Waited a lifetime to go to Laconia........

[RoadRat]

A long time ago in a differant world, a world in which I was about 14 years old, my freind Ronnie said to me, Bobbie just got back from Laconia.
Laconia? what's laconia, I asked. Laconia motorcycle rally in New Hampshire they have it every year Ronnie said.

Bobbie was Ronnie's older brother, he was about 21 years old, he looked like a young Elvis, and he dressed like Marlon Brando in "The Wild One's" including the hat.

In my minds eye I can still see Bobby's bike parked in the driveway in front of the garage. It was a Harley, it was big, it was black, it had a lot of chrome and a huge saddle with a chrome rail. if I remember correctly Ronnie said it was a 1200, but I'm not sure.

Bobby came out of the house and got on his bike, flipped a couple switches, twisted the throttle, jumped on the kickstarter and the bike just sputtered. He twisted the throttle again, positioned the pedal and jumped on the kickstarter again and the bike roared to life. You could hear the rumble of the motor and you could even feel it.

I was impressed. I decided I wanted a motorcycle as soon as I was old enough.

At the end of summer when my mother started shopping for school clothes I told her I wanted a black leather motorcycle jacket and a pair of engineer boots. My mother said well.............I'll talk to your father about it, and I thought that's it I'll never get them now. Still I gave her my best sales pitch, mom I can wear that jacket fall, winter, and spring and the same with the boots and.........I'll talk to your father about it she said again in a voice that said, discussion over. A few days later my mother said she talked to my father and he said o.k. He said o.k.? Wow!

I loved that jacket, it was heavy black leather, with pockets,and a belt, and snaps, and zippers, and I was the only kid in class with one.

When I was finally old enough to start driving, I could afford a car, or I could afford a motorcycle, not both, so I bought a car because I could use it year round.

And then it was cars and girls, and girls and cars, and er, ah, so forth.
And then it was a special girl.
And then it was a very special girl.
And then it was wife.
And then it was wife and kid.
And then it was wife, kids, mortgage.
And then it was wife, kids, mortgage, new kid.
And then it was wife, kids, mortgage, new kid, cat, assorted other pets.
And then it was kids grew up, moved away.
And then it was ex-wife.
And then it was cat died.
And then it was............I'm buying a motorcycle.

I took the MSF basic rider course, bought a motorcycle and started riding. My first season I mostly road local streets and roads while gaining riding experience. My second season I started venturing out more, riding the freeway, and taking 50/75 mile trips. Top mileage 170 miles.

This is my third year and now..............."Laconia".
I had planned on making a day trip out of it, riding up Thursday June 15, spending a little time there and riding back the same day. However, as it turned out the weather report was not good so I didn't go. Friday was a no go. Saturday, even though I got up late and wasn't ready, I checked the weather report.
Blackstone Massachusetts: 20% chance rain/thunderstorms after 8:00 pm
Laconia New Hampshire 30% chance of rain/thunderstorms after 1:00 pm
Not so good but, I wanted to go.
I checked Mapquest, about 132 miles, jotted down directions and got ready.
Breakfast, two slices cold pizza, two cups coffee. At least I'm eating right.
I'm off.

I'm on Rt. 126n in Bellingham Ma. all of five miles from home when I see the flashing blue lights up ahead, oh no accident I'm thinking, then I realize what it is as the LEO motions for me to stop as he dismounts the electraglide, and waves the cars out of the parking lot.
As I'm waiting it starts, I can hear it over the engine noise even though I'm in the middle of the road.
One horn of some kind playing "Amazing Grace" as people file out of church.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a poor wretch like me.
I was struck with a sense of sadness that completely suprised me.
It was a bright, warm, sunny day, and these poor people were burying a loved one.Just then I realized the LEO was waving me thru, go, go, and as I passed him I gave him a slight nod, thanks.

Yeah, its good that I'm going to Laconia today I thought, as I headed north on 495, who knows what tomorrow will bring. In no time at all it seemed, I was passing the Welcome To New Hampshire sign, and then tourist information rest area.

I pulled into the rest area to stretch my legs for a bit, and to reward myself with an ice cold diet coke. As I was standing in the shade of a tree enjoying my drink another biker joined me. Where ya headed he asked, Laconia I replied. Just left, been there all week, stayed in a hotel on the main drag,
he said. How was it I asked, and he told me all about it. Bill, was from
Nova Scotia, he retired three years ago and he's been riding his bike all over the U.S. and Canada ever since. I explained I was on a day trip, my plan was to spend a couple hours, eat, buy a couple shirts, and then head back home tonight, so I wanted to avoid getting trapped in traffic. He gave me very accurate directions which enabled me to avoid getting stuck in traffic, thanks Bill.

