Most would say that a boring motorcycle ride is, well, boring. However, when one is riding a familiar route, and last years day of traveling the same route was filled with wind, rain, and other nasty forms of weather, a nice uneventful ride can be quite enjoyable.
Continue reading When a boring ride is nice
Category Archives: Road Tales
In a fast-paced world where most long journeys are viewed from 20,000+ feet in a jet airliner, we miss out on the detail afforded by the low viewing angle of a motorcycle saddle. In this category I have stored a collection of interesting experiences gleaned from years of motorcycle touring. Each tale may describe a multi-week trip, a single day, or one sublime instant. Some tales even have photographic evidence. While I post these tales largely for my own amusement, I have been told they have inspired some to try motorcycle touring. If so, then that seems like a useful purpose. May they help you realize that the universe still holds many thoughts to consider, humor to be enjoyed, and wonders to behold.
2011 New England Cruise Photos
A photo gallery and photo map from our ride out to New England in 2011.
Continue reading 2011 New England Cruise Photos
Improving weather at Bar Harbor
After the monsoon-like conditions of the previous day, we went to sleep relieved by the weather forecast that the rain would be gone in the morning. It was with some consternation then, that we awoke to find that a light rain was still falling. A quick check of the weather radar revealed that we could be dealing with a light rain for most, if not all, of the day’s trip out to Bar Harbor, Maine. Yuck.
Continue reading Improving weather at Bar Harbor
A wet ride to Maine
We knew from looking at the weather forecast that we were in for a damp ride from Cape Cod up to Bradbury Mountain State Park in Maine. We did not know, however, that we would nearly drown on the way.
Continue reading A wet ride to Maine
Lifestyle dichotomy on the Cape
After a great evening with Barb Freeman, we headed off down the back roads to Cape Cod. We crossed at the Bourne Bridge, noting the horrendous traffic in the opposite direction from all those weekenders heading back to the mainland. Yuck.
Now on the Cape, we headed up the coast of the canal until we reached the Sagamore bridge, where we found route 6A and headed down the coast of the bay.
Continue reading Lifestyle dichotomy on the Cape
You know you’re lucky when…
You hit reserve (remember, the Cruiser is an old-school Harley with a carburetor and a gas valve) with the next service plaza on the Thruway 19 miles away and you know you can get 20 miles on reserve.
So, we cruise along with no real worries until the engine starts to stall again. I know the bottom of the tanks are curved and trap usable gas, so I yank on the brakes to slosh some more gas down to the carburetor. A sign for the service plaza appears ahead. Hallelujah! But wait, the sign says the plaza is still one mile ahead. Arrrgh!
We repeat the sputter-brake-run sequence another 15 or so times and glide into the service plaza and directly to an available gas pump as the engine quietly stalls.
We were laughing our asses off.
Lucky. Very lucky.
Doing the Pilgrim tourist thing
A few photos taken while Barb showed us around Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Night departure for New England
I had the Cruiser all packed and ready to rock when I was at work on Friday. I needed to get a few things done so I was unable to leave a little early at 3:30pm as planned. Instead, I escaped around 4:10pm and pointed the handlebars up I75 to pick up Karen and head east.
Continue reading Night departure for New England
Evening departure for Philly
After years of not taking him up on his invitation, I decided it was time to head out to Philadelphia for Roach’s annual July 4th get-together.
Continue reading Evening departure for Philly
2011 MAMMARY Run Gallery
Here are photos and a photo map from the 2001 MAMMARY Run. Some of the photos are courtesy of Len and Pauline.
Continue reading 2011 MAMMARY Run Gallery