Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Day 5 - June 10

Day 5 – Friday, June 10

I had a very enjoyable, yet short visit with by Brother and Sister-in-law in Kent.  Robert and I had an enjoyable breakfast together at the Villager Restaurant [http://www.villagerkent.com/] on the main street of Kent, before departing I helped him out with a few computer issues he was having.

I got going at 11:15, which was a bit latter than expected, but kept to my original plan of crossing the Hudson River on the Rip Van Winkle Bridge and cutting cross country up to I-90 around Canajoharie, NY.  As I left Kent and headed North on US-7 the road that I had taken yesterday down from Cannan, CT on US-7 was CLOSED, I would expect that the storm from late yesterday afternoon had downed a few trees, remember that I changed into my rain gear in a massive forest on the same highway.

The route that I planned took me Northwest towards the Hudson River via Cornwall Bridge, CT, Millerton, NY,  Catskill, NY,  and stopping for lunch in Middleburg, NY.  Middleburg was a very attractive town with a town clock and some good restaurants, even saw a few motorcycles in town,  perhaps they were doing a day trip South from Americade.

Middleburg, NY
After lunch and refueling it was time to get going, as I have about 500km from Middleburg to Niagara-on-the-Lake, so no more delays.  Canajoharie, NY was the home to Beech Nut, and still have a massive plant along the Mohawk River.  The plant still bears the trademark sign of “beech nut”, but it looks like only 25% of the facility is actually in use.  Crossing the bridge to the North side of the Mohawk is NY-5 which follows the Erie Canal all the way West to Lockport, if I had the time I would like to do that ride, but after about 16km on NY-5 I take the on ramp to I-90 West at Little Falls, I will be on the New York State Thruway for the rest of the afternoon and into the early evening, remember I still have about 400km of travel before I am home.

From Syracuse to Rochester, the temperature begins to fall and I first change gloves and later put on my outer jacket liner, it is getting cool.  Just after Rochester the skies darken, and there is the felling of rain (again), but other than some very light sprinkles, there is no need to change into rain gear.  I reach the Buffalo Toll barrier just after 7:20pm, so about another hour and I will be home, and it is still daylight, in fact the dark clouds are parting and there is a brief glimpse of the sunset.

At 9pm I arrive home after a fabulous but short 3 day visit to Americade in Lake George and a even briefer visit with my Brother, I am glad to be back, motorcycle performed well even in the 95F heat of Wednesday.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Day 4 - June 9

Day 4 – Thursday, June 9

For most of this week I have watched a line from at 7am, for demo rides of the Can-am Spyder. So this morning I decided to join the line myself and test ride a three wheel motorcycle, you note that I did not call it a “trike”, as the two wheels are in the front not the rear. I was 8 in line, so I made the cut for the first ride at 9am, now once you are registered for a ride you can leave and do other things, so you don't have to hang around for hours.

At 8:45 I returned for the demo ride, but before one rides you have to watch the video on all the safety functions of the Spyder, and it has 5 different computer controlled systems, so it would be next to impossible to flip this thing. You then must take the Spyder through a series of marked lanes to satisfy the Can-am folks that you can operate a motorcycle, now in some states you can operate this motorcycle first and then get your motorcycle endorsement second.

So I made it through the cones and “passed”, so next is a real test of taking the Spyder out on the highway, for about a 5 mile trip on some twisty roads, that is were the fun begins, so I am told, most of the time I was holding on for dear life. You can't lean into turns and I had the felling that the front wheels were going to lift off the road, but one of the computer systems would have prevented this from happening, as well it is a semi automatic, in that you shift up by pushing a button and the Spyder down shifts for you. Has good power and can go fast but it has high RPM, and I am told that the distance on a tank of gas is not very good.

I return, bike in one piece and me too, would I purchase one, I am not sure, I think it would take a long time to get use to the steering, I am told by others that this takes 4 to 5 hours, I would say maybe that is 4 to 5 weeks. Nice machine, glad I had the opportunity to test one out, something that I have always wanted too do.

At 10:30 my motorcycle is packed and it is time to head off to visit my Brother in Kent, CT, which is about a 3 hour ride.

Enroute to Kent, I stop for lunch at a very nice deli in Salem, NY, all the locals have lunch at this spot, so one picks up in fast order what life is like in Salem, I could live hear. There is also an old railroad station on what was the end of a D&H branch line now owned by the Batten Kill RR, they run a tourist train up here once in a while.
Feds's Sub Shop and Deli in Salam, NY

After lunch it is South on NY-22, which runs all the way to New York City, this is a nice motorcycle road with little traffic. Next stop is Stockbridge, MA, and for me a new motorcycle state, so I can claim another completed state that I have ridden in. Stockbridge has a very well preserved railroad station on what was once the Northern end of the New Haven RR, Brikshire division.
Stockbridge, MA RR Station

In Stockbridge, one turns South on US-7, one of New England's noted motorcycle roads, it is in the Harley Map Book in yellow. Very little traffic on this winding road through deep forests with rivers and streams. What is also happening is the sky has become “black”, I knew there was a 50% chance of server thunder storms in the late afternoon, but it is only 3:15pm. About 20 minutes North of Kent, where I will be spending the night, it starts – Rain and Lighting! Stopped on the side of the road and changed into my rain gear, under a tree, OK I know that this is not recommended, but a motorcycle stopped and said there is an abandoned house just 2 minutes away, and I could change there – No Thank You.

