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Francois' Old 17 Loop- submitted by Francois Fournier
 Approx.  227 miles

This ride will take you  through the scenic Champlain Valley and Northern Vermont and New York.

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Richard's North Conway Cruise- submitted by Richard Pitonyak
Approx.  100 miles

This ride takes you through the amazing Crawford Notch area. N. Conway has some great places to eat and shop. 

It's a very easy ride. Basically get on Rte 302 in Barre and stay on 302 till N. Conway!  I do this ride several times per season. You could change it up a bit and take the even more scenic route over the Kancamagus Highway.

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Loop The Lake- Submitted by: Caroline Heller and Mark Perry

Depending on your location in the area you can pick up this ride from any point. Our directions start from Wilkins Harley Davidson, in South Barre.

Turn right out of the parking lot and follow Rt. 14 to Royalton. Take a right onto 107 at the junction across from the Vermont Sugarhouse, towards Bethel. Continue on 107 until you see the Stockbridge Central School, just past turn right onto Blackmer Blvd or continue to Rt 100 and loop back. Follow 100 to Hancock picking up Rt 125. Route 125 takes you over the mountain through Middlebury, across the valley Bridport and along the water to the Crown Point Bridge into New York. As you enter Middlebury, the A&W is a nice stop for lunch or venture further on and stop at the just before crossing the Crown Point Bridge. For those who like to pack a picnic lunch just after crossing the bridge, stop at the old fort, and eat at the water’s edge then stretch your legs while you climb the tower before heading back out.

After lunch, head north on 9N to Elizabethtown where you pick up Rt. 9 / 22. In Westport follow Rt. 80 along the lakeside. You will eventually pick up Rt. 9 / 22 again following it through Plattsburgh. Continue to 9B towards Rouses Point where you will cross back into Vermont in Alburg on Route 2 and follow this all the way into Montpelier picking up Rt. 302 back to Barre.

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Northfield. VT to Rangeley, ME- Submitted by: Jim (Moxie) Connor
Approx.  175 miles

Leave here in Northfield, head up route 12 north about 10 miles to Montpelier and take route 2 east. Stay on 2 east for about 62 miles to route 102 north (at the bridge to Lancaster, NH)  Follow route 102 for 23 miles north to Bloomfield, VT.  Here take a right on route 105 east to cross into N.H. (helmets optional).  Now in North Strafford NH get on route 3 north for 13 miles to Colebrook and route 26 east for 26 miles through Dixville Notch.  Oh Wicked!!  Now watch for moose, ya MOOSE!! 

Well by the time you get to Errol, NH  You and your ride will be in need of fuel.  The Errol Resturant, home of the Moose Burger is the place for you!  A good 3 inches thick. Now you've had a taste of moose its time to get serious looking for one.  Take route 16 to Rangeley, Maine, a distance of about 40 miles.  Route 16 is often referred to as "Moose Alley."  Have a camera handy and be ready for one of northern New England's most majestic sights.  At 8 feet from ear to earth, the bull moose commands a great deal of respect!! Now on to Rangeley and the Lakeview Motel.  A nice dinner, a canoe across the lake (oh yea, float planes have the right of way) and you're headed for "snoozeville."  Ride Safe, Ride Smart, Eat Well.

After a good night's sleep, the route home offers many great choices and it would be hard not to select a good one. 

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Richmond, VT to Points North & Back- Submitted by: Bill Gordon
Approx.  205 miles

This is a great fall foliage ride.

Directions are from the Bridge St Café in Richmond.  One block south of RT 2.  There is plenty of close in parking near the Café.

Travel north on Old Jericho Rd thru Jericho Center to Rt. 15. Turn right for about a mile and take the right fork (Browns Trace) to Underhill Center, go thru the town and the road is now Pleasant Valley Rd, in 7 miles the road forks, take the right fork which is Upper Pleasant Valley Rd. to Jeffersonville. Cross Rt. 15 and take Rt. 109 thru Belvidere Center to Rt. 118.  Turn left to Montgomery Center, then continue on Rt. 242 to Jay.  In Jay turn right on North Hill Rd (at the Jay Country Store) to Westfield. Turn south on Rt. 100, just before Lowell you can stop at Cajun’s Snack Bar on the right, for a lunch break.  In Lowell turn left on Rt. 108 thru Irasburg to Orleans.  Turn right on Rt. 5 to Barton where you may get a great ice cream at the drug store.  Continue on Rt. 5 to West Burke and turn left on Burke Hollow Rd thru Burke Hollow to East Burke. A few yards before Rt. 114 turn right on East Darling Hill Road which will offer some great views before looping back to Rt. 114.  (Expect ½ mile of easy packed gravel).  Continue to Rt. 114 to Lyndonville. 

