The Rowell covered bridge in NH.
Jim's home | Motorcycle home | 10k Home
Got to my Dad's house in Rangeley, Maine yesterday afternoon. Would have gotten there sooner but I took a wrong turn and went to Crawford Notch. So, lost about an hour there, but it's beautiful there. Did about 335 miles from Ken's place. Mainly backroads through the New Hampshire and Maine countryside. Very pretty. Nice to see older houses and small town buildings. You don't get to see as much of that out west. Have come about 6,000 miles now with maybe 3,500 more to go. If I tour Michigan's upper peninsula on the way home I may break 10,000 miles by the end of the trip.
The Rowell covered bridge in NH.
Rte 28A along the south end of Lake Winnepesaukee in NH.
A couple of nice, New England buildings.
I took a wrong turn and accidentally rode to Crawford Notch in NH. Pretty, but have been there.
My most important destination, Maine, where my Dad lives. Crossing that state line was a profound moment.
A view of Rangeley Lake from an overlook.
While I'm in Rangeley I'll research the way home. Destinations along the way so far include:
Friend John the Welder says to see the Corn Palace in SD. Anyway, I have a few days more to plan.
Got a good rain this moring. The news says there's a big "heat dome" over the southeast now and in the near future. Nice to be up north where it's cooler. Hopefully it'll stay cool on the way west.
My Dad lives on a lake referred to as Long Pond or Beaver Mountain Lake about 6 miles east of Rangeley. The house has been undergoing some major renovations. They bumped out the wall thickness in much of the house for more insulation and replaced most of the windows with double pane ones. New siding is partially complete. A new septic system was just installed. The old one dated back to 1968 when the original camp was built. Apparently contractors have been tough to schedule, big surprise. The leaves are just coming out here and the lake is too cold to swim in, for me at least. Dad's still practicing his chanter, which is used to learn to play the bag pipes. Am wondering what a chanter/ukulele duet would sound like. Dad's 97 now and is doing well. Still likes driving the Jaguar he bought 3 years ago. Nice to catch up with his wife Jeannine.
View from the deck overlooking the lake.
Lakeside view of the house with the old siding.
New siding visible on this side.
Interior views.
Dad.
His Jaguar.
Dad's being interviewed by the Rangeley Historical Society and Rangeley Snowmobile Club tomorrow. He was an early adopter of Bombadier's Skidoos, and used to drag the trails for the club with a single ski dual track machine towing a big, heavy, galvanized steel drag. He used to do that at night until 1:00 in the morning. Now I know why I like to go stand up paddleboarding at night.
Will give the Norge a bath while I'm here. My windscreen looks like a Jackson Pollock painting. Lots of red and yellow. The gas smell has faded from my jacket as I hoped it would. Still happy wearing my leathers instead of textile gear.