The Evandale Loop
62 Kilometers / 38 miles
 This
ride is in Ferryland, a watery world southeast of Fredericton
where the the St. John River, the Kennebecasis, and numerous
channels and bays slice through rolling woods and farms. Free
cable ferries offer a cooling respite from rolling hills that
also characterize the area. The ferries don't run on a schedule;
when the operator sees you waiting on the far shore, he comes
to get you! With splendid scenery, winding roads, and little
traffic, this is is one of the finest places for bicycle touring
in eastern Canada. New Brunswickers have summer cottages in
the area, but Ferryland seems to be virtually unknown outside
of the province.
Start at the
Evandale Inn, on the shore of the St. John River about 30 kilometers
south of Gagetown. There's no denying that the ride is hilly,
but there are wonderful rewards for your work: exhilarating
descents, expansive views over the St. John River and Bellisle
Bay, perfect stops for swimming and picnicking, and a waterfront
restaurant where you can afford to eat until you bust your bike
shorts. This is a glorious ride.
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Evandale
Loop Map Key
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S
Start
0.0
Cross the St. John River
3.6
Turn left onto Route 705
6.2 Bear left,
25.1 Bear right
30.3 Bear left at a fork
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35.5
Turn right onto Rte. 710
44.7 Bear right
51.5 Pass Bellisle ferry
52.2 Turn right onto Rte. 124.
57.7 Bear right
62.0 Stop for the ferry |
Directions
 0.0
Starting at the Evandale Inn, cross the St. John River on the
ferry directly in front of the Inn.
0.2 On the
far shore, climb the most challenging hill of the day. In
a few places the grade is as steep as 11 or 12 percent. After
reaching the top in 1.2 kilometers, enjoy rolling, mostly
downhill riding.
3.6 Turn
left onto Route 705, following the sign to Wickham.
There will
be a mix of moderate, intermittent climbs and descents through
mixed woods and occasional farms, all the way back to the
shore of the St. John River.
6.2 Bear
left, staying on 705 towards Wickham, where Baseline Road
merges from the right.
 Soon
there are views of the river and its many channels and islands,
and at kilometer 11 the road reaches the shore.
13.2 Continue
straight, passing a left to the Hampstead Ferry. The next
several kilometers are extraordinarily lovely. Notice the
yards with Martin houses and beautifully painted mailboxes
here and there.
15.5 Ducie's
Store, on the right after Wickham-Bald Hill Road, is the only
store before Hatfield Point, about 30 kilometers farther.
22.1 The
road turns away from the river, passes the Marantha Christian
Assembly and Ministry Training Center, and then turns back
toward the river.
25.1 Bear
right to stay on Route 705, or continue straight for a short
detour.
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 MacDonald's
Point
Follow
the dirt lane that goes straight here. It leads to an
old concrete wharf and a pretty cemetery on the water.
Then backtrack, bearing left at a fork and left again
back onto Route 705. This detour adds about 1.5 kilometers
to subsequent distances.
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From MacDonald's
Point Road, Rte. 705 climbs gradually for a kilometer, away
from the river, and then wonderful views open up as you descend
toward Belyea's Cove.
27.8 Watch
for Belyea's Cove Road on the left as you are going downhill.
It is easy to miss.
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Belyea's
Cove Swimming Beach
The
dirt road on the left ends in about 150 meters at a
concrete wharf and a sandy beach — one of the best
places for swimming along this route. Then backtrack
to Rte. 705. This detour adds only 300 meters to subsequent
distances.
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30.3 Bear
left at a fork, following the sign to Cambridge Narrows.
After more
climbing, there is level to rolling terrain, and a fast downhill
to the next turn.
35.5 Turn
right onto Rte. 710 at a stop sign and T intersection.
Expect more
climbing for three kilometers, after which the riding gets
much easier, with plenty of descents and easy pedaling.
44.7 Bear
right at a chicken farm where West Scotch Settlement Road
merges from the left.
45.4 Turn
right onto Rte. 124. This turn comes at the bottom of a
fairly steep hill, so watch for it.
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Hatfield
Point detour
 You
may have been riding for at least two or three hours,
so if you're hungry — really hungry — head for
Brenda's Kitchen in Hatfield Point, where you can fill
up and then some.
To get
there, continue straight instead of turning right. In
a few hundred meters, ride down a steep hill, at the bottom
of which the road turns 90 degrees to the left. (The town
wharf is straight ahead.) In another hundred meters, the
Bayview Grocery Store and Brenda's Kitchen share a building
on the right.
Brenda's
Kitchen, in the back, has a deck with a great view over
Bellisle Bay. The place is popular with locals, especially
on weekend afternoons. When we ordered platters featuring
delicious mozzarella burgers, we got a mountain of French
fries that was gargantuan even by New Brunswick standards
— and people here really love their potatoes! We
asked the waitress if anyone ever finished such a huge
plateful of food. "Hardly ever," she said, "except
once in a while if some fellas come in who've been working
in the woods…" Or riding bicycles over the hills.
When
you have eaten and allowed plenty of time on the deck
to digest those fries, backtrack to the turn at 45.4.
There are still plenty of opportunities to work off calories.
This detour adds about 1.5 kilometers to the distances
that follow.
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47.0 Reach
a height of land after climbing most of way from Hatfield
Point. There are long, open views ahead. When we cycled here,
children were running in the sloping fields high above Bellisle
Bay, remingding us of a Maritime version of The Sound of Music.
Soon there is a fast kilometer-long downhill, back to the
bay. Exhilarating!
51.5 Continue
straight, passing the Belleisle Ferry on the left.
From here it is 11 kilometers on Rte. 124 to the Evandale
Ferry and the inn. There are still challenging hills ahead.
52.2 Turn
right onto Rte. 124.; Valley Road continues straight.
57.7 Bear
right, staying on Rte. 124 to the Evandale Ferry. Bethel
United Baptist Church and cemetery are on the right after this
turn.
58.7 Continue
straight, passing Route 705 toward Wickham on the right.
From here, backtrack to the inn. Remember climbing the steep
hill from the Evandale Ferry? Soon you will reach it, but
now it will be a screaming downhill. Keep your speed under
control!
 62.0
Stop for the ferry at the bottom of the hill. The Evandale
Inn is just across the river.
END OF
RIDE
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