Follow Rt. 122 thru Wheelock to Rt. 16.  Turn left to Greensboro Bend, turn right to Greensboro, then left to Hardwick.  Here Rt. 14 and Rt. 15 intersect.  Take Rt. 15 west to Morrisville and then Rt. 100 south through Stowe to Rt. 2.  The Ben & Jerry Ice Cream Factory is located on Rt. 100 in Waterbury and offers interesting tours with small samples.  (Larger servings are available for sale.)  Below Ben & Jerry's take Rt. 2 west back to Richmond and the starting point for this great ride.

Have a fun and safe ride.

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Toms Favorite Ride- Submitted by: Tom Potter
Approx. 150 miles

While of course you may start this ride at any point along the route, it would be a good idea to be in the village of Warren around the time your stomach says it is time for a sandwich.  They make a great sandwich and it is a pleasure to enjoy it while sitting by the Mad River which passes right next to the store.  Warren village is located just to the east of Route 100.  There are signs to the village on Route 100.

Leaving Warren proceed north on Route 100 for approximately 5 miles to Route 17 West.  Route 17 will take you past the Mad River Glen Ski Area, over Appalachian Gap and down the other side on a very twisty fun road.  There is a parking area at the top of the gap with a fair view to the west.  Follow Route 17 for approximately 30 miles, through South Starksboro, Bristol, Waltham to Route 22A in Addison.

Turn left onto Route 22A South and enjoy a smooth ride through the rolling farm country of the Champlain Valley for some 35 miles where it crosses over into New York State.  Remain on 22A and it will return into Vermont and the town of Poultney.  Poultney is a good sized town where the attractive campus of Green Mountain College dominants the end of Main Street.  There are places to get fuel and food in Poultney.

Leaving Poultney, take Route 140 East through East Poultney, Middletown Springs, Tinmouth, Wallingford to East Wallingford where Route 140 ends at Route 103.  The section of Route 140 between Wallingford and East Wallingford is just about the nicest six miles of riding in captivity.  The White Rocks Recreation Area offers an interesting hike if you are looking for a break and so inclined.  It is about 25 miles from Poultney to route 103.

Turn right onto Route 103 South and go approximately nine miles to Route 100 North.  Follow Route 100 past the lakes until it joins Route 4 West.  There is a state recreation area on Echo Lake if you are in the mood for a swim.  The Birthplace of President Calvin Coolidge is located about one mile up Route 100A in Plymouth and is worth a detour.  Routes 4 and 100 run together for about six miles where Route 100 splits off to the right just after the entrance to the Killington Ski Area.  It is about 45 miles back to our start in Warren.

The entire loop is in the area of 150 miles offering twisting mountain roads, long straight riding through rolling hills, lakes and interesting villages.  Do it all at once or catch parts of it when in the area.  I think you will enjoy it.

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Northfield to Isle la Motte (Saint Anne’s Shrine and Samuel de Champlain Statue) and return to Montpelier Ride.

Submitted by: Rick Couture
Approx. 220 miles

Leaving from Northfield, head north on VT 12 to Montpelier. >From Montpelier, head north on VT 12 to Morrisville. Once in Morrisville, bear right at the traffic light onto VT 100 North.  At intersection of VT 100 and VT 15, turn left to Hyde Park.  In Hyde Park, turn right on VT 100 North to Eden.  In Eden turn left onto VT 118 North to East Berkshire.  In East Berkshire bare left onto VT 105 West to Sheldon Springs. In Sheldon Springs take a right onto VT 78 West to Alburg Center.  From Alburg Center, turn left on US 2 South to VT 129 West (just before South Alburg).  Follow VT 129 until you get on Isle la Motte Island and go down the center of the island (be careful, it turns to dirt road for about 2-3 miles).  At the bottom of the island bear right and follow the western coast until you reach Saint Anne’s Shrine and Samuel de Champlain’s Statue.

Return trip to Montpelier :

 Leaving from Saint Anne’s Shrine and Samuel de Champlain Statue, follow VT 129 back to US 2 in South Alburg.  At the intersection of VT 129 and US 2, turn right onto US 2 South to Chimney Corners.  Nice ride through the Champlain Islands .  At Chimney Corners intersection of US 2 and US 7, turn right onto US 2 South and US 7 South to the intersection of US 2A in Colchester .  Turn left at the intersection onto US 2A South until you reach the intersection of US 2A and I-289. Turn left on I-289 East to the end of I-289.  Turn left on VT 117 to intersection of VT 117 and US 2.  Turn left onto US 2 East to Montpelier .

 Note: Trip takes around 8 hours but I’m sure you will enjoy every minute of it. Plan on spending sometime at Saint Anne’s Shrine and Samuel de Champlain’s Statue.  Happy riding and be safe.

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