My time with the Fechners finally comes to an end – I say my farewells and hit the road at 8:00 am.  I have fog for the first part of my ride but after a while that clears and it is plain sailing to Digby.  I have one last coffee at my mate Tim’s and then ride the 10 klms down to the ferry;

I had booked online so it was straight through the check post and in to the line up of motorcycles.  There were plenty of bikes but less than what I thought there would be given the Wharf Rat event only finished the day before;

I have a 45 min wait before I am allowed to ride Stan on and park him on the ferry.  I grab a tie down that is provided and strap him to the deck.  I go up and enjoy the 2 hour ride across the water to St John.  The ferry is mighty impressive in size and even has escalators between the floors.

Just before landing we all make our way back down to the deck and get ready.  The door drops and it only takes a few minutes before I am on the highway heading for the border control at St Stephen.  The sky is dark with rain threatening.

By the time I get to St Stephen I have light rain and stop to refuel.  I ride another 10 klms and reach the US Border entry point – only 2 bays (of 6) are in use and it takes me nearly an hour before I get to the check point;

Its funny as I get closer I read a sign that basically tells you that photo’s are prohibited and you will be shot if you take any (well maybe not shot but you get the idea).

My turn comes and I ride up to the Border Control officer – he asks the standard questions and when I tell him my details he is far more interested in talking about the Australian Border Force television show and policing in general – he is in no hurry even though there is over a mile of cars in line behind me!  The only question I get asked about Stan is what country is he registered in.  I am allowed back in the States and enter Maine;

I have 300 klms to ride to get to my Airbnb which is at Jefferson.  The first 100 klms is really enjoyable;

Unfortunately the next 200 klms is in pretty heavy rain – the scenery is great as I go on lesser used roads but the rain certainly takes a bit of the shine off.

I pull up at the Airbnb and lucky for me my host (Margaret) is a lovely lady who takes pity on me as I present like a drowned rat;

I unpack Stan and get shown to my room.  After a hot shower I feel alive again and Margaret has cooked me a wonderful shrimp pasta dish for dinner!  We spend the evening talking about travel as Margaret lived for a number of years in Bangkok raising her daughter. 

Next morning Margaret gives me the equipment to give Stan a wash as she is worried about how dirty he looked!  Whilst I give Stan a quick clean Margaret cooks me bacon and eggs.  She also gives me some fruit to take with me – it makes me feel I am back at home with my mum!

I have fantastic conditions and the complete opposite of the day before. The days ride will take me through a couple of the States that make up the geographical area of ‘New England’;

I go through a lot of small coastal villages that are all straight out of a postcard.  I manage to pick up some patches at several smaller police stations.  

I cross the border into New Hampshire and decide that I need to refuel.  I take the next exit and basically get lost for a while before ending up in a small town called Hampton.  The town itself was well worth a visit so it was time well spent.

Back on the main Highway it is heavy traffic which stays that way crossing into Massachusetts and right to Boston.  I make reasonable time until I enter the city tunnel and then its slow moving bumper to bumper. 

Eventually I get off the freeway and make my way through the southern Boston area to where I am staying a few days with a friend (Adrienne) that I met back in 2017;

I park Stan and then phone Adrienne who comes down and lets me in.  I feel guilty as she is very jet lagged from only having flown in the day before from the UK.

I first met Adrienne and her partner Joe at Laguna Seca (California) when the Superbikes were on.  Joe is retired and lives in the UK but Adrienne is still working as a nurse/carer for a disabled boy here in Boston.  Adrienne assures me that their long distance relationship works and I have a laugh as every time they see each other it must be like a honeymoon!  Joe is an avid motorcycle racing fan and has not missed going to the Isle of Man for 52 years.

Adrienne cooks dinner for me before calling it a night at 6:30 due to her jet lag.  She gives me a couple of 2019 Isle of Man t-shirts that Joe has sent over for myself and Helen.  She also gives me the ‘Festival of Jurby’ program that is signed by Charlie Williams (9 time TT race winner and legend).

I am about to head to bed when I check my emails and get the shock of my life – my grandson (Oscar) is undergoing emergency bowel surgery in the Brisbane Children’s Hospital.  I frantically Skype Helen and get updated – I am able to later get on to my daughter and the operation went well and he is in recovery.  Apparently the issue is not that uncommon among infants.  Thankfully my son-in-law was being flown home from Western Australia where he was currently with the Army.  Too much drama!!!

