You are currently browsing the Touring category.
The first day was over-cast with a sprinkle of rain from time to time but this would have no effect since we knew it was bound to clear up as the day wore on. We were set for a slab ride down the Mass Pike with the option of Rte 91 to Rte 2 or just roll into NY and grab Rte 22 north, we opted for the later. Rte 22 was in nice shape nothing note worthy in the southern sections, small town America with the occasionally Saturday morning type traffic but definitely not enough to notice or slow us down. It wasn’t before long that we were looking for a place to grab something to eat and seeing a few locals on the side of the road I asked for some advice. The group explained to me where to go for a good meal but to be honest I rolled away not knowing if I’d find it, low and behold I did. Jeans Place in Hoosick Falls, NY offered a tasty morning re-treat from the drab skies; the staff was attentive and friendly as were some of the patrons.
We followed Rte 22 until it intersected with Rte 129, another nice road which was picked out of thin air and from there we proceeded up Rte 4 to Ft Ann where we crossed over to Rte 9. Rte 4 runs along a section of the Champlain Canal which also has a lock system which would explain the Lakes to Locks Scenic Byway name. I really wasn’t expecting this much fun this far south and between the excitement, scenery and the twists and turns along the canal it kicked in that this is what it’s all about.
We proceeded into the touristy area of Lake George, the sun was shining and we didn’t realize that it was as brisk as it was until we were off the bikes; we found the Connie’s provide some pretty good wind protection. A few lake snap shots and a quick stretch, Tracy Road was now on the radar screen and within 50 miles of the lake. We made quick time on Rte 9 and most of the time we were riding alone with very little cross traffic, it was an absolute blast, long sweepers at a spirited pace is what passed the time.
Tracy Road was still damp from the early rain and the winds of the previous night had strategically placed wet leaves in certain areas which elevated our caution. The road was still easily run and at a speed where you could pick your line and enjoy the ride. After one pass we collected ourselves and did it over again, this time for a short stretch we had a leaf peeper at a snails pace in front of us but he waved us on and Greg, I and an unknown rider on a Triumph had a blast tearing up the asphalt. After a quick stop for a snap shot by the Tracy Road sign for the “been there – done that” photo album we were off heading north again.
On Rte 9 again heading past Loon and Schroon Lakes the roads were quiet with lots of sweepers and twisties, these bikes were made for roads like these. Looking back in my mirrors was like watching a video of what was going on behind me, Greg’s bike swooshed from one side to the other as if he was skiing and this continued on to where we picked up Rte 73. Although the intersection at Rte 9 and Rte 73 was deserted you want to be cautious at the yield. The trees were really vivid in this section of Rte 73 with several shades of yellow, green and the occasional red; the sunlight sparkled on the tree tops and highlighted the craggy ledges and mountain tops. You have to be alert here since cars littered the sides, of the road, doors open, shoes in the road from day hikers and families out exploring the paths and trails in this beautiful area.
Now if you have a chance to make it out that way, as you approach Lake Placid on Rte 73, before the airport, the road climbs upward and there are several areas where you can pull over to take pictures. The first area heading north will provide you will an interesting photo of the road, mountains and the river running through the valley; I’d love to grab a shot of this with a tri-pod. You know you’re in Lake Placid by the towering Olympic ski jumps; you can take the elevator up to the top for a birds eye view. Today we’re just making our way through Lake Placid and on to our accommodations in Wilmington. Rte 86 will take you from Lake Placid into Wilmington and even if you have no reason to travel into Wilmington this stretch of road is worth it.
As day one winds down we check into the motel and get a local recommendation for dinner. The Wilderness Inn seems to be the favorite of our motel owner and we head back out. Tonight’s special was the Prime Rib, salad bar, soup and fresh rolls well worth the $20.00 price tag, actually it was a huge portion and very tasty. A quick ride back to the motel and we can call this day well done!
Day Two we awoke to a cold rain which tapered off enough to head out to breakfast, it was cool and overcast with occasional perception in the form of rain, sleet and yes even a few snow flakes. It’s funny we had breakfast in a place which on the outside looked like an Adirondack Lodge but on the inside was a 50’s diner. Mel’s Diner was bustling and the food was very good, the service was quick and everything was very tasty and fresh.
