Something I’ve discovered in the last year or two is that backroads are fun! There isn’t much traffic. They also tend to be old roads. When they were build they didn’t move as much earth, so the high points weren’t leveled, the low point weren’t filled and they weren’t configured into straight lines.
Here is an example of one such ride. Begin at Eastern Park in Brewer (S. Main St). Go south and turn left (east) on Elm St, then turn right on Mill St and go out beyond Pine Hill Golf Club. Continue to Brewer Lake Road then take a right on Long Hill Road and go up the long hill. At the intersection with Center Road hang a left, then bear left again on East Bucksport Road. This will take you into the heart of Bucksport.
Alternatively you could have simply continued south on South Main Street (route 15) out of Brewer and wound up at the same place. Route 15 is also fun to ride, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the back roads.
Take US 1 across the bridge to Verona Island and continue across Penobscot Narrows Bridge. As you get off the bridge, take a right on route 174 (aka Fort Knox Rd) over to Prospect, then turn right on US 1A and continue to Winterport. These are all fun roads. To make ride back to Bangor more interesting, turn left on route 139 in Winterport and continue 2/3 of a mile where you bear right on Coles Corner Rd. At Coles Corner, you’ll not notice, it becomes Back Winterport Rd. Continue into Hampden and turn right on Kennebec Road. After one eighth of a mile turn left on Mayo Road followed but a left at the intersection with Western Avenue (aka 202). Go approximately 1 mi and turn right on Emerson Mill Road. As you follow this road it will become Odlin Road then eventually Maine Avenue. When it hits route 222 (Union Street) turn left. Stop at Nicky’s Crusin Diner for refreshments.
The alternative would have been to continue north on US 1A in Winterport all the way to Bangor, then turn left on 222 (Union Street) and go to Nicky’s. Straighter roads, more traffic, less fun.
I rode this route yesterday and it’s just about 48 miles. The pavement was all good, some of it brand spanking new. The only hassle was minor gravel on the roads at a few of the intersections, so exercise caution. This is a great alternative route. Try it, you'll like it.
