The alarm was set for 6:00 a.m., so I woke up at 5:00. I took care of some email, had breakfast with my father-in-law, packed up, and left about 7:15. Derek followed in his car with my new set of tires. It was raining all the way to Lebanon, NH and Twin States Harley. We got there just before they opened.

The man who opened, Donald, invited me in and I told him I was there to have my tires mounted and an oil change. I explained that I had stopped in a couple of weeks ago and talked about the service I’d need on my trip. Donald said the service department was closed on Mondays. Uh Oh! Donald called one of his techs, Ed, who came in to the shop right away and did the service. Meanwhile, Don’s wife, Donna, helped me pick out a pair of waterproof gloves. (They worked well.) Also, Donna explained to Derek how to get to Sears. He needed a new knob for the clothes dryer.

The work was completed just before 10:00. Ed came in from the shop to talk to me. The bolts on my new pipes were loose. He tightened them and advised me to check them every couple of days. I’ll certainly do that. Older pipes have a hole in the forward muffler for a rivet, but the new mufflers don’t have the hole.

I want everyone to know what great customer service Donna, Donald, and Ed provided for me this morning. Thank you.

I headed up I-91 to Canada. The crossing was uneventful. I did get off track in Sherbrooke, QC. I didn’t have a good mental image of the map and route, so I followed the Zumo until it got me back on track.

There was no rain until late afternoon. From about 3:00 p.m. through the evening it was steady rain and the last ten miles included fog coming off the St. Lawrence.. The temperature was about 50F. I stopped for a break at a restaurant. My air card worked there, so I book a room here in Riviere-du-Loup, since it was getting colder and it was 160 miles from Madawaska. I figured it was best to stop a little short of my goal and do the corner in the morning.
There’s not much to think about in chilly, rainy weather except looking for pot holes (the Trans-Canada Highway has many), keeping a good line, and pulling right for passing trucks. I did see several other riders bundled up and making miles, so I’m not the only nut out there. The weather is just part of the challenge and experience. It was really a good day to sit by a fire with a glass of sherry and a good book, but then I wouldn’t have learned that new tires work great in a rain.

Sunapee, NH to Riviere-du-Loup, QC – 445 miles

Today’s Photo Album

Scenic overlook at Fifteen Mile Falls.

Farm in the valley.

The falls must be somewhere near the dam.

Getting into raingear.

Dinner stop after a couple hours of riding in steady rain at 50 degrees.

Typical view of the day.

The Map.