East Coast and Newfoundland in June 3 weeks | Page 3 | GTAMotorcycle.com

East Coast and Newfoundland in June 3 weeks

Gonna test the wet gear today for sure....no way around it ...have to punch through :(
Was totally lovely day yesterday ....22 and sunny - some wind but not horrid.

Today ..13 and so far light rain but nasty on the way.

Nasty nasty ....all geared and clear skies for 400 km tho was chilly .....and THEN......had lunch - looked outside ....yuck.

Last 80 km or so was miserable ....pulled into a MacDonalds shivering.

Fortunately scored a decent place less than a KM away ....warm and dry now :D

Geez places sell out fast....it's Thurs FFS
 
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The deluge arrived...fortunately AFTER we arrived in Saint John...

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it is just pissing down.....and cold.
 
Yes, Was talking to my mother & texting my brother who both live just outside S. J. and the weather is crap there today. Supposed to be better tomorrow I believe though. Missing the 39 degree humidex back here in the GTA today anyway lol.
 
I was just chatting with my kid on the SENA today earlier - it was chilly at 13 but dry and very nice riding....better than hot when touring with a 4 season jacket. His new jacket has better venting.

Looking okay tomorrow - warmer but foggy in the am.

A little bit of sun, a tiny bit of rain and still chilly but eating on the boardwalk in Fredricton at a Gastropub - trying to be nice out.

Was fun to see where my son lived with my ex for a few years when he was younger. Impressed with the town ...very nice and the bestest berry tart ever. Kid has picture of me with whipped cream on nose from diving in... :D

Crossed the border to Maine which came up suddenly on the backroads we were on. No problem ...friendly border guard. Longish day riding and tough time finding any place to stay. Finally a bit of a dive off the beaten path ....Legion across the street with tank and helicopter ...kinda cool.

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Lots of baggers with no helmets the next morning heading the way we came down through the sticks. from New Brunswick. Some mix of 130 plus slab and marginal secondary roads but at least dry except for a few sprinkles.
 
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did not get wet ...but grey and very chilly .....decided it's no fun travelling when grey and cold so when dealt a lemon ....make lemonade....kid is going to get very wet on Monday - 26 and sunny in Maine

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http://www.crabapplewhitewater.com/plan-your-adventure/maine/kennebec-river-rafting/

Kid had a great time..

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they took off from under the bridge - the funny dip in the bridge to the right which is the middle of the span?? two different companies contracted for half....did not meet in the middle....bad idea.

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No action pics as the big waves were well out of my camera range. But soaked kid with big grin said it all
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Have some other pics of the tidal range will post up later.
 
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Weather starting to clear....glad I woke around 3 am....bikes were on a serious angle ( the Wee is lowered so usually sits too upright - something I have to fix as makes parking a pain. )
Rain had undermined the gravel on the driveway. Padded down in socks in the rain and found a couple of flat rocks. We'll get some can tops or some such for the hot pavement coming up. My other Wee had a really nice large pad on the side stand ...never had to worry about and Burgman could park anywhere. CBF generally easy to park as well.

Really - we're going from 13 today to 33 on Wednesday for going up Whiteface mountain near Lake Placid. I've been up before and weather is supposed to be clear. Considered The Mount Washington Auto road

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The Mount Washington Auto Road (originally Mount Washington Carriage Road)[1] is a 7.6 mi (12.2 km) toll road that extends from New Hampshire Route 16 in Pinkham Notch to the summit of Mount Washington in the White Mountains of the US state of New Hampshire. The road climbs 4,618 ft (1,408 m) from an altitude of 1,527 ft (465 m) at the bottom to 6,145 ft (1,873 m) at the top, an average gradient of 11.6%. The road was completed and opened to the public in 1861.[2]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Washington_Auto_Road

