Northeast Ride – Day Five

I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?

Wet start today. Woke up around 8:00 to the sound of thunder and rain. Never a good sound when out on the bike. Glad I decided on getting a room. After a few small conversations with the morning staff I loaded up, suited up and was on my way. I was reminded of a previous trip. Think Dad and I were in Kentucky that morning, and we were camping. We took a great selfie before taking off, I’ll have to find it.

So onward through upstate New York. Scenery was the same, a few small farms and mostly corn in the fields. Several buggy signs. Only saw one out this dismal morning. A father and his young son and daughter. The little boy waved to me, I waved back. After almost 100 wet miles I reached Rouses Point and crossed the Richelieu River into Vermont, less than a mile south of the Canadian border. From here I started to see the purple mountains of Vermont. Wouldn’t be long before I was cruising through them.

The scenery changed once I crossed the border. Still a few farms and several meadows but mostly tree lined roads. Even when I got back on the interstate the highway was split by forest. Most of Vermont was windy roads, no really sharp or hairpin turns, just the really good ones. The kind you back off the throttle just a little, lean left then lean right. Very few straight shots. The rain never got too bad. Most of it was just wet roads which, on a bike, will get you just as wet.

After several wet miles the weather began to look like it was clearing and the roads were drying up. Time to get out of this rain suit! That lasted about fifty miles and the rain started up again. Not a lot of places to pull off and suit up in the mountains and all off the services are a few miles off the interstate. I took the next service exit and stopped at the next safest spot to suit up. As I wrestled on my pants I was startled by a very large piece of construction equipment with very large wheels coming my way. Luckily I was far enough over that he could get around and wasn’t at all upset that I was in his way.

Through the tree covered mountains of Vermont I continued and eventually made my way to New Hampshire. I saw the state sign ahead and started to pull off for my picture. There was an exit ramp there and apparently it was decided that the sign should be put there instead of on the actual highway. So I missed it. No worries, I’ll just pull a u-turn when I get to Maine.

New Hampshire was just like Vermont. Except at this point I was on two lane roads. Slow going at times and very few places to pass. Villages and townships pop up every few miles and slow you down further. But the ride is so amazing, even in the rain. Much of it is just lined by trees and some parts cut through the mountain and are surrounded by huge rock walls. In some spots the trees actually cover the road. Dad would have loved this ride today, rain or shine. I was reminded of our trip to ride the 3 Twisted Sisters. We hit a straight stretch of road that cut down into the landscape. Had to of had 100ft rock face on either side. Dad just threw both hands up, “Gah, look at this!” That’s one I’ll never forget. He loved the open road and the beauty it has to offer. As do I.

After another 100 plus miles I came to the Maine state line. Photo chance! Not today. Construction has the asphalt tore up completely. Dirt road for the first two miles of Maine. No chance for either Maine or New Hampshire signs. But I cross back into New Hampshire tomorrow so, with a little luck, I’ll get them both then.

As soon as the asphalt returned I pulled off for water and to get out of the rain suit again. Another mistake. It’s almost 5:00 at this point so time to find a stopping point. Called a KOA in Seco and just barely reached the office before they closed. It’s another hour down the road but I should get there before sundown. And I do, but not before more rain. I’m still on two lane back roads with amazing turns and tree coverage but the rain still falls. The clouds didn’t look too serious so I figured I be through it quick and not get too wet. Wasn’t through it quick but I didn’t get too wet.

I arrived at the campground right around 6:00 and setup camp. The entire place is covered with trees and the sun setting through them is majestic. After a short visit with a fellow camper and his dog, Max, I was off for some dinner. I’m in Maine so it’s got to be lobster. Found a place on the coast, The Shack. Now I’ve had lobster before but never as a whole lobster, not that I recall anyway. And pardon the photo but I’d already torn into the claws before I thought to take a photo. It was very tasty and pricey as lobster tends to be. But, and I told my waiter this too, aside from seasoning it was nothing more than a giant crawfish, he agreed. I even ate the thing the same way, mostly.

After dinner I made my way down to the beach. A short walk from the restaurant. Boots, vest and all, down to the water line. In the last twelve months I’ve seen all three bodies of water that surround the United States – the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and now the Atlantic. There are some folk out there that accomplish that in a week with their work travels and there are some who have never seen any of them. For this Texas boy it’s an accomplishment.

Spent most of the day in my rain suit. No rain tonight but hopefully that remains through the night and into the day tomorrow. Should cover most of the other states. So far we’ve covered New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and half the mileage for Maine. Should get most, if not all, of the others knocked out tomorrow. Traffic and weather permitting. We only covered 417 miles today. Feels like more but rain, and wind, will do that.

And so, sleep well my faithful followers. Enjoy your day tomorrow and tune in again next time. Same bike time, same bike channel.

Who’ll stop the rain?