Kirby
9/19/2025
We were hauling our camper back from our second trip to Brighton State Park, so we were concerned about finding a pullover on the side of the road large enough for our length. Plus, we have to detach the trailer and pull it ahead to get the bikes out (we’ve done it otherwise and wouldn’t recommend it!). So we were pleased to find a really large pullover on Kirby Mountain Road
One of the things that Chris and I like best about doing these rides is that we get to see all kinds of things that most people don’t see – back road handmade signage for instance. We particularly love this one. Although I have to admit that we ended up talking to the (probably non-existent) camera. Explaining our project.
Kirby Mountain Road starts out as a climb, with some challenging sections. About a mile up the road, we saw a sign on the left at the beginning of a class 4 road that said that there was a farm stand 2 miles in. It looked like a good road, so we turned left to look for the farmstand.
We are glad we did. It was a class 4 road but in beautiful condition. It also was a serious climb, but we always think about the upcoming glorious coast going back down, so we don’t mind so much.
After over a mile of climbing, the road showed a little more signs of washout and wear and tear, but still a great gravel ride. At the top, we got a great view of Kirby Mountain.
We started down a hill, and questioned whether we would find the farm stand up and active, or whether we should turn back. We decided to keep pushing on, and are glad we did. After another half mile, we came upon Mother Nature’s Mountain – a working off-grid farm run by two very resourceful folks – Flower and Jerry. They live two miles in, and are unplowed in the winter, meaning they snowshoe or snowmobile in and out after the snow falls. Truly a magical spot.
They sell soaps, body lotions, and herbal tinctures, as well as vegetables in season. Flower, the proprietor was kind enough to gift me a bar of Apple Harvest goats milk soap – made with their own apples and goat’s milk. It smells great!
After we left the farmstand, we climbed back up to the crest of the hill and then coasted down Victory Road, turned right and rode back down Kirby Mountain Road, and back to our surveilled parking spot. We waved to the cameras, loaded up the bikes, and headed home. On the way, we passed the old South Kirby Schoolhouse, circa 1825.
We want to let you know that there is A LOT more to Kirby than we were able to show here, because we ended up focusing on our search for the farmstand, but coming into the village on our way to Kirby Mountain Road, we saw many interesting things like beautiful sculptures, murals, town buildings, etc. We will return to see it again. We are already planning another trip next spring!
Note : Sometime as you travel around the state, you have to take a trip into the woods. You get to see the darndest things that way, too – like a partially dug grave, for instance? Happy Halloween!
After the ride, we enjoyed two very sour wild apples. Great day!
