Fall Riding

Yesterday we went out for a nice long ride, destination: Bath Iron Works in Maine. Why Bath Iron Works? Because the small company that WS works for built the stairs and rails for the building and he wanted to see how their work was being used. Besides, it gave us a destination for a nice long day trip that kept us away from the leaf-peepers heading up north.

The original plan was to take all secondary roads, except a short stint on I95 around Portsmouth. After crawling along on Rt 1 in Kittery for about an hour (apparently all the leaf peepers turned into beach goers), we decided the highway was the only way we would have time to actually make it to Bath, ME! However, we did get to see a huge group of bikes going the other way.

We thought it was maybe the Maine H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) chapter because there were easily 60-80 bikes (maybe more - didn't think to count). They, of course, were riding on the side with no traffic; while we were literally stopped, the whole group went by (it was in town and they were turning off a side street, so it took a while for them to pass). They even had a chase truck, outfitted with flashing yellow light.

We finally found a way back to I95, and eventually wound up at the Iron Works. Since it is a secure sight (they work on naval ships), we weren't able to get as close as we would have liked, but the building is still open so WS was able to See where the stairs were. He snapped a few pictures, which won't really show anything except a lot of steel girders and beams, but maybe the pic of the huge crane will convey the scale of the site.

By that time it was about 3:30 and we had to scoot our way home (dark at 7). We managed to miss the rain; it followed directly on our heels. I was able to get the dogs in just before it rained. As the first rain in several weeks, the 1/2" of wet stuff was welcome (not nearly enough, but welcome just the same).

Today I buckle down to homework, and more of the same tomorrow. But yesterday was a great way to end the summer!

Comments

[Cop Car]

How often does one get a second Last Ride? If you could get 1/2" of rain every now and then, rather than having it come in 4"-15" batch drops, wouldn't it be nice?

[Amy]

The Harley dealership in North Hampton has been having a festival this weekend. Lots in town!

[Bogie]

Cop Car - yeah, kind of strange to get another last ride. Wouldn't have happened if I hadn't dropped the class though.

Amy - Maybe the group went there. All I know is that they definitely were one large group.

[Bogie]

Got more rain last night. Have to wait until daylight before I know how much. It would be a nice break not to have to water all the stuff that has been planted this year!

[Cop Car]

Amen on not having to water! After posting my last comment, it occurred to me that this ride was your first ride--of autumn. Oh, well. When you had posted about your last ride--of summer--I automatically thought of it as your last ride of 2007. Glad it wasn't.

[bod]

pardon my ignorance bogie but what are leaf peepers?

[Bogie]

Leaf Peepers are peaple that come up north to view the fall foliage.

[bod]

ah, thankyou :-)

[jenn]

Hey Bogie, I forgot you were a rider.

I'm thinking of getting a bike for my new commute - twenty minutes of surface streets in Phoenix, Az.

What's your bike?
Or perhaps a better question - what would be a good starter bike for a 5'4" somewhat out-of-shape fortysomething?

[Bogie]

Jen - actually I haven't had my own bike for about 10 years - and didn't ride very long (only a couple of years) before I ended up with a bum wrist (not good on the throttle hand).

However, If you can find a Yamaha 250 or a Suzuki 250 (street or cruiser type, not rocket-type), they should be low enough for you. Here is a link that may help. Here is another.