Monday, October 31, 2011

On the way into work today...

I was cruising along the Interstate in Groton, as I passed the reservoir a large bird came out of the tree line, circled over the road and headed out over the water.

It was beautiful. I was not aware they were around this area.

I asked around today and found out they are making a come back to the area. A couple of other employees have seen them as well.

So if you are passing the Groton Reservoir, keep your eyes pealed.



The American bald Eagle


klay

I ordered something for the Club.

We just need someone to figure out how to mount it to the building, and someone to do it.

Like motorcycles? Like Food?

Doesn't everyone?

There is a show on television called "Hairy Bikers", it is on the History Channel. The show is about two Hairy Bikers, one is a Harley Mechanic and the other is a Licensed Chef. They ride around trying food and cooking. Last night I watched them go Ferrel Pig hunting in Texas, Shoot one using night vision equipment, skin it, pack the meat and ride off. From there they went to a friends and cooked a 100lb pig under ground. While that cooked they visited a Pie maker, did a little pie tasting, and pie making, then received some of his "famous" dough as a gift. They went back to the buried pig, and using the meat from the hunt and the pie mans dough, they made Pork Pot pie and cooked that outside also. They then dug up the pig, invited bikers and partied on dead squealer.


I was surprised, it was a pretty good show.

klay

It is also available On Demand

Wonderful out

The weather outside is beautiful, sun is shining, air is warm. Just went out for a cruise. It is wonderful not to have to wear the chaps and headgear. Just a jacket, gloves, and shades.

There is no evidence of Sunday's snow anywhere in the area of New London.

It is absolutely amazing how much I hate it when I can't ride. It's like withdrawal.

My heart goes out to those who have no power and CL&P as a provider.

Stay bundled, stay warm.

klay

Rode to work this morning

Up Cow Hill, (never seen a cow there by the way), down Allyn Street, and onto the Interstate. A few slippery areas, nothing you couldn't avoid. But can you say "Cold"?

My Gerbing jacket is at Gerbing. They said it "should" be about six weeks. Let's hope so.

I would have taken the car this morning but the bike is covered in road salt and needs a bath...plus...


It has Gas.

klay

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Snow in Branford

Our Road Captain has...

No Power,

No Phone.

The Service has been ripped off his house.


So if you need to get a hold of him try the Cel.

Until it's batteries die.


klay

Contact info

Attention Club members...

If you need something posted on the blog, there is a couple ways to do it,

Make that a few ways....

  1. You can see me in person at the Club on Thursday nights
  2. You can click on the latest blog post and send me a comment. *
  3. You can send me an E-mail * 

Do Not try to use the News Manager link on the Club Website, it use to go to the Web-manager, but currently I have no idea where it goes.

If you use the comment field on the blog, the comment will not automatically post, it flags me about a comment, and I have to actually O-K a comment for it to appear. (You would not believe the amount of Spam I get in the comments.

You can E-mail me at hotrail13@hotmail.com

Thank you

Klay

Mister Scarritt sent me some pix a while ago...

I believe that out of the choices for helmet design I would have to go with the 8's


I always liked the eight ball.

besides...some of the others were just not me...
This one would be like saying I have something most people know I don't

This one actually seems gruesome too me, I don't know.

This one would imply a rather soft bounce on impact...I think we all know better.

RIGHT!!!  Wishful Thinking?


Some were too much me...
Let's face it...What would be the point

I don't know...

I debated about this one...It wouldn't be the first time I've been called a Butt Head...or worse


klay

Sunday Morning

Woke up at 5:30 this morning, looked out the window and saw all that beautiful white CRAP covering the world. Snow, if you are not aware of this, is one of my least favorite things. Snow means cold and slippery, it dampens the riding season. Snow (in greater abundance) also means work, I hate shoveling, hell I don't even like using the snow-blower. When possible I hire the kid next door, he doesn't like snow either but he does like money. I use him for leaf removal and mowing the grass, this should give you an idea of how I feel about yard work in general.

I watched the F1 race in Delhi, India, what a great place to hold a premier auto race. There has to be nothing as special as paying top dollar to attend a Formula One venue and having open sewerage running down the street outside. This I learned from BBC radio last night.

The race over, I started the bike and backed it out of the shed, This feat was a little tricky in itself considering outside the shed the ground was covered in snow coated leaves. Reverse gear worked well enough, except the left foot kept losing traction.

The sun was beginning to shine and the air warm a tad so I grabbed the chaps, a light jacket and my Cowboy hat. I hit the road. The roads weren't too bad, wet with slush here and there, leaves and pine needles everywhere, and you know that fluffy snow that coats the tree branches before the sun gets up...today it was actually ice. I know this because as the sun heated the air it began to melt and fall off the trees. I caught two in the face on my ride up Cowhill road. They sting...a Lot. I made for the highway making sure to negotiate the on ramp smoothly because of the plowed slush. Getting off the highway in Stonington I headed for fuel and cigarettes, then I visited my favorite girls at the Equinox. One cup of coffee later I was back on the road headed to downtown Mystic. Mystic is actually a fire district not a town. Half the town is in the Town of Groton and the other half in Stonington. Both towns it turns out are very concerned for their motorists. Both towns put down heavy salt coatings on the roads, both towns it would appear get their salt from the same place. I say this because of the size of the salt. Instead of using a fine grind or liquefied sodium these towns use marble sized stones of salt. It doesn't melt fast but it does make corners interesting.

