I was invited to the Emery Family Bonfire this past weekend in Whitefield, ME and had a blast! Thanks for the tasty grilled food, inferno and delicious chocolate cake. Following a delicious breakfast the following morning, I loaded up and rode southeast toward the coast. The mercury was already in the mid 80s and it wasn't even 11AM yet. I could feel the difference that leaving the cooler air of the Atlantic made and was not liking it. A sign of things to come. I stuck as close as possible to the coast and worked my way south, stopping in many nature parks, preserves and trail networks along the way to make coffee, read a book or explore the trails. This morning I crossed into NH and am now down along the Merrimack River south of the mill towns of Concord and Manchester. This has the real feel of being in the northeast. This sector of land steeped in history and the industrial buildings of the United States.
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After scanning the terrain on my map, I noticed a large patch of mountains only a day's ride from the coast. I flock to mountains like a moth to the flame and couldn't resist the pull of cool lakes, babbling streams and the smell of warm pine in the sunshine. Camping near Rangely, Kingfield and Flagstaff, there are many gems for the outdoor enthusiast. My camera always captures the passion of the area and the mountains are my first love.
Sticking close to the coast, I traveled southwest on Hwy 1 and some other peninsular roads through fishing communities, blueberry fields advertising for rakers and yard sales in perpetual advertisement. This area is known as "Down East" and between the accent of locals, smell of fresh seafood stands and the sound of loons across the brackish rivers, I sure liked being down east. Deer Isle and the town of Stonington is a great destination for the real Maine experience of a small seaport, active fishery and historic bed and breakfasts. The most relaxing place visited in Maine thus far was the Holbrook Island Sanctuary, a wildlife preserve south of Castine along Ponobscot Bay. Fern lined hiking trail climb amid birch and pine forests to a hilltop summit where through a break in the foliage I spy the twin masts of a clipper headed out to sea. Quoddy Head is the easternmost point of land in the United States jutting out from the coast of Maine just across from the International boundary with New Brunswick. I passed through Deer Island to Campbello enjoying the ferry ride and seeing the tidal whirlpool in action. Crossing the bridge into Lubec, ME I had mixed feelings about leaving Canada but also enthusiastic to be back in the states.
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Mike SaundersIn May 2014 I quit my job to ride a Honda Ruckus over 69'000 mi and counting. Wild camping most nights and cooking most of my own meals, I keep the costs low and the landscape changing. Archives
April 2018
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