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Well here we go again! Another GREAT ride in Northern New England! Today we started out heading North. We started out on Route 2 East from my home town to Lancaster New Hampshire. Here we headed North on New Hampshire’s Route 3. This is a very nice road, well maintained and little traffic.
We wound our way up Route 3 through Northumberland and on to Groveton. We pass through Groveton and continue North. We come to the small town of North Strafford and continue to Columbia. From Columbia we continue to Colebrook New Hampshire.
Now for those who have never been to Colebrook or this far North in New Hampshire, I must tell you that I consider this area “God’s Country”! It is absolutely gorgeous any time of year in this area! If I sound a little prejudiced it is because I use to live here and I think it is the best place on earth to live! Here we gas up for continuing the ride.
Now my lady friend loves to ride my bike almost as much as I do! One of her favorite experiences riding always involves water. Not that she likes to ride in the rain, she likes to stop by lakes, rivers or streams for the view. Well being a former resident of Colebrook I know a place that my lady will love!
We head out on route 145 towards Pittsburg. This has my lady confused? She thought we were going to head East at Colebrook, not North. We only need to go a couple of miles off track to where I wanted to bring her. We arrive at Beaver Brook Falls! This place is WONDERFUL! There is a picnic area, shelter, tables and even an outhouse! The brook and falls are gorgeous and quite refreshing! We snap some photos, enjoy a cool drink and head out again.
By the way: Our cool drink was provided by the greatest piece of gear I found to date! It is a cooler saddlebag! I also offer a cooler sissy bar trunk bag and a cooler backpack. All these are designed for Motorcycle riding. There is nothing like riding on a hot, steamy day, stopping at a favorite rest area and enjoying an icy cold drink! Visit my site (listed later) and be the first of your group to have this luxury!
After a cool drink we are back on the road and back track a couple of miles to Route 26 East. This takes us on even more wondrous roads and great views. We travel out of Colebrook to Dixville. Here we go through Dixville Notch, going right in front of the Balsams Resort and Hotel. If you have never had the pleasure of staying or dinning here, it is defiantly something to add to your “to-do” list! Just make sure you dress up as this is a VERY “posh” environment and the price supports this. Just to let you know, I think it is worth every cent you pay!
From here, after a quick stop in the notch for pics, we continue to Errol New Hampshire. This is the cross roads of the North Country. This is where people traveling to & from Maine go through, people from the North Country go to Maine from here and this also connects you to Route 16 South to bring people from the North Country to the Berlin & Gorham area of the State. More a little later on this.
In Errol there is a HUGE facility which is the center of town. Here you have L.L. Cote. This enterprise offers all types and kinds of sporting and hunting gear, After all you are now in the heart of GREAT hunting lands! There are water sport items and all items for all ball sports. There is a gift shop and hardware store. There is even a Post Office in this building! Up here in the North Country this place is well known and needed. There are not a lot of stores around and here is one that has most everything you need!
From here we travel South on Route 16 towards Milan and continue to Berlin. Here we stop at another favorite, Middle Earth. This is a store with lots to offer. We like it for the over 18 section located upstairs!
We continue to Gorham and then take Route @ East towards Maine. We pass through Shelburne New Hampshire to the Maine border and cross over. It is only a couple of miles into Maine that we then turn South on Route 113. This portion of Route 113 is closed during the winter months. This road is PERFECT for motorcycles! It is paved but narrow and winds along a nice brook. There are a few pull offs to enjoy the views and the brook as well. An absolute lovely road for a motorcycle and just plain great country views.
We continue to Fryeburg Maine and cross to Conway New Hampshire. Here we make another favorite stop, the Army Barracks. This is a surplus store with a lot of GREAT deals and items available. My lady friend gets a new fleece hoody and a leather shoulder purse for her mom.
Even with our cooler saddlebag and gear, we find ourselves wanting a hot meal. We go back to Route 16 South and travel for a few miles until we arrive at “Almost There” a very nice bar and restaurant. As usual we have a great meal and are soon on our way. We back track several hundred yards to Route 112, the Kancamagus Highway. This is yet another SUPER bike road with great views, nice pull offs and brooks all along the way. There is again little traffic to hinder your ride. We continue through the Kancamagus Pass down to Lincoln New Hampshire.
By now we have traveled many miles and my lady is getting a little weary. Once again we are thankful for all our gear. Without our gear these trips would not only be dangerous, but much less pleasurable as well. Our cooler saddlebags, the cooler sissy bar trunk or the cooler back pack, these long, hot rides would really take their toll. To find these great items and even more GREAT gear, go to www.motorcycleleathervalue.com and all your riding needs can be filled!
