W H A T ’ S
I N S I D E
MO NT HLY C O L U M NS FREE WHEELIN’ ..................................................3 WHATCHATHINKIN’ ...........................................4 POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE.......................5 ON THE MARK ....................................................6 BACKLASH..........................................................7 WE’RE OUTTA HERE ..........................................9 BIG CITY GETAWAY..........................................11 GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN ..............13 MYSTERIOUS AMERICA..................................15 WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE ............................17 INSIDE SCOOP..................................................18 UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR ...................31
FE AT U RE S VIRGINIA FROM TOP TO BOTTOM .................20
PR O DU C T R E V IE W S HANG UPS .......................................................28 STA-BIL RUST STOPPER .................................30
ON THE COVER It’s been a long time since we’ve seen everyone, and it may be a while longer before we can gather our Backroads family together again in person, so here’s a family album, of sorts, to help us all get by.
Welcome to the May issue. We at Backroads wish you and your loved ones health and safety in these trying and uncertain times and that we all ride this out to enjoy the rest of this season and many riding seasons in the future. Yes, this is a little lighter issue as many in our advertising family are struggling to keep their doors open and many have had to shut them due to regulations, economics and safety for themselves and their employees. Please continue to patronize as many as you can support, be it a motorcycle shop or product, restaurant or lodging. We thank those who are able to continue their support of Backroads and look forward to many more years of great motorcycle, travel and adventure in these pages. This time we’ve brought you some haunted hotels, a terrific music shop and an off-the-beaten-path homecookin’ diner (please visit them when you are able), as well as our Fall Fiesta ride from 2019. Enjoy the trip; we know we certainly did. Be safe, stay well and we will see you on the road!
Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure
Publishers
Brian Rathjen • Shira Kamil
Contributors
Mark Byers, Bill Heald, Dr. Seymour O’Life
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BACKROADS (ISSN 1087-2088) is published monthly by BACKROADS™, Inc. 2020. All rights reserved. BACKROADS™ may not be reproduced in any manner without specific written consent from the publisher. BACKROADS™ welcomes and encourages submissions (text and photos) and suggestions. Include phone number with submissions. BACKROADS™ will only return material with enclosed sufficient postage. The written articles and opinions printed in BACKROADS™ are not necessarily those of the publisher and should not be considered an endorsement. The Rip & Rides® published are ridden on the sole responsibilty of the rider. BACKROADS™ is not responsible for the conditions of the public roadways traversed. Please respect the environment, read your owner’s manual and wear proper protective gear and helmet. Ride within your limits, not over them.
BACKROADS • MAY 2020
FREE WHEELIN’ BRIAN RATHJEN We don’t need another hero We don’t need to know the way home All we want is life beyond …the Thunderdome. ~ Tina Turner We have all made mistakes, errors, underestimating our foe. Although riding might seem a solitary endeavor, it still is not. Hell… Superman is staying home. We had done two ‘Social Distancing’ rides. The first one was awesome on every level - the second one a bit more complex. Shira had a wonderful idea for friends and riders to gather on Friday, March 20th, just as the shit was really hitting the fan. Facebook invites were sent to all around. Roll out your
bike, strap on your gear and be at The Barnstormer BBQ, in Fort Montgomery, New York at 1 pm. Geoff, the owner, long-time rider, all-around great human being, and one of Backroads longest supporters, would happily have individual meals (of the superb Barnstormer BBQ-kind) ready for oneat-a-time pick-up. The weather had called for warm, if not bright – but we Backroads’ riders
Page 3 are a hardy lot. I heard the band America singing Sandman as I arose at dawn. It WAS foggy outside. The deep mist that enveloped the forest looked more like The Walking Dead than The Sound of Music. I rolled out the bikes. Shira came out – her smile just a bit less bright. My gut was turning. My gut has an incredible track record. This first ride was easy, grabbing a hand delivered BBQ from The Barnstormer and scooting to the empty lot at Silver Mine in Harriman State Park where everyone had their own picnic table. It was all good and brought a small part of our Backroads community together. A week later Shira got an email about another such gathering. In Cornwall. A restaurant that had outdoor seating. Okay? It sounded great – but as we headed north - things potentially headed south. A bit of perspective. Between the first week and second it had gotten very strange. Where the first week’s ride seemed an excellent idea, this second - not so much. Shira and I have gone lite shopping. The only others in Tractor Supply were couples like us. Middle-age. Happy. Content to share whatever the Gods throw at us. Holding hands. People making slight eye contact that said we are with you. I am happy to be that folk. We went for a second day’s ride. We met. We rode. We stupidly vectored around Route 218 along West Point. ROAD CLOSED. Young cadets suddenly seeing a number of motorcycles got their attention. We made a U-turn. I watched a very serious weapon raised. This is how things make the news. Let’s skeedaddle. Lunch was fine. But, for now. We’re done. I hope when this is printed that we are looking to a warming sun. To each other. I know there will be tears. But there will be smiles as well. Each week we put out our The Backroads Report. It was to be a social mingling – not distancing - thing. Who knew? In early April – now a few weeks back - I stole these words from Chicago. Continued on Page 8
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MAY 2020 • BACKROADS
WHATCHATHINKIN’ SHIRA KAMIL
COVID Coping I write this on the morning of March 28 while watching Walter Lantz’s wonderful classic cartoons and savoring my morning coffee. Spenser T. Cat is sleeping peacefully beside me and Brian is, well, I’m not quite sure where he is. Yesterday was an absolutely magnificent day for March 27 and, come 4pm, I snuck away for a well-needed afternoon ride. I had just mounted Mosko Moto’s Reckless 40 bags on my Honda 919 and it was an excuse to see if I had done a good job. To be honest, I did not want to return to the garage – I could have kept on going all the way to Key West. Except… The News: New York City, as well as many major cities in the US and around the world, has been almost completely shut down, most businesses, other than essential, have their employees working from home and the emptiness of the grocery shelves is alarming. We at Backroads share the thoughts and concerns for all effected and hope for a speedy recovery for any illnesses, both physical and mental, as well as a remedy for the virus and economic downturn. On the brighter side of this doom and gloom, the roads are pretty empty, the weather has been fairly conducive to riding and people seem to be a bit kinder and more respectful to each other. If that demeanor can be the new norm for how we deal with each other then that would be a good thing. If you are in an area that allows you to get out on your bike, the number one thing to keep in mind is your safety. The medical world is far too busy to have any added work due to injuries. If you have been riding all this time, good for you. If you are just getting your motorcycle back on the road, take some time to refresh yourself and to make sure your mechanics are up to
snuff as well as your bike’s. PLEASE visit your local dealerships, or at least do some online shopping from their sites, to keep the economy flowing as best as possible. Now is not the time to ‘wick it up’ through that series of s-curves you so dearly love. Now is the time to reflect on how fortunate we, as riders, are to have this vehicle (literally) to escape, for a while, the solitude of this virus. Take in the scenery, soak up the sunshine, admire the blooms, returning greenery and beauty that is springtime. Since the virus is spread through human contact, the best way to enjoy your ride without impacting anyone else is to stay on your bike and enjoy your ride. Pack a lunch from home and find a nice out-of-the-way park to take in the nature. While many restaurants aren’t able to seat you at their tables, they are still preparing wonderful meals that can be enjoyed in the safety of your own homes or al fresco during a refreshing day’s ride. If you are able to help the local businesses that are trying to stay open – restaurants, dealerships, etc. – keep your gloves on while in the shop to minimize contact. If you are going to stop, take the precautions available such as packing some hand sanitizer and/or wipes to disinfect and wash your hands immediately upon return. Once you return to your garage, if you have been in contact with others, keep your riding gear outside and wipe down any parts of the bike that may have been touched sans gloves. As Backroads is a tourism-driven publication as well as motorcycle, we also urge you to patronize those businesses that remain open to serve our needs and wants when we are once again able. Inns, B&B, and smaller lodgings are being hit tremendously and we look forward to, on the other side of this nightmare, enjoying our time around the pool at the Gray Ghost and a shared adult beverage on their porch while listening to some homegrown music. If you are not able to get out on your bike, don’t lose touch with the motorcycle community. There is plenty to read – The Backroads Report, for exContinued on Page 6
BACKROADS • MAY 2020
POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE BILL HEALD
The LOneLIesT hIghway “All the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, that they cannot stay quietly in their own chamber.” ~ Blaise Paschal “He mostly kept to himself.” That’s what they always say about the hideous criminal who did unspeakable deeds, to reinforce the notion that if you’re not a blooming socialite you’re a potential menace to society. Indeed, society prefers those with the outgoing, gregarious nature, and why not? They’re more fun. These people are happiest in schools rather than swimming alone, and the pack becomes a critical part of their existence. But now that we have a very virulent virus that is forcing vast swaths of the population to remain in their own chambers, people find themselves living a more hermitlike existence. Human beings are social animals, or so it is said, and for those who thrive on company, periods of time without the company of others can wreak havoc on the soul. The fact that so many find themselves quarantined at this time in history makes for rough sledding for these individuals, and even those of us who like the isolated life are sympathetic for how rough this can be. This is one reason why the motorcycle rider and the culture associated with the machines is such an interesting social study. I know of few other “special interest” groups that have such a wildly diverse membership, and such a flock of seemingly incompatible types of personalities that seem to get along just fine. There are motorcyclists where the social dynamic is a big part of the attraction, and then the loner types that the solitude of rider and machine is a very special relationship. But in this dynamic there is a very interesting common characteristic: these types are often switch-hitters, and the lone rider can find themself enjoying a group ride with all the trimmings and the group motorcyclist can be spied taking off on a weekend trip alone on occasion. I’ve always been fascinated by this, and thought about the nature of the ma-
Page 5 chines themselves that makes this dual alliance possible. The motorcycle, in its rawest form, is a solo transport device; a single-seat wonder that makes it unique (along with its two-wheeled physics that make it steer like an airplane). But the addition of a pillion passenger makes the vehicle a whole different creature, and throw in a whole mess of like-riding companions and you have a mass of humanity and a veritable rumble of rowdies. The humble motorcycle thrives in all these roles, and never loses its ability to open up the world around you thanks to its exposed nature. It really is a freedom machine, and the mechanical expression of the human desire to flee from enclosed spaces even if some prefer to have a good chunk of humanity along for the ride. So here we are. The once carefree interactions with humanity are now somewhat cloistered, and the motorcycle finds itself in a critical situation. There are few vehicles that can deliver personal isolation, even in traffic, the way a bike can, and you can flee from your confinement with much greater ease than many others. True, you can go for a drive in your car if you are so equipped, but as we all know it’s not the same. The claustrophobia of being stuck in a room or domicile can be transferred into even the largest SUV. But the motorcycle has no such limitation. For someone like me who tends to avoid riding in groups, the situation is largely optimal (and unchanged) from the ol’ non virus days, but thanks to the motorcycle’s individual construction there’s no reason you can’t ride in a group provided you observe the proper protocols when you arrive somewhere (and you have to take this stuff seriously because it is deadly serious). It’s also a time where we really need to be responsible for the well-being of those around us, a trait that hopefully will outlast the pandemic and catch on with a broad swath of the populace that previously acted like the world is for their use alone. Provided one survives this scourge, we can all learn some valuable lessons and perhaps even appreciate the solace of one’s own chamber if this has eluded you in the past. Then, go for a long ride and soak in the fact that, despite the chaos and uncertainty of the human world, it is in fact spring. Things long dormant are waking up. Every day is a gift, even the extraordinarily difficult ones. It often just takes a while to realize it, and don’t fail to use whatever tools are at your disposal to get through the day and help others along the way. Oh, and when encountering those who enjoy the isolation we find ourselves in, don’t assume they’re necessarily odd. They just really like riding solo.
