Stretches of more than 2 days off come few and far between these days, and I've been in dire need of a brain cleaning lately. Luckily I was able to get away just this past weekend.
Friday morning came after just 3 hours sleep with a full day of work in store. Lucky for me it was slow, and I was able to get out around 2 in the afternoon. Caged it up through Baltimore toward home, picked up an EZPass and ugly $8 black plastic bracket at the Tunnel and got home to pack.
Saddlebags loaded and EZ'd on, a new waterproof bag jammed with clothes, extra helmet on the rack. Out the door, heading north up I-95, away from the house where I live, towards my heart's home, Vermont.
I usually run lightweight, just me and the Speedy, and rarely run through full tanks of gas on the 4 lane, so I was surprised when I started to sputter at 135m, having JUST passed a rest area. I got off, got directions, the runaround, turned around, and as I was giving up hope a Sportster went motoring past me. I caught up, waved him down, pointed to the tank and got the high sign. Made it to fuel just as my ride started to finish the last sips of reserve. Happily that was the last excitement of the night. I ran around NYC on 287, then charged up toward Albany with 2 squids leading the way, clearing the evening's thinning traffic from the passing lane. I kept expecting to get the tired nods, but the excitement of finally being on vacation had me. Albany came and went, and I passed through Troy, home of Uncle Sam, gassing up one last time before heading out into the dark that starts just east of town. After crossing the Vermont state line I hit route 7 around midnight as the clouds settled over the Green Mountains. On the cold, foggy hour between Bennington and Rutland I saw one fox, and only 2 cars. At 1:05, some 416 miles from home, I pulled into my destination for the night.
Hooked up with VTScallywag, my old friend with a beautiful green America and little on his plate for a few days. Saturday, Sunday and Monday were a blur of rides through old haunts. Miles of lakeshores, over mountains and through valleys cool and green. Past covered bridges and rivers and freshly mown fields of grass .. Past the Ben and Jerry's plant and the Mill where we used to make cider jelly each tourist season. Crashed a wedding reception. Golfed, poorly as usual, but pulled off one honest par-3, quite a feat for me. Drank Long Trail each evening and ate well. Vacation after all.
Everyone had to work Tuesday. Everyone but me. Record heat on tap for New England. I scooted out for Bolton Valley, up the mountain, and pulled off under the trees. Down to the river, off with everything and into the chilly mountain stream. Cigar. Budweiser from passing local. Hours in the sun and shade and listening to the water roll down the boulders. Relaxation until the neo-hippie with slacklining gear burst my bubble. I left before he could hurt himself. Picked up a female friend back in town and went out along the lake in the early evening. "How fast can this thing go?" Fast. And with hands tight on my sides and legs wrapped round my hips and that question in my ear after being so well behaved? Very Fast. Night. Dinner. Live music. My home bar, where no matter how long away I'm greeted by name.
Wednesday, toward home. Sprayed myself with gas before I'd turned over my first mile of the trip as I gassed up. It bounced from the tank to my chest as I balanced the bike upright, hoping to fit a few extra miles into the tank. To the local drugstore for a $2.50 t shirt to save having to unstrap/unpack everything. Bonus: a covert spray of Coppertone from the rack in the back. 9:30 AM, Toward house, and cats, who must be nuts by now. Thunderstorms expected along the East Coast all day. Not 5 minutes after my second gas stop black clouds start over. I pull over in time to dig out my rain pants and zip the cover on my mesh jacket. Switch to the full helmet. 15 minutes of crazy rain later I burst into the sun and heat again. Stop, undress, stow stuff. Cigar. Clouds catching up? Move fast. Repeat again after next gas stop. This time the rain gets carwash heavy, but I'm still rolling along at 40 and the cars are all doing the same, and I know it'll be over any minute.... Right? As we roll back into sunshine, the guy driving next to me paces me. When I look over his eyes are huge, he points and mouths WOW MAN pointing up and at me and shaking his head. I give him a thumbs up, laughing. I stay geared up in the sun just long enough to dry out the outer layer, then shed it for the last time of the day. Hours of slab later I pass the first spot where I could bail out for some 2 lane for the last 30 miles home. I push on. Almost there. Rolling with traffic well over the posted 65 mph limit. 7 pm. Home. Unstrap everything, pop off the bags, and get a pizza in the oven. Unpack. Relax. Enjoy the air conditioning.
1550 miles spread over 6 days. Friends reconnected with. Head cleared. Tanned. Beside Russ and myself we spotted one Tiger in Rutland and I caught one orange/cream beauty in Burlington. I'm ready to go get back out there for a few more miles.
