Covered Bridges of Southern NH 2011
- Thread starter Fred W
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ionbeam
2 FUN
FYI and see you at either the Circle K or Fiddleheads. Do be sure to bring hiking shoes, camera 'cause the views are awesome and perhaps some watta. The $4.00 fee is cash money only -- no plastic or checks.
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Thanks to all of the riders that showed up yesterday.
On the bonus side of the ledger, we got to ride through every one of the ride-able bridges this year. (So who was keeping track... How many bridges was that?)
The bridge in Bradford that was closed when we tested the route a few weeks ago (after Irene) has already been re-opened!!
And some other bridges that had been closed for repair in prior years were looking good!!
The detour around the Fall Foliage Festival in Warner was fairly painless.
We got in both sections of unpaved roads for that true FJR Dual Sport Team experience, and most of it was still a bit damp to keep the dust down. Sorry about that re-graded section on Parade Ground road. I hear breathing a little dirt is good for. :huh: It was nice and clear up front!!
We (meaning TMJ) managed to catch a few decent shots:
Morning light on the ride to Hancock
County Bridge is the "bonus bridge", only for those coming to Hancock through Greenfield
Rolling into Hancock
I love that first section going through the woods and fields just outside of Hancock
The first of many bridges on the Tour. (How many?)
Sometimes, to get a really good shot you just have to get the right "attitude". Dave shows how its done...
This church used to be out in the road. Seriously.
Last year they jacked it up and moved it out into the middle of the roadway (and created a detour around it) to re-build the foundation under.
Good looking line-up
The CFR FJR Dual Sport Team captain Jack, doing what he does best
Long shadows by the end of the ride.
Even with such a short ride, it was a full and fun day.
We had a great group, fantastic weather, and a great day. I hope you all had a good time.
My only regret is that the color was truly suboptimal. How could we have possibly known when planning this ride that the Foliage Union (FU? :huh: ) would go on strike?
Click here for a slideshow of all of our Covered Bridges Ride photos
On the bonus side of the ledger, we got to ride through every one of the ride-able bridges this year. (So who was keeping track... How many bridges was that?)
The bridge in Bradford that was closed when we tested the route a few weeks ago (after Irene) has already been re-opened!!
And some other bridges that had been closed for repair in prior years were looking good!!
The detour around the Fall Foliage Festival in Warner was fairly painless.
We got in both sections of unpaved roads for that true FJR Dual Sport Team experience, and most of it was still a bit damp to keep the dust down. Sorry about that re-graded section on Parade Ground road. I hear breathing a little dirt is good for. :huh: It was nice and clear up front!!
We (meaning TMJ) managed to catch a few decent shots:
Morning light on the ride to Hancock
County Bridge is the "bonus bridge", only for those coming to Hancock through Greenfield
Rolling into Hancock
I love that first section going through the woods and fields just outside of Hancock
The first of many bridges on the Tour. (How many?)
Sometimes, to get a really good shot you just have to get the right "attitude". Dave shows how its done...
This church used to be out in the road. Seriously.
Last year they jacked it up and moved it out into the middle of the roadway (and created a detour around it) to re-build the foundation under.
Good looking line-up
The CFR FJR Dual Sport Team captain Jack, doing what he does best
Long shadows by the end of the ride.
Even with such a short ride, it was a full and fun day.
We had a great group, fantastic weather, and a great day. I hope you all had a good time.
My only regret is that the color was truly suboptimal. How could we have possibly known when planning this ride that the Foliage Union (FU? :huh: ) would go on strike?
Click here for a slideshow of all of our Covered Bridges Ride photos
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bbdig
Well-known member
Nice ride Fred. Glad it was put off a week so I was able to do it. Too bad the bride was catching up on work but she says hello to everyone.
Foliage is probably past peak in Rangeley, ME. but if you have the time go ride 17 and 4 :yahoo: before winter destroys the 1" overlay. :angry2:
Foliage is probably past peak in Rangeley, ME. but if you have the time go ride 17 and 4 :yahoo: before winter destroys the 1" overlay. :angry2:
Willie
Well-known member
Great meeting up with you guys at lunch and riding for the remainder of the day. Good to put some faces to these monikers here. Thanks for planning the ride. It is not an easy task.
