April 2022

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W H AT ’ S I N S I D E

MONTHLY COLUMNS FREE WHEELIN’ ........................................ 3 WHATCHATHINKIN’ ................................... 4 ON THE MARK .......................................... 5 BACKLASH ............................................... 6 INDUSTRY INFOBITES............................... 7 MYSTERIOUS AMERICA .......................... 10 BONUS MYSTERIOUS AMERICA ............. 46 GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN......... 12 BIG CITY GETAWAY................................. 14 WE’RE OUTTA HERE ............................... 16 INSIDE SCOOP ....................................... 18 WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE .................... 48

FEATURES MOTOMARATHON 2022........................... 20 PROGRESSIVE IMS OUTDOORS .............. 21 INDIAN SUMMER .................................... 24 YOUR SPRING FLING .............................. 30 AIMEXPO 2022 ........................................ 35 PYRENEES PRANCE ............................... 37

PRODUCT REVIEWS MICHELIN ROAD 6 / ROAD 6 GT TIRES ...

GRYPHON MOSPORT RACE GLOVES ......

2022 INDIAN PURSUIT ............................

DUCATI MULTISTRADA V4 .......................

NOLAN N80-8 AND N60-6 HELMETS .......

INEARZ SPORT UH-3 EAR PLUGS ...........

22 23 41 42 44 45

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022

24

Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure

Publishers

Brian Rathjen • Shira Kamil

Contributors

Mark Byers, Stephen Davis, Vasilios Rallis, Dr. Seymour O’Life

Editorial Office BACKROADS, POB 620 Augusta, NJ 07822

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BACKROADS (ISSN 1087-2088) is published monthly by BACKROADS™, Inc. 2022. 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 • APRIL 2022

FREE WHEELIN’ BRIAN RATHJEN

RIDE LIKE A GIRL Motorcycling can be dangerous and for moto-journalists, it sometimes can be a bit more as we tend to rack up many more miles than the average rider.

But the most dangerous thing I think any male moto-scribe can do is write about women riders in anything less than a glowing and flattering way. Yup, I think I’m right on this call; but undaunted our hero forges on; and please note – I love women.

Let’s get some things correct from the beginning.

I do love women, clearly, but with some women riders, there are a few oft-repeated thoughts and non-issues that seem to keep coming back again and again…

Like that feeling I get every September when I watch the Mets.

Let us get right to this; but first… I am already building a case for my defense - ahead of the actual crime.

Back in July 1995, we published the first issue of Backroads, and my Free Wheelin’ column called ‘Making the Jump’ dealt with bringing women into motorcycling and getting many gals to jump from being a co-pilot to being the captain of her own ride.

It contained this quote: “Years ago, women riding their own machines were few and far between.

Regardless of the obvious prejudices that motorcycling was a “man’s sport,” small groups of women ignored the status quo and followed their hearts, the need for speed, I remember one Americade Queen call

Page 3 it once upon a time. The need to fly, to gracefully handle the twisties and the sweepers know no gender boundaries. The truth is, pound for pound, many women riders are better than their male counterparts.”

That was in July of 1995 – more than a quarter of a century ago. Back then I could agree with many female riders and their issues.

But not now, or for the last decade for that matter, to be sure.

Ready gals? Get the knives out.

You have chosen to ride. You have chosen that path. So, stop trying to separate yourselves from the boys.

This is a true non-issue. Most men I know welcome riders of all persuasions and gender.

Ready? Most guys don’t care. Really.

They’re not here; so I’ll say it for them... “Let’s just ride!”

A motorcycle does not care if the rider at the controls has two XX or an X & Y chromosome. What bikes really care about is how good the rider is and that he or she or they put input into the bike which is smooth, gracefully and skilled.

Men and women can both be excellent at this and the women we ride with are about the best you can find.

My female riding friends, Shira, Helene, Laura, Sandy, Lisa, Laurie, Kimberly, Pam, and Kristen, all ride like the wind. Sure, they’re women and they all have fun with that. Kristen’s BMW has a great sticker on the windshield that says, in a tongue-in-cheek way, “I Ride Like A Girl,” and she does – a very fast and talented girl.

These gals all have this in common as well as the fact that they never make a serious stand that states “Oooh I’m a woman and I ride!”

They don’t care. They love motorcycles. They ride. Period.

And, they ride with boys all the time. Gender never comes into play, yet some female riders seem to revel in this XX tribalism and some even make a living on this.

Continued on Page 9

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022

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W H AT C H AT HI NK I N ’ SHIRA KAMIL

PRECIOUS DAYS Each morning, as my eyes open and I take in the sun rising outside the bedroom window, I take a moment or five to ponder what this day will bring. The dawn has shifted across the horizon and, as I check my weather app on the phone I see that the temperatures are consistently rising. While I don’t discount the past, I do my best to look forward. I have a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote which hangs by my desk.

It starts my working day and I do my very best to follow it: This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays.

While there certainly has been enough in the past two years to keep one’s mind there, the present holds both ever-changing disturbances and hopefulness. My thoughts and eyes are overseas and my heart is with my family but, with the changing of the season and the budding of the trees, my mind and spirit are on coming months and the calendar that sits on my desktop.

That calendar is very full. After the turn of the page to 2022, it seems like winter was over like a blip, flying through January and February relatively unscathed by Mother Nature. March came in not so much like a lion but perhaps a tentative feral cat, and before I know it we’ll be boarding a plane to meet up with a baker’s dozen of Backroads’ riders to explore Ecuador with the good folks from Freedom Bike Rental, Court and Sylvain.

This will be my third excursion to this beautiful country and the second time spending my birthday on the equator. There is not much better than

raising a glass to the sunset while sitting on a Pacific Ocean beach after a wonderful day’s ride.

While I write this, it is opening weekend of the 2022 MotoGP season and I have qualifying at Qatar in the corner of my screen. As I read in Peter Jones’ article in February’s Rider magazine, the heroes and villains have been rearranged with the retirement of The Doctor, Valentino Rossi. Last year we attended MotoGP in Texas at COTA to see Vale race for the last time on US soil. The attendance was overwhelming as was the rival flag waving and jeers between the Rossi and Marquez camps. While I absolutely admire the talent of Marc Marquez, I will always have Rossi in my heart. So, who will be my new hero? I think it will go to Pecco Bagnaia until one of the US racers make it to the premier class. We’ll be returning to COTA in the beginning of April to cheer him on, as well as all the amazingly talented riders from the other classes.

