We blasted out 146 to I-190 to RT 2 and then turned off, heading for New Hampshire via 13. With Worcester, Fitchburg and a bit more scenic Townsend behind us we crossed the border making our first stop in Brookline, NH.
As we started to head out, the GPS looked like it was trying to route us back to Townsend and head over 119. Must have been bad routing on my part, with a wayward waypoint on the route. Simply pulled up the next stop for a pizza joint a little north and west. The road to the next stop was a nice twisty back road that the winter had taken it's toll on and lack of funds in the city coffers to fix the roads, so speeds were down. It's Sunday anyways and the weather is near perfect, with just enough crispness in the air to keep you alert.
We arrived in Greenville and the Greenville House of Pizza was either sold and the name was changed or was wrong to begin with. Pulled right on the sidewalk in front of the Greenville Town Hall for the stop.
Just as we get going I pull over to grab this NH historic marker. I have been chasing these for the last 4 or so years and almost have them all. I remembered the mill across the street and missing the marker awhile back.
Giff waiting patiently for me to finish up.
Headed west on Turnpike Rd (NH 123/124) for another pizza joint. Seems whenever I Google places in a town with the town name in it, pizza places seem to make the top 5 hits and seem to have street view to verify the sign has the town name. I have learned to stop at the first name I am seeking versus hitting on a hard destination.
Fire departments work real good. For the most part they always have the town name in big letter format. Giff waiting again
Road thru the center of Keene, passed the Coka Cola classic wall mural, that is really washed out. One block over is the Parrish Shoe Company sign used in the movie Jumanji with Robin Williams and Kirsten Dunst. There was a guy sitting at the entrance with his dog and laptop. I figure he was using the free WiFi available from the library.
I haven't had a bit to eat all morning and asked Giff if he was hungry. He said follow me and we ended up here.
After a some coffee and a bagel, we headed for Spofford, NH. We were traveling along RT 9 headed west and I found a place with a small sign for Spofford Boat Sales. Google indicated they had a good sign, but I was skeptical. Buzzing along I caught the Spofford Fire Department off to the right and hung a U turn and headed back for a much better sign.
When I proposed this ride to Giff, I said I am heading for RT30 in Vermont for a RT30 sign, do you want to come?. I added all the stuff on before Brattleboro. Traveling north on RT30 was pure pleasure. For some reason Vermont roads don't seem to be impacted by the winter weather and frost heaves. Even their dirt roads are great.
This was for the TeamStrange Anniversary Tour. Just up the road abit is West Dummerston VT. I have been in this town a couple times, it is off the beaten path for the Post Office for the Tons and Burg Grand Tour. I really didn't remember what else was in the town, but I had marked the West Dummerston Baptist Church as a target. When I pulled up the church was there, but any signs of West Dummerston were gone. I don't think the Baptist practice their faith her anymore. Right next to the church was a stone that did say West Dummerston Honor Roll so I pulled out to turn around and low and behold this was presented to me.
I ended up walking around a bit taking some pictures of the town figuring the church was well over 100 years old for waymarking and just might be on the National Register of Historic Places. Actually there was another church within a stone throw, but I didn't go after it.
We headed back out to RT 30, hung a right off 30 and crossed over the Dummerston Covered Bridge (no pic) and took the right branch over the bridge heading on East West Rd. When we got to the center I thought the Grange building said Dummerston on it, but it says Eternal Star or something like that. From a distance it looked like Dummerston to me. I ended up taking the wrong road out of the center to Dummerston School. The GPS did what it is suppose to do, reroute us, however the first road was dirt and I was just not in the mood for going down a road that we might have to turn around. Passed that one and GPS has us turning left right after that. It is dirt and I sigh and said to myself this is Vermont and dirt roads here are better than the roads in my home town so left it is. It really was fine, it is the anticipation that gets to me.
That was our second to last stop with Brattleboro the only remaining town on the list. Giff said you want to get something to eat, I know a couple places. He gave me some choices and rather than deciding, I said I will follow you. Lunch was to be had at this joint. I didn't grab this for the Smoke Chasing Tour, because BBQ was not in their name.
When I pulled into the parking lot, 3 bikes caught my eye, but the Honda really really caught it. At first I thought it was a 750-4 Super Sport. The 400 four was manufactured between 1975 and 1977, with about 105,000 produced during these 3 years. For its day, it was a pretty good handling bike, so they say. Right behind it is a vintage Triumph and you can see the tail end of a BMW.
I was so busy snapping of pics, that Giff ordered and made his way to the tables. I finally made it up to the window, not having a clue what I was going to order and then I saw CAJUN CATFISH. I was discussing this with MeAsWe and a couple at Kapi's, reminiscing about a play in Uxbridge. I just had to have it for old time sake. With the order placed I made my way back to the table area, which has this great view.
Giff was in a discussion with the 3 folks right next to us. It turns out they were the riders of the 3 vintage bikes in the parking lot and Owners / Workers at Vintage Steele on RT 5 just outside downtown Brattleboro. They were just having a bite to eat (I think it was just an excuse to ride because the weather was perfect) and invited to visit them at the shop.
Finishing our lunch I said to Giff I just need to get some place in Brattleboro and that completes the list for the day. I said I got the Fire Department marked and it is only a mile or so away. I headed out and made my way to downtown Brattleboro. Taking pictures, especially city type fire departments are somewhat intimidating. As I pull up, get my bike semi parallel with the building in front of the doors, I always have this fear that doors are going to open and the fire engine come barreling out and running me down. So far (where's that wood) this hasn't happened. Just as I finished taking my pictures, the doors open up, the firemen climb into the cab and I break into a sweat. With nerves of steel, I put my flag and camera into the tank bag, mount the bike and move out of the way. No getting run down this time.
So my mission is accomplished and Giff takes the lead out of Brattleboro to look for Vintage Steele. It is supposedly just as you drive out of town on US 5. We search and search and finally give up and head for the first gas station. Then Giff says can you look it up on your phone, I say sure and move to the trunk to pull out my Jitterbug of SmartPhones. As I am putting the key in Giff says "look vintage bikes" pointing across the street.
We spend about half an hour there chit chatting and headed out toward home. Giff took the lead for the rest of the day as we headed south thru Orange, down 122 next to the Quabbin and thru Oxford. Just about 5 miles from the house, I spotted another sign and pulled over. I did beep my horn to let Giff know I was pulling over for a sec.
All in all, it was a great day of riding, good company, perfect weather and I got 8 more towns and 1 place for TeamStrange.
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