The 2nd Annual Maine Chowdah Run

[Fred W]

Barry,

That is an awesome idea. Do not let that family move back to Kali without having seen the gem of the northeast (Acadia NP).

It would also be really great to meet them before you all run away to the left coast.

PS - It looks like this year it will be a "more intimate group of riders" , probably due in no small part to my needing to kick it off on Thursday. But as mentioned in post #1 if you can only do part of this ride, the first day is the one to miss. Better scenery and less traffic up above Portland, that is for sure.

 

[bbdig]

Just made reservations for Thursday , Friday and Saturday for myself,the bride and another couple who ride a retrofitted Harley(ie it now has original equipment mufflers) :yahoo:

 

[cota95]

J another couple who ride a retrofitted Harley(ie it now has original equipment mufflers) :yahoo:

Wow, a rare model.

 

[Sno Cat]

The roads in Maine are starting to come around, the winter sand is mostly gone but still some frost heaves. Did a 200 mile loop today, nice to be back on the road!

 

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

Blasphemy!!!!!!! My father in law was up at Alison's in Kennebunkport and had the chowder... said it was salty.... which, is unusual, since this guy puts salt on everything!! I figure he must have put his salt lick in it for sure before even tasting it, so I chocked it up to that and shrugged it off. Sadly, I have to report that I went up there last week when my sister flew in for a vist and I was deeply disappointed. It wasn't so much salty as it seemed to be, well, blah..... just blah. Bland. Watery. Grit. Extremely disappointed. I am the guy who will eat a steak that is well done even if I asked for it rare, just because I hate to complain. But, given that I knew (potentially) a whole sector of a public forum traveling by two wheels would be anticipating good chowder on a Clam tour, I decided to broach the subject with the waitress. She tried to alay my concerns stating that the soups are made fresh daily and that perhaps this one batch was perhaps off a bit. I asked if the recipe was changed, and she said no. I wasn't feeling chipper or reassured.

Being that I have NEVER gotten a bad batch of chowder anytime I've ever been there, I do feel they still deserve a return visit just to give them the benefit of the doubt. The only other thing that I noticed was that before you used to be able to get either a bowl or a cup of chowder. Now, it only comes as a cup AND you end up paying the bowl's price :angry:

The other food items on the menu are still just as good as they ever were. But, seeing as how this ride is supposed to be about the chowder, I only thought it fair to report on the atricites being commited in such a cruel, and unusual way.

G'day.

 

[Fred W]

Oh sure. Scare away the 3 people that were planning on going on this ride... :angry:

Just kidding. Alisson's may be your favorite, but having tried both, I think that the Maine Diner stacks up well against it. So even if they (Alisson's) have gone down the dumper, there is a whole lot of other (good) places on the list. And while the original emphasis of Day 1 of the ride is sampling of chowder and oogling of lighthouses, it's really all about getting together with like minded folks for a ride.

Like BkrK12 was saying at breakfast yesterday: It used to be that we would just go out and ride around together. Now it seems like we need somewhere to ride to. And that usually involves food.

 

[cota95]

I am sitting in a motel at Bryce Canyon right now with the temp at 19 and I'm really looking forward to some HOT chowdha...

 

[Fred W]

I am sitting in a motel at Bryce Canyon right now with the temp at 19 and I'm really looking forward to some HOT chowdha...

19? :dribble: Holy carp. Hope it warms up for you soon George!!

 

[bluejag]

We just sampled the chowda at the Cliff House yesterday,,Very good.. But I doubt very much they would allow a bunch of fully geared up :crazy: murdercyclist to invade the dining room for a mere chowda chomp 'n run :nono:

 

[cota95]

I am sitting in a motel at Bryce Canyon right now with the temp at 19 and I'm really looking forward to some HOT chowdha...

19? :dribble: Holy carp. Hope it warms up for you soon George!!

Warmed up to 31 at the summit by 10. I'm now outside Grand Canyon and it's 60...all is good.

 

[ionbeam]

... I doubt very much they would allow a bunch of fully geared up :crazy: murdercyclist to invade the dining room for a mere chowda chomp 'n run :nono:

If there are enough customers (even in full gear) to warrant one waitress 100% of the time and derail the kitchen for a mass order I think we would be welcome. In the business, up is UP and you grab what you can when you can. I've seen the eat to ride & ride to eat New Englanders and I think we would leave a good karma with a full stomach and an empty wallet....

