USA4CT - Ride Day 2 - Tour Day 0 - May 30, 2013 - Thu

Start Time: 0700 EDT
Stop Time:1800 EDT
Start Location: Newburgh, NY
Stop Location: Thomaston, ME
Lodging: Hampton Inn
Dinner: Red's Eats
Miles Traveled Today: 409
Weather: Sunny 80-92

Started off this morning in Newburgh, NY with a beautiful sunrise. After a restful night we were ready to ride.

We rode for about 100 miles before needing to gas up and remove my jacket as it warmed up quickly. Also hit the morning "going to work" traffic around Waterbury, CT. That was stop and go on I-84 for a couple of miles. Not that bad as we were not in any hurry. We planned to get in around 400 miles today so only about 300 miles would be left on Friday to get to Madawaska early that day.

Also wanted to ride into Rhode Island, as that was one of the remaining 4 states that I had not ridden my motorcycle in. That was a nice motorcycle ride through some beautiful New England countryside through the towns of Woodstock, Putman & Chepachet. Even stopped at a New England Dunkin' Donuts and had a iced coffee in Putman. It was delicious and refreshing in the hot morning weather. We got on I-495 bypass around Boston at Milford. Before that we gassed up again and Bill had problems the second time with his Visa card at the gas pumps. Here he is "falling asleep" on a roadside guardrail holding his phone waiting for the "next available agent" at the credit card "service" center!! Took about an hour, but he got it straight and reset!! (Ended up, he had to repeat this process about 10 times during the trip to keep his credit card active!!!!)

We finally made it to Maine (although we still have a long way to go through Maine to get to Madawaska!!). Here are the pictures to prove it. (a couple of funny characters, for sure!! These might show up on wanted poster in Maine post offices before we leave here on Saturday!!)

We decided we wanted Maine LOBSTER for dinner so off to Red's Eats in beautiful Wiscasset, Maine. The lobster roll was great.

Bill and I getting ready to place our order

 The product delivered!!!

Great parking spot for our motorcycles.

 

Just to make sure our wives know that we are thinking of them constantly. When we both saw this place we both said how much our wives would have liked to visit this quilt shop (they both like to quilt)!! So we had to take this picture.

We continued up US 1 to Thomaston, ME. Did encounter a traffic tie up south of Thomaston for about 30 minutes due to a vehicle accident.

Bill's daughter's father-in-law, Jack lives in Camden, Maine. Bill called him to let him know we were nearby and he joined us for drinks at Applebees beside our hotel.

After drinks, as we were walking back to the hotel we saw an ice cream place (Dorman's Dairy Dream) across the street with about 20 people outside lined up at the window. We just had to try that as it looked local and good. (Bill is at the end of the line in the picture and was holding my place in line while I took the picture!!)

And good it was and local! We talked to one of the local customers in line behind us. He told us the place has been there for over 50 years and is a family tradition with many in the area. I had the red raspberry cone which was their most popular. It was excellent.

WOW, what a day. Another beautiful day of motorcycle riding!! It just don't get any better than this! Tomorrow will be an easy day riding on to Madawaska as it is only about 300 miles.

USA4CT - Ride Day 1 - Tour Day 0 - May 29, 2013 - Wed

Start Time: 0600 EDT
Stop Time:1745 EDT
Start Location: Richmond, VA
Stop Location: Newburgh, NY
Lodging: Hampton Inn
Dinner: LongHorn Steakhouse
Miles Traveled Today: 483
Weather: Sunny 80-90


Got up this morning to a beautiful sunny morning in Richmond. Temps were around 65 so my riding jacket felt good starting out. Met Bill this morning at a gas station near US 522 and I 64 at 7 am. That was about 30 minutes from my house. After we did the high fives and asking each other if we were ready to ride, we hit the gas station restroom before hitting the road!!

Ready To Ride!!

We looked at the weather forecast and it showed maybe a few thunderstorms in the northeastern Pennslyvania and New York area for the afternoon, so we decided to just take our time and maybe keep any rain ahead of us. That worked great. No rain, just a few afternoon clouds. Just a beautiful day of motorcycle riding through Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York.