We have a full plate with our Backroads’ rallies as well. While we never stopped holding our gatherings over the past few years, we look forward to welcoming back those who would or could not attend and the new riders who will join us.

May has our spring ride headed to Danville, PA for some roller coaster rides, both on the bikes and in the parks. This part of Pennsylvania is a hoot to ride and our friend John Cirabassi was kind enough to put together a bit of off-road riding for those who want to get a bit dirty. I don’t know about you, but I know I’ll be spending a few hours at the nearby Knoebel’s Amusement Park, riding what might be the best wooden coaster around – the Phoenix – and the other great rides there. Speaking about great rides in May, we’ll also head back to Virginia International Raceway to spend two days with the CLASS crew. I am so happy that they moved their dates from September to May – what a fabulous way to start a riding season with a tune-up of riding skills.

We managed to fit in a summer sojourn, heading to New England with Continued on Page 9

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022

O N T H E M AR K MARK BYERS

WINTER WONDER-RIDE It was cold when I got up - a cold that made me consider bagging the scheduled ride in favor of going back to sleep, but I had miles to go and a service appointment to keep. If you detect a hint of Robert Frost in that sentence, you’re right and it’s apropos given a morning temperature that started with a two. A warmer day was in the forecast, however, so I geared up to go. I got an unexpected bonus of a few degrees increase when the battery, numbed by the cold, refused to start the bike and I had to take the time to learn how to jump-start an R1200RT, which turned out to be fairly easy.

I gave the battery a chance to charge in the early part of the journey, electing not to fire up my electric jacket until I was going at highway speed for a while. That’s when I got my second chilly surprise: because of a miswired accessory plug, my electric jacket didn’t work. Fortunately, the heated grips and seat, along with the rising temperatures, were enough to make the ride palatable. Cold air can be debilitating, sneaking through gaps in clothing or helmet visors like an icy blowtorch, but I was fine and so was the ride.

It was nice to be riding again after a tough January. Most of the salt was gone and what remained was in isolated piles where a salt truck driver had paused without turning off his “shaker.” I was definitely the only motorcycle on the road that Saturday morning and the covered vehicle drivers all showed me some deference. The sky was that clear, cloudless electric blue that comes with low temperatures and correspondingly low humidity. The bike performed well, having good, dense, cold air to feed its internal combustion appetite.

I know the roads to Morton’s BMW by heart, but I chose a less sporty route in case there were some lingering patches of ice in the low, shady spots along the Potomac. It still felt liberating, however, to be out again on a motorcycle, something I hadn’t done since early November. It was good to get back into the flow of shifting and leaning and weighting the pegs and braking and all those things Mr. Pridmore has been teaching me for years. The morning ride was like a refresher course, albeit a chilly one.

There’s nothing quite like bumming around a shop while you wait for service, checking out the magazines (like this one), talking to the parts guys, shopping the bargain racks and bins, ogling the new and used inventory, and generally just being a motorcycle junkie. There’s a spirit and a smell to a shop that gets into your blood. Plus, the people at Morton’s are like family. I grabbed lunch and it was pretty near closing time when my steed was ready. I was a good ninety minutes from home and the waning light would bring dropping temperatures, so I headed out smartly.

I chose the curvier route along the Potomac for the trip home and the bike was a willing and capable dance partner, responding to my weight shifts and bar caresses in a way I’ve come to expect. The low winter light played between the trees, making barcode shadows across the pavement as I scanned my way home. I called up the temperature display on the dash and noted the numbers dropping from fives to fours on the first digit as the sun slid toward the horizon.

Soon, the tops of the trees were painted with the orange glow that comes with a low winter sun. Since I was heading east, the bright orange ball shone annoyingly but beautifully in my mirrors. Later, I’d look in the mirrors and see the orange ball sitting astride a stark horizon like a little kid’s rendering, with a straight line separating a light blue sky from a dark

Page 5 blue ground. Later still, the ball was gone, replaced by a rapidly-fading, red-orange glow that you can’t view without thinking of the old sailor’s adage, “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight.” The dash showed the temperature falling through the fours.

I pulled into the driveway in the waning winter light, not really cold and not really warm, just ready for a hot shower and a hot meal, preferably by the fireplace. It was mid-February, but it was about as good as a day on a bike can get. Winter can be a wonderful time to ride. ,

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BACKROADS • APRIL 2022

BACKLASH More Praise for The Backroads Report Hi, I wanted to let you know that I really do enjoy getting the Backroads Report every Saturday morning. The articles, music, cartoons, etc. are varied and interesting, and point me to things I was unaware of but glad I clicked on. Hey, I hadn’t heard about Pitch Meeting until I subscribed to Backroads.

Please keep it coming. Hope to see you in PA in May. Definitely at CLASS. Thanks, James Townley • Vienna, VA

But then again…

Unsubscribe me now!

Thank you for responding so quickly. Cancel the Backroads Report. I have ridden now for 62 years, and I love my motorcycles without political content mixed in.

Richard K Well Richard, If you have ever read the actual Backroads Magazine – you know we were one of the few publications that kept going during this all – even though we had COVID and death in our family - twice.

Letters to the Editor Backroads has always been about travel… very hard to do when borders are closed and we see this sort of thing. (ed. Canada) It’s a song. Don’t leave ‘cause it ticked you off – weigh the plusses over the minuses here.

But… if you wish you can unsubscribe yourself at the bottom of the email.

We wish you well and hope to see you on the road.

March Came in like an Asteroid F$@#king Awesome Cover (on the March 2022 issue).

Mikey B. Hey you two, Just opened up the envelope (for the March issue) and wanted to tell you that the cover shot this month is amazing!! Great work!

Jeff C. Isn’t it?! Wish we could take more credit than just publishing it.

That incredible image was captured by Michael ONeill – who had a feature in the March edition.

