So what happened to Bobby?  Well it seems he was doin’ a pig and some chickens for a charity and had to be goin’.  So we said “See ya.  Have a good ride and you safe thea”.  And Bobby jumped in his truck and rode out of sight.  I feel like I know Bobby and can could stop by any time.  Yessa!

So I continued on and rode through Thomaston.  Thomaston has a special place for me as this where my great grandmother and her family hailed from.  Some where sea captains which probably explains my connection to the sea.  Near by here in the small town of Friendship I spent a memorable summer during my youth in a cabin on Pleasant Point with my good friend Doug Miller and his family.  I can recall in the evening sitting on a wharf listening to Bill Seavy and Ansel Drinkwater talking about the day’s lobster fishing while they whittled pegs that they would inset in a lobster’s claw joint to keep it closed.  No PETA in those days!

Shortly after Thomaston I rode through Camden and the stately homes and inns on High Street that were largely built during the 18th and 19th century.  Obviously Camden enjoyed considerable prosperity then and is favored now.  It also is where you find the stately Knox Mansion – Montpelier built in 1795 and now a museum (see the photos below).  General Knox served as chief of Artillery during the Revolutionary War and then as the nation’s first Sec. of War, when he retired to Maine to develop his land claim known as the Waldo Patent.

After Camden I passed through Rockland, which by the way is where Frankie O’Hara is from.  The O’Hara’s own the large fish processing plant on the waterfront.  Rockland is also the homeport for the schooner Heritage on which I spent a week with my daughter Karyn and she set the record for the number of lobsters eaten at one sitting – – – SEVEN!!  The crew gave here the name “Lobsta Gobsta” and wrote a song about her epicurean feat which we sang in the morning when we were hoisting the sails.

The rest of the ride along Penobscot Bay to Bucksport and then on to Ellsworth was delightful and relaxing.  Such a beautiful part of Maine.  In Ellsworth I met the rest of the gang at the Ramada Inn, also on High Street but not quite the same as the stately homes on High Street in Camden!

I am going to post this blog post now before I try my hand at uploading some pictures.  I don’t want to lose this post again!

Norumbega Inn

Montpelier in Camden, ME

Beautiful homes on High Street in Camden, ME

Well, we all made it to Boston one way or the other despite the heavy rains yesterday. John came earlier  with his wife Patti to ride around New England for a few days before our ride started.  I understand they had a nice scoot around New England until the heavy rains caught up with them in Kennebunkport, ME.  Chris and Jerry made it in Weds evening after circling Logan Airport for an hour until the rain subsided enough for the plane to be able to land.  Unfortunately they arrived to late to pick up their bikes yesterday.  Meanwhile, after having to delay my departure from Seattle a day, I took the red-eye last night and arrived at 7:30 this morning sleepy-eyes but ready to ride.  “Hardcore Dennis” on the other hand rode for six days from Seattle and never encountered any weather until he got to Boston and the serious rain caught up with him.

Since Dennis and John had their bikes and were ready to ride, they took off right after breakfast and headed for our first destination, Ellsworth, ME, via Rt 1 along the coast and Bar Harbor.  I went directly from Logan Airport to Boston Harly and met Chris and Jerry there when they opened at 9am.

The plan was to get our bikes and start on our way.  Well, that was not to be.  Seems there was one complication – – – – MY SCOOT WOULD NOT START!  How could that happen?  I had purchased and installed a brand-new battery the week before I left and had my bike completely serviced.  Well, no time to do any diagnosis as time was awastin’ and Dennis and John were well on their way.  It is what it is!!  So for $215 the helpful folks at Boston Harly nicely changed out my ‘new’ battery with a ‘newer one’ from their stash, and we got on our way.

With excellent sunny conditions the ride from Boston to Ellsworth went reasonably well.  Chris, Jerry and myself got a late start so we jumped on I-95 and rode up through Portsmouth NH and on to Portland, ME.   The only thing of note were the number of ‘smokies’ out enjoying the good weather.  Jerry likes to ride somewhat “free style” so when a state patrol started to pace him several car lengths back, I thought “Uh Oh, this is not good”.  Fortunately, Jerry behaved himself and the officer moved on.

I was a little weary from my redeye flight to Boston so got off the interstate for a short break.  Since Jerry and Chris were riding ahead of me, they didn’t see me turn off so they kept going.  I thought – – no problem – – –  “Bye bye – – – see you in Ellsworth”.  I wanted to go the coastal route north of Portland anyway, and this leg was not so long – – – – not a problem.  Sent Chris a short text advising of my changed route to the Ramada in Ellsworth.

Taking a leisurely ride along Rt 1 through Brunswick, Bath, Wisscasset, Thomaston, Rockland, Camden, Searsport  and Bucksport to Ellsworth is much much more interesting and satisfying than freeway speeds along I-95/295.  Time was not an issue and I was a bit tired so I stopped often, enjoyed the quaint towns and coastal vistas and got to chat with some interesting folks along the way.  Like the carpenter I met at the gas pump in Nobleboro.  Bet you never heard of Nobleboro.  Well, I hadn’t eitha’ ’till I met Bobby.  Seems things have picked up a bit around Nobleboro.  Bobby is doing OK now.  Not gettin’ rich mindya but doin’ OK.  He couldn’t believe I was ridin’ all the way to Labrador.  Said he wished he was goin’ with me.  Asked him if he might know my friend Frankie O’Hara.  Well, yesa’ he did.  Seems Bobby had done the galley in one of the O’Hara’s boats – – – mahogany, mind ya’.

(Too be continued once I figure out how to retrieve the last part I wrote but lost trying to download some photos. 😦   Ah, the frustrations of technology when one hits the wrong button!)