Week One ---- Spring 2014 East
Day 1 - Monday - 5.5.14. 413 miles to
Bloomington IN...
Str Cty
: Madison Str Mls : 40730
End Cty
: Bloomngton End Mls : 41176
Dly Mls
: 414 Miles Tot Mls : 414
Miles
Time
: 7 Hours Notes : cold
\ hot
Left at 47 degrees and added clothes. Not warm until south of
Bloomington IL...Started taking them off at 82 deg in Decatur. I'm not as strong as last year and I pulled a
muscle in my right arm. Only mild
seizure-side pain periodically. By the time I arrived in Decatur all that
flowers was doing so and I saw some field corn showing. All the ground was worked and everything but
beans was in the ground. Arrived in Bloomington IN at 6 pm after a nice ride
thru the countryside. Normal, Decatur, Mattoon, Spencer, Ellettsville and here.
Dinner was included at the HIExp.
Day 2 -
Tuesday - 5.6.14 Caddy –
Kentucky/Tennessee
-- 344 miles.
Str Cty
: Bloomngton Str
Mls :
41176
End Cty
: Lenior, TN End
Mls :
41534
Dly Mls
: 344 Miles Tot
Mls :
758 Miles
Time
: 6.5 Hours
Left at 8:30 and rode south out of
Bloomington to Paoli and caught highway 150, a great road for motorcycles.
After crossing the Ohio River at Brandenburg I cut diagonally South-East on 2
lane roads. In south Kentucky I got on 129 beside Cumberland Lake..another
great motorcycle road ... as it led into Tennessee.. 27 was a continuation of
over and around..and going over 1500 feet in elevation. When I stopped in the
shade to get out of the 90 deg sun, I recognized the store and overhang as a
place where Paul and I waited out rain on our trip to HH last year. Arrived in
Lenior City, TN HIExp exhausted and aching in my right arm. Salad at Ruby
Tuesday's. Diarrhea all day.
Day 3 - Wednesday - 5.7.14 Blue Ridge to Asheville - 200 miles
Str Cty : Lenior City,TN Str Mls : 41534
End Cty : Asheville End Mls
: 41743
Dly Mls
:
200 Miles Tot Mls : 958
Miles
Time
: 4.9 Hours
Remembered my exercises this morning. Short day, hard
ride...up-down-left-right... Down 127 to 129 and, by accident, the Dragon (318
turns in 11 miles). Then thru Cherokee and Bryson City to the Blue Ridge
Parkway. After 70 miles, going over 6600' I arrived in Asheville. At this
elevation the conditions were pre-spring and many trees/bushes were flowering.
Like last year I went to the HIExp that was sold and I had to back track. Will
rest this afternoon and take a jaunt into town (It was very busy so I left.).
Dinner late.
Day 4 - Thursday - 5.8.14. On the BRP to Lexington, Va... 377 mis
Str Cty
: Asheville, NC Str Mls :
41743
End Cty
: Lexington, VA End Mls :
42174
Dly Mls
: 397 Miles Tot
Mls :
1335 Miles
Time
: 7.75 Hours Notes :
Blue Ridge Parkway
Dumped my bike and skinned my knee..but no marks on the bike. Undulating
between pre- and post- spring... Left and right tight in the beginning with
less turning toward the end. Rising to 5500' and averaged 3000'. Very hot, like
90, by the end of the ride. Some bushes were blooming but laurel had not
bloomed anywhere. Got to Nell's about 4:00 and visited for an hour. She
recognized me immediately ... Back tonite and again in the morning.
Day 5 -
Friday - 5.9.14 Shenandoah
National Park 105 miles/362 miles tot
Str Cty
: Lexington, VA Str Mls :
42154
End Cty
: Frackville, PA End Mls :
42549
Dly Mls
: 362 Miles Tot
Mls :
1698 Miles
Time
: 7.75 Hours Notes :
Skyline Drive 105
Very difficult visiting with Nell... It is difficult to have a
conversation with her as she limits her talk and her memory is very limited.
