Land 'o' Lakes in the Monadnock Highlands

Over the past five years of Outside My Door biking articles, I haven't included Nelson on any of the loops. This article remediates that omission. I arrived in Nelson for the first time in my life on a frigid February night in 1972. We'd driven two hours from Woodford, Vt. on narrow, ink-dark byways. As we twisted up the final steep stretch of road, not having seen a house in miles, I had serious doubts about whether my friend knew where he was going. But then, we crested the hill, and cars were jammed into every available crevice in the plowed-up snowbanks around the green, and the town hall shone with light and trilled with distant music. I knew I wanted to live here. Five years later, I was on the school board. So, this ride is a paean to Nelson — it's remarkable that the village hasn't changed that much since 50 years ago. Park in Chesham, either across from the now empty church in a wide pullover or in the Wells Memorial School parking lot if it's a weekend. Head north and zip downhill to a crossroads with the nicely preserved Chesham Depot on the left. Continue straight through the junction and head towards Silver Lake. There's a little hill and then a steady climb for about three quarters of a mile. At the top, beautiful Silver Lake sprawls out on your left and Edgar Seaver's preserved meadows spread out on your right (thanks to the hard work of the Harris Center and Silver Lake Land Trust). After Silver Lake there's another short, steep climb up to an orange house and then you descend to follow the shore of Child's Bog. Now a pond, this was a bog before it was logged and dammed as part of a rural electrification project in the 1920s. At the end of Child's Bog, look right for a grand Monadnock view. At Nelson Rd., turn left. After about 1.25 miles, take a left on Hardy Hill Rd., a gravel road that leads to a right on Lead Mine Rd. and then the Nelson Town Cemetery. Turn in here. It's completely serene. This scene evokes the third act of "Our Town," when Emily is looking down on the village from the cemetery. She muses, "Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? – every, every minute?" This is a good aspiration for the rest of the ride. Back in the saddle, swoop down into Nelson village, tidily arrayed around the green. Sit on the bench and take it in. Imagine the town hall alive with fiddle music, rhythmic floor stomping, twirling couples, group gaiety. In sociological terms it's called "collective effervescence" — the sense of communion or fusion that occurs when a group of people are enjoying themselves together. You'll feel it if you return here for a dance. At the end of the green, past the library, take a right and another right to head back towards the way you came on Nelson-Harrisville Rd. There's a colorful marsh on the left and once you pass Hardy Hill Rd., enjoy a gentle, no-need-to-break hill back down to Child's Bog. Pass the Silver Lake Rd. and bear left through woodlands until you swoop down to the shores of Harrisville Pond. It really is a land of lakes up here. At the juncture with Chesham Rd., bear left. Take your first left, past the seemingly floating public library, and head straight ahead to ride a short loop around the Town Cemetery. Exit the cemetery, pass the library, take a right on the Nelson-Harrisville Rd. but then bear left on Chesham Rd. It's a mostly gradual downhill for the next couple of miles. Note the gateway to Aldworth Manor on your right (great views, great Wednesday night dinners) and check off Sandford Pond (pond #4) and Chesham Pond (pond #5), until you get to Chesham Depot. At this crossroads, instead of turning left to go back to your car, continue straight on Old Roxbury Rd., past another cemetery, to a left on Meadow Rd. Pause here again where the Minnewawa Brook passes under the road. With meadows in all directions, it's a lovely spot. At the end of Meadow Rd., take a left on Chesham Rd. At the top of the hill, look to your right to see Russell Reservoir (pond #6) and in a jiffy you're back to your car. Après Velo: Harrisville General Store Drive back into Harrisville to go to The Harrisville General Store. It has become a destination lunch and mid-ride refresher spot. There's a great range of scrumptious, locally sourced everything from sandwiches to salads to ofttimes Peruvian specialties. The cheeseburger on ciabatta is delish. Sample a hand-crafted soup or a to-die-for dessert but notice that you can't buy lottery tickets. Instead, you can sit on the porch overlooking the astutely restored and repurposed mill buildings and appreciate the virtues and vitality of historic preservation. Even if you're not hungry, don't skip the store. There's a rebirth of the general store across northern New England, blending the old-time community hub, (drop in for beer, milk and bread), with culinary refinement. If you're cruising around New England, check out other cheery country stores in Guilford, Vt., Bennington and Petersham, Mass. For a digital map of this ride see: www.ridewithgps.com/routes/53040756 At a Glance: Chesham, Harrisville, Nelson, Dublin 0 miles &emsp;&emsp;Park across from the church on Chesham Rd. or at Wells Memorial &emsp;&emsp; &emsp;&emsp;School (on weekends). Start pedaling northeast and downhill on &emsp;&emsp;Chesham Rd. 0.3 miles&emsp;&emsp;At Chesham Depot, continue straight onto Silver Lake/Breed Rd. 2.8 miles&emsp;&emsp;Left on Nelson-Harrisville Rd. 3.8 miles&emsp;&emsp;Left on Hardy Hill Rd. 4.4 miles&emsp;&emsp;Bear right on Lead Mine Rd. Stop at Nelson Cemetery. 4.7 miles&emsp;&emsp;At end of green, right and right again on Nelson-Harrisville Rd. 6.6 miles&emsp;&emsp;At Child's Bog junction, continue straight ahead on Nelson-Harrisville &emsp;&emsp;Rd. 8.7 miles&emsp;&emsp;At junction with Chesham Rd. bear left onto Main St. 8.8 miles&emsp;&emsp;Left onto Island St., take a loop around cemetery and return to here. 9.2 miles&emsp;&emsp;Right on Main St. and then bear left on Chesham Rd. at Nelson- &emsp;&emsp; &emsp;&emsp;Harrisville Rd. junction. 12.0 miles At junction with Silver Lake Rd. continue straight ahead onto Old &emsp;&emsp; &emsp;&emsp;Roxbury Rd. 12.6 miles Left on Meadow Rd. 12.9 miles Left on Chesham Rd. 13.2 miles Arrive back at starting point.