Blueberry Barrens

Saturday 8/9

The BMW Riders of Southern Maine (RSM) are a sister group of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of Vermont (MOV). In 2021, I joined the MOV because the food was amazing, the people were great, and the yearly dues were less than the cost of one campsite. In 2022, I went to every campout in order to get my then new bike ready for my first Newfoundland trip. In the following years, I have gotten to know many of the RSM members. And others from the Massachusetts based Yankees Beemers (YB). And have attended and enjoyed many of their campouts. These are all wonderful groups, and I am sure that I will join each as a member.

This group campout at Lamoine was perfectly timed for my Trans Lab return. The RSM group campout offered two free nights in the group camping area of Lamoine State Park. Nate rode up from NH to camp and ride with the group.

We joined up with eight other riders for a ride through Wyman's Blueberry Barrens to a members' lake house for a cookout. The roads in the Barrens are very sandy and soft in spots. These loose sand pockets hiding in the road gravel was a fear of mine on this trip. As some Trans Lab road reports described this, and resulting crashes. I did not find that on the Trans Lab, but I did in the Blueberry Barrens. Now riding with a group, those riding ahead of me left tracks that marked most loose road sand patches. Turning this fear into an opportunity to gain some experience riding through them. They are unnerving, but not instant death. Just a bike wobble with both wheels.

Eventually, we reached the lake house, our nice host, and the refreshing water. A few guys brought suits and took a dip. I had left my side cases and bathing suit back at camp. So I was one of those who just dangled my feet in the water off the dock. The long flight of stairs discouraged some from reaching the water entirely. I was happy to have the refreshing water available.

When I climbed the stairs, my reward was hamburgers, hot dogs, potato, and macaroni salads. After thanking our host, we mounted our bikes and headed back towards our oceanside campground. On the way back, we stopped for coffee and gelato at The Paisley Loon. The group fractured at this point, and we headed back on the suggested river road as a pair of riders.

The pavilion at Lamoine's group campsite A is extremely well equipped. One side has a large sink and lots of stainless steel counter space. A charcoal grill is positioned just off that side. The group had a bag of charcoal, and a number of meals were created. Nate and I had purchased beef and vegetables to skewer. My spices helped make the results tasty. It wasn't a quick meal to cook, so we finished up last.

While drinking around the fire, a raccoon in the pavilion triggered my post dinner cleanup. We placed a number of left out items into the large cast iron stoves warming box. Then we called it a night.