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MAY 2020 • BACKROADS
at my hotel in Madison and I felt great. Oh sure, I was a little tired physically, but mentally, I was refreshed. The absence of input, other than the scenery and the ever-changing situations reMARK BYERS quired to navigate a better portion of I-70, took away the forcing function of the news. I was so refreshed that I walked from the hotel down to the UniRIDIum versity of Wisconsin campus to have beers with the wedding party. It was As I write this, we’re in the biggest awesome and that experience made me realize the restorative, healing power worldwide panic I have ever seen. The shelves are devoid of toilet paper, of a long motorcycle ride. In one cycle of long, July daylight, I went from hand cleaner, and cleaning wipes. It took an hour for Betsy to check out the stressed to blessed. I suppose I could have taken some kind of pill, but the other day with some basic foodstuffs. Businesses are shutting down and peoroad and the ride was all the Valium I needed or wanted. Maybe I should ple are worried. It’s no wonder: the television and internet are just chock apply for a patent for “Roadium” or “Ridium” or the like. full of all kinds of coverage. Social media is just packed with “information,” The other motorcycle medicine I’ve used successfully in the past has been some decent and some just outrageous. The tinfoil hat community is well maintenance. There’s a great comfort in the absolute control offered by doing represented. Who knows what the truth is? The two single most important something that makes as much sense as partially disassembling a motorcycle things I know to do are also the most basic and sensical: stay away from a and putting it back together better than it was before. A simple oil change lot of people and wash my hands frequently. Well…duh. Welcome back to can be a tonic. Adding a farkle can be an injection of satisfaction. A new set kindergarten. of bags - an antidepressant: “Pack-sil?” There’s a massive calming influence The last time the media was this hysterical, it stressed me out so badly that brought on by the creation of a new sense of order; however, I urge caution I needed a break of some kind. Conveniently, I had a big trip planned - an at the tasks chosen because a missing or stripped fastener can introduce stresIronbutt ride of 1,000 miles in 24 hours to the wedding of an employee to be sors of their own. Stick to things that are easy not to make a mockery of and held in Madison, Wisconsin. I deliberately don’t ride with any audio input leave the hard stuff for another time. other than that generated by the bike and nature and my inner voice, so I was I’ve written before about the order-influencing action of organizing one’s looking forward to the peace and quiet (or as quiet as it can be at 70+ MPH toolbox. Putting the sockets neatly in their holders in the socket drawer is on the interstate on the seat of an R1200RT). I left all the rancorous polemic my equivalent of raking the sand in a Japanese Zen Rock Garden. The unibehind and got on my bike at daybreak. Sixteen-and-a-half hours later, I was verse comes into greater order when the wrenches all face the right way and in the right order and the screwdrivers alternate positions with military precision. When the rest of the world 1269 DOLSONTOWN RD is dissolving into complete chaos, one can turn to the MIDDLETOWN NY 10940 toolbox for a sense of order and peace. You might even find the ever-elusive missing 10mm socket. There’s 845-343-2552 • WWW.CYCLEMOTIONINC.COM nothing like seeing your sockets arrayed in tight, neat formations like the Terra Cotta Army of Qin Shi Huang, Cycle Motion is your provider of motorcycles, ATVs, waiting to assault the next project. scooters, and utility vehicles by Kawasaki, Suzuki, Polaris, I don’t know how long this thing we’re experiencing Yamaha and Can-Am. With a large parts department, qualified may last. Betsy and I have a saying we use when we’re service technicians and a full shop of parts and accessories, out on the bike and the weather turns, or we get up on we're here to meet all your power sport needs. the last day of a rally and realize we have a long, cold, wet slog home: “It is what it is.” There’s nothing we For every rider - on or off road, whether they like doing it can do about it, so we put on our long johns and Gorein the dirt, carving the twisties, or cruising the backroads, tex outerwear, pull up our “big-boy britches,” and get we have their weapon of choice. on with it. There’s no sense complaining or worrying. Sometimes, you just gotta ride and the ride’s the juice. The ride’s the thing. The ride’s the…Ridium
ON THE MARK
Continued from Page 4 whaTChaThInkIn’ ample, as well as 10 years worth of Backroads magazines online. Keep planning those trips; this certainly is not going to last forever. Work on and finish those motorcycle projects in your down time. Stay connected with your riding friends; pick up the phone, facetime, skype, whatever – keeping communication and socialization going is key to keeping your sanity in this, otherwise, maddening time. There have been even more postponements or cancellations of events and rallies so keep track of those on your schedule. For instance, Morton’s BMW has postponed their Spring Fling from May until September 1113. We are certainly hoping that our 25th Anniversary Grand Tour in June and the July State College Escape will still be on schedule and that, by then, we will all be together as our Backroads’ family should be. Keep an eye on our web and Facebook pages for any updates. I can only hope that when the May issue is out, the severity of all this has passed and we are well on our way to getting our lives back. Let’s all ride this one out the way we always have - on our motorcycles – and, as we’ve all seen, that is the best form of physical distancing as well as mental health. Be well, stay safe and we’ll see you all very soon on the road.
BACKROADS • MAY 2020
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BACKLASH
Letters to the Editor
COVID-19 Backroads Report March 14 Brilliant! While two-thirds of the country is panicking, I can listen to ELO’s Blue Sky on this rainy California day and read about wild hippos in Columbia. Thanx, Clem Curbside drop offs for oil change at Cycle Max! Brought my Helinox fold up chair. :-) Your last email got me thinking. Got out of home office mode and isolation. Took the bike in for a service. Steve Brian, Backroads’ stretchy tube material (HedZ) makes a perfect face mask. Lori
Social Distancing Rides Yesterday, a friend and I headed out for some “physical distancing” on our motorcycles. Now when we ride, our average speed is 30 mph and under. We’re looking at scenery and enjoying the quiet roads that wind through Califon and Long Valley and Lebanon that parallel curving streams, characterized by one lane bridges, and most of which lack even a center line. What made yesterday so special was how many people we saw outside walking their dogs, or walking next to children on bicycles, or were playing in their yards. We passed close to a hundred people by the end, all in groups of just two or three. We waved hello to them, and they all waved back or gave us a thumbs up. I remember feeling like we had gone back in time to the early 1900s or something. Almost no other cars on the roads, and everyone just enjoying the outdoors and greeting each other. It was a great ride. Brian and Shira: In this time of self-imposed isolation, I spent the time not always available to read in depth your November 2019 article “New York State Road Trip (Got a copy of the magazine at the blood drive at NY Yamaha). Each day picking Backroads up from the bathroom floor reading and underlining points of interest a little each day. I spent a good part of this evening going through each location on Google maps. I have a friend who lives in Trumansburg. I am sending a copy of the article to him. He probably knows many of theses places mentioned; he’s been living in the area for over 30 years. I don’t think he knows about the Weaver Drain Tile Museum though, that’s for sure. I’m thinking about all the inns, hotels, and restaurants mentioned in the article that are now suffering economically during this pandemic. Stay well and thank you for the article that was this evening’s entertainment. I could almost feel the road under my feet and the sound of the wind whistling past my helmet. Richard Weiss • STMC Brian: I always enjoy reading your commentary and, as a fellow history buff, appreciate your interest in history. While reading Dan Bisbee’s account of his trip up Vermont’s Route 100, one of my own favorite rides, I was sort of shocked to read that President Harding had been shot (page 40 of April edition). In fact, President Harding died of a heart attack in a San Francisco hotel. You might have been thinking of either President
Garfield or President McKinley, both of whom were shot and killed, but I understand that it’s hard to keep all of those old dead presidents straight. Aside from this, I thoroughly enjoyed the article. Dave Owen, Wolfeboro, NH Dave: I guess we’ll never run the president column on Jeopardy! Thanks for the catch. -ed.