No guardrails !!! but checked and it was closed to motorcycles due to weather.
http://mtwashingtonautoroad.com/status-weather
Highest wind speed ever recorded in Northern hemisphere was set here in 1932 ....232 MILES per hour. Lot of people have died in the region due to crazy erratic weather ...it's the terminus of the Appalachian hiking trail.
http://sectionhiker.com/at-section-hike-zeta-pass-to-mt-washington-day-1/

http://sectionhiker.com/appalachian-trail/

There are some wild tales about the trail which is 3500 km long. Murders, lost hikers, ghosts and one famous grandmother who started hiking a 65 with no tent and just a hobo stick and bag. The book about her is an amazing and inspiring read.
Map_of_Appalachian_Trail.png


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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandma_Gatewood

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Emma Gatewood was the first woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail alone, as well as the first person—man or woman—to walk it twice and three times and she did it all after the age of 65. This is the first and only biography of Grandma Gatewood, as the reporters called her, who became a hiking celebrity in the 1950s and '60s. She appeared on TV with Groucho Marx and Art Linkletter, and on the pages of Sports Illustrated. The public attention she brought to the little-known footpath was unprecedented. Her vocal criticism of the lousy, difficult stretches led to bolstered maintenance, and very likely saved the trail from extinction

excellent read

•••

Weather very nice mid 20s for his raft trip tomorrow....today is total veg day...playing Yahtze reading doing resort thing. Excellent ribs down the highway 2 minutes ..$12 for half rack with salad and corn and stuffed.....can't imagine chowing down on a full rack.
They make a Blueberry Beer here ....actually berries floating around....refreshing but I'm not a beer drinker....kid has been sampling the specialty brews

Turned away from the trip as a motorcycle riding adventure to searching out other adventures. He's frustrated with his chain stretching and it' either cold and wet and upcoming too hot.....
Coming home a few days early - get his bike sorted and reload for next year when we want to ride Toronto to Havana .....crossing on the ferry. :D
http://www.tbo.com/news/politics/port-manatee-on-short-list-for-cuban-ferry-20160409/
Catch Skyline Drive, Back of the Dragon, The Tail of the Dragon, NASA, Key West, then Cuba ....
Coming back do Barber Museum and the Smokies plus Ohio.

If the ferry not ready ....kid wants to fly the bikes to Vancouver and then go south and do the big parks and the Pacific Coast highway ....Bryce, Zion , Arches, Grand Canyon Colorado and then ride home.
 
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There are some wild tales about the trail which is 3500 km long. Murders, lost hikers, ghosts and one famous grandmother who started hiking a 65 with no tent and just a hobo stick and bag. The book about her is an amazing and inspiring read.
.

Is she still at it?!?
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Took that pic on Friday ..
 
Somewhat out of order as did not have decent upload ability for pics earlier.

After our break at the AirBnB in Truro took the back way to Halifax and had some luxury at the Westin courtesy kids mom ..

Seaside farm market and a Brew pub we took a sampler from ...nice not having to head out early

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Got a late check out the next day due to rain which then cleared for our Sally Cove run.

Was a great ride to Peggy's Cove and along the coast to Malone bay. Tourist central tho the traffic along the coast was light.

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some just gotta drag their belongings along...
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Kid was glad of the sun ....weather was nippy along the ocean but no problem given what we were wearing

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Later that day we cut across the mid point of Nova Scotia - generally decent roads and a low key rural region....then hit a fav gastropub in Wolfville which is upscale due to Acadia University there with 3,000 students overwhelming the town culture. Many coffee shops and one of Canada's top restaurants......and not a single place to stay .... :(

Ended up riding another 50 km to find a place that was not sold out back toward Windsor NS. Was getting late and I spotted a deer grazing in the downslope next to the major highway. Long day but enjoyed it -

Had a fantastic meal midday at an unexpected restaurant by the highway ....didn't look like much but wow.
Trying to chase down the name..
 
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Is she still at it?!?

(October 25, 1887–June 4, 1973),
but her legacy is enormous...