Our goal today was to complete a big loop and hopefully cover 200 miles of back roads. We headed up route 431 and CO Hwy 18A & very scenic and almost surreal it really wasn’t to hard to soak in our surroundings turn after turn, kind of all looked the same but yet very different. Not to sound like a broken record but the day was much of the same with a different view around every corner, long straights, challenging twisty sections of road with wide high speed sweepers. Our roads included State Highway 99, CO Highway 26, Rte 30, and 28N, Rte 28, Rte 9 and Rte 73. Highway 99 gave you
that real feeling of adventure as we parked just off the road with nobody around; it gave me a sense of how small you actually are in this great big world we live in. We had a brief stretch at Helms Aero service which operates sea plane rides out of Long Lake; I think the next time I head up this way I’m going to make this part of my adventure. Just down the road from Helms we were looking for some coffee to warm things up so we pulled into Hoss’s Country Corner at the Junction of Rte 28N and Rte 30. This is an eclectic mix of an internet café, pizzeria, bait shop and local and unique gifts and clothing, just about everything from Woolrich to stuffed bears, lattes and fly rods.
I knew we were making our way back through Lake Placid and there is just something about this town reminds me of Aspen or another Colorado Ski town I have never been to. I was interested in finding a place to eat so we cruised down Main St. and stumbled across the Fireside Steak & Seafood. The restaurant looked like my kind of place, well traveled and unique. The food was very good, moderately priced and the portions were enough to finish everything but no room for desert. Since we had steaks last night I had the scallops and Greg opted for the Salmon, I knew Greg enjoyed his salmon as he had the waitress send his compliments to the chef. Outside the restaurant a few snow flakes started to fly and the looks from passer bys were kind of funny. It was a dark ride back to the motel but my Connie lights shed plenty of light to make the trip comfortable, I had to adjust Greg’s lights when we got back to the motel because the only thing Greg was lighting up was the pavement directly in front of his bike.
Back at the motel we ran into our neighbors again, I failed to mention that earlier that morning I started talking to a few guys who were up from New Jersey for some fly fishing. A fun group of guys who have fished some great places and enjoy fly fishing like we enjoy riding. They spoke about how crazy we were to be out riding in this cool weather and I mention how crazy they were to be standing in fast moving frigid water..We all laughed and agreed its all about passion.
Day 3 – Now this is cold, the weather channel claims 31 degrees and there was a frost warning over night. The bikes had a small build up of frost but the roads were actually dry, this was a good thing because we planned to be on the road by 6:30am. Our focus today was a ferry crossing of Lake Champlain via the Essex NY / Charlotte VT ferry. Now I am getting spoiled with all these great roads, this days NY run included Rte 86, Rte 9, CO Highway 50 and Rte 22. Highway 50 was probably the most picturesque road I have been on in NY, deep valleys with beautiful farms nestled in as if they were placed there just for the pleasure of viewing; Rte 22 is no joke either, beautiful farm land and loads of history dot this northern section.
The ferry was fun and just like a few people had mentioned, look over your shoulder because the NY side is gorgeous from the middle of the lake. Our plan through VT was to make quick time and head straight down Rte 7, Holiday traffic really slowed us down and I figured if I am going to be going this slow I might as well enjoy the ride so we crossed over to Rte 100 via Rte 125. Rte 125 was more like what we were riding in NY and although the road was not in as nice of shape as some of the NY roads the Connie suspension ate it up with no problem at all and this will be a must do road for another season. Rte 125 cuts straight across the Green Mountain National Forest from Middlebury VT to Hancock VT.
Now Rte 100 on my new Connie versus Rte 100 on my VTX is night and day, I was really able to carve the corners and have fun at a spirited pace. We stopped for lunch at the Pittsfield General store, delicious and the tastes of a gourmet meal in a country store setting; ,pot roast for under $7.00 was home cooked, melted in your mouth and was served with fries and gravy.
Now it was decided all good things have to come to an end we were going to finish up with Rte 100 to Rte 103 and pick up the slab (Rte 91) to the Mass Pike (Rte 90) and then down Rte 146 home. We really made some good time on the highway and as I watched my tank range dwindle down and the mileage on the trip meter go up it was the end. Greg and parted ways at the 146 / 295 crossing with the usual wave and we both headed off in two separate directions, probably both replaying some of the good times spent on the new bikes in uncharted territory for us… but we will be back again
Posted 10 months, 4 weeks ago. 5 comments
The motto of Saturday was we’re riding no matter where we go we’re riding some where.
