Four Fois at Laconia Bike Week 2016

So it actually happened: I went there. I mean: up to June 12th, 2016, I have been riding for very close to 40 years and, really, I never assisted to a bikers’ meeting this kind, anywhere.

My brother @rafois, with his two sons, @laosfois and @amaru79mf, invited me to join them, for a nice trip to Laconia Bike Week. We programmed the ride months in advance. I mean: I live in Venezuela, a five hours direct flight is required, just to get to New York. The bike I have in NJ, was sent for some serious service, as she gets little use. Flight booked, proper gear set, and here we go.

Saturday, June 11th, 7:00 am, I saddle up my BMW (from my sister’s house in North Brunswick), heading to Roberto’s home, some 35 miles, in Branchburg. His son Micael was already there. Final check to the bikes (Roberto’s Aprilia Caponord 1200, Micael’s Ducati Monster 796 and my BMW R-1150-R) and we were ready to go. A quick stop at the gas station, zeroing the mileage counter, and: out for the ride.

Laos joined us, some 50+ miles up north. After that: only technical stop and all the way up to Lee. Massachusetts. Roughly 208 miles. Secondary roads, beautiful sceneries, unfortunately almost all day with a light, persistent rain.

I was a little uncomfortable: just three weeks before I had a bad fall on wet road, down in Venezuela. I would have preferred to ride on dry surface. Nevertheless we made it, uneventful. Checked at a cheap hotel and went out for dinner. Amazing: in such a little town, we found a very decent Italian Restaurant. Back to the hotel, a long philosophical conversation and then we hit the sac for a well-deserved rest.

Sunday we started early, breakfast at the Starving Artist on Main Street, and back to the twisty roads. No rain, to my relief, but very strong winds. We got to Laconia by early evening, another 200 miles. Too late to visit the attractions at the Speedway, we got in town to check at the hotel, had dinner and then went out to walk around. Hundreds of bikes, mostly Harley Davidson and similar, but also European and Japanese bikes. Music, beer, shows. More philosophical conversation (I enjoy those conversations with my brother and the boys, almost as much as riding with them, even if we agree almost... never) and then some sleep.

Micael needed to go back on Monday, so I decided to join him. Roberto and Laos decided to stay another day. After breakfast, we walk around town to enjoy the ambience, buy some t-shirts, take pictures.

Around noon time Micael and I, started the run back home. This time the weather was nice, no rain and less wind (a few gusts, but not as hard as the day before). For time reasons, we decided to use a more direct route, using Highways. This day I totaled 382 miles up to my sister’s home. The whole trip, from @rafois home 790 miles, in three days, not bad.

Check at @laosfois post, for the route.