Memories of the Norwich Inn About a dozen years ago, Carol and I were on a week-long swing through New England on our R1150RT. The first night was the Norwich Inn. It started out as a beautiful summer day, but it changed swiftly while we were in Route 5 along the Connecticut River south of Norwich. We ran into a wild thunderstorm with nowhere to hide. Carol had been riding with me for decades, but this was the first storm where we could not get under an underpass or any shelter. I was worried about her state of mind until after one crash of thunder and blast of wind I heard “Wahoo” through the intercom. We were drenched when we got to the Inn, even with our Stiches (outside, but dry within) but had a wonderful night. They helped us dry our stuff, fed us with great food and I had several excellent beers. Nice memory. Gregory Bagen
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More Separation… Shira, Just got my hard copy (I love having a hard copy) of March’s Backroads. And I appreciate your commentary about the Suffragists. In the 70’s I was living and riding in Tucson, Arizona. Here is a picture of me with an Equal Rights bumper sticker on my windshield. This Honda CB200 was the 2nd bike I ever owned having stepped up from a CB125. lori weiniger Brian and Shira, Looking forward to another year of Backroads and a great season. Last Fall Kathy and I, with another couple, spent a night at the Ye Olde Landmark Tavern in Bouckville, NY. I’ve been by it several times and see their ad in Backroads. I remember reading about it in a previous issue, so we thought we would give it a try. Much to my surprise the article is still posted by the front door as you enter the building. We not only enjoy the motorcycle get-togethers but also enjoy the points of interest and places to stay you write about. Thanks for putting out such a great magazine. Tom & Kathy Hello, I recently read about your magazine in CT Digest. I see you have listings for Moto centric B&B’s and the like and my question is if you plan to include Canadian destinations? We are opening a new Moto B&B in Newfoundland to offer travelers a good Moto centric destination for a good night’s sleep and all of the amenities a motorcycle rider wants and needs. Also, do you print articles about destinations in such far-flung places as Newfoundland? I can attest it has fine riding with the best scenery on the continent. Yes, I am biased but having been all over Canada and the US, north/south, east/west I can speak from experience. Cheers Mike Buhler
MAY 2020 • BACKROADS Mike, Thanks for letting us know about the B&B – great news for all those who travel to Newfoundland. In fact, we made the trek three years ago (https://issuu.com/backroadsmagazine/docs/november17web) and found it to be just as you say – amazing scenery, terrific people and some very nice riding; oh, and then there are the moose…Best of luck with your venture. Continued from Page 3 FRee wheeLIn’ Those who really know me are aware that they are my band – (well, for the first 7 albums!) Survive this - create time travel – Save Terry Kath! Pour a coffee, a bourbon, a scoop of ice cream…whatever your poison is this day. Let’s get ready to ride! Every day just gets a little shorter don’t you think Take a look around you, and you’ll see just what I mean People got to come together, not just out of fear Where do we go Where do we go Where do we go from here? Try to find a better place, but soon it’s all the same What once you thought was a paradise is not just what it seems The more I look around I find, the more I have to fear Where do we go Where do we go Where do we go from here? I know it’s hard for you to Change your way of life I know it’s hard for you to do The world is full of people Dying to be free So if you don’t my friend There’s no life for you, no world for me Let’s all get together soon, before it is too late Forget about the past and let your feelings fade away If you do I’m sure you’ll see the end is not yet near... ~ Chicago
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT We hope to see you soon!
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BACKROADS • MAY 2020
WE’RE OUTTA HER E The BLaCkBuRn Inn 301 GREENVILLE AVENUE, STAUNTON, VA 24401 540-712-0601 • www.blackburn-inn.com What if we told you we knew a place that had a most colorful history, and you can spend a most enjoyable evening and night there? Would you be curious? What if we told you the place, well, once was a lunatic asylum? Still keen on the idea? Well, that might get you excited, but that was long ago… before it was a prison. Yes. First a lunatic asylum and then a prison. Oh, if these walls could talk! If a hotel ever had a ghost, it must surely be here. “How can this be,” you ask… “It looks so pretty, so peaceful.” Indeed, the Blackburn Inn, located in Staunton, Virginia does exude a serene feel, in addition to classy, modern and refined. It should, as the buildings themselves have quite the pedigree. Designed in 1828 by Thomas Blackburn, a master builder and protégé of Thomas Jefferson, the Inn showcases Western State’s original heart pine floors, whitewashed wood trim, red brick, and classical moldings. Sunlight from its many windows floods the wide-arched hallways and vaulted ceilings. Yes, but it was not always so. The original idea of the buildings was to be a resort-style insane asylum lovingly administered to by hospital director Francis T. Stribling, a UVA grad who embraced “moral medicine.” Western State Lunatic Asylum had
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a weekend destination keeping you on the backroads terraced gardens where patients could plant flowers and take walks, roof walks to provide mountain views, and many architectural details to create an atmosphere that would aid in the healing process. There was and still is a 41step spiral staircase that leads to a wonderful rooftop cupola with a stupendous 360-degree views that stretch to historic downtown Staunton, the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind and Mary Baldwin University. But this changed when Stribling died in 1874. It wasn’t long before Western State became known for electroshock therapy, lobotomies, shackling of patients and affinity for straitjackets. When Virginia passed the Eugenical Sterilization Act of 1924 patients were forcibly sterilized at Western State. Now, this is the scary part – this practice continued until the 1970s when the law was finally repealed in the Dominion State. 1970s?! The original facility was then converted to the Staunton Correctional Center, a medium-security men’s penitentiary. The prison closed in 2003, and plans were made for other things; Condos, shops and the like. Enter Robin Miller who bought the 80acre property in 2006, and almost immediately turned its abandoned bindery into an apartment complex. The Blackburn Inn sits in Western State’s former administrative building, where original skeleton keyholes still puncture the doors and there are still sliding viewing ports to be seen. The Blackburn today is a true masterpiece and, if we didn’t go out of our way to tell you of its sordid past, you might not have even noticed, Unless you are psychically gifted – then you will surely feel the hotel’s dark mojo. Where is Stephen King when you need him? Oh, right – he already did this.
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When we heard about the Blackburn Inn and its history we never paused for a second. A chance to overnight in an old lunatic asylum and prison? We’re in! But, it almost gets better, for as we rolled up the long, expansive drive past the sprinkling fountains and manicured lawn and stopped at the bottom of the stairs leading to the main building, the doors opened up and people – lots of people – began to come out. Most with wine glasses and cocktails in hand. Okay, now, what’s all this then? They’re throwing us a party? Nope – gas leak and evacuation. I was told this was the first time this had ever happened at the Blackburn Inn and lucky for us we got to experience it firsthand. But, the staff came out with cold soda, water… Wait, is that champagne? Why, yes, certainly, young lady…Wow, they knew how to make the best of a bad thing. A bit later we checked in and were personally brought to our room. We loved it – modern, trendy and very comfortable. We settled in, showered and then did what we always do – set off exploring. The building behind, obviously the main asylum, had a very creepy vibe
MAY 2020 • BACKROADS
and it got both our Spidey-Senses tingling. We were not sure if we were allowed around here – but, we have found, in some cases, it is better to beg forgiveness than ask permission. We strolled up to the cupola, taking in the amazing view of the town and it seemed, on this clear day, a vista that went all the way to the mountains. Along our travels, we discovered the Art Gallery, featuring local artist,s as well as their own bistro – the Second Draft – that serves dinner each night as well as 24-hour coffee (Yes!) and a very robust complimentary European-style breakfast. We found a glass of wine from the small bar and enjoyed it on the patio, before walking into downtown Staunton and seeking out dinner at one the many restaurants found there. We have been to Staunton many times now, finding it the perfect town to set-up shop for a few days and explore the mountains and valleys that make up this part of central Virginia. We now offer you something different – The Blackburn Inn is comfortable, classy and upscale without being, in any way, pretentious. But, if you scratch the surface and let your imagination take hold – your experience might be a bit different, we’d say.
BACKROADS • MAY 2020
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Frontline Eurosports Presents
B IG CITY GETAWAY meaDOwOOD musIC ALLENTOWN PIKE, BLANDON, PA 19510 610-916-1285 • WWW.MEADOWOODMUSIC.COM/ Not all that long ago I wrote a Free Wheelin’ called Common Ground – about how so many riders are guitar players as well and we all react when we see a tarp-covered bike in a garage or a guitar case in someone’s living room. That being said we are always happy to find some that are musically special. Some will say that nothing happens by coincidence and that things happen for a reason. That may or may not be true, but over the last few months, I had been ‘Jonesing’ for a new 12-string. This all started with a visit to Gruhn Guitars in Nashville and a Taylor guitar that was way over my pay-grade, not to mention my lacking skill level. Then there was a Takamine at one of the chain stores – used, but very nice. Alas, it was sold when we returned. We were combining a little holiday concert (Peter Mayer, of Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, was playing in Reading, Pennsylvania) with some Backroads S & S (seeking and searching). There was a lot to see and do in the Berks County region of PA and we would make the most of a short overnight stay west of Philadelphia. It was the weekend before Christmas and things were pretty icy, so this overnight was done by car (perish the thought) and I was driving. Heading down the Allentown Turnpike and just
daytrip ideas to get out of the daily grind north of Reading, in the town of Blandon, Shira spotted an old stone building set back just a touch from the road. She said, “ Hmmm, that was a stringed instruments store.” Que? A quick u-turn and seconds later we rolled into Meadowood Music – one of the neatest music shops we have been in for a long time. In a world full of big-box music stores – Sam Ash, Guitar Center and the like, it is refreshing to discover smaller and more laidback establishments. Here along the busy Allentown Pike, in this old stone building that had to a be few centuries old, the husband and wife owners - Paula and Mike - have created something different and special. We like Mom & Pop… obviously. Where in most of the larger and more corporate stores you will find the usual big names – Fender, Gibson, Taylor and the like – here at Meadowood you will find a selection of different instruments. Yes, they do carry Martin, as the factory is fairly local to them, but they also carry several brands that you rarely see; one being Seagull, a superb guitar from Quebec. I was not familiar with this make, but I sure am now. Walking around the small shop, the rooms that might once have been a parlor or kitchen were now a place where guitars, basses, dulcimers, and fiddles now hang from hand-made custom shelves made by Mike and his son. Very nice.
