Sunday, Sept. 23, 2001
Bicycling trip offers taste of meandering midcoast
The Georges River Bikeways has three sections, each with a distinctly different character — and rider comfort levels.
Copyright © 2001 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
THOMASTON — From headwaters to saltwater, the Georges River valley epitomizes rural Maine landscape at its best. And the 475 members of the Georges River Land Trust are working to keep it that way.
In an effort to enlist public support for preserving the area's traditional bucolic character, five years ago the land trust took the unusual step of creating a network of four-season trails to showcase their region. The plan involves four modules: a footpath, a water trail, a scenic auto route and a trio of interconnected bicycle tours.
The land trust's prime trails visionary is Dave Getchell Sr. of Appleton. Getchell, an avid outdoorsman who once pedaled across the United States, boasts impeccable trailblazing credentials; he founded the Maine Island Trail in 1987. Another key figure is Jack Baker, a California artist who summers in St. George. Baker secured the financial support of the Wallis Foundation.
The Georges River Bikeways offer much for cyclists of every level of ability and ambition. Last weekend, a pedaling friend and I motored to Thomaston for an introductory ride with Bruce Faulkner, a volunteer with the land trust's trails committee.
Faulkner is a two-wheel enthusiast who spent 30 years working in Madison, Wis., a city that is repeatedly named among the most bicycle-friendly towns in the nation. Faulkner joined the land trust after retiring and moving to West Rockport five years ago – about the time the trails projects were launched.
"The idea was to expose people to the watershed, emphasize its beauty and encourage people to get involved in conservation and land-use issues," Faulkner said.
Spreading out a map, Faulkner explained that the overall cycling scheme encompasses 111 miles of mostly rural roads and lightly traveled state highways. These routes are deliberately unsigned, a nod to minimizing visual clutter.
Three interconnected loops meander across most of the 225-square-mile Georges River watershed, from the flanks of Frye Mountain in Montville to tidewater in Cushing and Thomaston. The north-south distance is about 35 miles, while the maximum east-west dimension is seven miles.
The system naturally divides into three sections of distinctly different character and rider comfort levels. The hilly northern third offers the most challenging terrain. Some of the mileage is gravel roads; fat tires and 21 gears are recommended. But to reward one's exertions, climbing the hills offers expansive views of the watershed.
The middle section parallels the river on both sides, ascending Appleton Ridge Road on the west, and following lower level byways east of the waterway.
The southern third is entirely paved, and is characterized by low rolling hills, family farms and extensive views of tidewater creeks, salt marshes and the Georges River estuary.
Facilities are few. Thomaston is the biggest town, and the closest bike shops are Maine Sport Outfitters in Rockport and Brown Dog Bikes in Camden. Both companies offer rentals and keep a stock of the land trust's brochure-maps for customers.
Others can obtain bikeways information from the Georges River Land Trust by calling 594-5166 or e-mailing grlt@midcoast.com.
Our threesome set out to pedal 20 miles of the southern loop. As we rode through Thomaston, Friendship and Cushing, we felt a nip of autumn chill in the morning, and later the warm mid-September sun busted through clouds to illuminate the foliage season's first brilliant flashes of reds and yellows. An aroma of apples pervaded the air, and Zack's pumpkin stand lent a colorful seasonal touch to our ride.
The route led us to scenic water views at several points. We bought lunch at A.S. Fales' old-fashioned country general store in South Cushing, then ate our sandwiches across the road where acres of freshly mowed hayfields face the wide open expanse of Broad Cove.
In contrast, the throaty roar of bulldozers and excavators along Maple Juice Cove reminded us of the intense development pressures that are straining Maine's midcoast region.
But we appreciated riding through rural Maine countryside at its scenic finest. Gene Daley, my bicycling buddy from Sanford, summarized our experience: "The roadway was pretty decent, the views were nice and it was especially good to see so much undeveloped land near the coast."
Scott Andrews, a freelance writer from Portland, has been cycling in Maine for four decades.