Left Fredericton, New Brunswick early this morning heading for home... the U.S.A.!  Crossed the border at the most remote Customs station I could find on a map last night (Orient, ME) then took backroads in the “Pine Tree State” (that'd be Maine) until I joined US-2 and rolled on into New Hampshire.  First off all, I had a BLAST in Canada...    ...but I am glad to be on my own turf again (at the border I had a “Reconnection Of The Radar Detector Celebration  ), seeing American flags waving, hearing English (“Lady, you rode dat bike frum Air-e-zona by yurself?!”), etc.    I'll try to work on the full Journey Report here soon, but below are the photos I took from my 385 mile ride today (99% on non-interstate roads).  Those of you who follow my adventures know that every pic has a story.  Western Maine along Hwy 2 thru New Hampshire (into Conway) can easily be summed up in a few words.... road construction, packs of bikers (it's “Mount Washington's "Rally in the Valley Bike Week” as well as Laconia Bike Week) with either questionable skills or sobriety, and log trucks.  At times all 3 factors were combined, which made for extremely, well, let's just say “interesting” riding.    Tomorrow I meet Kobi at the airport, which will being another “Two Chicks, Two Wheels” adventure, albeit a rather short one.  We will be in Maine for several days and she'll fly back to Phoenix on Sunday.  I'll be heading back to Nashville after dropping her off... then I'll be in San Francisco on Friday.  How's THAT for seize the journey?! AGirl Who needs the interstate... ...when you can take rural back roads?  The US Customs “shack” (I'm confident I startled the dude when I pulled up... the don't get much “business” I'm willing to bet at that crossing (Orient, ME): Not a bad place to have an office, eh? (The view from the US Border/Customs station) Surprisingly, I didn't see any “Welcome to the USA” signs. This was the first “sign” I saw after proceeding through US Customs a mile or so later: After taking US-Hwy 1 South, I was greeted with this sign...which screamed “Welcome Back” in my language (I love Scenic Byways!!): Scenic indeed! (The other side of “Grand Lake” is New Brunswick): Hey, Chris & Pat... look what I found!  Let's see, do folks 'round here have an errand list that goes like this... Pickup milk, bread, eggs, & bear bait. BEAR BAIT??  I've passed the sign countless times, but I always like to stop and take a photo of it since I love what it says! Just in case you wondered, this is what a non-interstate “Rest Area” looks like in New Hampshire: ...and this is what is beside it: (I reckon you could take a break from traveling and throw your rod in for a while)... ... just like this guy that I came across: (I might have traded my bike for his pole I was jonesing to fish so bad when I saw him!)... Shots from Hwy 2... Mo, my Alaskan moose passenger, covered his eyes when we passed this sign... Another unforgettable day to be alive and able to seize the journey! A map reflecting my version of routing today from Fredericton, New Bruckswick to Conway, NH: AGirl Copyright © 2006-2012, All Rights Reserved.