Riding with Mary Jane

Ah, the aromas you smell on a morining bike ride in the spring: freshly cut grass, lilacs in bloom, bacon through an open kitchen window, manure in the rural spots ... marijuana. Yes, marijuana.

Over the holiday weekend I did a 30-mile route that included parts of 202 through Gorham and a stretch of Rte. 22 heading back up through Scarborough and on into Westbrook. It was during a Buxton/Scarborough stretch that a truck zoomed past with the very distinct scent of Mary Jane billowing from its windows.

As soon as the smell hit my nostrils I snapped up my head to see if it was one of my friends. But no, wrong kind of truck.

What a great weekend for riding it was. With the Trek less than three weeks away I did my longest ride yet, aiming to work my way up to at least 40 on the weekend before the big ride. If you're looking for a super flat 30-miler, try this route that's light on traffic in most spots and offers several stretches that are great for getting your mph up in the 20s.

From Portland, get yourself to outer Forest Ave. and make a left onto Warren Ave. heading toward Westbrook. You'll pass BJs and Home Depot and go straight through the traffic light at the top of the hill. (Warren has several rough spots so use caution and move off the white line if needed.) You'll come out to Rte. 25 in Westbrook and you'll need to fight through a little bit of traffic to stay on this route and head toward Gorham.

Once you're out of downtown (for lack of a better term) Westbrook it's smooth sailing until you hit the cluster that is the center of Gorham. You're staying straight on 25 for just a few hundred more feet so maneuver yourself into a spot that won't get you killed at the four-way light at Amatos. If you survive this intersection you'll take the first left, which puts you on 202 headed for Buxton. This is the piece de resistance of this ride. Smooth and flat with wide shoulders.

You'll be on 202 for several miles before finding the traffic light that intersects Rte. 22 (there's a Hannaford at the corner). Get on 22, which steers you back toward Westbrook or Portland. This stretch (and the next one after yet another four-way intersection — but no light) is super scenic with some unspoiled land, shaggy cows and some gorgeous McMansions. You'll eventually find yourself at O'Donal's Nurseries and you can either take the left at County Road convenience store or continue on toward SoPo before banging a left to get you to Portland. I head back up through Westbrook and retrace my route up Warren Ave.

From Morrill's corner its about 30 miles and the flat stretches will help most mid-level riders do it in about two hours.