Willie and MeAsWe
OWKA: Bill and Crystal
Willie and MeAsWe
OWKA: Bill and Crystal
MEM
Well-known member
Wonderful ride report - as always !
Thank you for sharing
I'll make my own slideshow of this ride next year
Asphalt Junkie
Well-known member
Yesterday was great, and we hope part two today went just as well. Our day started off a bit shaky with a few minor electrical issues, but we're glad we pushed on to Fiddleheads instead of calling it quits and heading back home! We usually shy away from larger group rides, but so far the ones we've joined all you fellow NERDS for have been a lot of fun. Thanks to all who made yesterday happen!
It was great seeing some of you again, and meeting some of you for the first time. And Fred, we hope you enjoyed scrubbing in that new PR2 today!
Hope to see some of you again soon.
Paul & Gina
It was great seeing some of you again, and meeting some of you for the first time. And Fred, we hope you enjoyed scrubbing in that new PR2 today!
Hope to see some of you again soon.
Paul & Gina
MarFJR
URGNT
Day 2
1st issue I had was being spent from day 1
I usually reserve a day to recharge my batteries in between work weeks. Work, Ride and rest. But the moment is fleeting. Seasons are changing and time is getting shorter to get the moments outside on the bike.
I did not get out of bed on day 2 with the usual spring in my step, but a call from a friend woke me.
I was late, people where waiting and I was in my pajamas.
Looking at the clock and knowing the route I spring from bed and scrambled. I know the official ride time is KSU from fiddle heads at 9:30.
I shower as a courtesy to my fellow riders and am out the door. Yup Sandi is going to have a bad hair day but we are going to make the ride or bust!
I had to convince a soccer mom that she should let me pass her while she figured out what the hell she needed to figure out going from 5 under the limit to 20 under.
I made it! My group was Just sippin’ coffee and clearing there plates when we arrived. I bit of coffee and we where off for the ride!
Oh what a day! The colors and roads where awesome the road up to the mountain was amazingly beautiful. Getting me to Hike (Climb) was still worth it… TO DO ONCE In my otherwise smart looking bike boots.
Lunch was very good I think that 7 out of 10 FJR riders will also order the Cuban chicken and ham sandwich opting for the “Sweet potato fries”
I needed a nap after lunch but Sandi said she was NOT driving home so smoke or 2 latter we headed south.
A little beat, a lot of full and miles to go we headed home.
One more amazing ride with new friends made and old friends visited.
Thanks Fred-
1st issue I had was being spent from day 1
I usually reserve a day to recharge my batteries in between work weeks. Work, Ride and rest. But the moment is fleeting. Seasons are changing and time is getting shorter to get the moments outside on the bike.
I did not get out of bed on day 2 with the usual spring in my step, but a call from a friend woke me.
I was late, people where waiting and I was in my pajamas.
Looking at the clock and knowing the route I spring from bed and scrambled. I know the official ride time is KSU from fiddle heads at 9:30.
I shower as a courtesy to my fellow riders and am out the door. Yup Sandi is going to have a bad hair day but we are going to make the ride or bust!
I had to convince a soccer mom that she should let me pass her while she figured out what the hell she needed to figure out going from 5 under the limit to 20 under.
I made it! My group was Just sippin’ coffee and clearing there plates when we arrived. I bit of coffee and we where off for the ride!
Oh what a day! The colors and roads where awesome the road up to the mountain was amazingly beautiful. Getting me to Hike (Climb) was still worth it… TO DO ONCE In my otherwise smart looking bike boots.
Lunch was very good I think that 7 out of 10 FJR riders will also order the Cuban chicken and ham sandwich opting for the “Sweet potato fries”
I needed a nap after lunch but Sandi said she was NOT driving home so smoke or 2 latter we headed south.
A little beat, a lot of full and miles to go we headed home.
One more amazing ride with new friends made and old friends visited.
Thanks Fred-
Glad you could make it, Jack. These outings are always better when "The FJR DS Team Captain" can make it.