 I found that the Cowboy hat was not a good choice today, so after the coffee stop I pulled the Skunk Fuzzy out of the bag and switched to that. From Mystic I headed home.

I believe I will wait for the temperature to increase before venturing back out.


klay

Saturday, October 29, 2011

PARADE PRACTICE CANCELLED



From the Road Guard Captain
Due to the weather I see no reason to do a practice. I am CANCELLING the date. We will try in two weeks time. Next Sunday is the gift run so two Sundays.
Tom Y. contact Rick Rubinstein as I don't have his address.

Deal on Grilles

They are Lowe’s “new” dented… and smokers. There’s also a couple of stainless steel propane ones… one with a single burner for $50 and another which I think is three burner, also $50. Both of these are with one wheel missing or a dial… Otherwise they work. They’ve been around for a while and the store manager wants them gone. So if anyone wants them? Let me know as they are in the Orange, CT Lowes…


Thanks,

Mike Meadows

Sorry all

From NHC Mike Meadows
,
It looks like Mother Nature has other plans for this Monday’s ride. So, due to the weather we are getting right now, and anticipating either melting snow/frozen roads, I don’t want endanger anyone with the distance we’d be going.
There are days during the week when I am off (usually two out of the four weeks of the month), and if some of us can get together to ride, we can plan ahead. So if you are free, let me know and give a call or email, and if I am free, I will join you. If I am planning another ride during the middle of the week, I will send the invite along.
Usually I try to make it a long ride to a place enjoyable by all, such as Newport, RI; Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts, Yankee Candle, or in this case Mount Graylock… So, if you have a destination in mind for next year- let’s plan!
Hope you all have a great week!
Thanks,
Mike Meadows

Events

Events: Sat 10/29, Sun 10/30, Tue. 11/01,
Thu. 11/03 Sat 11/05, Sun. 11/06

Sat. 10/29

Need Volunteers to continue work on our 4
season room.

7:00am Breakfast at Herb's Rte 32
8:00am Clubhouse

Goal: Complete front wall and cement wall
around Mike Henry's stonework. Possibly get
doors installed depending on who turns out
to help.

 
Patti Duerrler is extending an invitation for
the Bosrah Moose Club Pot Luck Halloween
Party which is free. Bring a dish and a can
for donation. 7:00pm the party starts.

 
Sun. 10/30

Parade Pratice/Drill Team Tryouts
AOB 11:00am Walmarts, Waterford
Practice on Airport Service Road.
Short Ride and Lunch to follow.

 
Tue. 11/01

Middlesex County Meet and Greet
6:00pm Patheon Diner, Rte 1 Old Saybrook
May be last meet until spring, come and support
Vinny and your County.

 
Thu. 11/03

Annual NLMC Election Night
6:00pm Venison/Shepard's Pie by Chef Thib's
$ 7.00 pp, support your volunteer kitchen

7:00pm Meeting/Election
Steve Natale vs Bryan Kowalsky for 2nd V.P.
Exercise your privilege, come and VOTE!!!


Sat. 11/05 NLMC Annual Banquet

6:00pm @ the Holiday Inn, Norwich on Rte 82
Next to the DMV. Bring a raffle prize or basket if
you can. The count is now 46. One more opportunity
to buy your seat on Thu. 11/03


Sun. 11/06 32nd Annual Gift Run

AOB: 10:00am
Dunkin Donut's on Coleman Street in New London.
Arrive 10:15am at Stash's Cafe. $ 8.00 all u can eat
breakfast followed by a ride that'll go pass the
speedbowl then onto Harkness Park to set up the
parking for the event.

This concludes the Official Riding Season Calendar.
Organized rides until the Spring Breakout/Bike Blessing
will be impromptu lead by anyone if the RC is not available.


Do not:
Touch the thermostats at the Clubhouse. Recently found
cranked to MAX with no one there.

Do not:
Crush Soda cans before depositing them in the barrel. If
they are crushed they don't scan when depositing them.
 
 

From the President

The NLMC Annual Banquet is only a week away from this Saturday. That means there are only (2) more opportunities to purchase your tickets. Tickets will not be sold at the door due to the fact we have to call ahead with a head count. I believe we are at 36 currently.

Also, a reminder that we are looking for baskets to raffle.

Upcoming Light Parades

From the President
 

Dec. 3rd - Groton
Remember Insurance Card Copy for HG Capt.

Dec. 4th - Montville

Dec. 11th - Niantic

PARADE PRACTICE
Drill Team Tryouts

Sun. 10/30 @ 11:00am, Walmart's,
Waterford to the Airport Road, then
followed by a short ride and a late
lunch. All interested parade
participation should come out so I
have a pre-determined set up for
the dates above mentioned.
 
