The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-08-04
A BICYCLE TOUR.
Three Portland Boys Take In the
White Mountains.

rLUME HOUSE, July Oh loVV'
To the Editor Of the Press:
For young men confined indoors for the
larger part Of the year there is no better
manner Of spending vacation than In 60
ing through the country ON safety bicycles
1t Is better way to truly see the country
than tramping, affording at the same time an
abundance of healthful exercise.
Recognizing these facts, three Portland
young men are now touring through the
White Mountain region in the manner indi-
Gated. We starte from the Forest City ten
days ago, and because Of showers went by
train the first day as far as Mechanic Falls.
Next morning found US pushing toward
South Paris over a rather sandy road dis
tance said to be ten miles, though 1t certain
ly seemed fifteen. After lunch the run to
West Paris was easy, barring three delays
occasioned by showers, from which we were
fortunate enough to obtain shelter To the
barns whence we ran to escape the down
pours we were each time cheerfully well
coined, one old gentleman being especially
cordial Drawing up an empty box for
chair. he rapidly shot volley Of questions
on anything and everything which futtered
through his mind, and as the quizzing con-
tinued 1t seemed as though he would pretty
thoroughly exhaust not only our knowledge
Of the subjects about which he talked, but
his ability to longer interrogate. He asked
each one separately, and at length, about
their business, and then said; "Well, boys,
now lets us see who there is in Portland you
know that know" Many were found. and
the conversation ran on in that style until
the shower had passed, when the genial old
gentleman invited us to the house TO drink
quantity Of refreshing milk. To Bryants
Pond was hard pull over. mountainous
road, but we reached there In good season,
having covered over 30 miles for the day.
Nine miles next morning took US to Bethel
Hill, where we lunched on cookies and soda
and then proceeded, large part Of the way
through sand, to Gilead for dinner. and later
to Gorham, New Hampshire, amid magnih-
cent scenery.
The road follows the valley Of the Andro-
sc0ggin, and the delightful glimpses OF the
river. backed by towering mountains, AFFORD
frequent and charming pictures. From
Shel6urne, In particular, grand views are
From Gorham on the following day we
went by Alpine House team to the summit
of Mt. Washington, the trip Of. lifetime to
any person fortunate enough to makeit On
this occasion all things were favorable, the
weather being astonishingly mild-though
overcoats and mittens were not uncomfort.
able-and the clouds were kind. allowing
views of Sebago Lake and other distant
points, but the atmosphere was too hazy to
ones feet as In birds eye view-a gorgeous
panorama. scarcely conceivable to one who
has not looked upon it.
Next day we made short trip, six miles
to Berlin Falls, and on the way were met by
a delegation of the Berlin Wheel Club, who
QhnWa6 atfautfnng This fq far the
busiest town we have seen, village which
has enlarged with astonishing rapidity.
The water power at this point Is almost
unlimited, so that every year sees more and
more use made Of 1t. The large lumber mills
of the Berlin Mills Company are here, the
manufacture Of chemical wood pulp Is con-
Quoted on a mammoth scale by the Forest
Fibre Company, while the Glen Manufactur-
Ing Company turns out tons Of newspaper
daily, supplying the Boston Globe. P.oyi-
dence Journal, New York Mail and Express.
Berlin Is live ly town, but without
beauty. Since 1t has grown too fast, the pe0-
pie seem more anxious to coin money than
to build handsome village In the evening
fashioned" soc'able. To Mr.. V. V. Twitch-
ell. editor Of the Gorham Mountaineer, we
are specially indebted for cOurtesies extend
ed while n his village; also to Mr. w. A.
Boothby of the Berlin Independent.
En- route to G0rham we met mountain
wagon crowded with jolly young people, who
encouraged us to follow for several miles,
and, strange to relate, it has twice since been
our fortune to meet the same party on the
road. OF course such meetings have been
demOnstrative. Quite romantic!
From Berlin to Enrol. strong 30 miles, Is
a rather dreary ride, though the route fol
lows the Androsc0ggin all the way. The
last Is miles are through continuous stretch
OF woods OF the widest sort. Several times
we imagined the bowling beasts Of the forest
hnt tho n0faac roQOlvsd
into nothing more serious than sight OF
fox and a bald eagle. At the Umbagog
House we found pleasant quarters, though
the village Of Enrol Is not only small, but un-
interesting as well.
Next day was rainy, preventing wheeling,
but tie time was well occupied In a trip up
the Magalloway river on the steamer Parma
chenee. The engineer fired several
times at eagles perched on high trees,
but only once succeeded In wounding
a bird. The steamer is nothing more than
a large launch, affording none too ample
protection from rain; and 1t reminded one
somewhat OF a small steamer In Portland
harbor, In that for fully half an hour we
We're hung up for repairs. The region Is as
wild as the heart could desire. so much SO
that We were rather glad to be back to the
hotel for the night. A number OF fishing
parties were met and the opinion was cur
rent that fishing was good; but black files
and mosquitoes were too thick TO induce our
morning we were more glad than otherwise
to ride through the widest and In sIme re-
spects most picturesque cut In northern New
Hampshire, Dixville Notch. The rocks rise
in great pinacles like church spires, or the
peaks of an iceberg, producing tie widest
sort OF an effect. Coiebrook is a quiet coun-
try village of considerable beauty, and there
1t was the intention to stay over Sunday, un-
til break was discovered in one Of the ma
chimes, necessitating thetinkering OF an ex-
pert, so to Berlin Falls we went by train, in
which place Sunday passed all too rapidly.
Next night found us at jefferson Hill, hav-
ing toiled up tremendously steep incline to
| reach there from Berlin. The place is beau
tifully located. with magnificent Views Of the
PRESIDENTIAL range. The are many
| the following day was obtained at Lancaster,
which Is an unusually handsome village, and
has particularly good hotel. In the after
noon we rode and walked 10 Bethlehem,
mostly the latter, for the region Is very billy.
At the latter place, village Of hotels on
high slope, there are a large number OF
guests, including several Portland people.
From thence we have had tough struggle
ward is sufficient in the magnifcence OF the
scenery in this grand Franconia Notch. Inc
cold man of the mountain" is here seen TO
perfection, the other imps and prohles which
have been pointed out on our route seeming
quite inferior. Here also Is Echo Lake, with
its Astonishing reverberations. Further
down is the hume OF all the fumes In the
White Mountains, with its hurrying torrent
noisily jumping down the frlghtful and mar
row gorge Such sceuery Is rare and ought
not to be hurriedly viewed. More and more
as the trip progresses we are impressed that
this Is one Of the best ways TO spend vaca-
tion and people we meet frequently say that
ours Is model manner Of travelling. Today
we have met two wheelmen from BrooklyOn,
touring to Portland. They are enjoying the
sport just the same as We are. There Is
nothing like It.. S Il.
The Planets In August.
Saturn sets too soon after sunset to be OF
much use. either to the telescope or the ma