You can see more of his work and buy his book Road Work Images and Insights of a Modern Day Explorer at www.michaeloneillfineart.com Went to the Asbury Coffee Mill today, they were happy to hear that we read about them in the Backroads magazine and decided to come try their food.

Kathy and Joe Burke

A Cautionary Tale…

Hello Backroads, Very sorry that I haven’t been able to attend any of the Backroads events since moving back to NJ nearly 2 years ago. It’s not due to a lack oftime or money but rather health. This past June I was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer. This is despite having regular colonoscopies. What I’ve learned (the hard way) is that cancer can develop below the surface of the intestine. If this happens it won’t be detected either visually or via traditional biopsies. It will only be detected via a “tunnel” biopsy in which the doctor takes samples of tissue below the surface of the intestine. Most people don’t know this so I’m hoping you’ll publish this letter to raise awareness. Everyone, please see a highly qualified doctor immediately if you notice any changes in your bowel habits. And if your doctor has made a diagnosis and prescribed meds but there’s no improvement in your symptoms then he/she probably has made the wrong diagnosis.

Finding out that I have cancer has made me more certain that I chose the right path i.e. choosing a life of travel and adventure instead wealth and property. Of course motorcycles were a big part of that and I have you two to thank for inspiring me to get out there and explore.

Tom K Tom, We are so sorry to hear this and THANK YOU for your letter. Everybody should be paying attention to their bodies. As riders we need to be healthy as well as skilled.

Most of us will overlook our own health issues where we’d insist our loved ones see to them immediately.

Know everyone reading this is now sending good thoughts and prayers your way, Tom! We’d love to hear from you.

Email your letters, comments and such to:

editor@backroadsusa.com

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022

INDUSTRY INFOBITES Texas-based Volcon Charges Off-Road Volcon Inc. the first all-electric, off-road powersports company, began collecting dealer applications in North America last year to showcase and sell its innovative, industry-leading off-road vehicles. In just 160 days, 365 applications were submitted by interested dealerships across the country.

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News from the Inside and workers alike can enjoy the outdoors and preserve it for generations to come. Volcon produces all-electric, off-road vehicles that are designed to elevate the adventure experience and help people get things done at work and on the home front.

Volcon’s first product, the innovative Grunt combines a fat tire physique with high-torque electric power and a near-silent drive train which started shipping in September of 2021. Future models include the Runt, which is a youth-sized version of the groundbreaking Grunt. The Stag and Beast will be Volcon’s venture into the rapidly expanding world of UTVs and are expected in the future as the company continues to expand.

For more information, please visit: www.volcon.com

BUMPER YEAR FOR MOTORCYCLES DESPITE COVID THREATS

The very strong initial response from dealers reinforces Volcon’s anticipated demand for electric powersports in the market and the eagerness of consumers seeking a quality off-road vehicle that offers a deeper connection to their outdoor adventures and lifestyle.

Based in Round Rock, Texas, Volcon joins many major electric vehicle manufacturers near Austin, Texas, an area that is poised to become the electric vehicle capital of the world.

Volcon was founded with the mission to enhance the outdoor experience while reducing the industry’s environmental footprint so that adventurers

Amidst the doom and gloom of both winter weather and the lingering effects of the global pandemic, it may come as a surprise that 2021 was one of the strongest years for motorcycling in well over a decade, with new bike sales worldwide on an upward swing and more people joining the two-wheeled fold.

Anecdotal evidence from training schools here and across the pond reflected a huge surge of people wanting to get into motorcycling and now the latest data confirms it.

Ducati reports that 2021 was their best sales year on record, up globally an impressive 24% on 2020, which was heavily impacted by Coronavirus, but also a massive 12% up on 2019.

And it’s not just Ducati celebrating success either, with BMW announcing 2021 was their best-ever year of global sales - jumping 14.8% from 2020.

Despite concerns an exit from the European Union might hinder growth in the UK, motorcycle sales there increased by 26.6%, spurring a 9.3% rise in registrations.

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022

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BRACE FOR DAMAGED SUPPLY CHAIN RECOVERY With 2021 being the rollercoaster that it was, supply chains around the world have been hit with a crisis of limited product availability: “Starting in 2020, companies reacted to the economic downturn by cancelling production plans for the next year, only to be blindsided by an upswing in demand prompted by rapid vaccine rollouts and fiscal support for rich-world household spending,” explains a report from KitCo. “At the same time, virus containment measures and infection clusters triggered labor shortages and factory shutdowns, just as consumer spending was shifting from services to goods.”

Right around this point was when the Powersports market saw an especially huge surge in sales; people had nowhere to go, so they bought bikes and other toys to have fun locally.

Today, restrictions are consistently looser than ever, thanks to the milder Omicron variants -- and with the loosened limitations come a tentatively positive upswing for the market -- an upswing that, if we’re lucky, will mean an end to supply shortages and the healing of damaged income streams, predicts webbikeworld.com.

“At some point during this year, we will see a more ‘normal situation’,” says Soren Skou, head of shipping giant Maersk, who predicts employees will soon return to work at ports, inflating demand for shipment services and thereby contributing to the mending of at least one sector of the supply chain.

For consumers, we’ve seen vehicle costs rise by over 10-15% the past couple of years due to product shortages and supply chain issues, and this will likely continue until a more permanent solution is found.

STUDY SHOWS ETHANOL IS WORSE FOR THE CLIMATE THAN GASOLINE Analysis of corn-based ethanol production from end-to-end yields some potentially bad news for this biofuel. While riders have long understood that ethanol can have ill effects on our bikes, a new study published in the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” found that it may have other downsides, too.

Ethanol was supposed to be environmentally advantageous as compared to gasoline, but in the study, researchers dove deeper into how the U.S.

Renewable Fuel Standard’s outcomes were measuring up to the country’s goals. Instead of simply limiting its observations to any one part of the corn-based ethanol production and consumption processes, researchers gathered data on all parts of the ethanol production cycle.

Upon taking important things like land use changes, fertilizer increases, and the like into account, researchers reported findings that corn-based ethanol is 24% more carbon-intensive than gasoline production. If these numbers are even remotely accurate, it’s concerning.

