Onward to Joisey

I woke up early on Sunday morning, a brightness was piercing through the crack in the blinds. Nah, couldn't be.......was that sun. Yes, fuckin' A it was. Today was looking better already.

My enthusiasm was short lived however as the skies began to cloud over as I made my way through the Fairfield Inn's merger breakfast, it was included with the room price, so I shouldn't complain too loudly.

By the time I loaded up the bike and got ready to depart, the gray skies were back, and it looked again as if rain was threatening.

Today's ride was more of the same, backroads with short stints on the Interstate only when necessary. It was only a short ride too, just over 200km. Easy peasy after two long, wet days in the saddle.

I headed west along a rural road out of Great Barrington to connect to the Taconic State Parkway. It's a divided four lane highway with a 55mph speed limit. Traffic was pretty much light to nil at this time of the morning, and it was nice not to have be constantly checking the mirrors for approaching cars all the time. I'm guessing most Massholes.....I mean residents of Mass were either sleeping or getting ready for prayer service.

 It wasn't long before I crossed into the Empire State. So far the rain had held off but I could see showers on the horizon. In fact the rain began to fall shortly after I was headed southbound on the Parkway. Just enough to soak all my gear before abating again. It would be the last of the rain today thankfully.

My first stretch of Interstate was the I84 to cross the Hudson River depositing me in the City of Newburgh. I've been to Newburgh before, it has a bad reputation as being the eighth most dangerous city in the USA.

This part of Newburgh has seen better days

Exiting I84 I took the 9W, which makes it way through urban Newburgh, multiple stop lights and sketchy looking neighbourhoods. I wasn't too concerned at 9am on a Sunday. I reckon most of Newburgh's criminal elite were still in bed, or getting ready for church services as well.

I figured if anyone gave me a second glance I'd rev the engine of the mighty Guzzi and squint my eyes in a gunslinger kinda way, give them my best Eastwood stare for a second, pop the clutch and get the hell out of there.

Just outside of Newburgh the sun made an appearance. On the other side of the Hudson River.

After a few more nervous miles I was back in a comfortable more rural setting cruising along at 80kph. Before you get to West Point, there's a beautiful section of road that climbs up a big hill. Descending the backside is awesome, nice sweeping corners and an incredible view of the Hudson River Valley. It reminds me of sections of the Cabot Trail.

The 9W then turns into the 202, which runs through Bear Mountain State Park. Another beautiful section of road, which for the most part had very little traffic. The road is a little rough in places and it has a lot of cyclists. I mean a lot, they ride in packs and not necessarily in single file either. Some of them in the middle of the lane doing their best doped up on EPO Lance Armstrong impression.

These are from two years ago, on my last big trip on the Strom. Weather was much nicer.

Off the 202 Garmin took me on an interesting urban/residential road to get me over to the Palisades Interstate (more of a parkway than an Interstate). Wayne Road/Main Street, was a curvy, hilly route through some nice, eclectic neighbourhoods. It was slow 25-30mph, but fun. I guess it's popular with the bikers down here because I passed more motorcyclists on this stretch than I had the whole trip.

The Palisades Parkway took me to the I287 for quick jaunt to the New York State Thruway which changes to the Garden State Thruway when,...... ya you guessed it, it crosses into Joisey.

It's getting close to 10am and traffic volume has noticeably picked up, and my caffeine level has noticeably plummeted.

I pulled into a highway rest stop and had a Starbucks and something eat. I only had another 35km to go, but it would be the most intense of the trip with all the traffic.

The one thing I really enjoy about the Guzzi, is most people have no idea what it is, and those that do, either ride one, or have ridden them, and they are quite passionate about the brand.

I had just dismounted the bike when an older gentleman who reminded me of this guy,

came up to admire the bike. He told me he owned a few Guzzi's in the past. He raced for Yamaha for awhile, but said he always loved the Italian and German bikes. Something sexy about them he said. I'd have to agree. I'll touch on that a little later.

Once I was refuelled I continued on the Garden State, before a very brief run on I80, which required a $1.50 toll. Oh, and for some reason I wasn't expecting that toll, it took me by surprise. Of course earlier I took my toll money out of my tank bag and put in my pants pocket, which is zipped.

Fuckin' toll booths, sometimes I feel like I'm a turtle stuck on it's back at these damn things. Timing it so that I can roll up in neutral so I can have two hands free to awkwardly unzip the side pocket of pants, fish out a couple of american bills that are all the same colour, not really knowing how much you have in the balled up mess of money in your hand, as you pass it to the bored, and equally unimpressed toll collector. All the while doing this with thick winter riding gloves because the temp has been above 10C. Then you have the impatient asshole cager behind you honking on the horn.........FUCK OFF!

