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Archived News
May 9, 20120

Walk in Saco to benefit homeless veterans

Updated: 1:25 pm, Wed May 9, 2012.

Kate Irish Collins

SACO – A 2K walk in Saco on May 16 is designed to raise awareness, support and funds for homeless veterans.

Sponsored by the local Veterans Administration, or VA, clinic, the walk will take place on the portion of the Eastern Trail that runs through downtown Saco.

Anyone can take part in the VA2K Walk + Roll, which begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Hannaford parking lot on Route 1. In fact, the VA facilities in Maine are specifically encouraging veteran service organizations, community members, active duty members and veterans of all ages to participate.

Read the entire article online here

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April 30, 20120

Directions to Bug Light Park

Directions to Bug Light Park, South Portland, Maine

buglite2From north or south on the Maine Turnpike, take Exit 45 (Maine Mall Exit)

Past toll booths, follow connector straight to U.S. Route 1/Main Street, South Portland

Turn left onto Route 1/Main Street and follow for 1 mi

Bear right onto Broadway (Dairy Queen is on your left), for 1.9 mi

At major interdsection after Broadway swings to the left (bridge to Portland is a left turn here), turn right to continue on Broadway for 1.5 mi

At end of Broadway. turn left onto Breakwater Drive for 0.1 mi

Turn right onto Madison Street for 0.4 mi to first parking lot

Mileage is approximate. Use the Google map below for more information:


View Larger Map

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April 30, 20120

Saco-Old Orchard Beach Eastern Trail Dedication

ETA logo
Wednesday, May 16 at 10 a.m.

Thornton Academy, Saco


Thorton AcademyCelebrate another 4.4 miles of off-road Eastern Trail, a linear park and pollution-free transportation corridor. The southern end of a now-complete 8.4-mile section of the Eastern Trail that begins along the woods behind Thornton Academy.

Click here to view the Order of Events for this ceremony (opens in a new window).

Meet ETA member Dave Wood who can tell you about his East Coast Greenway ride from Calais to Key West. The ET and the East Coast Greenway are now each 1/3 complete!!

may16 1Meet Eastern Trail Alliance and Eastern Trail Management District Trustees. Enjoy a section of the ET, some told us could never be built. Bring your bike or walking shoes.

Following the ribbon-cutting by Old Orchard Beach Council Chair Bob Quinn and Saco Mayor Mark Johnston, take a walk or ride to OOB and Scarborough Marsh led by kids from the Community Bicycle Center.

Directions:

View Larger Map

Overview:From Turnpike’s Saco exit 36, follow I-195 for 1.6 miles to Rte. 1 south exit 2. Follow Rte. 1 south for 0.6 miles to turn right at Fairfield St. which follow to end for school’s parking lot. The ceremony will take place beside the ET.

 

For more detailed directions and directions from your location, click on the Google link above or in the box to the right.

 

 

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April 19, 20120

Loop and Lunch Ride June 9, 2018

Loop and Lunch Ride
June 9, 2018

 

The weather for our ET Loop and Lunch Ride, on June 9, 2018, was just perfect for the 14 riders that left the trail head, at the Mill Brook Industrial Park, in Saco. The 31 mile ride, to Bug Light, was mostly on the Eastern Trail, with only a few miles on road. Despite one flat tire, and a flying errant umbrella, at the Easy Time Restaurant along the trail, (that conked George –he was ok and received a complimentary meal) all made it back safely to the finish. A special treat at Bug Light was seeing all of the colorful kites flying in the park. Great ride with great riders.

The next ET Loop and Lunch Ride will be on August 11, 2018. More info forthcoming. Ride destination TBD.

Bob LaNigra

 

 Click on any of the images below to view a larger image

 

Lunch and Loop Ride photo June 9 2018 Lunch and Loop Ride photo June 9 2018 Lunch and Loop Ride photo June 9 2018 Lunch and Loop Ride photo June 9 2018 Lunch and Loop Ride photo June 9 2018 Lunch and Loop Ride photo June 9 2018
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April 12, 20120

New OOB Trail Press Release

THE TOWN OF OLD ORCHARD BEACH, MAINE>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                               April 11, 2012

A New Walking and Biking Trail for OOB

            The Old Orchard Beach Conservation Commission is pleased to announce that it is looking into the possibility of a new amenity for Old Orchard Beach.

            This would be a new cross-town hiking and biking trail to connect directly with the newly opened Saco- OOB – Scarborough segment of the Eastern Trail.

            The Eastern Trail is a hiking and biking, running and walking trail that will eventually run all the way from Calais, Maine to Key West, Florida. Right now, it provides a wonderful scenic opportunity to enjoy Maine’s beautiful landscape right in our own backyard.