Well it was decided
Western Massachusetts and Mt. Greylock would be the place. A slab ride out Rte 146 and Rte 90 from Lincoln, RI to Rte 32 in Palmer, MA was uneventful and sort of fun for what it is. We hooked up with Rte 181 making our way to 202 and eventually Rte 9 passing through Belchertown (gotta love it). Our sights were set on Rte 116 and as I made the turn onto Rte 116 off oh Rte 9, love was in the air, it wasn’t my riding partner for the day but rather I remembered my second love which is BBQ. I told Don if Bubs BBQ was open we’ll stop for an early lunch, unfortunately we were a half hour early but with the smoker out front smoking we decided to wait the half hour and gorge ourselves on some BBQ before we head further West.
Lunch was good as usual and Don helped himself to 2 plates of fixings before even touching the ribs. The deal with bubs is you order the meal ex. chicken or ribs and then help your self to two side bars both hot and cold. Don and I opted for the baby back ribs; they were a little smaller but much leaner and very tasty. I love the cucumber salad they have and the sweet potatoes oh my. After lunch and getting ready to head out a pack of bikes pulled in and what do you know 100 miles from home and I run into someone I know, this seems to happen a lot but I guess when you get around riding you seem to make friends where ever you go. Don was also bug eyed because an older Vulcan had pulled in with a fairing, Don is looking to put a batwing fairing on his brand new Vulcan over the winter and it gave him some ideas.
Now heading out on Rte 116 it doesn’t get really good until just after you cross Rte 10; some riders in this area call this the New England Dragon. The road is a lot of fun with some cool twisty sections, lots of nice farm land and some quaint towns. I think when I have more time to explore I’d like to stop for a few pictures in some of these towns and hopefully I can do that later in the fall during peak foliage. The road will quickly remind you that motorcycles are meant to lean and that I surely did. Don had no problems keeping up but dam the C14 really carves a mean corner!
Now I have yet to put on a GPS so we had a little half time fumble when we connected with Rte 2 but quickly recovered and we made our way to Mt. Greylock. Mt. Greylock has an elevation of 3,491 feet and a newly paved scenic road that takes you up the mountain and back down to Rte 7 making it a nice side trip. The scenic road reminds me some what of the Blue Ridge Parkway but it’s no real comparison to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Hairpin turn after Hairpin turn you finally arrive at the summit with a view that seems to encompass several states.
Making our way back home I had found a road that I thought could entertain us for awhile and that was Rte 143. This road was a lot of fun and again twisty with some straight sections to pick up the pace a bit and some natural air conditioning when it parallels the river; a very pretty road through the hidden hills of Massachusetts.
Now the running joke is that I could make a milk run into an all day adventure, ok no joke, I have a way of adding some miles to the trip. Anyway after missing a turn on my planned route I started to wing it which is usually where the miles start and from that point we were heading north when we need to head south and west when we needed to head east. Heck its all in good fun and it makes for a hell of a story around the campfire if we ever have one. As the light started to diminish we thought it would be a good idea to check in and let our wives know that we’ll be a little late and to leave a light on.
Wow 12 hours of riding can really make you hungry so we stopped into a McDonalds, not my exact definition of “road food” but it will do. Now the next set of roads are through some deer infested farm land and it’s as dark as dark can be, we’ve both ridden these roads in the day light but those corners really get interesting in the dark. Before long Don and I parted with a couple toots of the horns and a quick wave I continued on down Rte 165 in CT and him down Rte 138 in Ct both heading home to two different parts of Rhode Island.
Click Here For A Map Of Our Madness
It’s always fun and always an adventure… better clear the schedule if you plan on riding with me 
Let’s officially introduce ourselves, you a Kawasaki Concours C14 with 1352 cc’s and a nice blend of power, performance, technology and set-up to tour. Myself a moto
rcycle enthusiast who has a respect for power and a desire for performance while touring and enjoying the ride. I think we’re going to get along quite well if I say so myself.
Well I did it and bought the bike I have dreamed about for some time now, I picked her up on Thursday and even though we put a few miles on it was a brief introduction. Today it was time to share what we both love to do, she taught me a few things and I introduced her to the area. I think I have been introduced to motorcycle euphoria!
This morning was overcast and occasionally a sprinkle of rain but I loaded up, geared up and grabbed the camera. The first order of business was to head to my local seaside coffee shop and show her where we’ll be relaxing before and after our rides. Pointing the fenders toward Aquidneck Island we cruised some local roads past local vineyards, beaches and plenty of ocean views. Occasionally there was a brief rain shower and I shared the road with no one, passing by a local farm as you see in the picture I wasn’t the only turkey enjoying this start of the day.
