Anyone want to come out and play on Friday 6/25

[Fred W]

I have a couple of sections on the Whites route for the upcoming Whites and Greens ride that I need to scout out to make sure they are as good as they look on GPS/Mapsource, and I have about a 32nd of an inch left on my current tire set that needs to be burnt off before I mount up some new PR2s for the end of June inspection deadline.

This Friday looks to be a spectacular weather day for a ride. I don't mind doing the scouting alone, but thought there may be someone (else) that wanted to play a lil hooky and get out for a little jaunt in them thar hills.

 

[FJReady]

OooH- thats almost too good to resist. I was up in the Whities yesterday and there were many good miles to be had. Did about a 350 mile loop(sorta) from Bethel (ME) to Rangeley to Errol to Colebrook to Canuckistan border(and back) to Groveton to Berlin to Jackson to Intervale then (via Hthe Hurricane Rd.)finally to Fryeburg Harbor and Lovell ME for a brew at Ebaneezer's. Something like that.

Found a new road I liked from Groveton NH to Berlin, NH. (Rt110) Hadn't been on it before. Very nice and no traffic to speak of. Saw a couple farm tractors though.

Starting to get a lot of vacationer traffic now that schools out. Lots of minivans and SUVs in the Jackson/N.Conway area. Yuck! they drive like old ladies. Seem to think that going the speed limit on winding mountain roads is acceptable. WTF?

Did not get to Bear Notch or the Kank this weekend. Tried to stay north and west of the Bike week gangs.

I still like that road (Rt16) from Rangeley to Errol. I know its out of the White Mountain Region, but its fun and scenic.

If by some unimaginable twist of fate I can sneak out of my regularly scheduled duties this Friday, I'll let you know.

 

[Fred W]

Cool. I've not ridden the 110 section you speak of either (placing in memory banks for later recall). Most of my Whites route is further south so we are within range of the West Leb home base. But do let me know if you can get two days to play this week...

 

[cota95]

I might be able to make it. Where and when?

 

[Fred W]

Oh crap... now you're asking me for a commitment!

How about Friday 6/25 - @ 9AM start at the Dunkin Donuts in Boscawen, NH (Rte 3 and 4) just off I93?

I want to head west from there on 4 (just cause I like it) and do a new section thru / near Lebanon, then up through Hanover and we can run a bunch of fun roads through the western Whites. Lunch at Fabyan's Station (after Bear Notch), then we can do whatever after lunch (the rest of my route is solid).

 

[Fred W]

Correction, we should be in Lincoln at around 1 PM and should probably stop there (somewhere) for lunch, then we can loop across the Kank and up thru Bear notch, Carter Notch and down thru Franconia Notch.

 

[S76]

I would love to come out and play, but have to work.

I don't mind work, but I find it cuts into my day.

 

[Fred W]

So here's my final plan. Tomorrow AM I'll stop at the Dunkin Donuts in Boscawen, NH (see map link above) at 9 AM. Won't be hanging around too long so don't be late.

From there I'll be heading west to Lebanon, then looping up through the western whites.

At around 1PM I'll be stopping at the McDonalds parking lot in Lincoln, NH only as a landmark to meet up with Charlie Hoss and copilot Arlene, and anyone else that stumbles along there. (We'll go find someplace better in town for lunch).

After lunch we'll head across the Kank and up Bear Notch, Crawford Notch, Franconia Notch, etc, etc. After getting back to Lincoln my route testing will be complete and we can go any direction, probably back towards the east to get closer to Turner, Maine.

Weather is going to be stellar!! Low 80's and sunshine.

 

[FJReady]

Don't wait for me Fred. Couldn't get a hall pass for tomorrow.

Looks like you'll have a stellar day. Enjoy!

 

[Charlie Hoss]

Fred,

After further brain cell recall, I'm pretty sure that pub we talked about is in Woodstock, the next town over from Lincoln. DOL will probably remember the name.

 

[Fred W]

That makes sense now. We can still meet at Mickey D's parking lot and wander on over there.

 

[Fred W]

Route testing was a complete success!! Some roads ruled out. Some new ones ruled in (way in). Double checked the dirt road through Hardscrabble, NH and it is still in primo condition. You could do flat track slides on that thing.

Met Charlie Hoss, SO Arlene and ST1100 friend Bob in Lincoln for the afternoon loop. THanks guys! Hpe you enjoyed the ride.

This was really fortuitous as I needed some real live witnesses to the Black Bear that I nearly center-punched on Bear Notch Rd at 50 mph today. The little peckerhead scrambled out of the brush and long grass about 20 ft in front of me. Deploy ABS Captain!!

