Down by the river

A riverside ride in Maine has lots to offer in all seasons.

Words by Jeremy Pick

Tom Abisalih, a Harley Owners Group^® Life Member since 1985, and member of the North Hampton NH Seacoast Chapter, lives in the northeast corner of Massachusetts and spends his summers in Maine, splitting his riding between the two.

“I retired in 2015 and have been making up for all the years I couldn’t ride much while working in Boston,” Tom explains. “Since the 1980s, I’ve always had a Harley-Davidson^® motorcycle or two in the garage and currently own a 2019 Street Glide^® Special, as well as a 2020 LiveWire^®, which is a lot of fun and very different from the Street Glide. Now my wife, son, and daughter have also decided they want ride, so we’ve ended up with multiple bikes in the garage, which is great.”

A favorite ride for Tom and his wife traces the course of the St. George River in Maine. The scenic byway was established by the Georges River Land Trust, which serves to protect the river and the land surrounding it. “My wife and I have been members of the Georges River Land Trust almost as long as I’ve been a H.O.G member, so we feel very connected to this ride, which takes an hour and a half or two hours to complete,” says Tom.

The ride begins at the Lake St. George boat ramp, which provides ample room for a group ride to gather beforehand, and ends 50 miles later at Marshall Point Lighthouse, which was featured in the film Forrest Gump. Along the way it traces the course of the St. George River from its source to its mouth in Muscongus Bay, passing a number of trails and preserves owned and maintained by the Georges River Land Trust. The route has its fair share of curves and elevation changes, as well as views of hills, lakes, working farms, and blueberry barrens as it passes through traditional New England villages with patriotic names such as Washington and Liberty, and maritime villages like Tenants Harbor and Port Clyde.

Tom also recommends taking a side trip, if time allows, to the Owls Head Transportation Museum, which has a great collection of motorcycles, including some nice old Harley-Davidson models.

“This route offers just about everything you could want in a scenic riverside ride,” says Tom. “There are plenty of places to stop for gas, as well as small restaurants, ice cream stands, coffee shops, antique shops, and art galleries. There’s even an artist’s enclave in the mid-coast area so, there’s no shortage of things to see and do, and it suits all types of riding. You can kick back and cruise on your touring bike, or flip a sport bike around and just have a good time on the road.

“It also rides very differently with the New England seasons, so when it’s starting to bud out in the spring it’s beautiful; when the lupines bloom in June and July it’s lovely; and later in the summer the daylilies appear. Then, of course, the foliage in the fall is spectacular and rightly famous, so there are great visuals whether you’re on a hilltop or just enjoying the curves. It’s a lovely ride, and a great way to spend an afternoon or morning.

“It is also a fun route on a LiveWire — complete the ride in one direction, stop to charge up and get something to eat, then back home again before the bike needs some more electrons!”

Check out Tom’s route here.

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