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Another ride report

OK..I appreciate the responses to my last ride report and I apologize if I didn't reply to your comments.

I'm still looking forward to hitting route 113 before snow closes it in.

Heard the weather forecast for Maine stating that we'd be well above normal temps for Wednesday & Thursday. Hmmm...temps in the mid 70's must mean top down weather. YUP! That was today. I had a route "in my head" that I thought would be nice. It was!

Headed out from Auburn up US Route 4 (about 23 miles nice but boring road) till I took a right onto state route 108. Nice two lane "somewhat" twisty road for 20 or so miles until I turned right in Peru and crossed the Adrosscogin river and connected up with state route 17. A coupla miles up the road (in the town of Mexico) the route bears off to the right and heads out into the willywags. Sign posted states that the next 32 miles are a designated "scenic highway". If they say so...Tis nice but many roads here in Maine are just as nice. I gotta tell ya that I was very disappointed by the foliage colors this year. This area is at

100% color change and it was not up to par. Anyway...Route 17 is a very nice twisty (almost all uphill) and a great ride. Speed is normally limited because of moose in the road. Saw no moose on this trip and did quite a few stops along the way to check out the Swift River (which parallels the road) Very nice trout fishing stream and lots of folks pan for gold. Anyway...hit the "heights of Land" and headed down into Oquossoc...Damn nice ride! Turned right in Oquossic onto US Route 4 for less than a mile and then left onto State route 16. This is a very dangerous twisty road that should only be attempted during daylight. Moose are everywhere on this road. You can see then in daylight but NOT at night. They will wreck an SUV (ingrid??) but I'd hate to imagine what they would do to a Miata. I'm guessing that route 16 is approx 25 miles (very nice & twisty) until you arrive in New Hampster. My map ends in New Hampster but I followed the road until I came to the intersection of route 26 (state/US?) South. This is another very nice twisty for miles & miles. Finally got back to the Maine border and still enjoyed many more miles of twisty fun road. I was running a little late and did not stop for the sites in Gradfton Notch State Park. Many years ago I explored that park and it was well worth the time. The 10" to 12" trout caught made the stop even more worthwhile. The rest of the trip was not worth noting. Twas back in the civilization traffic.

Home safe & sound and I hear that tomorrow will be as warm as today., Hmmm.... I love being retired with my Miata! :)

JV

96 Montego (Lil' Blue)
Reply to
JV
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Yeah, awesome weather today, but, since I have a few more years untill retirement, I'll have to wait till this weekend to make my mountain run. I'm trying to decide between 113 or the Kanc, though the Kanc will probably be crowded.

I've got a theory about moose, though. Your only shot at surviving contact with a moose is to gun it and hope you have enough momentum to get past him before he hits the ground. If he lands on the winshield / roof, it's all over. My father hit a moose up between Dixfield and Weld a couple of summers ago, and just hit it's head, and it caused $3000 worth of damage to my mother's minivan.

-- Tonyrama Crystal White '93 A

Reply to
tonyrama

How about supporting evidence?

You do not have to shoot the poor animal. It is not a predator. Just leave it alone, and it will leave you alone. Why not be kind to an animal today?

Winshield/roof? Is this intended for the Miata group?

What a family of people cruel to animals! Did he try talking calmly to it first? What did the poor moose do to warrant physical punishment? It probably just wanted to do its own thing in a quiet sort of way.

You think that is a mitigating circumstance? How about causing possible brain damage in the animals you 'just' hit on the head?

The moose should not have taken its anger out on your mother's minivan, but it was probably disoriented from being hit on the head by your father.

Leon

Reply to
Leon van Dommelen

I sincerely hope to never have proof of this particular theory.

I am kind to animals. I spoke of gunning the accelerator.

My Miata has a roof.... a fabric roof, but is it not a roof regardless of what it's made of?

Well, it went like this: It was a pitch black, moonless night out in the middle nowhere, and all of a sudden the windshield explodes. Never saw the moose untill after the fact.

Oh, it had brain damage all right. At least it didn't suffer at all, he was dead by the time we got out of the van.

-- Tonyrama Crystal White '93 A

Reply to
tonyrama

The way *I* see it, one should accept the evidence as it comes, regardless of personal biasses.

And what about the Moose while *you* are gunning yourself clear? Do you ever think about that?

Hum.

Well, you obviously have your story ready...

And do you *really* feel this is being kind to animals?

Leon

Reply to
Leon van Dommelen

Well, the moose most likely dies either way, and at least that way I do not. It is purely a matter of self defence.

It's not about being kind to animals. Being kind to animals is dodging a squirel in the road, or swerving to avoid a deer. Nobody plans on hitting a moose. A whole lot of people die doing it here in Maine. When the moose steps out in front of you from out of the woods in the middle of the night, it's not wearing a reflective collar or anything like that. I personally have never hit a moose, but I've heard that all of sudden, everything goes dark. By that time it's too late. I am very aware that if I ever find myself in that situation while driving my Miata (or my Subaru, for that matter), it will probably be the last thing I ever see.

-- Tonyrama Crystal White '93 A

Reply to
tonyrama

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