Jim

From the Banquet Chairwoman

 
We are at 36 tickets sold for the Banquet. There is 1 more meeting before the Elections/Banquet. Last year we sold 50 tickets.

Also, again this year we are asking members to bring a gift basket, or other items that could be raffled. It's fun and helps the Club.

 

Thanks Donna

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Tonight we get to hear the Candidates

Yes, tonight the Candidates running for positions get to stand up and say why they will be good for the position.

Since there was no competition for most of the positions the only speeches will be made by the two Gentlemen running for Second VP, Brian Kowalsky and Steve Natale.

So make sure you're there to hear the speeches, bring your kids, it's baby kissing time.

If you don't have children, bring your dog, I hear the Candidates are open minded.

klay

Harley-Davidson Brake Light Recall Effects Thousands

October 22, 2011

Harley-Davidson issues a recall notice, NHTSA Campaign ID Number 11V506000NHTSA, earlier in the week. The component in question is the brake light switch.
According to the recall report excessive heat from the exhaust may cause the switch to not activate the brake lamp or activate the brake lamp when no brake is applied and/or cause a brake fluid leak at the brake light switch. H-D is recalling certain model year 2009 – 2012 Touring, CVO Touring and Trike motorcycles manufactured from June 6, 2008 – September 16, 2011.

The list of affected models is significant and the potential number of units is over 250,000. H-D will notify owners and dealers will install a rear brake light switch kit free of charge. The recall is expected begin on or about October 31, 2011. Owners may contact H-D at (414)343-4056 or go to NHTSA for more information.



Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s): H-D / FLHP 2009-2012
H-D / FLHPE 2009-2011
H-D / FLHR 2009-2012
H-D / FLHRC 2009-2012
H-D / FLHT 2009-2010
H-D / FLHTC 2009-2012
H-D / FLHTCU 2009-2012
H-D / FLHTCUSE4 2009
H-D / FLHTCUSE5 2010
H-D / FLHTCUSE6 2011
H-D / FLHTCUSE7 2012
H-D / FLHTCUTG 2009-2012
H-D / FLHTK 2010-2012
H-D / FLHTP 2009-2012
H-D / FLHX 2009-2012
H-D / FLHXSE 2010
H-D / FLHXSE2 2011
H-D / FLHXSE3 2012
H-D / FLHXXX 2011
H-D / FLTR 2009
H-D / FLTRSE3 2009
H-D / FLTRU 2010-2012
H-D / FLTRUSE 2011
H-D / FLTRX 2010-2012
H-D / FLTRXSE 2012
 
I'm on there...How about you?

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

HEY Boys and Girls !!!

From the Honor Guard Captain


Please remember to bring me a copy of your insurance cards to Thursday meeting if you plan to participate in the Groton Light Parade


Thank You,
Steve Distasio

Anyone remember extending the forks on a spyder bike?

Do you remember a Spyder Bike?
Banana Seat?

Looked like this

Because you had to be cool, you had to have a chopper


The Really Cool kids had three or four added, you had to flip at least one set upside down or else the bike would be too tall.

klay

Juuuuuuuuuust a reminder

There are no more approved officially sanctioned Thursday night rides. If you wish to eat though, David's Place is still open (for a bit longer anyway).

If you go and eat, you can still form a ride of your own, there just won't be Captain's, Seargents, or Road Guards.

Oh yeah...

The Forecast for tomorrow...

Thursday:  Cloudy with periods of rain, chilly. Rain could transition to a wintry mix or snow in higher elevations before ending at night.  Low:  44.  High: 47 inland, 48 shore.

Enjoy YOUR ride.

klay

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Attention XBox and Playstation on-line Gamers

http://www.drennor.com/media.php?id=626

Then of course there is the XBOX ad that was banned...something about violence?  I find it hysterical...but then...You need to be linked to everyone in the United States and every country in the world to understand.

http://www.drennor.com/media.php?id=254

I find it absolutely amazing

It is totally amazing how stupid people are and I spell stupid G-R-E-E-D.  After the Great Depression the Government,Geniuses by today's standards, implemented rules and restrictions to assure it would not happen again. They passed laws governing the investment of monies, controls if you prefer, so that people buying stocks could not send the country down that hole again. Simply put, if you don't have the monies to back up the investment you can't invest. These were also the days when a political office required, REQUIRED the public official to severe ties with private companies. This has gone away, today a politician can award contracts to companies he or she has interest in. In other words putting money in their own pocket and to hell with the country.

So what happens, time passes, and the powers that be decide the stock market would make more money, companies can make more money, people can make more money, The Economy would be stronger, if the restrictions (controls) are removed. So investors don't actually have the money to back up their purchases, the stocks are bought without anything to support them, it's a house of cards. You cannot build a strong economy on a weak foundation, try building a skyscraper with a wooden foundation, it collapses because there is nothing there to support it. When a debt on a stock is called in and there is nothing to collect..what then?