Rode 45 miles on the BRP and immediately entered the Shenandoah National Park
riding the Skyline Drive. It was pre-spring the entire length, except for the
sudden warmed area near Front Royal. No fields had been worked, even where the
areas were closer to summer. I ended up in 2 traffic jams in and around
Harrisburg, PA which delayed my progress. I rode the expressways to Harrisburg
and toward Scranton. At a HIExp in Frackville- worst and most uncivil HI I have
stayed at...over priced, below HI standards. Dinner was a bowl of clam
chowder...eating too much and poorly. Prepared for 60% chance of rain tonite
and tomorrow.
Day 6 - Saturday - 5.10.14 toward Vermont
in the sunshine...
Str Cty
: Frackville, PA Str Mls :
42549
End Cty
: Burlington, VT End Mls :
42961
Dly Mls
: 411 Miles Tot
Mls :
2109 Miles
Time
: 7.5 Hours Notes :
toured UVM x Burlington
The 49th and last state to ride... Burlington at 4 PM with 400 miles and
2051 total to date. Expected rain as 60% reported! but got up to last nite's
sprinkle and the sunshine. Rode every conceivable type of road- toll,
interstate, federal and state highways, county roads, streets - in a very
roundabout way to get here. Went thru PA, NJ, NY, MA, and into Vt. I cannot
retrace the roads. Rode thru Middlebury and the college.. Beautiful! I also
rode thru Williams College in Williamstown, MA.. Most areas were pre-spring and
none of the fields had been worked. I toured UVM and Burlington...impressive.
... I shall move here... Nice new buildings on campus, fixed up old buildings,
and the Main Street in Burlington is now a walk street..place looks to be thriving.
My right shoulder is hurting when I ride..Aleve takes the pain away.
Day 7 - Sunday - 5.11.14. Mothers
Day. Midddlebury and beyond...
Str Cty
: Burlington, VT Str Mls :
42976
End Cty
: North Conway,NH End
Mls :
43312
Dly Mls
: 328 Miles Tot
Mls :
2422 Miles
Time
: 7.25 Hours Notes :
VT + NH
Up late
and loafed until I was sure the Gordon's might be up..arrived there at 10 and
visited with nephews Chris and Todd, brother-in-law Howard, Trish and the kids
for an hour. Then on to Middlebury for a ride around town. 72 Court is
ramshackled. I went to east Middlebury to over the mountain on 125 but the
bridge was out so I had to go down to Brandon Gap. Luck would have it I found
and stopped at Chittenden Brook (the name-source for our farms and our family
campgrounds) Campgrounds and took a picture. Then I went up to the college
SnowBowl ski area (where I skied patrol in ‘67) and took a picture for Kelzie
(skied ’00). Finally, I found the Newton’s place and sent Paul a picture. I
rode past Ben and Jerry's theme place and unbelievably did not stop. Then to
Stowe and Mt. Mansfield. After a 100 more miles to Newport, VT where I could not
find a suitable place to stay, I ventured over to New Hampshire and started
south. I did not find a place to stay- either closed or not attended to- so I
gps'd a HIExp 60 miles south in North Conway.
After making a reservation I turned a corner and had 3 motel choices and
another 50 before I arrived in North Conway covering 328 miles and over 2400
total. This is another over-controlling inn that will not let me park under
cover.. 3rd in 14 years and 2 in this week. Exhausted and way ahead of where I
wanted to be tonite. As I was unpacking
my bike I discovered that the retaining nuts for the rear light module had come
loose and the module was hanging down in back. I found one nut and need to get
another tomorrow. 3 of 7 stays have limited my parking. Seafood dinner...but it does not aleve my
anger. Out of the Green Mountains of VT and into the White Mountains of NH.
Week Two - Spring East to Ride Vermont
Day 8 - Monday - 5.12.14 Newick’s Lobster
House and laundry day
Str Cty : North
Conway, NH Str Mls :
43312
End Cty :
Biddeford, ME End Mls :
44782
Dly Mls
: 200
Miles Tot Mls :
2544 Miles
Time
: 5.5
Hours
Up at 5 angry I stayed at this inn.. Exercises and on the road by 7
looking for tire air and a place to get nuts for my rear light module. Found
both in Ossipee, NH and made necessary repairs which held at the next check
point. I had a nice morning ride 80 miles down NH. I arrived at Newick's
Lobster House (a place we have eaten at for 40 years) at 9am and was so tired I
laid on the grass and slept for 2.5 hours. Shortly after I got a table and Jim
Chamberlain arrived (old friend from Illinois State days). We had a 2 hr chat
over seafood lunches. He works as the bookkeeper for his church and does some
odd cad work as a consultant, otherwise he's retired from teaching. I then rode
Hwy 1 up the coast to Biddeford for the night.. it was apparent this HIExp is excellent
and I was comfortable immediately. Talked to Nook and John Werner (IU friend)
and prepared my laundry. 2450 miles so far, but only 123 miles today. Laundry was done. Dinner of fried clams in
Kennebunk...did not see any Bushs. 3 Ladies next to me ran up a $171 bill..I
spent less than $25.
