Laconia Trip day 2

Woke up Saturday to  the sun peaking over the mountains and just wispy clouds in the sky.

The grounds

Got breakfast going and dried off the bikes.

We headed out to the Kancamagus trail.
Last year we did it in the rain. It was impressive but we couldn't enjoy it.
This year? sunny...perfect temp..perfect!

There were streams.

There were valleys and scenic lookouts.

There were rock faces.

We didn't make any mileage...we kept stopping to enjoy.
There were nice little rest stops everwhere so you could stop and check things out.

The trail ends in Conway which is a nice little town.

We headed into Maine to get to the ocean in Portland.
Maine looks very quaint and nice in the country side.

Portland was a bit of a surprise. Large sections of it were run down and scary looking.

The Harley dealership was nice,


but nobody we asked could give us decent directions to get to the ocean.
And nothing is marked on their signs.
Lots of highway numbers,but no "goes here".
We found the port, but did not stick around.

We decided to head to Portsmouth back in New Hampshire.
Took a bit of an unintended detour,( f'ckin Maine and the lack of signs with info...) but got there safe and sound.

A weird thing...you are entering on the highway at 95Km per hour, and you hit the world's biggest traffic circle.
Even weirder?...the people there know how to use them.( ahem ...people of Ottawa)

1 block up we saw a sign.... " Ocean beaches -  turn next left "

What a novel idea...direct your tourists to where they want to go .( ahem..Portland ...city of no fricken signs)

The Ocean was everything I hoped for.

Lots of areas to pull off and get off the bikes to check things out.
Everything well manicured and very New England looking.

It was low tide.

We checked out the rocks and the water.

Stopped for crab cakes at this little place along the ocean.

More riding around taking in the sites.

Then it was back to Lincoln ..out through the world's biggest traffic circle...and a 2 hr ride.
We were pretty beat when we got back to the motel.
We got cleaned up, and went out for pizza.

It was real easy to go anywhere...just throw on your vest...or not... and go.
No helmet to carry around when you got to your destination.

When we were on the highways Brent liked to wear his helmet.
I didn't want to, so I didn't.
I saw people who wore them,  riding with people who didn't.

Pretty novel this concept of being able to decide for yourself !

Canadians don't seem to see their liberties and freedoms disappearing .

I will once again.... step back from the rant....



The weather for Sunday was looking pretty good...hot and sunny.

Sunday was going to be "go to Laconia day", and then head out of the region to somewhere else.

Laconia trip part 1

Back from a 4 day trip to New Hampshire and regions.

Friday started out early, with Brent and I leaving from my place at 7:30 am.

Up 416 to the bridge, and through customs....no cavity searches required.

Northern New York is a drag to ride through...the scenery isn't that great, and the roads are not good.
And is there a law against painting the outside of your house?

The only cool thing was the windmills...tons of them above Malone.




They are a blight on the landscape, yet somehow awe inspiring in their numbers.

Once we hit Champlain and Rouses Point the view started to change for the better. We rode down Grand Isle in Lake Champlain .

Nice scenery...a leisure ride.

On Grande Isle


Now we were in Vermont, and the riding took a turn for the better.

Vermont is kind of like what you picture Vermont would be like...

The Mountains are truly remarkable. Every turn has a new surprise.


Finally hit the sign saying "New Hampshire" about 2 pm, and we were pulled over within about 5 feet of it, and the helmets came off.

Started riding with smiles, that must have made us look like a pair of mongoloids.



                                        Losing the helmets !



Woosh...the stress and all the bad shit is gone from your life !
It can't exist in this world.
I waited all f--kin year for that feeling....you know the one...freedom.

I enjoyed every minute of it the entire time I was in New Hampshire.

State motto on licence plates?

Live Free or Die.Back in the real world Albert!... step away from the rant !

We rode into Lincoln around 3:45 pm in the pouring rain.

It rained for the last 10 minutes of our ride and then cleared.
We got checked in at the Profile Motel by Jim, got our stuff unpacked and went grocery shopping.

All the basics...bacon , pop tarts, coffee, eggs...