Page 12 Upstairs they have a number of rooms that now see students of all ages coming to learn to play guitar, banjo, ukulele and the like from a large number of dedicated musicians offering quality mentoring. Meadowood Music offers more than instruments & accessories. We were told to make ourselves at home so we did and I strolled into the back rooms that hold their repair shop. Now, this was very impressive as Meadowood offers expert repair & restoration of all stringed instruments. Mike builds and restores violins and is an authorized Martin Guitar warranty service technician. If something bad ever happens to any of our guitars Mike will be the man who will make it right. We will try never to have to hire him for this. While we were there several ‘regular’ customers came in for this, that and the other thing and Mike knew them all by name. See if that ever happens at Sam Ash or in an email to Sweetwater. When the Takamine was taken I told Shira it was not to be and that if a 12-string did appear it would be something special and the circumstances would be as well. In the middle of the pack of guitars on one rack was the single 12-string in the house; A Seagull Coastline S12. Built with a wild cherry bottom, cedar top and silver maple neck – it was a four-figure guitar at a midthree-figure price. I asked Mike to take it down for me as I never want to be ‘that guy’ who knocks gui-
MAY 2020 • BACKROADS tars into guitars and nicks, scratches or worse to a shop’s instrument. He took it down, strummed it a few times to check the tuning and handed it over. He asked for a minute to handle a customer and returned to tell me about Seagull. A few chords in and I knew I might be in trouble (trouble of a good kind). Unlike some places, this would be where the hard-core sales pitch occurs, but he seemed honestly into telling me about the guitar and how this Canadian machine differs from others. For sure he’d love to have me pull out the credit card this day, but he settled into maybe another time and then showed us around the shop. If you are a guitarist, bassist, fiddler, or just like music, a stop at Meadowood Music is well worth the effort, slight detour or a day trip. The building is exquisite, the owners are a delight and the instruments, not the usual fare. By the way, we returned the next morning as Mike opened the shop and that 12-string Canadian guitar rests happily next to its new family of Ovations, Guild, Fender, and Martin. Maybe there are no coincidences after all.
BACKROADS • MAY 2020
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G REAT A LL AMERICA N DIN E R RU N LITTLe ReD DIneR 206 NORTH MAIN STREET,PORT ALLEGANY, PA 16743 • 814-642-9353 We feature great eateries each month on the backroads of the Great All American Diner Run – but sometimes we need to get back to basics. A place does not have to be fancy or over-priced. It does not have to have some sort of catchy theme or celebrity chef. No. When you want to get back to basics with a GAADR you need a neat location, fun staff and, most of all, great food. This month we’d like to bring you to the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania – the town of Port Allegany in particular and a roadside restaurant that has been serving delicious and home-made food for locals and travelers alike for decades. Welcome to the Little Red Diner. Port Allegany has an interesting history. Back in the day, people would portage from the Susquehanna and then pick up the Allegheny River here. Port Allegany was also home to a factory of the Pittsburgh Corning Corporation. The “PC”, as the factory was known locally, was the only producer of architectural glass building blocks in the United States. Also, this is the town that made the Kewpie Dolls. Well, that’s special. What is really special is a bright red diner in the middle of the town. We discovered it when doing a little research for our Weekend Escape Rally in Wellsboro this last October and we had a good-size crew of bikes and one Porsche come along to see what the Little Red Diner had to offer. They had plenty. We like it when the staff is not just attentive, but fun as well. When given a little guff by Tim of the Porsche, the waitress dressed him down righteously and hysterically. The Little Red Diner does breakfast all day – big fluffy 3egg omelets but with some twists. Sure you can get bacon, ham, cheese but when was the last time you saw meatball or cheesesteak or Mexican omelets made with taco meat, salsa, and cheddar? Steak bagel, Monte Cristo and burritos. You can get pancakes just about any way, but their stuffed
tasty places to take your bike
French toast created with maple syrup cream cheese stuffed between two pieces of French toast has to be incredible. For you heart healthy riders, take a look at the Scrambler - eggs, home fries, meat, cheese all covered with sausage gravy. We’re sure they have a defibrillator. On the other side of the clock, they also do dinner with steaks, shrimp, fried chicken and the like. But we were here for lunch so we stuck to that part of the varied menu. On the salad side of things they had five offerings – Julienne, steak, chicken three different ways, taco, and the classic cobb. There were plenty of sandwiches as well. French dip, egg salad, BLT, tuna fish, and tuna melt. The pastrami on rye was a hit with our crowd and the home-made sloppy joe was killer. The turkey club was tender and moist and delicious – but Shira could not say no to the Little Red Diner’s offering from a little north of the region – the Beef on Weck. For those of you not familiar with this meaty offering: Beef on Weck is a sandwich found primarily in Western New
Page 14 York State, particularly in the city of Buffalo. It is made with roast beef on a Kummelweck roll, a roll that is topped with kosher salt and caraway seeds. The meat on the sandwich is traditionally served rare, thin cut, with the top bun getting a dip in au jus and spread with horseradish. It was an unexpected but welcome treat. The Little Red Diner is known for its burgers as well – especially the Monster. Which, as you would think, is big, very big – but nowhere as huge as their 3lb. bacon cheeseburger. Bring your appetite and wallet. It costs $21.99 but if you can scoff it down in 30 minutes or less it’s free. We passed. Although the diner is located on a main road, the surrounding region of this part of the Keystone State is amazing with nicely paved roads in all directions and plenty of hard-packed gravel for those who might prefer that. Any way you go you will have a great ride and a superb meal when you
MAY 2020 • BACKROADS drop your side stand down at The Little Red Diner – We give it a four-helmet rating. We’ll give you a great day’s ride loop from Wellsboro, where we had our Escape Rally, with a stop at the World War II Museum just a short stop up the road from the diner. You can download the .gps file here: www.sendspace.com/pro/hdfnm4 And the printed route here: www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/hdfnm4
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BACKROADS • MAY 2020
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Morton’s BMW Motorcycles Presents Dr. Seymour O’Life’s MYSTER IOU S A MERICA PROVIDenCe BILTmORe
There a lot of odd and mysterious places out and about. Some are new, others have been around for a long time. Still, others have inspired tales and legends and even a Mysterious America article (thank you Atlas Obscura). So, let’s take a look at a hotel in Providence, Rhode Island. Some 16 stories tall and a bit oddly shaped, the Providence Biltmore first opened its doors back in 1922. At that time it was part of a large hotel chain called Bowman-Biltmore.
This region of the United States has tales to tell. As we said it is an oddly shaped hotel, styled in Beaux-arts style and was designed by the same firm that designed Grand Central Terminal in New York. All seems well with the world in Providence – but all is not what it seems. Behind the building of this beautiful hotel was a man named Johan Leisse Weisskopf. According to many, Weisskopf was deeply into Satanism and a cohort of known Satanist Aleister Cowley. Johan Leisse Weisskopf was wealthy and
The region has always embraced tales of the supernatural. New England ghosts, witches, devils and monsters in human shape populate the novels of Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allen Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and Stephen King. There’s even a name for the region’s special brand of horror: Gothic New England.
self-indulgent and had ties to organized crime in the city. The Providence Biltmore opened in 1922 and immediately gained notoriety for its ‘different’ approach to customer hospitality. The basement had its own hot springs and became the infamous Bacchante Dining Room, where guests such as Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and Douglas
11 DORRANCE STREET, PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND www.graduatehotels.com/providence • 401-421-0700
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Fairbanks, were served drinks by waitresses who were nude, save for their aprons (one must have some decorum). For years there have been reports of the supernatural. From stories of Satanic rituals to other deaths that occurred at the Hotel, it is no wonder there is paranormal activity at this location. While it was a speakeasy, there were multiple murders with police and government officials implicated in the crimes, including the drowning of an 11-year-old prostitute. There is also a legend that a successful businessman checked into the Hotel on October 28, 1929, and the next morning, when he heard the news of the stock market crash, he threw himself out of a 14th-floor window and died when he hit the sidewalk. It is said he still haunts the 14th floor and reenacts his death repeatedly. Some guests have reported seeing someone fall past their window. To this day guests and staff report the sounds of parties coming from empty
MAY 2020 • BACKROADS rooms. The clinking of glasses, stomping on the floor, ghostly dancers in the hotel ballroom have all been reported. Weisskopf’s intention was far from subtle. He had a chicken coop built on the hotel’s roof to keep a steady supply of sacrifices for his weekly rituals, and the basement hot springs were used for purification ceremonies. Of course, during Prohibition, the basement was used as a SpeakEasy. It quickly became a happening place. Eventually, local authorities removed the chicken coop and hot springs, and it is said that is when the ghosts started to haunt the hotel’s corridors. It now has the reputation as, arguably, the most haunted hotel in the United States. The Biltmore reportedly served as inspiration for two of the most hauntingly iconic hotels in fiction, namely the Bates Motel from Robert Bloch’s Psycho and, along with the Overlook Hotel in Stephen King’s The Shining. While it might be a coincidence, Jack Torrance from The Shining sounds a lot like Dorrance, the street on which the Biltmore is located. Okay, maybe that is a stretch? In 1947 the Biltmore was bought by Sheraton. It was closed in 1975 and was to be demolished, but was saved from the wrecking ball by Mayor Buddy Cianci who worked with local businessmen to designate the hotel as a landmark and rehabilitate it. It reopened in 1979, and since then has changed its owners several times. In 2017 it was bought by its current owners, AJ Capitol Partners, who renovated the hotel and renamed it the Graduate Providence. The Graduate? Wait a second? Are these not the same people who own the hotel in State College where Backroads is holding its weekend escape at the end of July? I believe it is. Perhaps we will have a bit of Mysterious America join us that weekend - join us a see. ~ O’Life out!
