New Hampshire’s summer tradition, filled with chrome, leather, tattoos and motorcycles, is in full swing in the Lakes Region.

Known as the Nation’s oldest motorcycle rally, bike week’s epicenter is at Weirs Beach in Laconia, but events draw crowds as far south as the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon and a free food stop on Route 9 between Keene and Antrim.

Once known for its rowdiness, motorcycle week has become big business for the state, attracting thousands of riders who come here and spend money. It even got a kickoff from Gov. Kelly Ayotte this year.

“Laconia Motorcycle Week is a New Hampshire tradition for motorcycle enthusiasts, and I’m proud to welcome riders from across the country and the world for this iconic event,” Ayotte said.

Now in its 103rd year, bike week began in 1916 and became official in 1917. For those doing the math, the tradition missed a few years on account of world events, like the Great Depression and World War II, according to its history page.

A motorcyclist rides along Route 3 in Laconia on June 16, 2026. Credit: ALEX MILLER / For the Monitor

While Thursday’s forecast holds rain, conditions have been good the rest of the week.

“The riders who visit us each year are respectful, generous and passionate about the open road,” said Cynthia Makris, owner of The NASWA Resort and president of the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association.

More information about this year’s Bike Week events can be found at https://laconiamcweek.com.

With fresh supplies, we set off again, marching in our canoe hat past warehouses, over overpasses, on tiny sidewalks. Cars gave us narrow berth. One guy remarked, “That’s a big boat!” A few truckers blew their horns. The wind picked up. When it caught the canoe broadside, the stern tended to swing out over the roadway. This wasn’t ideal. It was tough on the shoulders. Also, it risked collision with the semis rumbling by. I was glad we enlisted Brent, who is six feet two, and strong.

A sign announced that we’d crossed into Secaucus. Underneath, it said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” I felt that we were. As we walked past industrial parks and waste-management lots, a man called out, “I’ve got a canoe just like this!” His name was Gregory. He was a welder. He takes his craft on the Hackensack once a week, to go crabbing. “I cook them up, make some gravy,” he said. “Some nice fucking Italian shit.” (On account of the river’s elevated levels of cadmium, a carcinogenic heavy metal, and high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls from industrial waste, the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection strongly recommends against this.) But Gregory had recently grown tired of life on the sea. “I’m trying to sell it,” he said, of the canoe. “You want it?” As we chatted, I’d been holding our canoe above my head, bracing it against the wind. I told him that we were good on canoes for the moment.

We portaged on, over the New Jersey Turnpike, through downtown Secaucus, over a narrow pedestrian bridge above Route 3. We made it to the motel in less than two hours. The Hackensack appeared behind the parking lot, surprisingly broad and sparkly. Phragmites reeds lined the water, and the American Dream mall loomed over the far bank. It didn’t smell too bad. Except for the cars roaring overhead on a nearby bridge, a continuation of Route 3, it was pretty peaceful.

As the captain, I took the front. Brent steered in the back. Diego navigated, and provided ballast, in the middle. We were heading north, but Brent had us haul due west, so the vegetation on the far bank would provide a windbreak. We had the river to ourselves. One concern of mine was corpses. Bob Sullivan has found that bodies have been dumped in the Meadowlands since at least the Revolutionary War. People think Jimmy Hoffa is there. But we didn’t see any. Brent took us on a scenic detour of an inlet. We saw a beautiful white egret. There were ospreys, hawks, and a lot of tree swallows. The view was uncommonly broad, and the city skyline poked out of the eastern sky. I’d never experienced a more pleasant commute, though it wasn’t perfect. When we lifted our paddles from the water, the wind sent it spraying back at us. It was surprisingly warm. Some of it splashed in my mouth.

The trip took fifteen minutes, plus the detour. When we landed, Brent pulled out a camping stove and made coffee. The crew stayed with the canoe, and I finished the trek solo, navigating down a sparsely travelled access road. I knew these parts. I’m from New Jersey, and I grew up with season tickets to the Jets. Back then, similarly frustrated with the difficulties of the commute, my dad would park off the shoulder of the Route 3 off-ramp, in the mud next to a thicket of phragmites. The parking ticket was cheaper than a parking pass, and there were enough gaps in the cars whizzing by that we could scamper across. The authorities are stricter now. I strolled up Outwater Lane and turned north. I crossed the Turnpike for the second time. (Around the Meadowlands, the Turnpike turns confusingly fractal.) I turned onto something called Road D. It wasn’t so bad. Near the stadium, a worker on a cart zipped by, transporting what looked like propane tanks. His name was Mariano. He gave me a ride to the credentialling tent. From start to finish, the journey took less than three hours.