There is a reason there were laws, restrictions, CONTROLS. picture your self behind the wheel of a speeding car on a highway, let go of the controls...what happens? That is the reason the controls were in place...to CONTROL.

After the Great Depression the banks found themselves with thousands of houses and properties, we can't call them homes because by evicting the tenants the banks destroyed the "homes". When it was over the property was pretty much trashed by vagrants, vandalism, and just plain lack of upkeep. The banks said, at that time, they would never do that again. It is better to have the property occupied than left alone to deteriorate. If it were to happen again (they said) they would allow the people to stay there and re-adjust the rate or postpone it until life improved.  You can see they forgot also, thousands of homeless and building going to ruin.

What is the old saying, "A person who forgets the past will be forced to repeat it.

Stupidity and Greed.

klay

Would you give up your motorcycle?

Only if I could go back in time. I want to be a kid again...in the 60's. I miss being a kid, look at what you had, the only down side was school, but..it wasn't eight or more hours long every day like work. Being a kid means a lot of holidays off, all of them, plus spring break, teachers conference and of course summer and Summer seemed to last forever. Ice skating and sledding in the winter, Spring, Summer , and Fall meant biking, hiking, fishing, swimming, camping, and playing, And the best part...nothing hurt. You fell out of a tree, the wind was knocked out of you and your freinds thought you looked cool when you fell. You crashed your bike, it hurt, ten minutes later you were back to having fun with your freinds. Today it just hurts to get up. Bills were something your parents worried about, life was about living it. Time went by slower also, Summer lasted for 6 months, a year took forever, not so any more.

Would I trade my Motorcycle for that?  In a heart beat, after all...you're a kid...you can get a motorcycle when you get older.

klay

Summer of '68

From the Secretary


It is that time of year again to prepare for 2012 renewals. If you have changed any information, especially your address, please let me know. If you have told me an update within the past year, I do not have it due to flash drive failure. So could you please send it again. Thanks. Also, respond to secretary@newlondonmotorcycleclub.com.

Jason

Sunday, October 23, 2011

I don't know how the Sunday riders made out but..I was COLD.

I woke up early enough, about an hour after my alarm went off. I got cleaned up, dressed and went out the door. The weather forecast was for 61 degrees and sunny, So I took a light jacket, chaps gloves and a leather cap. I stopped at the Equinox for breakfast, Bonnie saw me pull in and met me at the door, actually she opened the door, grabbed me by the arm and dragged me in and sat me in her section. She was in good spirits, her bike is fixed and running good, but it does have a small oil drip. I told her Harley's are suppose to.

I ate, talked with her and waited for Danny. My plan for today was to head up I-95 to 195, with stops at North Westport, Wareham and Hyannis to see if the Bay Colony Railroad was still around. Then run up to see if Edaville was open or still operating.

That was the plan, reality it turned out was something different. We decided not to take the highway up, so we went across Stonington on Back roads, then picked up rte 1 which took us to Westerly and rte 91. At Carolina we took 112 over to RI route 2 to 138 in Kingston. We crossed the Jamestown bridge and we stopped to pay the tolls for the Newport Bridge, I decided to be nice and pay for both of us. I paid and left, Danny pulled up, stopped pulled off his gloves, dug out his money and handed to the toll keeper, she informed him I already took care of it. Put the money away, gloves back on, and head out, meanwhile I'm crossing the bridge into Newport.

A question now: Who in their right minds would want to take a cruise ship ride to Newport in Late October. Cruise ships should be in the Carib. not Narragansett bay and TWO cruise ships, are that many people deranged?

We stopped at the Casino to use the facilities, the facilities cost me 30 dollars, and I put the orange cone on my head. We picked up 138 to the North gate where I took us down along the Newport and Old Colony Railroad line past the Forrestal Aircraft carrier, and out to Defense fuel before picking up rte 114 to 24 and Fall River.

We arrived at North Westport and found nothing, so we took the scenic route to the Cape, route 6, The Grand Army highway. Blue Sky was ahead of us, but we were under dark gray dismal clouds. Westport to New Bedford, ("Call me...Ishmael"). Here we caught traffic and a open bridge at Fish Island. The traffic stayed with us for a while but it disappeared after a bit. Fairhaven Mattapoisett, Aucoot Cove, Marion, and Weweantic, into Wareham. We pulled off at Narrows road and stopped for lunch and drinks at Narrows Crossing across from the out of service Narragansett Light ship.

After Lunch we cruised along Minot Av. a look at freight house road proved no Bay Colony Railroad equipment was there either. Left on Depot and a right on The Cranberry Highway, past the Old Ocean Spray building and we arrived at Buzzards Bay. It was 2pm and the sky was blue and the sun was shining, finally, 61 degrees.

We never got any further, we made it to the Cape and we turned around, it had been a nice relaxing and enjoyable ride, but we both wanted to be home by five. The relaxing part was over...we fueled the bikes  (You gotta love Massachusetts prices), and hit the highway, the relaxing part was over. At 75 miles an hour we stayed with traffic, at 80 we passed it slowly, at 80+ (80++) the traffic and towns flew past.
We pulled off at Fall River for a pit stop and a look see around the harbor area.