“It basically reaffirms what many suspected, that corn ethanol is not a climate-friendly fuel and we need to accelerate the shift toward better renewable fuels, as well as make improvements in efficiency and electrification,” lead study author and scientist Tyler Lark said in a statement.

This study’s release comes shortly before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to propose updated 2023 requirements to the country’s biofuel policies.

FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH… MOTORCYCLE RACERS BLINK LESS A recent study has found that MotoGP riders blink far less than non-racers, with one test subject going 9 minutes without blinking!

During the first round of the 2021 MotoGP season, Pramac Ducati rider Johann Zarco set a new series top-speed record of 225 mph. At that speed, riders cover 330 feet in one second. The average blink takes 0.15 seconds, so riders traveling at that top velocity are effectively blind for nearly 50 feet of track.

That sounds like a terrifying prospect to us mere mortals, but a study between LCR Honda and Italian pharmaceutical company Sifi helps explain how MotoGP riders’ eyes function in such extreme conditions. Conducted over six MotoGP seasons (2015-2021), Grand Prix riders would undergo tests prior to the race and 30 minutes following the checkered flag. The dual-test method revealed that rider reaction times and pupil performance remain in “Race Mode” for an extended period.

All racers easily exceeded the normal 4-6-second blink interval, and despite the stressful conditions, none of the subjects exhibited red, dry eyes or inflammation.

The results may be fascinating, but Sifi co-owner Carlos Chines believes this is just the beginning of a broader, long-term study. (next page)

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022 “We basically want to continue researching the differences between ‘normal’ eyes and those of MotoGP riders,” revealed Dr. Chines. “We also want to investigate the relationship between concentration and blink FREE WHEELIN’ Continued from Page 3 Some women riders do their very best to keep the women riders in their own world. Riding for some of them is more about being a female rider, than just being a rider.

Over and over again I see articles, books and websites that are aimed just at women; and although they might simply be promoting women riders – there may be an unexpected outcome with all this.

One very prominent woman that has been in the industry for decades once said to Shira, “So many of these women feel the need to be Mother Hens; I wish they would just go riding!”

Many times I see a rally that sound like it would be fun – but like many organizations – they had what appeared to be a good idea, but somewhere along the way the road and route got muddled.

There are some really great rallies out there aimed towards women, and as long as men are welcome as well I have no issue with these and want them to succeed and have an awesome time. But there have been some rallies that we were told straight out that Shira was welcome but me? Not so much. Really?

Let me ask you girls – What if I held a Men’s Only Rally?

The Holy Shit would hit the fan, wouldn’t it?

But that would never happen. Like I said – I love women.

And, so do the guys I ride with.

So, for me as a rider and publisher that has been encouraging women to ride for decades, it would be good to see a lot less “Us vs Them” and more riders just riding… be they boys, girls, or whatever.

See you on the road. ,

Check out our Events Webpage for this year’s Rallies - we hope to see you there!

Page 9 rate. From these results, we expect to understand whether one can work with little tricks, exercises, or eye drops to counteract fatigue, dry or sore eyes, and deterioration in vision.” , WHATCHATHINKIN’

Continued from Page 4

a split stay in West Dover, VT and a couple of nights in New Hampshire over a long weekend. Later in the year, our fall festivities will include a couple of stops back in Pennsylvania and a weekend in West Virginia with the return of the Backroads Bowling Bash. Polish your ball, shine your shoes and get your team together, this is going to be some kind of good fun!

Filling in the blanks Brian and I hope to head to the BMW rally in Missouri. Our initial plan was to try and fill in some of the missing baseball parks on our list during the ride. Unless major league baseball and their players get their shit together – it’s ALWAYS about the money – we may have to change our stops from ball parks to whatever the good Dr. O’Life has found for us.

What’s on your plate? We certainly hope you’ll join us for one or all of our rallies. More importantly, I wish you great adventures, smooth travels and long, sunny days in the saddle.

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety. ~ RWE ,

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022

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Morton’s BMW Motorcycles presents Dr. Seymour O’Life’s

MYSTERIOUS AMERICA

CATHEDRAL OF JUNK

422 LAREINA DRIVE, AUSTIN, TEXAS • 512-299-7413 While in Austin for last year’s MotoGP races I made time to explore some of the odder things in the city.

Austin is an odd town – you would think that with their favorite saying being “Keep Austin Weird!” So, when I am in the region, I try to seek out something a little different and Austin never fails to provide.

Let me tell you about the Cathedral of Junk.

Junk? Whoa – not that junk, I mean ‘junk’ junk. You see… what one person will discard another person sees potential.

Vince Hannemann is such a person.

Let’s not let the word “Junk” throw us off either – as we really should dwell on the Cathedral part of this month’s Mysterious America.

A cathedral nestled serenely in Hannemann’s back yard.

It was back in 1988 that a then 20-something Vince began this living and ever-expanding Cathedral. He has never stopped building and now has well over 60 tons of, well junk.

“People ask me all the time, ‘What made you want to do this?’ Like it had some sort of profound meaning. I just did it because I liked it. And when I stop liking it, I’ll take it down.”

The large framework of the building is seriously anchored by both Vince and Mother Nature’s Texas vegetation. Completely surrounding both inside and out are all manners of items odds and ends.

I spotted motorcycle parts right away along with lawnmower wheels, car bumpers, kitchen utensils, ladders, cables, bottles, circuit boards, bicycle parts, brick-a-brack, and much more.

Illuminated beer signs, clocks, and other electric doo-dads still operate, powered by unseen cables and outlets hidden within the shadowy silvery-green.

Walking inside and through the Cathedral’s tiny alcoves and rooms you will discover all sorts of mementos and, I am sure, pieces of your past as well. I loved it all, well I did cringe at the smashed and battered old Fender Frontman 15B Amplifier.

The Cathedral is, in fact, assembled mostly from stuff that people bring to Vince, which makes charting its overall growth somewhat problematic. “You can’t tell people what to bring,” Vince notes. But he

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022

is fussy and, he admits, “my tastes change. Lots of things don’t fit in.”

It seems that while some of his neighbors like the weirdness of it all, others do not and the city has had engineers come time and again – yet still the Cathedral stands.

Austin has used it to market the city. Those that love Hannemann’s creation embrace it fully.