I lost the wave, I passed a few riders on cruisers while heading for fuel and I dropped my arm to wave but they just cruised on by. In my mind I’m saying “guys hey I’m one of you “ but unfortunately at cruising speed they just wrote me off a sport bike rider and not all riders have them same mentality of its not what you ride but that you ride. I also noticed when fueling up that I attract some people that may not have come over to me when I was leathered up and on my cruiser, “Hey that’s a nice machine you have there”, “I bet that thing moves”, “Not a great day for a ride but that thing sure looks like it keeps you dry”. Even the gentleman in a nice fancy suit up at the farm stand looking for a New York Times made his way over. Does what you ride have that much of an impact on how people perceive you? I never noticed and no matter what I’m riding or wearing when the helmets off I’m over to say hello.
After my jaunt on Aquidneck Island I decided to make my way toward Sakonnet Point. This is a very nice area of Rhode Island rich in history, typical and quaint New England towns, more farms, more views of the ocean and more vineyards and really nice roadside stands where you can buy anything from fresh seafood, locally grown produce and delicious pies. I love the long tree covered roads with the occasional sweeper turn and if you know where you are going there is the short twisty roads just to break things up.
I showed her what I like to do and she definitely showed me she enjoys it and can handle just about anything I can offer and subliminally begging me for more.
This is the start of a great relationship!!!!!
Kawasaki Concours Owners Group – www.cog-online.org
Now if you’re like me you don’t think of snowmobiles in 80 degree temperatures, well I don’t think like that any longer. This past Sunday a couple of riding friends from Two Wheel New England got together to attend an event sponsored by the Nipmuck Trail Riders in Union, CT. Typical of our gatherings they usually start at a local coffee shop and on this day we had two meeting locations to accommodate some of the riders from the West Bay. The roads traveled were some that we have motored down in previous rides so no need to go into great detail other than to say this section of CT offers roads that never seem to grow old.
The water skip is actually a competitive event offering trophies in quarter mile drags, ovals, jumps and figure eights. The admission price is recession proof, yes they do not charge to get in and I saw many families and folks who had brought their own coolers. The atmosphere was festive, supercharged with energy and even family / kid friendly.
The machines seemed to be fitted with a buoy, a small removable gas tank and from what I can tell their seats and possibly some electronics removed. All the riders must wear a helmet and life jacket and there are two pontoon boats with winches available to remove the water logged sleds from the pond. I’ve been told after being swamped riders can drain, clean and dry their rides to get back into the action in less than 20 minutes. The riders are lined up along the beach and when the rope drops across the start / finish line all hell breaks loose with mixture of a screaming engine, flying sand and let the spray of white water begin. In our group there were a few racing enthusiasts but judging by Greg’s face who doesn’t follow racing, if you enjoy anything with a motor mixed with some excitement you have to check this out. Those touring the New England area the Nipmuck web site states this event is held the first Sunday of every July & August and surely not to be missed.
http://nipmucktrailriders.com/events.html
Posted 1 year, 1 month ago. 1 comment
DAY 4 My plan was to get on the road early and ride through the notch with my friend Greg. Smuggler’s Notch is an
interesting section of Rte 108 and one would think looking at the pictures there is no way this can be a two lane road. The notch is tight, twisty and has some decent pitches in elevation in both directions. I hear this can be a real experience when following an RV or leaf peeper, so run the notch early morning and keep your speed down as this road could bite you if you don’t.
After the notch we’re back at the resort packing up and getting ready to roll, the plan was to head back home today but cover all of route 100, route 8 and across the Mohawk Trail. I’m going to go against the grain but route 100 did nothing for me, its long and has some interesting towns but the road conditions are just OK so I am trying to figure out what all the hype is. I have been on some shorter roads that rate higher on my scale and I know I could link together a route that would be more interesting than route 100. What route 100 does have going for it is all the touristy type attractions like the Ben & Jerry’s factory and the Vermont Country Store; I saw plenty of other places worth checking out but running all of 100 wouldn’t be in my plans. I did stop and Ben & Jerry’s and I picked up t-shirts for the kids which I knew they would absolutely love.
My original plans were to stop at the Vermont Country Store but I must have been in a zone because I blew right by it. One thing that did catch my eye was a set of flag poles just off the side of the road and after closer examination thousands of little white flags; I knew right then and there I had to turn around to take a picture but also observe and relfect on the loss of our American service members in such a quiet and beautiful spot.