Until next time: Travel safe, ride safe, watch out for “cage” drivers and keep the rubber side down!
Buzzard, the Road Warrior!
Hi I am Buzzard. I am the President/CEO of Buzzard Enterprize, LLC. I am an avid Motorcycle rider and take pride in my gear and accessories. See the intro to my web site: http://www.motorcycleleathervalue.com where I have Motorcycle Gear, Motorcycle Apparel and Accessories, and More!
Aggressively styled and pleasingly proportioned, it previewed a semi-upscale “D-segment” sport sedan. In the global auto business, the C-segment is compact cars, and the size-up D class is what we know as midsize-the incredibly competitive field of both family and sporty sedans. And, with a powerful, aero-slick design theme characterized as “a dynamic athlete in motion,” this concept clearly showed that Suzuki’s coming flagship sedan would be aimed at the emotional end of the scale. Japanese automaker Suzuki chose the mid-2007 Frankfurt (Germany) Motor Show to unveil a most interesting new concept car called Kizashi. They said its name was Japanese for “prelude” or “foretaste” and that it foretold of something coming from a company known better here for its motorcycles, ATVs and outboard motors than for its small cars and SUVs.
An even more aggressive Concept Kizashi 2 followed at the October Tokyo Motor Show then a third variation debuted at the March, 2008 New York Auto Show. This one, Concept Kizashi 3, was much tamer and more production-realistic. It looked, in fact, a lot like the real thing is now hitting the market and demonstrated Suzuki was serious about taking on the well-established entries in the U.S. market’s most competitive car class. Inside, the fits and materials are generally good, though not up to typical Euro-sedan standards, and the seats are handsome and nicely supportive with available leather trim. The instrument panel’s major gauges have a precision look: Its faux brushed-aluminum-rimmed center stack echoes the front grille’s rounded-V shape, and its controls are intuitively easy to see, reach and operate. We appreciated the nicely cushioned three-spoke steering wheel with handy spoke-mounted audio and other controls.
The only engine residing beneath that power-dome hood for now is a willing 2.4-liter aluminum four good for 185 horses with a standard 6-speed manual transaxle, or five ponies fewer with the available continuously variable transmission (CVT). Rare in this size and price class, the option of Suzuki’s latest “intelligent” all-wheel drive (i-AWD) can improve both bad-weather traction and cornering capability. The systems constantly variable front-to-rear torque split is a function of a number of factors, including wheel slippage, throttle and steering input.
Standard on the sub-$20K base Kizashi S are push-button start, steering wheel audio controls, dual-zone climate control and a split-folding rear seat with a pass-through for long objects such as skis. Standard safety features include Electronic Stability Program (ESP), anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and a class-leading set of eight airbags.
The next-level SE adds the CVT automatic transmission, 17-inch tires on alloy wheels, a 10-way power driver?s seat with three-position memory, cruise control and leather wrapping on the steering wheel, shifter and parking brake lever. The sport-oriented GTS offers 18-inch wheels and tires, power moonroof, fog lamps, a 425-watt Rockford-Fosgate audio system with integrated Bluetooth hands-free phone capability and a choice of manual or CVT transmission, the latter with paddle shifters for manual gear selection. The top-of-the-line SLS features leather seating, three-stage heated seats, a four-way power passenger seat, heated mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, rear parking sensors and automatic on/off headlamps.
We spent 7 days driving a 6-speed manual AWD Kizashi GTS locally and beyond and came away impressed. We have found Suzuki’s small cars and SUVs lively in spirit, especially the sporty AWD SX4s, and good in most ways-but we had no idea what to expect from their first foray into midsize sedan territory.
We found it less than plush yet surprisingly comfy and quiet, well put together and fun to drive. The manual gearbox shifted surely and crisply, and the 4-cylinder engine performed well at lower RPMs but tended to run out of breath at higher engine speeds. On-road handling was good, steering precise, and braking strong and stable as needed. A bit smaller inside and out than typical midsize sedans, it?s no limo but sufficient in back for full-size adults.
