We woke up before the alarm, go figure. Maybe we were just a little excited, not looking forward to riding in the rain, but ready to get going! We were expected in Vermont about 12p, plenty of time!

Breakfast…the most important meal of the day, as you may have heard! A quick breakfast including the perfect waffle, and then we’re off! 

We rode through NY State, mostly on the highway, so we could get to where we need to be, stopped at the Central Region New York rest stop. There are some really nice rest stops along the highways and this one was one of them. Not a lot of food options, but the restrooms have plenty of stalls and they are clean. Coolest part….where else can you purchase cookies and milk from a vending machine?! This rest stop you can! The rest stop itself is bright and very nicely decorated to really shine a light on the Central New York Region. And…can you see PSM standing in NY and Canada all at the same time? Bonus!

Next stop, Vermont. Well, we went a little ways and a stop here and there, but the next major stop was Vermont, well…a really nice rest stop in Vermont. This one felt like a barn and had lots of ‘Vermonty’ stuff! A display for local foods, only native to VT, beverages, crafts, artistry, and a ginormous wooden dog named Norman, isn’t he fabulous?! A much needed break, they didn’t have concessions, but there was a fundraiser happening, so we were able to get some snacks, for a donation, score!

Since we were in Vermont already, we were on track to get to the Harpoon Brewery in Windsor, VT and meet KDN and KK. We got there in plenty of time, somewhere around 1230p, they should have gotten there about that time, they were coming in from Boston, about a 2 hour drive. We got there and we waited…and waited…and waited…we ordered some appetizers and drinks while we waited, I love a brewery that offers hot tea! Warmed me up!

The Harpoon Brewery is a nice place, very open and welcoming, lots of open space, oversized lawn games, fire pits, a place for a stage/music, all the good things you want in a brewery. The staff was very nice, our waitress was great, turns out that the brewery is employee owned, gives it a different feel and outlook.

They finally arrived and we caught up, ordered lunch, laughed, talked, teased, and had a great time, it’s as if no time had passed! The last time we were all together was last year on our trip out west to South Dakota, promise, I will tell you all about it…after this trip! We fell back into the good feelings and comradery that is always there when we get together. I’m so thankful they accepted me when I came along, it’s great to be with friends, especially ones who have something as fabulous as riding motorcycles in common.

After a while, we were fully, satiated, and happy, time to put on the rain gear, it’s coming…back on the bikes, stop for gas, then back on the road, it’s about a 3.5/4 hour ride to Lincoln, NH, where we were spending the night.

We had some rain, oh boy, but we made it to Lincoln after a few stops, I think I told you, we ride about 100 miles, stop, fill up the tanks, take bio breaks, and give our bodies a chance to rest for a moment. When we got into Lincoln, we went straight to one of their favorite places, CJs Sports Bar & Restaurant, a place they always go to when they get together. It’s a cozy place, you walk in through the hotel and go down the stairs, first thing you see is the Max Occupancy sign: 120 People or 20 Moose, NH is known for its moose, and you better move out of their way!

We sat, ate, reminisced, told stories, chatted, laughed, made fun, and started all over, picked up from where we left off in Vermont. We talked about the game plan for tomorrow, we knew that when we got to the house, there would be some hanging out, talking, and drinking, but we would not be much longer for the world of the awake persons.

We left CJs, someone picked up provisions, then we headed to the house. It’s a great place, I think I’ve told you about it before, PSM and his brother bought it together and it’s a place they have been going to for years, it’s where PSM took me on our third date, where I first rode with most of his friends, now our friends, friends and family stay there, I brought my sister’s family, we spent the month of November there two years ago, it’s a great place, less than a mile from Loon Mountain and about a mile from the town of Lincoln. I actually spent some time there myself when I was on the project in Boston, 2022.

We got to the house, changed out of our wet things into our jammies, threw some stuff in the dryer, and sat in the living room to talk, but…as I mentioned, that didn’t last long and we all headed to our respective sleeping spots, we have a long ride ahead of us in the AM. So…I will say to you…

G’night! Bah Hahbor Bound tomorrow!