Pulled up into the garage, noticed he rode a KLR also.We’re in good hands.NikonVT…tall…much younger looking than I had originally expected.Judging by the tattoos on his adv avatar I envisioned this guy with scraggily long salt & peppered hair with the matching beard, sleeveless jean jacket, biker boots, cigarette hanging on the corner of his mouth.Picture Sam Elliott from the movie Road House.That’s what I had envisioned.NikonVT was the complete opposite.Cool & down to earth.After showing us in and making all the introductions to the family, we talked about the game plan over the next couple of days.He mentioned that it was calling for rain all day tomorrow and that we were welcome to stay an extra day till the weather clears up.After riding in the cold for the past couple of hours, we were leaning towards his invitation.What caught us off guard for a second was the fact that NikonVT gave us free range over the house the next morning.He and his wife were out to work while we hung out all day at the house.Most people, and understandably so, would kick us out and then have us back when they were back from work.This was not the case.It’s weird to have someone who is that trustworthy in these times.It’s nice to know that they still exist.NikonVT made a good point in that if we wanted to steal anything, there would be no place to put it.It was later revealed that NikonVT had the connections to track us down if we tried anything funny.NikonVT.Great guy.We spent the day while they were out to work in Bristol to buy groceries for dinner and walking around the small town.Didn’t mind the rain because we decided to use our legs to walk for a change.Later on that afternoon Amanda decided to take the dog out for a walk while I stayed back at the house to adjust Amanda’s motorbike chain.It was toast.We needed to replace it ASAP.After a nice meal and shootin the breeze afterwards, we said our goodbyes later on that night because both worked very early.Thank you for sharing your house with us NikonVT.
NikonVT's humble abode
The stable
The steeds
The morning after in the garage
A cool sidecar rig from mother Russia. NikonVT was working on a few problems. Hope he gets her back up and running again.
Max!
Just in case you were wondering, the tatoos were of zombies.
“Reunited and it feels so good.Reunited cause’ we understood…”Couldn’t get that tune outta my noggin, but I must say…I feel GRRRRRRRRRRRREAT!Spent yesterday resting Amanda and sharing quality time with Canuman’s family.Forgot to mention she rode for 11 hours the other day.Plus she lost a lot of sleep getting her things in order before departure.Must’ve been hard on her, but I’m sure within a couple of days she’ll be fully recharged.We camped out in Canuman’s sauna out back.Let me tell ya…when the place heats up, it really heats up fast.I had to open the window because it got so hot.
Amanda, Gwendolyn, and I out back in the sauna
If you can't take the heat, better stay outta the kitchen
This morning Amanda and I were set to head down south for Bristol, NH.We said our goodbyes to Canuman and his lady friend and wished each other well. 5 minutes into it, the cool morning air began to run shivers through my body.Dang.It’s gonna be another cold one.Originally Canuman had suggested we mouse around and ride through the Kancamangus Hwy, but had to ditch that plan because of the cold and how fast the sun had started to set.Instead, at the request of Canuman’s mom, we headed out to Quechee Gorge to take a quick peek.
