Virago motorcycle travel, Barrie to Albany and back, 2001.
Being without a motorcycle didn’t suit me. The warm weather wasn’t over yet, so I was looking for another one. I was lucky; one of the guys at work was selling his 1986 Virago 1100, Yamaha. This kind of the bike, having good reputation, was in good shape and price was right. And most important for me, it got drive shaft, no more chains for me. After I bought it I had to go somewhere. I took few days off from work, packed the bike and just took off. I figured I just keep on riding, where ever the road will take me. So I went north to Orillia, then south and east thru Peterborough, farther east, south again. Anyhow I end up crossing St. Lawrence River and Canadian-American border and decided to go to towards Lake Placid. It was late afternoon and I needed the place to stay overnight. Lot’s of places around, but I didn’t have much cash on me and some of them didn’t take Canadian issued credit cards or were full. It was dark by then and getting really cold in the Adirondack Mountains. Finally I found a motel in Cranberry Lake, last room they had. When I was parking the bike in the back, there were three guys sitting outside and to my surprise, talking in Czech. We introduced, they were on business trip and site seeing, and they offered me good Canadian whiskey to warm up. Next morning we said good bye to each other, after staying up, drinking beer and talking late into the night. They were heading to Lake Placid and later on, so were I. Riding thru I had stopped to see few sites including car show in Lake Placid and continued on to Troy, just outside of Albany, where my good friend Tom lives. Spending couple of days with him, remembering good old days when we were teenagers in
Czech Republic and later on, him ending up in USA and me in
Canada, I got back on my Virago and this time taking I-90, riding straight thru with some rain on the way, made it safely home to Barrie. I had put around 1600 kilometers on my Virago motorcycle in those few days, without any signs of trouble. Being very pleased with that, I still got it to this day and enjoy it every time I ride it.
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The three Czech guys I met in Cranberry Lake.
Leaving in the morning.
I still got to pack my Virago, before I leave.
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Placid Bay Inn On Lake Placid Picturesque Inn nestled on the shores of Lake Placid. Adirondack ambiance surrounds you in our comfortably appointed rooms, kitchenettes, suites & cottages. Enjoy our outdoor pool, canoes, picnic tables and Adirondack chairs for lounging by the Lake. Starting At: US $60/Night/Room
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Placid Bay Inn On Lake Placid