Over the years the Cathedral has hosted weddings, CD debut parties, bachelor parties, and is a popular destination for tour groups of school kids and senior citizens.

“Some people recognize junk that they used to have.

Women, mostly,” Vince tells us. “A few people get overwhelmed and have to leave. Sometimes people get weird. Some people cry. Women again. They just get overcome or something, I dunno.”

Vince has asked that you call ahead to make an appointment (512-299-7413). I called about 9:30 on the morning of the day when I hoped to visit. Vince

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picked up quickly and was very friendly as he invited me to come at 11 AM that same day. He informed me of the requested $10/group donation and gave me instructions about parking — the Cathedral is located in a quiet residential neighborhood just south of Hwy 290 off S. 1st Street; there is street parking only, and you must take care not to block off neighbors’ mailboxes or driveways. On busy days, it’s best to park around the corner, on St. Elmo.

Vince is constantly adding to his cathedral and while in Austin, make time to check out this wonderful creation, that seems to celebrate art, history, and creativity (of the original designer of each piece of junk and Vince’s revisioning), and will certainly remind you a bit about your own past and perhaps bring back some fond memories.

When you do, you will see why The Cathedral of Junk should be embraced, celebrated, and enjoyed; and why it is certainly part of Mysterious America. ~ O’Life Out!

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022

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Thisilldous Eatery presents

GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN VIC’S WAYSIDE INN BAR & HOTEL

2645 LINCOLN HWY E, RONKS, PA 17572-9773 • 717-687-9186 We parked and walked up to the darkened building.

If Shira had Spidey-Sense it was on red alert.

“Umm, really it looks closed - let’s go!”

“No it’s not – it’s a roadhouse. C’mon, let’s check it out.”

“Okay… you first.”

I opened the door and the dark exterior was bathed in a warm illumination from inside.

“What the f#@k…!”

This all started just 20 minutes earlier.

We were heading down to the Potomac Vintage Riders yearly Vintage Swap Meet. Looking to get there early, we had headed down to the Amish region of Pennsylvania that day and took a room at the very nice Hershey Farm. Nice staff, decent food, comfortable rooms, and a barn full of animals to play with.

But, nothing in the way of nightly entertainment. We were sitting in the room at ten to seven twiddling our thumbs.

Having enough of this I did a quick search and discovered Vic’s Wayside Inn Bar & Hotel.

The reviews were mixed – to say the least, ranging from scary to the best dive bar on the planet.

I’m in… Shira ehhh, maybe not so much, but she would come along anyway. Thus we ended up at a windowless roadside establishment next door to the Scottish Inn. Shira made the comment that places like this never went well in Supernatural.

I was raised in bars like this but Vic’s took the roadside bar to an entirely different level. The large two-room tavern’s walls were covered with memorabilia from around the planet – much like our beloved Monkey with a Gun but on steroids!

tasty places to take your bike

Unlike the Slaughtered Lamb, we got no silence or stares just friendly nods and the perkiest bartender we have met in a good while – PJ – came over and asked us what we’d have and then hung with us a bit.

In a short time we learned that Vic’s was owned and operated by, well, Vic who had been here for over 50 years - Vic would probably be down around 10ish – but I knew we’d be in bed watching Bob’s Burgers by that time.

Still, the bar was really fun – even if you just walked around taking in everything that was on their walls.

In the attached room three women were playing a game of pool – Shira and I took note - waiting for an opportunity to play a game or two.

Curious about the bar, I asked if they were locals and came here often.

No, they were not – just three sisters from West Virginia on a yearly sister’s

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weekend. They stumbled upon Vic’s and were more than happy to hang.

I asked from where in the Mountain State they hailed. The one sis said, “Oh, a little town – you probably never hear of .”

Try me – I am slightly familiar with one of the greatest motorcycle states in the nation. She said “It’s called Paw Paw.” I said, “Oh the town with the great tunnel.”

That got them all shocked and smiling and we made three new friends for a few hours.

Back at the bar, we asked PJ about the hotel.

There really is not a hotel, as Vic lives there. Okay.

But, there was one other thing about Vic’s – maybe as good as the atmosphere – they serve up really good food.

Ney, fantastic offerings and nothing you’d think of in a place with this…umm décor.

Along with some staples of the American tavern pub menu, you’ll find Jumbo Hot Wings, Burgers, Dogs, and Cheese Steak sandwiches – but add to

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that Crabcake, Meatball, Beef and Pulled Pork sandwiches. The Chili and Chicken Pot Pie also looked good.

But it was the other offerings dangling on signs off the shelf above the bar that got our attention and when some of these were brought out our eyes did get truly wider. Incredible Ribs, Shrimp & Scallops, Steamed Clams, and the best…Crab legs that made us wish we had waited on dinner.

Now, before you start yappin’ about drinking and riding let me tell you that if you are riding in the region and looking for a simple place to overnight – take a room next door and walk over to Vic’s – the atmosphere, crowd, and especially the food is outstanding and not expected in the middle of this Amish area; or stop in during the day and have a coke – that always works too. Anyway, you decide.

When in the Ronks region of Lancaster stop in at Vic’s Wayside and say hi to PJ from us. We promise you will not be disappointed. ~ Brian Rathjen

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BIG CITY GETAWAY THE SPIRIT OF SAINT LOUIS MEMORIAL • WESTBURY, NY Lindbergh left Long Island in 1927 Thumbed his nose at gravity And climbed into the heavens.

When he returned to Earth that night everything changed, For the pilot and the planet, everything was rearranged.

Oysters & Pearls – Jimmy Buffett Everyone knows Lindbergh.

We believe in amazing coincidences. It makes the world a bit more magical and fun.

As we were putting this together, news came across the wires that 19-yearold Belgian-British pilot Zara Rutherford had just set the World Record for the youngest woman to fly solo around the world. Nice!

But let’s talk Lindbergh.

Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, military officer, author, inventor, and activist. At the age of 25, he went from obscurity as a U.S. Air Mail pilot to instantaneous world fame by winning the Orteig Prize for making the first nonstop flight from New York City to Paris on May 20–21, 1927.

Wait… this was about a prize and money. No way!