Our first stop was at Mom's Apple Pie Company in downtown Leesburg, VA for a morning break and some great pie and coffee!!

 Our waitress took our picture having our coffee. She was very interested in our motorcycle ride and was from New England too.

 

Of course I had to have the rhubarb pie. Some of the best rhubarb pie anywhere!

I have recently started collecting National Park Passport stamps so I decided where there was an opportunity to "grab" a few on this trip, I would. We visited a very nice park in Maryland, Catoctin Mountain Park near Thurmont. When we pulled in to the visitor center we found a good shady place to park. There were a couple of people outside the visitor center as we walked down. When I went up to the front door, there was a big "CLOSED" sign on the door. I noticed one of the people standing outside had a park ranger uniform on, so I asked her if the visitor center was really closed. She said yes they just recently started closing during the week due to the federal budget cuts. I asked her if there was anywhere else I could get a passport stamp and she promptly said that she could take care of that. She went on to tell me they had all been told not to do any services to the public and don't go out of their way to help, to make sure the public was aware of the budget cuts. She said she didn't think that was right and since she had the key to the building she would get me the stamp for my book. That was so nice of her!! She talked to us for awhile and even told us today was the birthday of John F. Kennedy. The whole Washington DC political situation is such a shame when it effect such good employees as this park ranger and the innocent public!!

Anyway, back to the ride update! Since the visitor center was closed, the normal restrooms were not available, but there were a lot of woods around with big trees. That worked EXCEPT as I was doing what I was doing a damn SNAKE appeared out of nowhere right in front of me (I hate snakes)!!

Needless to say, I lost the urge as I jumped back (also got a little wet!). I took this picture after I jumped back, so you can tell how close I was. There is probably a morale to this story!!

We continued on with a great motorcycle ride on the park road and a great country road to get us back to US15 (the same park ranger recommended this route to us too!!)

Also stopped at Gettysburg, quickly toured the visitor center and got a stamp (It is not closed during the week and didn't see any snakes)

 Arrived at Newburgh, NY and decided to spend the night here, since we have 3 days to get to Madawaska, ME with only about 600 miles to go. We ate at a Longhorn Steakhouse next to the hotel here tonight. Great beer and food, but "saving up" for some great Maine lobster tomorrow!! Again, great day of riding, weather could not have been better, and great company with Bill!

USA4CT - Ride Day 0 - Tour Day 0 - May 28, 2013 - Tue

Start Time: 0600
Stop Time: 0600
Start Location: Richmond, VA
Stop Location: Richmond, VA
Lodging: Home
Miles Traveled Today: 0
Total Accumulated Miles: 0
Total USA4CT Miles: 0
Weather: mid 80's, 30% POP

Well, this time tomorrow morning, Bill and I will be READY for "Get your motor runnin' - Head out on the highway - Lookin' for adventure - And whatever comes our way"!!

This post title and stats at the top will be the format of each posting that I plan to do each day. Don't be surprised if I miss a day or two, based on internet access and how tired I may be at the end of the day, but I will try!!! Of course, I expect the miles traveled each day to be greater than 0!!!

WOW, the weather is shaping up to look great. Here is the weather forecast for the Richmond, VA area for the next 5 days. This will cover the time for our trip to Madawaska and heading back through Richmond on our way to Key West. I think we will be able to ride just fine in this kind of weather!!! Just hope it stays this nice!!

I have been following several riders on the USA4CT trip so far this year and most have had to do a LOT of riding in the rain and cold weather (geez, even some snow!!).

Will spend today finishing packing and loading the bags on the Harley.

Planning to meet and head out at 7 am tomorrow. We are allowing 3 days to get to Madawaska so it should be an easy ride. We are planning for 2 days coming back. Should arrive in Madawaska on Friday and we plan to spend the night there at Martin's Motel. Sounds like a neat place. I have also talked to Joe LaChance, the local curator/creator of the USA Four Corners Park and he is planning to meet Bill and I there on Friday for a tour and pictures.


Anyway, that is it for today, gotta finish packing and get ready to ROLL ME AWAY!!! Talk to you next On The Road Again!