A Ride on the NH Ice Cream Trail to Charlie's Olde Tyme Creamery, Peterborough, NH. Ride begins and ends in a shopping plaza off Rt 101 South of Peterborough "downtown". Start by riding under Rt101 on the secret pedestrian way linking the shopping plaza to "downtown" by non motorized means. Head to the Commerce Center Welcome Center to congratulate them on the path. That was not the point though, since you are not headed downtown. You must re-cross -carefully- Rt101 again to get on the correct side to ride away towards Sharon. (maybe go back under on the path?) . Turn off Rt101 onto Pine Street to escape Rt101. Climb Cheney Hill, be alert for turkey hunters. Onto School Street passing a great old stone barn. Then on down Rt 123. Well, UP Rt123. Pass State Forest and Marsh Lands. Happen upon Plein Air Painters on the porch of Sharon Arts Center. Ride some quiet, nice country roads with the smell of pine in the air to Atlas Fireworks. Note: a section of Spring Hill Road is UNPAVED, but short and may be passable by road bike anyway. Just don't get loose sand blobs jammed in the derailleur... causes havoc shifting into higher gears at the top of the hill. Just past the sewage treatment plant that is there but you'd never notice unless you noticed all the signs.... is the Stone Arch Bridge Business District. Terrapin Glass Studio, and Coll's Farm Store. The Stone Arch Bridge is closed, but since there was no sign I'm not sure if the farm equipment is abandoned or not. The bike is not. Along the upper reaches the Contoocook River is nice and babbling. Up LeHtinen Road. After the first bit it's UNPAVED. Keeping an eye on the sand this time.... Worth the sandy road at the junction with Town Farm Road. Great view of Mt. Monadnock. Well kept farms/road down to Rt 202 again. Check out a closed bridge, and a large boulder that I couldn't quite identify based on the signage. Charlie's Olde Tyme Creamery awaits just a bit down Rt 202. Nice road side stop. Back up Rt202 (BAD shoulders on this side), mercifully short on Rt 202. At that closed bridge again is Noone Falls shops. Antiques, Coffee Roaster, etc. Also, access the Paved Trail back to Peterborough at the far end of the parking area. Enter the trail at the fairy land, not the drive that says Do Not Enter. Wind up at Peterboro Basket Company. Fine handmade wooden baskets. [Boro not borough here] Asked about bike baskets once... said they could custom make whatever I wanted.
Back entrance to shopping plaza, and you're done. Good to know Peterborough is the kind of place that still has a Camera Shop selling 1hr photos, (whatever they are), and film, (whatever that is).