She hiked the AT again in 1960, and then again at age 75 in 1963, making her the first person to hike the trail three times (though her final hike was completed in sections).[2] She was also credited with being the oldest female thru-hiker by the Appalachian Trail Conference[5]

In addition, she walked 2,000 miles (3,200 km) of the Oregon Trail from Independence, Missouri, to Portland, Oregon, averaging 22 miles (35 km) a day. She traveled to every state of the continental United States.

In 1970, at age 83, while visiting Appalachian Outfitters in Oakton, Virginia she was asked what she thought about the latest lightweight backpacking gear. Emma advised: "Make a rain cape, and an over the shoulder sling bag, and buy a sturdy pair of Keds tennis shoes. Stop at local groceries and pick up Vienna sausages... most everything else to eat you can find beside the trail... and by the way those wild onions are not called "Ramps"... they are "Rampions" ... a ramp is an inclined plane."

Gatewood was a life member of the National Campers and Hikers Association and the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club. She was Director Emeritus and a lifetime member of the Buckeye Trail Association.[1]

Legacy
At Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio, the North Country Trail, Buckeye Trail, and the American Discovery Trail coincide and a six-mile section is designated as the Grandma Gatewood Trail. It connects Old Man's Cave to Cedar Falls to Ash Cave.[6][7]

The Appalachian Trail Museum includes information about Emma Gatewood in its exhibits and in June 2012, she was inducted into the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame.[8]

Emma Gatewood is the subject of a project at Eden Valley Enterprises.[9]

“Trail Magic,” a 60-minute documentary by Put-in-Bay filmmaker Peter Huston, is about Emma Gatewood.[10]
Get the book - you'll love it.
 
A few more shots of our rafting resort

Basic cabin room with two beds does the job...a/c and heat and a good shower.

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bit of a walk to the main building which has pool and common room plus breakfast included and suppers for extra.

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pretty walk to get there tho

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kid enjoyed the pool
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I might hit the hot tub tonight.

Common room is very comfie...lots of kick back chairs and couches, library both books and videos, board games ( we played a few ).

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Felt like a vacation
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Tasty well priced food at the bar up the road. ..Marshalls.

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came over the bikes - it was splitting ....now pouring so using the much better internet.

This would be a terrific destination area for those that want a ride plus a rafting experience.

About day past Lake Placid....and White Mountain would be a neat run.
 
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Will wonders never cease ....SUN!!!!!!

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Kid about to set off on his adventure ....figured it was going to be okay after one star peeked through the fog last night.

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Now we have to switch from 13 degree days to 30 degree days......geez.

Up to 18 now :D
[video=youtube;52430Knxfk0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52430Knxfk0[/video]

this is what we hung around for ....a high water level release day....that's big water.
 
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Kid tells me this is one of the most remote regions in the North East and New Englanders have an eye for value.

8 oz freshly grilled burger ( not from a frozen pattie either ) with 16 oz draft and coleslaw....$7 !!!

Very tasty and a fresh bun too.

We will leave early tomorrow to beat the heat and hit Mount Washington midday since it's going to be clear.
Will take the cog railway up
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rather than ride it. State of tires and kids chain plus 30 kph wind dictates some caution.

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we might change our minds when we get there. ...:D

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Too much fun but man it is steep with hairpins....mostly first gear all 8 miles. Pics later.
Too many slow drivers and no passing - dirt portion was no issue but would be in the rain ....slick.

It is nothing like the picture shown - far narrower and steep.

Mount Washington in New Hampshire ...highest in the east.

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Great shot of Kenz….air was invigorating and no wind to speak of at all. Very narrow steep climb with traffic in both directions and really only 1.5 lanes. Rarely out of first gear on the way up due to nervous cage drivers - the one in front of us stopped once on a very nasty grade ….I slid back down a foot on pavement !!!!. I had a few choice words….but it was very narrow when traffic in both directions and the fall off looked extreme tho really little risk.

Wild road up but too much traffic today to make use of it.
What we had to deal with in front of us….freaked drivers and you can see on the dirt section how narrow. Some drivers just HAD to drive in the middle....
[video=youtube;WtfyzwFjgmQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtfyzwFjgmQ[/video]

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You can only get a sense of how steep from the people walking up ...most of the road was that angle. Fortunately flat spots to park.

