The Turning Point

Norway, ME

What bliss – to be back on two lanes of blacktop. What a relief – not one single semi for the first two hours of the day. What thehellwasthat? – a black bear ambles across the road close enough that we had to slow down to avoid being eaten.

 The sun came up right in front of us as we traveled northeasterly out of Utica into upstate New York. So bright the sun on this clear and cool morning that Old Danny Boy had a hard time seeing. No complaining though, he knew it was our last day of eastward travel. Today we would hit the turning point of this Major Motorcycle Pilgrimage Across America. From here on out we were southbound a bit, and then westbound back across the continent.

Saranac Lake from Mt Baker

ODB is a might confused about the Adirondacks. He always thought they were mountains. We went right through the Adirondacks today and didn’t climb one single mountain. We did see lots and lots of beautiful lakes, villages dripping with character and charm, working traditional farms, and that bear. Signs warned of “LOOSE MOOSE”. We didn’t see any. Or any tightly wound ones, for that matter.

Saranac, NY Main Street (winter)

We came within a mile of Canada, and then made a right turn into Vermont and US Hwy 2. We hadn’t gone very far when ODB saw a 45^th parallel sign. He had to look at the map before he could believe that northern Vermont isn’t any farther north than Salem, Oregon. In fact, the Vermont/Canadian border is to the south of Portland, Oregon. Maybe you already knew that. It was news to ODB and me. And here we thought we were “up north.”

North Hero, VT courthouse

In New Hampshire we traveled past Mt Washington. On top is an observatory that held the record for the highest wind ever measured on the Earth's surface at 231 mph. And no, we are NOT going to try and top that, ODB. Don’t even think about it.

 The day started off cool at 58 degrees. Before long we had to stop so My Fearless Rider could put on his heated gloves. That was after we saw the bear. So although his hands were numb with cold, we couldn’t stop until we got to a town, lest another bear came by looking for breakfast. By noon it was warm enough he could shed his jacket. My thermo never went past 82 all day. A beautiful day for an amazing ride, it was.

 Now, back to that turning point . . .

 We’re eastbound on US 2 in Maine. GPS says our right turn to the south is coming up. As we get closer the screen reads, “Turn right on Lover’s Lane.”

 This sets He Who Twists the Throttle to thinking of She Whose Hand Holds the Key to His Heart. Unfortunately, Lover’s Lane soon deteriorates to the point we are expecting to see a “PAVEMENT ENDS” signs. As we made our 25 mph-way along one lane of washboard and potholes, I could hear his brain-wheel turning. Then he had it. He begged me to put it in my report tonight. He was so darned proud of himself it would break his heart if I didn’t comply . . .

We rode right down the middle

 of Lake Champlain – first on

a peninsula, then island hopping.

Here we had to wait for a boat to cross.

Just for the record

 Don’t say you weren’t told

 Lover’s Lane is a narrow

 And bumpy old road

 Burma Shave

                        (Google Map Update)