Gary and I took a ride yesterday. We met at the Mobil station on route 70 in Lancaster. We were on our way at 10:30 on a ride to the Alamo BBQ joint in Brookline, NH. It's less than hour to the Alamo from Lancaster. So we filled the extra time with a wiggly ride through up route 13 to Townsend. Then headed east on 119 to route 113 to Pepperell. We went through the Covered Bridge on Groton Street and got onto route 111 N.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/VPUM9ucaySJHCL2j9Route 111 N is a beautiful ride up into Hollis, NH. In Hollis we got onto to route 130 W and headed to Brookline, NH. This is also a great curvy and roller-coaster road. 130 took us to route 13 and we headed south for a quick scoot to the Alamo. We arrived just about 11:30 and we ready for lunch.
Nice place inside with a great BBQ motif. We ate at the bar.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/76MHKk7ANhdsiH8K7We both got the brisket sandwich. It was delicious, just like the one I had at the new Alamo location in Laconia. Thick cuts of moist brisket with nice bark and a smoke ring. They serve it with some fried onions, peppers and cheese sauce on the bun. It's unconventional but the whole thing just works. We both had the house made chips on the side. Also very good. With fully satisfied stomachs, we were back on the bikes around 12:30.
We headed north on 13 to 101 W, which always delivers. It's a fan favorite for us. In Keene we got on to 12 S for a short distance and then 32 S to head back to MA. Although a numbered route, 32 is a more rustic ride then the others. The ride along the airport in Keene is great with wide open views. Then the route tightens up with curves, hills and foliage closer to the road.
There's newer pavement upon entering Royalston, MA. I was leading and was generally at the speed limit or just over because the road is quite tight. I saw a dough was approaching road ahead on the right and I was able to safely slow down. There was no panic stop. She did move into the road and crossed. I don't think I came to a full stop. But I looked around for more deer and didn't see any. I was a bit spooked after that and slowed down to the speed limit or less.
We continued on 32 S to Athol. There's bridge work there over the Millers River and the detour was not well marked. After a wrong turn we found our way and continued on 32 S to the Country Store in Petersham for rest stop. We had been on the road for just about 2 hours and it was hot.
Leaving Petersham Gary lead the way on 122 E to 62 E to 140 S in Sterling. All beautiful roads. I'm used to Gary taking off like a rocket on his auto-clutch GW. I can't shift my manual as fast. But I noticed that Gary's pace was not quite as aggressive as usual. Maybe he was little spooked, too, by the deer encounter. I don't know. He can comment.
Despite the deer encounter, it was a great ride. I finished the day with just under 200 miles.
