After a chilly start the morning before, this one started much warmer, near freezing, but it was overcast with the threat of sleet or rain. We managed 50 or so miles in the next 90 minutes, heading primarily east on club trails No. 73 and 96 before connecting into 83 near St.
Peter's Country Store and heading south past Madawaska Lake and Little Madawaska on ITS 105.
Well before we got to Washburn we diverted onto ITS 90 toward Portage, a gorgeous run through pines and along a picturesque stretch of the Madawaska River. Rain caught up with us here, but it stirred the firs and pines to smell like a forest after a spring rain, not a bad thing at all.
Dodging the rain for lunch we popped into the popular Dean's Motor Lodge, on the edge of Portage Lake. Again chowder or chicken stew (an area staple) are winners. Gas sometimes is available in town, but don't count on it.
Here we waited out the rain a bit and then hopped back on our Venture GTs and the pre-pro '10 Vector GT we were riding and went back up toward Long Lake and St. Agatha, near where we had ridden the day before. But this time we went up Trails 105 and 83 to Madawaska, where the hills get taller and there are more turns and stunning views from wicked-nice trails.
There's a big Fraser Paper mill dominating the Madawaska skyline, and ski hills across the river in Canada. Despite the earlier rain, the skies cracked open with late afternoon sun for us, lighting up the river and buildings below as we made our way up to another lookout near the city where down below a large church glowed in the afternoon sun.
Then we mounted up and rode on toward Long Lake on Trail 81, across a golf course and toward the beacon that draws so many snowmobilers in the area to "suppah" at the Long Lake Sporting Club Restaurant in Sinclair. This place has been around since 1923, although a couple fires have necessitated rebuilding. Ken and Debbie Martin are second generation restauranteurs, but the fourth owners here and they keep it elegant, but lively.
The club that used to host big bands after WW II now uses a giant jukebox to lure folks onto the dance floor. The place rocks on weekends. We were there mid-week so enjoyed a quieter dinner, of which there are only seven choices, one being a 3.5-lb. Maine lobster. Trust me, its claws were as big as my hands!
Unique too is that you're seated on one side of the restaurant for drinks and socializing. The waitress takes your order and when the meal is ready you are reseated on the other side of the restaurant, the meal already laid out before you. Everything is delicious, but you've got to try the ployes, buckwheat pancakes that you drizzle maple syrup on and then roll up to eat. Filling!
From there we had about a 30-mile ride to Eagle Lake to complete a 190-mile day.
We were never pushing hard, running between 30-60 mph each day, a little faster especially early the second day. All the trails were smooth and well groomed, with the exception of about a 10-mile stretch on day two, our rainy day.
Maine is populated with beautiful trails, both in the scenery along the routes and their grooming. And if you're a hard rider, this is an area where you could easily knock off 250-300 miles in a day. For us cruisers, even 190 was easy.
Maine photos gallery includes photos of the lobster.