The Halloween snow storm dampened our spirits here in Vacationland but we got off easy. More than a week has passed and many of our southern New England friends are still without power. The heavy wet snow, up to several feet, brought down tree limbs which in turn brought down power lines. A minor catastrophe.
All we really had to contend with was a little inconvenience for a few days, salt and gravel on the roads. Since then we have been experiencing Indian summer. So the motorcycle is still out, as is Suzie’s Honda VLX. Have I mentioned what a great ride it is? This 600 (actually 583 cc) engine is a V-twin that puts out a smooth 38 horsepower. It’s a pleasure to ride and therefore I took it on the back roads to Bucksport.
The leafs are long gone from the trees, at least the few that had any color this year. Without clouds, the brown oak leafs stand out against the cerulean autumn sky.
I like the back roads. No outside agencies dictate the pace. There is a speed limit, but no one prowls these deserted roads to enforce it. I like the roads because you can go as slowly as you want, no one to hold upl. One can therefore take all the time required to study the surroundings.
These past several weeks the rides to Bucksport have been pleasurable but cool. The Dunkin Donuts has been an important stop. A hot coffee, maybe a pumpkin donut and some time to linger at a table in the corner and warm up. Yesterday the coffee break was outside in the sun, on the retaining wall near the propane tanks. We don’t need no stinkin’ heated building on a day like that.
Stopped at a few cemeteries I passed along the way. The correlation of willow and urn motifs and slate tombstones continues to hold true.
I arrived home at about 4PM on this first day after daylight savings time ended. By then the sun was already approaching the horizon and the temperature in the long shadows began to plummet. I wouldn’t have wanted to be out there any longer. The fall riding season is definitely coming to an end, but it was great to get out there and take advantage of one of the last fleeting opportunities.