The Meeting of the Motorcycles

 The last two days have been ones of travel Sports Fans.

To catch you up...

1 September 2024

Routing from Fredericton to the Potatoe World Museum (Florenceville-Bristol) and Covered Bridge Chips. (Waterville) via Hartland NB to see the worlds longest covered bridge. The final destination is Woodstock NB.

Route taken: Route 104 and TransCanada Highway.

The drive was on roads of good quality for but 20 KMs of roads that I would rate a 4/10. Patches abounded and made up most of the tarmac and it was easy going as long as you kept your speed about 50 KM/H.

Before that the roads are delightfully twisty and I met a motorcyclist and we maintained a nice pace through the section from about Butts Corner to Southampton Junction where he turned off.

With that fun over I concentrated on enjoying the view and watching for wildlife though a majority of the highway is agricultural there was one section that was being used for logging and the ubiquitous Irving signs indicating there property were well in evidence.

For those who do not know, the Irving Empire is dominant in New Brunswick, with a vast array of enterprises, logging 5,346,264 acres of timber under their control between New Brunswick and Maine.

A short stop at Hartland to view and photograph the bridge and taking the time to visit the gift shop and find a well-written history of the bridge in a non-descript binder. THAT should be the focus of the shop, not the cheesy clothing.

Of course, Sports Fans, one needs to add the obligatory photo of a slightly dishevelled Red Mist.

Finally arrived at Woodstock NB and bedded down for the night.

View from motel.

2 September 2024

Routing from Woodstock to Gorham NH. I-95 to Highway 2 for twisties.

This drive was a little less active fun than the day before but it was highlighted by a nice convoy led by about 10 Harley riders.

I was in front of them but the road was so windy and had numerous speed zones from 35 MPH to 55 MPH as the road proceeded through mixed rural and light urban concentrations that, combined with the curves, there were not many places to pass safely.

I was about 3 miles out of town with these Harleys smelling the Red Mist's tailpipe I took the first safe opportunity to pull over and let them pass. Several of the bikers waved their thanks to me and I snapped in behind them and enjoyed them leading the charge, so to speak, as we passed through Maine towards New Hampshire.

After about 30 miles the group effectively disintegrated as they were not a formal group of riders but an ad hoc group that had coalesced during their rides and connected and shared the road for a while.

Stopped at the Dutch Treat Dairy Foods for an amazing cheeseburger, some OK fries and a coffee "frappe" which is a hard-serve milkshake. Dutch Treat offers soft and hard-serve flavours and their "milkshakes" are made with soft-serve ice cream.

From Trip Advisor.

It had that cool 50s and 60s vibe and these independent places need our support. The highways and bi-ways of North America are scattered with the shattered dreams of once proud and viable eating establishments.

If I ever come back this way I hope I can stop by the Dutch Treat and relive today's wonderful memory.

Got into Gorham and am set for the night. The Mist has been washed but the intermittent rain we are having precluded me from detailing her fully.

That's all Sports Fans!

Another great day of travel and adventures.

Tomorrow: A long awaited dream of driving up Mount Washington!