Rain, Rain Go Away

I checked the weather for the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, a wooded and moose ridden area with a certain destination I had just recently decided I HAD to visit. The weather showed it would be cool, but clear Monday and Tuesday. I went online and booked the hotel for the night since there were all of 3 in the area. I had originally planned to head up a couple weeks before, but a couple days before it was forecast to rain both days so I called it off and canceled the hotel. Well the rain turned out to be a short period of drizzle followed by sun both days, awesome. One of those days I did end up riding out to western Mass and around the Connecticut river but it wasn't the trip I wanted. When I saw this break in my schedule, I leaped. The trip was book ended by helping my parent's with their house the day before the trip and a root canal and jury duty the days after. A nice respite from life. Sunday night I packed my gear and charged my camera and drone. I had plans that would require some aerial views.

Monday morning I woke up early and sat in the living room nursing my Rockstar and watched the news while the family slept. Checking my phone I saw the crushing news, 70% chance of rain today in the Northeast kingdom. Fuckin' great. Last night it was 30% and it somehow jumped 40% while I slept. I decided I'd still go, but I'd bring some extra socks and my 2nd pair of riding jeans just in case I got soaked. I loaded the bike, said my goodbyes and headed out. Getting onto I-90 westbound I was riding into some dark clouds, but otherwise it was a beautiful day. The sun had burned the morning clouds off and the sky was mostly blue except for some clouds to the north, where I was headed as I turned onto I-91.
I got off the interstate just outside Brattleboro and got onto Vermont 30, a pretty road that takes you to scenic 100, another pretty if uninteresting road; only pulling over to put another layer on and change my gloves for my warmer pair I had brought. The heavy clouds was hiding the sun, while it was around 60 degrees, the windchill made it feel much cooler. I continued on until it started raining, I road in it for a little bit, hoping it was just some passing drizzle but when I saw a closed shoe shop with a collapsing porch in Londonderry I decided to pull over and dawn my rain gear, which was the right decision. It was about 11am and I would ride in the rain until I got to my hotel around 5. This is why I hate booking hotels in advance. Call me a fair weather rider, but riding in the rain is one of my least favorite things to do. When I book in advance, I feel obligated to get to the hotel because I'm cheap and hate the idea of throwing money away. I carried on with the thought of a cheeseburger from Buddy's Famous in Montpelier and the views I'd have the next day motivating me. I continued on 100 enjoying what views I could see, luckily my rain gear did it's job and I wasn't miserable. The rain wasn't heavy, more of a constant drizzle.

After a couple hours I made it to Buddy's, and I was salivating at the idea of sitting inside the warm and dry dining room eating one of their delicious burgers only to have my dreams dashed. A sign on the front door saying they didn't have enough staff and had decided to close Sundays and Mondays, Damn. Another hopeful customer came by and was similarly dismayed at the restaurant being closed. We talked for a bit and he wished me well before I headed back out with a growling stomach. I figured I'd for sure pass a local general store with a deli and I'd grab something to eat from there, except I didn't. I rode some recommended roads I'd probably have enjoyed if it wasn't for the constant rain and mostly followed US2 to my hotel in Lancaster, VT.

The hotel was a older hotel that had been remodeled to resemble a 60's motel with a “lounge” and cigar bar. I just got it because it was cheap. I checked for bedbugs as I do with every hotel, and appeased with my appraisal unloaded my bike and enjoyed a smoke outside on the porch before going into the room. It was a large room, with an exposed brick wall on one side, a space heater for personal room temperature control and a bathroom so small I could poop, wash my hands in the sink and my feet in the shower all at the same time. I flopped down on the bed and watched TV until I decided to walk over to the local pizza place and get dinner, which was decent, except for the hair I saw on the last bite. As it turned out, my gear was less than waterproof, but not horrifically so; the crotch of my jeans were damp, as were the toes on my socks. I laid the jeans, boots and socks out infront of the space heater to dry and I spent the rest of the night watching Expedition Unknown and talking to my girlfriend. I set my alarm and set my Cardo up to charge, I'd be heading out early tomorrow morning.
I got up and got my Rockstar(The breakfeast of champions™) out of the fridge and turned the “local” news on while getting ready. The fridge was set to icebox and my Rockstar was mostly ice, so that too was set in front of the space heater to thaw. The “Local” news was for either Portland Maine or Concord New Hampshire, neither were too close to me. After faffing about in the room and packing myself up I headed out. About an hours ride on some roads I'd ridden the day before, the roads were damp from the overnight rain, but the sun was pushing through the clouds and I was dry. Before long I took a right onto the first dirt road, than another turn onto another, and than onto another, each one slightly less well maintained and narrower than the last. Riding around a bend I came across a bullmoose crossing the road ahead of me, by the time I had applied the brakes, he was already back in the woods. I still don't believe in Moose, and still maintain they're a con by the states of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire to attract tourists; they're really unemployed drunk fisherman in costume. After a bit, the road turned to pavement, the last vestiges of this areas previous use. Continuing down this now much smoother road I passed some abandoned concrete structures on my right, I was close. I continued on and stopped at a roadblock, at some point a large tank had been dragged onto the road to dissuade people from continuing on, but over time people had created a go-around. I left the KTM idling as I hopped off and inspected it, it was a deepish rut with some mud, I'd have no issue going up, coming down may be an issue; YOLO, I went for it. From here it was a narrow winding road covered with moss and wet leaves and bordered with pine trees, all I could smell was pine and I loved it.