Rhode Island arrived quickly, I jumped off on Eddy street and took a maze of back roads through South Providence, Danny was not impressed. He was also not impressed when I pointed out a building to him, he didn't see it so when we stopped he asked and I told him. It was a Bike Club, Providence Chapter, I don't know how he missed it, big signs, a skull...Not too observant. We stopped at Olneyville at New York System and found they weren't open yet, it was about 3pm and their Sunday hours are 6pm to 2am, I suggested waiting, Danny said no. 

Route 10 to I-95 south, we again made great time, this time stopping at Dunkin on route 138 (Exit 3). Riding was better without the helmet, I shed the cone in Providence and all was again right with the world.

From there it was an open throttle to Connecticut and we split apart in Mystic.

All in all a great ride. Is Bay Colony still around? I don't believe so, the signs at Buzzards Bay station now say Cape Cod Railroad not Bay Colony. Is Edaville open or in business? No clue...but hey...gives me a reason to ride up to South Carver...this time maybe I'll take route 44 and 28, through Taunton.

klay




Correction for typo

Niantic Light Parade is December 11th, NOT the  6th

Todays ride

15 brave souls showed up today for a beautiful ride through central Connecticut, meandering through sprawling farms and up and down hills with spectacular views overlooking absolutly stunning landscapes and reservoirs and statley mansions.
With an awesome performance by Joe and Chris as Road Guards, we enjoyed a virtual non-stop ride for over 2 hrs. Craig did a great job as TG as always.

The company was pleasant and it was nice to see a few people who I haven't seen for awhile. T, Mike and Randy and a guest who kept right up with us. At the resturant he commented it was the best ride he's ever been on. Except for terrible service at the eatery the day was a total enjoyment to me. Thank you all for a great time. George, I will talk to Sarah about your new bike ....

Steve..RC

Where you your when the earth ended?

It was suppose to be the 21st of October, Damn...I must have missed it, You?

Saturday, October 22, 2011

From the President

Friday, Oct. 28th

If anyone else is available, Paul Neves and I will be coating the ceiling with poly. Tentatively 3:00pm      We may try rollers and brushes first followed by spraying if rolling doesn't work. If you can help bring a step ladder if you have one.

 Saturday, Oct. 29th VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

7:00am - Breakfast at Herb's Deli, Rte 32, Uncasville
8:00am - Clubhouse
 
Construction Agenda:

1. Finish woodwork on front knee wall, and cement wall

2. Install 2 new storm doors in the new room and 1 on the front entry.

Billy Thib's and Lou from Waterford Glass are rebuilding the kitchen

door frame and then will install a storm door there.

3. Remove all the screening mesh. Windows should be in the store by

Nov. 2nd and installed shortly thereafter.

4. Nail in the pre-made window flashing on the backside


The next possible work date may be Saturday, Nov. 10th, and hopefully
that will complete it all for 2011 if we can get a big turnout of carpenters,
laborers and go-fers, leaving only the the rear concrete work at the back
entry, floor covering and the propane fireplace for the future, or whenever
we have funding available. We have actually exceeded my expectations
for 2011.

A sincere thanks to all the carpenters, laborers and gofers who
volunteered their valuable time to make this happen, as well as those
great members who donated money for materials. I just can't say enough.
There is no Club in the world like our Club, and no nicer people than our
members.
 
 

SUNDAY RIDE

                 10/23/11 AOB: 10:00am
Leaving from Dunkin Donuts, Rte 32, Uncasville
This ride will include a short version with a
quick disconnect and home around 2p-ish
after lunch, with a longer ride after lunch, and
home probably 6-7pm. Details TBA at D.D.

Tammy Perry

It's a bird, it's a spider? No it's Tammy Perry at about the 30th floor making her 36 floor rappel down the Mohegan Sun hotel for a fund raiser for the Special Olympics. Tammy was supported by the NLMC and cheered on by Marty Perry and Tom Y. This is as close as we could get!

Tom Y.

From El Presidente'

Starting Nov. 3 Election Night, we will go to the Fall Schedule of a 7:00pm meeting with dinners
starting up again at 6:00pm, $ 7.00 pp

* Tickets are still available for the Nov. 5th NLMC Annual Banquet $ 50.00PP

* The Official Club riding season ends with the Gift Run on Nov 6th. Ride then will be impromptu There  are only 2 Official Club Ride Sunday's left for 2011. Oct 23rd, and Oct 30th, then the Gift Run on Nov. 6th. Be guided accordingly.

 * Post Gift Run, there will be Sunday Parade Practices for the Dec. 3 Groton Light Parade, Dec. 4th
Montville Light Parade, and Dec. 6th Niantic Light Parade.

