Route Overview-Bar Harbor ME to Richmond VA

BAR HARBOR, MAINE, TO RICHMOND, VIRGINIA: In the Northeast, we'll enjoy the flavor of quiet Maine coastal towns, New England villages, the rural countryside, and bucolic Amish farmlands. Once you cross the Mason-Dixon Line, which is the boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland, we'll ride into the South and get some flavor for Civil War history by visiting the battlefields at Fredericksburg, Virginia, and the city of Richmond, Virginia. Spurs lead into the various larger cities along this route. A lack of road signs can make parts of this route challenging. It can be ridden from late spring to late fall. We chose the fall, with hopes of riding in reasonable temperatures, and hopefully, less humidity. Due to changing local conditions, it is difficult to predict any major wind patterns. Starting in the tourist town of Bar Harbor, Maine, on Mt. Desert Island, we'll bike out of town through Acadia National Park and then along occasional back roads situated near the coast. We'll allow some time to savor the quintessential ambiance of the coastal towns.

Only a small portion of the route is along the Atlantic's edge in Maine. More New England beauty will be enjoyed as we head south through New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. We'll see charming, picturesque towns that you might find on your wall calender. As we bike through New York, we'll pass through scenic farmland. The route along the Hudson River has several sites of historic significance. Entering New Jersey, our ride takes us through one of the best areas in the state for bicycling along the Delaware River. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is particularly beautiful and gives an other-world meaning to typical images that people have of New Jersey. The route heads west into Pennsylvania through productive farms and many hills. We'll ride through Valley Forge National Historic Park, then enter Amish country, where "old-style" living includes horses and buggies. The route swings west around the outskirts of Baltimore. There are more farms in northern Maryland, which will turn into suburban sprawl as we reach the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Although congestion increases tremendously, the ride though Washington, D.C., is pleasant. Bike paths through Rock Creek Park take us to the Lincoln Memorial and the Potomac River.

We should reach Washington, D.C. around October 10. At that time, we plan on spending a few days with Donna and Brian (our in-laws) for a little R&R before heading back out on the trail.

After crossing the Potomoc, we'll ride another beautiful bike path to Mount Vernon, George Washington's residence from 1754 until his death. Then there are more urban areas in expanding northern Virginia, some quiet country roads, and increasing urbanization as we approach Richmond.

Terrain: This is one of the challenging rides that Adventure Cycling has to offer, as it has many hilly areas where granny gears are needed to climb the steep hills. Northwestern Connecticut, the Susquehanna River area in Pennsylvania, and the country roads north of Richmond are extremely hilly. But we do have some easy riding to compensate, such as when biking the paths along the Potomac River in Virginia.