But, unlike the stupid ruminants that can't seem to get out of the way (see sig icon), Li'l Yogi looked right up at me, muttered something like "Mwooghh!!" (Bear talk for "Oh ****") and exited (quite quickly) stage left. I missed the little feller by about 4-5 feet max. I definitely did not want to hit him. He looked like he was at least 130 lbs of solid bear. He must have been a 1 year old, not small enough to be one of this year's brood. Must have been raiding the pic-a-nic baskets last season to get so plump.

After I passed him I was looking back in my mirrors, half way expecting to see Momma Black bear come out of the woods and chasing after Charlie and Bob!! I stopped a few hundered feet up the road to make sure they had witnessed it. Cause if not, I definitely would have gone back and done it again... (not)

Bear missing aside, it was a fabulous day for a ride in northern New England. Any of you that wimped out and missed out on riding today, the weather (up here) was perfect.

No, not just your run of the mill, every day perfect... it was absolutely, spectacularly, magnificently perfecto perfect.

I was humpin' pretty good to get the full loop tested and getting the to and fro from home done, so no photo evidence that this even took place whatsoever. Left the house before 8AM and didn't get home till around 7PM as it was. The Mainiacs had about another hour to go to get home. And that was with nary a rest stop before lunch in Lincoln.

I'm really liking the Whites route this year. And I'm sure that Tom's Greens ride will be just as good if not better.

 

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

Yes, Fred, got the new bike. It shore is purdy, but she'd be much faster if'n she were blue! LowCountryJoe took awesome care of her and has some really nice farkles on her, including some ho-made farkles!

Wish I coulda made the scouting ride with ya today, but had kid duties then work. But, on the good side, I will be making the ride in August! I'm considering either trying to find a place to pitch a tent for the night or maybe even just ride home to save the extra hundred bucks. Things are a little tight so the wife is trying to cinch the belt down a bit. We only live an hour and a half or so away, so the commute for both days rides wouldn't be too bad.

How'd the scouting go today? You certainly had nice weather for it! :yahoo:

 

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

Fred,After further brain cell recall, I'm pretty sure that pub we talked about is in Woodstock, the next town over from Lincoln. DOL will probably remember the name.

Charlie,

I believe you are referring to the Woodstock Inn. Sorry for catching this late. Story of my life- a day late and a dollar short! You know the drill!

CJ

 

[Fred W]

CJ,

Chas figured it out (eventually), though we opted for a less expensive pizza / subs place in Lincoln that filled the lunch bill. Quicker in an out too.

As for camping options for the Greens/Whites, I'm sure there are some campgrounds nearby. The down side would be having to haul all the camping crap around for 2 days rides. The hotel is really a pretty good deal. For the $99 per night (double occ.) you do get a nice big breakfast spread. Maybe you can sell it to the wife that way? At least for Saturday night.

 

[ionbeam]

Well dang, sorry to have missed the ride. We spent the earlier part of the week ~120 miles northwest of Montreal, so I had to go in to work on Friday.

Sounds like it was another Fine Day Out.

 

[bluejag]

Thanks Fred for the recon for Greens & Whites I drew the short straw, and HAD to cover the shop. good for you that you dodged the B Bear but your Karma is WAY HIGH from now on :yahoo: I'll request that ALL Bears (NOT BEERS) Shall be within safe distance of the roadways in August :yahoo:

 

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

CJ,
Chas figured it out (eventually), though we opted for a less expensive pizza / subs place in Lincoln that filled the lunch bill. Quicker in an out too.

As for camping options for the Greens/Whites, I'm sure there are some campgrounds nearby. The down side would be having to haul all the camping crap around for 2 days rides. The hotel is really a pretty good deal. For the $99 per night (double occ.) you do get a nice big breakfast spread. Maybe you can sell it to the wife that way? At least for Saturday night.

I think it's a good deal, too. She is just a little reactionary as she always feels the pinch when the outflow of cash exceeds the inflow! I'm sure she'll come around. Besides, she HATES camping!! :lol:

Oh yeah, strong work on getting on the binders to avoid Yogi!

 

[Charlie Hoss]

But, unlike the stupid ruminants that can't seem to get out of the way (see sig icon), Li'l Yogi looked right up at me, muttered something like "Mwooghh!!" (Bear talk for "Oh ****") and exited (quite quickly) stage left. I missed the little feller by about 4-5 feet max.

The bear wasn't the only one yelling "Oh ****"!

Real nice ride, something like 320 miles for us. Arlene put a couple of bruises on my rib section as we tried to keep up with Fred, passing long lines of slow pokes over the double yellows and chasing him thru the twisties on the Kancamangus. Not sure what Bob thought of our FJR riding style. He did mention something about everything being a blur. After getting waaaaay ahead of traffic we slowed to a more agreeable pace for the rest of the ride. We made it home from Meredith, NH, in 2 hours, arriving home at 6:45 PM, pretty well beat after 4 days of CFR and then this great ride. Thanks, Fred.