On the edge of wilderness

It stayed overcast and cool today. We had some of the best riding weather starting out in Norway, Maine taking 117 east to Turner. There were some lovely little towns on the way. Many of the homes were painted white in this area with dark roofs. Camouflage when it snows perhaps?

Preparation for winter was almost complete. There were stockpiles of timber either made up as a fence or neatly stored in sheds. Excess is left out for sale.

                                    

Feed for the animals was stored in huge plastic bags or in barns.

From Turner we rurned north on 4 and 133, a pleasant but slow shortcut to Farmington where we stopped for brunch. We continued to Phillips and Dixfield. Then, suddenly, we rode into Mexico (!). The GPS had not led us astray: it was the town of Mexico, Maine.

The road north from Mexico took us via Coos Canyon, a scenic recreation area where young people were enjoying the river.

After Coos Canyon we found ourselves heading into wilderness. There were several overlooks along the way that afforded wonderful view that went for miles and miles with no signs of civlization. This is Lake Mooselickmeguntic;

and this is Rangely Lake:

There was very little traffic on the road and nothing but tress and lakes for miles and miles, until we reached the tiny town of Oquossoc - so tiny our GPS does not recognise it. We had planned to stay here the night, but there was no motel. Our GPS showed several motels 6 miles away in  Rangely, so we refuelled the bike and heaed off. We were lucky to stop at theTown Lake Motel. Our room had a back door which opened up to a grassy clearing directly on the lake. After finding the laundromat (Scrub House) and a supermarket we had a superb end to our day as we watched the people, the ducks, the seaplanes and ate our dinner in the bright sunshine.