Day 4 – August 13, 2008
Today we woke up in St. Johnsbury, VT, to a foggy buy otherwise dry day, and as has become our routine, headed east. The farther east we went the better the weather.
Soon after crossing into NH we stopped for breakfast at a restaurant recommended by a guy and his girlfriend at a local gas station, and made the decision to take a little side trip to the Auto Road that wends its way to the summit of the White Mountains.
The ride from the base of the mountain to its peak was nothing short of a combination of fascination and fear. The road was two cars wide (very narrow cars) and the incline probably in the neighborhood of 20 degrees. There were no guard rails and the drop (if you were on the mountain side of the road) was typically about 3 feet and the drop away from the mountain essentially went to the bottom. There were no shoulders on which to pull off, but there were periodic turnouts to stop and add water to your radiator on the way up and or cool your brakes on the way down. Most of the road was paved, but for several miles near the summit it changed to packed gravel. On the way up there was a grader working a section of the gravel, and it was necessary to stop…. not a comfortable experience. However, we made it all the way and all agreed it was worth the trip.
Today we woke up in St. Johnsbury, VT, to a foggy buy otherwise dry day, and as has become our routine, headed east. The farther east we went the better the weather.
Soon after crossing into NH we stopped for breakfast at a restaurant recommended by a guy and his girlfriend at a local gas station, and made the decision to take a little side trip to the Auto Road that wends its way to the summit of the White Mountains.
The ride from the base of the mountain to its peak was nothing short of a combination of fascination and fear. The road was two cars wide (very narrow cars) and the incline probably in the neighborhood of 20 degrees. There were no guard rails and the drop (if you were on the mountain side of the road) was typically about 3 feet and the drop away from the mountain essentially went to the bottom. There were no shoulders on which to pull off, but there were periodic turnouts to stop and add water to your radiator on the way up and or cool your brakes on the way down. Most of the road was paved, but for several miles near the summit it changed to packed gravel. On the way up there was a grader working a section of the gravel, and it was necessary to stop…. not a comfortable experience. However, we made it all the way and all agreed it was worth the trip.
After checking out the summit (there was a shop (of course)) and several buildings evidently devoted to weather and research (in the 30’s wind speed exceeded 230 miles per hour at the top) we began the decent. We were advised by some other riders to keep it in second, maybe third gear so slow it down. We did, but a couple of miles from the top (the road is 8 miles long) my rear brake went out. Nothing. Nada. Not good. I pulled off at a turnoff and let Charlie and Bill know what had happened. We continued down, me keeping my hands and feet off the brakes and the bike in first. At the bottom we waited it out a while and the brakes returned. All we could guess was that at that altitude the brakes heated boiled the fluid and got air in the line. In any event all turned out well.
The remainder of the trip to the coast (Route 1 along the ME coast) was in great weather and thankfully uneventful.
After checking into a Comfort Inn, we dined at a lobster shack, beginning our campaign to reduce the lobster population.
Tomorrow we continue on to Bar Harbor (only about 40 miles) to kill more lobster.
Amanda….. I hope these pictures will help. I know elementary teachers don’t like books without pictures.
1 comment:
HAHA Howard. I will take that as a compliment. Sorry if I want some pictures. I just want to see where you are. Hmph. Anyways, so scary that your breaks went out. I would have freaked out! Keep driving safely!
P.S. Joe wanted me to say something about his shooters pictures. He said being on the bay, he thinks he should get some. I don't understand what he is talking about and don't think I want to.
Post a Comment