Monday, May 31, 2010

Raw Oysters, Leather and Ice Cream




Not wanting to ride in "Pappy's Run", preferring ...more of a ride, I made plans for a 10 o'clock ride leaving from Friendly's in Norwich-town. Reuben came over the house at about 7:45am to watch the Formula one Turkish Grand Prix, the race ended at 9:30 and we headed to out to meet Rick and Craig. We arrived about five minutes late. We headed across Norwich-town via West Town then East Town to rte 169, I used Tom's technique of having the instructions written and in my vest pocket, pull it out, refer to it, slide it back in. The route was East Town street to Ox Hill rd to 169. I blew it right from the start. Instead of East Town street I took Town street which took us to 169, still not aware I had taken the wrong road I missed Ox Hill which was good because we were already on 169. We followed 169 to Taftville then up to Newent for 138, all the time passing bikes coming in for Pappy's. In Newent we picked up 138 over to 12, the next planned move was 12 to 201 so I took 12 and turned right on 138, oops, I hooked a left on Pleasant View street and hit sand, the front of the bike washed out but stayed up-right, Turned right on 12 then onto 201, back on track.
 
During the race in the morning I looked at Google Maps to find a road less traveled and find it I did, Stone Hill road off 201 in Hopeville. This road on Google maps is yellow, which means it has been video recorded. I should have done a street view. The road is two lane only in that traffic flows both ways, the entrance to the road looks like a driveway, about a car width and a half, about 500' down the road there is a sign that warns that the road narrows, I looked back at Reuben and started laughing. The pavement is almost non-existent cracked and broken, I was waiting for the road to turn to dirt, but it never did, it just kept leading us through the woods although by the pond there was a large pile of sand to traverse. The road did as it promised and brought us out on rte 49 in Ekonk about a mile and a half south of the Brown Cow. Had I paid more attention to the website I would have found the road has a second name, “Hell Hollow road”.
 
From 49 we proceeded north to rte 14 which we followed into Rhode Island, past Carbuncle Pond and up to rte 102 where we crossed onto Old Plainfield Pike. We followed the Pike to the end and picked up 12 south across the Scituate Reservoir dam to 116, A right on 116 a left on 117 though Appanoug, picked up rte 1 and ran north past T.F.Green to Airport road where we stopped at Hooters for Lunch. During lunch we discussed our next move, I was going to head to the Shoreline but Rick reminded me that it was Memorial Day weekend and traffic would be impossible. Rick decided he needed gloves so it was off to Hot leathers in East Providence, Craig headed for 95 and home, we took 1 and 1a north through the City. At Hot Leathers Rick got his gloves and we headed back through Pawtucket to Providence and rte 10 to Rte 6. We stopped along Oswansicut pond for Reuben to tank up, then it was 6 to 116 south to 14 where we crossed the middle of the Scituate Reservoir and south to Ct and 49 to Ekonk for Ice Cream.

From Ekonk we ran south to 138 for Rick to fuel up and I figured I top off also. From here Rick followed 165 to Norwich and Home, while Reuben and myself took 49 to Wyassup road into North Stonington, then 201 to Wintechog Hill road, through the Corkscrew on 2 (only because its better than just tuning left twice) We crossed to 214, 214 we slowed to let traffic clear so we could run the twists, at Shewville we turned left then left again onto Whitford then back onto 201, then down through Old Mystic to Jerry Brown road, then right on Pequotsepos where had I been in a car I would have been owned by a moving company truck on the wrong side of the road. A left on Mistuxet and a right on Hewitt brought us back to Mystic for Ice Tea at Dunkin. From there we split up, Reuben sat parked in bridge traffic in downtown Mystic while I Slogged along at about 3 mph past the seaport and home.
 
Meanwhile...the Club went on Pappy's run, the had close to 40  bikes, the turn out for the ride was very good with parking at the Gun Club at a premium. the Club did the ride but due to the amount of bikes broke off at the end instead of going to the grave site and headed off on a ride of their own, a few members including Mister Dunn headed to the Rhode Island Shoreline, (Silly people...Traffic) about 6 bikes went to the after ride Party at Sprague Rod and Gun.
 




klay

opossum

NLMC CLUB PHOTOS

Travertson V-Rex - Concept Motorcycle Review

This is too cool

But I still had a hard time watching it,

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=E3mzhvMgrLE&NR=1

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Friday, May 28, 2010

Good of the Club!!!

