Sunday May 29th, 2016
DAY 2.
Up with the rising sun, I loaded up the bike in the 88’F (31’C), high humidity morning and after the “inclusive breakfast” offered by the hotel (I don’t believe it’s free although a lot of chains offer it as such) I set off for the day promptly at 7:30 a.m.
I joined Highway 20 again and stayed on it all the way to the Vermont state line.
A really great ride.
Rolling hills, good asphalt and really not much else though. Just green trees, lots and lots of green trees and a road.
Around 11:00 a.m. I made it to Saratoga Springs.
I was not surprised to see that as I rolled down main street, all the business establishments, well let me put it this way rather: My impression as I rolled down main street was “Everything Horses”!
I pulled into a gas station, topped the bike up with fuel, took a potty break, grabbed some trail mix snacks out of my luggage and did a little people watching again as I returned a couple of missed phone calls from my wife.
I was excited to share my ongoing experience with her.
I was sure it was the kind of place she would love to visit. Main street was lined with nothing but quaint little shops and stores offering lots of one-of-a-kind home and personal stuff – all horse-related!
I must bring her here one day.
So I got back underway with my journey.
As I crossed into Vermont the topography began to change as I entered the Green Mountains – as they are known.
I switched roads now onto Highway 9 East in Vermont.
This carried me all the way across Vermont into New Hampshire.
This was such a gorgeous route.
Fraught with really beautiful scenery and endless mountain sweepers and several tiny towns as I traversed mountain passes.
With the lovely weather, lots of residents were out and parades were being held.
It was Memorial Day.
The smell of charcoal and barbecues wafted through the air as I got jammed up in the stop-and-go congestion of the tiny towns.
A true motorcycling enthusiast’s “thrill of a road”.
I finally arrived in Saco, Maine around 5:45 p.m. and worked my way via GPS guidance to the home of Mike’s parents. By this time temperatures had dropped from all day 90’s down to 52’F (11’C).
So I got to meet his parents who extended such warm hospitality and insisted that I spend the night in their home – with a promise of homemade, fresh blueberry pancakes and syrup for breakfast.
Mike and I took off around 6:30 p.m. to Bayley’s – a great lobster eatery in Saco, ME. For that long awaited lobster dinner we spoke of way back in February.

After dinner Mike drove me by the Atlantic seaboard to give me an opportunity to experience the beach.
My day had become very event-filled. I was appreciative and felt very lucky to have had this experience in life.
We all stayed up late into the night. Great company. Wonderful people.
A blessing of friendship.
I looked forward to breakfast.