With my toll paid to the great state of New Jersey I sped off to again exit the interstate a few hundred meters away. JC.

I'm now on the 17 which takes me directly to my hotel. It's a very busy six lane divided road/highway, where everyone is changing lanes, speeding, texting, talking, applying makeup, etc, in a vain attempt to be the first one to win the race to the next red light. I hate it. Always alert to the Suburban deciding he wants the space I am currently occupying, or the woman in the Impala coming up behind me at a high rate of speed while I'm stopped at light. It requires constant attention and I'm always trying to find a semi-safe escape route.

It is short lived and I am glad to be pulling into the parking lot of the hotel. I can rest, and Guzzi gets a break for the next week, before we take the long trip home again.

In the past I have written numerous posts about other motorcycles, what's the best, what's the perfect bike.....is there one? Someone commented that the perfect bike is the one in the garage right now.

He's right. The more I ride the Guzzi, the more I love it. For a physically small motorcycle it is very comfortable. With nothing more than a windshield and an Airhawk seat cushion I can ride in comfort all day. I don't like the Interstates, but the V7 will cruise happily at 120kph. It won't be as comfortable as a say a BMW 1200RT, but it will do it. I like the backroads, and that is where the little bike shines in my opinion.

The V7 ticks all the boxes for me. Small, maneuverable, easy to ride, highway capable,  lots of character, easy to work on, different and affordable. Oh and it sounds awesome.

So there.

I'm here in Joisey until Saturday morning. My last simulator session is from 4-8pm on Friday. Awesome time to leave the NYC area. Not. Plan is to leave oh dark and early Saturday morning, for a leisurely two day ride home through the mountains again.

 That was the plan..........until that bitch Mudder Nature ruined it all.

Just guess which direction that's headed? Unless the forecast changes it's gonna be a 0430am departure, balls to walls for home to get ahead and stay ahead of the rain. With any luck I should run out of the rain by New Haven, CT, and be dry from there all the way home. 

I was really hoping not to have to another metric Ironbutt. Fack!

That Time of the Year Again and More

Every year Transport Canada requires me to complete recurrent training in each of the aircraft that I currently fly. For the last three years the training for the Falcon 2000LX takes place in lovely Teterboro, New Jersey, across the river from the madness known as The Big Apple. I do think a lot of that madness makes it's way across the Hudson, because it isn't too calm or tranquil here either.

I've been flying since 1988, and the training thing is starting to get old. I know it's required, but for me it's like a mandatory trip to the dentist. I know it's good for me, but I don't like it. It's a week of my life I'm not getting back. Basically it consists of 2 full days of ground school, where we review aircraft systems, operations, changes that have occurred in the last year, yada, yada, yada. Then it's 3 days of flight simulator. That's not too bad. We go over emergency procedures you couldn't do in the real airplane. Fires, engine failures, multiple system failures, etc, etc.

The Box, or the simulator

To make matters worst the company expects us to travel to training on our weekends off, and we only get two of them a month. So basically for this month..........none.

To make this little foray into training a little easier to take I ride my bike to Joisey. I take two or three days to get there, and two to come home. If it's my weekend off, I'm at least gonna enjoy it.

I've done this trip once on my old Vstrom, and now, this is the second year on the Guzzi.

I love the Guzzi, but really miss the ol' Strom. Never should have sold it.

Mount Washington

Each year I try and find a slightly different route to get here, avoiding the Interstates as much as possible and sticking to the secondary roads in an effort to find the best motorcycle roads out there.

This year was the best one so far.........as far as roads go. It was the worst for weather, unless you enjoy being wet........and I'm not going there.

Bike is loaded and ready to go.........the dog is not too impressed that I am leaving again.

The forecast was looking rather ominous for Saturday in our neck of the woods, so I decided to try and beat most of the rain by leaving a day early, and making my way as far as Lewiston, Maine. I figured if I left at noon, I'd probably only end up riding in the rain for about an hour, then I'd sleep through the worst of it.

The ride to the border was pretty good, it's divided highway, and boring, but it gets you out of the country fast. The weather was overcast with a balmy temp of 10C. I had the heated jacket on taking away the chill. Within an hour I was exchanging pleasantries with the nice CBP officer at the border and after a few "yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir" I was on my way. 

