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Albin In New England

Some of the highlights of Brother Albin's visit to New England, the last leg of his adventure in America.
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Well damn, this past week sure went by fast! Here's a recap...

Monday 8/9/2004: 1:30 p.m. Jim & I pick Albin up at the airport. We stop for a bite to eat on the ride back to my place and eat up another hour or so chatting at the restaurant. Just like some of you said, Albin is real easy to talk to and we felt very akin to him right from the get-go. A little before supper Jim left for home and Albin & I rode 2-up to a friends house to borrow a bike for a ride on Tuesday. My better half Mary picked up some pizza. Vegetarian for them and Hamburg and pepperoni for me. Albin was one tired lookin puppy when he got off the plane but he was a real trooper and we enjoyed several hours of conversation before he hit the rack about 9 p.m.		Well damn, this past week sure went by fast! Here's a recap... Monday 8/9/2004: 1:30 p.m. Jim & I pick Albin up at the airport. We stop for a bite to eat on the ride back to my place and eat up another hour or so chatting at the restaurant. Just like some of you said, Albin is real easy to talk to and we felt very akin to him right from the get-go. A little before supper Jim left for home and Albin & I rode 2-up to a friends house to borrow a bike for a ride on Tuesday. My better half Mary picked up some pizza. Vegetarian for them and Hamburg and pepperoni for me. Albin was one tired lookin puppy when he got off the plane but he was a real trooper and we enjoyed several hours of conversation before he hit the rack about 9 p.m.
Bradley International Airport
Tuesday 8/10: - Let him sleep in till about 7:15 and Jim joined us about 7:45. We left for a nice leisurely ride about 8:30 a.m. with Albin on my Vstar and me on a Valkrie (g). Headed up through some nice new country roads up into Vermont and over Hogback Mountain.Tuesday 8/10: - Let him sleep in till about 7:15 and Jim joined us about 7:45. We left for a nice leisurely ride about 8:30 a.m. with Albin on my Vstar and me on a Valkrie (g). Headed up through some nice new country roads up into Vermont and over Hogback Mountain.
Hogback Mountain Lookout
Outside of Brattleboro we stopped for lunch at the Chelsea Diner for some great food and then continued East into New Hampshire on Rt. 9 and then back down into Mass for about a 130 mile ride. Took our time and stopped at a number of local tourist attractions.Outside of Brattleboro we stopped for lunch at the Chelsea Diner for some great food and then continued East into New Hampshire on Rt. 9 and then back down into Mass for about a 130 mile ride. Took our time and stopped at a number of local tourist attractions.
Covered Bridge outside Brattleboro, VT
Jim split off and I took Albin up to Sugarloaf Mountain to enjoy the views. We arrived back home about 5:00 p.m. Weather was good. A little windy but no rain, quite a bit of sun and in the 70's. Before Jim split off he decided to take his truck to New Hampshire on Wednesday because of the rainy weather forecast and we thought it best to scrap the idea of renting a bike for Albin and save him some money. Actually, a lot of money. Figured it wouldn’t be worth it considering the weather forecast. The plan was to leave Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m. to meet with the others at noon up in Meredith NH.