Nokia today announced a major expansion of its advanced test and packaging (ATP) operations in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The investment will increase domestic production capacity of the optical networking technologies that power scalable AI infrastructure connectivity across the United States. The expansion is expected to nearly double Nokia’s Pennsylvania workforce to more than 500 jobs in engineering, manufacturing, and R&D, while generating a projected economic impact of more than $500M over the next five years.

Today, less than two percent of global semiconductor ATP takes place in the U.S. Nokia’s Allentown facility is one of only a few in the U.S. providing ATP of photonic chips into optical modules for use in AI and telecom infrastructure. Through investment in new manufacturing equipment and an expanded manufacturing footprint, Nokia is increasing the site’s production capacity by up to 10 times its current level, with new capacity expected to be commercially available by the end of the third quarter.

Nokia’s optical technologies provide advanced connectivity solutions for telecom networks to enable AI infrastructure and can reduce energy usage by as much as 75 percent. Nokia’s investment results in the domestic manufacturing of components used in AI infrastructure, creates new jobs, and significantly reduces energy usage in AI communications.

“The AI supercycle is fundamentally reshaping network and infrastructure requirements in the U.S. and globally. Our expansion in Allentown is a direct investment in that future—scaling domestic manufacturing of the optical networking technologies that power AI infrastructure. It also reflects the strong partnership between Nokia, the United States, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to support advanced manufacturing, create jobs, and strengthen U.S. technology leadership and global competitiveness,” said Justin Hotard, President and CEO of Nokia.

“Nokia is doubling down on the Lehigh Valley and ensuring that the future of chip production continues to run through this region because we’ve made smart investments to make Pennsylvania more competitive and proven that our Commonwealth is a great place to do business,” said Governor Shapiro. “As demand for semiconductors continues to grow across industries, we’ll continue to position Pennsylvania as a leader in innovation, with a supportive, thriving business climate that helps companies compete on a global scale. From advanced manufacturing to the research and development of new technology like advanced chip packaging, Pennsylvania has all the resources to be a world leader in chip production.”

“This is great news for Pennsylvania. Nokia is doubling its local workforce to more than 500 good-paying jobs in engineering, manufacturing, and R&D, all while expanding our ability to domestically produce the critical technologies that power AI infrastructure. This matters for both our economy and our national security,” said Senator Dave McCormick. “These technologies also help cut energy use in AI communications, showing that we can lead on innovation while also smartly managing our resources at the same time.”

“Nokia’s investment in Pennsylvania is directly advancing America’s AI leadership,” said Bill Frauenhofer, Executive Director of Semiconductor Investment and Innovation at the Department of Commerce. “Supported by CHIPS and Science Act funding, Nokia is deepening its commitment to innovation and the production of photonic chips in the United States. This project enables critical optical technology and strengthens America’s semiconductor supply chain.”

“Nokia’s latest investment is further proof that the Lehigh Valley is becoming a world leader in advanced manufacturing,” said U.S. Congressman Ryan Mackenzie. “With the help of our unparalleled, highly-skilled workforce, Nokia’s local expansion will help our region continue to drive innovation and build the tools behind next-generation technologies. Congratulations to Nokia and the hundreds of local workers who will benefit from this investment.”

The investment includes approximately $30 million from Nokia, which includes bipartisan support of approximately $4 million in assistance from the state of Pennsylvania and approximately $10 million in federal CHIPS investment tax credit. This expansion is part of Nokia’s multi-year plan to invest $4 billion in R&D and manufacturing in the U.S. for AI-ready network connectivity. It is designed to bolster domestic supply chains for critical communications infrastructure, reinforce U.S. leadership in the technologies shaping the global AI economy and solidify Pennsylvania’s growing role as a hub for advanced manufacturing, telecommunications technology and AI infrastructure.