Established in 1919 by Raymond Orteig, a French-American hotelier, aviation enthusiast, and philanthropist, this $25,000 prize sought to push the envelope on aviation by awarding the first person who could perform a nonstop flight between

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daytrip ideas to get out of the daily grind New York and Paris.

And, we thought Lindbergh did it because it was there.

But still, as Buffett sang, Lindbergh left Long Island. Nobody else did.

But let’s look at some of the facts of Lindbergh’s flight The plane N-X-211 cost $10,500 and was built in an old fish cannery in San Diego by Ryan Aeronautical in downtown San Diego. On the day of its first flight, it was towed by car to a dirt airfield called Dutch Flats, about a mile from the factory. Today, both sites are located in the heart of San Diego, on the edges of the modern airport.

It got its name “Spirit of St. Louis” in honor of Lindbergh’s supporters in St. Louis, Missouri, who paid for the aircraft.

The plane was unique in many ways. It had no windshield.

Lindbergh was flying virtually blind. Why? This odd arrangement improved the center of gravity and reduced the risk of the pilot being crushed to death between the main tank and the engine in the event of a crash. This design decision meant that there could be no front windshield, and that forward visibility would be limited to the side windows.

The plane flew at an average of 600 feet and at an airspeed of just 96 mph.

Lindbergh flew through darkness, fog and sleet, his plane at times skimming just 10 feet above the frigid Atlantic.

To stay awake during the flight, Lindbergh stuck his hand out the window to blast his face with air and even tried resting one eye at a time.

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Page 15 33 hours and 3,500 miles later he landed to cheering crowds outside of Paris.

After completing the 3,600-mile flight, Lindbergh had 85 gallons of gas remaining in his tanks.

Although you might think he flew back to the states the truth is Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis came back on a ship.

Today The Spirit is on permanent display in the main entryway’s Milestones of Flight gallery at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. It’s very nice and we have one just like it… Okay, on a much smaller scale.

But there is a huge part of history that many ride by on a daily basis. Sometimes things just need to be pointed out to you and then, like us, you can appreciate the deep history that is all around us.

Just off the Meadowbrook Parkway in Westbury, Long Island – sadly near one of the islands 1,000,000 malls on a once pristine island - is a small, yet beautiful monument to one of the greatest feats in aviation history. It is small and not nearly as grand as the feat it celebrates. But still, this tiny monument is so worth the search and stop.

Thankfully, it is not far from one of the greatest aviation museums in our nation as well – The Cradle of Aviation – well worth a visit and a story by itself. Explore over 150,000 square feet featuring 75 air and spacecraft from a hot air balloon to an actual Apollo Lunar Module. The eight exhibit galleries are in chronological order and throughout the museum the volunteer docents (including one of our own, Steve Sachar) are there to share their aerospace experience.

Combining this with a stop at Lindberg’s monument will make for an excellent day out. We can’t apologize for the fact that you do have to ride on Long Island, but according to those who live there, apparently it does have some nice riding, somewhere. ~ Brian Rathjen

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WE’RE OUTTA HERE LEDGES HOTEL

120 FALLS AVE, HAWLEY, PA 18428 • 570-226-1337 • LEDGESHOTEL.COM Oh, oh…. Here comes the future.

That was what many thought back in the early 1800s as machines and technology and innovation came to the forefront and what is known as the Industrial Revolution took hold. For you Luddites out there, the Industrial Revolution transformed economies that had been based on agriculture and handicrafts into economies based on large-scale industry, mechanized manufacturing, and the factory system. New machines, new power sources, and new ways of organizing work made existing industries more productive and efficient.

What took hours now took minutes. What took a dozen men now took…umm – no one.

It was a worldwide phenomenon, but in the United States, it was especially huge in the northeast.

In the Pennsylvania town of Hawley industry took off in a big way. Glass seemed to be at the forefront here. Today we don’t think twice about glass – but for centuries it was a mystery. This is where our featured hotel comes in.

According to the hotel’s history…

In the 1890s, J.S. O’Connor American Rich Cut Glass Factory churned out thousands of exquisite pieces. In its heyday, it was one of the largest glass cutting factories in America. J.S. O’Connor was an Irish immigrant and Civil War veteran. After 23 years working as the head of the Dorflinger Glass Factory in nearby White Mills, O’Connor built his own factory on Wallenpaupack Creek with water from the creek powering the plant. For years the O’Connor Glass Factory was one of the

a weekend destination keeping you on the backroads largest employers in Wayne County.

But time moves on and in 2011 Settlers Hospitality acquired the property and transformed the five-story Federal-style building into a boutique hotel and restaurant. Settled between the flourishing natural beauty of rock ledges and Paupack High Falls, in Hawley, PA, Ledges Hotel affords modern conveniences amid rustic charm.

We had been to this hotel years back, but we visited it during our Indian Summer romp.

Ledges could be a hovel and it would not matter – as the Paupack High Falls are extraordinary in every way. But Settlers Hospitality has made this into one of the finest hotels we have stayed in in a long time.

When we were there the falls were running their natural flow – but if you are there when they open the dam it is truly amazing.

Still, this evening we had a full Beaver moon in the middle of our starry dome with Jupiter keeping watch high above.

The hotel has a wonderful and easy-going feel – even it is a bit of an upscale place.

Around the property, and the spectacular Paupack High Falls, are a number of spots where you and yours can simply sit with a glass of wine and enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds the hotel, which fits in quite nicely with it all.

Like it has been there from the beginning.

The staff can make or break a lodging, and the folks at Ledges were very accommodating, putting up with my repeated historical queries.

The hotel, located in the old glass factory, has 21 rooms. They could have twice as many, but they chose to make each room big, comfortable, and special in its own way. Our room that night

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Page 17 had a very neat aircraft motif. Two levels with an 18-step spiral staircase that leads to the bedroom.

This brings me around to the restaurant and bar.

Glass. Wine. Bar. Kitchen.

Before dinner, we sat down for a cocktail and Shira ordered the oddest thing. A smokey bourbon concoction that looked like something from a ‘50s evil scientist movie – but, evidentially, it was quite good.

The bourbon girl would know.

Stepping outside we took in the falls, lit nicely this evening, and the stunning full moon.