Quechee Gorge
By the time we jumped back on our saddles the sun was halfway gone by now.We raced through as safely as we could to get to Bristol.I hate riding at night.Especially out in the boons.I don’t mind city night riding, I actually like it, but out in the boons, I might as well take a car.It’s pitch black, nothing to see, cold, and you never know when critters start jumping out all over the place.But there we were, soldiering on in the dark of night trying to reach our destination.Got to Bristol, gps starts to go beserk.*%#@!The darn thing tells me to turn into a road that doesn’t even exist.Now we’re riding around in circles trying to get the stupid thing to re-route a different route.After some time we finally get there.NikonVT….Hmmmmm….judging by his adv avatar, things might get interesting…
For the past couple of days Canuman and I were waiting with anticipation for Amanda’s arrival.The day has finally come.Canuman suggested that I meet her at Rouses Point in upstate NY.He also suggested that I stop by at a flower shop and buy Amanda flowers.Let me tell you a little something about myself.I like to think of myself as a man’s man.I ride motorbikes, I swim with sharks, I wear Old Spice.I can’t be bothered with girly girl flowers.They’re just not functional.Canuman helped me put it in perspective and convinced me otherwise.“When it comes to relationships and it feels right, don’t hold back.Go all out.”It became to so clear to me.Why the heck not?That small detail can make the moment more special.Let’s do it!I suited up, programmed the gps, and made my way towards the lady friend.Stopped over in Barton and picked up a single red rose at a flower shop and proceeded onwards towards Rouses Point.I felt great.The brisk cool air rushing through my lungs, the vibration intensified as I opened up the throttle, and just knowing that the original game plan is about to come to fruition spawned a grin ear to ear as I rode through the green mountains.I got to the bridge at around 14:30 and waited at the base of the bridge…5 minutes…10 minutes…15 minutes…half an hour!Screw it!I’m going further in.I rode into town and waited where rte 11 ends.Parked the steed and chomped on some sardines I bought from the Dollar General.Then it happened.“She’s here!She’s here!She’s here!”I was jumping up and down like a little boy right before opening up presents at Christmas time.My voice started to get all funny and weird because I’m quirky like that only in the presence of my one and only.Man, I was so happy!Remember I said I wouldn’t cry again?Bah!I did, but they were tears of joy!So much for being a man’s man.
Amanda with her flower at Rouses Point
We rode back to the Palace and got back just in time for a nice warm dinner with Canuman and his family.
I felt like I slept for ages.Cozy bed.Cozy sheets.Ahhhhh warmth.Where am I?Is this the afterlife?Has my body finally pulled the plug after another cold nights’ sleep and this is where my sub conscious mind has taken me?No.I’m at the Palace of the People and the king goes by the name of Canuman.He took me in and almost immediately I took on the role of apprentice and Canuman my mentor.I contacted Amanda and finalized the details.Her last day on the job was on the 9th and was planning to catch up to me first thing in the morning on the 10th.I had to figure out a way to remain stagnate for a week.No Problem.Canuman hooked me up and we hung out for the next 7 days. We had great conversations about life, travels, gear, and motorcycles.We rode through the mountains with fellow ADV inmate Somerled and best of all, I had a chance to meet Canuman’s family.I learned a lot from Canuman and I hope not too long from now I will make my return back to the Palace of the People.
Canuman's trusty steed
Stable of the Palace
A beautiful waterfall in the mountains of Vermont
Too many good roads to decide on
Nice twisty roads of Vermont
One of many covered bridges in Vermont
The mountains and I along with my trusty Kawasaki KLR 650
Unpaved country roads
Rumbling along Victory Road and starting to feel a little remote; can't even imagine what Alaska is going to be like.
I jumped up onto the computer desk, ripped off my shirt, and right before the librarian had a chance to open her mouth I pitched the pieces of cloth right into her face.Then I blasted through the library doors and decided to run laps around town singing dingdong the bells are gonna chime!That’s what should’ve happened in a Hollywood script, but instead I sat in front of the computer screen frozen.You have to understand I spent the last couple of weeks psyching myself out doing this trip solo.You can’t turn it on and off as if it was a light switch.My first initial reaction was that she was overreacting, but then I thought wait a minute!Is she for real?Even if she was overreacting how hard could it be for me to push her over the edge and get her to tag along?That was the original plan all along wasn’t it?I had to jump on this opportunity.I text messaged her back telling her you need to do this, this, and this, and you need to bring this, this, and this.Don’t bring anything else or you’ll be lugging too much weight.Then I did what I thought was the sensible thing to do.I told her that I’m thrilled you’ve decided to come, but also to think this one through.I told her to sleep on it and that I’ll give her a shout when I got a chance.With a lot on my mind, I continued onwards towards Vermont where Canuman lived.I decided to take the ferry from Port Kent to Burlington.
