Now that I have recovered (read as "eat & sleep"), I thought I would write up a more detailed report on the Ride of May 2nd. Some of you know that I am hosting the MTF Regional SS1000 in NH on May 16th. I wanted to do this ride as it is on the agenda for the 16th but as the host, I cannot do it myself then as I have to sign people in and out. In addition I, wanted to verify the route and receipt locations and that the receipts would be valid for the IBA (Iron Butt Assoc). I had been to the Start/End station and was comfortable there also the one in Bow. I wanted to specifically verify Lebanon and Littleton as I found the stations but had not been there myself. (These are all supposed to be 24 hour stations, I had called in Dec).
I had previously mentioned being successful, but also some logistics issues. Ok, first I awoke at 2am, got up and started to get ready. Took my stuff out to the bike, it was supposed to rain but was not, so I was pleased. It was also quite warm, like 62 deg. This was 2:30 in the morning. I had layers and extra gloves already packed. I thought about grabbing my Warm&Safe electrics but it was 60?
Logistics Issue #1: I even had to open the vents on my jacket I was so warm. I was less than 50 miles out when the rain started and the temp dropped like a rock. 55 Degrees and by the time I was half way up I-89 it was down to about 48. I stopped at a rest area and added a sweat shirt. Later in the morning when I hit Franconia Notch, the temp was down to 35 deg. I guess the warm morning and needing to open up my jacket vents lulled me into a sense of "stupidity". I do wear it well too.
Logistics Issue #2: My Lebanon 24 hour station was closed! I checked as some actually have the pumps running but no luck. Went the opposite direction and those stations were also closed. I headed back down to the next exit. They advertised 24 hour gas. I headed in towards Dartmouth, rode about 5 miles (seemed like 30) with no luck. Went the other way, right into the little town of Lebanon. Nothing open, drove around the circle and back out. Saw a convenience open with pumps and pulled in. Pumps worked, about half way through pumping, the lights outside came on. I went in the store and asked and the only 24 hour was the truck stop (which I already could find). They gave me directions and when I got back to the highway, I just returned to my route. I had already lost a lot of time and could maybe find it in the daylight on the next lap. Next exit down was (2) 24 hours stations but quick math said they were est 10 miles from the original, I had about 60 miles of safety in the route. If I cut to there, that would be 20 miles lost each of 4 laps, may not have enough miles. (It was only 5.4 miles so maybe it will work for the 16th, I will have to calculate). When I came back later (lap 2) I found the truck stop. Not bad to get to but it was set back and I missed it in the dark.
Logistics Issue #3: My station in Bow was good, I had been there before. Pumped my gas, hit YES for receipt.. whirr.. whirr.. Printing.. ERROR. It did not print a reciept. I had to go into the store and get one. No big issue, but more wasted time. This happened on 5 of my 6 stops here!
Logistcs Issue #4: Ok, how can we top the first 2 fuel stops??? Well, start with no receipt, I go in and get one, and ask if they are 24 hour?? No, not any longer. I asked where was the closer, just down the street at Cumberland Farms. I got back on the road and the next 2 laps went right to CumbyFarms to get a reciept and there were no issues.
Logistics Issue #5: How can there be more?? I have accounted for all the gas stops. Well I-89 is under construction for paving, bridges and who knows what all else. There are signed claiming 24 miles of construction one way, along with smaller 6 and 8 mile warnings. The other direction has 13 mile warnings and multiple smaller ones. There are lanes closed (only 2 good ones to start with). In one area the right lane is closed, so you move to it for a few miles then they tell you to move back to the right as they close the left. The pavement was pretty rugged on the single lane bridge changes. Normal speed limit of 65 was now mostly 55 with a couple 45 mph sections. There was plenty of Law Enforcement on this stretch to hand out performance awards. I saw them on every lap in both directions.
I maintained a steady pace and basically did it in about 20 hours. The biggest delays were the slow down on I-89 and the delay in finding a station in Lebanon on that fist leg. When i got in, I got my witness signatures and then went out and had a good breakfast!
Someone asked, about the boredom of Multiple laps.. The first leg was out to Lebabon from the start in Nashua, then 3 identical laps of Lebanon, to Bow, to Littleton andback to Bow and then Lebanon. That is lap 1, now repeat twice! When finished, repeat the first Leg in reverse, Lebabnon back to Nashua. Sounds boring doesn't it?? It was actually not as bad as I anticipated.
I-89 has valleys and rivers along it as you head towards the CT River... and Lebabon
I-93 has the city of Concord, then further north is the Lakes Region (where Laconia is), then the White mountains, then you pass through Franconia notch... coming out about 20 miles form the turn around in Littleton..
The first full lap was dark still coming down from Lebanon to Bow... It was cloudy and the sunrise was pretty well under the cloud cover when I turned in Bow.. It drizzled off an on and got cold in Franconia notch and was still darkish from the clouds. As I made the turn and came back through the notch, it started raining worse, visibility was limited with the rains and clouds, yet I could see the snow on the mountains of the notch. I checked the temperature passing through the notch and it was 35 Deg. By the time I reached Bow (9:30am) and headed to Lebanon, it was starting to clear the rains had stopped and the clouds were breaking up. I was able to see some of the beauty of the views along I89, the peaks and valleys looked beautiful and peaceful.
Turning in Lebanon, I start lap 2. It is now almost 11am and the sun is starting to break through and the temperature is warming up. In the south direction, there are some lakes and rivers quite visible right along the road. The Lake Sunapee area is gorgeous! I watched these views and noticed the tranquility as the miles rolled by. Heading back North on I93, I was again impressed with the mountain views heading north. Also the many rivers, some we crossed several times. The skys were now blue, the the remaining clouds cast shadows on the mountains which I always found to be very picturesque. Franconia Notch was gorgeous now that the overcast and rain was gone. The rugged rock face and stone that fell to the bottom was something you do not see everywhere. I even stopped at one the turnoff's, took a break and just looked around at the natural beauty. I made the turn-around in Littleton, and as I approced the Notch from the North, I noticed snow on the sides of many of the mountain faces off in the distance., Previous lap I only saw the snow right in the notch. I was probably more relaxed and looking around more at my surroundings. This was the first time I noticed the rapids in some of the fast moving streams, likely still swelled frm the melting snow. I did notice some waterways off to my right on the north bound I89 this lap. That section was starting to bore as a result of all of the construction.
Lap 3 started about 4:30 in Lebanon. The sun was quite bright at this time and it added a different hue to the valleys in the Lake Sunapee area. By the time I was back up to the White mountain area, it was getting later, the sun was now lower in the west and with the clouds, the mountain ranges looked completely different than earlier. I took a break in Littleton, grabbed a snack and some juice and mentally prepared for the last 250 miles. South on I93 went well and as I neared the turn in Bow, the sun had gone down, and daylight was fading fast. It added a new veiew to the scenery, and heading NW on I89, I could see the dim skys from after the was down and the clouds looked "dark" because of the lighting.
The rest of the way and then back home was all at night, in full dark. I was tired and not looking much for scenery, I just wanted to get back to Nashua and get off the bike.
Pat in NH
