An exerpt from a recent ride:

*zooom!* up to NH, up to the Kancamangus Highway, 26 - 32 miles thru the White Mountain National forest. Just lots of Curves and twists and no civilization. Rapids to the left of us! Cliffs and rocks to the right of us! Hairpin turns taken at such speeds that my head was parallel to the ground! Wheee! Following a MotoGuzzi is great - it makes the most amazing thumping sound (its a V-twin, and an older bike, but ooo!)

The next day, Hurricane Mountain Road. The first road we find. It may have actually been paved in the 20's. One of the rules of skiing apply on roads like this, when going downhill on steeps, do NOT look right in front of you. Look ahead of you. I despretely do not want to dump Pickle on this road. Its embarassing. I make it. The boys on the red sport-tourers want to know if I want to hang with them for the day. Sure! I say... wondering if I can find my way back...

Next thing I know, we are on windy twisty roads and the sign says "Welcome to Maine! Brake for Moose, it could save your life" Don't ask me WHERE in Maine I was, but some nice mountains and great views and LOTS of bugs splatting themselves to death on my faceshield and new jacket.

We have lunch, somewhere in Maine. Again, the intersection of rt 16 in Maine and Rt 2 in Maine and somewhere ELSE. My new Vanson is handling itself. It fits so well that I'm very very comfortable in it. And since it was cold, I was wearing purple wool socks that matched it.

We basically head back to NH, but again, on some windy roads. I'm in the back, following the charge, and concentrating really hard on riding within my limits yet still keeping up the pace.

Suddenly, I see bright red tail lights. Everyone in front of me is braking. "Oh, shoot! cops!" I brake hard, doing the right thing. Then I notice that everyone is stopped.

They point to the left into the woods. Something with a head the size of a desk lumbers out. I've never ever seen a moose in real life. Its HUGE!

I mean. Really REALLY big.

We wait for a good 5 minutes until it gets off of the road. As we drive by, we see two more, Mother Moose and Baby moose laying in a field off the side of the road. The leaders are now much more aware of wildlife in the woods.

The last 30 miles are dull. We keep getting caught behind traffic, but we did pass Mt Washington. Thought about taking the road up, but decided that a 250 mile day was enough for now, and headed back to Glen, NH.

During one of the gas stops, I see the Ultimate Squid. He's riding a 400CC harley wanna bike, wearing JUST jeans. No helmet, no socks, no shoes, no gloves, no shirt.

scary.

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