BACKROADS • MAY 2020
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The Law Office of Paul G. Gargiulo Presents
Welcome to the Jungle - The Art of Learning to Ride Skillfully A column dedicated to your riding survival slow Down and get Fast A few months back we published an article in our weekly e-newsletter The Backroads Report. What, you do not get TBR every Saturday to enjoy with your morning coffee? You can fix that easily by logging onto our website and signing up. It’s fun and informative, not just about motorcycles and riding but, at times, a bit irreverent. But, back to where I was going here. The article was from an ammo company called Cheaper than Dirt and it was about being more accurate with your shooting. Although some seemed upset that we had such an article in what they consider a “motorcycle” newsletter, I disagreed and, although the article might help make your aim truer, it was a metaphorical posting that could be related to our motorcycle riding. The article titled “Slow Down and Get Hits” could be adapted to “Slow Down and Get Fast” or “Slow Down and Get Smooth… confident… poised… flow.”
back out of the drive can happen. To err is human. Learn from errors and try to avoid the mistakes. Okay? Another metaphorical article was about home improvement from a daily email I get from Family Handyman. Less is More. This was brought home at track-based school years back at Pocono Raceway. I was trying to get every turn correct and was having up and down success with the fairly flat, boring circuit. During one break an instructor came over to me and said, “I have been following you and you are trying too hard. Slow down. On the next session I want you to get into 2nd gear and stay there. No 3rd or 4th. Just 2nd. Okay?” Okay. And, off I went, staying in 2nd gear and, after the first lap trying not to unconsciously shift, I slipped into an easy groove around the track. Sure, I was passed (I am always passed), but I was more solid than I had been all morning. It was that eye-opening, eureka moment. When riding around on the streets – whether it be a stolen afternoon ride or a multi-state tour – strive to be smooth, accurate and proficient. The easiest way to begin is to try NOT to go faster – but rather slow it all down and work on precision, technique and your riding skills. You will find that by going slow, you will become faster. As Bat Masterson said, “speed is good, but accuracy is final.”
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www.dealsgap.com 800.889.5550 17548 Tapoco Road, Robbinsville, NC 28771 The well-written piece by Wilburn Roberts was strictly talking self-defense, but the same thing applies to our riding. Just as you would never want to draw a pistol and start blasting away – you would never want to get on your motorcycle and go rippin’ down the street. Both are recipes for disaster. To steal some segments of the article: “Few of us will shoot right up to the handgun’s potential, but in slow fire, some of us will be able to achieve this goal. The goal is achieved by mastering the stance, grip, sight picture and sight alignment and trigger press. The stance doesn’t come as naturally to some as to others. It’s easy to substitute motorcycle for handgun and as far as stance, grip and the rest - that is something to consider when you are riding as well. A secure but light grasp will always work better than squeezing the death out of the grip on either a Guzzi or a Glock. There were some words on “reset”; After the shot or if you let the handgun take control. Think of this when you make an error while riding. I have always said that errors happen. But we learn from our errors, but PAY for or mistakes. Hitting the wrong part of a curve or not spotting the car about to
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MAY 2020 • BACKROADS
mORgensTeRn’s FInesT ICe CReam 88 WEST HOUSTON ST OR 2 RIVINGTON ST, NYC CALL FOR HOURS • 212-209-7684 MORGENSTERNSNYC.COM Ice Cream for Breakfast Day – a National holiday, in my mind, anyway. It falls on the first Saturday of February and this year it was February 1st. What better way to commemorate than a trip into NYC to the newly opened Museum of Ice Cream, sitting downtown at 558 Broadway. Being that it was February, and even though we had been quite fortunate with the lack of white stuff on the ground this winter, we decided to rely on public transportation to get us there. Quite honestly, after my last excursion driving in to meet my long-time friend Mindy at Cooper Union, I was very much put off from every operating a motorized vehicle in that city again. So, ferry to Hudson Yards station to downtown was a piece of cake. We made it with minutes to spare for our 11am entry time and were immediately ensconced in a crowd of over-exuberant giggling girls ranging in age from toddler to near teen. The entire place was bathed in bubblegum pink and I do believe they had a constant spray fragrance to match that color. Thank goodness I don’t have a sugar issue or I would have fallen into a diabetic coma upon entry. I suppose my Spidey senses should have gone off after reading their ‘About Us’ piece on the website: ‘Museum of Ice Cream transforms concepts and dreams into spaces that provoke imagination and creativity. MOIC is designed to be a culturally inclusive environment and community, inspiring human connection through the universal power of ice cream. We believe in creating beautiful and shareable environments that foster IRL interaction and URL connections, providing fun, multi-sensorial expressions of ice cream that cater to the appetites of our generation.’ Huh? This should in no way, shape or form be allowed to call itself a ‘museum’. The MOTORCYCLE TRAILER RENTALS & SALES only slight bit of ice cream information given was from a young scooper handing us some Turkish ice cream, letting us know where it was from, how it was made BARN TRAILER RENTALS and why it was here. Other than that, bubkas. So, we did the walk through, tasted 718-426-7039 • www.BarnTruckRental.com a little ice cream and beat feet out of there before the sugar stink was too well OPEN & ENCLOSED TRAILERS imbedded in our brains. That said; IF you have little ones and have entirely run FLATBED TRAILERS • CAR HAULERS out of entertainment options and are looking for a way to waste $39…no, I honHITCH INSTALLATIONS estly can’t even go in that direction. 5705 Broadway • Woodside NY 11377 (OFF THE BQE & LIE)
BACKROADS • MAY 2020 We had a lunch date with said girlfriend Mindy and husband Ken but since we exited so early, we had lots of time to meander the area. Right next door is a Converse superstore. Who doesn’t love a nice pair of Chuck Taylor’s? We spent a bit of time looking at all the variations, from classic white or black canvas All Star to the extravagant customized leather or tie dyed versions. Making it out of there sans new kicks, we started our walk to the Black Tap on Broome Street. Passing Rudy’s Music along the way we, of course, popped in as Brian can not pass an instrument shop without taking a look, just as I can’t pass an ice cream shop without sampling. We exited that shop without a new purchase either and found our restaurant, albeit early for our meeting. We put in our name and sought out whatever else there was to seek in this neighborhood. Eye spy, with my little eye, the Dainese shop on 6th Avenue. We took a look inside, spoke with the folks for a bit and admired the Hayden and Rossi leathers in the window. By now it was time for lunch with friends. Yes, this is a piece about Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream, which we found in Greenwich Village on our walk back to the subway. Opened in 2014 in their original location on Rivington St, owner and founder Nicholas Morgenstern has developed small batch recipes that are exciting, innovative and push the imagination and taste buds. Offering 88 flavors, most of which are always available for scooping, you will be hard-pressed to walk out of there without sampling at least a half dozen before making your choice. The shop is pristine white tile with some stools inside, counter seating for eight and 32 tables for al fresco. When
Page 19 Nick moved his shop from Rivington St. to the more expansive spot on W. Houston, the majority of the space was taken up by the dipping cabinet, and still is. They offer up seven vanillas, seven chocolates, five caramels, five coffees and five strawberries in addition to their other fruit-based flavors, tropics and sorbets. Under the category of ‘miscellaneous’ fall Caramel Corn, Cinnamon Raisin Toast and French Fry. The listing of ‘Parlor Favorites’ include American Egg, Burnt Sage, Raw Milk, Salt & Pepper Pinenut and Black Licorice, one of my personal favorites. Rounding out the list are the ‘American Classics’ such as Cherry Chocolate Chip, Cookies n’ Cream and Peanut Butter Cup. There are vegan options as well as those marked ‘a’ for ‘alcohol’ like Cinnamon Whiskey Caramel. Should all these flavor sensations not be enough, Morgenstern’s toppings list is a full column on the menu board with the usuals as well as Aleppo pecans, lemon jam, pickled pineapple or – oh my goodness – sesame honeycomb. While I would normally have gone with the Black Licorice, I really wanted to top my scoop with the sesame honeycomb so went a little more basic with a scoop each of bourbon vanilla and coconut espresso; extremely impressive with the creaminess, texture and unbelievable burst of flavors from each mouthful. I was thankful we had many more block of walking before getting back on the ferry. A very productive day, indeed, and, should you find yourself in this neck of Manhattan with a surging sweet tooth, I can think of no better way to satisfy it than a stop at Morgenstern’s for a scoop or three. Enjoy!
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MAY 2020 • BACKROADS
(Editor’s Note: This issue comes to you during a time when we are restricted, quarantined and looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. While some of us are able and willing to take our bikes for a mental health ride, many more are staying in place and hoping to see a return to what might be a new normal in our way of life. Whatever the case may be, we wish you health, safety and that, by the time you read this, it will all be in the rear mirror. Enjoy a recount of our most excellent 2019 Fall Fiesta – we certainly look forward to continuing our Backroads’ Rallies in 2020 and beyond) Hot on the heels of a great Summer Squeeze our annual Backroads Fall Fiesta seemed to come up very quickly. This would be a big one as it would also mark the 21st year of the magazine holding these events. This time around we would ride all but the last night in the Old Dominion State of Virginia and, for a good number of riders, the rally would start early; along the Virginia border with North Carolina for two days at Virginia International Raceway under the watchful eye of Reg Pridmore and his extraordinary CLASS Motorcycle School. We had put the word out months before hoping that many riders would jump on the chance to be tutored by the champion and his staff as we have found these two-day events to be intense, educational and ride inspiring.
Day One: Front Royal, Virginia The plan was for those coming to CLASS to meet up in Front Royal, Virginia on Saturday evening. Leaving just past dawn, we cut through the eastern part of Pennsylvania and then began to head south. Although there are bigger roads through the Keystone state, we have a few in our toolkit that just make riding a pleasure and we followed along till we came upon the Bridge Out Detour. This is the second trip in a row that we have run into this dilemma. It was Saturday, the site was closed with no workers there, so we tentatively rode around the barriers and to the bridge.
BACKROADS • MAY 2020 The almost completed bridge… I might add. I walked the bridge to make sure it was rideable and then rode both bikes over the baby heads across the newly poured concrete and back down the not quite finished ramp. We saved about 20 minutes and, more importantly, stayed on our route – which was getting to be a lot of fun. Shira made a quick stop at the Turkey Hill Ice Cream Factory (the girl’s gotta work) and then we crossed over the Susquehanna near Wrightsville. The bridge over which we crossed gained notoriety a while back when the Mayflies, attracted to the lights of the bridge, swarmed. It was so bad the cars were sliding around on the millions of bugs that were on the roadway. All clear this day. Another note on a bridge here at Wrightsville. In June 1863, the Confederate Army had invaded Pennsylvania. After capturing York, the Rebels planned to take the state capital, Harrisburg, and possibly Philadelphia. To get there, they would need to cross the Susquehanna River at Wrightsville. Pennsylvania militiamen from Columbia, on the Lancaster County side of the river, vowed to block the Confederate advance. They did so by blowing up the bridge and then setting fire to the remains, almost taking the town with it. The Confederacy did not cross and the Pennsylvania militia saved Lancanster. For us, we had done it successfully and continued south, across the MasonDixon Line and into Maryland near Pretty Boy Park, an area that is a bit more than pretty.The roads here are spectacular and we made good time, stopping just for fuel, VitaminWater and a few bags of nuts. We crossed over the Potomac at Point of Rocks and made our way further south and west to Front Royal, with a swing by Mount Weather to wave hello at the not-so-secret government hide-away. We met half the riders who would be joining us at the track in Front Royal. We knew of a great Italian restaurant called Osteria 510 which was right around the corner from the convenient, clean and cheap Super 8. Keeping with our tradition of national foods before a MotoGP race this restaurant fit the bill perfectly. Great first day… with nine more to go.