This will include Lead Drill Team, Center formation, and Rear Drill Team.
The Lead Drill Team consist of 6 Dare Devils, and a target bike. The rear drill team consist of 5 riders.
The center has no cap, and is lead by yours truly. This year I am looking for comitments for the
center. In years past I had to figure out what to do with who showed up. This year I want a specific
team who can commit and practice. The drills team riders are required to wear black helmets, black
chaps or jeans, black leather jacket and or vest with HG patch.

Remember, these are light parades, though the drill team wow's the crowd, judging is based on our
lighting display. Electra Glide riders with saddlebag guards can do a lot. See me. Passengers are on
allowed in the center formation.
 
 

From the President

 


I have been wanting to recognize Mike Henry for the absolutely gorgeous stonework he did on our new enclosed porch project. That will be a backdrop for a heating cast iron fireplace in the future.

GREAT JOB MIKE!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Some corrections to the Into Sunday entry

I did not realize it at the time but the fuel stop did not save in the system and did not publish, it has been re-added. Les did not ride along with them, he saw them, stopped in at a gas station to see what was going on.

The story has been corrected.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Here is a teaser from Photo day



















Here is the Link to the Photographers Picasa page

https://picasaweb.google.com/MF5StarFotos/NLMCPhotoShootOctober82011?authuser=0&feat=directlink#

Again, thanks for participating in the photo shoot. No one's face broke my camera!
By now you probably received an email explaining the tentative plans to distribute a CD with all of the photographs selected by the photographers from the photo shoot on October 8.
Since I took your email addresses and promised to send photos, you're getting my photos in advance. The files are suitable for 4x6 prints, maybe up to 5x7 prints but probably not 8x10.
They will also show up on the disk when we put that together.

/These are the same as I am sending you. There is an option to order prints from a number of online services such as Snapfish and Shutterfly which you may already be using. Be careful, because I've cropped some of them to non-standard dimensions. I have nothing to do with this printing service.
A few notes:
I had wanted to spend more time with each model, getting different poses and some shots of the interesting details of bikes. Alas, as time grew shorter I realized I would not be getting many individuals. My strategy became photographing as many individuals as I could with only one or two shots each. Even then, I didn't get all of the models!
I am not the best photographer of the group. Mistakes were made, and those you won't see ;-)  It was a learning experience. I am sure you will get some great photos from some of my colleagues to make up for my meager shots.
I like to dabble with what we call post-process treatments; a little computer art if you will. Not everyone will like the 'artsy' look, labeled in the album as "edgy look" but it's something different I thought I would share with you. Three photos were suitable for another treatment called 'out of bounds'. I hope you enjoy them.
I've known Vinnie for 20 years as a customer of his stained glass shop. He generously lets me use the studio on Friday afternoons to work on my projects and provides invaluable advice. So I did spend a little more time on his photos ;-)
Best wishes,
Maryann Flick

Last Sundays cruise

Sunday's weather was fairly nice, a little cool but nothing proper riding clothes couldn't handle. The ride was suppose to start at 10am from Dunkin Donuts in Montville and was sent to do so until Judy arrived and let us know Jim was at the gas station and the bike wasn't going anywhere. The ride headed to the station to see what the problem was. Nasty was being nasty, it would hardly crank over. A set of jumpers solved the problem and we were off on our way. Steve tried to call the Windham County riders to let them know of the delay but could get a hold of no one so he changed the route and instead of a more circular route the club headed straight up 395 to 169, and 169 to route 14 to meet up with the Windham riders. We arrived at the Dunkin on 14 in Canterbury and found that the reason he could not get a hold of anyone is because there was no one there to meet.

Steve headed us west across 14 to route 203 which we took north to route 6. The plan was to go up route 6 to 198 then 198 to 44 west. At 203 and 6 Steve decided to do an exploratory maneuver and we took Bates road to Bassetts Bridge road across Mansfield Hollow Lake to route 195. (I told him the last time I had an Exploratory maneuver it included an Doctor wearing gloves and it was not enjoyable). We followed 195 north into Storrs and joined route 44 west there. we stayed on 44 then 384 to 44 and stopped for lunch at the Shady Glen Restaurant. If you have not been there it is like a return to the past, the waitresses wear knee length dresses with large frill collars, the cooks wear bow ties and paper hats, and the serve the condiments in those old style glass and wire servers. After lunch Judy found oil on the side of her air cleaner, closer examination found oil on the lower cylinders, the case, the side cover, the seat and bag. Turns out one of the o'rings on the valve cover was leaking. There was not substantial lose and she was able to continue. Many of the riders headed off in their own directions while Steve lead five bikes west on 44 to East Hartford where we picked up route 84 west. Steve took us on an enjoyable ride across Litchfield to route 202 to marble Dale and the White Horse for a drink and for those who have not seen it, to see the 1920 Indian Motorcycle.  While there a woman talked to Danny and was surprised we were from New London and all the way up there. (I guess some people don't travel).

From the White Horse Steve lead us down twisting turning roads back to Durham where he placed us on rte 148 as he headed home down 79. Route 148 took us across to Chester where we stopped to shed the sun glasses before the ride home. the temperature definitely dropped after the sun went down so the ride from Chester back was a tad cool.

