By Emma Bouthillette 

Staff Writer

This year marks the fifth Maine Lighthouse Ride as bicyclists travel four different routes offered Saturday, Sept. 13 and raise money for the construction of the Eastern Trail, an off-road bicycle and pedestrian trail stretching from Portsmouth, N.H. to South Portland.

Eastern Trail Alliance President John Andrews said the registration fees for the ride is a primary fundraiser for the construction of the trail. He said last year’s ride raised nearly $6,000, and this year he hopes for a better turn-out with a cookout at the end of the ride hosted by Southern Maine Community College where hot showers are available. 

“This is our biggest fundraiser. I’d like it to become something like the Pan-Mass Challenge that took place a month ago in Massachusetts. They raised $34 million. That seems hard to imagine,” Andrews said. “I’d be happy to get half a million.”

Chairman of the Maine Lighthouse Ride Bob Bowker said this year is the first year all rides will begin and end at Southern Maine Community College. He has expanded the routes as well, offering a 10-mile option and the century [100 miles] for a challenge. 

“I don’t ride the day of, I just help orchestrate all the cyclists,” Bowker said. “I developed the routes based on what I’m used to riding daily, which is coastal and scenic. There is a route for everybody.”

The first group to depart is cyclists taking the 100-mile century at 8 a.m. The route will take riders through South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Old Orchard Beach, Saco, Biddeford and Kennebunkport. The riders will see Goat Island Light in Kennebunkport, Wood Island Lighthouse in Biddeford Pool, Portland Headlight and Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth, Bug Light and Spring Point Ledge in South Portland, Ram Island Ledge and Halfway Rock Lighthouse in Casco Bay.

Mogens Ravn, 66, of Ocean Park said he will be riding the century route for an extra challenge and the satisfaction of seeing one more lighthouse. He said his favorite part of the ride is the shoreline in Kennebunkport and Biddeford Pool and the shorter rides don’t extend that far. 

The 40-mile intermediate ride will leave at 8:30 a.m., the 25-mile self-guided ride is scheduled to leave at 9 a.m. and the 10-mile guided family ride leaves at 9:30 a.m. All rides will follow the South Portland Greenbelt, stopping for a break at Wainwright Farms Recreational Field. While the 10-mile group of bicyclists will return, the 25-mile group will continue through Cape Elizabeth spotting seven lighthouses and the 40-mile route will extend further into Scarborough to hopefully catch a glimpse of Wood Island Lighthouse from Prout’s Neck.

Registration manager Carole Brush said nearly 200 bicyclists have registered for this year’s ride, with 100 opting for the 40-mile route and 55 choosing the 100-mile route.

“From South Portland, the ride follows the existing trail through Arundel and then it follows the on-road Eastern Trail. The on-road trail is an interim step as we continue construction and it includes 60 miles of terrain marked by green signs with a bicycle and “ET” written on the sign,” Bowker said. 

Anderson said the Eastern Trail Alliance is currently working on the design for the section of trail from West Cole Road in Biddeford, along Route 111 and through to Kennebunk. He said they are designing a bridge to cross the Maine Turnpike approximately half a mile north of the Kennebunk rest stop. 

“The section of trail we are working on is following a former train route making it easier for the engineering team to design,” Anderson said. 

Aside from the bridge crossing the highway, the alliance is also in a review process for a section of trail between Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford and the Cascade Road in Old Orchard Beach. 

While the Maine Lighthouse Ride is a fundraiser, it also raises awareness of the corridor that the Eastern Trail is creating. 

“I live three blocks from the current on-road route and used it to ride up to Portland the other day,” Ravn said. “It is great to this trail to take you to interesting places, especially where it goes off road, it is nice for people who don’t like to ride with traffic.”

Bicyclists can register the day of the event $50 for Eastern Trail Alliance members and $55 for non-members, while children younger than 12-years-old ride for free. Registration includes a cookout at the college after the ride. 

For more information, visit www.easterntrail.org/lthouse08.htm. style="font: 9.0px Lucida Grande; letter-spacing: 0.1px">