Day Two: VIR Although Front Royal is known to be the northern entrance to the Skyline Drive and onto the Blue Ridge Parkway we chose a route that would offer less traffic, great views and just as much fun – Fort Valley Road through the George Washington Forest.
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This has become our ‘go-to’ route as it is so lightly traveled and we have never had any ‘Imperial Entanglements’ along this way. It also set us up for breakfast at Daisy’s Diner right next to the Dukes of Hazzard Museum. From here we made excellent time south then east and over the Blue Ridge on Route 33. We continued south and crossed over some other peaks that run through this part of Virginia. These roads were tight and had fairly serious elevation to them. That was when we came around the turn to see a young man’s bike jammed under a guard rail and the kid staggering to his feet. We quickly stopped, parked as safely as we could and did what we could. Control the scene. Slow down traffic. Check on the young man, Reed’s, condition. He was shaken, not stirred. We stayed with him as he called his dad who was instantly on the way. Shira did a bit of first aid on some serious road rash to his palm and we talked with him a bit more, asking him some questions to make sure he had all his cylinders firing, which he did.
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MAY 2020 • BACKROADS With all as good as we could make it, we got back on track and followed along the route, making a quick stop at the birthplace of Meriwether Lewis – the famed American explorer. Someone asked if he was the boxer. The roads were pristine… well except for the five miles of fresh chip and seal; A little gravel in our travel. This would be the first of many
gravel in our travel roads. By late afternoon we rolled into North Carolina. It is remarkable that to get to Virginia International Raceway you must enter it from the state to the south. That can’t make Raleigh very happy! We had a number of rooms along the paddock area and dinner at the track’s Oak Tree Tavern. It was an early night as we had sign-in and tech inspection at 7:30am. It was time to go to CLASS!
Days Three and Four: CLASS CLASS deserves its own story, and so it shall be (and was). But, I would like to throw this out to all of you. Months back Mark Byers wrote about farkling yourselves. Farkles are the little things we add to our bikes to make them more ours or to add perceived performance and value. You spend hundreds, maybe thousands, on these add-ons… But, how many spend any time learning to be a better, safer and more proficient rider? Do you? Why not? Schools like Reg Prid-
more’s CLASS and others only add to the fun. It will make every ride that much more enjoyable and satisfying. That is a promise. Let’s continue with the Backroads Fall Fiesta.
Day Five: Orange, Virginia For all the others who did not join us at VIR and CLASS there was, most likely, a long ride south to the town of Orange, Virginia. James Madison’s Montpelier can be found right outside this community and the surrounding area is highly agricultural. It also has some wonderful miles of pavement that crisscross back and forth through the county. Our route north from the border with North Carolina would bring us along some serious roads as well. The 225-mile jaunt ran along historic battlefields, small rivers, and miles of the crop that once was king here in the state… tobacco.
BACKROADS • MAY 2020 Here and there large patches of kudzu have taken over and there were hundreds of beef cattle to be seen. Add in the soybean, corn and other crops and this part of Virginia is a breadbasket for the mid-Atlantic states and beyond. We had a planned stop for lunch, just south of Farmville, at the original Fishin’ Pig barbeque. Backroads featured this great restaurant a few years back and it worked perfectly into our road plans for the day. We would visit their second location later in this rally. We did run into a good long stretch of fresh chip and seal. Not the end of the world for us on the bikes, but not the best for columnist Mark Byers and the Mrs. in their new (to them) BMW Z3 M-Series who were four-wheelin’ this rally. If you have to bring a car it is hard to beat this snazzy little roadster. Sorry about that road Betsy. The route worked well until the mini-fuel crisis. Just about everyone’s fuel lights came on at the same time and we detoured to George’s Tavern for fuel. There is no George’s Tavern right now, but the region gets its name from a historic watering hole and depot that saw the likes of Lafayette, Rochambeau, and Von Steuben come this way during the Revolutionary War. Today there is a Citgo fuel station with some high-quality wine and awesome fried chicken. Fueled in both body and soul we got back on the route, eating up the last 50 or so miles in quick time and rolling into Orange by late afternoon. There were already many riders there and more arriving by the minute. Friends from Canada, Vermont, New Hampshire and Florida as well. It was quite the turnout. The Comfort Inn Hotel, owned by Backroads alumni Pam and Tim Collins, really put out the red carpet with a big Backroads banner and a welcoming soiree with wine, cheese and other scrumptious foods offered to the arriving riders. They even set up a Bike Wash station, which got far more use than I would have thought. Yes, the Z3 got a bath and the Harley riders got a laugh watching GS owners actually washing their bikes. Thank you to Martin and all at the hotel – you guys and gals were wonderful and we truly appreciate all you did. We were joined that night for dinner in town by Steve Anderson, head of sales at Morton’s BMW, and rolling back into the hotel parking lot there seemed to be plenty of riders milling about and drinking in their first night on the road. We had a long day come morning so it was early to bed, early to rise for us this time around.
Day Six: Wytheville, Virginia Now that the Fall Fiesta was in full swing it was time to do some serious miles. Our lodgings for the next two days would be the wonderful Bolling Wilson Hotel in Wytheville, Virginia. We have been there several times and they have been great supporters of Backroads as well. It was a no-brainer to bring our group there, as there are hundreds of great motorcycling miles to be found at their doorstep.
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MAY 2020 • BACKROADS Mountain Road. Oh boy…Six miles of Q-P poured over the roadway a half foot deep in spots. I turned our group around and then hit the GS’s Enduro-Mode and motored over the peak by myself. A few others did this as well – all serious riders with skill. Thankfully no one got in over their heads and all seemed okay that night… although I felt we had ruffled feathers with this road. Not all enjoy gravel roads and nobody likes crazy mountain gravel roads. In truth, the next one that would come along later in the weekend would be worse. The Bolling Wilson was fantabulous and, since we’d be here for two nights, everyone settled in for a comfortable stay. All loved this hotel and especially the view from The Perch bar atop the roof. This just might be the perfect end spot for every day’s ride.
But we had to get there first. Our 270-mile route had us swinging down through the James River and the upper valleys before a long and traffic-free run of about 70 miles on the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway. Traffic-free always works for us. Shira took the lead here and basically spanked the boys down! Lunch was found at Peaks of Otter, along with some classic bikes from Georgia, and then we had a chance to help out another rider with our Stop & Go expertise. Mitzvahs are a good thing! All was going according to plan until the next to the last section. Pine
Free Day: Wytheville & the Back of the Dragon! The perfect spot to end the day was also the perfect spot to start one too – as we greeted the sunrise with hot coffee and muffins from the breakfast basket that the Bolling Wilson leaves outside your door each morning. As always, we had a number of suggested routes for riders, but many stuck with a great route that we called the Burke’s Garden Loop. Known as ‘Vanderbilt’s First Choice’ and God’s Thumbprint, beautiful Burke’s Garden is, at some 3,000 feet, Virginia’s highest valley and Virginia’s largest rural historic district. This bowl-shaped valley carved out of the top of a mountain is simply amazing in every way.
BACKROADS • MAY 2020
Shira and I thought we’d try something different and flipped the route for ourselves running it backward from the others. Virginia, especially this part of Virginia, is splendid in every way. We were tickled that we could bring so many friends and riders down this way to experience a region they might never have visited if not for these Backroads rallies. The road called Robinsons Tract was … well interesting. Let’s say it is Virginia’s version of Paso Del Stelvio. We made time to visit the Indian village at Wolf Creek. It was here, during
Page 25 the construction of the interstate, that ancient First People remains were found… and then a village lost to time. It is well worth the visit. Burkes Garden was fantastic, as always, and the fresh-out-of-the-oven Amish apple pie made it even more so. By this time we had run into many riders heading in the original direction, but we had our own plans as we headed to a great eatery called Cuz’s for a slightly late lunch. From here it was all business as we tackled the Back of the Dragon. Deal’s Gap has nothing on this as the Back of the Dragon offers 32 miles and 438 curves of amazing and tiring fun. Like every time before, when we were through these miles, we were physically and mentally done. Shira’s ride back to the hotel was equally as quick and exciting. She had done a stellar job with this rally. That evening we both sat back (as Pete Alonzo hit #50!) and watced as the camaraderie, fun, and friendship that is a Backroads Rally came into play. Nice… or as they like to say here in southern Virginia… perhaps we were blessed. That works too.
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Day Eight: Waynesboro, Virginia For this rally, we needed a hotel that would bring us a good distance north this day and we also wanted to make sure there would plenty of food options for our riders. In a very unBackroads fashion, we took rooms at a Best Western Plus at the intersections of I-81 and 64. Why’d we do that? Well, they had the rooms and the route that would bring us there would be one of the best we have ever offered on any of our rallies and… the “plus” might be that they had the second Fishin’ Pig barbeque right next door. We wanted riders to arrive, hit the pool and stroll to dinner. In truth, as chain hotels go, the Waynesboro Best Western Plus was perfect for us. Great pool, coffee all day, clean rooms and decent breakfast – all within a few miles of some of the best roads in Virginny! And, it was the ride this day that kept everyone’s attention. Both good and bad. Along the route we had riders going up Robinson’s Tract once again. Not that it is an impossible road, it is time-consuming and many had ridden it the day before, so following our Garmin maven Paul Donoghue’s suggestion we rode around the mountain and picked up the route just a bit further on. This worked well as Little Creek Road was a swoopy stunner with great bends and quick speeds. From here it only got better, with miles and miles of truly magnificent pavement. Yep, Virginia makes great roads… unless they choose not to. Near Pem-
broke we took a road called Mountain Lake. This brought us by the Mountain Lake Lodge, a stately stone hotel of immense size and the location used for the film ‘Dirty Dancing’. We stopped for breakfast and had the time of our lives. As we went to leave, we spotted a few riders come back down the road in the opposite direction. Bad news travels fast – especially fake news. Someone said that the road was “impassable.” The definition of impassable: incapable of being passed, traveled, crossed, or surmounted. With the sudden cry of impassable being bandied about things got FUBAR quickly. Riders began to make U-turns and Plan Bs. One bike, making a Uey, tumbled to the ground, at great expense to both bike and owner.
