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Old 02-10-2022, 09:46 AM   #7
fatlazyless
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Default ..... Route 49, Campton-Thornton-Waterville Valley bicycle lanes(?)

So, what does Route 49 have that other NH-state numbered roads like Route 3, Route 11, Route 25, and Route 109 in the lakes region do not have, too much?

Located 35-miles north from the big intersection in Meredith, what does https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshire_Route_49 have that other area roads do not have?

Click on small photo titled 'NH 49 at Campton Pond' which is actually the very shallow Mad River, there, just above the Campton Dam..... it has 2' to 3' to 4' wide shoulder lanes on both sides of the road that are fairly okay for riding a bicycle. Plus, there are usually not too many cars present, driving Rt 49. Sometime in the 1980's, this Route 49 was re-designed and re-made by the Gov John Sununu administration and the new improved Rt 49 is like a 50-mph scenic race track road going up the Mad River and along the woods of the WMNF, complete with 2' to 3' to 4' side lanes which the old Rt 49 did not have. Three foot wide, paved shoulder lanes on both sides of Rt 49 really seem to make a big difference for increasing the safe space for pedaling a bicycle.

It goes for about 11-miles from Campton, Route 93-Exit 28, through Thornton and up to Waterville Valley with very smooth, paved, shoulder lanes which is pretty good for riding a bicycle. You know, what the heck, this isn't the Country of Holland where the roads and ever present bike lanes are always separated by a green hedgerow, a canal, or an olde stone wall. This is New Hampshire where most all roads do not have a separate space for bicycles and bicycles just share the road with the cars and trucks and the bicycles hope the cars and trucks are attentive while driving.

For incredibly good bicycle pizza, suggest you start your pedal by visiting https://tartagliaspizza-nh.com, between the two ugly gas stations at Exit 28, open Thurs-Fri-Sat-Sun on your next Route 49 bicycle visit and believe is ok to leave your car with the unloaded bike rack at the now closed visitor information center, nearby at Exit 28. Is mostly up-hill going north-east bound, and down-hill returning south-west bound, back to Exit 28. The Wikipedia link to Route 49 has a pretty good map that gets bigger when you click on it.

And, the Town Square in Waterville Valley has a clean public rest room, plus another four or five miles of easy, flat, scenic, paved roads around the town for an easy restful pedal before returning the 11-miles, mostly down hill, back to Exit 28 area.
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Last edited by fatlazyless; 02-11-2022 at 08:14 PM.
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