Maine, Ride Through History
I am starting this ride from Meadowbrook Camping Area in Phippsburg, Me. This is a great Campground and has everything you need and the staff is very friendly . They also cook lobsters every night for their campers and has a full restaurant complete with the Dutch oven dinners. They also have cabin rentals for someone who is not prepared to tent. This campground is also centrally located on the midcoast and you can visit LL Bean and many other locations but the main attraction in Phippsburg is Fort Popham. Everyone has heard of Jamestown, Va. And the first colony, but a lot of people don’t know about the Popham Colony . This was a colony that was settled a few months after Jamestown, Va. on Aug 13, 1607. Although you will see no evidence of the colony, you will see Fort Popham. This was a Granite fort that was built in 1861 at the mouth of the Kennebec River. It is located just 2 miles from Popham Beach State Park. This is an awesome park with sandy beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and if you look real hard you will see the seals swimming around just off the beach. Ft Popham is located just 8 miles from the campground. This is a great way to start your motorcycle ride.
Leaving Popham you will head north on RT209, you will pass Spirit Pond and the site where 3 rune stones were found in 1971 by a Walter J. Elliott, Jr., a carpenter born in Bath, Maine. Then into Bath, city of ships, and a very historic area. Bath was originally part of nearby Georgetown, but became its own city in 1781. Bath is home of The Bath Ironworks which is one of the locations where they built the Aegis Cruisers for the U. S. Navy. Although you can’t get in because of security as you cross the bridge into Woolwich on route 1 you will see the ships tied up at the dock. There is another pace to stop along Rt 209 before you get into downtown Bath and that is the Maine Maritime Museum. This will show you the history of shipbuilding in the area and they still produce wooden boats. This is a great museum but plan on spending at least half a day there.
Crossing the Bath Bridge into Woolwich on Rt 1 you will have a decision to make. RT 127 south or RT 127 North. If you turn to the right and take RT 127 SOUTH you will head down another Peninsula and come out on the opposite side of the Kennebec River. This is a scenic ride of about 15 miles. This comes out at a place called Five Points. You can sit on the wharf and eat lobsters and watch the fisherman come in. There use to be a Lobster hatchery there.
Back on Rt 1,turning North on Rt 127 is another beautiful ride. These are back roads. About 10 miles up the road in Dresden on the right is the Indian Road. On the South east corner of that Road is a house. This use to be the old stage depot . A couple of miles up the road on left, is James Eddy smelt camps . You will see all of the smelt camps sitting on the side of the road, but in winter when river I frozen it is a city come alive. As you drive up in January you will see the lights from the camps and hear the people having a good time. When I lived up there we use to go every year. As you continue north you come to the end of RT 127 and you make a left and cross a stream that is part on Kennebec River. And turn Right onto RT 128.
Back in Woolwich
About 2 miles north of the turn from RT 1 onto RT 127, you can make a left hand turn onto RT 128 and travel the through the Days Ferry part of Woolwich and along the Kennebec River. Again very scenic back road. This would take you along some beautiful farms that have been there for a hundred or so years. You will continue north along the river to where you entered RT 128 from Rt 127. Now you will follow Rt 127 north again until you reach the end and come to RT 27. If you make a left you will head into Augusta, the capital of Maine. If you head right this will take you back to RT 1 in Wiscasset. Wiscasset boasts to be The Prettiest Village in Maine and it is very quaint. Also in Wiscasset right before you cross the bridge is a very famous place called Red’s Eats. They are famous for their lobster rolls. You can Google them and get all the information on this place but very a worth while stop maybe for early lunch. Heading north again, cross the bridge and make a RT 0n RT27 south. This will take you into Boothbay Harbor. This a place the wife will love. Make sure you bring shopping money. you will want to park your bike and walk around the town. It has many little shops and restaurants, and if you didn’t eat lunch you will want to eat here. Take some time and walk around enjoy the scenery. There are many side roads you can take. if you want to go further go back to Rt 1 and head north and the next town is Damariscotta, which is a quaint town. Again park the bike and walk around town and don’t forget to visit” Mardens Dept Store”. you can get some good deals. Hope you enjoy your day ride.
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