We later enjoyed an opportunity to put a group of Kizashis (manual and CVT, FWD and AWD) and key competitors through a series of handling tests and a handful of laps at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), near Danville, VA. They performed impressively and (not surprisingly, since the tests were designed by enthusiastic Suzuki engineers) better overall than the selected high-volume competitors on hand. The highlight was a couple of fast track laps in a prototype V-6 powered Kizashi that likely foretells of future availability.
autoMedia.com, together with their expert automotive journalists, provides automotive advice you can trust. Original auto reviews and road tests provide accurate and entertaining information to car shoppers and auto enthusiasts. Enjoy more of their popular reviews and get additional information on the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi along with details on all Suzuki Models.
Mount Fansipan is Vietnam’s highest peak located in the far north just outside of Sapa. Mt. Fansipan is a very steep mountain that gets a lot of moisture. Those looking to climb it should be in good shape and prepared to to have muddy wet feet. The scenery is incredible so travelers should remember to bring a camera. For most of Vietnam having a rain coat is a little excessive because it is so warm. On the mountain having a rain coat is not a bad idea especially at night. The trails around Sapa are a lot of fun. Travelers will get the chance to go through some minority villages if travelers have the time to explore. There are well-marked trails, both long and short, for all skill levels.
When it is the best time? October to May are the best months
Book it: Active Travel Vietnam (00 84 4 3573 8569; www.trekfansipan.com) offers a year-round, four-day guided mountain-trekking tour of Vietnam from $ 219 including hotel accommodation, some meals and travel gear rent. Flights are extra
2. MOTORCYCLING HO CHI MINH TRAIL, VIETNAM
The legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail was the supply line where it is used by North Vietnam to link North and South Vietnam during the American War. Soldiers, ammunition, weapons and supplies were carried by hand, bicycle and truck for hundreds of kilometers through the otherwise impenetrable jungle that it is covered Vietnam’s mountainous border with Laos.
When it is the best time? October to April
Book it: Active Travel Vietnam (info@activetravelvietnam.com; www.activetravelvietnam.com) offers a 18-days with 11-days motorcycling guided trip from $1,951, including accommodation, all meals and transfers. Flights are extra.
3. KAYAKKING HALONG BAY, VIETNAM
Ha Long Bay (also “Halong Bay”) is in northern Vietnam, 170 km east of Hanoi. The bay is famous for its scenic rock formations
If travelers thought the hideout in the James Bond film “The Man with the Golden Gun” was spectacular, travelers can imagine a place where there are 3,000 such limestone islands clustered together in the East Sea of Halong Bay. Paddle through caves into secret lagoons, drift down channels are surrounded by cliffs and forest and sail out into the open sea.
When it is the best time? October and early January
Book it: Kayak Halong Bay (info@activetravel.asia; www.kayakhalongbay.com) offers a 3-day trip from $ 299 including meals, accommodation and transfers
4. EXPLORE MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAM
A holiday in Vietnam would be incomplete without a trip to the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Popularly known as one of the ‘Rice Baskets’ of Vietnam, the Mekong Delta is located in the South Eastern region of Vietnam, where the Mekong River meets the sea. A pride of the Vietnamese and the one of the most popular of the Vietnam tourist attractions, the Mekong Delta is exceptionally rich in scenic beauty. It is a place unique in itself.
When it is the best time? October to June
Book it: Active Travel Asia (0084-4-3573-8569; www.activetravel.asia) has a 4-day tour with over 3-day biking from $ 312 including full-board accommodation and transfers. Flights extra
5. CYCLING ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA
Travelers will discover the world’s remarkable awesome historical site through this adventure trip and grasp the reasons why the Tomb Raider’s film maker team chose the Angkor Complex in Siem Reap for its screen backdrops. Also experience the biodiversity of Tonle Sap listed as the World Ecological Wonder.
When it is the best time? October to June
Book it: Active Travel Cambodia (info@activetravelcambodia.com; www.activetravelcambodia.com) has a 7-day tour with 5-day cycling from $ 685 including full-board accommodation and transfers. Flights extra
6. CYCLING LAOS
Cycling is a great way to get off the beaten track in this increasingly popular country. Start in Luang Prabang, in north central Laos, and head to Hanoi, in North Vietnam, travelers are going to travel along the banks of the Mekong River and past the intriguing Viengxay caves.
When it is the best time? October to March
Book it: Active Travel Laos (info@activetravellaos.com; www.activetravellaos.com) has a 17-day tour with kayaking, trekking, biking and elephant riding Luang Prabang to Hanoi cycling trip from $ 1,553 including most meals, bike hire and sightseeing. Flights extra.
ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA (ATA) offers a wide selection of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar adventure tours, including hiking and trekking, biking, motorcycling, overland touring and family travel packages.
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