Ridges and River in the Northeast Corner of the Monadnock Region

Tale of Three Towns: Hancock, Antrim and Bennington, NH. 15.6 miles. Elevation gain 1215 feet. Moderate. A nice backroads flow from ridges to river on the edge of the Monadnock region. The northeast corner of the Monadnock region doesn't get much biking attention, so this ride seeks to remediate that neglect. Start in the parking lot of the Hancock Town Offices on the west end of Main St. in Hancock. Cruise west on Main St. past the store, Fiddleheads Cafe, the library, and many lovely homes. It's hard not to be seduced by the loveliness of the village. At the end of Main Street, bear left on Bennington Road/137 to swoop down past a beautiful marsh and the fire station. At about one mile, bear left on Longview Road and settle in for the next four miles of woodsy biking on empty back roads with some scenic marshes thrown in along the way. Nary a car will pass you. Follow all the turn-by-turn directions. On the high section of High Street, you'll pass classic, white-clapboarded homes with grand views of Crotched Mountain to the east. When you reach Pleasant Street at 5.4 miles, take a left, then a quick right on Highlands Street and then another right on Summer Street to arrive in downtown Antrim. There used to be a renowned Chicago-style blues club here in this odd corner of New Hampshire. Now, it's a Chinese restaurant. Turn right on Main Street and pass good old Edmunds Hardware where "you can get anything you want." Long live locally-owned hardware stores! Take a left, heading downhill on Depot Street, cross the Contoocook River and take right on Bible Hill Road. High St. into Antrim was your first ridge and river pairing, and Bible Hill begins the second pairing. Climb up through expansive meadows and then tootle along past old farms and a baseball field until you descend into downtown Bennington. This village harbors the only paper mill left in southern New Hampshire — Monadnock Paper Mill. It is also the longest continuously operating paper mill in the U.S. and it is known for its specialized papers and their sustainability practices. If you're looking for dinner after your ride, consider Alberto's, "best food by a dam site." I recommend the lasagna. After passing through the village, bear right just after the G.E.P. Dodge Library on South Bennington Road. You'll tuck down by the river and get a scenic glimpse of the dam at the north end of Powder Mill Pond. This dam/pond was part of the water power supply for the paper mill and there was once a black powder (gun powder) mill on its shores. Amble along on flat, quiet and roll-y South/Old Bennington Road for three miles until you take a right turn on Forest Road. A bit more traffic here. Pass through the classic covered bridge over the Contoocook River, just above the southern tip of Powder Mill Pond. (The Contoocook is one of those odd rivers that flows north.) Cross Route 202 staying on Forest Road and then diverge right onto Duncan Road for one last climb up to the top of Norway Hill. There used to be a flourishing orchard here — it was let go about a decade along — but it's still a good place to glean apples in the fall. There's always something sad to me about orchards that have been abandoned. It symbolizes the passing of what was once an essential component of northern New England culture. Sweep the melancholy away with a wonderful swoop down Norway Hill Road back onto Main Street in Hancock and back to your car. For a digital map for this ride see, ridewithgps.com/routes/55527712. Après Velo You've come to the right place. No better breakfast or lunch destination in this part of the Monadnock region than Fiddleheads Cafe. The food here, dare I say, is impeccable. Sumptuous baked goods, healthy salads, distinctive sandwiches. They make a perfect BLT and my wife always gets the Crispy Korean chicken sandwich and she raves about it each time. And one sign of an interesting café — you can get Huevos Rancheros for breakfast. Cozy indoor seating, comfy outdoor seating on the covered porch, and sunny seating on the patio. It's the cafe you're always looking for at the end of a ride — if you get there before it closes at 3 p.m. Swimming Opportunity Leave your car parked at the Town Offices and sidle across the street for a quick dip in Norway Pond. Narrow beach, tannin-stained water, beautiful views. Or, for a more mountain lake experience, head northwest on Route 123 for four miles and find the backroad to the Willard Pond Wildlife Sanctuary. From the parking lot, amble down the road to a tiny little gravel beach on Willard Pond. No houses on its shores, pristine, clear waters, no motor boats. It's a great place for a long, placid swim. You'll come out feeling like freshly laundered sheets.