Jumpy as a cat on a hot tin roof.

Fuel...Check.  Oil...Changed, with filter and Checked...Check.  Tire Pressure...Check.  Windscreen...Cleaned, cleaner and polish packed...Check.  Loaded and position checked for security and non-shiftable...Check.

And so the list continues, and continues, and....

Camera loaded for Bear, clothes laid out, water bottle filled.

6 AM.... Sir, Start Your Engine....

One Day and Counting.

Let's See.... New front tire...

And rear....

Pirelli Diablos....

Got My All the Gear, All the Time.....

Got my gear..... Clothes and things like that...

Saddle Bags Full... 

So's the rear seat...

All that's left is an exploratory ride tomorrow, to check weight and balance, then

0600

Saturday, 19 April 2014, we are on the road.... stay tuned.....

So I sat there pondering,

"Do I own a machine, or do I own a $4,000 toy, a run-around-town-and-do-errands fun toy 

that can occasionally get you the 30-miles to either Brunswick or Kennebunkport?"

So, I sat there thinking:

" What's the real difference between my machine and a comparable motorcycle?  I mean, you sit on it – right?  You twist your wrist to go, you grab the levers to stop, no? Of course, you need to shift a motorcycle, but other than that, I don't see any big difference.

Also true, some motorcycles can go faster, but I can hold 50 mph all day and get 68 miles to the gallon, so unless you want to zoom, speed's not a big factor.  Besides, who wants to go fast?  The idea is to enjoy the ride and 50 mph is plenty".

So I said to myself, "Self, why can't I ride my BV to Florida?  Why can't I ask my machine to hold 50 mph for say, about 11-hours, with a half-hour break for fuel and rest every two hours?"

I mean, I put 10,000 miles on my machine last year.  Did it know that I was only driving in Maine and so if it broke down it'd be no big deal, so it didn't break down?  So, I said to myself, "Self, why shouldn't it go 4,000 miles just as easily?"

Which brought me back to the first question: "Do I own a machine, or a $4,000 toy?"

I'm going with I own a machine.

So.

On 19 April, 2014, I'm heading out from South Portland, Maine to Spring Hill, Florida.  And... true to my wandering soul, it'll be a true peregrination as I stop to visit various relatives and friends along the way.

So.  Here we go....

Maine to Port Jervis, NY....

Port Jervis to Gaithersburg, MD....

Gaithersburg to Mineral, VA....

Mineral to Duluth, GA....

Duluth to Ocala, FL....

Ocala to Spring Hill, FL....

I invite you to join me as I wander southward.  I'm taking my Go Pro with me, and my laptop, and, given internet availability, I'll post my progress.  Of course, I'll be messaging my family and friends as I go along, and if you'd like the vicarious thrill of knowing where I am when I'm there, just text me at 2072525787 and say "Let Me Know!"

In the meantime, as that masked man always says, soon it will be....

Hi Yo, Piaggio, away!

In the end, I couldn't do either.

I couldn't bring myself to part with my

BV250 – even though I lust after the new Moto Guzzi V7 Stone (In White, of course).

But the BV has much charm too,

I mean, just look at this mean, lean, look.

So, as they say in the vernacular, I be with the BV.

The other item I couldn't give up - as you're probably guessing correctly, what with reading this, is this blog.  I mean, where else can you share the exciting adventures that my wife and I incur:

And so, here we stay, ready to ride and share the alarm, eh, ready to ride and share the adventures of a mad scooter (for now) rider.

Stay tuned, we're loading up....

We now welcome you to

Two-Wheel Riding On The Back Roads Of Maine.

The Premium Site For Downloading

GPS Guided Tours Along

Maine's Back Roads.

For a new and exciting way to find your way along the back roads of Maine…

Just Follow This Link…

http://twowheelridingonthebackroadsofmaine.blogspot.com

We Look Forward To Your Visit.

When you ride into "New Territory", some of the first questions you ask are:

Got a suggestion as to a good ride?