Bill, it was good finally meeting you two too. Now that you know (most of) the gang, don't be a stranger!!
It is always a big pleasure to ride with you two, too!
Glad that you did make it through the morning's travails. But you toughed it out and made it through your "three" problems for the day. Maybe that's why everything went without a hitch all day. Problems always coming in groups of three, you used them all up for us.
Oh. and Gina was absolutely right. As soon as I rode a few minutes on that new PR2 I was thinking: "Oh my God this feels so much better. What the hell was I thinking?"
I had a much better ride on Sunday than Saturday fighting that car tire all day.Glad that you did (finally) get your ***** out of bed and get out to enjoy the day. Just think of all the fun experiences that you'd have missed.
I did warn everyone that the hike to the summit required some good, sensible shoes. Funny thing about those mountains, the paths up them tend to get somewhat vertical somewhere along the line. Glad that you opted to make the summit
Oh, and sorry about that code 30.
You know I bet that it had as much to do with fatigue as anything else. Well fatigue, and me making you do a U turn on a 6 foot wide dirt road. But stick with me, buddy. I'll get those three point turn skills built up in no time at all... :lol: PS - You know that I'm just teasing ya'. We've (almost) all done that same or similar thing before. As was relayed to you during the Greenfield SP rest stop, anyone who actually rides their bike anywhere (more than just going to the corner store) has that happen now and again.
I've got some more of Josie's pictures (from yesterday) to go through and will post up any that look good later today.
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Dennis in NH
Well-known member
Hey all. Thanks for the ride yesterday. It was great to view the trees from behind a visor (or a windshield). That ride up Mt Kearsage through a canopy of colorful trees was such a treat and the views from the top were pretty cool. I've never been at the top of one of these NH mountains like that and it was a great experience. I liked the hike we had to do (a little work but not too long) -- kinda wish we had one of these mountains close by as it would make for a more interesting workout than my usual eliptical/stationary-bike workout.
You folks really don't think much of riding your bikes on dirt/gravel. On my way home, I traversed a dirt rode (shortcut) and it was much less dramatic than the first time I did it. I guess riding with you'all is not only fun but teaches me some good skills too . Only months ago I considered riding on dirt/gravel or parking it to be an adventure .
Thanks for leading us through Bedford Rd near of all places -- my home in Bedford! What a great road. I think a few years back, I took that road on my Vstar 1300 cruiser (didn't know the name at the time) and remember not liking it because it just had too many turns. Now I know to go out of my way to take it *because* it has all those turns. Funny how roads seem so much different on the FJR. If I had today off, I'd probably make my way there.
I hope to take my wife (probably by car and one day, hopefully, on pillion) to that Fiddleheads place in Hancock -- great food and nice small town atmosphere. Not to mention the beacon was the best I've ever had.
Anyway, it was a great way to see the colors, ride, and spend the day with a great bunch of folks. Now back to the realities of work...
Dennis
You folks really don't think much of riding your bikes on dirt/gravel. On my way home, I traversed a dirt rode (shortcut) and it was much less dramatic than the first time I did it. I guess riding with you'all is not only fun but teaches me some good skills too
. Only months ago I considered riding on dirt/gravel or parking it to be an adventure .Thanks for leading us through Bedford Rd near of all places -- my home in Bedford! What a great road. I think a few years back, I took that road on my Vstar 1300 cruiser (didn't know the name at the time) and remember not liking it because it just had too many turns. Now I know to go out of my way to take it *because* it has all those turns. Funny how roads seem so much different on the FJR. If I had today off, I'd probably make my way there.
I hope to take my wife (probably by car and one day, hopefully, on pillion) to that Fiddleheads place in Hancock -- great food and nice small town atmosphere. Not to mention the beacon was the best I've ever had.
Anyway, it was a great way to see the colors, ride, and spend the day with a great bunch of folks. Now back to the realities of work...
Dennis
Dennis, I'm so glad that you had a good time.
Yeah, we all learn and grow a little bit every day, influenced somewhat by who we choose to hang around with.
But you have one thing completely backwards, my friend.
