Loop & Lunch Rides
June 10 2017 Loop and Lunch RideSince the summer of 2013, Russ Lamer has led "loop and lunch rides" on the Eastern Trail. Each has offered a loop ride on either (or both!) the off-road or on-road sections of the trail, as well as a refreshing restaurant lunch along the route.
Read about previous rides further below on this page.
Schedule for Eastern Trail Loop & Lunch Rides 2019:
October 19th...This final ride is the annual Tweed or Crazy Sweater Ride that starts at Wainwright Field in South Portland, crosses the Scarborough Marsh on the ET then we take the road into Old Orchard Beach to Route 9 Camp Ellis and on to Saco to have lunch at Cia. After lunch we return to Wainwright on the ET.
Check in time begins at 9 a.m. and rides start at 9:30 a.m. Requirements: wear helmet, bring your own water and bottle(s), be able to ride 30 plus miles, ride an average speed of 12 to 15 mph, bring money for lunch, and have fun.
The rides are capped at 25 so please contact Bob LaNigra at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before a ride date to let him know you are riding.
Here is a review of the 2019 rides held earlier this year:
June 8th...This ride started at Bug Light in South Portland taking the ET Greenway to Wainwright field then continued on the road on Highland Avenue to Black Point Road to Prout’s Neck, back to 77, right at Sprague Hall down to the Sprague estate entrance and back to 77 and then to Two Lights and back to 77. We stopped at C-Salt for lunch before returning to Bug Light.
August 24th...The August 24th ET Loop & Lunch Ride was a lot of fun, and filled with unusual happenings. The group of 18 riders started out at Thornton Academy on the Eastern Trail, and 16 ended up at Bug Light before going to Scratch Bakery in South Portland for lunch. One rider dropped off from the group at Pin Point Road and the Scarborough Marsh; and our Sweep's computer mount broke and he had to back track to find it, and therefore ended his ride (by the way, he never found it). After a delicious lunch, we had a great ride back. Only one flat tire on our return trip...but everyone was smiles when we arrived at the Thornton Academy parking lot. Perfect day for riding.
September 28th...This ride was a Kittery to South Berwick loop on the Eastern Trail. Karen Saltus led the ride from Kittery to South Berwick mostly along the Eastern Trail on lovely and quiet back roads, around 33 miles.
June 2014 Loop & Lunch BunchRequirements:
- Safety is a high priority: riders will sign a waiver at check-in, and provide emergency contact info; a ride sweep will accompany all rides
- Wear a helmet
- Be able to average a speed of 13 to 15 mph
- Make sure you bring sunscreen, money for lunch and a bottle of water or two.
Examples of Some Past Loop & Lunch Rides
June 7, 2014 - 20 riders turned out for the first Loop & Lunch ride of 2014. The weather was perfect with plenty of sunshine and just the right amount of summer breeze. Riders started on the Eastern Trail at Black Point and Eastern Roads in Scarborough then rode along the scenic coast through Old Orchard Beach to Camp Ellis then up Route 9 into Saco.
Lunch was at Run of the Mill Restaurant in Saco, and what an outstanding job the restaurant did waiting on the Loop & Lunch Bunch. Laura our waitress deserves one big medal for doing a superb job on taking orders and delivering everyone's food all at the same time. The service and food were an A+!
On the return trip, everyone worked up enough of an appetite for a stop at Bayley's Ice Cream on Pine Point Road in Scarborough before crossing the marsh back to the parking lot.
August 29, 2015 - The most recent Loop & Lunch Bunch ride was another perfect day, and a fun 38 mile ride for the ET Loop & Lunch Bunch. Fourteen riders started at the Eastern Trail at the Biddeford Medical Center, and took the off-road trail to Kennebunk. From there we took the on-road ET to Wells.
Lunch was at The Seed & Bean Restaurant.
Great rides, great people, great food! Look for details to come on the next ET Loop & Lunch Bunch Ride.
Photos provided by group ride photographer Bob Bernoth.