Wednesday, 8/11: Just before leaving, we got a call from Ed Campbell(Run-in-bare). He was already at the meeting place and soaking wet after a 12 hour ride! He couldn't get hold of Gary so he called here. I knew right off that I was gonna like Ed because he couldn't remember his cell phone number so we could get back in touch with him. LOL! He gave me his home phone so his wife could tell us his cell phone number (something I would do). I get a kick out of this because I still don't know my cell phone number and don't really want to know. Anyway, I couldn’t get through to Gary on the phone either so after sending e-mails and posting on the forum Gary called and I forwarded the information. We hit the road about 8:45 with me in the lead on the bike and Jim & Albin following in the truck. Skies looked threatening in spots but as luck turned out we never hit any rain on the ride up. We beat feet to make up some time and arrived at our destination right on time, about noon. 		Jim split off and I took Albin up to Sugarloaf Mountain to enjoy the views. We arrived back home about 5:00 p.m. Weather was good. A little windy but no rain, quite a bit of sun and in the 70's. Before Jim split off he decided to take his truck to New Hampshire on Wednesday because of the rainy weather forecast and we thought it best to scrap the idea of renting a bike for Albin and save him some money. Actually, a lot of money. Figured it wouldn’t be worth it considering the weather forecast. The plan was to leave Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m. to meet with the others at noon up in Meredith NH. Wednesday, 8/11: Just before leaving, we got a call from Ed Campbell(Run-in-bare). He was already at the meeting place and soaking wet after a 12 hour ride! He couldn't get hold of Gary so he called here. I knew right off that I was gonna like Ed because he couldn't remember his cell phone number so we could get back in touch with him. LOL! He gave me his home phone so his wife could tell us his cell phone number (something I would do). I get a kick out of this because I still don't know my cell phone number and don't really want to know. Anyway, I couldn’t get through to Gary on the phone either so after sending e-mails and posting on the forum Gary called and I forwarded the information. We hit the road about 8:45 with me in the lead on the bike and Jim & Albin following in the truck. Skies looked threatening in spots but as luck turned out we never hit any rain on the ride up. We beat feet to make up some time and arrived at our destination right on time, about noon.
Sugarloaf Mountain, Sunderland, MA
Gary, CJ, Windburn and Run-in-Bare were there to greet us and we musta spent about an hour takin pictures and chattin in the parking lot before going in for lunch. After some good food and more great conversation we went out to the parking lot where we discovered my rear tire was gettin pretty flat. :o( Yep, picked up a nail somewhere along the way and that is the reason some of you may have seen me sign on as “spike” earlier. Kind of an inside joke there. Shoved a log under the frame to keep the rim from setting down on the rubber to give us time to come up with a solution. Windburn took off for the local HD dealer to see what could be done there. I walked down to a hardware store to see if they had any canned air and to pick up a patch kit.Gary, CJ, Windburn and Run-in-Bare were there to greet us and we musta spent about an hour takin pictures and chattin in the parking lot before going in for lunch. After some good food and more great conversation we went out to the parking lot where we discovered my rear tire was gettin pretty flat. :o( Yep, picked up a nail somewhere along the way and that is the reason some of you may have seen me sign on as “spike” earlier. Kind of an inside joke there. Shoved a log under the frame to keep the rim from setting down on the rubber to give us time to come up with a solution. Windburn took off for the local HD dealer to see what could be done there. I walked down to a hardware store to see if they had any canned air and to pick up a patch kit.
Gathering in Meredith, NH
Got back to access the situation again and look over to see Ed (Run-in-Bare) ransackin the back of some poor woman’s van looking for a pump. Couldn’t believe it! Three younguns sittin in the backseat watching Ed rearrange a huge pile of all kinds of personal belongins about three times to look in all the nooks, crannies and storage compartments in the rear of the van. Man, that guy sure knows how to take charge and sweet talk the women folk because he’s in the back of this van like he owns it and the lady’s holding the window open for him! LMAO! Got back to access the situation again and look over to see Ed (Run-in-Bare) ransackin the back of some poor woman’s van looking for a pump. Couldn’t believe it! Three younguns sittin in the backseat watching Ed rearrange a huge pile of all kinds of personal belongins about three times to look in all the nooks, crannies and storage compartments in the rear of the van. Man, that guy sure knows how to take charge and sweet talk the women folk because he’s in the back of this van like he owns it and the lady’s holding the window open for him! LMAO!
Lunch
Anyway, Ed & I finally got hold of a small air tank from a garage for a $20 dollar deposit figuring we could ride a little, fill, ride a little and fill until we could get to a Yammie dealer about 8 -10 miles away. Well as luck would have it again, once the tire heated up with a little riding the air held, or at least leaked slower than before, and we made it to the dealer. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the right tube and wouldn’t do a patch for liability reasons but they were very nice and called their sister dealer another 15 miles or so away who did have the right tube. Unfortunately (again), it was in the opposite direction in which we wanted to go, but was the best option we had. The service manager took the bike right in and it was about an hour to make the repair.Anyway, Ed & I finally got hold of a small air tank from a garage for a $20 dollar deposit figuring we could ride a little, fill, ride a little and fill until we could get to a Yammie dealer about 8 -10 miles away. Well as luck would have it again, once the tire heated up with a little riding the air held, or at least leaked slower than before, and we made it to the dealer. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the right tube and wouldn’t do a patch for liability reasons but they were very nice and called their sister dealer another 15 miles or so away who did have the right tube. Unfortunately (again), it was in the opposite direction in which we wanted to go, but was the best option we had. The service manager took the bike right in and it was about an hour to make the repair.