            Also, going the other way, this new trail will connect outer parts of the town directly to Downtown Old Orchard Beach near the Downeaster Train Station, the Edith Belle Libby Library, and Veteran’s Memorial Park on First Street by an easy and relatively quiet trail restricted to walkers, runners and bicycles.

            Please see the attached map for the proposed route.

            All are invited to come to an open meeting at the Town Hall on April 19, 2012 at 7:00 PM to learn more about these plans and discuss them. With support and help, working together, Old Orchard Beach citizens will create trails that will enhance our community and neighborhoods.

            We hope to see you there.

The Old Orchard Beach Conservation Commission

FMI contact: GMcMullin@Maine.RR.com >

Archived News
April 4, 20120

March 2012 Eastern Trail News Tidbits

On this page you will find some shorter news items about the Eastern Trail that were filed in March 2012

 

  • The Sounds of the Eastern Trail

    • If you were out on the trail during the wonderful warm weather we had recently, you heard the magical sounds of spring in the air. If you missed it, click here to hear the sounds of the Eastern Trail (you’ll need a 3g sound player). Thanks to Don Cote for recording and sharing!!

  • Eastern Trail closes, and then reopens!

    • For the first time ever, the Eastern Trail was closed due to wet trail conditions. On March 14, the following notice was posted on the Eastern Trail web site and its Facebook page:

    “Please note that due to the wet spring weather, we are experiencing excessive wear and tear to the trail. We are posting the trail closed until trail and weather conditions improve. Any questions, please contact us at 207-284-9260 or eta@easterntrail.org.“

    A week later, after some warm and dry weather, this happy notice was posted:

    “Thanks to this amazing run of warm, dry weather, and thanks to so many of you respecting the trail closing this past week, we are re-opening all off-road sections of the trail. We can’t promise it’ll stay open straight through spring – there is rain in the forecast for this weekend – but we will post any changes here as well on on our Facebook page. Typically, trail closures might be expected annually for parts of spring.”

    We’ll say again: “Thanks to so many of you respecting the trail closing.”  We hope that this doesn’t happen often, and it will only be done to take the best care of this valuable greenway resource!

  • Coverage of the ET Walk during Great Maine Outdoor Weekend

    • A small but fun-seeking group walked the Eastern Trail during the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend March 3. The Scarborough Leader news report can be viewed here.

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March 29, 20120

May 18 Ride – Frequently Asked Questions

“SPRING ON THE TRAIL” Ride – Friday, May 18, 2012

A 31 mile bicycle ride on the Eastern Trail

  1. 1. How do I register?

Registration is now closed. Please not that there is no on-site registration on May 18th.

  1. 2. Where and when do we meet?

may18flyerAll riders will meet at Bug Light Park in South Portland, Maine no later than 10:30 AM on Friday, May 18, 2012. Your bike will be loaded into a truck, and you will depart for Kennebunk by bus at 11:00 AM sharp. Click here for directions.

  1. 3. What kind of bike should I bring?

The ride is over 60% off-road on a hard-packed, fine gravel surface. A hybrid, mountain bike or touring road bike will do fine. Leave the $2,000 carbon fiber rig in the garage.

  1. 4. Are bikes available for rental?

Rental bikes will be available by advanced arrangement. Summerfeet, a Maine-based bicycle touring company, is making available their hybrid, trail/road-ready, bicycles for this event at a fee of $25.  The rented bike and helmet will be provided at the Kennebunk Elementary School start point — to be dropped off at the end ride at Bug Light park in South Portland.  E-mail your request for a bike rental, along with your height (how tall you are) to mainegreenways@comcast.net

  1. 5. What about food and drinks?

A bag lunch will be provided at the first rest stop in Saco, about 10 miles from the start. A veggie option will be available. Snacks and water will be provided at the end of the ride at Bug Light Park.

  1. 6. How long will the ride take and what is the level of difficulty?

We will begin our ride at noon at the Kennebunk Elementary School just off the new section of the Eastern Trail. With a lunch stop in Saco and a brief stop in Scarborough to see a “future” section of rail, we expect to return to Bug Light Park between 3:00 and 4:00 PM. The total ride distance is 31 miles. The trail is almost all flat, so the level of difficulty is easy to moderate. This is planned as a one-way ride.

  1. 7. Can I find my own transportation to Kennebunk and start there?

Unfortunately, there is limited parking at the school. If you want to find your own transportation to the school, and from Bug Light Park back home that’s fine, but please let us know.

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https://www.easterntrail.org/