As I do here occasionally, I am reviewing a product, area or service associated with motorcycle touring. In the process of traveling around New Hampshire and reading and thinking about the Revolutionary War in Indian Country, I had the opportunity to stay in the beautiful Sunapee Harbor area. This really is an area of outstanding beauty and history.

Sunapee Harbor is near the town of Sunapee, New Hampshire on the southern shore of Lake Sunapee. The area saw Loyalists, Patriots and Indians operate here in the Revolutionary War. The favoured son seems to be John Stark of Bennington fame, but many road-side historical markers mention the Loyalist Robert Rogers and his Rangers. The Indians had a particularly hard time in having to choose between Rebels and Redcoats when all most of the Indians wanted was to be left alone. There were Indians at Dartmouth College (30 miles from Sunapee) who had Patriot leanings, but also many of the Seven Nations' tribes (lower Canada) who sided with the British..... and many caught in between. Anyway, the Revolutionary War history of the area is fascinating.

The motorcycle touring is also superb in the summer months. Great backroads for twisties and forest trails for the more aggressive dualies are mixed with a good interstate system that allows you to cover big distance quickly when you need too. My favourite roads were around Kearsarge mountain. Additionally, the long run from Littleton to Hanover along highway 10 is excellent. Norwegian red barns along lush green rolling hills of western New Hampshire are an intoxicating mix for lazy riding and thinking. For you riders that like the big bike festivals, it doesn't get much bigger than nearby Laconia.

Finally, there seems to be many great many B&Bs, hotels and Guest houses in the area. Unfortunately, I got myself and friends locked into a week at one of the worst of them... for familes anyway. The Sunapee Harbor Cottages promote themselves as a family friendly establishment, but as best as I can tell that is only if your children like to sit quietly on the front porch and not make any noise. We had several run-ins with the Manager when our kids had committed the travesties of letting a screen door slam, allowing their ball to roll into the flowers and exploring the woods behind the cottages. The Manager had the really annoying habit of hanging her head out of her door and yelling at our kids (and insulting us) from 20 yards away. As the Manager felt our kids were completely out of control, because they lit a sparkler (2 July) and assembled a kite on the lawn, she decided to call the Sunapee Police over to witness her as she advised one of the couples in our group of all of our infractions. Finally, a small point for many, but a big one for some of us. Although promising wi-fi broadband, I was able to access Sunapee Harbor Cottages exactly 1 time in a week long stay. The Manager promised to get it fixed at first, but by the end, she took great glee in telling us she would get it working after we left just to spite us.

We really did have a great time in Sunapee Harbor, except for the lodging, so don't let that put you off. If you are a middle aged couple with no kids ( but don't mind lots of rules and a 15 minute haranguing session at the beginning of your stay ), then Sunapee Harbor Cottages might be for you ( the owner did not post my rather downbeat assessment of her establishment in her list of glowing reviews ). However, if you are a family with kids who like to do kid things, go to Sunapee Harbor Cottages at the peril of having the Police called for the crime of letting some burger grease drip from the grill onto the deck.

Get on the bike and enjoy rural New Hampshire in the summer. 4 Stars (the only thing that keeps the trip from getting the coveted Battlefield Biker 5 Stars is the wretched Sunapee Harbor Cottages)

UPDATE - Looks like I'm not the only one who feels this way about Sunapee Harbor Cottages. A further look finds another ...... and another ..... and another. Wow, here's a site that has multiple bad reviews. This list of bad experiences is pretty hard to ignore. By all means, go to Sunapee Harbor, but avoid the Sunapee Harbor Cottages.