Lake Carmi 7/12-14/24

Anne and I headed north early Friday morning to escape the worst of the heat. In southeast NH the forecast high was 94F, and a cooler 83F in northwestern VT. A few weeks into this heat wave, we had learned to avoid riding in heat of the day. We jumped on Rt16 and logged some quick miles north to a brunch stop in Tamworth NH.

After eating we started west through Sandwich on a few variations of Rt113. The great pavement, curves and shade was further improved by light mid-week traffic. Eventually we reached Rt93 and headed north, once again at highway speeds. Motivated now by both heat and expected rain. We managed to stay ahead of the heat, and only rode through a few sprinkles near the point we joined Rt91 in VT. Once ahead of the rain and bored of the highway we set off west toward Jay Peak in VT. Arriving at the Lake Carmi campground destination by mid afternoon. From the confusion at the gate, it seemed like we could be the first to arrive. Another guy from New York state showed up as we returned to our bikes. We offered him one of the two leanto shelters we had been given passes for, but with that he still continued along to the office to "check in".

Each shelter parking pass had a gate code on it's backside. The code opened the lift gate for the campground road, a paved left turn into the woods from the entrance's manned check-in office. The campground is sectioned off into A and B sections. Two years ago we had stayed in the nearer A section, this time we continued past to the further B campsites. Speed bumps on and overly straight park road help enforce the 15mph speed limit.. The B section forms a butterfly with the one-way traffic coming through the center, past the showers and bathrooms. When the center road "body" ends at a T, the boat launch and our leanto was located near the middle of the left wing. The swimming area could be found near the end of the right butterfly wing.

The BMWMOV group had purchased three adjacent leantos, just past the boat ramp. The first had a truck parked in it, the middle was empty and the 3rd one contained MOV members Lynn and Ted. We parked at the open shelter to explore. Including one of the two campsites the MOV group had also reserved. Members often reserve their own sites, as some did for this event. We decided to remain at the leanto, because Nate and Andrew would be arriving late tonight. The leanto would provide them the option of not setting up a tent. The truck in the first site turned out to be two MOV members as well. And the NY rider we met at the entrance came and chose our leanto as well. I returned to the office to give up one of our parking tags, and let them know our real location, and also to purchase a bundle of firewood to cook dinner on. I sent a text to Nate wtih our location, the gate code, and a map photo. But the fringe cell signal failed to send my outgoing photos, leaving me wondering what informatino he would receive.

After setting up our tent and sleeping gear, we checked in with the other sites to see who else planned to cook over their fire. Both other leantos had planned to have fires, but the truck had two bundles of wood and expected to cook dinner over their fire. Anne and I went down the swimming area to cool off before dinner. After which I carried over our firewood bundle and started a cooking fire in the neighbhors fire pit. Anne and I sat and talked with them as the fire burned down to coals. Then I fixed our rice dish and cooked the pork tenderloin in thirds slowly over the fire. They tossed on some large hot dogs and had eaten them before we could complete our meal. The fire was then was stoked up and more riders came to sit around it with us. Nate and Andrew arrived, after dark, setup their tents, and joined our tail telling ring around the fire. We learned that in prior years this event had enjoyed both an icecream truck and fireworks.

In the morning each group started with coffee. Lynn suggested an eatery in Canada for lunch, which nearly fit our plans. Except it didn't serve breakfast and opened at 1100. The four of us rode into Canada to a Tim Hortens for brunch. Which left us with a lot of time to kill before we would have room for another meal. We found ourselves in a built up area, Andrew had never been to a Canadian Tire store, so we enjoyed their AC for awhile. Then refueled and went for ride around Lake Selby. During our loop around Selby it rained enough to stop and don rain gear. At least those of us who brought rain gear with us (Anne & I). On the way back to the eatery we stopped at a vinyard "Val Caudalies Vignoble" to pick up some local wine. Apparently Andrew's high class rubbed off on us all, because we all left with wine bottles.

The suggested eatery destination "AUX2" in Frelighsburg was not easy to locate. It did however have good food and an outside deck over the river. Nate and Andrew had the Duck Putine. Nate added a second Duck dish to his meal. Anne had fish, and I a wrap, followed by deserts.

Entrance back into the US was easy, three of us each declaring 2 bottles of wine. The winery had informed us that 2 is the magic bottle number per person to avoid paying extra for them. Lake Carmi is only a few miles from the boarder. On our way to the campsite we completed our counter clockwise circle of Lake Carmi. Just outside the campground we waved to the icecream truck that had very likely just driven out of our campground. Soon after arriving all four of us had changed into swimsuits and cooled off at the beach. We chatted with other beach goers and enjoyed a live band across the lake, eventually combined with a slow sunset over the water. Back at camp we bounced around both fire pits until we heard fireworks. After confirming they could not been seen from the nearby boat launch we continued back to the beach for a full half hour of fireworks. Post fireworks and back to our fireside seats none of us lasted very long before heading off to our tents.

The morning started, as most do, with coffee. Followed by a repacking all of our gear, and loading it back onto the bikes. Once complete we headed to a brunch location, certainly further away than Anne would prefer. It turned out to be very good.. After which we headed loosely toward home with a long anticipated stop for ice-cream at Moose Scoops in Warren, NH. We also stopped to see the rocket across the street, then continued on toward home. Anne and I needed one more stop in the late day heat, after we split from Nate and Andrew near Tilton. I choose poorly which direction the gas station on Rt106 was, so we ended up stopping at the last place we could have. The White Buffalo Trading Post in Center Barnstead. A small general store with a pizza shop at the back. We enjoyed their AC and bathroom, but did order a small dinner while doing so. A half hour of riding later we rolled into the garage and unpacked.

Swimming, dining, riding, cooking and time with friends. Two states and a province. Three days of heat, but cooler than it was at home. Not 100% dry, but very close, and in heat close to dry is good enough. No bucket list ride, but certainly a weekend to add more good summer memories. And I didn't even mention Andrew's brand new DL800de, ending the weekend with over 600 miles on the odometer. Day nine of owning the 800de.