Pushing on in a very light rain, I made it to my Brothers home in Kent, CT right at 4pm, no sooner than the motorcycle was safely in his garage did the real storm arrive, the rain fall was heavy with high winds, glad to be safe inside.

When we went out to dinner at 8pm, the rain had stopped, but lots of roads were closed due to downed trees or road washouts.

Just another day on the road.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Day 3 - June 8

Day 3 - Wednesday, June 8

Today I am going on a guided 200mile trip of central Vermont to see some covered bridges, ride some big hills with plenty of twists and have lunch.

So up early at 6am vs 6:30, have breakfast with the same Harley guy from the day before, we are like regulars at the office.  Get my gear set up, as this will be the first test of using a CB Radio with my newly modified and reconstructed helmet.

I arrive at the staging area at 7:50, and see the first group heading off already, some of these people must get up earlier than I, anyway I will be in the next group scheduled to depart at 8:30am, there are about 40 bikes in this group.  And of course there is one guy on a scooter from Chicago, how did he get here on a scoot?, who meanders from right and left and never turns off his blinking lane light for miles - clueless in Americade.

But the fantastic scenery makes up for any of the annoyances of the day.  The only complaint is that we never stop for any photos enroute and there were some good ones to be had.  The people on trikes, and there are a lot of trikes here, must be an age thing, the passenger can stand up and get some good shots.
The Hoot out on the trail


Lunch is held at the Brandon Inn in Brandon, VT, must have been built around 1900, just a fantastic old inn, with a great selection of food for lunch.  [http://www.historicbrandoninn.com//] So after about 45minutes, we are off for two more covered bridges, this time we did stop for one and got some good pictures.

Today also set record high temperatures in New York and Vermont, it was 96F and the humidity was high as well, but at speed and in the cooler Vermont Green Mountains, it was not too bad, but still hot.

I was back in Lake George by 4:20pm, tired, hot and dirty.

Again I attend a seminar at 6pm, on motorcycle touring in Peru, I was just there.  There was no mention of armed guards on the tour, strange, how is that possible to tour in Peru without guards.

After dinner, it was time to take in Americade Balloon Glow -  what is that.  Well you take a hot air balloon, inflate, fire the gas jets a few times, play some music, everyone is impressed, and the show is over - OK got me what is the deal here?

Tomorrow I will be departing for a brief overnight visit with my Brother and Sister-in law in Kent, CT.


Day 2 - June 7

Day 2 - Tuesday, June 7

I am devoting today for my visit to the mega trade show, which is held in two venues, one on Million Dollar Beach and the other one inside in the convention centre.  There are well over 350 vendors, selling all kinds of stuff from Insurance to rubber snakes (plus some snake oil or a product that is a metal polish and a salad dressing).  My main interest is finding new tires for the bike at a good price, I am looking for a good deal on Dunlops or Mettzelers, what I do find is pretty high prices, in fact I can order these on line for much less.  OK, next project is replace my brand new HCJ helmet before my left ear bleeds out all my blood -  very painful indeed.



So both JM Communications and Sierra Electronics have booths, and seeing the painful and untested headset came from JM and sold through Sierra, I head to Sierra with my helmet and headset.  First comment from the guy, "you have to drill out a space in the Styrofoam for these to fit", not that there is any reference to this procedure in the box, OK, can you do it?, yes $20, comeback in 30minutes.  They have a team on site, of very skilled technicians, so in 30 minutes, my HJC helmet has become my new friend and the untested headset, works like a charm, so Ganzeconomics has worked again, by spending $1000+ to get here, and for a few dollars more - $20, you too can have great communications gear on a motorcycle.
In the evening I attended three back to back seminars on motorcycle safety, international travel by motorcycle to France and Germany, and how to write articles for motorcycle magazines, more on this later, as I have a desire to get into print and have made several contacts here at Americade, again this was on my Americade "to do list".

Another evening of lights and action on the strip. 

Now when you think everything takes place at night, I could fell you in on an encounter at the motorcycle trade show area by the luggage display, maybe for another time.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Day 1 - June 6

Day 1, Monday June 6

Got away from NOTL, on time at 9:00am, I have this motorcycle packing down to a science now, and it only takes about 4 hours to collect everything I need and pack, not 4 days as before, plus it all fits in my bags.

All of today was travelling on the Thruway (I-90) from Buffalo to Amsterdam, NY and then North to Lake George.  Saw lots of bikes heading this way on my way here as well.

Rode with a fellow Kawasaki (Vulcan 1500) rider for about 16km into Lake George, he lived in the area, and was most helpful in getting me onto I-87 North for the last 40km to here.  His vest had a US Marines Leatherneck patch, but I did not fine out how old his Grandmother was, maybe we will meet up again.

A long day and Interstates are not my favourite, but it moves you over the distance, and I maintained 120km for most of it. 

Americade is amazing, very well organized, and VERY helpful people.

But the real action is a night, when everyone cruises back and forth on Canada Street (Route 9), with all the bikes lit up.  I saw one with 1,000wats of LED lighting, brighter than most headlights, what a show.


Tuesday is trade show day for me, looking for new tires, I hope..

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Getting Ready for Americade 2011

Americade starts on Monday June 6th, but I am getting ready and have started to pack and layout all that I am taking on this 5 day adventure.  This will be my first large (not counting the Port Dover Friday the 13th trips with 125,000+ motorcycles).  I know that Americade gets about 50,000 or so bikes and riders each year, lets see how this goes.

Ken's Vulcan 1600 Nomad