simply skip a few and boogey on up. We can figure this out along the way over a cup of steaming hot NE clam chowdah!!!!!! :yahoo:

 

[cota95]

Its right across from the CAT ferry that runs to Nova Scotia so if we really want to play hooky from work for another week or so we always have a new place to explore.

I heard that the CAT ferry shut down and will not be running any longer-they lost their subsidy.

 

[Fred W]

Seems to be more than a rumor.

The CAT will purr no more: clicky

 

[MEM]

I heard that the CAT ferry shut down and will not be running any longer-they lost their subsidy.

That's good. It used to strike whales :glare:

It's a nice drive AROUND the Bay of Fundy. Albeit, a little longer

 

[TheAxeman]

Its right across from the CAT ferry that runs to Nova Scotia so if we really want to play hooky from work for another week or so we always have a new place to explore.

I heard that the CAT ferry shut down and will not be running any longer-they lost their subsidy.

Bummer. It was a good way to cut a little bit of time off the trip.

Anybody looking for a 240 vehicle, 900 passenger ferry that can do 35 Knots?? I know where you can get one real cheap.

 

[ALDAWG]

Just a thought guys- What if you started the trip at Bar Harbor and worked your way back. That way you dont have to rush yourselves meandering through the coastline. Once you run out of time weather or not if your finished, at least you are more south to go home and Acadia park is under your belt. The reason I say this is because this type of riding eats time like you would'nt believe. Maine's coastline is like 1000 or 1500 miles or longer! You could spend a couple of weeks riding along that and add food/fuel/bathroom stops makes it that much longer (primarily why I don't ride with large groups).

I am in no way trying to spoil your fun just making a friendly suggestion from someone who's ridden some coastlines. Another thing to remember is how hot the FJR gets when going only 35 mph, (especially all geared-up) I know it's gonna be early/off season. But some of these coastline roads have low speed limits, and /or heavy traffic.

 

[TheAxeman]

I think its probably "six of one or half a dozen of anotha" as they say. Either its a quick slab to Bah Habah and a slow ride back or a slow ride to Bah Habah and a quick slab back. I'm imagining that when everyone leaves Bar Harbor on Sunday or Monday that we will all be heading to different compass points at different times and will be riding mostly solo.

 

[MEM]

I've been waiting for the dust to settle so I'll know where to book rooms

Coming from a most-of-a-day ride just to get to Kittery, I like the idea of starting there and riding north.

I'll get a PM off to DE OPPRESSO to confirm accommodations.

Right now, I THINK it's Kittery, Freeport and Bar Harbour .....

 

[Baddog]

OK... maybe I can help here since I'm planted right in the middle of this route (Yarmouth, nexta & southa Freeport) I know of several pretty good, really good and better than good places to eat. Problem is seafood is not my forte (although I have very good local knowledge/information & feedback from very close source's - like-a my Bride) I on the other hand happen to like Beef, Chicken, Onion rings and other things.....

Anyway, how can I help?

Suggestions...

Bob's Clam Shack (right nexta Kittery Trading Post)

There's abunch-a places between Bob's and.......................................

Baileys Seafood Restaurant (Pine Point-Scarborough)

but how much can you consume???????..........

Clam Shack in Cape Elizabeth @ Two Lights

DiMillo's Floating Resturant in Portland

Harraseeket Lunch & Lobsta (So. Freeport)

Dolphin Resturant @ Dolphin Marina in Harpswell

Holbrooks (Cundy's Harbor)

Cooks Lobster House Bailey's Island

.......... There,,,,,got 'Ya to the Mid-Coast' an-ya gotta be full by now........

What-ch wanna do tomorrow?

:yahoo:

 

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

I think its probably "six of one or half a dozen of anotha" as they say. Either its a quick slab to Bah Habah and a slow ride back or a slow ride to Bah Habah and a quick slab back. I'm imagining that when everyone leaves Bar Harbor on Sunday or Monday that we will all be heading to different compass points at different times and will be riding mostly solo.

+1.

Right now, I THINK it's Kittery, Freeport and Bar Harbour .....

+1.

Harraseeket Lunch & Lobsta (So. Freeport)

This is where I was planning on for the dinner stop/endpoint for the first days ride.

I am doing my best to get this wrapped up, but facing a major personal crisis at the moment, but will get this done for my forum buds! I apologize in advance if it isn't coming together as quickly as some had hoped, but I sure did take on a big undertaking when you look at all the research and route planning for something like this! Ah, well, it'll be worth it. Besides, maybe we can see if I can get this all settled before the EOM stuff is!

 

[S76]

Not sure if this helps much but I was looking for a place for Hope and I to stay in Kittery on Thursday night.

This place had good reviews @ $90 or $85 with AAA. Right across the street from the mall.

Coachman Inn

This place had almost as good, reviews for $5 less, 1/2 mile down the street.

Northeaster Motel

Seems their website is down though.

Anyone staying in Kittery Thursday? I think we'll start the tour at Bob's Clam Hut for dinner! :drinks: