NH Seacoast Ride and York, ME Lunch

[Tony C.]

Now that the summer is over and the crowds have subsided a bit along the New England coast, I decided to take a ride up the NH seacoast and into York, ME for lunch. Bernie and I did this ride annually for many years. Lot's of good memories of Bernie honking his air horns and screaming at people in traffic at various points in our rides. Mostly in Newburyport. It's not the same without him. He's currently not riding. I invited Gary, but he wasn't able to make it.

I left the house around 9:30 for the ride up 495 N to Salisbury, MA. I was dreading the 495 leg because it can really suck. This morning it didn't. But on the way home it did, in the usual locations (Lawrence, I-93, route 3, route 2 and I-290 interchanges). I'm talking feet down dead stopped on the highway. Oh well. Got home safe.

I got on 1A N in Salisbury and rode it up through Portsmouth to route 1 in ME. The first stop was Hampton Beach. I parked in the MC parking spots that Bernie showed me years ago. There were people strolling the strip and on the beach enjoying the sunshine. The temperature was only 69 degrees at that point. It warmed to about 80 later in the day.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/hmS4dS6eEcPDkurh6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tZnr19AyPYDzv4pu9

The pictures don't show that it was low tide and that there was a lot of seaweed washed up. It was quite aromatic along parts of the route, if you know what I mean.  

It looks like NHDOT has added to and/or spruced up the turn-outs along 1A. I pulled into one and took a picture.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/C7EDUFaFFpkCKBvx6

I took the route 1 bridge into Kittery and continued on route 1 north to 1A north to York Beach. I stopped for a moment to take this distant picture of Nubble Light. I didn't visit the Light as road work is being done in that area.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/aXcPbWSHJcV3ADkg7

Bernie and I usually eat lunch at the Lobster Cove right on 1A with a great view of the beach. It was very crowded today, so I passed on it. I continued further north into York looking for a decent place to eat along the beach. I didn't see one. So I headed on 1A south to a little village and got a steak and cheese sub for lunch. It was OK. I've had better.

After lunch I took 1A S to 1 S to the route 1 Bypass. That draw bridge is very impressive. From the Bypass I took a left a light with a sign that said "To Beaches". This brought me back to 1A so I could ride it south down the seacoast. Beautiful! I think the views are better traveling southbound.

Once I got to the Mass line, I took a right onto route 286 and stopped at Brown's Lobster Pound for a rest break prior to getting back on the highway for the long slog home.

Was a great day for riding. Total was 216 miles. Glad I was able to dip my toes into Maine before the riding season ends.  

[GaryC]

Nice write up Tony. Sounds like a nice ride, well except 495 but at least it wasn't 100 degrees. 

[ybnorml]

Well Tony, all in all it sounds like you enjoyed your ride without Bernie causing any trouble / road rage along the way...And you didn't have to spring for his lunch either !!

Good write-up and pics...

[Tony C.]

Nice write up Tony. Sounds like a nice ride, well except 495 but at least it wasn't 100 degrees.  

Thanks Gary! Agreed, it wasn't as hot on the highway as the Jamestown ride.  

[Tony C.]

Well Tony, all in all it sounds like you enjoyed your ride without Bernie causing any trouble / road rage along the way...And you didn't have to spring for his lunch either !!

Good write-up and pics...

Thanks Terry! 

[RickT2004]

Many years ago on a bored 4th of July, my ex-girlfriend and I just took off early in the morning and headed North. We jumped between 1 and 1A and had lunch in Old Orchard. A childhood favorite of my parents and on we went to Freeport. It was in the 90's that day so we went to LL Bean and purchased dry tee-shirts. On the way home we stopped at a restaurant I believe was called York Clam House. I can't find it on google but the best fried clams ever. Left home at 8am and returned at 9pm.

[Tony C.]

@RickT2004

Sounds like a great but long day Rick. Your girlfriend is a Trooper! 

New Hampshire's coast line is only 17 miles. But boy do they make most of those miles. Beautiful beaches, homes, honky-tonk souvenir shops and fish fry shacks. Excellent ride!

[ybnorml]

We really enjoy stopping into the crab shacks, lobster shacks, and fried fish shacks along the coast..
Maybe 4 years ago, just about every weekend we would sample crab rolls / lobster rolls from Kittery to Beals Island...

We were surprised at the difference in quality being served. A couple placed advertised 'fresh lobster' in their lobster rolls, and it was a far cry from being 'fresh lobster'.... The manager found out I wasn't a tourist from Iowa.. 

[Wall]

Kathy and I frequently went to a place in South Thomaston, Maine when we were i
ME when we were in Camden. It's called McLoons. And fresh lobster means you can watch them pull the crate they are in right out of the ocean next to the lobster shack. Which is right next door to their lobster dock. We would watch the boats come in and offload while we were having our lobster rolls.

[Tony C.]

We really enjoy stopping into the crab shacks, lobster shacks, and fried fish shacks along the coast..
Maybe 4 years ago, just about every weekend we would sample crab rolls / lobster rolls from Kittery to Beals Island...

We were surprised at the difference in quality being served. A couple placed advertised 'fresh lobster' in their lobster rolls, and it was a far cry from being 'fresh lobster'.... The manager found out I wasn't a tourist from Iowa..  

As soon as you started to talk to him, there's no doubt he knew that you were from Maine.  

The place on Beals  Island that you directed us to, definitely qualifies as an authentic fish shack.

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-lT2MFNLjCrRYpdd3MEczfkqsQ63vB8BfhaKMpNS69n8VO2ncDQ89TY6Bb9i8qnnm?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1533821814

When we went in summer 2018, the rickety bridge to the Island was under construction. A bit of a pucker factor crossing that bridge.  

[Tony C.]

Kathy and I frequently went to a place in South Thomaston, Maine when we were i
ME when we were in Camden. It's called McLoons. And fresh lobster means you can watch them pull the crate they are in right out of the ocean next to the lobster shack. Which is right next door to their lobster dock. We would watch the boats come in and offload while we were having our lobster rolls.

It doesn't get any fresher than that!   

[ybnorml]

We really enjoy stopping into the crab shacks, lobster shacks, and fried fish shacks along the coast..
Maybe 4 years ago, just about every weekend we would sample crab rolls / lobster rolls from Kittery to Beals Island...

We were surprised at the difference in quality being served. A couple placed advertised 'fresh lobster' in their lobster rolls, and it was a far cry from being 'fresh lobster'.... The manager found out I wasn't a tourist from Iowa..  

As soon as you started to talk to him, there's no doubt he new that you were from Maine.  

The place on Beals  Island that you directed us to, definitely qualifies as an authentic fish shack.

https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-lT2MFNLjCrRYpdd3MEczfkqsQ63vB8BfhaKMpNS69n8VO2ncDQ89TY6Bb9i8qnnm?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1533821814

When we went in summer 2018, the rickety bridge to the Island was under construction. A bit of a pucker factor crossing that bridge.  

That little shack on Beals Island was as close to a downeast fish shack as you could get, Tony.
Their haddock dinner, crab rolls, and lobster rolls were second to none...
Sadly, the fish shack is no longer there...
Yep, that 'bridge under construction' was that way for at least 3 years, if not longer...