A touch of paradise

By Marty Basch

Sandy beaches, shade trees and rushing waters sound like pieces of paradise.The good thing is that it exists just on the valleys fringe.But the bad thing is that it could be flooded at any minute without warning.Paddlers know the site well, canoeing down the Saco River. Call it Hiram Falls, or Great Falls. No matter. Its a portage for them, but a resting spot for cyclists along a nearly 30-mile road ride through the western Maine foothills.Bicycle rides are like a recipe. The basic ingredients have seemingly existed since the beginner of time until someone assembles them and calls it their own. Then, someone changes a pinch of this for that and calls it theirs too.Such is this ride, tweaked from the 25 rides now found at the Maine Department of Transportation web site: www.state.me.us/mdot/opt/bike/homepage.htm.Brownfield, Porter, South Hiram, Cornish and Hiram are the communities along the flat to moderately hilly route. Stone walls and cemeteries are the slices of New England life that people expect to see in the summer, away from the rushing urban pulses to the south. They are here, plus the classic white church. Hikers and paddlers take note, too. The circuit goes along some flatwater bodies of water like Trifton and Stanley Ponds north of South Hiram, and meanders along the banks of both the Ossipee and Saco rivers. The walking trails of the Hiram Hydroelectric Project arent too far from the Mount Cutler Trail with its White Mountain views from the summit.The route is easy too follow, mostly. A left turn onto Bridge Street in Cornish can be missed. But aside from that, its easy: Route 160, South Hiram Road, Maple Street, Bridge Street, River Road and Routes 5/113. Shoulders are nonexistent, but low volumes of traffic make that okay. River Road is by far the highlight of the ride, though some of the pavement is bumpy. The ride along Routes 5/113 can be fine, but that depends on the time of day. The road is also used by motorists rushing back to the valley from Portland.That said, start on Brownfields Main Street, at either the town offices or school and turn left along the flat road.The handsomely white Brownfield Community Church is the landmark for a left on Route 160 south, the pathway for some 10 miles. Narrow, winding, sandy shoulders and shade pines depending on the angle of the sun are the characteristics of Route 160 in the shadow of Burnt Meadow Mountain.A number of small ponds line the roadside, void of services until South Hiram. Burnt Meadow Pond, which has a launching site, is a pretty spot, an island sitting off from shore. Later on, a private road leads to tiny Jaybird Pond while homes seem to suck in their guts for space along Stanley Pond.Cyclists love ice cream. A cone is always an excuse for stopping. So is a stop sign. Both can be had at the junction of Route 160 and South Hiram Road. There at the corner sits Route 160 Ice Cream. Do your thing, then make a left on the road through town, passing schools, baseball fields and the Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds.Down time along the road with occasional peeks of the Ossipee River. The road parallels the busier Route 25, separated by the river.South Hiram Road ends in Cornish, where services await from convenience stores to restaurants. Walk the bikes if you want. Stop and browse for antiques. Turn left on Maple Street, pass the town offices, swoop around and keep an eye out for brick library. Turn left there, at Bridge Street, head down, cross the Ossipee River.This is rural. No stripes. Fields, some homes and the woods. Bear right on River Road (by the Tarr Cemetery) and head up the hill, leaving the Ossipee River for the Saco River. Roll along. Up and down for nearly six miles. Stop at the dam. Picnic tables, walking trails and camping are some of the offerings there. Have a fishing pole? Try your luck.The road hugs the shores of the river, leading through sleepy Hiram.A left on Routes 5/113 will wake up anyone. Long sight lines, traffic picks up along the ho-hum stretch for about six and a half miles.The store Grants at Brownfield is the signal for a left on Route 160. The town offices and school are just down the road.Marty Basch can be reached at rodeman@aol.com.