Still looking for lunch I stumbled onto Bob & Peg’s Front Porch in Wardsboro, VT. As we pulled up Bob greeted us out the kitchen door and we chatted prior to even going in, Bob is a nice guy who entertained us with talk about the weather his garden and the effects of the economy. The food was very good and this place was very nice and typical New England. Bob made us feel right at home and 3/4’s of the way through our meal pulled up a chair and chatted some more. One thing I learned on this ride is there are so many interesting stories regarding the effects of our current economic situation. I told Bob I would recommend his place to friends and I’m hoping to be able to return next year.
Taking Rte 9 West and then Rte 8 South ( could be a fun road if they ever pave it) I joined the Mohawk Trail just before the hairpin turn. The Mohawk Trail or Rte 2 is in great condition and a lot fun to ride. I love this area of Western MA and I am interested in exploring this area more than I already have, this is an area I’d recommend to riders looking for a close to home journey or others visiting New England for that matter. The Mohawk Trail is rich in history and offers plenty of fuel, food and lodging. My journey ends for this trip but only excites me about what may be next!
See you on the road -
Ed
Posted 1 year, 1 month ago. 5 comments
DAY 3 I headed towards Skowhegan Maine from Rte 2 connecting with Rte 16 which was a fund road, tree covered, plenty of “watch for moose” signs and the occasional river and view of much larger bodies of water. My goal was to stop over in Rangley Maine for a break and cold drink before continuing on towards Errol NH. Rangley is a very nice small lakeside town and could be an interesting hub for exploring the area at a later date. Rte 16 from Rangley was in rough shape but was fun, once I crossed into NH the recently paved road allowed me to twist the throttle a bit and play in and out of the turns; looking in my rear view we had a couple of a Gold Wing doing the same.
This stretch of 16 through NH has been the best road so far for road conditions, carving turns and opening it up a bit through the straights. It was a fairly short trip to Errol NH but I’ve been here before and knew I was going to stop at L.L. Cotes, a family owned L.L. Bean type place selling anything from firearms to ATVs, cap guns and anything else in between and probably some things you wouldn’t expect. Anyone who knows me when the helmet comes off I’m usually searching out other riders to meet and see where their from and such, I ended up talking to a couple from Canada well actually I spoke with the husband since I don’t think his wife spoke English since all she did was smile and nod her head. I ended up chatting with the couple on the Wing who ended up being from Indiana and were heading home from their week long Journey on Nova Scotia and visiting friends in Northern Maine. We chatted about the roads, our route and theirs, Michael Jackson and a few other things that make meeting other riders just as interesting as the ride. They decided to follow us into Vermont since they thought my route seemed interesting, it was fun riding with them and I hope they are able to connect with us through the blog.
I forget to mention we finally lost the fog, drizzle and mist just outside of Skowhegan and bright skies are on the horizon for the next few days. I have no reasoning to why I sometimes go south to then go north again other than my own selfishness and pleasure. Following the river south along rte 16 was fun, the road conditions were OK and didn’t limit putting a smile on my face. We the connected with Rte 110a and I had to check to make sure I still had my teeth, don’t even try this road, was to much sand in the corners, cold patch and just not worth it. Rte 110a will connect you with Rte 110, a road worthy of a magazine article, its a fun well paved road with plenty of views of the northern New Hampshire landscape. Eventually Rte 110 connected me with Rte 2 which was going to be my path across Vermont, at least until I take the round about way to Stowe where I planned to stay for the night.
Now in Vermont Rte 2 is another nice road, you’ll know you’re in Vermont by the many local farms that dot the landscape. The mountains change from the rugged look of New Hampshire to mountainous roads that almost look they their carpeted in lush green vegetation. OK I will admit to it, I kind of enjoy the rush air filled with fresh manure and pine, kind of strange I know but not a mixture of smells that would make me cringe. Route 2 takes me through St. Johnsbury and out towards West Danville Vermont where I take Rte 15. Route 15 from the moment it breaks away from route 2 is motorcycle nirvana, the kind of road that makes you roll on the throttle, shift your weight and break out in a song like Radar Love. The ocassional wave to a passing rider, I’m seeing more riders in Vermont than I have seen all this trip. The towns are clean, picturesque and seem very friendly and inviting even to a rider who would have to pry themselves off the seat due to road grime and sweat, possibly could even have a hint of that fresh manure lingering on this old leather jacket. I could feel the day of riding starting to wear on me, its not the mileage but the constant riding at slower speeds and having to cover this distance all on back roads that change from 50mph to as little as 25mph. What not a better cure for white line fever than a baby cone of soft serve ice cream, probably a little dehydrated I knew anything bigger would have been disastrous for my stomach. As usual I walk over and talk to another rider enjoying the same, an older gentleman riding a BMW sport bike. I chatted for a few but could tell he was uneasy about either chatting with me, my rough looks , or he just not that friendly so I moved on.