Laconia was great, "Welcome Bikers" signs, people on lawn chairs, locals who were friendly, vendors selling motorcycle gear at great prices.
Two burgers, one soft drink, $3. overlooking a picture postcard lake.
And it looks like the lakes region of N.H. has some nice motorcycle roads.
Yup, I want to go back next year.

It was getting late so I gassed up the bike and headed home.
I was about halfway when I felt a few raindrops as I passed the sign that said "rest area". Should I pull in and put on rain gear I wondered, but didn't. About five minutes after I passed the rest area the lightning started, then the rain, first a little, then a lot.
Oh well, what is it they say, put on your rain gear before your wet?
I rode the next sixty miles in the rain. Then the rain stopped when I was a few miles from home.
I continued riding past my house, and headed for the local biker bar.
As I pulled up and parked my bike out front a couple of bar patrons asked, get caught in the rain?
Yeah I said, just got back from Laconia.

[Jester]

Nothing but Net!

[RoadRat]

Originally Posted by Jester

Nothing but Net!

Ah, not sure what this means.
Is it a good thing?

[akfxdl]

Originally Posted by RoadRat

Ah, not sure what this means.
Is it a good thing?

Yup I think he ment it was a great story, you have a way with words.

[Orson]

great read...

glad you finally "got back from Laconia."

[Jester]

Originally Posted by akfxdl

Yup I think he ment it was a great story, you have a way with words.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...othing+but+Net

Like he said. Sweet ride!

[pashnit]

Originally Posted by RoadRat

And then it was cars and girls, and girls and cars, and er, ah, so forth.
And then it was a special girl.
And then it was a very special girl.
And then it was wife.
And then it was wife and kid.
And then it was wife, kids, mortgage.
And then it was wife, kids, mortgage, new kid.
And then it was wife, kids, mortgage, new kid, cat, assorted other pets.
And then it was kids grew up, moved away.
And then it was ex-wife.
And then it was cat died.
And then it was............I'm buying a motorcycle.

Leo - what a wonderful read! I'm not even sure which part I like best, all of it for sure! Great job, you captured the feeling, the sensation, the wonder of it all. Hopefully, this won't be the last time you'll be sharing your adventures with all of us!

And welcome to the pashnit forum!

[RoadRat]

Jeff, thanks for interpreting.

Will thanks, I may travel further on some future motorcycle trip,
however, no trip will ever take longer than Laconia.

Larry, now that I understand what you said, thank you.
I created a shortcut to the urban dicitionary for quick
referance so that I can communicate with you, ha, ha,

Tim, you have keen insight, recognizing that Laconia
was more than just a motorcycle ride to me, it was doing
something I'd wanted to do since I was a kid, accomplishing
a goal, scratching an itch, and it felt very very good.

Your kind words and compliments are more than my little
story deserves, thank you.
However, you may regret encouraging me, someday you
may be saying, oh no, is he back with another story?

[Loki]

Excellent story. A long awaited dream that you finally got to live and enjoy. Did you take any photos? A dream come true deserves photographic memories. If you did, I would love to see them.

[Papa-Ken]

Originally Posted by RoadRat

Jeff, thanks for interpreting.

Will thanks, I may travel further on some future motorcycle trip,
however, no trip will ever take longer than Laconia.

Larry, now that I understand what you said, thank you.
I created a shortcut to the urban dicitionary for quick
referance so that I can communicate with you, ha, ha,

Tim, you have keen insight, recognizing that Laconia
was more than just a motorcycle ride to me, it was doing
something I'd wanted to do since I was a kid, accomplishing
a goal, scratching an itch, and it felt very very good.

Your kind words and compliments are more than my little
story deserves, thank you.
However, you may regret encouraging me, someday you
may be saying, oh no, is he back with another story?

Oh no, is he back with another story? Don't worry about anyone stating that Leo. We all can recognize a dream being fulfilled and the pure joy in so doing. Most of the time in my own experiences I find the anticipation is much more enjoyable than the realization; but in your case, this time, I think Jester is right. "Nothing but net". Put us to the test Leo and I bet not one person will say "Oh No"..........Thank you for sharing.........Ken