Days 22 & 23, Friday July 26th & Saturday July 27th

Friday was a big riding day - 535 miles from Winchester, VA, to Cookeville, TN.  Cookeville is one of our favorite Tennessee towns and we've been here many, many times which is why we choose to come here for our last night on the road.

A wonderful dinner at Crawdaddy's restaurant was the perfect compliment for a traveling day.
http://crawdaddysgrill.com/

If you get to Cookeville check it out.  You won't be disappointed.

Then on Saturday we brought it on home - about 285 miles mixing it up with the big rigs on I-40.  Arrived shortly after noon.

We had a great trip and enjoyed visiting again some of our favorite places and of course seeing so many new wonderful exciting things on the trip.  Thanks for sharing it with us and we'll see you on the road again soon.

Trip summary:  23 days, 5,960 miles, 11 states and 5 Canadian provinces.

Day 21, Thursday, July 25th

Today was a great day, but a very tough day of riding.  Now all you fellow motorcyclists please note:  this is NOT a complaint but rather an informative explanation for those readers who do not ride and have never experienced life on the road on a motorcycle.

Why was it tough you ask?  Well it was long - 475 miles long and it took us 10 1/2 hours because of the horrendous traffic and endless construction which caused myriad delays.  Yes it's all part of the ride but it still makes for a tough day.

We hit rush hour in Hartford and thank goodness of the HOV lane which we took full advantage of as motorcycles are allowed regardless of the number of people on the bike as Dave was solo.  Then Danbury was better but still really backed up due to construction.  A few miles of open road then a screeching halt due to lane closure, etc., time and time again.  By lunch time we'd barely covered 200 miles in over five hours of riding.  Yikes.  Thankfully the afternoon was better and we made up some time

Again no complaints as we arrived safely at our hotel in Winchester, VA, having traveled parts of six states today.  We woke up in MA the rode through large parts of CT and PA and short parts of MD and WV before arriving in Winchester just across the VA border.

Day 20, Wednesday, July 24th

Had a late start today, a little after 9 am, because of our visit with our friend Tim.  So great to see him again and reminisce about the 'old time' but that's what old folks do, lol.  It was so much better back when don't you know.

Could have stayed and visited all day but the open road beckoned and we need to get back home at some point!  So 418 miles later and we are in Sturbridge, MA, for the night.  Had a great dinner at the at the Publick House, an 18th century inn and restaurant that was just fantastic.

Planning to get an early start tomorrow as we need to get on down the road.

Day 19, Tuesday, July 23rd

Look Ma no photos.  Really nothing photo worthy today as it was a travel day and we bade farewell to Canada crossing back into the USA at Houlton, Maine, a ride of about 275 miles.  Why didn't we go further you ask?  Well I'll tell you.  It is because a H.O.G. friend of ours of longstanding is the police chief here and we wanted to visit with him.  We met Tim DeLuca back in 2001 on the Route 66 ride back when H.O.G. did things first class and Tim was the law enforcement liaison who coordinated with the cities along the way to let them know that a big bunch of Harley riders were coming their way.  We haven't seen Tim in several years and look forward to breakfast with him tomorrow morning.

We left Charlottetown in the rain and the cold (low 60s and with the wet and the wind it was very cool) and rode several hours in light rain.  It only cleared up and warmed up as we neared the good ole US of A and then it got positively hot in our rain gear.

But we made it in and got settled.  Bikes cleaned up from the road grime and getting ready for some dinner at Kelly's Irish Pub, yum, yum.

From here on out it is you know what to the wall as we head back home.  See you soon!

Day 18, Monday, July 22nd

Today is our last day of sightseeing in Canada.  Tomorrow we leave Charlottetown, PEI, and turn toward home.  We'll leave Canada tomorrow and cross the border into Houlton, ME, where we will spend the night.

Today we made a full day of touring this lovely island.  The day started off very hazy, almost foggy but by the time we departed about 8:30 the sun was shining as it did most all day.  Thankfully we did not have the rainy weather that greeted us when we arrived yesterday.

Our first stop, St. Dunstan's Basilica.  Stunning and awe inspiring.

These houses across the street date from the 1850s and the statues reflect early political figures.

Queen Street.  Nothing left to say.

Back on the road.

To our next stop, Beaconsfield Historic House, a Victorian residence of a wealthy citizen.  It didn't open until 10 am and we could not wait so just got a couple of photos.

Back on the road.

The community of Rustico where a Catholic priest started a bank in 1864 to aid the farmers which it did for over thirty years.  Very interesting storyline and quaint area.

On the grounds of the bank is the Doucet House circa 1772.  Our forebears had a much tougher life that do we.

The welcome sign at Rustico.

The Catholic church at Rustico.

Back on the road to . . .

The Anne of Green Gables Heritage Center.

After that visit it was time for lunch at a great spot on the waterfront.

On to the author's birthplace.  We got some photos but did not tour the house.

But we did tour the home of L. M. Montgonery's uncle John which was one of here favorite places and she stayed here often.  The Anne of Green Gables museum is here.

Then on to Thunder Beach and Teacup Rock a picturesque natural formation.  Unfortunately the road was dirt and it was VERY rough, bumpy and pitched us all over.  After about 3/4 mile we called it quits.  But I did get some shots of the beach area . . . and it is popular as cars were parked all along both sides the road for quite a way.  The highest temp I saw today was 80 but the wind was blowing and it really didn't feel that warm.  I've got to believe that water must be cold.  Brrrrr.

Our last stop, the old train station at Kensington. It has been redeveloped as an entertainment area with pubs, restaurants, shops, etc.

And near the hotel when we stopped for gas there was a fire station.  Got to get a photo of that!