Where's a good place to eat?

Looking to check out some neat sights... Got any ideas?

In Maine, The Answer is:

"Yup.  Got some roads only the cows know about" ....

"Have just the place... Good food, Fun people" ...

"Plenty to see.  What's your choice? Country or Ocean?"

Maine is blessed with an embarrassment of riches, with backroads and stunning vistas just over the next hill – all waiting for the adventurous soul (and pillion) to discover.

And while it's great fun to make these discoveries on your own, some lack the time to explore these roads in depth, and one always runs the risk of riding a "not bad" day as opposed to riding a "fantastic" day.

Which is why we have started the

"Riding The Backroads of Maine" program.

When you ride the backroads with us, you will be guided along a backroads route which is downloadable straight to your GPS device, providing you with the detailed turn-by-turn guidance to which you have become accustomed.

In addition to your GPS program, you will also have with you a ride guidebook, which will provide you with an overview of your trip, as well as specific information on each of the places you visit.  Your guidebook will also list the websites of the "sights" you will visit, so that you may delve more deeply into the history and other interesting aspects of the location.

Each of your rides are designed to provide you with between two and four hours of sightseeing riding, and each begins at a local eatery – be it a great "coffee and" light breakfast type, or a "sit down and chow in" joint, and ends at a local restaurant – so that you may end your ride with good food and a refreshing drink.

There is also a mid-ride stop built in – an ice cream stand, or a "quick bite" stop.  And, of course, along the way you're sure to find just the right antique shop, or "local junk" place that calls out to you.

The last page of your ride guidebook is Lagniappe – that little something extra – that will provide you with information about other nearby locations (that you may wish to detour to) as well as alternate eateries along the way.

Currently, we are in "Beta" mode, and would like to invite you to take a look at one of our trips, and provide us with your feedback in the form of suggestions as to what you did or did not enjoy about the guidebook, and what you'd like to see included.

You may post your feedback here or, if you prefer, you may send us an e-mail at:

miket@maine.rr.com

So.  Here is

A Diner, Five Lights, Coffee and Dessert.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5mdRChtvmp8RTlnbGliX2VZeFk/edit?usp=sharing

Get a free download of this trip!

Name:

Email *

Message *

******* You can find CCSC people everywhere. *******

There I was, at the correct place, only I wasn't supposed to be there yet.  I mean, the Five Islands Lobster joint was on my list, but it was the 2nd stop, not the first.  So, I said to myself, "how'd you manage to do this?"

While I was standing alongside my scooter, perusing my map, checking my road directions, and scratching my head, a comely, silver-haired lady walked up to me, and the conversation that ensued went like this…

"That's a nice looking scooter you have there sir."

"Thank you", sez I looking up.

"Mike? Mike? What are you doing out here?"

My scooter admirer was no other than another intrepid CCSCer… Ingrid.

So, I "fessed up", and admitted that I had absolutely no idea what I was doing there, that I was plotting a new trip, perhaps to use the day after the Shrimp Run, and arrived at this spot utterly confused as to how I accomplished same.

At least she was kind enough not to laugh.  In fact, she smiled and said: "Well, while you're here, come on in and have some lunch with us".

Unfortunately, time was pressing and, although my mouth was watering fiercely, I declined the invitation and, hopping onto my trusty scooter, rode away, trying to figure-out to where I was riding away.

Two-Wheeled Rides

Through The Back Roads Of Maine.

Well, I've finally done it.  After zooming here, and zooming there, finding myself lost, found and lost again, I've compiled enough "local knowledge" to be able to put together a rider's guide to some of the prettiest roads in Maine.

Not that I had anything to do with the beauty of the surrounding countryside: all I did was ride but it IS after all, Maine.  I was just lucky enough to get lost while riding along these lovely roads.

The long and the short of all this is that I'm embarking upon a project to produce a book/DVD/GPS guide to some of what I believe to be the prettiest, most delightful immersion – via two wheels, into scenic roads and destinations that truly reflect what we who live here refer to simply as

The way Life should be.

