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So, my trip to HMR on Saturday came with one hell of a side show. Let me just preface with nothing got damaged/hurt. It's a long read...
CLIFFS: Certain people really don't like to be passed.
I left my place at 630 Sat morning to head for the Kanc, Bear Notch, then over to Hurricane Mtn, Evan's Notch, back through Hurricane Mtn again and back down the Maine border through Alton and home. I had to be home by about 2, so it would have been just enough time to make it.
Got up to Lincoln and started heading up the Kanc. Had a Ford Explorer pass me with "Atitash" plates and he was moving at a pretty good clip. Decided to use him as a rabbit and had a blast through there. Of course he turned up Bear Notch (heading to Attitash) and again I followed his lead. That was a fun road, the long left hand sweeper was great. Quick pee break at the corner of 16/302, and I was headed for Hurricane Mtn.
I turn onto the road and the stretch right before the gate is straight with just a slight rolling hill to it. Two cars are in front of me. A minivan and an older Pathfinder. The minivan turns off, and we are almost stopped. I decide this is the time to pass the Pathfinder before we get into the twisty stuff before I get stuck behind him. Ok, no problem.
Get a few turns past the gate and peek in my mirror. The guy is ON MY ASS. Ok, I guess this must have been a local and I didn't realize how quick he was going to move through there. I find the best spot to slow down and wave him by. Not what he wanted I guess. He slowed down, starts yelling out his passenger window at me that I'm a reckless idiot, yada, yada, yada. Ok, are you going or not? He's just sitting there yelling, so I decide he obviously doesn't want to go ahead, so he can stay behind me. At the top there were two cars and a pickup that all pulled over. I slow down and this guy comes flying up along side to yell some more. Down the hill I go, with this guy glued to my ass. I get to the T at the bottom, planning to go left to head to Evan's Notch. I stop at the corner, and that's when the fun starts.
The guy pulls up along my side yelling again. We exchange a few choice words as I try to explain that if he was in a hurry, I pulled over to let him by. He tells me I'm reckless, etc and I'm going to hurt someone (while he was chasing me through there in an SUV, but ok). I said something to piss him off, so he gets out and takes a swing (still got my helmet on). Ok, holy shit this guy is off his rocker. I drop into gear and take off figuring out what to do, as I wouldn't put it past him to run me over. Pull into the first driveway on the left of an old run down house hoping someone is home.
The guy basically parks his car in the middle of the road and we keep yelling at each other some more. Eventually two cars and a jogger show up. I'm thinking, ok, at least people are here now. Again I said something to push him over the edge I guess and he swings again. Mind you, I'm wearing my 1pc and still have boots, helmet, gloves, everything on. I'm by no means a fighter but I'm pretty sure I got in one good swing, then it's a wrastle. We eventually get stuck and agree we're done after a few flips. He heads back to his car eventually. Nothing was damaged or injured, so it was kind of a ok, time to move on thing. Meanwhile the jogger lady is yelling at me like I've done something wrong as well... ok. She heads on here way, both cars that had stopped drive one their way... ok, nice of them to ask if everyone's ok.
By now the old guy who lives in the house showed up. I take off my helmet and talk with him a while, a few people he knows from down the road show up not knowing what just happened. We start talking, and the guy in the car leaves. Ok, just let him go home or whatever. I talk with the old guy and friends for a while debating whether to file a report or not. After a while, a pickup shows up, and it was the one on top of the hill we had passed. They were all great people and we just chatted for some more about the crazy shit that just happened. Well that town doesn't have police (they do have a constable though, haha) or anything and after a while I decide to just let things be. No harm, no foul I guess. I'll just go on my own way home.
At that point, I'd wasted enough time I decided to not do Evan's took the back way down through Maine and headed home from there taken back by what had just transpired.
It was really a non-eventful way it ended at the end of the day, but holy crap you really never know what people are going to do. Mind you, this all started because I passed someone. I didn't run him off the road, no finger, nothing, just a nice, clean on my way have a nice day pass. Looking back, I should have pulled over at the top where the other cars were, but it was a split second decision, too late.
I still can't figure out why this guy thought it was a great idea to try fighting someone wearing full leathers, armor, and helmet.
What a day. Woke up Sunday morning feeling like a Mack truck ran me over, but just sore. Can't figure out if it was the tustling or just the long day on the bike. Now I'm just chuckling about more and more. I'm just glad I decided to throw my suit on as I was debating whether to just wear jeans or not that morning.