As Buffett would say – “Life was good on our boat.”

Even if the day was a warm Indian Summer, when the sun dropped so did the temperatures, but the enclosed dining porch was comfortably warm.

The food was comfortably delicious, all prepared by Chef Travis Lugo; I took in what others were ordering and the presentation. Ordering would be tough.

Our waitress was personable and there, but never intrusive.

Shira was going for small plates, from which I would gleefully steal. Spanishstyle meatballs, flash-fried with a creamy polenta & ragu and the Wild Boar Bolo, a superb combination of Bolognese, tagliatelle, and incredibly flavorful parmesan Reggiano.

She added onto this the fried Brussel sprouts done up with local honey from Lukan’s Farm; a family-owned farm that has been harvesting some of the best honey in the northeast.

For me I went for the Lamb Chops – two beautiful and fairly large lollipop-style chops done in a deep red wine bordelaise. All wonderful.

They also offer Seared Royal salmon, duck, New York strip steak and the cheese & charcuterie is a family-sized monster and is a meal all on its own.

The bed, shower, and everything else were four-star and if you are searching for a special place – the Ledges just might be it. ~ Brian Rathjen

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DOUMAR’S BBQ AND ICE CREAM

1919 MONTICELLO AVE, NORFOLK, VA 23517 • 757-627-4163 • doumars.com • Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-11pm When you get ice cream, do you opt for cone or cup? I don’t know about you, but when I order ice cream I tend to get it in a cup, simply because I savor my treat and, more often than not, the ice cream would be melting before it was finished. But, what if you didn’t have that choice? If it weren’t for Mr. Abe Doumar, that’s how life would be today.

It was 1904 in St. Louis and the World’s Fair was in progress.

Along with all the fun and amusements, there was some scientific wizardry introduced: the x-ray machine, the electric typewriter, telautograph (precursor to the fax machine) and the Poulson telegraphone (to become the telephone answering machine). Not to be overshadowed by science was the debut of several foods: iced tea, hamburgers and hot dogs. While these had existed previously, many visitors had never seen them and, thus, brought them to the forefront.

Abe Doumar, a traveling salesman selling paperweights, was one of these visitors. One evening he noticed that an ice cream vendor was closing his stand early as he had run out of paper dishes used for serving to-go orders. Nearby was a vendor cooking up waffle cones on a single-iron waffle maker, served with a dollop of whipped cream. Putting two and two together, Doumar bought a cone, rolled it up and, walking over to the ice cream vendor, topped the rolled waffle with ice cream.

The combination of warm sweetness of the waffle with cool ice cream was the start of something beautiful. Abe brought the two vendors together and, for the rest of the fair, he sold ice cream in the world’s first waffle cones.

Abe, an immigrant from Damascus, Syria, brought his family to the United States and began the family business. He built a four-iron waffle maker to speed up the process and, in 1905,

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022 opened the first of many Doumar’s Ice Cream stands that would stretch up and down the East coast. Today, in Norfolk, VA, that original waffle maker is still in use and can be seen, and smelled, baking these incredible waffles in which to enjoy their homemade ice cream.

The shop on Monticello Avenue, which opened in 1934, is a real throwback to easier times. Upon arrival, you’ll see the bays of drive-in parking spots.

While the wait staff are not on roller skates, they do serve with a smile. Just park your car and flash your lights when ready to order. If traveling by motorcycle, you might want to come inside and take a seat at one of the many booths or counter stools.

Adorning the walls are photos of Doumar’s history, many of which feature Albert, Abe’s nephew, who captained the ship through the rough times of the ‘60s and ‘70s, expanding the menu to include barbeque, burgers and limeades, all handcrafted as are the waffle cones. For well over 100 years, Doumar’s has become an historic landmark in Norfolk, as well as a family go-to for delicious food, fun atmosphere and a real look into the way things were in this country when things were light and easy. Take one look at their menu and you’ll see what we mean.

During our visit we dined on their pork barbeque (served minced with slaw), bacon cheeseburger and Taylor Pork Roll sandwich. My double meat barbeque was terrific, especially with a bit of their homemade barbeque sauce. Brian was certainly satisfied after his burger and Taylor Ham Sandwich. The fries were perfectly cooked and crispy. Of course we saved room for dessert – we’d be fools not to.

A scoop of butter pecan sitting atop a homemade, fresh waffle cone was the perfect ending to a fun meal. Doumar’s waffle cones are not the extra-large ones but rather the size of a sugar cone, which was just perfect for me.

Their other dessert offerings include shakes (Egg Nog, Cookies & Cream and Cheesecake apparently are seasonal), ice cream floats (concocted by Robert Green and originally sold in 1874 in Philadelphia) and a grand selection of ice cream sundaes (from their menu: The Sundae was developed in Evanston, Illinois after that community legislated against the evil “Sunday Soda Menace.” It contained no soda water and was therefore no threat to the morale of the community - sounds familiar doesn’t it).

Should you fall in love with Doumar’s cones, you can get a souvenir jar of 2 dozen cones to enjoy your own creations at home.

If you find yourself traveling through Norfolk, VA, it would behoove you to make a stop at Doumar’s Barbecue. It will bring a smile to your face and the child back in your heart. ~ Shira Kamil

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A FORMAT FOR LONG-DISTANCE SPORT-TOURING • MOTOMARATHON™ In 1986, a small group of Colorado motorcyclists tried to ride as many mountain passes as they could squeeze into a long weekend. Since then, “compressing as many passes and twisty roads into the classic four-day motorcycle sport-touring getaway became an obsession,” said Motomarathon Founder John Metzger, who began designing annual “Pass Rides” that evolved into a nationally sanctioned series of Motomarathons.

The Motomarathon is not a competition, but a vacation. It’s riding the highest quality roads, during daylight hours, avoiding Interstates and urban areas as much as possible, and stringing together the premium twisties and backroads within the nation’s premier riding ares. The rides emphasize sightseeing, leisurely lunches and camaraderie after a long day’s ride at a nice hotel/restaurant and a cozy bed. The philosophy, however, is individualist, and minimalist, so each rider is free to make their own accommodations (camp if you want!), ride alone, ride only one day or one checkpoint -- as open and flexible as possible. The criteria is about lifestyle: how often can you take the time out of your busy life to take a vacation like this? And when you make that effort, the Motomarathon Association, in return, is committed to finding and developing the highest quality routes possible. We remain on the cutting edge of the sport-touring experience -- finding the best rides through the art of Routemastering.