I have an ordinary sleep but feel much better when I hear that Oscar is doing well and dad has arrived home – things appear well under control.  Adrienne takes me on a day tour of downtown Boston which is a lot of fun;

We even manage to find (by accident) the original bar for the television series Cheers;

The bar is on two levels – downstairs is a bar and more pub type food whereas upstairs is a more formal restaurant that you will need to book if you want to eat (original bar setting in the series).  The blend of old and new in Boston is done very well;

Last stop is the waterfront;

We get back home and I can’t believe the lack of workplace safety in what was taking place on the opposite side of the street.  No safety harness or scaffolding required;

The rest of the day is filled in with Adrienne cooking dinner and then we Skype Joe in the UK – I soon realise I can speak to Joe all day long given his extensive knowledge of motorcycle racing (bore everyone else to death).

The next day is pretty laid back as Adrienne is back to work.  She still manages to cook me breakfast before I head off on foot to the local Boston Police station which is only around the corner;

I go in and see a young uniform officer sitting behind the glass with her head back in the chair sound asleep!  I go up and get a less than enthusiastic response about a patch however she goes and finds her supervisor who is the complete opposite.  I leave with a patch in hand.

I swing by the Post Office and send a parcel of ‘stuff’ back home and then the supermarket where I get a few supplies.  All this work must have taken it out of me as I have a nap when I get back to the house.  Rest of the day is evening is just hanging out with Adrienne.

Next day I am up and off on Stan to go and check out the State of Rhode Island which is only just 100 klms south of where I am staying.  I end up doing a loop around of the State which takes me through all of the major attractions including Newport.  Although it is only a tiny state it is well worth a visit;

I make my way back and get home just on 3 pm after doing a total of 250 klms for the day.  I check on Oscar (recovering well) and spend the rest of the day watching the Superbikes.

We have a bit of rain overnight and the conditions have gone from warm to cold.  Adrienne has the weekend off so she is back in the kitchen and cooks me breakfast – she will not hear of me cooking (someone must have warned her!).  We head out in the car for another look around;

Adrienne takes me past Boston University and then over to Harvard.  She double parks while I go in to get a photo of the John Harvard statue – apparently touching his foot is good luck.

Harvard University is like a city all on its own and is made up of wonderful old buildings;

I find the Statue and there is a bit of a line waiting to take photo’s.  I am behind a group of 4 Iranian guys who were waiting patiently for a large group of Asian girls to finish taking selfies.  The girls were over the top with the photos so I politely reminded them that there were other people waiting – that seemed to work!

Just as the guys were about to move in a large group of students rocked up and started to make their way for the photo.  I was having none of that and moved in front of them and pointed out where the back of the line was – future leaders my arse!

The guys got their photo’s and were so happy they grabbed my camera from me and took several of me;

Mission accomplished I go back to Adrienne who was still double parked in a bus zone with her hazard lights on.  We head back home and Adrienne goes out to do grocery shopping while I work on my trip plan.

Later that evening we hook up with Mary who is Adrienne’s landlord but more importantly a life long friend.  The ladies take me to Doyles Irish Pub which is a local Boston landmark.  I walk in and immediately fall in love with everything about it as it was a real step back in time;

The meals match the setting with an old school menu but we are not disappointed in how good they are.  We have a great time with plenty of laughs before we head home.

I Skype my mate Fechy to see how they are dealing with Hurricane Dorian which I knew had been heading their way.  Fechy tells me that it has been a day from hell with 80 mph winds and 5 inches of rain.  Trees have been up rooted and blown over – even his boat nearly sank when it ripped away from its mooring.  Thankfully everyone is safe and no-one hurt.  Lucky for me I wasn’t up there with Stan!

The following day is low key and just spent doing my washing and getting sorted.  I really rate Boston and I look forward to coming back again.  I have had a great time with Adrienne and enjoyed getting to know her and Joe better. 

The next leg takes me through Connecticut, New York State, Pennsylvania and on to Maryland where I will be staying for a couple of days with another couple I met in 2017.  

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