Canton, NY - Day 2 recap

The day started out rough, as there was a bit of a martini hangover involved, and I forgot my evaporative cooling vest and had to go back, thus delaying our start. But from there it was fine. The highlights, as remembered by Eric and me over a scotch debrief session:

• Bike inspection. Erics bike passed no problem. Duchess Recreational Vehicles took care of him. I got stuck with the $6 bill.
• From there it was a pleasant but unmemorable ride across the corner of Conn. into Mass.
• Slow going up Mass 7. We stopped for lunch at this crazy roadside burger/ice cream shack, manned by a flirty 16 year old in pink hot pants that have her mother doing novenas. She is hereby referred to as Suzy Q. The food took forever. There were a million motorbikes that passed by as we waited. The bathroom was "Through that door. Through the kitchen. Past the dishwashers. On the back wall."
• We had planned to run up through Vermont, and ride the Green mountains, but we lost so much time that we bailed out, cut West, and did a high-speed run up I-87 to make up time.
  
• Eric and I have very different techniques for riding on the slab. Discussion has started, and is ongoing. We'll have it sorted out in a couple days.
• There were no trucks out all day. Not even on I-87. It is Saturday, but still, You usually see some. Was a welcome change.
• On NY 87 N, we rode alongside an impossibly long train traveling in our direction, but at half our speed. It was oddly captivating for both of us. I found it fascinating that there were several open-top train cars full of loose mulch. I didn't expect to see that.
• Williams College in Williamstown, MA is a beautiful campus, in a beautiful town. I have no idea what there story is, but send your kids there. (Um...turns out that they're doing pretty OK for themselves.)
• The streak of just missing rain continues. We rode into a couple areas where rain had just finished (wet roads, misty weather. ominous clouds.) And when we pulled into Canton, a storm started as we were unpacking our bikes.
  
• We stopped at a great outdoors shop called The Mountaineer in Keene, NY. Nice people, great shop.
  
• From Keene to Lake Placid is a great run from 1000ft to 2300ft, in no time at all. Winding your way up, feeling the air get colder, watching the plants change with elevation. (Side note: most people don't realize because they haven't needed to think about it, but when dealing with the Appalachians/Eastern/US mountain ranges, if you want twisty roads, head East-West. If you want sweeping roads, head North-South.)
• I can't even begin to describe ski jumps. They're absolutely unbelievable. This was the second time I've seen the Lake Placid ones. You can't miss them as you come up on them. They're like 30 story tall industrial structures. But when you get in close...they're mind-blowing. Definitely take a trip near them and see them if you can. Lake Placid, Salt Lake, wherever you can.
• We stopped for a snack (which ended up being dinner) at a pub in Lake Placid. It was a welcomed respite. We got off the road, reset, and were totally set for the final run of the day.
• E had some drama with the bike. We were both totally worried, thinking he had some clutch issues. Ghosts in the machine, and all. But it turns out we were just not realizing his bike has a sidestand lockout/kill switch that was jacking with our simple parking routine.
• I haven't seen all of America, but I've seen a lot of it. And I can honestly say that the Adirondacks are the most beautiful place I've ever seen here. The Grand Canyon...Yellowstone...the Maine coast...all favorites. But routes 73, 86, 3 through the Adirondacks are just amazing. Breathtaking. Unreal.

Best Western in Canton, NY. A few drinks in. No dinner to speak of except for the snack in Lake Placid 8 hours ago. time for sleep, but having a wonderful time.