Route 9 to Bangor is not a bad road, speed limit is 55mph, or as Scotty Goggles says "a double nickel" (Harley thing). It also happens to be the best cruising speed for the Guzzi, it's happy place. It'll do 70 all day long, but for me and the Guzzi, 55 is where it's at.

The 9 snakes it's way westward, a lot of hills, and sweepers, and not much traffic. The pavement has seen better days and big cracks, potholes and frost heaves abound, keeping me alert.

From Bangor, I jumped on the I95 and pushed towards Lewiston, I was in a rush to head off the rain, so that was the quickest route. The further west I rode the darker the skies turned, and the cloud ceiling dropped lower towards the ground. Just as I had planned it, the first drops of rain hit my shield about 60km from Augusta. Before long the road was rain soaked and so was I.

My Olympia gear that I used on our Labrador trip is still working well, it kept me completely dry, with my heated jacket keeping me comfortable as the mercury continued to fall to a pleasant 8C.

Before long I was pulling into the Residence Inn, having another 466km under my belt. Supper tonight was the last frozen pizza from the cooler, and two Goose Island IPA's to wash it down.

I went to sleep hopeful tomorrow would be a little better weather wise, because my route through the White Mountains would be very scenic.

I woke up in a very dark room, no slivers of sunshine cutting through the bedroom. Peering through the blinds I was greeted with RDF. Any Newfoundlanders will know what that is, or ask Carl Wells the former CBC weather man from Da Rock. RDF (rain, drizzle, fog)

The day was shaping up to be a very wet one. Forecast was for showers, but improving closer to my next destination. 

After a less than stellar Residence Inn breakfast I loaded up the Guzzi, plugged in my jacket for added warmth and headed off into the fog. For added measure I wore my heated glove liners. It wasn't the warmest of mornings at 8C. 

Maine is very international.

Nothing against Maine, but I find the riding drastically improves as soon as you cross into the "Live Free or Die" State. The roads get nicer and views (if you could see them through the fog) get better.

I love the water, love living near it, playing in it, but riding motorcycles is so much better in the mountains, and New Hampshire does not disappoint. 

The only disappointing thing was old man weather. The drizzle and fog was now a steady rain. 

This year I took a southern route through White Mountain National Park, cutting west below Mount Washington. I had no idea what the route would entail, but I saw a very cool road on my Garmin Basecamp mapping software and took a chance. 

The chance paid off, the roads ran next to fast flowing rivers in the valleys, before I turned onto Kancamagus Highway which snaked it's way further skyward into the cloud and fog. 

Now, the roads up until now had been pretty quiet, not a lot of Mainers or Live Free or Diers on the move. Once in the National Park it became void of cars. I passed one other silly fucker on a bike. No he wasn't on a Harley either. I'm guessing the weather has them all to scared to leave the garage. Nope it was a guy, or girl, could really tell, on a Ducati Multistrada. All the Italians out in the rain. Bellissimo.

The Kancamangus Highway tops out close to 3000ft. I'm guessing the views from the summit must be pretty nice. I was full on IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) at this point.

Not sure, but there maybe something scenic worthy viewing over there.

A balmy 9C!

Descending the backside of the mountain through the hairpin turns the fog started to lift, and the temp began to rise. Soon it was a blistering 15C, and I was dialling back the heat on my jacket. Shit, could it be turning into a nice day?

Best view of the day in the White Mountains.

I slowly made my way out of New Hampshire and into the Green Mountain State, otherwise known as Vermont. The short lived respite in the rain was over and it was back to a steady pour. I rode a mix of backroad with short stints on the Interstate. The further into Vermont I rode the better the weather turned.

I was getting hungry and desperately needed a coffee, however exits off the highway continued to pass by, the rain was relentless and as funny as this sounds I didn't want the bike sitting in the rain. At speed the GPS and tank bag are shelter from the wet. Sitting still they get soaked.

On the horizon I see spots of blue sky, and before long the makers of May flowers have stopped their deluge. I pull off the highway and find a gas station/deli/garden centre. No shit.

Need some groceries, a chicken salad wrap, begonia, gas.......

The weather improved dramatically at this point, the sun came out and the temp soared to 21C. Heated jacket was switched off, lightweight gloves went on, and I asked Garmin to reroute me on a slightly friendlier route than the Interstate it currently had me on.

A little bit about GPS's. They only tell you to go where you program them to take you too. Faster route is not always the shortest distance, and shortest distance may take you long time. Oh and don't rule out ending up on gravel roads that may not have qualified as a road since Roosevelt was President. It maybe your programming error, or a dreaded database error.