Jason worked the grille today for lunch at work!!!




My stomach hurts

What was your day like?

Mine was like this...



All day!!! 


Look at the clock reeeeeeeal close, doing it? Are the hands moving?

                           That's right...they're not


klay

Tewksbury

1:55 pm Friday afternoon the dynamic duo are in Tewksbury, Mass. They got up at 3:00am met at 4:am at exit 33 on rte 91 and ran north on 91. Coming back they took a few different routes. The day is absolutely beautiful weather wise, they have put on over 600 miles today and are just starting to hit holiday traffic. More later...



(600 miles...try that on my seat)


klay

YOUTUBE GLITCH !!!

Signed into YouTube today and found that the access is through Google now, The site says I have 9 subscribers, the Club videos have been veiwed 3,990 times and...

they are all gone.

Don't know why, but it says the videos have been removed by...me

Am calling youtube today to find out what is going on.

Riding....ZZZZzzzzzzz

Two of our members are planning a ride tomorrow, I use the term tomorrow lightly since they will be starting out at 3am. John (Star- Road Liner) and Steve (Harley-Ultra) will be hitting the road en route to interstate 91 and a trip north. 91 north is the trip, I suggested route 5 in Vermont but as far as I know it will be 91 up and 91 back, approx. 286 miles up then 286 back. A mileage run to Canada and back. Myself I think they are crazy, absolutely nuts! Who in their right mind gets up at 3am? 3AM!!! I'm going to be asleep, dreaming...with any luck I'll do what Buddy Hackett calls a double sleep...sleeping and dreaming about sleeping.



3AM...

Nuts right?

klay

This is a mission update to Sgt Edwin Rivera

KIA Afghanistan Waterford CT SAT JUN 5th 1000hrs


Good Evening Patriot Guard and associates;
Service information for our Hero is as follows.


Service
0900hrs (staging)
Saturday June 5th
Camp Rell
Smith Street
Niantic, CT 06357


Interment

Jordan Cemetery
240 Boston Post Road
Waterford, CT 06385-2045


Leadership team and flag transports please report availability; secondary stage owners make your KSU’s for a 0900hrs arrival at Camp Rell. More information and secondary staging to follow.


On an incredible sad and sorrowful note our Hero’s sister delivered twins the day he died…one was stillborn and the other passed the next day. The family just buried them the other day and must now look to bury our Hero…just tragic beyond words.


They will need all of the support we can possibly offer.


Regards,


Bob “Airwolf” Stone
Patriot Guard Riders
Connecticut State Captain

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

I thought that by following a Blog I would be notified about new posts...

I have heard this a number of times and to be honest, I thought so also...
But, I have done some investigative research, and after hours of exhaustive research I found these words, "with Google Friend Connect".  It's printed right under the follow key to the left. So if you have google e-mail,(G-mail) you can sign up for Google Friend Connect and you will be notified. So I looked for away around it, and I found a spot where I can enter E-mail addresses that will notify you of new posts, Unfortunatly the Blog onlys allows 10 contacts, so I chose The first few members who signed up as followers

klay. 

I spent the day with the unemployed


Five members of the Club got together today for a ride, and unlike most club rides this one was about putting on miles not pounds. Don't mis-understand, we did plan on eating lunch ...out there...but it would be in the middle-ish of the ride. I departed my house in Mystic Ct, bought smokes and took CT 184 to I-95 south to Guilford exit 59. Those were the instructions given me, no more...no less. There was nothing about what to do after I got off the highway, there is a Macdonalds, a Dunkin Donuts (a Club Trademark), a commuter parking lot and a large dirt area (used for parking) at the end of the ramp. I chose the dirt lot, only because I figured where ever they would be, I would catch them rolling in off the highway, You know what, it worked, except in regards to the last guy, the one who planned the ride, I texted him to find out where he wanted me, he can't text, so I awaited the call. He called and asked where we were, I told him we were in the dirt parking area at the end of the ramp, he said there wasn't one, we argued the point. Once it was straightened out the four of us headed down to the Commuter lot to meet up with him.


Look Steve!!! Dirt parking Lot!!!


 I have to say, this was one of the best rides I have been on, small group, great riders, Fantastic roads, 90 degree day, I can't say much more than FANTASTIC!