A foggy radar base, just waiting for Pyramid head to walk up the road towards me

I turned the final corner and my view had opened up and I was greeted by my destination, East Haven Radar station. A air force radar base built in the mid 50's to aid in the defense of the country and promptly closed in the early 60's. If any of you are interested in aliens, this base did track a UFO for 18 minutes a couple hours before the infamous Barney and Betty Hill abduction The base has slowly been deteriorating for the past 60 years and has some beautiful views, but I wouldn't get to see them. A cloud was hanging around the summit, giving my experience a strong Silent Hill vibe. I keyed the kill switch and got off my bike and absorbed the silence, I was the only human around for miles, the only noises I heard was water dripping through the decrepit structures and the occasional bird, the fog absorbed everything else. I considered going into the buildings, but my lack of a flashlight, not being able to appreciate the view and not exactly being keen on the idea of falling through a rotten metal floor steered me away from this course of action. I just wandered around looking at the crappy local graffiti and taking in the whole setting. After awhile I decided I'd have to come back on a clear day to properly enjoy the view and got moving back down the mountain. The road back down were exactly the same, making a quick stop to look at the abandoned base buildings further down the mountain, likely where the staff of the radar station slept and ate. Crossing the one wooden bridge I hit a rut in the wood, jerking my handlebars, I thought I for sure I was going to be tossed into the narrow brook but I somehow rode it out. 20 minutes later I was back on asphalt roads, the SuperDuke did fine on the dirt roads, clearly out of it's element but not once did I have any issues.

Continuing on, I considered heading home, or south to ride the Kancamangus highway, but thought that since I had ridden it before, I would take the route I had planned. My route was a large loop around most of the Northeast Kingdom, skirting and kissing the Canadian border at times. I headed west, and than north riding some truly breathtaking roads that I'll have to revisit again with clearer weather. The skies were overcast, but not as thickly as they were the previous day. The sun made it feel warmer, even if its the same temp, but as I close in on Willoughby lake the temperature drops, but the view is stunning, especially with the low hanging clouds obstructing the mountain tops. And the road just follows the eastern shore of the lake for a bit, passing two smaller waterfalls; I really must ride this again when its warmer...and dryer. The roads in this area aren't the most exciting, but they're stunningly beautiful.

Further along I turned east towards New Hampshire, riding perpendicular with the Canadian border, at points you could spit on it if you want. I'm enjoying the fall colors as I'm riding along, starting to work my way south to home. It's not peak color yet, but damn close this far north. I'm still riding with a chill even with two layers under my jacket. The road heading south is another great beautiful road, but no lake this time, and as it goes it gets tighter and twistier, fantastic. Than the light comes on, the KTM is thirsty. The GPS indicates there's a couple gas stations across the bridge into New Hampshire. I pull into the Valero, not a preferred brand, but at least they're top tier. I run my card and go to select the grade, only to realize the station only has 87, damn. I try and cancel the transaction, but no dice. I put a gallon in and head out, and dumb luck has it if I had turned right instead of left I'd have found myself at a Citgo with all the grades, not just 87. I fill up and do some overdue chain maintenance and grab something to eat before I continue on my way. The road I'm on is on the Vermont side of the river and it's fantastic, a beautiful mix of curves and when it straightens out the view is beautiful. I continue south for a couple hours and make my final stop in North Hampton to gas up before I take the interstate home.

As I'm standing outside the gas station I check the weather, I'm clear to the border, but looks like rain when I cross back into Mass, and I'll ride in the rain until I get home, when it'll clear up about 10 minutes later. I talked to another rider, who says the rain's passed, but we'll see. I head out and he's right, no rain but I'm seeing some mighty angry clouds. And sure enough as I cross the Mass border and those angry clouds start spitting on me. I push along, hoping it's just spitting but I give in and pull over on the side of the highway and put my rain gear on. And for the next hour it was just wet enough to make me need rain gear, but not pouring at least. And sure enough, I pull up to my house and come inside. 10 minutes later its sunny out, but I didn't care. I was home and dry now. Now to wash the dirt and scum off the bike.

Last Minutes & Lost Evenings