Ok, I know I have been neglecting my blog and don’t have an answer as to why. But here I am, but I will get to that part later, but for now lets get this adventure back on the road. No matter where I am writing from. Woohoo, Onward!
Well, I said my goodbyes to my awesome friends and hosts Karen and Kyle and drove onto the ferry. It was a little foggy not bad though and I settled in for the hour+ ride back to the Mainland. One more chance to take in the beauty of this unique area, I could only imagine what winter is like! I took with me an experience of a lifetime with great people and an island that is so easy to fall in love with.
We unloaded in Rockland and I headed south on US 1. A very relaxing drive on a Sunday morning, and I had to figure out where the hell I’m going, once again. I had dear friends in Vermont I would love to see, but I just couldn’t make a decision, so I stopped in a little dispensary on my way out of Maine. Farley Farms, the sign screamed. Family owned and grown down the street in this quaint little town of Wiscasset.
I parked and strolled on in and was impressed. I was greeted with a hearty welcome. Now, while Maine has legal recreational marijuna and medical too. I guess the medical maybe stronger? So, the gentleman told me as I was admiring the shop, that this was a medical only, meaning one would need a card. I said I have a Florida card, and he said “that will work, step right up”. We talked for a while and I left.
Later I came to the conclusion that it was probably best to start heading south for some reason and I have no explanation for. So I sadly missed my Vermont friends, but it had to be done.
I headed along US 1 for a bit until I had to get on the 95 highway to hell. I swear it’s like eight lanes on each side, pure terror. I decided to make some time, (again I don’t know why?) and hit the 495 and on to the 84. I hate driving on interstates, it’s not that I don’t trust my driving acuity ,it’s those other folks. I ran into rain off and on which didn’t help. I ended up stopping near Hartsford, it started to rain hard as I got close to downtown Hartford and I was ready to get off this day of interstate driving, I found a very low budget place to stay, where they did not leave the lights on. It was really a real gully washer, I was tired so I turned on my own light and got ready to crash for the night. It was suppose to rain in the morning during rush hour, I could barely hold back my excitement.
The next morning I loaded up, takes a little while as I bring my bikes in the room at night, hell there’s an extra bed! It was still raining a little but I was almost ready to move on.
I took off for more interstate driving which I do not enjoy. In the area I was driving I just wanted to stay away from the bigger cities and when possible get off and get on back roads again. The rain around Hartford sucked, but I made it through and eventually the sunshine. I stayed on 84 to Newburg New York.I got off and drove around the neighborhoods near the Hudson river. I had stopped here on my way to Boston and couldn’t help to see the huge homes built on river. They were humongous and so cool. I wondered what the insides looked like.
This part get’s a little sketchy, as it’s been a little while since I was doing this. More on that later, again. Anyway, I got on some back roads after I perused my maps, there were a couple places I needed to see. Part of a music treasure hunt so to speak. It hit me while traveling this curvey road I couldn’t miss an Ice Cream place named Weir’s! He’s everyweir. I had to turn around and get a picture. Unfortunately they were closed.
I kept going, because I was on my way to Florida! Florida, New York that is . I saw it on the map and said hell yea, couldn’t miss that. Plus it was on the way to another part of this Music treasure hunt. Turn’s out “Florida” was a cute little town in the middle of no where, and I thought ” why don’t these people just come here?”.
I walked around a little bit and then it was off to the next stop.
Anyone get it? This was somewhere I wanted to check out. I don’t know how to play a guitar, but my love for them goes way back. Marveling at a good guitarist play, always makes me feel good.
So here’s the connection to these places as I have read. I think I can safely say that most people have heard the song “The Weight” written by Robbie Robertson and played by his group simply named “The Band”. The song has a catchy chorus and many versions are out there. If you don’t think you have heard it I beg you to look it up.
The first verse is,
I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin’ about half past dead;
I just need some place where I can lay my head.
“Hey, mister, can you tell me where a man might find a bed?”
He just grinned and shook my hand, and “No!”, was all he said.
That’s why I am here. I love this song and I had read the explanation years ago of the connection. You see many people heard “Nazareth” and thought of the bible “Nazareth”. But in fact Robbie Robertson had a 1951 Martin guitar that he loved and saw the Made in Nazareth, PA, giving him the first line to his song, he was quoted as saying, “after getting that first line it just flowed”. It was a huge hit for them.
The guy in the above photo is somebody, LOL the girl out front told me, but I forgot. She said he had recordings out there, anyway he’s playing Hank William’s guitar. They took it out of the display case and let him play.
I didn’t stay long but I had to see the place, it was so cool. Even for I guy who can’t play a lick. Oh, I almost forgot, for my guitar playing friends, they have tours through the factory which is right there, I didn’t go in but I peeked in the window!
I was so happy that I went there as I have always loved that song. WooHoo!
I’m kind of scooting along from here, I was really slacking on my notes and whatnot during this part of my trip as far as where I stayed after I left here. I have looked back on maps and I don’t believe I drove on to my next destination. It was another 4 hours I think. I’m sorry I didn’t write better notes, or notes at all. I guess I had a lot on my mind. After I left the interstates to drive back roads on the way to “Florida” and “Nazareth” I continued on backroads as much as possible and that’s when the wheels get turning, Haahaa. Funny thing ,I didn’t listen to music that much during my time on the road. I did listen to some, but I also enjoyed conversing with my thoughts. That and paying attention to where ever I was going. Many times I was at the mercy of “Lucy Waze” the girl in my phone.
So, after staying somewhere( let me make it clear I was not drinking and forgot, I am old and forget). Anyway I headed to my next stop, one of the few places I came back to on this adventure. Gettysburg, VA. I told you I was drawn to this place, that and I wanted to grab some more Gettysburg Bike Shop stickers. I remember it was morning because the bike shop was just opening up and I parked . I said hi and they remembered me. We talked as they were opening up shop. I told them why I stopped and the pointed me to the counter with stickers. That’s when I saw he was a Deadhead and stories began. I took off so they could get going, great shop. I still had some time as at this point there was no hurry. Heck, it’s all down hill from here!
I stopped in downtown Gettysburg to check out the Gettysburg History Museum. Really cool place, learned more there than the big museums. You can actually touch stuff and even buy things. Several different wars are honored here. Must stop. The guy who runs it has been on pawn stars several times too, but he wasn’t there the day I was. I went down the road to the national park museum, big place. Lots to look at, but it costs to see the movie and to go into the main museum.
It was time to hit the road to my next stop, Smith Mountain lake State Park, in Virginia. I headed South backroad bound. It was a nice drive about 4-5 hours with stops along the way.
I can’ seem to find any pictures of Smith Mountain Lake. I will blame it on being tired and getting set up and all. But I know I bought a couple stickers so I know I was there. At this point I decided to ask Blake and Jody if I could stop back by and pick up some stuff I had left there at their place. So I took off on a cruise to Asheville, I heard they had some Brewery there That I might like, I haven’t been opposed to a beer here and there. I’m going to check it out.
I was talking with an employee and he told me this story about a “Boatcar” that they built for some contest, it was pedal pwered. So he tells me to go across this bridge, don’t worry about the employee only sign and go down the stairs and go to the left and I will see it, and don’t worry about the employee’s only sign! So I did, here it is.
Pretty cool, it’s a bicycle powered boatcar built for a race called the Flying saucer races.
Beer holder of course, they are always drinking…. Oop’s I mean thinking.
Nice visit, Fat Tire was my go to beer at one time at the Rod & Reel. Time to head down the road. It’s only 30 minutes to Broken Bow Ridge, my next stop. See ya there!
Enjoyed the ride!
Thanks!!