Less than 30 minutes from Stowe I decided to drop down south again and ride up North into Stowe, the ride was only about 30 minutes but was a nice way to end the day. Stowe is a very quaint town, everyone seemed very friendly and like Bar Harbor there is not shortage of accommodations and interesting eateries. The folks at the tourist information center were very helpful in finding me some lodging and even connecting me with the late afternoon specials that have been updated in their computer system. Tonight we were going to splurge a bit and upgrade from the family owned hotel to something a little more elegant. Elegant for me is anything with jets in the bath tub and fresh robes hanging from the door.
Mountain Road Resort was the place, it was everything and more than this rider could ever want and now I wish my wife was with me. While checking in, the classical music and the plate of cheese and crackers made we want to sleep. I wiped out that whole plate of cheese and crackers during this process and the fellow behind the counter got the hint and asked me what I was doing for dinner. With a chuckle I listened to his advice and headed off to get cleaned up, hit the hot tub and look for food and a cold beer. This place was over the top for me, this will be a place I’ll look into being an epicenter for future exploring when I can come back with my wife. The only thing I found odd and interesting is the floor to ceiling wall mirror in the bathroom, this was going to either boost my confidence or go to dinner feeling inadequate . So I head to dinner feeling confident as ever stumbling across Mr. Pickets English pub. Mr. Pickets from what I hear is well known for the Beef Wellington but at $36.00 I opted for the pre-fix dinner of fish & chips, house salad, wild boar rids and creme brulee for desert. I washed this all down with 3 tall glasses of German beer with a slice of orange. The food was tasty and the beer was cold and went down well after a long day in the saddle. Walking the 1/4 mile back to the resort I was ready for a coffee, our desk clerk put on a fresh pot and we finished that off prior to heading back to the executive sweet.
Posted 1 year, 1 month ago. 1 comment
An early but a not so bright start to the day today, Arcadia National Park was the plan for the next few hours before continuing to head north and east (if you could imagine I could go any further east). The roads in Arcadia remind me of the Blue Ridge Parkway, smooth enough twists and turns to keep you thinking and plenty of opportunities to take a break and snap some pictures. A few of the places I stopped at was Thunder Hole (minus the thunder due to a low tide) Cadillac Mountain, Sand Beach and Jordon Pond. Occasionally there was a view but most of the ride through the park was covered in a thick shade of gray. I’ve heard you have to have lunch at Jordon Pond and now I can second that, well known for their popovers and the lobster stew is not to shabby either.
Now I have a list that I call my life list, its not really a list but rather places of interest that I keep stored in my head. Quoddy State Park is home to the most Eastern point in the United States and is on that life list of places to have my picture taken. Now in my opinion you can find more interesting rides than continuing on north east from Bar Harbor but if like me you want to see Quoddy State Park you have no other choice to take Rte 1 and or some of the other coastal roads such as Rte 191. Rte 191 is rough in spots, has some nice views and challenging asphalt (not the best road I have been on but like I said if you are heading to Quoddy why not change it up from slugging out rte 1).
After my photo session at Quoddy I was heading to the Great North Woods, please take my advice if you are like me and don’t want to ride the same road twice GET FUEL. I have never been as nervous as I was on my ride from Quoddy to Rte 9, I had 70 miles on the tank and another 70 or 80 miles before I needed to hit reserve so I figured I was good. I jumped onto Rte 192. Rte 192 was around 41 miles long but I didn’t see anyone and I mean anyone, no cars, no pedestrians and no homes that looked like anyone was around. Roughly 31 miles or so into 192 I saw a sign for rte 9, knowing rte 9 would intersect soon I took this small road thinking I would see signs of life sooner and possibly fuel. Well I was wrong, signs of life were few and far between, I saw a lake in the distance with what looked like homes and boats but couldn’t really figure out how to get there, it was tree covered roads for miles and miles, homes that looked like if anyone was there they were locked up tight and wouldn’t appreciate me begging for fuel. I finally connected with Rte 9 switched to reserve and knew I has probably good for another 15 miles. Now 10 miles into reserve I pulled in for fuel only to find a closed sign hanging on the door. Verifying I had no cell service I pushed on, there was sporadic traffic but no signs of fuel till finally I stumbled on a gas station that was open and selling bait, cold drinks and gifts made in Maine. The couple behind the counter were friendly and I think they could tell by the look on my face I was glad to see them.
