Dude, we live on the East Coast,
man. All the trails to the east are under water. Yeah, dude! Scuba
tanks and sealed bearings, though, and hey...!
Sure, there are the islands but they're really kinda' small,
and you'll start tearin' up wildlife in about half an hour because you're
so bored. And the ferry charges your bike the same price as it charges
you for the ride, maybe even more this year!
The thing about islands: you can't leave when you want... and
bikes don't swim too good, dude!
There are some neat, little sections of old school trail all
over the East End, but not enough that it's worth the jaunt getting
there if you're looking to trail ride. The trails don't lead you to
much of anywhere, except the ocean (see trail description above). But if
you're already in the neighborhood, or beginning or ending a ride, hey,
why not...?
Shailer Banking off North Street is cut off to direct
riding by a wooden rail fence, but the view from the benches at Fort
Sumner Park - spanning from the Fore River to the White Mountains
on a clear day - is worth the climb to the top of Munjoy Hill.
A
little scramble off Walnut Street, behind the elderly housing
complex on North Street has been ruined because creeps
were hiding in the bushes! This trail, which has seen generations of children
walking to and from Jack Elementary School, has been cut off (click
photo). A cyclone fence and "No Trespassing" sign now greet you
at the end of the dirt way. But a hole in the fence to the left
still lets in children - and creeps - but it keeps out bikes. The Munjoy
Hill Neighborhood Organization was supposed to be addressing
this and reopening trail access, but I haven't heard anything and it's
been a while.
Climb
the remaining mound from the old reservoir next to the softball
field on North Street for a lovely view before taking the scary-fast
descent (click photo) off the steep side. The lip of the drop-off has
been worn in well and is not as intimidating. Some fair-sized rocks make
the descent more interesting. Be ready to hit the brakes, too, as the street
below comes up quickly. Remember, just because these little sections are
in the midst of the city doesn't mean they're not challenging or
dangerous! This area has been slated for some sort of housing project for
years, but thankfully nothing stupid has sprouted yet!
A deceptively steep, hidden
downhill - behind the newly-completed memorial to Korean war hero Charles
Loring- at CB Circle is super-slippery when wet and it takes
you to the dead end of Marginal Way and the head of the new Eastern
Promenade Trail which was recently designated as part of the nationwide
East Coat Greenway. This area will
eventually be connected to the Back Cove path, allowing for extended
off-road commuting and recreation!
The dirt rail bed that used to run along the East End Beach was
more fun on a bike - and easier on runners' legs than tar - and then you
didn't have to worry about out-of-control inline skaters. But for
some reason, small projects need to turn into big ones when money gets
involved, and this one was typically overdone. There's even a new, big
yellow trail phone to add to the scenery! Just like on a regular
city street... hmmm. You should e-mail
Portland Trails and find out how they plan on handling future "trail"
projects - and give them your idea of what a trail should be! I
thought it meant more than the tarmac path running between subdivisions...
At least there's one remaining section of the old-school shoreline
singletrack running from LSD Rock to Fisherman's Hang...
yippee...
Another downhill from the Eastern Prom to the waterfront
near Fort Allen was a super little thrill, but now
it's totally fenced-in. An almost-invisible, dark-green cyclone fence that
my dog ran into (click photo) has turned this recently clear-cut
section of coastal woods into a back yard for a bunch of people living
in fear. But the trail will find a way around... Most of the woods through
here - presumably under the ownership of the infamous, view-blocking high-rise
named the Portland House - were all clear-cut last year - and it
looks miserable. Aren't there state laws about taking down trees close
to a shoreline? What about erosion control? What a sight that will
be seeing the high-rise wash down the steep banking into the Atlantic Ocean!
If I remember right, the high rise was the intruder a few decades
back, not the residents of Portland enjoying their promenade...