The truth was the road was gravel, and it was narrow at points… but hardly impassable which several large Harleys, an Indian and nimble sportbikes will attest to. Everyone who attempted the peak crossed safely and got the bonus of another 150 miles of one of the best Backroads rides ever. EVER! We made a pit stop at the Paint Bank General Store and then carried on north at a happily quick and sporty pace. The others that went to Plan B… well, we trust they had an excellent afternoon as well. Route 39 along the Maury River was as pleasant and pretty as they come and a great way to meander up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the 20 or so miles north to Waynesboro, the hotel pool and the other Fishin’ Pig BBQ next door – in that order. We also had the pleasure of giving an award, of sorts, to Denis Cote’ who travels from Ottawa for almost every one of our Backroads rallies. He is a marvelous rider who seems to thrive on miles and we are happy to have him with us.
Day Nine: Ronks, Pennsylvania By now we felt as if we had been gone a long time, although it was just a bit over a week. This day’s ride was the longest, with over 300 backroads miles to cover – running through four states. Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and ending in Ronks, in
BACKROADS • MAY 2020 the Pennsylvania Amish country in Lancaster County. We got an hour early start, with side-stands up as the sun was clearing the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was almost cold and high above, riding through the crisp air, was a treat we had not had since late spring. As we rode over the ridge, we could see the dense fog and mist that enveloped the valleys below. Down in the valleys old Sol shot beams of photons across the roadway. It was spectacular. We crossed the Potomac River near Harpers Ferry and happily made our way into the twisty country roads of Maryland. As we rode over Catoctin Mountain we were met with a “Road Closed” detour sign. We have learned that sometimes, at least for intrepid riders, this might be a suggestion (in our minds) so we rode around the closure. A half-mile later we saw that not only was the road really closed – it was blocked with a huge earthmover. Hmmm, what all this about? It was about then we realized that Camp David was on the road and that the block was a more serious nature than just road repair. Ooops. We made a quick u-turn, but not before a “worker” came over to chat with us and size us up. We made a mea culpa and got moving in the other direction. We passed by the Correspondent’s Memorial Arch in Gathland State Park. We knew that our friend Helene was not too far behind us and for her, this would be special, as she has covered so many world-changing events for NBC News in her career. A bit later on we crossed the Mason/Dixon Line and rode into the Keystone state. Crossing the Susquehanna River brought us into the Amish part of the region. Shira found not one but two great ice cream stops along the way and by the time we got to the Steamboat Hotel I was ready for an insulin shot! This hotel has a lot to offer with a pool, hot tub, great bar with a talented
Page 27 bartender and a superb restaurant all done up to look like a Mississippi Riverboat – and it does. With bikes parked for the night, the remaining Fall Fiesters had a great evening capped off with a playback of that morning’s Aragon MotoGP at the bar… Thank you, Vas.
Day Ten: Back Home That morning riders were all packing up their machines, and sadly saying goodbye with lots of hugs and plans being made to meet over the winter. Our ride brought us north and east, along routes we had never touched before and I think we had a few winning roads along the way. By early afternoon we rolled into Backroads Central’s long drive – Mission completed. We did CLASS and brought some new classmates with us, explored Virginia’s great backroads, hung with stupendous riders and friends and, hopefully, made some new ones as well. It is always a bit bittersweet when we finish the Fall Fiesta Rally. For us, it is the end of our rally year and we hope it was a good one for those who have been coming along with us for years and, especially, the newer riders who have come along too. For you guys and gals… Welcome to a family you did not even know you had. Before we left, the question was put forth… Where to next year? That we do not know… yet. But, being that it will be Backroads Silver Anniversary – 25 years of motorcycles, riding & adventure – we are pretty sure 2020 will be a very busy season – but, as the song says… get ready, get ready! (This was the original ending to this piece but, as we’ve all learned and lived through since early this year, the universe had a very different story to tell. We still hope that our 25th Anniversary Grand Tour will take place as scheduled, but should we have to alter course, which Backroads’ people are VERY good at, we will and enjoy everyone’s company as we can).
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MAY 2020 • BACKROADS It was the middle of the night. Shira had just come back to bed after feeding the cats at their preferred time of 5:22 am exactly. I was vaguely aware of this… then I heard it. Boom. Like a gunshot it echoed through the house followed by a crunch of riding gear hitting the floor. Riding suit down! Feh… deal with it the morning. Our riding gear is very important, although some prefer treating their gear well, like gear, and tossing them here and there. We think jackets and pants should be treated with kid’s gloves. Nurtured and protected until the micro-second they are called on to protects us. I want my armor solid - yet pliable. I want the jacket and pants to feel form-fitting. I want then in perfect shape. So, here is where my ‘hang up’ comes in. Using regular hangers will just end up with a sharp snap and tumble to the floor. We have been in hotels and used four hangers – the only way to hold up real riding gear like an Aerostich Roadcrafter Suit or a full set of leathers. Real riding gear will weigh in between eight and twelve pounds depending on girth, sex and what you have been eating the last 20 years. So …when it comes to hangers - there is good and there is better; and maybe best. We were just looking for a hanger that will actually hang out, be convenient and solid. There seem to be a number of options.
World’s Strongest Coat Hanger • $9.99 Revzilla • revzilla.com Built from a co-polymer construction with an I-beam design, this hanger says it will hold up to 140 pounds of gear. That is more than ten times what we need. It’s also a bright orange that grabs my attention when looking for my riding suit in the middle of my James Bond tuxedos. This is a tough hanger that should last a career of riding. A solid and affordable choice. During this time, we remain OPEN for SERVICE and REPAIR. Please call/email for an appointment.
For 40 years Circle Cycle has helped riders get out and stay on the road In northern New Jersey there isn’t a friendlier or more knowledgeable staff than ours. We’re happy to help you find the parts you’ve been looking for.
ONLINE SHOPPING AVAILABLE Visit our website and check our catalog pages - if you don’t see what you want, give us a call we’re always ready to help!
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570 Broad Avenue Ridgefield NJ
CIRCLE CYCLE 201-945-2200 for the discriminating rider
www.circlecycle.net circlecycle@live.com
BACKROADS • MAY 2020
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Pit Bull’s Hanger $20.95 • pit-bull.com When she is not blasting down the backroads, Shira’s riding suit is snuggled happily and warm, inside, a habit I have adopted. A warm suit is a happy suit. Pit Bull, known for their incredibly strong bike stands, has an amazing Gear Hanger. Designed for heavyduty applications like racing leathers, tactical gear, and heavy jackets, its zinc plated and clear coated to resist the elements. This is thought of as track use only hanger but it is indestructible in a normal home. It will hold up Godzilla. We like that!
Tough Hook Hanger $19.95 • tough-hook.com Made in the USA from military-grade materials, the Tough Hook Hanger is specifically designed to hang, hold and carry heavy equipment, with a load capacity of 150LB+. The Tough Hook was created by a U.S. Army Sergeant, utilizing a personal understanding of the needs of military members, law enforcement, first responders, and more, this heavyduty hanger goes far beyond the industry standard, with an I-beam construction and impact-resistant resin that make it nearly indestructible. Along with superior load capacity, the Tough Hook and its patented grip-handle also ensure the safer, more efficient transport and storage of your equipment, extending the gear’s shelf life in the process. The Tough Hook Hanger is available in an array of colors.
HP-3 Design from Black & Gray • $73 • www.blackandgray.com What, you say? A hanger for $73? The apparatus from Black & Gray is an extra-strong hanger supporting up to 150 lbs of garments and protective gear, with strong clips to securely hold pants, gloves, and other accessories. It is constructed of powder-coated aluminum, stainless steel and molded plastic with extra-wide, 3 inch adjustable shoulders which hold garments open, allowing it to vent and dry, and 2 power clips with rubber-tipped jaws. It is recommended for a wide range of garments and gear including motorcycle leathers, heavyweight leather jackets, race suits, textile suits, and more. If you truly cherish your riding gear, this would be the Lamborghini Huracan of hangers. If you just sort of want to take care of your gear, Aerostich offers up a less expensive (sans gear clips) version at $32.
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MAY 2020 • BACKROADS
Aerostich’s Folding Hanger $17 • www.aerostich.com Good Morning Dr Jones… You don’t need to be the sadistic Nazi SS villain in an old Steven Spielberg movie to have a pretty good time with one of these. It’s fun and useful in any situation where a suit or gear hanger would be good to have. Hanging this way helps gear dry faster and last longer. The folding hanger is made from solid aluminum with strong, flexible rubber joints. Includes storage case. Holds up to 10 lbs.
PRODUCT REVIEW
STA-BIL RUST STOPPER Metal is one material that’s known for being strong, but it’s not indestructible. After all, it’s readily susceptible to oxidation if you leave it outside exposed to the elements. If that metal you left outside happens to be your motorcycle – ugg – now there is an ongoing issue. Fortunately, there is one way to reduce the odds that your metal belongings will be destroyed by rust over time, and that’s by using STA-BIL Rust Stopper. It really is as simple as spraying this product on the metal items you want to protect from corrosion. Here’s how this product works and where you should use it to prevent rust. When you leave metal items outside for any length of time—whether weeks or years—you run the risk of ending up with destructive rust. It’s just a fact of life, especially in an area where it rains a lot or even simply gets humid. Short of keeping your bike inside your house, there’s not much you can do to avoid this issue…unless you add a protective coating to any metal surface in order to prevent rust and corrosion. And that’s exactly what STA-BIL Rust Stopper does. But, we have found that it does a great job helping remove rust when it has already taken hold.
