Sept 11, 2010We have been threatening another trip when the weather turned for the better and it has so here we go.
We agreed to meet at Polly's Pancake Parlor in Sugar Hill, NH for breakfast. Dave and Dick came up the river from Vernon and Westminster (Route 5 to Bradford, then River Road, Route 10) and I rode down from Starksboro on the interstate to Barre, then Route 302 to rt10 to rt117. It was 107 miles for those guys and about 92 for me. Famed New England greasy diner critic Dave "Home Fries" Miller had been to and recommended Polly's. It is on Rt 177 and very near Franconia. The place was packed and we got there just as another big group of bikers (BMW types) arrived. We had to wait to get seated but it was worth the wait. We all ordered pancakes (it is a pancake house) and the deal is, you pick the kind of batter (buckwheat, oatmeal, cornmeal, etc) and then pick the "fillings" like blueberry, coconut, tuna (just kidding). The waiter was a young guy who was very nice and he actually made the pancakes, as do all the other waiters.
After leaving we tried a shortcut but ended up going to Franconia and south on 116 to the Kancamagas Highway (Rt 112) to Woodstock. Dave needed gas and John sorta forgot so we pulled into Conway with Dave's motocycle computer hyperventilating about him being out of gas (20 miles left). We still do not know how much more gas was in his tank but it was cutting it a bit too close. Dave has about 5 gallons, John has around 7 and Dick has around 7. This is actually pretty great compared with some of the Harley guys who have a couple gallons and need to stop constantly.
Out of Conway, we found a neat little (RT113, closed in the winter) road that skipped back and forth across the NH-Maine border. There were mostly bikes, but not too many. A little rough but ok. Maine did not spend any stimulus money on that road, if you know what I mean..
We took Rt 2 to Rt 16 then to Berlin where Dick treated us to a double lap around the city just in case we missed something. Stopped in Errol at the L.L. Cote store. There was a nice old Norton Commando outside and lots of Harleys. Actually there are more Harleys on the road than any other bike, by far. Have'nt heard a quiet one yet.
L.L. Cote is your typical "if we ain't got it, you don't need it" store. Our credit cards were over-heating so we left and headed up Rt 26 north to Colbrook. We then headed down the NH side of the river on Rt3 and crossed at Bloomfield, rode the VT side of the river until we got to Rt 2. Then west into Concord. We filled with gas and headed to Dick's favorite local place called MooseLook. Very fancy joint. They had those embossed napkins and everything. Now any place that has liver and onions on the menu as well as tripe, has got to be a great restaurant. And it was packed. We had to sit at the bar as all the tables were full. I sat net to an older guy who retired from the state and used to ride a Harley years ago, so lots to talk about there.
We drove to Dick's camp on Miles Pond to stay the night. Very comfy accommodations, and Gin & Tonics to boot.
Another great day..
