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Published: July 31st 2009
Lake Megantic - Canada
View from the back garden of our overnight stop just before leaving Canada to head south into the US, we head out of the region to east Québec and we stay overnight in the area of
Lake Mégantic. We have booked all of our first days in Québec in advance so we don't need to worry about finding somewhere or have to deal with the language barrier. In the end we rarely had problems - eveyone is bilingual (except for us!). The hotel is a little odd as the restaurant seems to be run as a separate entity, and the staff aren't too welcoming, plus they don't have a license for drink. So we venture into town find a bar for a beer and then walk back along the lake side in the fading light.
On the way back to the hotel we venture into a supermarket and buy some food including trail mix and fruit to eat in the hotel, but also to store as emergency rations for the trip. On most days our strategy is to Canada - just inside the border - The Wing
First sight of The Beast, just inside the Canadian border - we have stopped to get passports etc ready for US Border Control.
The Goldwing weighs in at ....err lets just say qite a lot. But it's ideal for long distance work and the pillion does get an armchair to sit on! have a good breakfast and lunch, and then focus on finding accomodation in the early evening, only having dinner when we really need it or we find somewhere special. On several occassions on this trip we found fruit and trail mix a useful backup in case we cannot find suitable lunch or dining facilities. Bottled mineral water proves to be an absolute priority.
We enter the USA via Highway 3 the following morning (Tuesday 28th July) after a one hour ride through very pleasant quiet country scenery. We have deliberately chosen this route into New Hampshire as is listed as an American scenic byeway and appears to be away from major settlement or any interstates, therefore not likely to be busy. That theory proves to be right. We are the first, and for 40 minutes, the only customers. The US border guards seem a bit flustered but friendly. After several clerical errors and a computer failure they let us through at 6$ each (would have been free if I had travelled on my Canadian passport) with a caution to watch out for roaming moose.
The Goldwing turns out to be ideal for us - effortless power USA - NH & VT
Kenwood tractor unit on the Canada/US border - photographed whilst waiting for clearance. The border customs were quite thrilled to see us - they hadn't had much business that day - which is why I chose a backwater crossing so we would not have to wait in line. Even so it took 30 mins to clear through as their computer system broke down and torque, very comfortable saddle and plenty of storage for a bike anyhow, with carefull packing. The roads are very different from ours and our 'micro scenery', but we really enjoy the unspoilt open views.
After two days of open sweeping roads and sunny weather it ended in tears with really heavy rain as we entered South Vermont. We have to stop short of our destination (Bennington) and haul into a traditional timber country house, the West Dover Inn VT. We are so wet and tired that a 30 min sleep ends up being all night. We miss out on what sounded and looked like a lively bar full of baseball (Redsocks) and ice hockey memorabilia.
The owner is a sports fanatic and has met some of the current stars. (Don't ask me who, haven't got a clue). Anyway we meet him that evening briefly, and then properly the next morning when he serves us blue berry pancakes and coffee. Seems a bit of a character.
Really disappointed we haven't been hit by a Moose yet as promised by many bright yellow signs, not one yet even stuck it's nose out of the woods.
OK USA - NH & VT
Typical Vermont homestead Carol and my summary so far about North Americans . . .Canadians (especially Montreal Canadians) really friendly - just stop to read a sign or a map and they ask you if you need help. French Canadians speak a weird language which sounds to us like a cross between badly spoken French, slightly lazy/sloppy sound with English thrown in and a flat (contradiction) sing song lilt. Their vowel pronounciation on the end of a word can be quite harsh (for instance when pronouncing 'demain'). They sound quiet melodic when speaking English. People met in the US so far (New Hampshire and Vermont) also friendly, not quite so spontaneous and have a harsher accent. They both have rubbish road surfaces and are loud to British ears.
Highlight for today was opening vistas of the Mount Washington range as we swept along pine scented roads, and Lou's Diner in the well manicured town of Hanover VT You have to go here - the place has a buzz.
Sitting and listening to conversations between family and friends from the locality gives you a real sense of what this middle class University town is like. Relaxed and self assured. Wish USA - NH & VT - The Dana Inn
Dana Inn. First hotel stopover in the US - which was in an idyllic setting - a woodland with its own river and rapids which we did a midnight walk in - including spooky 'screech owls' calling to each other - forgot to photot the grounds though! Sorry! we had more time to look around the town, certainly had time to savour the first pure beef American burger and some fine Rhubarb and strawberry pie. The Vietnamese born waitress we had just kept beaming all the time as we spoke to her about our journey and reason for stopping there (it was in our guide book) - she had been to the UK and "just loved our accents"
So Steve W and Ray; We did justice to a first burger and some pie and ice cream you'll be proud to hear, but I did eat the salad. Sorry Ray, broke the 'real man's' code.
Carol says "if its raining there like it is here (still pouring at 9.30 pm) you won't need to water my plants Mum"
Her highlight so far was the mountain scenery, music in Park Lafontaine, Montréal and New England stuffed haddock. I expect we'll be eating that a lot when we get back to Blighty. Still no Mooses - only choc ones in the hotel menu. Someone thought she was an Aussie today - not sure if that was a compliment or not.
BTW visit this site for info about USA - NH & VT
CArol's entry for this year's photo challenge from the school Geography dept Norman Rockwell - and if you visit the US it's a must see museum in Stockbridge MA. We spent half the day here before backtracking on the Interstate to Madison so we could get there in good time. The Museum is a cracker, and the audio guide a definite bonus. The substantial grounds are idyllic with views accross hill and reminiscent of the English countryside around our area back home (in fact the hills are called the Berkshires (Burk-shire to you) just as our home county is.
We are now within one day of cousins Bernie and Raquel at their beach camp site nr Madison CT.
STILL NO MOOSE - sorry
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nino
non-member comment
In 10 you look like the local sherriff. Enjoying your pics very much. It is sweltering here and I'm jealous of the freshness in the pictures.