About the ride, Ah.. we went west on rte 1 turned right on a road, then went up and down hills and around sweepers, past farms, over and along rivers... and I was lost, and I don't care. It was great, climb up out of Valleys to find vistas opening up then trees and down into valleys only to climb up another hill, I know we found ourselves on 691 then 84 into Waterbury to spend money at Docs, I know we ran paralle to rte 8 on back roads up the Naugatuck Valley, we went through Torrington. Steve Natale was taking us to the Landing Zone Grille in Harwinton Ct. What we found was a sign on the door that said open at 10am, and it was 11:30 and the doors were locked. We went past Barkhampsted, cruised along-side Peoples State forest,took rte 20 up through North Hollow and down to East Hartland, We ate on rte 44 opposite Satan's Kingdom at Portabellos then cruised on, Natale and Jim were taking us to Old Newgate Prison, Natale's idea, again, and... it was closed. More hills and valleys and twisting curves and regular roads and we came out at Bradley Airfield where we stopped at an Ice Cream shop (water). Here was the beginning of the end, Jim had to get home, Steve N. wanted to reverse the route back west, a lot of discussions and finally it was south to Manchester and rte 85, then Steve departed on 66 towards Home, Jim pulled off for Colchester, Steve M. stayed on 85, and John and I took 207 towards Lebanon, I dropped off to visit Rick (Hey Done, You bikes not Dunn, or Dunn Done...something like that. Like I said I dropped off at ricks and met Rat, then I dropped off at Ricks..stupid easy chair. Woke up and headed home. Sorry I can't say more about the route, but as I said, I was lost most of the time So I'll let the photos do the talking...


klay

Today, Tomorrow and Sunday

Wed. 05/26
Drill Team Practice for the drill team
6:00pm Walmart's in Waterford,


Thu. 05/27 Mystery Ride weather permitting
6:00pm David's Place


05/27 Meeting
8:00pm - John Haymond will be a guest
speaker. The Haymond girls will not be there. 
A Part of the meeting will be suspended


Sun. 05/30 Pappy's Run
8:00am AOB Dunkin Donuts
9:00am Breakfast at Sprague Rod and Gun Club


Attention all VETS!!!

Greetings!

There will be a Motorcycle Poker Run on Sunday, June 6th. The Relay For Life of Southeastern CT is participating to help raise money. Our portion of the money will be determined on how many people help on the day of the event. I will need your help at Stott's At Bat between 12:00 and 2:30 on the 6th. We will be a "check point" for the bikers to stop in and get their next Poker Card.


There will also be a dinner starting at 4:00 at the Music Lady that evening where the winners will be announced. All are welcome to attend and the dinner costs $10 for non-bikers.


The cost for participating in the run is $15 per driver or passenger. It will be a Shotgun Start at Music Lady at 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The route will follow from there to the Lake Tavern to the Bach Door to Stott's At Bat and back to the Music Lady. Come out and help our Relay raise money while havnig a great time!


Any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me!


Thanks!
Dede Larkham & Dawn Koonce
Event Chairs
Relay For Life of Southeastern CT
Dede Larkham

Patriot Guard and associates;

We have lost another Hero to the war on terror, Sgt Edwin Rivera died of injuries sustained from an IED in Afghanistan, may he rest in peace. Our sincere condolences to his family and friends…the Patriot Guard will be there to stand for our Hero.

Mission information to follow.


Regards,


Bob “Airwolf” Stone
Patriot Guard Riders
Connecticut State Captain

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Saturday night

           I put the parents to bed, (times change) and headed out on the road. The temperature had changed from the day, the warmth of the sun had gone away leaving it comfortably cool with a light fog. I rode around for a while then headed over to the “other” side of the Thames river to meet up with some other members of the club. I arrived just after they had eaten and while I was offered some food I declined. Don't get me wrong I love food, all you have to do is look at me and that will be apparent, but the combination of what they had seemed, I don't know, wrong perhaps. Now this is strange because I usually eat things that others find disgusting or different to say the least. My favorite pizza is Bacon Mozzarella and anchovies, I love blood sausage, pickled tongue (any tongue for that matter),I have had frog legs and turtle soup, Octopus salad, and love raw oysters, I love grease and salt, sushi is fantastic as are cracklins, but I just could not get my head around pizza and Chinese, I don't know why, I love both, but the combo as I said sounds wrong.


