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Directions to the start of the ride at Southern Maine Community College
Take Maine Turnpike (I-95) to I-295 through Portland. Take Exit 6A
(Forest Ave., South/Rt. 77). Follow Rt. 77 across Casco Bay Bridge
to South Portland. At the end of bridge, continue straight onto
Broadway (east) 1.5 miles. Parking on right.
SMCC on Google Maps
Campus Map
Click here to see a map of SMCC.
Parking will be in Lot A at the corner of Broadway and Benjamin Pickett
Road. Registration will be in the Culinary Arts (CA) Building on Fort
Road. There will be volunteers and signs directing you from the parking
lot to the registration area.
What's Included with the Ride Registration
- Spectacular Maine coastline – see up to 9 lighthouses!
- Fully supported rides with rest stops
- Hot showers (bring your own towel)
- Food and conversation after the ride
Ride
Routes
All rides begin and end at the beautiful oceanfront campus of Southern
Maine Community College in South Portland.
Maps and cue sheets for all rides will be available.
An optional all-paved route for the
100-mile century ride will be
provided (the regular century
ride has a firm but unpaved
section over the beautiful
Scarborough marsh into Old
Orchard Beach). Both routes are
provided so you can take your
pick!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Maine Lighthouse Ride?
The Maine Lighthouse Ride (MLR) is a bicycle ride
that showcases 9 lighthouses along the beautiful coast of southern Maine at one of the best times of year –
mid-September. The MLR is the primary fundraising event that supports the
Eastern Trail Alliance, a non-profit on a mission to promote the Eastern
Trail (ET), a 65-mile off-road trail that will connect
Kittery
with South Portland, Maine.
When is the Maine Lighthouse Ride?
The 8th annual MLR will be held September
10, 2011.
Where is this ride?
The MLR begins and ends on the shores of beautiful Casco Bay, one of the East Coast’s finest deepwater ports.
You will find registration, parking, and the start/finish line on the
oceanfront campus of Southern Maine Community College
(LINK) in
South Portland, Exit 3 from I-295
(MAP LINK).
How do I register?
More than 7,000 brochures with registration forms
will be available by mid-April in bike shops and retail outlets throughout
southern Maine. Of course there is
an on-line option as well:
http://www.active.com/register/index.cfm?CHECKSSO=0&EVENT_ID=1936064.
Registration is open through September 2, eight days before the MLR.
If I train hard, can
I win the Lighthouse Ride?
Nope! The MLR is not a race. It is a ride that allows
us, the Eastern Trail Alliance (ETA) to share portions of the Eastern
Trail with the bike riding population, and to raise money for the Eastern
Trail. Very non-competitive, and very supportive – in fact, we receive
loads of compliments every year from riders who enjoy views of up to 9
lighthouses along the ride, the food, the volunteers, the start and finish
location, the congenial atmosphere…you get the idea!
I’ve heard about the
Eastern Trail – is it part of a longer trail?
Sure is. The 65-mile ET is part of the Florida to Maine East Coast Greenway (ECG), a
nearly 3000 mile off-road trail-in-the-making intended for human-powered
recreational and transportation use. Nearly 30% of the ET is complete,
with major projects scheduled for completion in 2011. More than 25% of the
ECG exists as safe, traffic-free paths connecting
Calais,
Maine to
Key West, Florida.
Can I bring my
spouse and children?
Of course! The MLR features a ride for all levels and
abilities: a 25 mile course, a 40-miler, a metric century (62 miles) and a
century ride (100 miles) that will please even the most experienced
bicyclists. See
http://www.easterntrail.org/mlr/mlr.html for more information.
I don’t live in Maine – are there
accommodations nearby?
The license place doesn’t say “Vacationland” for
nothing! There are several locally owned and run motels, bed and
breakfasts, and chain hotels within minutes of the MLR course, whether you
prefer to stay in Greater Portland, or choose a smaller community with
more low-key surroundings. Check
www.tripadvisor.com, or AAA for an array of area accommodations.
I’d like to check
this ride out on-line – got a website?
We have a website – three, in fact. For an overview
of the Eastern Trail and a link to the Maine Lighthouse Ride, go to
http://www.easterntrail.org/.
Like to navigate your ride with a 3G compatible cell phone, or a Garmin
GPS? Check out http://www.etmap.org/.
And if the whole notion of the Eastern Trail intrigues you, delve into it
more deeply at
http://www.easterntrailmanagement.org/, an on-line archive dedicated
to the history of the ET, what we’re up to, past studies and reports,
agendas, minutes of meetings and more.
My friend and I like
the idea, but what if we run into problems during the ride?
First of all, you’ll never be far from assistance
during the MLR. There is a friendly, well informed cast of volunteers –
over 50 at last year’s ride – who can answer questions and lend expertise
with directions, mechanical issues, and more. There are 5 rest stops
between the start in South Portland, and the southernmost point of the century
ride in Kennebunkport.
Plus, there are “sag wagons” cruising the course equipped with tire pumps,
spare inner tubes, water and snacks, cell phone, bike rack and seats for
passengers, so no matter what issues you may encounter, help is close at
hand.
If I pack a PB&J
sandwich, an energy bar and my water bottle, I’ll be okay, right?
You can, but you can leave it up to us if you choose.
There are snacks, fruit, and healthy food at all rest stops, as well as
water and energy drinks for water bottle refills. And when you’re done
pedaling, take a shower if you choose on-campus, then join us for a hot
meal served in a dining hall overlooking beautiful and historic
Casco Bay. We think it’s a pretty great way to finish up a
spectacular day!
More questions? We’d be happy to help. Contact us at
eta@easterntrail.org
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