Day 9 - Tuesday - 5.13.14. Rest day in
Biddeford, ME.
Overcast and cold....best place to rest.. Leave tomorrow.. Half dozen
HORTONS donuts for dinner. Reading "A Fortunate Life"..
Day 10 - Wednesday - 5.14.14 Moving west
Str Cty
: Biddeford, ME Str Mls :
43445
End Cty
: Pembroke, ON End Mls :
43948
Dly Mls
: 467 Miles Tot
Mls :
3011 Miles
Time
: 9 Hours
Thru Maine on country roads until I got back to Conway. There I picked
up the road called "Kancamgus" and went over 2800' in the White
Mountains. I skipped Franconia notch as the face fell off. Crossed into Vermont
on the Scott Memorial Highway and went up to 1800' in the Green Mountains. When
I hit the expressway I avoided Ben and Jerry's wonderland. Arrived in south
Burlington at 11 am and cancelled my reservation for the nite. Then went into
New York State and the Adirondack Mountains. Stayed on level ground and crossed
the Canadian Border at Massena, NY-Cornwall. Up to hwy 417 and onto 17. A huge
traffic jam in Ottawa of gawkers looking at a terrible crash in the other
direction. Very tired for the last 100 of 467 miles and 3304 total. Dinner at a SW cowboy bar.
Day 11 - Thursday - 5.15.14. 2nd worst day since '98- 412 miles.
Str Cty
: Pembroke, ON Str Mls
: 43948
End Cty
: Sault Ste Marie, MI End Mls
: 44385
Dly Mls
: 422 Miles Tot Mls :
3434 Miles
Ti me
: 6.75 Hours Notes : 300 Miles in RAIN
Off at 7:30 between sprinkles. After 80 miles it began to rain and
increased in volume as I stopped at Sudbury for gas at half way - 200 miles.
Instead of going to the HI I went back to the Trans Canada Hwy #7. I was
punished with more rain and dropping temperatures. Feet were soaked and frozen,
rain pants leaked around seat, hands were dry but cold, and mask kept steaming
up. The rain kept up until 20 miles from Sault Ste. Marie. I stopped every 50
miles to warm over a HORTONS coffee and a few donuts. I crossed the border and
decided to go to the HIExp to get dry and warm. Dried clothes in the laundry
and showered. No dinner because I am not going out in the rain.
Day 12 - Friday - 5.16.14 on to Mischlers and home with Marnie
Str Cty : Sault
Ste Marie, MI Str Mls :
44385
End Cty :
Madison End Mls :
44782
Dly Mls
: 384
Miles Tot Mls :
3808 Miles
Time
: 5.5
Hours
Up at 7 to 29 deg so took time preparing and doing exercises. Put all
clothes on and made a cowboy face covering. Stopped every 50 miles which went
fast as I drove 80 on the empty roads of northern Michigan. 20 miles out it
started snowing and soon the trees and ground were covered while the roads were
just moist. The temperature did not start to rise above the mid forties until I
crossed into Wisconsin. Stopped in Green Bay to buy riding gloves and moved on
in the sun and 50 degrees. Marnie met me at Mischlers where I left my bike for
service. Home by 3:30. Dinner with the Gilliland’s at the Vietnamese
restaurant. 384 miles today and 3803
miles for the trip...12 days.
COST: TOTAL DAILY/12 NOTES
TOTAL : 1617.02 134.75 .40 / MILE
FUEL : 325.95 27.16 .08 / MILE
ROOM : 1025.08 93.19 .26 / MILE
FOOD : 216.48 18.04 .05 / MILE
MISC : 49.51 4.13
.001 / MILE
MILES : Speedo = 4052 miles gps = 3808 miles
