Northeast Ride Report - September 28-30 2007

[bush]

Ok, so it's taken me a while to post these pictures, but I figured I should get around to it before jeepcoma runs out of Midol and fresh tampons. I'm eventually going to put together a website for my rides complete with full reports, but a quick overview will do for now.

I started in Williamsport PA, at around 6AM on Semptember 28th. I made a quick stop for gas at the local Sunoco and picked up some Gatorade. I took Brian along for the ride hoping he'd enjoy the scenery. I took him off the windscreen and strapped him onto the tail bag shortly after setting off, he kept trying to jump off the bike.

[bush]

The first stretch of US15 N was dark and foggy, but as the weather warmed the sky started to clear. The sun was trying to poke through the clouds just as I crossed the border and rode toward Corning, NY. I pulled off on the shoulder of an overpass to take these photos, and the autofocus didn't seem to like the low-light.

The weather was chilly but not unbearable.

[bush]

My first stop was at 94.3 miles, at a gas station between Corning and Ithaca. I topped off my tank, made sure Brian was wearing his seatbelt, inhaled some crackers and Gatorade, and shook off some odd looks from skeevy truckers.

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I shot north through Ithaca and up the east shore of Cayuga Lake. The road turned east and before I knew it I was tearing through the empty, curvy, picturesque landscape of farms and small towns.

I had to stop at this lake to take a picture, it was very peaceful. This entire stretch of road was the perfect route.

[bush]

For those of you who have never been to eastern New York state, Route 20 is a four-lane divided highway that I first thought was an abandoned road. I saw maybe 5 cars in the first ten miles of traveling on this road, so I pushed it to 80 in a 45.

Then I crested a hill and shit my pants. $155 for 55 in a 45. The officer knew I was going faster, but he cut me a break and I thanked him for it. Made for a great photo op, but he didn't get the memo on my helmet.

After taking the picture he told me that he was turning around and going back to the spot where he caught me. "I have this stretch of highway for 12 miles in that direction, so do whatever you want."

I did the speed limit.

[bush]

The rest of the state was uneventful, with the exception of some awesome road. I eventually crossed the border into Vermont and made a quick stop at the Bennington Monument: Bennington Vermont, a Walking Tour

I couldn't fit the entire thing into one frame, and I was on a quest to cover some mileage.

I should probably mention at this point that I lost Brian somewhere in New York before I was pulled over. Little bastard probably found a skank-ass collie and hooked up.

[bush]

Route 9 in Vermont is a dream to ride. It twists in and out of small towns and up to the top of the hills. I had to stop at one point called the Hundred Mile View. I spent a few minutes at this location letting sink in.

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I crossed into New Hampshire and the roads were still amazing. On the seventh day, God created Route 9 and all was good.

And an empty creek bed, because I took my camera when I went into the woods to drain the lizard.

At this point, traffic was increasing because it was a Friday, and everybody was either driving somewhere for the weekend or heading home from work. Traffic in NH put a real damper on the riding fun, and I didn't make it to the coast on the first night.

I didn't even know I was in Maine until I stopped and asked for directions. It was dark, I didn't have a GPS, and reading the directions on my tank bag was impossible. I rolled into Saco around 8:00 PM.

I didn't camp on the beach, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Day 1: 14 hours, 523 miles.

[bush]

I intended to wake up at 6AM and get an early start, but I laid in bed until 8 and enjoyed my "HOLY SHIT THIS THING IS HUGE" bed and "these are made of clouds" pillows. Rolled out before 9AM and hit the road north to Cape Elizabeth.

My first view of the coast was in Two Lights State park. I could hear the waves crashing before I crested the hill. Moments like this make the journey.

The lighthouse is one of two in the community (hence the name Two Lights), but one was converted to a home and is no longer functional. Apparently the entire town hates those bastards and stands outside with torches and pitchforks every night. I swear I'm not making this up. Really.

The coast is beautiful.

[bush]

I walked along the path on the beach, and found what looks like an old bunker. Of course I had to walk down on the rocks and take some photos. I still couldn't believe I had some so far in just a little over a day.

This entire part of the coast is carved by the tide.

Wouldn't you like a house overlooking the Atlantic? I would. Two, please!

[bush]

The environment here put me into an artistic mood and I thought it would be cool to capture some shots of the waves crashing against the rocks. I use one of these for a wallpaper on my PC at home.

Caution: You will get wet on this ride

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Rocks. Lots of rocks.

The path winds along the beach all throughout the park.

And my mangina had to get a picture of the butterfly that was following me around. This picture was actually taken from about 15 feet away with my handed-down-from-Zeus-himself optical zoom.

[bush]

I left Two Lights and went a little farther up the coast to the Portland Head Light. This is a huge tourist attraction. I've never seen more suspenders, blue hair, tour buses, and 35mm cameras in one spot. There were a few professional photographers here as well.

The lighthouse is one of two that mark the entrance to Casco Bay.

[bush]

I took a lot of photos here. I even visited the gift shop like a good little tourist.

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More from the Portland Head Light.

I successfully resisted the urge to ring the Huge Freakin' Bell.