            After they finished the get together, each headed off in their own direction, leaving Dana, Dave, Steve, Evert and myself. Evert had to get home because he had to get up to go to Massachusetts in the am, I know this because he said he had to leave, he said that at least once every 15 minutes from the time I showed up at 9:30 til around 11:30. Dana went his way and Dave and I were going to cruise with Steve for a while on his trip home. Steve mentioned we should get on our bikes and head to Cape Cod for breakfast, Dave and I decided that would not be a good idea, my reason is that I have to be home early because the home health care people don't arrive until 8:30am and I have to get the parents started before the girls arrive.

             Getting ready to hit the road Dave opened his saddle bag and realized he had no leathers with him, while this was great during the day, the cool of the evening and the fog required a tad layer of protection, I offered to let him use the chaps in my bag, told him he could wrap them around and use them like a leather scarf, he declined. So it was me and Steve heading west.

         I didn't follow him far, I kept thinking about getting up in the am, so I traveled south with him to Four Mile River road then waved him off and made my way back to Mystic. I stopped for coffee at Norms in Groton then got back on the bike.

           I have not ridden a “quiet” bike in a long time, and it was actually nice, (I must be getting old).The air was cool and soft, the roads empty, and all I could hear over the low rumble of the bike and the wind. I headed to Mystic and just got lost in the sensations, Mystic came and went, no highway here I was just sailing on back roads, the bike sounded like it was in stealth mode, I could hear the tyres on the pavement, Stonington passed by as did Westerly, RI, and Hope Valley and Exeter. Foster came and went North and South Kingston were a joy, the air smelled of green, green as in Spring and life. As I passed ponds you could hear the frogs singing, the tyres rolling along the pavemant, the wind in my face, Wakefield and Narragansett cruised by then it was Charlestown and Ninigret Park. The air flowed by, no cars, just pavement and trees, dark houses and business disappeared in the mist as I passed. Shelter Harbor, Misquamicut, Watch Hill and Westerly then back in Connecticut, up 49 into North Stonington, I love back roads, no lights in windows, no street lights, just the sky above the road and the darkness of the woods going by, the sound of the tyres and the muffled noise of the engine. Ledyard, Center Groton and home to Mystic. Four am I put the bike away and walked inside. A cup of tea, a cigarette and bed. Maybe we should have done the Cape...






At 6 the alarm went off. Sunday begins...
 
klay

Saturday, May 22, 2010

The definitive N.L.M.C. ride

If this club exists for eating as some people have stated then this was the day. A.O.B. Was at 11:15am so riders lined up early for donuts and coffee. At 11:15 we drove to Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Italian sausage, salads, kielbasa and sauerkraut. From there we rode to Steamers, Scallops, clam fritters, fish and chips, leaving there we rode to donuts and iced tea. From here members went off in different directions and I beleive at least two headed to another Coffee.

What could be more N.L.M.C. than that.

Now let me fill in a few blanks...
With an 11:15 departure time it meant that members arrived early at D&D in Montville to socialize and perhaps partake of that facilities finery. Leaving there the club headed down 32 and across the bridge into Groton and route 184 for the open house at Mikes Famous Harley Davidson. Mikes had a live band, plenty of food, the Haymond Girls, a couple vendors and test rides.





Leaving there eight bikes headed to Mystic Ct. to visit with the wingless one. Everyone did exactly what was expected of them by abusing him and examining his bike. Turns out "Lefty" only suffered minor damage to the bike, a scraped muffler, scraped turn signal , loose mirror and a scraped and bent engine guard. Bubba found a splitting maul and offered to straighten the item out right there and then but Jerry didn't seem to keen on the idea.

Finished harassing the wounded we headed to Mystic for lunch, those of us who knew we were heading here either partook lightly of the morsels at Mikes or abstained all together. At Cove it was Seafood and refreshments then a little more seafood and refreshments. A young mother with her daughter was waiting to order when she noticed Dave's sleeves, "Patriot Guard" she came over and started thanking the guard riders for what they do then joined us as we ate. Her husband is in Afghanistan and she is lost without him. While we were there her cell phone rang and it was him, they were fresh back from a patrol and had been ambushed. She stayed with us for the better part of the time that we were there.

From Cove we started spliting up, Jim “did I mention it was Raining” Skerrit headed home, Bub, Gene. And Rick followed us up rte 27 then continued north while Carey, Bob, Dave and I stopped at Dunkin Donuts for ice tea and coffee.

From there Carey and Bob headed west to find the next Dunkin, Dave headed out and I went to the hardware store then home to spend a few hours plying with the plumbing.


Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays this rider from the swift completion of his appointed rounds.


klay