RT 2 in western ME and NH

[Hondo812]

Anybody been on this road? What can you tell us depraved southern New Englanders about it?

This looks like an excellent road in MS S&T with potential for connecting with NH 302 and the Kanc for one long twisty ride.

[Ux VTX]

Think you meant Western ME? It's a good ride all the way, it comes around the Northern Presidentials (STUNNING views of Mt's Jefferson, Madison and Adams) as you go from Jefferson NH, through Randolph and into Gorham. After that you head north of the Carter/Moriah mountains and and south of the Mahoosuc Notch area and that's also a very beautiful area. It is usually not so busy even on weekend because lots of the tourists stop heading north near Conway.

Headed into Maine it heads into real moose territory, Rumford is a great little town. From there it should be a good road all the way over to Skowhegan though I don't travel that section too often. Over in Maine there are tons of alternative ways to go depending on what you want to see. Given time I would head more north near Skowhegan towards Guilford and Dover-Foxcroft, nice hilly sections with lotsa sweeping turns, route 11 and 16... all nice. Watch for moose and deer hanging in the only breeze they can find on a hot day... right in the middle of the road, especially the yearlings who have just been turned out by mom for the next generation and are TOTALLY clueless. It's awesome.

Whatcha thinkin'???? I know these areas pretty well, I have travelled much of these areas to gain access at various points of the Appalachiain trail.

[Ux VTX]

By the way, above route 2 in NH, route 16 is spectacular! It follows the (extremely) winding Androscoggin River up to Umbagog lake region. Certain times of year you have to go very slow and let the moose get out of the way. THen you can take 26 back down to Rumford (through spectacular Grafton Notch) or stay on 16 to Rangely. Can't go wrong....

LOL, I sounds like a tourguide! I love this area, even driving to get to a hike in Maine (in cage) is always an experience.

[btalon]

By the way, above route 2 in NH, route 16 is spectacular! It follows the (extremely) winding Androscoggin River up to Umbagog lake region. Certain times of year you have to go very slow and let the moose get out of the way. THen you can take 26 back down to Rumford (through spectacular Grafton Notch) or stay on 16 to Rangely. Can't go wrong....

LOL, I sounds like a tourguide! I love this area, even driving to get to a hike in Maine (in cage) is always an experience.

Gotta say that is an excellent ride, little bumpy right now with potholes, but mostly good.

Route 2 is excellent also - they are working just over the maine line from NH - looks like widening road. Route 2 is a great ride, been from St. J in vermont to way out east in Maine and can't say much bad about it - some great scenery - if you are looking for specifics let us know and we can help - other alternate is up 16 to erroll, stop and look at the white moose at LL Cote's there - can't miss place - looks like a Cabelas - Huge place now and then go west on 26 across dixville notch (looks like ground drops off at peak) and then down 3 to route 2 again or right through franconia notch south onto 93. Lots of great rides up here!

[btalon]

Anybody been on this road? What can you tell us depraved southern New Englanders about it?

This looks like an excellent road in MS S&T with potential for connecting with NH 302 and the Kanc for one long twisty ride.

I was looking before at making a long day trip - start in lincoln, over kanc, over bear notch, up crawford notch, across 2 to gorham, north on 16 - west on 26 through dixville notch - then south on 3 down through franconia notch - would be a long ride, but the notches would be excellent!

[Hondo812]

btalon.....sounds like you just described the "notches" ride to me. Does Conway fit into that route at all? There is supposed to be some place there that has excellent nachos.

Let me see about laying that out in MS S&T.

[Ux VTX]

Hondo, Conway is too busy on weekends nowadays to be to enjoyable, West Side Road is nice but you get traffic on both ends getting to it. If we do Bear Notch to Crawford Notch we could swing a little wide and hit Margarita Grille so you can get some Nachos! THe other place I can think of for Nachos (FYI) is down near the Conway Theatre but that's a trafficy area on 16.

[btalon]

you could bypass bear notch road and go right into conway from kanc - then up across 302 to crawford notch or up 16 to pinkham notch - not sure about the tacos? I know margaritaville in bartlett has good mexican, but not sure of conway - timber might be able to shed a light on that one?

[Ux VTX]

Not sure how I missed LL Cote's! I usually would go route 26 through Maine to get to Rangely or Rumford areas though so I don't travel that last leg of 16 often. Would love to swing over to Dixville Notch, have never made that last jjog over there on 26.

White Moose? You had me thinking of the one-time headless moose in Gorham!

[Hondo812]

Lemme ask Ron over on NER. He is the original NERD (Non-Electric Riding Dude LOL) from Maine and he goes on and on about those nachos. Maybe it's not in Conway but it's up that way some where.

[koboti]

if you eat to many nachos the you have to take up the tail of the ride.a fart blown up you nose at 60 mph is not fun :oops:

[btalon]

Not sure how I missed LL Cote's! Would love to swing over to Dixville Notch, have never made that last jjog over there on 26.

White Moose? You had me thinking of the one-time headless moose in Gorham!

Dixville notch is an awesome ride, it's actually the first place to vote in the primary's and elections, small town with something like 26 people and they open the polls at midnight to vote, kinda neat history although they have been fighting for the first in the nation status lately as others want to take it away.

Yeah it's a full fledged albino moose - Full body mount stuffed in all it's glory - pretty neat to look at as you don't see them everyday! LL Cote's has the full story of it that you can read while checking it out.

[Hondo812]

I guess the name of the nachos place is Cafe Nache right near the 112 turnoff for the Kanc.

[btalon]

I guess the name of the nachos place is Cafe Nache right near the 112 turnoff for the Kanc.

Never heard of it - I'll have to look it up to see

[Ux VTX]

If I am not mistaken it is on the right as you head north into Conway on 16, just before West Side Rd (Washington St) takes off to the right. It is right after the gas station (Citgo?) and kinda hides behind a tall wooden fence.

I remember liking it but my friend who hikes with me doesn't seem to want to go back for some reason, and that may be simply because we are usually too hungry after hiking to make it that far south (i.e. past MargaritaGrille/Red Jacket Inn)