NEW HAMPSHIRE

This morning, pick up your bike and start your exciting trip from the mountains to the sea, across New England. “Live Free or Die” is the motto of the tiny and exuberant New Hampshire, the state that gets in the center of the national focus every four years, when the primary elections mark the start of the race to the White House. During the presidential campaign, the residents are basically forced to live as hermits in order to avoid being pushed to vote for one candidate or the other and being asked of their opinion by every single journalist that comes to the state. Despite its tiny size, New Hampshire offers a very wide spectrum of topographic elements, from the highest peaks to the low farmlands of New England and the Connecticut Valley. Manchester, like its namesake back in England, was a major cotton producer in 19th century. Although the huge Amoskeag mills were shut in 1930, it still remains the biggest city in the state and today it is famous for the paintings in the Currier Museum of Art. From Manchester, take Route 101 west to Keene and then the Route 9 to Wilmington, a picturesque village. You have reached Vermont, which represents the quintessential New England! In Wilmington, take Route 100 and ride north to Plymouth Union, then take 100A to Woodstock, which is one of the best preserved examples of a typical New England town. From there, follow the Route 4 until you reach SR 100 north and you’ll be on your way to Stowe, a world-famous historic village, located next to the highest peak in Vermont, the majestic Mount Mansfield. Overnight stay.

Leave North Conway on Route 16 north to Gorham, the gateway to the Great Nord Woods. Here, take US 2 and after a few miles you will be in Maine, the state known for lobster, picturesque coastal towns and beautiful lighthouses. Follow the road all the way to Skowhegan – the Abenaki Indians used to call this island on Kennebec River “a place to look” due to the fact they used to look for salmon in the cascades of the river. Continue on US 201 north to Bingham, then take SR 16 to Abbot Village and ride a few miles north of Greenville, at the southern tip of the Moosehead Lake. Tucked in the mountains covered in forests, Moosehead Lake is the largest lake east of the Mississippi. While you’re here, you can take a short trip to Mount Kineo, a historic get-together place for the Native Americans on Moosehead Lake. Overnight stay.

Leave Bay Harbor and ride on Route 1 south, along the coast of Maine – one of the most exciting coastlines in America. Along the ride, stop in Camden, a beautiful port city with suggestive scenery, where the Appalachian Mountains meet the Atlantic Ocean, creating spectacular panoramas. As you go down south, you will reach Rockland, the largest distributor of lobsters in the world. Every first weekend in August, the town hosts the Maine Lobster Festival. Between Rockland and Brunswick, you will see many peninsulas appearing on the horizon, like icicles. We recommend you take Route 131 to Port Clyde, part of the state that is relatively tourist-free. From there, between May and October you can take the postal boat to Monhegan Island. Monhegan was home of the Wyeth family for years, and today artists from all over the world come here to paint and draw. Vehicles are not allowed on this island so you will have to walk and trek along the seldom used paths to visit art galleries and meet real lobster fishermen. This is an excellent place to stimulate your creativity and to get some peace of mind. After this lovely trip, head back to Rockland and continue on Route 1. After a few miles you will reach Boothbay Harbor, a picturesque place that still preserves the spirit of the old New England. Today’s destination is Kennebunkport, the famous summer location, favorite among writers and artists who frequently find their story and their inspiration. Overnight stay.