 

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

George- Enjoy your ride! We expect no less than a full write up on your return!

Alan- I agree, I don't think too many places would turn down a reasonably sized group as long as they can accommodate them for space. Unless of course they knew it was for just chowdah!! Sshhhh.....

 

[sullivan]

Bike didn't sell today. So since it's third birthday is coming up this Saturday, I should be able to take a spin for the fun of it to note the 3 years, probably joining on Thursday and possibly Friday. I'll know more next week. Be prepared for my Portland tour guide approach and my defense of the 5pm traffic we hit last year!

 

[Fred W]

It'll be real good to have you along, Sully. :thumbsup: [subliminal] Don't sell your FJR. It's the best bike you've ever owned [/subliminal]

With the late AM (and Thursday vs. Friday) start, and the laissez faire approach we're taking this year, I'm anticipating much less traffic thru Old Town and up into Freeport. [subliminal] Don't sell your FJR. It's the best bike you've ever owned [/subliminal] We're going to be on a really relaxed :drag: time schedule this time, so hopefully we'll roll into the Freeport Inn considerably later than last time. [subliminal] Don't sell your FJR. It's the best bike you've ever owned [/subliminal] And then just hand at the Rusty Scupper for drinks and such...

 

[MEM]

It'll be real good to have you along, Sully. :thumbsup: [subliminal] Don't sell your FJR. It's the best bike you've ever owned [/subliminal]

With the late AM (and Thursday vs. Friday) start, and the laissez faire approach we're taking this year, I'm anticipating much less traffic thru Old Town and up into Freeport. [subliminal] Don't sell your FJR. It's the best bike you've ever owned [/subliminal] We're going to be on a really relaxed :drag: time schedule this time, so hopefully we'll roll into the Freeport Inn considerably later than last time. [subliminal] Don't sell your FJR. It's the best bike you've ever owned [/subliminal] And then just hand at the Rusty Scupper for drinks and such...

YAY! so how many are we?

I hope to fire up the Feej sometime between now and the 19th. SH***Y weather here these daysweeks :glare:

Booked my rooms on Sunday

 

[bluejag]

Yes It would be good to know an idea of who many just in case Fred&Co. may need to warn the chowda chefs to the impending onslaught of hungry chowda chompers :yahoo: we also may have one door prize to give away so we may need some I.D.

 

[cota95]

Fred,

I'm in MO right mow but I could set up a spot page so the poor SOB's that are not able to make the ride can eat their hearts out at home...

I will be there with 4 people and 3 bikes incase a count is asked for while I'm on the road.

George

 

[sullivan]

It'll be real good to have you along, Sully. :thumbsup: [subliminal] Don't sell your FJR. It's the best bike you've ever owned [/subliminal]

With the late AM (and Thursday vs. Friday) start, and the laissez faire approach we're taking this year, I'm anticipating much less traffic thru Old Town and up into Freeport. [subliminal] Don't sell your FJR. It's the best bike you've ever owned [/subliminal] We're going to be on a really relaxed :drag: time schedule this time, so hopefully we'll roll into the Freeport Inn considerably later than last time. [subliminal] Don't sell your FJR. It's the best bike you've ever owned [/subliminal] And then just hand at the Rusty Scupper for drinks and such...

Big chuckle. Thanks for making me laugh! (Still glad I have it, even though it's an AE)

 

[sullivan]

I'll be working this week in Bath, just two blocks from Mae's. May pop in to say some regular customers will be needing some tables. clicky Mae's

 

[Fred W]

Sounds good, Sullivan. They did handle us with great aplomb (and no warning) at Mae's last year. And that was on a Saturday morning! This year it will be on Friday AM, but at this point I really have no firm idea who is (how many are) attending!!

So far I think we have:

Me and Mrs W (2)

Our son on the 'strom (1)

MEM (1) meeting us along the way somewhere on Thurs.

Zip (1+3) meeting wife and kids at MDI

bb and Mrs dig (2)

bbdig's friends on a quiet Harley (2)

cota and Mrs 95(2)

cota95's friends (2)

blue and Mrs jag (2)

sullivan (1) Th-Fr?

total: 16 + 3 (on 11 bikes)

Maybes:

RossKean (1)

VanHarlan (1)

ion and Mrs beam? (2)

De Oppressor Liber (2?) working on his schedule

snocat (1) may meet us on MDI

Any corrections?