I pushed down Rte 9 which was a fast moving road, open and at times two lanes. The speed limit was 50 mph and I was able to do that plus some carving my way south towards Bangor. I ended up staying just north west of Bangor which would set me up nicely for my push towards the “The Great North Woods” and on through NH and VT. The motel I picked was again clean, cheap and safe but I really didn’t care because it was on after 10:00pm foggy and there were plenty of deer on the side of the road which seemed to give me the hint they owned the roadways after dark.
Posted 1 year, 1 month ago. 3 comments
Packed up and ready to roll I headed out on a much anticipated trip to the most Eastern point in the United States and beyond. I took rte 95 to Waterville, Maine where I then headed toward the coast. A brief ride on rte 137 connected me to the long and winding road of Rte 139, this road dips and turns rolling through or by quaint New England villages and picturesque farms. As you near the end be sure to follow the signs into Belfast Maine, you will not regret this stop over. Belfast Maine is what I picture as a typical down east town; I knew that for sure when I was welcomed by a sign for the Mackerel Festival. The buildings are vibrant and the town is bustling without being hectic, the local shops look inviting and there is definitely some energy here.
Now when someone mentions Rte 1 in Maine I think of traffic, tourists and my bike stopped making the asphalt so hot I could fry an egg. Now I could have been just lucky but I’ve been told by other riders that the traffic is not that bad. Rte 1 is what everyone says it is, plenty of shops for trinkets, roadside stands where you could pick up your moose antlers, lobster pots and other gifts I remember throwing a fit for when I was a kid. Along rte 1 be sure to stop at the rest area just before the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, a beautiful bridge spanning the Penobscott River which even has an observatory built into one of the towers. Also nearby there is also a well fortified fort called Fort Knox, I didn’t have the chance to visit but it is on my list for next time.
Now from here I pushed to Bar Harbor along Rte 1 and Rte 3, very typical and reminded of chugging along Cape Cod. Following Rte 3 I knew there would be no shortage of places to stay and was surprised by the few bikes I saw along the way. I guess no trip to Bar Harbor would not be complete unless I sat down and had lobster from these crisp cool waters and support the local lobster men. I settled on a place that was just across the street from the harbor, the price was right and the lobster was sweet and tasty. Ahh I need a place to stay, price was going to be the deciding factor since you could spend from $80.00 to over $200.00 a night so I was on the hunt for a place that was cheap, clean, safe and within walking distance of food and beer. After poking around and asking some questions the Colonial Inn was the place; I even recieved the biker rate of $79.00. The Colonial was clean, had an indoor pool and was located right on rte3 in Ellsworth so I found a home for the night.
Posted 1 year, 1 month ago. 1 comment
This morning I headed out early to meet up with two other Two Wheel New England riders. The plan was to meet at Crazy Burger in Narragansett, Rhode Island for breakfast and then ride over to the island of Jamestown taking in the views and cool breezes. I made my way towards Aquidneck Island and hopped over to the island of Jamestown and then across yet another bridge to the main land.
Anyone that is to tour Rhode Island should make it a point to ride along rte 1a from Wickford Village out to Narragansett and then take Ocean Rd to Point Judith. A nicely paved road makes eating up the asphalt effortless, rte 1a is a scenic road that offers slight twists and long stretches that make their way through some farm lands and offers open views of Narragansett Bay and the Rhode Island sound. <Click Here For Map> As I thought I arrived early so I parked along the seawall watching the cars, surfers and people scramble for their perfect spot of sand on the beach.
Crazy Burger doesn’t sound like a breakfast spot but I can attest they have some some usual and unusual selections on the menu, I’ve always had a good meal here and is worth the wait. After some good conversation and the usual bike chat we headed off back down rte 1a and over towards Jamestown. The island of Jamestown has some great riding in a small package, the roads are fairly quiet, the breeze feels great on a hot summer day and you pick the spot for a great view no matter where you stop while on the Island.
Our pick today was Beavertail State Park, like the other the Rhode Island State Parks there is no admission fee. There are limited services here and the rest rooms are porta johns that seemed well kept (that is well kept for porta johns). The roads through the park are well paved and large parking areas are located all along the loop. The main attraction here is the Beavertail Light House, originally built in 1749 and was the third built lighthouse. The original tower burned to the ground only 4 years after its completion and the current granite lighthouse was erected in 1856.
We soaked up the sun for a bit until we parted ways, Greg heading north to Vermont on a 3 day tour and myself and Dan took off towards home in opposite direction. As I mentioned the island of Jamestown is a local delight, somewhat over looked when it comes to riding and has plenty of options for touring, lunch spots and incredible views.
