Day 24: June 25th Riding NY State’s I-90 Thunderstorms

The morning was dry and the loading went quick.  Breakfast with the Lodge was carbs….waffles, cream cheese and coffee.  Good enough to get me to lunch.  My plan was to retrace my steps and head north to VT-9 west and take that into NY where I would connect onto I-90 and ride it into Buffalo and then North Tonawanda, about 10 miles south of Niagara Falls, to my sister’s place. 

Not expecting much out of the ride I was happily surprised to find VT-9 to be a scenic joy.  Hills, woods, farms, small towns, gentle 2-lane curves with gradual sloping ascents and descents were nicely presented on this state road.  Later, when looking at the AAA map I saw that it is indeed marked as a Scenic Route!

Day 23: June 24th Riding the Kancamangus

The morning was dry with a few puffies floating around 4000 feet trying to team together and build something stronger in the winds.  The Weather Channel indicated possible thunderstorms and isolated showers.  Hell, that’s pretty much the forecast for the northeast for all of June and July!

US2 was right out front of the motel and I headed west for about 75 miles to Gorham then about 6 miles north on NH16 to Berlin.  Upon reaching Berlin, the beginning of the required SCMA Best Ride, the road was split into a northbound one-way running through the small town, and a south bound one-way one block to the west.  The town was old and quaint, I liked it and would have enjoyed exploring it.  But I was on a time limit and needed to complete the ride and then head to Niagara Falls to visit my sister.  So I turned west and got on the south bound one-way, refueled at the town gas station, then headed south on NH16 to Conway. 

After passing through Gorham the 2^nd time and turning south off of 2/16 to continue on NH16, a Forestry Visitors Center showed up.  Usually I’ll pass on these centers, but lately new and interesting facts have been introduced to me via such visits.  So in I went. 

Day 22: June 23, Moose on the Road

It was sometime around 12:30 when I rolled out of Madawaska heading northwest towards Ft. Kent and US11.  The morning goodbye was made to Martins Motel staff and I rode over to Tim Horton’s for breakfast with Joe and Dianne LaChance.  Upon entering Tim’s I was greeted by a customer sitting in a group of laughing elder citizens all chatting in French.  It was one of Joe’s friends that I had met yesterday who kindly remembered me.  Not seeing Joe there I placed my camera and notebook on a table and went to the counter to order coffee and egg sandwich. 

For those of you who haven’t been to the northeast (including NY and Canada) Tim Horton’s is a fantastic coffee and pastry chain, started in the 60’s by Canadian hockey great Tim Horton.  Now their menu includes, in addition to their delicious coffee and pastries/donuts, breakfast and lunch sandwiches and a variety of soups.  It’s a place that I enjoy visiting when my travels find me in the territory.