Touring - Bar Harbor and south advice

While I've done a credit card tour last year this summer I'm planning to do my first unsupported trip. I plan to start in Bar Harbor, Maine and finish a week later in Gloucester, Mass. I'll be using the Adv Cycling maps for most, but where it cuts inland I intend to stay near the coast. As a semi-novice I'd appreciate any advice with this trip so I don't make it more difficult than it should be.

Check out the Rubel Massachusett bike maps, they're fairly decent as long as it is recent. I've used the Western Mass (the Berkshires) before and they are very good, provided you also have a more up to date road map. They recently issued a new edition for Western Mass as I've sent them corrections and just got a new copy. Flaws in all, they are excellent for cyclists as they will provide you a means of making your own bike route.

http://bikemaps.com/

The Rubel folks are a privately owned company, however, many state DOTs also publish bike maps, Maine does, I have it, it looks good but I can't vouch for the accuracy or up to date ness as I haven't used it yet.

RI I think does too in PDF form that you can download. So, the Adv-Cycling maps are a great start, don't forget to check their website for updates, but don't be afraid to get as much information from the state/locale you're interested in and go from there as well. The more info you have on routes and route finding, the more time you will have to enjoy the trip. A GPS is really cool in that regard. Or rather a GPS with a basemap of NA or so is handy.

I see you're from NJ.. So am I! I rode from NJ to Great Barrington last October to help my sister's art show. Spent a week there and cycled all the way to Pittsfield and the surroundings when we were there. We used a very small part of the ACA map but we really did alot of it on our own. Picked up the route in New Paltz and used it to basically go across the hudson and through Dutchess/Putnam county and then deviated when we hit Millerton.

Jay

Hi,
I'll talk about it, but not tonite. If I forget, remind me.

Thanks for the extensive info and I'll definitely look into those maps. What was the traffic like when you did your ride? I've heard some horror stories. I'm also interested in any info on camping in Maine during that period.

I'm planning to drive to BH the last week of July and take about 7-8 days which is all I can spare this year. Will that give me enough time to enjoy some sites?

Late, here's your reminder.

Hi,
the best maps for Maine are Delorme. We use a good copier to enlarge the areas we want, print, and then seal them in plastic.
You want to stay off Rte 1 as much as possible. This will not be possible in places. Even with the maps, finding routes isn't easy.
Rte 1 on a hot July day can at times mean a narrow road with no shoulders and cars going by filled with sleepy people, or distracted by screaming kids, or eating, or cell phones.... The route prob juts inland for a reason. There are parts of Rte 1 I wouldn't ride a bike on. Sorry if I sound discouraging. Maine has a lot of great riding that runs off the main roads. Btw, the Maine DOT has 'Explore Maine by bike'. Their stuff is usually free. Some of it is wishful thinking, but most of it is the same trips you'd find in a book. It has route planning for much of your trip. They call it 'Maine's East Coast Greenway'. Have some Walnut Cream Pie at Moody's in Waldoboro.