road to the past....

[Guest]

Today I took a 180 mile round trip ride on the old GS1100G to work in Portland, ME. Dressed for the 55 degree morning ride I plotted a course that would take me on some nice back roads through NH and into Maine. Sporting new rear shocks and changing the fork oil from 20w to 10w(late last night) I was anxious to give the bike a nice road test that I would enjoy. Leaning into the curves of the country roads and passing a few slower vehicles, easily and at will, that came up on the horizon I was really slipping into the past.... I looked down at the bike and for a moment I had a flashback of a 20 year old riding his '75 Norton Commando through the New England scenery in spring.
As I came to the small towns of Maine, at each stoplight, I was thankful for my full face helmet as the black flies were coming out with a vengeance. Those from up here will know exactly what I'm talking about. Onward at full throttle leaving the flies to their next stationary victim!
Finally, after 80 miles I returned to the humdrum of I-95 and fighting the highway's endless jockeying to get to one's destination for the final 10 miles.
On the flip side, I made a point of attacking those same country roads like I was a kid again....aaaahhhhhh....back to reality and 30 years later..... to be continued?

[marvinsc]

A good story that would be better with Pics.

[Craiger]

Great story....and I agree with Marvin. We need pics! :-D

[PAULYBOY]

If the black flies are out now, will they be done by end of July? I miss New England, cept for the flies! Hope to take a bike ride there someday. Matybe Bristol R.I. to North Conway, N.H., then up to the Whites, then onward to the Greens.

[8trackmind]

Good story. More, more! :-D

[lurch12_2000]

If the black flies are out now, will they be done by end of July? I miss New England, cept for the flies! Hope to take a bike ride there someday. Matybe Bristol R.I. to North Conway, N.H., then up to the Whites, then onward to the Greens.

The black flies usually ease off during the early part of June, so you are safe to venture up here in July. Mosquitoes take their place but don't come out in force til the evenings, whereas black flies go sun up to sun down mercilessly biting your face, neck, and in your nostrils and down your ear canals!!!
I used to live in N. Conway many years ago and spend a lot of solo riding time on Rt 112 (Kangamangus Hwy). PM me with details of your trip if you go. Who knows, I may be game to go down that "road to the past" with you.
p.s. One of my favorite books from the past was "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. Maybe some day the "doers" will really retreat to the inner countryside and leave the "talkers and users" struggling on their own!

[lurch12_2000]

the return trip....

As I survived the short 10 mile stint on the highway, I exited onto the back roads of Maine again. Here, as I floated by the budding green countryside of the spring season, my mind drifted back in history. Even though the old Norton was not between my legs anymore, I still sat on a GS classic from that same era. Thinking about the history of where this bike has been, ridden by another, and if it ever crossed paths with me and the bike of my past somewhere in days gone by. While losing myself in nostalgia, I would have to check myself from pushing the limits and speed of the bike in those curves of Rt's 111 in ME and 202a in NH. Back then I only had myself to be concerned with. But somehow I knew that, as I took in the feel of the road, life is not about just surviving another day and making it through my "allocated" 79.6 years. Yes, now I have a wonderful wife of 27 years and 6 great kids, but the dust can't be allowed to settled on one's desire to snap out of the air of expectancy. Mile after mile, very few cars on the road, watching the pavement roll under my wheels. Those cars that popped up in my path were quickly in my rear view mirror. Again back to reality as I pulled into my driveway at the end of my day's "journey. Not in a begrudging way, but with a renewed feeling which left me thankful for each day, whether there are years to go or just a short time in life's travels.

p.s. sorry children - no pics, now it's time to go to bed and conjure up your own!!:-D I'll see if their are more "road to the past" bedtime short stories to tell for another day.

[Craiger]

LOL! Patiently waiting.

[PAULYBOY]

The black flies usually ease off during the early part of June, so you are safe to venture up here in July. Mosquitoes take their place but don't come out in force til the evenings, whereas black flies go sun up to sun down mercilessly biting your face, neck, and in your nostrils and down your ear canals!!!
I used to live in N. Conway many years ago and spend a lot of solo riding time on Rt 112 (Kangamangus Hwy). PM me with details of your trip if you go. Who knows, I may be game to go down that "road to the past" with you.
p.s. One of my favorite books from the past was "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. Maybe some day the "doers" will really retreat to the inner countryside and leave the "talkers and users" struggling on their own!

Hear,hear! Long live the Kancamagus highway. A worthy trip even by car. I had a friend who was to take his 1st N.E. vacation last year with his 2 brothers. These guys are all over 50,And an associate of mine and myself came up with a tour for them of hiking, sightseeing and bicycling. We suggested starting out near N conway, going to Mt. Washington, Crawford and Pinkham Notch, then sightseeing along the KC. They absolutley loved it! Gawwwd, I miss New England!

[Smokinapankake]

I started reading Ayn Rand in my early 20's an I have to say she is one of my favorite authors. I reread both Atlas and The Fountainhead about every 2 years, and each time I get something different out of them. I'm almost ashamed to say, but it took me about 3 times to understand each of them beyond the fiction.
Good stuff, that.