A nice view of Ausable Chasm from a bridge near Port Kent
Waiting for the ferry at Port Kent
Got to Port Kent and missed the ferry by 20 minutes.Waited around for the next one.Chit chatted with the locals to pass the time.It was starting to get dark by the time the ferry had arrived.While onboard, and elderly man invited me into his car while we crossed Lake Champlain.He was doing an adventure of his own as well.His goal was to visit all the national parks while he was still in good health.I admired that about him.It’s never too late to do anything in life.Arrived in Burlington just in time for rush hour traffic.Minutes later it started to spit a little.Just what I needed.With the gps programmed for Sutton, I rode with extra caution.I usually avoid riding at this time of day, especially out in the boons.You never know what critters might jump out in front of you.By the time I reached Sutton it was pitch black.The gps pointed me in the right direction, but I was very apprehensive.I could barely make out the front gate of the driveway.I noticed it was long, narrow, and dark.About 100 yards ahead I saw a light and a silhouette of a large burly man in front of it who goes by the username Canuman.In the dark deep places of my demented mind…I started to hear the banjos playing…
It was cold last night.I would wake up every hour because it was so cold.I had more layers in my pack, but I was too darn lazy to put them on once I was tucked away in my bag.Did I mention it was cold?I managed to survive the night and as soon as the skies began to lighten up, I was packed and ready to hit the road.Rode into SaranacLake and stopped by at a grocery store to pick up some instant oatmeal for breakfast then rode around town to look for a library for internet access.2 weeks before departure I started a thread on a website forum called Adventure Rider looking for tent space.With the limited funds and the duration of the trip, there was no way I could afford to stay in motels or even campgrounds for that matter.This was more like a cry for help and the response to the thread blew me away.What started out as simply shooting across to the East Coast; now became a pilgrimage to meet with all the people who have taken the time to respond to my thread. Of all the crap we hear on the news, it’s nice to know that there are still decent human beings on this earth.Here’s the link to the website www.advrider.comSo there I was, waiting for the library to open a half hour from now.Better make use of the time to cook up breakfast!Energy refilled, I walked into the library and made contact with my first ADVrider inmate who responded to my thread that was nearby who goes by the moniker Canuman (“inmate” is the term the forum uses to describe all the members who register on ADV).I also got an email from Amanda telling me not to ride too far; she’s decided to come with me.
No point in waking up the steed.Border guard was right there to greet me.I walked the steed over to the gate feeling a wee bit apprehensive.Looking the way I do, I thought it’ll take some explaining to do before they let me in the country.Luckily enough the border guard has a cousin who owned a KLR and wished me well on my journey.Phew!I wasn’t in the mood to strip down naked and have my butthole probed.The guard also informed me that it had snowed in the Adirondacks the night before.Wonderful.So there I was, back on the steed as I entered the land of the free; American flag waving up high in the air.I could not help but to belt out “Born in the USA!” as I rode down the foreign pavement.Weather was still grim, but luckily the rain held off for the most part.Rode through Watertown and made my way in the Adirondacks.I had planned to camp out for the night there, but where exactly I had no clue.I figure it’ll come to me as I head deeper into the woods.By the time I had entered the state park my fingers were frozen I could hardly move them.The rain didn’t help much also.I pulled over to a rest area to heat up some lunch.I packed a Primus Gravity II multi-fuel stove and a basic 2-person chow kit.Works like a charm.As I waited for the soup to boil, I kept my fingers nice and toasty on the muffler.Body and soul recharged, I kept pushing onwards through the light rain.By 19:00 it started to get dark fast.I was just north of SaranacLake and needed to set up camp fast.I pulled off onto an electrical post path that cut through into the woods.A bit of off-roading, but nothing the KLR couldn’t handle.I saw a truck parked by one of the posts and wondered if this was a good idea.I’d hate to set everything all up only to be told minutes later I had to high tail it.Should I or should I not?That was the question.All of a sudden out in the woods somebody started hollering at me.Uh oh.It turned out it was a hunter hunting for deer.He was kind enough to direct me to free camp sites not too far from here.Nice.It was pitch black by the time I got there and I didn’t bother with whether or not I was at an actual site.I just knew I was in the area.Pitched the EurekaMountainPass tent and packed my gear in.Watched a few episodes of Entourage from the iPod to wind down and called it a night.