The ride was great, everyone enjoyed themselves and Steve was able to flip someone off. Steve? Yes, our Chaplain was leading the ride, we were climbing a hill when a car decided to pull out from behind a van on a hill, on a blind corner, cut off a car and cross in front of Steve to pull a U-Turn in a dirt lot. Steve was not impressed. his sentiments were unanimous amongst those on the ride.

Once again Steve put together a great ride and I look forward to more of the same.

klay


Stock Photo Rock Gate, Washington Ct.

A few pix from the Iron Butt




EG

Monday, October 17, 2011

Do you like raking, mowing, shoveling and or trimming

If so then today is your lucky day!!!

Because all you need to do is get a hold of Jim or Danny.

because our Grounds Keeper is currently out of commission

with...

A broken foot.

Seems he found out that soaring with the eagles is easy, it's landing afterwards that hard.

John did all the things he should have, he lowered collective all the way down, simultaneously adding right pedal. Lowering the collective maintains RPM during the entry to autorotation, and keeps the AOA (angle of attack) at a normal value during the glide.

Adding the right pedal is necessary because in autorotation there is no torque. Once the vehicle is autorotating, the engine disengages and produces no more torque.
While the collective is being lowered, the nose of the vehicle has a tendency to pitch down. John had to use aft cyclic to prevent this. Allowing the nose to pitch down creates two problems: it tends to reduce RPM because it decreases the amount of airflow through the rotor disk, and it tends to increase airspeed, usually far above the range you want to use while autorotating.

To Establish the glide as the air started flowing up through the rotor system, the RPM will start to increase, and depending on how the vehicle is rigged, the RPM may get too high and it did, In this case, as RPM got higher John had to increase collective pitch to lower RPM.

He did everything he should have, unfortunately John wasn't in a helicopter, he was on a dirt bike.

And as everyone knows, dirt dikes don't autorotate, as with any heavy metal object that has no aerodynamic abilities at all, they plummet to the ground.
klay

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Into Sunday

It's 11:17pm, I'm on my third, no, fourth cup of coffee, the diner is far from busy. Since I arrived there have been eight other people there at one time or another, mostly they are kids, kids, well late teens,early twenties, all with too much metal in their faces and clothes that don't fit, on purpose, and their conversations center around drinking and vomiting. They are doing their best to impress each other and the girls are doing most of the talking. After a while a mother and daughter arrived, neither fit in with the rest of the patrons, the mother looked to be in her forty's and dressed nice...real nice. It was hard to keep your eyes off her, she exuded class and sexiness, But that is not why I was here, I was there to meet the boys from the Iron Butt ride.

At 10:32pm the trio was at Bridgeport, stopped for a stay awake coffee, They were at mile 978 of the 1000 mile ride. Evert mentioned that after the 1000 they might go for the 1500, a 1000 mile Iron Butt is called a Saddle Sore, the 1500 is a Bun Burner, a 1500 Gold is a Bun Burner in 24 hours. They expected to be back to the E Troop State Police barracks in Montville. From there they were to meet me at Norms for Breakfast at midnight.

At 1140pm, twenty minutes before the expected meeting time there are five people in the diner, the talk has quieted a bit, people are mostly stuffing their faces. The diner it self is just holding it's own, a couple years earlier if they had a $500.00 night they would have wondered where everyone is, now..a $500.00 night is a busy night.There are two people working, a cook and a waitress. Low cut black top, beautiful eyes, the mother quietly talks to her 20ish daughter. Two more young girls, young and dumb, arrive and take a booth.

11:49pm the trio has departed E Troop for the ride to the diner.

11:52, the mom and daughter have left, leaving me to look at our nations useless youth, a waitress yacking on a cel phone and a large cook. The cook has a tendency to tell you stories of his life to impress you, the stories lead you to start thinking about shooting yourself to get them to stop.

Seventh cup of coffee and eight cigarettes later, a middle easterner is talking too loud in his cel phone,two Navy boys arrive, Sunday rolls in and seven minutes later so do the Harleys. Late for their midnight estimate but whats seven minutes after a thousand plus miles.

The group came in and except for Steve they looked worse for wear. Tom and Evert look miserable, all shed their riding gear and move into the booth, time to eat. Tom doesn't need a menu, he has been thinking about French Toast and Kielbasa for over 200 miles. The food served the talking begins.
The ride was to start at the State Police barracks on 395, when Evert arrived Tom was sitting on the front step, a couple intoxicated people had decided to stop to use the Police bathroom, both were arrested for DUI, neither was happy, there was a robbery somewhere and the Police were busy, they would not be able to sign the Trio out for the ride, so they headed for the Montville PD Barracks. Evert had previously made arraignments to use the "Official cars only" turn around, he mentioned this at the meeting, he sent an E-mail to the riders about it, for all that Tom got the privilege of going 7 more miles than the others because as they pulled into the turn around he missed it which meant he had to get off the next exit.

 They arrived at the Montville PD Barracks and found no one there, after knocking on the doors they said to hell with it and left.

