Back In The USA

The Pines was a very nice hotel. Much nicer and classier than the usual hotel I stay in. For example, nobody usually says, "Sir, we don't have much of a dress code, but could you please wear pants in the lobby?". OK, perhaps that didn't happen, but when I asked if there was some water I could get for my water bottle, they filled up a silver pitcher and handed that to me.



We woke up early this morning to get to the ferry in Digby at 7 AM for check in. The ferry routine has become ... well routine. I am very fast and efficient now at strapping my bike down, getting the stuff I need and then heading up the stairs. For the size of the boat, this one had the most accommodations and amenities. It was a 3 hour ride and took us to St. John, New Brunswick. We then headed west towards the US. We stopped for gas once and spent some remaining Canadian currency.

We were in line at a check-in point for customs when a guy came over to tell me that there was another smaller crossing point just up the road. I think he is partial to motorcyclists as he didn't share with anybody else in line. So, off we went to the next place. There was a line, but not much and we crossed a bridge over a nice river, so there was something to see. A few short questions later and were back back in the good 'ol US of A.

The next stop was the Allagash Brewery in Portland, Maine. There were 3 breweries I wanted to visit on this trip. So far, I found one and the other had been moved to a different city. Hopes were high as we saw the sign that said Allagash retail and tours sign. Hopes stayed high as we saw people in the window. Hopes were higher when the young lady asked what I would like. Hopes were DASHED as she told me that the last tour was at 3 PM and the current time was a little after 5. I played the "I drove a long way just to be here, can you PLEASE help me" card. I got no lovin', but they could sell me a bottle, so I picked up a bottle of Curieux, which is a trippel ale aged in oak bourbon barrels. They only bottled 900 cases. I am drinking this 11% ABV beer as I type the post and am smiling as I type :)

Next stop was Kittery, Maine. There is a placed called Bob's Clam Hut there that is pretty famous by now. It took a while to find the place since the bridge my GPS wanted me to use is closed. I used to be a regular to the area back when I was married in the early 90's, but have forgotten some of the tricks now. But, we finally made it and enjoyed dinner. I finally had a lobster roll worthy of the name and a couple of clam cakes cause I like 'em. We were gonna try to find a hotel in the area, but quickly found out that since it is a huge tourist area on a Friday night, not much was available. Some research at the bike found a hotel in Methuen, Massachusetts, so we called and reserved the room and hit the road.

There was a bitter sweet moment as I saw the names of the different cities and I remember where my ex-wife's family lived and the town where her parents died. If I would have been alone and knew where they were interned.

So, here we are, about 1,800 miles from home.