Operation Cornflake

Operation Cornflake.

Mission Overview:

Due to recent reconnaissance in the kitchen cabinet and information provided by our Project Icarus informants it was known that the home base was absent of Corn Flakes. A mission was required using a light 2 wheeled land vehicle to infiltrate the city of Belfast Maine, and provide access to the grocery store. A secondary mission was agreed upon to recon the Penobscot Narrows bridge for future missions.

Weather: Partly Sunny, 33F, Wind: SW 10-15kts

Mission Time: 1000-1500

Total Miles: 125mi

Specialized Equipment:

BMW R1100GS

Joe Rocket Ballistic riding suit

Nolan N100e helmet

Olympia Leather gloves with Smartwool glove liners

Turtle Fur neck fleece

Izod fleece, Techwick fleece and silk under-liner

Sidi Boots with Smartwool socks

Icon Mil-Spec yellow Vest

Mission synopsis:

Leaving at 1000 the bike started great after have sat for a couple weeks due to ice on the roads. I headed east towards the coast from the interior. It was a very cold morning and I was thankful for my many windproof layers. If you can’t have heated gear, the next best thing is wind resistance. If you can’t have wind resistance, the next best thing after that is a hot cup of rum and hot chocolate, reading a motorcycle magazine in front of a fire, bike in the garage.

I fueled up at the Maritime farms gas station at Belmont Corner in Belmont on Rt 3. There is something about people when they see a bike in the winter, they pause like they want to say something, then shake their heads and continue walking. Perhaps it’s the bug splat green safety vest, Perhaps it’s because I’m the only bike they’ve seen in months, It could even be that it’s 33f out and they think I’m nuts. Who knows? It is good material for thinking on the road.

Shortly after departing I reach the crest of the Passagassawakeag river valley that enters out into Belfast bay. I stop to take a couple photos, and find it amusing that even people in their cars are viewing me with curiosity, slamming on their brakes when they crest a hill and see me, does a green vest REALLY have this sort of effect on people, I don’t understand, but do enjoy it.

I eventually reach Belfast and decide to complete phase 2 first and go and recon the big bridge. On the way out to the target I pass through the small town of Searsport. Hamilton Marine is located there and has a great selection of electrical and various other interesting doo-dads for the mechanically inclined biker.

Sears Island, is also located in Searsport. Although I don’t know the entire history of the island, I do know the government bought it in the past from all the residents, and built a giant causeway to it, paving a road clear over it. In recent years the state and special interest groups have been arguing about what will happen to it. The arguing has even come to blows recently when the overzealous local, state and county police ran a dragnet on a few Sierra Club members who were camping there for a couple of days.

On the Causeway to Sears Island

As I leave Searsport, it’s only a matter on minutes before I approach the new bridge. As I approach, I realize that a great photo opportunity was actually a half a mile back. Road is clear, and I start a powered u turn……AAAAAAAHHHHH I forgot to downshift, the bike stalls at an angle, somehow I’m able to kick it down to 1^st and restart it before this 500lb bike goes over in the middle of Rt 1. I get back down the road, snap the photo of the bridge and fell like an idiot…..how did I manage that one?….the shame. At least Phase 1 is complete

It’s getting to be noontime so I decide to check out a local diner on Verona Island, and I just had to cross this bridge the first time on my bike….it was just a given. Well, crossing the bridge was a bit of a challenge. The wind was unbelievable, I was actually nervous I was going to go through the railing and plunge the several hundred feet into the Penobscot river and test the R1100s submarine ability. I fortunately managed to make it to the other side and focused on the task at hand…..food.

I ended up stopping at a little diner called Seabreeze Pizza and Sub shop with breakfast all day in Verona. I go in, sit down, look at the menu, and realize; THEY HAVE GRITS!! I love grits, so I managed to order a big bowl of grits, eggs, toast, bacon, coffee, and juice. It was delicious and I was stuffed. The service was average but they had grits and I’m happy!!!.

I finish eating, hop on the bike and head to complete phase 2 of operation cornflake, kidnapping el box’o’cornflake. I get back on Rt 1 south, re-cross the windy big bridge, almost get blown off again and start heading back to Belfast. All was well until just northeast of Searsport. An 18 wheeler blasted by in the other lane. I was expecting the wind, but not the GIANT ROCK. SMACK!!!!! Right in the face…shield. I love that shield. Fortunatly, I was wearing full gear and a good helmet because this rock must have been at least 2 inches across. In the end, it just scared the hell out of me and gouged my shield. $30 is cheaper than an eye, face surgery or broken teeth.

Once I rolled into Belfast I located my target, infiltrated the grocery store and captured the mark. Once I had the mark in my possession I high tailed it home. 20min later I got home, mission complete.

Official Map…Link

Official Photos…Link

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