It's nice to get up in the morning and make your own breakfast and coffee before you set out.

Stuff cooks while you shower and get ready to go.

Headed out for dinner and found a real good Mexican place.

Brent asked for hot sauce that would "ruin our digestive system and bowels" and we were brought some.
It was "as advertised". :)


Headed back to the motel because it was looking very scary in the sky, and beat the rain by 2 minutes.

                                              Storm Blowing in.



Sat out front under the canopy drinking my ginger ale and relaxed.
It felt really good to be there. The weather was looking great for the next 3 days as well.

That was positive!

Quiet Week

Jock River

Jock River

Not a whole to report in the world of riding this week.

I got out for a couple of nice after dinner rides to Kemptville, Kars, North Gower, Manotick, Richmond...pretty local stuff.

Still nice rides though...you don't always have to go hours away to have a nice ride with a view.
We live in a pretty nice part of the country, as well.

With the coming weekend looking crappy weather - wise, i will spend some time getting the bike looked over for next week's trip to New Hampshire for bike week.
Only 7 more sleeps until we go !

Before a trip it is always good to go over the bike with your tools and make sure everything is snug and good, check air pressure in tires, fluid levels etc.
Who wants to be 600KM away and have something fall off the bike or have a breakdown?
That would suck.

Good time to go over my maps and map books as well.
It is easier to have a route semi-memorized before you head out, than be constantly stopping to figure out where you are.

Hopefully there will be little break in this rain, and I can get some kind of ride in...that is still more fun than checking fluids or cleaning the bike.

A Perfect Ride.

Sunny, nice day...not too hot.

I met Brent in Carleton Place for breakfast at the Gourmet restaurant on HWY 7.  It is actually a pretty good feed.

We decided to head up Haliburton /Wilberforce area.

The obligatory stop at Silver Lake :

The Bikes

Brent Relaxing

Headed up 7 to Madoc and turned on 62 towards Bancroft.
Turned left on 620 and drove through a bunch of nice towns like Coe Hill and Apsley.
Turned onto 118 to the 648 and headed up to Wilberforce. Anither really pretty town.

Awesome roads in the area, too. City of Ottawa should contact this township and ask how they do it....... :)

Stopped at one of the many nice lakes for lunch.
I brought us a nutritous feast of sandwiches and chocolate Pop-Tarts washed down  with Ginger ale.
I know...you are saying to yourself that Pop Tarts are usually a part of a balanced breakfast and not a lunch food...but we  live dangerously.

Lunch spot

Different view

Turned up Elephant Lake road heading to Maynooth, on a lark.
Good choice!

Lots of turns and really scenic. It was the best road of the day, for sure.
And no traffic.
That is even better.

From Maynooth we rode to Whitney, near Algonquin park, and came back through Madawaska and Barry's Bay.

Stopped at the lookout in Wilno...Canada's oldest Polish Settlement.


The Valley from the Lookout in Wilno



Lookout in Wilno

 

 

Plaque at Lookout.

 Wilno is a neat little town.

The people there are very proud of their heritage.

From Wilno we rode past Golden Lake into Eganville, then to Douglas, Renfrew,and stopped at the church in Burnstown.

I came home through Arnprior and Brent headed through Calabogie.

Checked out the tripmeter when I got home, and we had gone 650 km.

WTF ?

Sure didn't seem that long.......

That is the sure sign of a great ride....you get home feeling relaxed and happy, and can't believe all of the places you saw and visited.

I am Ok with that.



It's Friday and I have been off all week.

I worked on a project at the house, helped out my buddy Brent on a project he has going, did a little of my real job by remote, and did some riding of course!

Got out a couple of evenings with my wife. Did the canal, and another night went up through Carp and back, with a stop for ice cream.

Yesterday I left the house meaning to be gone for only a couple of hours, and ended up  gone for a 6 hr. ride.
I ended up at Mont Tremblant by way of Hawkesbury, Montebello.
A truly amazing area.
Mountains, lakes, rivers, rolling meadows , picturesque farms....
I had a hard time deciding when to stop and take pictures...it was like a sensory overload of "scenic vistas".