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Wasn’t the ideal place to sit around and chat but we sure enjoyed each other’s company on the lawn of the dealership and were able to visit with Windburn a bit longer before he split from the group to head home. And...as luck would have it, it began raining just as we left the Yammie shop to continue our journey North and for Windburn to head home. Had we not encountered the three hour delay with the tire, we probably would all have made it to our destinations in a dry state. Oh well, such is life on the road. As bikers, we know we have to take whatever comes. Wasn’t the ideal place to sit around and chat but we sure enjoyed each other’s company on the lawn of the dealership and were able to visit with Windburn a bit longer before he split from the group to head home. And...as luck would have it, it began raining just as we left the Yammie shop to continue our journey North and for Windburn to head home. Had we not encountered the three hour delay with the tire, we probably would all have made it to our destinations in a dry state. Oh well, such is life on the road. As bikers, we know we have to take whatever comes.
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We arrived at the River View Resort about...uh...well...I’m not really sure. Sometime between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. I guess. Checked in and then had to hustle down to an eatery before they stopped serving food. There, we enjoyed some good food, drink and conversation. Headed back to the room about 10:30 - 11:00 for some z’s.We arrived at the River View Resort about...uh...well...I’m not really sure. Sometime between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. I guess. Checked in and then had to hustle down to an eatery before they stopped serving food. There, we enjoyed some good food, drink and conversation. Headed back to the room about 10:30 - 11:00 for some z’s.
Late Dinner in Maine
Thursday, 8/12: In the morning, I kind of slept in and usually don’t eat breakfast anyway, so the others headed out for bite to eat while I stayed behind to shower and take pics around the area. Shortly after the group returned we bid Ed (Run-in-Bare) farewell and wished him a safe trip as he was headed North and we were going South.Thursday, 8/12: In the morning, I kind of slept in and usually don’t eat breakfast anyway, so the others headed out for bite to eat while I stayed behind to shower and take pics around the area. Shortly after the group returned we bid Ed (Run-in-Bare) farewell and wished him a safe trip as he was headed North and we were going South.
Saying goodbye to Run-in-bare.
It was a sad moment to see him head off on his own. It was a sad moment to see him head off on his own.
Heading out for a 12 hour ride!
Gary & CJ led the way with Albin on the Vstar and me riding shotgun with Jim.Gary & CJ led the way with Albin on the Vstar and me riding shotgun with Jim.
Off to the mountains!
Just as we began, a few sprinkles fell, but after a quick stop for the riders to don rain gear it stopped (always the way, Eh?).Just as we began, a few sprinkles fell, but after a quick stop for the riders to don rain gear it stopped (always the way, Eh?).
Time for raingear.
Our guides took us through some marvelous country roads, the White Mountain National Forest and a place called Evan’s Gap.Our guides took us through some marvelous country roads, the White Mountain National Forest and a place called Evan’s Gap.
Nice riding up in these parts.
It actually turned out to be a pretty good day weather wise. Mostly overcast and low to mid 70 degrees.It actually turned out to be a pretty good day weather wise. Mostly overcast and low to mid 70 degrees.
White Mountain National Forest
It looks a little foggy here but we were at the top of Evans Pass and not sure if this was fog or we were up in the clouds. It looks a little foggy here but we were at the top of Evans Pass and not sure if this was fog or we were up in the clouds.
Evan's Pass
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Jim 17-Aug-2004 23:37
Great Job Ed. You're correct when you say Albin's visit is something we'll never forget. Oh, Dang, now I'm getting all misty......
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