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November Rides

November 2, 2019

A-C, Borough's Falls, A-C, Katevale, AC: 33 miles. 4C.

November 1, 2019

October Rides

October 30, 2019

15C, 1:55 - 5:30pm.

Start: 81,474; Return: 81,606; Trip miles: 132

Derby Line, Newport, Derby, Lake Seymour, Island Pond, Irasburg, Lowell, Troy, Newport, Derby Line.

October 26, 2019

Start: 81,438; Return: 81,474; Trip miles: 36

Katevale, N Hatley, Hatley Center, Massawippi.

October 24, 2019

Start: 81,403; Return: 81,438; Trip miles: 35 miles

Katevale, N Hatley, Hatley Center, N Hatley, Katevale.

22 October 2019

Start: 81,319; Return: 81,403; Trip 84 miles

Left 2:00, returned 4:20

Around Lake Memphremagog. Quick trip, skipped Ch la Province. Fierce head wind around Owl's Head! Warm - 16C upon departure - but cloudy, got back 20 minutes before showers started.

21 October 2019

Start: 81,124; Return: 81,319; Trip 195 miles

Made a 7:30 run to AC for breakfast club before departing 11am. Early am fog lifted and temp climbed from 4C to 9C by the time I left. Shot down 91 to exit 18 just south of St. Johnsbury. The rest of the day was spent just west of the interstate. Warm start turned chilly going up to St J as always, but later things warmed up and the temperature seemed to moderate towards evening.

I'd barely begun exploring when I suddenly realized that I hadn't filled up and was critically low on gas. I had no idea which way to go so I flagged down a sherrif who happened to be passing by. Nice enough fellow - gave me directions to a gas station/country store several miles away. As he promised, he doubled back a while later to make sure I made it. And I ran into him again in the country store. Later in the afternoon as I began heading north, we passed again, waving and going opposite directions on a gravel road.

11 October

N Hatley, D-L, Newport

8 October

Depart: 80,710 miles Return: 80,873 miles Trip: 163 miles

Headed for Newbury with notion of cutting across to Randolph by way of gravel but aborted at St J due to unbalanced front tire 'hopping'.

Went back up to Lyndonville and then over to Burke Mountain. Great day up there - some clouds but fairly clear. Got pics from the tower of 3 hang gliders floating around the mountain top.

6 October

Intended to go around Lake Memphremagog but aborted due to cold (not enough clothes). Stopped and visited Rowan and Danny.

4 October

Around the block, Katevale

3 October

Around the block, Katevale w side trip to N Hatley

1 October

Around the block, Katevale

September Rides

September (partial): 537 miles.?

30 September

Hatley/Compton/Moes River/Hatley/ch North/N Hatley/Ste Cat in the Hat

Depart 80,551 miles / Return 80,637 / Trip: 86 miles

27 September

Holland/Seymour Lake/Island Pond/Derby

Depart 80,490 miles / Return 80,551 / Trip: 61 miles

Not the best road, 114 from Island Pond, but 105 to Island Pond is much better.

25 September

Sainte Cat in the Hat

Depart: 80,448 miles

Quick spin to Cherry River for a tankful of 94 octane and then out to Sainte Cat in the Hat - AC - Burrough's Falls.

22 September

Around Lake Memphremagog

Depart: 80,356 miles / Return: 80,448 miles / Trip: 92 miles.

Didn't leave until nearly 5pm after finishing stacking wood in the cabin. Counter-clockwise as usual. Took the scenic gravel route behind Mansonville and watched part of the sunset from the incomparable Ch de la Province. Well past dark when I returned to the Castle.

20 September

East Randolph, VT

Depart: 80,114 miles / Return: 80,356 miles / Trip: 242 miles.

Departed from the Castle at 9:30am headed for Randolph area. On 91 just south of Newport I began hearing a noise from the left side of the bike. Tried ignoring it for a while (works sometimes?) but it was getting louder so I pulled over. With some relief I saw that a weld on the new center stand had broken and half of it was dragging on the ground. I flagged down a Harley rider and he gave me some plastic ties to hold the stand up.

As I neared Bethel riding south on Vt 14 I saw a guy on a classic Triumph coming towards me. He was turning right onto an asphalt road that wound its way up a steep hill. As soon as I hit a straight away I turned around and followed. Caught up with the other rider and followed him a good five miles on one of the most twisting and turning roads i think I've ever been on. When we came to a stop at a tee we pulled over to talk. Very vintage, Steve - long gray hair, wearing a Barbour jacket and open face helmet with goggles and riding a '65 Thunderbird with half-bathtub. Mostly original - a TLS front brake. Said he has 3 other Triumphs at home. After talking for a while and exchanging contact info, he took me on a twenty or twenty-five mile ride on fabulous smooth asphalt back roads before we parted company.

Back to the Castle around 6pm. Great day!

Roads Taken

Roads Noted

16/17 September 2019

White Mountains

Depart: 79,757 miles / Return: 80,099 miles / Trip: 342 miles

Two-day camping trip to the White Mountains. Down to Conway NH by way of Franconia Notch and Kancamagus Highway. Dropped by Frank Holmes' for a visit at his garage where he was changing a rear tire and prepping a TR6 for a young fellow from CT who inherited the bike from his father.

Met up with LA in late afternoon and camped out Monday night at a state campsite along the Kancamagus. I returned via 302 and 18 while LA took 16 North to Island Pond. Before heading back I took the Hurricane Mountain loop back to 302. Next time I should check out Bear Mountain Road of 302.

Bonnie ran flawlessly - first kick starts as always, great idle, and no stalling even at low rpm's. Averaged 50mpg - surprising considering it was 75% mountainous riding with lots of 1st, 2nd (Hurricane Mountain) and 3rd gear riding. Also, not very much oil consumption - will check that tomorrow.

September

Late start this year due to full shoulder replacement surgery on 19th of June. Complete recovery is a full year but I've been 'working' very hard and the physiotherapist says I'm ok to ride now if I take it easy. She says the main thing to watch out for is if the bike starts to tip over and I strain the shoulder trying to hold it up.