I returned from Laconia yesterday safe & sound. We had a great time, although it seemed like the crowds and traffic were light this year. The weather was great Friday and Saturday (ok, it was a tad bit on the warm side).

I have a lot of photos to download from my camera and I’ll try to get those online sometime this evening.

Until then, here’s a little tease. This was taken last Thursday on my way up Mt. Washington!

Oh man, I have been so busy since I got here and only have a few minutes to write!

The ride up here was long, cold and wet! We took the “scenic route” up and while the ride was gorgeous it was difficult to enjoy in the rain…We’re staying at the Naswa Resort, which is really close to the middle of everything!

Yesterday we rode up Mt. Washington. It was a little bit scary to get up it. At certain places the road turns into DIRT road and tryng to keep control of the motorcycle while hammering on the throttle to get up some of the steep parts was dicey. The payoff was worth it, the view were amazing. We got lots of pictures up there. I felt bad for this one old guy though. He was telling the employees up there that he was in trouble because he didn’t think he could get off of the mountain. He was totally spooked. They had to arrange someone to take him down in a van while they rode his Harley down for him. The irony is that going back down was much easier!

After we left Mt. Washington we rode on the Kancamangas highway for a little bit. Oh and did I mention that the weather was gorgeous? It was great. We rode a little more than 200 miles yesterday. I was exhausted last night! We had a bite to eat at the Smokehouse and then I put my sorry butt to bed!

Today there were noticably more and more bikes arriving. There is a steady stream of rumbling motorcycles day and night. Today we hit all of the vendors on the beach, ate yummy sausge & pepper subs and had a few beers. It was a hot day today and my dogs are barkin’ from all the walking we did!

OK-it’s getting late and I’m sure everyone around me is wondering why I’m in the lobby typing on a computer when I should be drinking and singing “Wheel in the Sky” at the top of my lungs…

I eagerly watched the news this morning to see how the weather would be treating us today. It’s fairly mild outside, the first day of June…what more could you ask for? How about a little more more warmth and some sun?

Nope.

While it is going to warm up we’re expecting thundershowers this afternoon, continuing on for the entire weekend. Crap. I will have to live vicariously through other people for the next few days.

I suppose I could have taken the chance by riding in to work today. I do have a rain suit for such weather, but I definitely don’t have a flavor for riding in it.

Kittens don’t like to get wet.

Well, we’re expecting thunder showers so the bike stayed home today. It was a gorgeous morning and I grumbled and cursed behind the wheel of my car as I drove to work. There were so many people out riding and it made me wonder if they checked the weather at all and if they had, did they care?

It’s funny how one has to become an amateur meteorologist as a motorcyclist. I check the weather so much more during the riding season than any other time of the year.

I’m not necessarily skittish if I have to ride in bad weather, I have the rain gear and I actually took my MSF course in the pouring rain. I just don’t want to if I don’t have to. Today’s one of those days. Plus, I didn’t want to ruin my hair!

Just kidding.

Today I finally got to bundle up and get on the bike…as a passenger. OK, don’t be outraged that I didn’t ride my own bike on the inaugral National Female Ride Day, there was a good reason for it!

I wanted to be able to take some pictures to share the lovely commute to work I have everyday. And the only way to do that is to be on the back.

Here I am, ready to go!

This is the old Salem jail, now haunted and waiting to be condos!

Dave Frank’s is the local motorcycle and gun & ammo shop. I firmly believe that they have a gimp in the basement.

This is the view from the Salem to Beverly bridge that I go over everyday. It’s nice to finally see boats in the marina.

Passing by Montserrat College

Look you can see me in the mirror!

This is the entrance to Long Hill

Here’s a wild turkey

And this is the long, winding driveway to go to work!

There are some benefits to working up in the sticks! It only gets more lovely as the warmer weather gets here.

Ok, I’m a New Englander and know that I should be used to the inconsistency of the weather in this region. But cut us some freaking slack already–it’s April now and it still feels like February! It’s supposed to be Spring. The temperature should be warming up, things that grow should start growing and my motorcycle should be bounced out of storage by now. [* sigh *]

I’ve seen plenty of people out and about on their bikes already, but I live in an area where parking is at a premium and because I’m a renter, not an owner, my motorcycle is still frustratingly still in storage. Plus, there’s still a fair amount of sand on the ground leftover from the latest snowstorms (and the forecast is for more snow this week, argh!).

I”m just itching to bust it out, make it nice and shiny and get it going for the season. Plus I have a few modifications I’d like to do, like lowering it two inches and possibly getting some new exhaust pipes…besides, I just got a new leather jacket that I’m dying to break in!