Posted 1 year, 1 month ago. 4 comments
“Ride to the Sky” is an annual event at Mt. Washington located in New Hampshire during the Laconia Bike Week. This event is usually held on two separate days during the week where the toll road is only open to motorcycles only. This is definitely worth the trip, the road has many different locations where you can pull over to take a break, rest your brakes or even take a picture or two. This 6,288 foot mountain is home to the worlds worst weather ever recorded and on June 13th 1934 they recorded a wind speed of 231 mph. The average temperature on the summitis 26.5ºf withthe records being -47ºf and 72ºf. Now withthat being said our “Ride to the Sky” would have to be put off for this year since we headed up with overcast skies and barely 60ºf 250 miles south of the mountain. You definitely have to choose your days wisely here and on this trip it wouldn’t be one of them.
We headed out this year a little earlier and gathered at a rest area on Rte 95 North. The weather was already not looking good but 
heck that never has changed anything for us. Our ride northwas fairly easy and smooth with a quick stop for coffee 80 miles out and to perform minor surgery on Greg’s tire. Greg must have picked up a screw just before pulling into the gas station because he had a small screw pressed into the meat of the tire but not long enough to make a difference or leak any air out, I actually touched it and it dropped right off the tire. A hearty breakfast at the Tilton Dinerand we were off to ride the “Kanc” and meet up with Rick in North Conway. Although Greg and I were prepared for the rain ahead Ted held out on putting the rain gear on, that was until we hit the wall of water 10 minutes after breakfast. I don’t care what you say these guys have a good time no matter what you throw at them!
Now Rte 112 also known as they Kanc took on another feel in the rain and fog, almost a surreal feeling with the rumble of our exhausts, rain rolling up the windshield and the tires cutting across the wet pavement. This was going to be a nice picture day but the fog has eaten up just about every possible view and my camera lens turned to capturing my friends. We had called Rick when we left the Tilton and told him we’d meet him in an hour and a half, but that was under decent conditions and without us children playing in the rain.
Once all together in North Conway it was official based on the weather report we’d scratch the “Ride to the Sky”; our focus was then on Hurricane Mountain Road. This is a road noted as a steep, technical and twisty seasonal road crossing the mountains from Intervale, NH to almost the Maine border. A short road none the less but definitely one that will get your heart pumping, more can be read in our Hurricane Mountain Road review. Although Ted said he was white knuckled all the way, after reviewing the pictures I took you can see his smile reaches from ear to ear.
As in usual fashion I was able to convert a 30 mile ride into adding another state to the day and 100 plus more miles to Laconia Harley Davidson. We headed north up Glen Hill Road towards Rte 113, Glen Hill Road was a nice quiet road and if it didn’t have so many frost heaves it would be a really nice stretch. I wouldn’t avoid this road but would only choose it if I was heaidng the same way again. Now in North Fryeburg Maine we headed south on Rte 113, a nice two lane country road which if taken north you would head up towards Evans Notch (which I will do later this season). We were headed south down Rte 113 rolling along small rivers, lonesome ponds and rolling farm land through North Fryeburg, Fryeburg and East Brownfield where we finally picked up Rte 160 West. Rte 160 was another nice piece of asphalt providing much of the same in the seat entertainment. I apologize for not being able to give you a pictorial of this as mostly all of this ride was done in very wet conditions and I wasn’t going to chance taking out the camera to many times.
Now from Rte 160 west in Maine we made our way to Rte 25 west with our sights focused on lunch along Lake Winnipesaukee (largest lake in NH and provided the boating scenes in the 1981 Academy Award winning movie On Golden Pond). Some stretches of Rte 25 are nice and but is mostly a fast moving two lane stretch all the way to the lakes. Town Docks was the place to grab some good food in a friendly atmosphere and will be a Road Food Friday feature coming soon so not much more information other than a worthy place to pull up a chair.
Time was slipping by and we finally ended up at Laconia Harley Davidson in Meredith, NH, which is one of the major rally locations where all the big name vendors were set-up. Although it was fairly quiet on this rainy day we were not the only riders making the most of it. Rick ended up picking something up that he was interested in from Kuryakyn and we made the rounds. Summing this all up, a few more gas stops, coffee, more rain and lots of laughs we made the rest of the trip in the same fashion. It was definitely a memorable trip and a day in the rain was far better than a good day at work.
Posted 1 year, 2 months ago. 1 comment