Riding a motorcycle is the reality. It's work that is the non-reality, based entirely on preconceived notions.
Yeah, we all learn and grow a little bit every day, influenced somewhat by who we choose to hang around with.
But you have one thing completely backwards, my friend.
Riding a motorcycle is the reality. It's work that is the non-reality, based entirely on preconceived notions.
BigOgre
Well-known member
Could not have asked for a better riding weekend!!!
Ride home went smooth although I suspect going through Keene might have saved a little time. Ended up going north to go south as the next bridge was at Bellows Falls, Vt. Still made the 8:00 boat though and was in my garage just after 10:30.
Today looking at those great TMJ pics and I'm remembering how enjoyable every part of the weekend was. The fun company, good food, the high-altitude exercise afterwards to work it off, and of course the awesome roads. I couldn't imagine finding half those roads without the help of some LN. Thanks so much and hope to see you all again real soon.
Ride home went smooth although I suspect going through Keene might have saved a little time. Ended up going north to go south as the next bridge was at Bellows Falls, Vt. Still made the 8:00 boat though and was in my garage just after 10:30.
Today looking at those great TMJ pics and I'm remembering how enjoyable every part of the weekend was. The fun company, good food, the high-altitude exercise afterwards to work it off, and of course the awesome roads. I couldn't imagine finding half those roads without the help of some LN. Thanks so much and hope to see you all again real soon.
MEM
Well-known member
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MarFJR
URGNT
What code 30.. :blush: If I got the bike up before Helen could snap a picture it doesn’t count!
Yup, every time I go down dirt and gravel road I will be thinking cursing your name. With a small grin on my face.
MEM
Well-known member
:lol:Yeah, it was almost perfect. Almost, because we did miss you.(caught before the quick edit)
Maybe you didn't miss me, after all
I'm sure it was truly perfect
There's always next year...
omg...you're so sweet :blushing:
I'll fix y'all next year. I'll be there for a whole WEEK
You stay a week, I'm charging rent!! :lol:omg...you're so sweet :blushing:
I'll fix y'all next year. I'll be there for a whole WEEK
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And now, here are TMJ's piccies from Sunday's ride to Mt Kearsarge.
Meeting up at 8AM in September has a distinct "morning light" advantage...
The back roads between Hillsborough and Henniker don't suck.
Arriving at Rollins State Park there were only 2 cars ahead of us at the Toll gate. OTOH, when we came back down a couple hours later the line was about 15 -20 cars. Of course this was the Columbus Day long weekend in mid-foliage season, probably their busiest days of the year.
The steep and narrow road goat trail up the mountain was worth the $4 admission, even without the park at the top. It's only a bit wider than a single car width, so it was nice that we were early enough that nobody was coming down while we were scooting up. We wouldn't be quite so lucky on the way back down.
After we reached the gravel parking lot and the red flag waving attendant there was satisfied with our bike-to-parking-space density (that's how you know they were expecting a big crowd. There is normally nobody at the upper lot) we changed out of murdercycle PPE and into climbing togs and began our majorly assault on the summit. Luckily nobody brought along the lederhosen. That would have been kind of embarrassing.
Well unless it was one of the gals and they had beer like this... :dribble:
Half way up to the top is the first open outcropping ledge of granite. Just a tease of what is to come up higher
Me posing in the foreground, Alex (Aldawg) to left of me, and Mike (BigOgre) on right.
Alan (ionbeam) far right, Tony the Tiger (MarFJR) to his left, and Sandy (Tony's wife unit) in foreground, arrive at the first ledge halfway point.
Dennis (Dennis in NH) taking it all in from the ledge and capturing it on his smartphone!
Dennis is saying: "OK, I got the shot!! We can all go back down now..."
What he "got":
Helen (Mrs ionbeam) facing away and blocking ionbeam. Sandy and Tony were (privately) discussing whether to call it quits here. Afterall, it was very pretty right there and Tony didn't heed my warnings about appropriate climbing footwear.
No, no!! I tell them. You can't leave without going to the top.
We're already half way there, and the trip down is easy peasy.
