The day began for me at 6am... I haven't been on the bike since Thursday leaving work and that ride required a snorkel and wet suit, so I was looking forward to today's ride. One look out the door this morning and doubt filled my mind, it was raining. After a call from Danny and...another call from Danny, the ride was a go...hopefully.
Arriving at Dunkin I found one other bike, it was just about 9:20 or so and one other bike does not bode well, especially when A.O.B. is at 10am..just forty minutes away. The other bike was Mike Henry, he was leaning against a lamp post drinking coffee. The next member to arrive was Carey...in his car. He worked on the repairs to his bike, installed the new parts, put the engine back in, fired it up and it ran great...just no clutch, so he was there to watch us head out.
With Road Captain Steve Natale not being able to make the ride due to work, the Captain of the Road Guards lead the ride to East Hampton. This was one of the only rides I have been on where there were so many people leading the ride. We made a stop at Jennings Road to meet more members, put on helmets, and put another air breather in my bike. It wasn't that my bike needed another one but it had become unattached from another one of the bikes and I had room in the saddle bags. Actually there were a couple parts given to me to carry. (Yes PCO, they were off a Harley)
The route up was direct and simple, 32,163,395,2, 91, Holyoke and a couple back roads into East Hampton. The sky threatened rain but it never came, but there was a noticeable temperature drop when we passed Holyoke. We arrived at the Grave Site, cleared out some weeds and took down the New London Motorcycle plaque (it has seen better days) and we will be having a new one made.Tom spoke stating the importance of knowing your clubs history and supporting the idea for researching club information and compiling a working history. He mentioned that he has an 8mm film of the Club taken back when there were trail riders. He also talked about a trail rider who was a member of the club and one of the best riders in the world, winning National and International awards including competing in Czechoslovakia.
After the words and group photos we headed to the Italian restaurant on North Hampton rd for lunch. We believe, though we have no proof, that the Distasio's and Smurph called ahead with their order since they were eating while a few of us were still placing our orders. Bill D. opted not to eat and headed home alone.
After lunch those that needed to filled their bikes with fuel, did so, there was some discussion as to the route home, Danny and I already knew we were going to take a different route home if the plan was for the highways. After mentioning to Tom we were going to break off and head across Massachusetts he thought it was a good idea and told me to see who else would be interested. Turns out everyone was except for Marty and Tammy because she had to get back for work, so they collected their wayward parts from my bike and headed straight back.
Tom informed me since it was my idea to head north and east I should lead. (lead #2). So we went north on route 10 into Northampton Massachusetts, (more on that later), picked up route 9 through Amherst and down to Belchertown. The route was soaked but it appeared we were chasing the rain and we never actually caught it. In Belchertown we picked up rte 181 through Thorndike and Three Rivers to Palmer. There was discussion about stopping for coffee or ice cream, I placed a coffee stop suggestion over the radio and got no replies back, Ice Cream on the other hand seemed to be the need for the day.
We ran south out of Palmer on 32 and passed through Monson. This was my first visit to Monson since the Tornado paid that town a visit, and the evidence of it's passing was still very much in existence. There is a swath cut through the forest down the hill into the valley, across the valley through the town and up over the opposite hills. Trees gone, downtown used to full of trees and they are gone along with a few houses and quite a few roofs and walls. If you have ever seen pictures of towns taken in the 1800s when the towns were first built and all the trees in the area were cut down to build it, you can picture what I am describing.
We crossed over the railroad at the State line and I pulled the tour over into a dirt (mud puddle) parking area to get rid of helmets, Danny jumped off his bike and headed for the bushes, Tom started asking why he would need to heading for the woods after so short a run when we noticed there was a line of guys following him. (Sorry ladies). Evert suggested the Dairy bar at Uconn on rte 195 in Mansfield, so he took over the lead (change 3) at 32 and 195. We arrived at the dairy bar and all parked together except Tom who because he was on Old Red requires a parking "Hill". The Distasios headed home, and we took off our gear and walked inside, I opted for s smoke. No sooner had the group walked in the door than they came back out. It turns out you cannot stop for ice cream on a Sunday afternoon without waiting in a very long line.
So Evert took us down the road to Friendly's.
There was some discussion as to who should lead home form here, I mentioned that it would not be me, so as we headed out of the lot, Tom got in the far right parking lot exit, Evert in the middle exit and they crossed each other and made the block so the club could depart, this move left me in the lead by default. (I think they planned it).
From there it was a simple run down 32 to 2 and 395 towards home, Evert and I broke off on 2a as the club headed south.
All in all a really nice day, I find it isn't so much the destination or the ride, it's just great to spend the day with friends.
klay
(A note about Northampton Mass. This town is listed as the Lesbian capital of New England, Why might you ask would there be more here than anywhere else? A private Liberal Arts College town, Smith, just a tid-bit of trivia for you.)
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