Some times you just need a really long day in the saddle...

One of the problems I've become all too aware of since buying a motorcycle is that I tend to get very antsy the longer I go between long motorcycle rides. Not just antsy, either; moody, depressed, just off. The hardest part about this year was the fact that I got a very part-time job (Saturdays only) at my local motorcycle shop, helping out in the parts department. While working in a motorcycle store is awesome, it seriously cut into my riding time this year. I really started to feel it going into the beginning of August.

That said, I was also told that, as of August, I was not to assume that I should be coming in on Saturdays at the store anymore.

Which meant that, today, Saturday August 17th, there was a perfect alignment of a completely open Saturday with absolutely fantastic weather. And how did I choose to spend this day? Riding up VT Route 100.

11 hours, ~450 miles, 10 gallons of gasoline.

And what do I get in return? Stress relief, stunning views of the Green Mountains, and various sore body parts. All told, the soreness is a fair trade for everything else.

I started out by heading west on Route 2 to get to Shelburne Falls, MA to take 112 north. It runs right into VT 100 in the very bottom of the state. From there, I just followed VT 100 north. Granted, there came a point were I was having way too much fun and I completely missed the turn I needed to continue on VT 100 and found myself on VT 30. It was a mistake that was easily corrected by heading east on VT 11 towards Londonderry, VT.

It also afforded me a chance to get a snapshot:

Unfortunately, I didn't get many more pictures since I was, as I said, really enjoying the twisties.

Anyway, once I hit Waterbury, VT, I figured I had gone about as far north as I could for the day, so I headed back via I-89 and I-93. That part alone was almost 4 hours. That said, I-89 through VT is some of the prettiest Interstate in New England, if not the North East. It cuts through the mountains all the way until Lebanon, NH.

I'm definitely going to do it again, but I really want to get to the Canadian border next time. This will probably necessitate a camping trip to make it worthwhile.

Anyone up for a camping trip to northern Vermont?

Catch you later!





P.S. Because I have to do this every time I go out: