I wanted to start off on Route 50 in style, show it who was in charge. Instead of just going down George Mason, getting on at the Unitarian Church and grinding through 15 stoplights to exit the Metro area, I climbed onto I 66 and headed West, figuring I'd pick up the route where the riding would be fun. But the roads got the better of me. I-66 is under constant reconstruction these days. I'm used to riding it at the beginning of every trip to Monterey, so I fell into the zone and missed the on-ramp to US 50 West. Lurching through orange cones and white lines, I managed to make the the next exit and get onto my road -- going East. Hoping this wasn't a portent of things to come, I got myself ... read more

Its NE Maine and the Great North Woods. The route keeps inside the White Mountain National Forest, going South for a while, through small towns and lakes. In the forest close to Lovell I was stopped by someone who advised that the road ahead was blocked by a recently fallen tree. I decided to carry on. A bike can often cross where cars fear to tread. My gamble turned out well. With the help of three strong young people, I was able to tip the bike on its side and drag it under the tree. Once through I carried on down to Lovell and bought an axe. Returning to the scene of the crime, I found two cars blocked by the tree. Another strong young guy volunteered to chop through the tree trunk, so I gave ... read more

Having survived on fear and adrenaline for the first three days of the ride, this morning provided welcome relief -- breakfast at the local coffee shop. It was the place favored by the locals -- men my age gathered around a big table in no hurry to finish. Lady my age doing everything with complete efficiency and kind concern for her customers. I was sure I would earn it - so I ate well and had a wonderful long talk with Beth. Then out of the lovely tourist village and up into the hills again to face whatever the route designers had in store. Winding west then east across the state, the route picked its way through beautiful mountain scenery. I was now accustomed to taking the Alt-easy routes around the most difficult sections and felt ... read more

The Berkshires are beautiful. So many little lakes and streams surrounded by dense forests of grey birch, paper birch, yellow birch, sugar maple, beech, red oak and others . The road dips south into Connecticut, then goes north again into Massachusetts. Who is to tell? The roads and the trees are the same. As with other states in the NE, I drove through Canaan town and valley. Evidence of beaver working the forests around the lakes was exciting, though I didn't see any. The hills got higher and rockier, and the road became more difficult. Deep in the hills I came upon a pristine pond. I was on the verge of shooting past when I was drawn to what looked like an old bed that showed at the waters edge. I stopped and took a photo, ... read more

Touted as one of the most aggressive of the Backcountry motorcycle routes, the start is designed to test your skills. For the first five miles, one is faced with a damp non-maintained track edged into the forested hills above the Delaware. The route involves climbing rock strewn inclines and dodging along trails strewn with stones, with one side sloping 200 feet down to the river. Very picturesque, but woe betide anyone who looks at the scenery for more than an instant. Total concentration is needed to get through this lot. After about 10 miles of similar track, it eases up. The route crosses the river 20 miles later at Callicoon, and doubles back a few miles. There were many opportunities for that perfect river side photo. In the sweat to survive, I'm not sure I got ... read more