Onward and upward. To the top!!
There are no tall mountains anywhere nearby, which makes the view truly spectacular.
Being as unseasonably warm as it was, there was some summer time haze. Somewhere hidden in that haze is the presidential range and Mt Washington.
So damn beautiful. No words to describe it accurately. I'm sure these photos don't either...
Down off the mountain (following some auto traffic) and a fun little jaunt across Roby Road and around Pleasant Lake we rolled on into the Flying Goose Brew Pub in New London. Dennis, Mike, Alan and Tony (left to right)
It was a little busy, so we got to rest a little longer over lunch a bit longer than than anticipated. But nobody was complaining and the sammiches were berry good as usual (food porn assist required here).
After lunch we took a back roads ride (what else do we do?) cross country and along the east shore of Lake Sunapee and down a few neat roads over towards Unity and Lempster. Some of the same area we had been Saturday, but on some different roads and from a different direction.
Blaisdell road is a little dirt connector road that I like to get over to Rte 10.
At Rte 10 we bid farewell to BigOgre. He had a good number of miles to go before catching a ferry back to the "Isle of Long".
And then we went off exploring ...
Garmina was apparently trying to take us the most direct route into Lempster and said go up this road. OK, sure... why not? Looks great!!
But the road began to get a little narrower...
and narrower...
...and narrower
...and finally this guy said: "Hey you boneheads. Get the hell out of here!!"
So I made a 3-point turn and we back tracked to the last paved road for an alternate way to Lempster. When I got down to the pavement I looked back and there was only Alex's headlight way back at the top of the last hill waiting for the others. We waited... and waited and just when I turned around to go back and find out what had happened, down the road comes Tony and Sandy with big old sheepish grins on their faces and a new Code 30 (stored along with the prior ones) in Tony' ECU.
But everyone was OK, including Tony's '10. Just a little fresh mud on the slider is all...
Once we got over to Lempster (where the windmill farm is from yesterday's ride) we stayed on Rte 10 down to Rte 123 one of our regular E-W back roads through Marlow and Stoddard back to the starting point at Hancock.
Shadows are gaining on us
...as we roll back into Hancock village.
Another nice day of riding fun to complete the fall foliage weekend with the NERDS.
Covered bridges, scenic lakes, riding up and climbing to mountain tops, eating good grub, and exploring new roads. It's all just part of the "Stuff" we New England Riders Do.
At lunch we were talking about upcoming group rides and realized that they are all next year. Yeah, this Covered Bridges weekend pretty much marks the end of the group ride season in New England. Other than cota95's Ride to the Rock (or is that freeze your ass into a rock?) the Saturday after Turkey Day, this is the end of 2011 group ride season up here. Yeah, we will grab a ride or two, all last minute stuff when the weather cooperates. But this is the end of the big ones.
We New Englanders do have to pack a lot of rides into our short season. I think we did a pretty good job of that this year. There was the Chowder Run in May, a bunch of NERDS that went up to join with the CFR folks in New Brunswick and Nove Scotia in June (and they have all subsequently been adopted), the big NERDS event in August, Joann and MEM and Geezer and I represented the NERDS at EOM and then this finale of a weekend, all interspersed with a smattering of Breakfast Meetings and quick pulled together "Rides to Eat" throughout the summer months.
No regrets. No problems. Just a lot of nice rides, great times with good friends, both old and new.
Our thanks to everyone that participated throughout the whole year.
We'll see you out there!
PS - Almost forgot. Here's the link to the slideshow of all of our pictures from Sunday
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Red07FJR
Active member
It took awhile but Ifinally got around to posting up the pics from my trip last fall down to met up with you guys! I enjoyed the weekend and Mt Washington was absolutely perfect this time.
Check out this thread for the slideshow of my 4 State 2 province tour on Columbus Day weekend 2011:
https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=141296&st=0&p=903782&fromsearch=1entry903782
See all of you again soon!
Check out this thread for the slideshow of my 4 State 2 province tour on Columbus Day weekend 2011:
https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=141296&st=0&p=903782&fromsearch=1entry903782
See all of you again soon!
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