Post by lanceq on May 6, 2008 19:54:20 GMT -5
Today, after riding randomly over country roads, enjoying scenery and villages, I came to a road I knew. Turning north I could follow it home and beat the dark clouds and rain coming in from the west. Well, that's not what happened.
About ten miles on, the road made a ninety-degree turn under an interstate. To my surprise, on the other side the only choice was to get on the interstate or turn around. Turning around meant about 35 miles of backtracking and the time that would take. Rain was coming and thick clouds were rolling in. I was only 8 miles from home. I decided to take the interstate.
My scooter is registered as a motorcycle because of its 150cc engine. I knew that would cover me if I were pulled over. Up on the rural stretch of interstate I went. I gunned the little engine and soon was blasting along at 60 mph. A sign immediately stated the "old" road was just one and a half miles ahead. Great, I could get back on it there and get off the interstate.
It was a daunting mile and a half. Strong winds buffeted me from the west, my left. I was blown to the outside of my lane. I held on. My helmet wanted to fly off the back of my head. Up came the exit and off the gas I went cruising down the ramp to a comfortable stop.
Left, under the interstate to the "old" road I turned. However, the old road dead ended in one half mile. It went nowhere. Two old houses, probably from the 19th century, hid in the woods. They had been there a century before the interstate and an exit had been created just for them.
It was back on the interstate, I sighed. Along this stretch of interstate is a bike lane that parallels the superhighway. In over twenty years I have never seen or heard of a bicyclist using this trail. Some snowmobilers use it in the winter, but no bicyclists (or walkers for that matter) use it in the summer. It is long, isolated, and the number one sight is the interstate.
I decided to take the bike lane. I cruised at about ten miles per hour, keeping my eye open for obstacles, cracks, potholes, and moose. You never know. A few miles on I safely came to a popular truck stop where I stopped and vowed never to travel without a map, even if I think I'm in my back yard.
Behind the truck stop is a road that goes up and over a hill and comes out only a few miles from my home. I had never been on this road before. It was a great surprise to discover the steepest and most twisting paved road I have ever travelled in New Hampshire. You never know what you will find when you go out on a ride do you?
- Lance
About ten miles on, the road made a ninety-degree turn under an interstate. To my surprise, on the other side the only choice was to get on the interstate or turn around. Turning around meant about 35 miles of backtracking and the time that would take. Rain was coming and thick clouds were rolling in. I was only 8 miles from home. I decided to take the interstate.
My scooter is registered as a motorcycle because of its 150cc engine. I knew that would cover me if I were pulled over. Up on the rural stretch of interstate I went. I gunned the little engine and soon was blasting along at 60 mph. A sign immediately stated the "old" road was just one and a half miles ahead. Great, I could get back on it there and get off the interstate.
It was a daunting mile and a half. Strong winds buffeted me from the west, my left. I was blown to the outside of my lane. I held on. My helmet wanted to fly off the back of my head. Up came the exit and off the gas I went cruising down the ramp to a comfortable stop.
Left, under the interstate to the "old" road I turned. However, the old road dead ended in one half mile. It went nowhere. Two old houses, probably from the 19th century, hid in the woods. They had been there a century before the interstate and an exit had been created just for them.
It was back on the interstate, I sighed. Along this stretch of interstate is a bike lane that parallels the superhighway. In over twenty years I have never seen or heard of a bicyclist using this trail. Some snowmobilers use it in the winter, but no bicyclists (or walkers for that matter) use it in the summer. It is long, isolated, and the number one sight is the interstate.
I decided to take the bike lane. I cruised at about ten miles per hour, keeping my eye open for obstacles, cracks, potholes, and moose. You never know. A few miles on I safely came to a popular truck stop where I stopped and vowed never to travel without a map, even if I think I'm in my back yard.
Behind the truck stop is a road that goes up and over a hill and comes out only a few miles from my home. I had never been on this road before. It was a great surprise to discover the steepest and most twisting paved road I have ever travelled in New Hampshire. You never know what you will find when you go out on a ride do you?
- Lance
.*.*.*.*. 