Currently, I'm seeking backers for my project, and have produced a webpage that explains – in detail, what I'm doing and how what the finished project will look like.

Here's a link to that page….

Two-Wheeled Rides Through The Back Roads Of Maine.

Take a look.  If you like what you see, please join me.  It'll be a great deal of fun.

I remember…

When I sold my boat…

I had her for 5 years, lived aboard for 2.  It was a bittersweet day.

I remember when I sold my Alfa…

We'd traveled up and down the entire east coast together: Eastport to Key West.

It was a very bittersweet moment.

And now, my Elite: 11,545 miles in 22 months.  Just about 525 miles a month, every month - and those who live in Maine, or northern New England know what that means.

Another bittersweet moment.

But the truth of the matter is, 110ccs for two people and weekend gear, is just a bit too slow. We topped-out at 49.5 mph on the level…. 39 and change on a hill of any significance.

And so, when Kismet brought my riding buddy Tina and I to stumble upon a scooter that would solve the problem, I had no choice but to bow to the guiding hand of fate and….

I looked….

I tried...

And we now own a 2010 Piaggio BV 250.

Now, bring Summer on….

Speaking of pleasant things, today, while at Cumberland Scooters, having Darrell check the new machine over, I met one of my Facebook friends, Tracey, and her husband, who's name I must shamefully admit to having forgotten.  It is always so wonderful to finally meet, in the person herself, so to speak, someone with whom you've spent "conversing" with in the past.

The long and the short of our conversation, was that both of them worked "weird" hours and could only ride on Fridays….. So, I promised to put together a ride for next Friday (and, who knows, maybe every Friday) and am sending out this advance notice of the

"Great Tracey and her husband whose name we will re-learn and never, ever forget again, Friday ride."

Stay tuned.  More to follow.

After living here lo, these many years, I believe I've reached the ranks of

The Insider Group.

Especially in the "Good, inexpensive, tasty-food, restaurants" department.

Portland, Maine is truly blessed with more good, gooderer and best restaurants than anyplace I've ever been to – other than my hometown.  Even Boston can't compare.

BUT….

Money issues aside, there's just so many times that you want to don a jacket, wear a tie (not that you need to in many restaurants), but if your dropping the big bucks, you should at least dress for the occasion.

Fortunately, Portland also has a plethora of fabulous restaurants that lack pretensions, require nothing more than your presence and a good appetite.

Here are but a few of them.  Enjoy them.

Ciao.

Where Did You Go?

Out.

What Did You Do?

Nothing.

Well, that's not exactly true, if for no other reason than you just can't do NOTHING, if you're riding with Tina Marie, and ride with Tina I did today.

Keep in mind that last week, one of those bitter cold "Spring" days that Maine is famous for, Ti and I made a dash for the Cozi Corner Cafe, located in beautiful downtown Waterboro.

Now you may recall that Waterboro is only 29.8 miles (47.9 km) from us and, taking county roads, should take about 50 some-odd minutes.

However….

The way I planned it, we managed to get there just about 2 minutes after it closed: about 2 hours after we left.

Click here to see Mike's serpentine route to anywhere but here….

Today, we planned on being slick, and left early on a "direct," more or less, route and managed to get there

11 and 1/2 minutes before they closed.  Neat timing.  The staff was up to the challenge however, and served us toot sweet, and we settled back, enjoying both the food and the atmosphere.

With full bellies, and a goodie bag, we left Cozi, mounted up, and with Tina in the lead managed to locate a huge collection of strange, yet interesting places that just called out for stopping and photographing…..

The day was winding down, and we were winding our way homeward.  As luck would have it we found ourselves at a crossroad that, were we to turn left would put us right into the front yard of a major motorcycle place - one that also handles scooters.  What the heck…. we've been wandering all day, what's another 20-minutes?

Opps!

Now see what you've done?

To be continued…..