Ended up happy but sunburned.

The Laurentians

More Laurentians

The Red River in Brebeuf

More Red River

Today the weather was looking a little iffy with a good chance of thundershowers, so I got out for only  a couple of hours this morning.
Went along River rd. to Kemptville, then Merrickville, Smith Falls, Perth, Carleton place and home.
Wore a long sleeve shirt...arms still tender from yesterday.

Merrickville is a real pretty town.
It has the whole "heritage stone building" thing going,along with being on the Rideau at the locks.
Good combo.

Merrickville from the locks

The locks

The locks other view

Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and nice again. That probably means...a ride!

Holiday Monday

Was another beautiful day! Sunny and hot.

Got out this morning with my wife, along the canal and then to Hog's back.


This afternoon I did a quick trip to Gananoque, and came back along the St Lawrence.

The St Lawrence parkway

Random Island

Peaceful spot

There were a ton of bikes out today. Everybody was just enjoying July weather on a holiday in May.

There's nothing as disappointing as having a long weekend with crappy weather...as much as you tell yourself it is OK cuz it is still time off etc....it just plain sucks to look out the window and see a grey sky and wet roads.

I would much rather end the weekend sun burned, wind swept, stiff and sore.
These are the sure signs that fun occured.

I have some time off this week, so if there is some decent weather, I will get some rides in, between projects around here.

Long weekend

Pretty hard to argue with this weekend's weather....unless hot and sunny is not your thing.
Got out for a nice ride Saturday night with my wife along the canal and back up the Ottawa River parkway.
We stopped at the Experimental farm, of course. The lilacs are in bloom.
Mass plantings of anything are impressive.


Today Brent and I went on a good ride over on the Quebec side.
We crossed at Portage du Fort, and went up to Kazabazua.
From there Maniwaki, Grande Remous,Mont Laurier, and then home down the 309 to Buckingham.

We stopped at a little lake outside Otter lake, and there was hundreds of white suckers spawning in the shallows. Some of them looked to be a fair size...like 5lbs or so.

White suckers spawning

Lake near Otter lake

The lakes and Rivers were in full summer mode. Kids swimming, boating, jet skis...nice to see.

Highway 309 took us through some beautiful country in the  Laurentians .
The highway either has a lake, a river or a mountain running beside it the whole way. Almost too much to see.

Stopped along the 309

Lake off of the highway

The laurentians

All and all, a pretty awesome day.

New Tire

Exciting stuff!!
a new rear tire for the bike.

I had it installed at Black's Corners Tire ( link in my favourites).

Can't say enough good stuff about these people.... they are set up nicely, the pricing is hard to beat, and they do do good work.

They are also now stocking and can order in tires, brake pads and these cool ultra light batteries.

Up on lift

No Mar



Don

Sunday Ride

Got out for a small ride today.

Perth, Rideau Ferry, Toledo, Brockville and then home via 401/416.

Stopped for a quick break at a cool dam and swampy area .

Dam outside Mott's Mills

Leon and Brent and the bikes

Stream.

Nothing spectacular...just a nice run .

Good Cause and then some riding.

Today we (significant other and my son) went on a walk-a-thon for our favourite charity....Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services.

It is held at the park at Britannia Beach.

Sunny...no rain...perfect day for a walk-a-thon. 2.5 KM along the Ottawa River to Andrew Haydon park and back.

Ottawa River

Silent auction, Little Rays Reptiles for the kids, a BBQ and even a band!

Unfortunately, addictions isn't a glamour charity or one with a lot of curb appeal.
There are no baby seals with big eyes or youtube videos generating all kinds of support for the cause.
Enough preaching...



After the walk a thon we went for a ride along the Ottawa River parkway and the canal to see the tulips and crabapples.
Excellant riding conditions...warm and sunny with not much wind.

The crabs are at their peak today.

Photos don't do justice to these trees.
This many together looks amazing and smells out of this world.

Going to get some riding in tomorrow, I hope.
The next few days are sunny and warm...that is always good news for riding.