cheap, clean place to stay in extreme north NH?

[brady]

Anyone have any recommendations for a place to stay in Errol NH or further North that is clean but won't break the bank? Rustic is OK

I'm taking an overnight ride with a few good but slow-paced friends who aren't into camping.

[stoinkythepig]

There's lots of fishing camps in Strewartstown, Colebrook and Pittsburg. I stayed on Back Lake, in Pittsburg, years ago. I don't think there are any expensive places up there.

I have heard this place is excellent: http://www.cabinsatlopstick.com/Accommodations.html

[brady]

thanks, will check it out, I've gotten a late start on this!

[The Crashing Tomato]

I use to live near Stuartstown in Clarksville just beyond Clarksville pond. You can see Lake Francis and on a good day the first and second Conneticut lakes from the 300+ acres I lived on. Man I miss it up there. BTW Lopstick is a good outfit .... I rented from them before. Nice places well maintained but pricey in comparison to some others around .... the trade off is some of the less expensive places are ..... well ..... not as nice ......

[brady]

Thanks guys, we're booked at Lopstick, looks like a great place to stay.

Any opinions on taking VT 102 instead of NH Rt 3 to Pittsburg from Lancaster?

[stoinkythepig]

102 is a better bike road than 3. You will want to take 145 from Colebrook to Pittsburg too...

[The Crashing Tomato]

just watch out for the Staties in VT ... they REALLLY have NOTHING better to do ... same with the locals in Colebrook .... stop by Beaver Brook Falls on 145 its a good break from riding and a good 1hr hike / climb along side the falls

there's a section of 145 just past clarksville that has been dubbed elevator hill ... as the elevation changes by some crazy 600 ft in 1/3 of a mile ... hit it at anything above 50 mph and you'll have your stomach in your helmet and then on th backside you get a great view of the lakes ....

ENJOY

[whynot]

VT 102 for sure. I had a camp in Guildhall VT for a long time and did lots of exploring. Stop on the Common in Guildhall (county seat of Essex County), take pics, county courthouse, etc. 102 makes a right-angle turn to the left, don't cross the bridge into NH.

Then you'll get sweeping turns, scenic view across the CT River, farms, villages, etc. Check out those oxbows, how scenic can you get?

Weekends would be better. Weekdays, you'll get some logging trucks and sand & gravel trucks that you'd expect in any rural ag-industrial area. But nice anytime.

110 in NH is a nice road, too, as I recall.

Oh, yeah, moose and deer.

PM me if you want excruciating detail.

[brady]

Thanks for all the route info guys, had already decided on 145 out of Colebrook.

On the way back we'll be hitting up Grafton and Evans Notches. Any info on North Rd from Bethel Maine to Gorham NH instead of Rt 2?

[tonup]

If you guys are in Bethel in time, swing by the Meme bike event. www.eurobikemaine.org

[brady]

If you guys are in Bethel in time, swing by the Meme bike event. www.eurobikemaine.org

Had no idea that was going on, will have to stop by.

[legalspeed]

NESR comes through again.

Great posts everyone, hope you have a good time brady!

[brady]

thanks, yeehaa!

now I just gotta try not to have too much fun in the twisties and lose my buddies on their tourers

[legalspeed]

thanks, yeehaa!

now I just gotta try not to have too much fun in the twisties and lose my buddies on their tourers

Nah, have fun and just wait at the next intersection!

[brady]

Nah, have fun and just wait at the next intersection!

Great in theory, but they navigate by GPS and usually get lost when left on their own. They're good friends but have NO sense of direction.

[stoinkythepig]

Thanks for all the route info guys, had already decided on 145 out of Colebrook.

On the way back we'll be hitting up Grafton and Evans Notches. Any info on North Rd from Bethel Maine to Gorham NH instead of Rt 2?

It's better than 2, but not a great ride. Evans Notch is fun.

[brady]

We had a great ride, thanks for all the tips. VT 102 was great, NH 145 from Colebrook was the BEST! Some broken pavement and occasional sand in the turns, but well worth it, like a long scenic twisty rollercoaster. NH 116 between 112 and I-93 was well worth the detour, too.

Lopstick Lodge and cabins was a great place to stay; the cleanest room I've ever seen, great location/view, well equipped, full kitchen and LR.

We skipped Evans Notch on the way back Sunday, as the only rain we hit all weekend was in Maine and we could see it was still sunny over the border in NH.

Bear Notch Road and the Kanc were both sunny and almost no traffic.

Traffic on I-93 near Concord both days was brutal. We were anxious to get into the mountains quickly on the way up, and didn't get off in time on the way back to miss the jam which was backed up into Canterbury.

Our group at Lake Francis: SV, MultiStrada, FJR1300