Our Snowblower had been sitting there since the end of last winter. I had noticed that the wheels had rusted up pretty badly. Although STA-BIL Rust Stopper is made to prevent rust, it made the job of removing the rust fairly easy. With an upcoming winter storm on the way I was battening down the hatches and while securing my grill and smoker I found a small scraper that I was using on the tight spots of my grill. It had fallen underneath the Weber and picking it up I could see it was completely rusted over. Ahh, too bad. Junk. Or, maybe not. I applied a strong dose of STA-BIL Rust Stopper, which began to bubble immediately, and gave it a few minutes to do what it does then did a strong rubbing with a towel. A second blast and a few seconds on the steel brush of my grinder and the scraper, although not going to be sold at the next Mecum Auction, will have another season of use for sure. You can find STA-BIL Rust Stopper at most auto parts and big-box outlets for around $10 bucks.
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UP C OM I N G E VE NT S CAL END AR
What’s Happening
Is this uncertain and ever-changing time, please check on your scheduled event for postponement or cancellation. We look forward to a full season and seeing everyone on the road again. Be well, stay safe and we’ll ride this out together. EVERY MONTH - WEATHER PERMITTING
JUNE 2020
Every Tuesday • Two Wheeled Tuesday at Spiegel Restaurant • 26 1st Avenue, NYC. An eclectic gathering of motorcycles served with multi-cuisine meals. Kick some tires, have some couscous, enjoy the crowd • 212-228-2894
1-6 • Americade, Lake George, NY. Largest touring rally in the USA - scenic rides, vendor expo, seminars and so much more. www.americade.com
Every Wednesday • Bike Night at Rutt's Hut, 417 River Rd, Clifton, NJ
13-16 • MotoVermont presents the MotoVermont 400, a four-day, 400 mile dual sport excursion around central Vermont. For full detail visit www.motovermont.com
Every Thursday - Bike Night at Jumboland. 3-9pm weather permitting. Great Food and Large Parking lot to show off your ride. ALL WELCOME! Nightly trophy awarded. 438 Route 206, Branchville, NJ • 973-948-6802 Every Saturday thru October • Bergen County Harley Davidson Saddle Up Saturday. 9am for coffee and bagels. Ride departs at 10am. Return to the dealership for FREE food and music. Proper attire MUST be worn! No shorts or sneakers. BCHD, 124 Essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ • 201-843-6930
MAY 2020 16-17 • New Sweden BMW Riders of South Jersey NS450. 2-day, 450 mile ride through NJ, PA, DE and NY. Sign in: 8:30-10am @ Cycle Gear, 2070 Route 70 East, Cherry Hill NJ. THIS IS NOT A GROUP RIDE. Donuts and coffee at sign in, free camping, great dinner on Saturday night and hearty breakfast Sunday morning, 50/50 drawing, door prizes and finishing patch. Route sheets provided at start, GPS download available donations accepted. Endsite: Sunday, May 17 @ PJ Whelihans, 1854 Rte. 70 East, Cherry Hill, NJ • www.facebook.com/events/1340882499435349 25 • Tony's Track Days sponsored by Riding in the Zone Motorcyclist Training NonSportbike Day, Palmer, MA. Includes classroom sessions with Ken Condon and track time. This is not about 'how to ride' but 'how to ride better.' For full details and registration visit www.tonystrackdays.com.
5-7 • Babes Ride Out East, Narrowsburg NY. Tickets available at babesrideout.com
15 • Ride to Work Day • ridetowork.org 11-24 • Backroads Grand Tour. Details online: www.backroadsusa.com/rallies.html 13-21 • 97th Annual Laconia Motorcycle Week, Laconia, NH. World's Oldest Motorcycle Rally. Visit their extensive website for full details: www.laconiamcweek.com 24-27 • Johnstown PA 23rd Thunder in the Valley Motorcycle Rally. All Bikes Welcome! Parades, vendors, entertainment, manufacturers and demo rides are all part of this great 4-day motorcycle festival. Info: www.visitjohnstownpa.com/thunder-valley 26-27 • Antique Motorcycle Club of America Colonial Chapter National Meet. Warren County Farmers Fairgrounds, Route 519, Harmony, NJ. Two days full of vintage motorcycles, Vendor reserve space online $20 fee. Judging - $10 fee. For general info visit colonialchapter.com or email UncleBruce347@gmail.com • 862-268-5589 28 • Katie's House presents Dan & Mike's Place Charity. Sign-in: 9-11am Ridge Powersports, 725 Route 15N, Jefferson, NJ. KSU @ 11am. $20/rider • $15/passenger. Endsite: Angry Erik's Brewery, 2 Camre Dr, Newton, NJ $10 entry includes food, live band, silent auction, 50/50 and more. Don't ride? Show off your Classic Car at Angry Erik's. More info: 973-714-3584 or Find them on Facebook
JULY 2020
30 • The Darkness Poker Run to benefit suicide prevention & drug addiction. Sign in: 8am • KSU 10am • $25/rider-$10/pass.. Scenic self-guided ride with card stops. Live music, speakers, BBQ/Pig roast @ 12:30, Painters Tavern, 266 Hudson St, Cornwall, NY. For full details email chefmdederick@gmail.com • 845-321-1402
15 • 23rd Anniversary Kids for Cancer Motorcycle Benefit Run. Sign in: 9-11:45am (Rain or Shine) Zippo/Case Visitors Center, Bradford, PA. $25/pp. Blessing of the Bikes @ Noon. 120 mile cruise through the beautiful mountains of scenic northwestern PA, the Alligheny National Forest. Awards and prizes at end. kidsandcancerbenefitrun.com
30-31 • Durty Dabbers Dual Sport Event presented by the Durty Dabbers MC. For details visit www.durtydabbers.com or call 570-502-5830
17-19 • Black Diamond Rally by the Black Diamond Beemers. Chet's Place,885 Tizrah Rd, Uniondale, PA. $60 includes 2 nights camping, Fri/Sat dinner, coffee + campfires. PRE-REG ONLY. send fee to BD Rally, 135 Pierce Rd, Carbondale, PA 18407 by July 3rd. More info: 240-523-3637
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MAY 2020 • BACKROADS
U P C O M I NG EVENTS CALENDAR 20 • Tony's Track Days sponsored by Riding in the Zone Motorcyclist Training NonSportbike Day, Palmer, MA. Includes classroom sessions with Ken Condon and track time. This is not about 'how to ride' but 'how to ride better.' For full details and registration visit www.tonystrackdays.com 24-26 • Soggy Bottom MotoFest 2020. 3-day Adventure and Dual Sport Rally at the Godspeed Event + Lodging, Port Matilda, PA. Included in registration: 5 catered meals, 4 rides with GPS files, beer, live music, bon fire and t-shirt. Tent and other bunking available at add’l cost. Details: www.kissellmotorsports.com/Adventure-Motofest--SoggyBottomMotoFest
AUGUST 2020 2 • Ride for Kids Hudson Valley. Sign in: 8-9:30am / KSU 10am • $40 online registration / $45/day of event • Motorcyclepedia Musem, 250 Lake St, Newburgh, NY • rideforkids.org 9-12 • MotoVermont presents the MotoVermont 400, a four-day, 400 mile dual sport excursion around central Vermont. For full detail visit www.motovermont.com 20-23 • Touratech DirtDaze Adventure Rally. Stay tuned for schedule, registration and more • dirtdazerally.com #TTDD2020
What’s Happening 27-30 • RESCHEDULED • Horizons Unlimited Virginia, Appomattox, VA. For everyone who dreams of adventure along the road less travelled. Join hundreds of like-minded adventurers and discover the thrills and joy of overland travel. Informative technical workshops on everything from tires to GPS to border crossings, exhibitors and comaraderie. www.horizonsunlimited.com/events/virginia-2020
SEPTEMBER 2020 11-13 • RESCHEDULED • Morton’s BMW 10th and FINAL Spring Fling. A weekend of great roads, good food, awesome riding and terrific company, all at the historic and scenic Natural Bridge Hotel. Rally fee includes vendors, door prizes, route sheets, scavenger hunt poker run, Friday brats & brews dinner, Saturday catered dinner and guest presentation by the incomparable Elspeth Beard. Don’t wait! Register now www.mortonsbmw.com. For questions call 540-891-9844. 13 • 32nd Annual Harvey C. Irons Make-A-Wish New Jersey Ride hosted by the Blue Knights NJIX. Sign in: Vasa Park, Budd Lake, NJ • 9am / KSU 11am. Coffee/Donuts at sign-in. Scenic ride through Morris/Sussex Counties, vendors, lunch upon return, live band. $20/person • www.bknjix.org/ 13 • 37 Annual Italian Motorcycle Owners Club Rally, Hamilton Rod & Gun Club, Sturbridge, MA. America's biggest and longest running Italian motorcycle event. Featured machine: Tonti-framed Moto Guzzi LeMans (1976-1991). $10 admission to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation • www.imoc.website. 16-20 • Catskill Mountain Thunder Motorcycle Festival, The Blackthorne Resort, East Durham, NY.A great weekend of motorcycle fun with rodeo games, wall of death, stunt jumpers, large vendor expo, bike show and builders, live music and more. • catskillmountainthunder.com. 21-22 • CLASS returns to Virginia International Raceway. Complete details and registration classrides.com.
CANCELLED
20-23 • MotoVermont presents the MotoVermont 400, a four-day, 400 mile dual sport excursion around central Vermont. For full detail visit www.motovermont.com
OCTOBER 2020 9-12 • Backroads Run to the Chincoteague Oyster Festival. 5 hours of everything oyster, hot dogs, adult beverages and more. The music of Island Boy will have you dancing. We’ll be at the Waterside Inn for 3 nights. ROOMS AND TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW but will certainly sell out so call now (there is no block of rooms for Backroads - first come, first served). Get your tickets online. Full information available on our Rally page.