No wind at all today....
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but a welcome 10 degrees cooler at the summit.

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Had a marginal coffee at the top - a bit of Kenz cinnamon whiskey perked it up.
 
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this is the entire run - and good info
[video=youtube;rqVZj0UOx1g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqVZj0UOx1g[/video]

Longish hot ride to the chalet through lovely mix of forest and farmland - US 2 is a treat.

and a wasted 20 minutes looking a dirt road trying to locate it. :(

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$48 cdn a night and decent wifi. :D

Tomorrow is last overnight in some luxury at Lake Saranac - only 243 km of scenic riding ....and hopefully a ride up Whiteface to cool off in the afternoon.
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then a boring slab run home on the 401 hopefully before rush hour but 407 regardless.
 
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Where in Saranac Lake is that? We stayed in a best western or something there and it turned out to be reasonably creepy...very off season with hardly anyone around though.
 
Quality Inn on Lake Placid
2125 Saranac Ave, Lake Placid, NY, 12946

Have you ridden Whiteface JC??

Mount Washington???
 
Whiteface yes. Mt Washington no. Brand new Tarmac for whiteface...very entertaining.

reasonable food at the top of Whiteface too.
 
Oh excellent - not sure we can make it tho ....kids tire is showing cords ...luckily found a dealer in Burlington VT could do his tire and replace his stretched chain tomorrow at 1 pm and the hotel in Saranac let us move the stay one night.

Found a place with pool in S Burlington on points....welcome relief from the heat.
Both of us are considering riding the 401 at night instead of the day time....tho the heat is not too bad at speed. He's better with his jacket as he has vents.

Actually a bit of a good thing as he had a tough night with his sugars so not a lot of sleep for either ....relaxing from the heat is good. Nap for me soonish
Burlington VT insanely busy .....and it's midday on a Wednesday ....hotel owner says the place is just nuts all summer ( Lake Champlain )
My Pilot 3s are going to be retired after this trip but not until I get back riding here next May - have fresh K60s waiting.
 
Notable event I forgot to mention. We finally got a clear night at the rafting camp and was looking up just after dark and this "star" was really bright where it should not be....:confused:

Got very bright and then winked out and I could see it faintly tracking still.

Space station over Maine and sure enough

Location: Portland, Maine, United States
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This is about correct for the magnitude before it winked out.

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as it crossed terminator.

I'd seen it once before in South Africa - was at a astronomy outing and no one knew it was coming. The thing motors - just barely caught it in my binocs enough to see the square shape.

Caught a smaller version of this

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This is 30x ...my binocs 8x....brighter tho and really cruising ....was just over the mountains where the sun had set so ideal time but damn was it moving so very hard to track.
Good Zeiss binocs let me get a look at the shape. Kinda cool experience.

http://www.geek.com/gadgets/seeing-the-international-space-station-from-earth-1367935/

•••

In some ways fortunate we are holed up ...some serious thunderstorms building ...no way we were doing Whiteface today.
 
I'm in Burlington in a few weeks time in the car, that would explain why all the hotels are insanely priced then. I'm Hotwiring this one...I think the Sheraton is the one coming up at $150 CDN.
 
Well there is always $40 AirBnb at Jay Peak...but bit of a hike from town. 66 lovely miles out ..pretty hefty savings

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https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3621293?eluid=1&euid=ecf425d4-e37a-370f-4b9e-177ff9f74d88

••••

Pretty dire Tstorms in the area today ...happy to be holed up in comfort with a pool. Room service from the kid who squidded over to get chinese takeout...stuffed for $7......twice....lot of food.
Traffic is stupid tho ....met a family leaving at 3.30 am today !!! ..poor little girl looked shell shocked...
They got socked in with weather yesterday.

Weather coming home on Friday looks okay but for gusty SW winds....kid will definitely ride on ahead and drink fuel doing so. We've been using Waze to keep track of each other where there is network coverage.
 
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