Success!!
I did the Ride Around Maine yesterday, 7/31/21. I chose Saturday because there were some afternoon showers predicted for Sunday and warmer.
Results(unofficial) 21h 54m 7s over 1068 miles(ODO) or 1059miles(GPS).
My 1987 Goldwing ran well but was suffering a clutch failure as the ride progressed. But with low RPM shifts nothing came apart. I departed from Searsport ME at 0:34:55 and proceeded down coastal Rt1 until Bath ME. Midnight is the right time! This is the first time I can remember going through Camden without traffic. Weather was clear and cool temp about 48F and high about 70F for the day.
Climbing up the western mountains were uneventful with the first hints of dawn about 4am. The roads Rt 17 then Rt16 to Eustis are memorably bad. I was wishing for my old R1150GS. But road Rt27 just north of Eustis to Coburn Gore at the Canada boarder was remarkably good. This is where I first found out how much extra cornering clearance I got by ditching the floor boards. The old GL corners nice on smooth roads but gets real nervous with any bumps. Ah well, she's a Highway muncher and a canyon carver. Also at about 8:30 Pepin's General Store was closed and online it said 8am opening. Luckily the fueling side was open but unattended. I can only guess with Canada basically in terminal lockdown there are not many customers coming across the border for cheaper fuel and gedunk.
The only real mechanical excitement was a malfunction of my aux fuel system. My first 3 fill ups of the aux went fine. But on the 4th it started peeing out the vent line. It filled and overfilled the small container on the vent. This ride had been the first time I was refilling on the side stand as I was not trying for big miles between refills. My longest was only 183miles so I was just really using the aux as it's easier and quicker to refill. On a good day I can get 160miles out of the aux. On this ride I only filled the main tank at the start and only used maybe 2 gals out of it.
My my vent line first extends 3in above the tank to the 90 bend then down to a 200mil vented bottle. Even on the side stand the 90 deg bend is a couple inches above the full fill line at that angle. I think what happened was when I put the the fuel cap on I somehow created enough pressure to cause the fuel in the vent line to surge over the angled fitting and start a syphon. And I have no syphon break.
The next piece of mild excitement was coming down Rt1 just north of (IIRC) East Machias. It's getting dark and oncoming traffic lights were getting distracting when I saw the work ahead sign, then I noticed the, I think, the word "gravel" or maybe "dirt". On the brakes hard. Yep, dirt with a little bit of gravel for about 1/2 to a 1 mile. Thankfully it was not wet or raining. Next was some fireworks in Milbridge and I think the entire town was on the bridge causing a bit of a slowdown for thru traffic.
The remaining ride down to Searsport was uneventful but for one fool passing on a 2 lane near Ellsworth, I came near to one of those "I didn't see him" events. The ol' GL is pretty flickable for an 800lb bike, not a scratch. And then not 10miles later a deer was in the road to check the veracity of my last statement. The wife doesn't hear this part of the story
Overall a very neat and interesting ride. From mountains to valley farm land(with some beautiful corn), to thick wood land and timber harvesting, to plains like rolling farm land and finally a coastal region only a few places can compare to. Even though I've lived up here for 11years I found some places I'm taking my wife back to see.
Heck I might have to make this an annual ride just to see what changes are happing. Like I haven't been up the coast above Gouldboro in several years but those roads are in much better condition now with many miles of new pavement. Here a some non gas receipt pics, the only ones I had time for.
Just stopping for a pic long enough for SWTracker to talk with Spotwalla
A local hero stood up to The Man last year but sadly the Man has lotsa guys with guns. I think Sunday River in under new ownership.
Picture doesn't do it justice. Near Rangeley Maine.
A Must have pic if your in the region, this guy has made an awesome tribute to LD riders
Done, time to head home. And here is the spotwalla link if your interested
https://new.spotwalla.com/trip/4a1b-1a1d11c9-258b/view