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SAT SEPTEMBER 2, 2023 - FRENCHTOWN TO MERRILL CREEK RESERVOIR CHALLENGE + ICE CREAM, NEW & IMPROVED ROUTE BY CHARLIE B. 50-MI SHORT-CUT OPTION AVAILABLE. CO-LEADER(S) WELCOME
Level B-: 13.5-14mph, 63 or 53 miles. Meet at Frenchtown - parking lot just below Bridge St, between river and Canal Trail. The ride leaves at 8:30 am. Hilly but pretty loop through Warren and Hunterdon Counties, NJ, to the scenic Merrill Creek Reservoir. New & improved route by Charlie B. Ice cream at mile 58. This route includes a couple of 400-ft climbs, and one 640-ft climb, but the vistas from the summits are magnificent. We'll be riding mostly on quiet and shaded country roads, but also passing through the quaint towns of Milford, Riegelsville, Stewartsville, and Bloomsbury. Initial and final stretches of the route, along River Road, are flat. The challenging hills section, ~10 miles of climbing, is in the middle. Total elevation gain on the 63-mi route is 4090 ft, but we will stop to regroup as needed. Food stops at mile 24 in Stewartvsille (before climbing to the Reservoir), and at mile 46 in Bloomsbury. (We'll also have a brief photo/scenery stop at the spectacular Reservoir at mile 31.) From the food stop in Bloomsbury, we'll descend to the village of Little York, then return to Milford and Frenchtown via downhill-to-flat roads. Depending on where you live, please allow an hour for the drive to Frenchtown. 53-Mi short-Cut Option: Charlie B. has developed a 53-mi alternate route which avoids the steep climb to Merrill Creek Reservoir, but still stops at the Tauro market rest stop. This is the link for the 53-miler: ridewithgps.com/routes/37360255, with 2990 ft. CO-LEADER(S) WELCOME to add other groups at alternative speeds to increase options for our riders. Please contact LMc to have your name and speed group added to this listing. Cue sheets will be available. The on-line route map is https://ridewithgps.com/routes/30997741.