As they entered 395 they found they were followed by two Montville cars, they cruised about a mile when one car passed them, it pulled ahead and both cars lights came on. The bikes moved to the shoulder between the two cars. The Police approached with hands on their guns, Steve went to talk to them. Turns out they had seen the bikes depart the barracks and wasn't sure what was going on so they investigated. Free to go the Trio headed out. Two of the riders had cameras with them, but neither thought of the cameras, the bikes and the Police until afterwards.

The headwinds heading west were terrible, so much so that when the directions changed they found that the tail wind really increased the fuel mileage. The wind was like a constant hammer on the front of the bikes and buffeted the hell out of them.

They ran into a couple sprinkles but other than that they stayed dry so the wet was not an issue. Cold on the other hand was a different matter. All three of the riders had their heated gear with them in case they needed it, the only problem was that the first lap was the coldest and the only one of them to actually be wearing the gear was Evert. Evert found that having the gear on afforded no real bonus against the chill though, the reason for this is that while he was wearing the gear he had forgotten to plug it in.

Rubenstien lost out on the privilege of giving up the gas pump pin,  A detour because of a closed road forced the group to take a longer route to regain the planned route. This detour almost cost the ride. The trio pulled off to take on gas with their bikes banging on fumes. Tom's bike gave up, without fuel Old Red stopped running. Luckily the momentum he was carrying allowed him to coast up to the pump, if you don't have to push or call for aid, you don't get the pin.

Evert led most of the ride, around 800 plus miles of it but somewhere east of Waterbury on the return trip he started to fade, the headlights behind him were a distraction, he was losing focus, literally, he would begin to drift, Tom would call him on the radio, "Right Evert". Evert would come back on line. After a few such occasions Tom called him, "Evert, You alright?"

"We need to Stop" was Evert's reply. That was the coffee stop that he was at when he sent me the invite to the Midnight meal.

The entire ride not counting arriving at the start point or the ride from the finish to Norm's was 1046 miles, (Except Toms and his additional 7).

As far as support riders from the Club, there were none. A few had said they would join in for a lap to show support but none did. There was only the three, three men on a mission. But that isn't to say there was absolutely no support, there was one case of support unlooked for. That came in the Shape of a member named Les Cropley. This support wasn't planned at all, as a matter of fact Les had no plans of joining the ride because he didn't know about the ride. What Les did know was that he was riding along and all of a sudden there were three Club patches in view. Club Patches where there usually are none, so he pulled in with them at a gas station to investigate.

After eating and talking the three of them put their gear back on, jumped on their bikes, said goodbye and headed home to bed. Just like in the morning and the ride to the ride, Steve would have the longest ride home.

I asked them if the ride was fun and was told "No", Ev rode for the Memory of Jack Shoalmire who had passed and Steve and Tom rode in support of Evert. I asked that even if the ride was not fun was it good riding the ride.

Tom gave the answer, "It was twenty hours of misery".

For myself I can honestly say I am glad I had to work and was not available to participate, sure it would be nice to say "I did the Saddle Sore". but beyond that...there looks to have been no joy.

klay

One thing I will say is, Don't believe them, They were tired and sore, running back and forth over the same roads with buffeting winds fighting them. The truth of the matter is, with anything in life, it is the doing something that is important. The human mind is a wonderful thing, it forgets pain, forgets tiredness, and disregards tedium. What they did on Saturday will be enjoyed once they sleep and forget. The mind remembers what we enjoy and from the smiles, no matter how tired those smiles were...they had a good time. Had each one done the ride alone, it truly would have been miserable, But together...They have stories and comradeship...

They had a Great time, and when they've slept...that's all they will really remember.

I mean really...Does anyone in the Club really think they had a good time on the Alaska and New Foundland trips? Rain, cold and misery...They had a blast.

klay

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Odyssey Update

 There is another face on the ride

That is the face, you know him as the Honor Guard captain, one Steve Distasio. And   Currently the intrepid Quest members are stopped at the 579 mile point for lunch.

Oh yeah...here is a tid-bit of info for you... The crew stopped on the sideof 395 this morning in Montville, seems two cars wanted to say hello.


klay

The Odyssey is under way


If all is going to plan, Evert






should be about 8 hours into his 1000 mile Memorial Iron Butt Ride, alongside him should be one Mister Tom Llorett







and possibly Daniel Dunn






giving a lap or two support.

The plan is for a 1000 mile jaunt along 95, 395, 8, 44, and other such numbers. He should be running in opposing directions as he finishes each circumnavigation of the state.

If all goes well...and we hope it does...the Iron Butt may turn into a Butt Burner. That meaning once he clears the 1000 miles in State...he may extend the ride northeast for an additional 500 miles...Portland Maine and Back.

We wish him, his Butt, and his support riders, the best of luck.

klay

Friday, October 14, 2011

Mo pix!!! Photo day PIX

New parking procedure, (just ignore Rubenstiens)






I like the bikes facing out













fotos by Marty and Tammy