The Fold Of The Map Page

 

It seems like eons ago, but it was only a couple of years, that the motor company would send annually a Rand McNally road atlas. The motor company version of the road atlas also contained important information for riders, like if you had to wear a hemit in Kansas, but not in Nebraska, and it highlighted scenic roads, that are better to ride than say the toll I 90 through New York.

Of course sending the atlas was not profitable so it was discontinued. Fortunately, the atlas could be picked up online, or found at the local big box bookstore, and it only costs a few dollars. The commercial version   lacks the scenic roads highlights, and information important to riders, but just like the motor company version at least one state is across the middle fold.

We came to that fold at a critical junction in our travels. We spent the night in Syracuse New York, and had to journey through Vermont, and New Hampshire to reach our reservation in Belfast Maine.

The fold or gap in the map was of little help and I found myself relying on the motor company app that works about 80% of the time, and using it, solely for navigation is a bit like hurling through space hoping you end up where you planned to be.

 Stopping To Ask The Dead For Directions

Fortunately, the app worked, and even took us on two short stretches of the Maine Turnpike, that has human toll takers, that only wanted one dollar for the experience of riding their massive highway. At the second toll booth I inadvertently pulled into the electronic pay booth and was surprised when there was no one there to take my dollar. I tried to pay I really did but in the end rode off wondering if the Maine toll booths could see my plate. They could not last time I was here, many bikes ago.

The Maine Turnpike

At Belfast we explored the coastal town and settled in for a delicious seafood dinner on the water at the  Nautilus

Our lodging at the Fireside Inn and Suites featured a manicured lawn all the way down to the bluff high   above Penobscot Bay. Our room had a sheltered balcony that kept the rain off of us as we gazed out into the mist, and the pool and hot tub at the inn were delightful. We had the pool almost to ourselves except for one preteen female human who told us just about everything she could think of but did silence enough to reset the timer on the hot tub for us.

A Lot Of Lawn To Mow

The fourth dawned without the rockets’ red glare, and instead offered a persistent rain for amerikas birthday.

Walking back to our room after enjoying the inns breakfast of the ever-popular Jimmy Dean sausage egg croissant I noticed in the wall of pamphlets a attraction called Fort Knox and the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observation tower, and since we were gong to the soon to be cancelled parade in Searsport we included the tower and fort in our plans for the day.

Someone Left The Cake Out In The Rain

We suited up for the rain and headed to Searsport, only to find that the parade had indeed been canceled, and the town had a big parade yesterday for its 175’th birthday celebration and we were out of luck as far as parades go. Oh well the brewed coffee at the café was good, the corned beef even better, and like the sign said “Free Lobster Tomorrow”

Heading north into the rain for not too many miles we soon spotted the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. Entering the park we negotiated with the volunteer for the price of admission. She held firm to her price of a few dollars, and soon we were parked and ready to ride the lift to the top of the tower.

The Observation Tower & Bridge

Thanks to covid restrictions we got to ride in the lift all by ourselves, and thanks to the rain the tower was not crowded at all, and thanks to the docent at the top we got to spot the seal that swims up the river on Tuesday and Thursday apparently looking for the Free Lobster Tomorrow.

At the fort located right at the bridge we wandered through the thick stone hallways, peering out the narrow stone openings, where sentries once stood defending the fort and river from the seal perhaps.

Deep Within The Thick Walls Of The Fort

The fort was an interesting place to roam around. It was dry inside and has cannons, but you cannot fire them, but if you could the village of Bucksport would not stand a chance.

Look Out Bucksport

 

Thanks for reading