So off I go the Garmin leading the blind, which had me second guessing the routing in question. I had gravel roads selected as an avoidance, but here I was heading onto the dirt, with the Interstate a mere 100m to my left.

Fuck it,  you only live once, as my daughter says. Plus, I'm still an ADV rider at heart. Actually the road was pretty good gravel, probably smoother than most paved NB roads. A little greasy at best. When in doubt gas it, right.

Beats the Interstate any day of the week.....month.....year.

The dirt didn't last long and I was spit out on the pavement, which turned into a lovely backroad romp at 80kph.

Oh and I was sent on another Garmin shortcut. It sent me up a nice little gravel road again, which Guzzi and I had no problem riding on......until the gates at the end. Oops. Database error me thinks.

Wish our paved roads at home were as nice as this gravel one.

The Guzzi doesn't mind getting dirty

I crossed into western Mass, which looked oddly like the rest of Vermont. Beautiful state, and the incredible riding continued. 

What was a long day in the saddle was brought to a close as I pulled into the parking lot of the Fairfield Inn in Great Barrington, Mass under sunny, warm skies. Great Barrington is a quaint little town, just south of Pittsfield, Mass. Too bad I was too knackered to explore it more. 

Tonight it was Subway and listen to the Ottawa Senators win in overtime on the internet. Video was not available in the USA. Thank you Rogers. 

More to follow in a later post because I'm too tired to write anymore. Oh and one more thing......The Mad Bastard is off for me. It sucks I know, too many logistical things and time off to get it done this year, I am disappointed. In honour for Rally Master Harris I did this,

Not a bad day of riding.

Mad Bastard 2017

Spring has sprung, well at least on the calendar anyway, and in southern locales it must be warm. In the Maritimes it's kinda like winter lite. The temperature hasn't gone up a whole lot, but the days are longer, and the sun is warmer. The snow is starting to melt away, and thoughts of all things two wheeled are flooding back into my brain.

Too be honest I was a little on the fence on whether or not I'd make the trek to London, Ontario for the 2017 edition of the Mad Bastard Scooter Rally (MBSR). I was going to be pretty busy with some paddle boarding events I was organizing this year. I then realized that this years rally was a tribute to Rob Harris, the maddest bastard of all, and creator of this mad capped event. Plus I had a scooter, two in fact, and a pickup truck to get said scooter to London. I also had the required vacation time to pull this off.

So I ran this by the missus, and got the thumbs up from her, and decided to commit.........or be committed. I was entering in the 50cc and under "straightjacket" class after all.

Monday April 3rd is the official first day of registration for MBSR 2017. Personally I think April 1st would have been more fitting.

For those of you unfamiliar with the MBSR, this years edition takes place in London, Ontario, June 23-25. The rally is over 600km, and comprised different categories for different engine size. Like I said I'm in the straitjacket class, which is the craziest of the crazy at 50cc. Go completely looney or stay home.

Straitjacket Class (24 hours) - All scooters and mopeds up to 50cc in capacity
Heavily Medicated (20 hours) - All scooters greater than 50cc but no greater than 110cc
Therapy Required (18 hours) - Scooters greater than 110cc but no greater than 200cc
Day Release (16 hours) - Scooters greater than 200cc

This is not a race, you win by accumulating the most points by overall time, pictures of various places along the route, costume worn, waitresses kissed, exposing yourself to nature, etc. Ya it's a little nuts, but that's the fun.

So my biggest decision so far is what to wear for this event. I may harken back to my youth, when I tore around town on my Elite 125 as a skate punk. I have the Vans hightops already. A trip to Value Village or military surplus store to get the some other things. A skateboard strapped to the side of the Ruckus, a helmet mohawk, order up a Dead Kennedy's or Sex Pistols t-shirt, and I'm ready to roll.

I know what most of you are thinking...........mods, mods, what mods are gonna make, oh and farkles too. No engine mods for sure. Keep it simple and hang on to that Honda reliability.

I'm not 16 anymore, even if I still dress like I do, so the big mods are comfort only. Cramp buster for the throttle hand, foot pegs so I can change up foot position. USB port for the GPS, extra gas can, and some better road oriented tires. Maybe even with whitewalls. (to eck out all the speed I can, and to smoothen out the ride). I think a windscreen will be order too, and of course the Airhawk seat cushion will along for the ride to keep my arse from going too numb.

So stay tuned as things begin to unfold. As always, I'll be dragging the video camera along to record the events, and hopefully make it into a short Bigland film.