I got out for an early Fall ride yesterday. I left about 10:15 when the Sun had started to break through. I picked up route 62 W at route 140 in Sterling and rode it into Barre Center. There was some good color along portions of 62, especially in the wetlands.
From Barre, I rode route 122 to route 202. This has got to be one of the top 10 motorcycle roads in MA. Again there was some color along the way.
I got gas and had a rest stop the Shell station at the intersection of route 202 and 2. Ended up talking with a guy who was riding a 2000 very beat-up Honda Shadow 1100 cc. It looked like a rat bike. It was hard to believe it was a 2000.
From there I got on to route 2 W to have lunch at the Wagon Wheel in Gil. As expected, route 2 delivered. There's much needed new pavement in Erving, and a new concrete surface on the French King Bridge over the Connecticut River.
Arrived at the Wagon Wheel at about 12:30 and it was moderately busy. It took a while for my lunch to be ready (Buff-Chick Wrap). By the time I finished lunch, the parking lot at cleared out. I took the opportunity to take a picture. The trees where dropping leaves.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/YoCwyco8Radmx5XM7Leaving the Wagon Wheel I took a right on to route 2 W and another right at the light on to Main Road. This is a beautiful ride through farm land and the Gil village with some spectacular views of Northfield Mountain to the right.
Main Road ends when it intersects route 10. I took a right east on route 10, then a left on to 63 N up through Northfield. I usually am riding 63 south through Northfield. I think the ride north provides better views.
I stayed on 63 N all the way up to route 9 in Chesterfield, NH. This is a beautiful ride in either direction. I'm usually riding it south. So the north route view was a nice change. It was a bit cloudy and cooler at the higher elevation in Chesterfield. By the time I was getting close to Keene on route 9 E, the sun was back out.
I continued east on route 9 though Keene and into Marlborough were I picked up route 124 east. There's new pavement all the way from Marlborough to Jaffrey center. It's nice and smooth. Some spectacular views of Mount Monadnock along the way.
From Jaffrey center I found my way home.