Motomarathon™ is a new sport. It’s about riding as many twisties and scenic roads as possible, over four full days. Routes are kept secret until the night before each event. Through a series of self-recorded checkpoints, riders verify completion at the end of each day’s ride.

Founded in 2009, the Motomarathon Association, LLC has established a criteria based around riders accumulating checkpoints, and maintaining event, annual and lifetime standings on their website. The state-of-the-art machines for this

kind of technical, mountain riding (paved roads but with the occassional optional dirt road thrown in) are typically BMW GSs, Ducati Multistradas, and other “adventure touring” bikes, but all bikes are welcome -- there have been plenty of Harleys, cruisers and even a few CanAm Spyders participating. The Motomarathon has become the “state-of-the-art” in longdistance motorcycling, capturing the roads, the regions, the lifestyles and the riders that define the essence of endurance sport-touring.

In the Spring of 2020, Motomarathon moved east to the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. After an eleven year run, Metzger turned over the reins to Motor Officer John Bossolt. Bossolt, who has helped with multiple past Motomarathons, is continuing the theme that is Motomarathon, with Rob Anderson and Rick Mickles as Route Master.

This year’s Motomarathon schedule includes: The Great Smoky Mountains: May 31-June 3, 2022 Lodging – Nantahala Village Resort, Bryson City, NC New England Motomarathon: Sept. 26-29, 2022 • Lodging – TBA For more information please visit motomarathon.com or email John at john@motomarathon.com ,

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Page 21 Harris continued: “We could not be more excited to announce this year’s tour schedule, which was built in partnership with the industry’s leading OEMs. Our team is working diligently to produce an even more robust event that brings the love of riding to life and look forward to sharing more details regarding activations and participating brands with our community soon.”

IMS 2022 Schedule: COLORADO • June 17-19, 2022• The Ranch Events Complex CHICAGO • June 24-26, 2022 • Goebbert’s Farm PENNSYLVANIA • September 16-18, 2022 • Carlisle Fairgrounds

Progressive IMS Outdoors, the nation’s leading motorcycle tour connecting enthusiasts with a wide array of Powersports brands, announced the dates and locations of its 2022 tour. Produced with Progressive Insurance as the title sponsor for the 13th consecutive year, the eight-city series will revisit three markets that hosted the indoor version of the International Motorcycle Shows (Colorado, Arizona, and New York) and return to five markets that IMS Outdoors visited last tour (Chicago, Pennsylvania, Atlanta, and Northern and Southern California).

Tickets will go on sale on March 24 at www.motorcycleshows.com.

Heading into the sophomore year, the experience-focused event will bring back the popular two-wheel and four-wheel demo programs, eBikes, shopping, custom and vintage bikes, and music, while also offering more chances for enthusiasts to engage with brands and their riding community, from ride-ins and races to speakers and charitable efforts.

“The launch of IMS Outdoors was an exciting challenge that armed us with learnings we look forward to applying on the 2022 tour, including an expansion of the highly successful demo program, growing our electric footprint, and adding more experiencefocused offerings,” said Tracy Harris, SVP of Progressive IMS Outdoors. “The Powersports industry is amid a transformative period in time as new brands emerge, such as bespoke and electric companies, and we welcome an all-new generation of riders. We are so proud to cater our event to the changing needs of the industry and reunite everyone from new riders and kids to life-long enthusiasts.”

2021 Tour Results: More than 35,000 motorcycle demo rides were taken across the eight-city tour Nearly half, 44%, of attendees were new to riding or prospective riders; IMS is a catalyst for industry-wide growth and is driving new customers for exhibitors and event sponsors The introduction of SxS and eBike demos were wellreceived and indicated the community’s growing interest in adjacent products Influenced by IMS’ award-winning Discover The Ride program, three different programs put more than 1,600 adults and teens on a motorcycle for the first time Nearly 1,700 kids rode two-wheeled balance and battery-operated bikes with Strider, Harley-Davidson, and Husquvarna

NEW YORK • September 23-25, 2022 The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum ATLANTA • September 30 • October 2, 2022 • TBA NORTHERN CALIFORNIA • October 21-23, 2022 Santa Mateo County Event Center ARIZONA • October 28-30, 2022 • Westworld of Scottsdale SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA • November 4-6, 2022 Orange County Fair & Event Center

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Page 22

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

MICHELIN ROAD 6 AND ROAD 6 GT

Cutting Edge Tires for Road Riding Enthusiasts The MICHELIN Road 6 tire brings enthusiasts multiple new features designed to improve wet grip, longevity and appearance on a range of motorcycles.

The new tire, available now, is designed to improve performance for roadster, trail, sport and GT motorcycles and is available in the standard Michelin Road 6 tire range, as well as the Michelin Road 6 GT tire range for larger, heavier touring motorcycles.

Technologies from Michelin’s research centers around the world, coupled with the class-leading technology of the tire’s predecessor, the Michelin Road 5 tire, leverage two decades of innovation to bring riders the following benefits: Wet grip: The Michelin Road 6 tire has 15% more grip than its predecessor in wet conditions thanks to silica technology tread compounds and a new tread pattern featuring Michelin Water Evergrip Technology.

Longevity: The Michelin Road 6 tire delivers 10% longer tread life compared with the previous generation.

Tread design: An optimized ratio of grooves to rubber, known as the void ratio, gives improved grip performance in both wet and dry conditions. This ratio is not compromised when cornering, so riders have constant and accurate feedback from their tires. The Michelin X-Sipe Technology™ combined with Michelin Water Evergrip Technolo- gy ensures the tire has consistent grip throughout conditions and maintains its grip even as the tire wears – giving riders confidence in the tire from the first mile to the last mile. There are also new groove and sipe angles with longer edges that cut through water film and maintain road grip.

Tire compounds: Michelin Silica Rain Technology improves the tire’s grip in colder conditions and on wet roads, promoting continuous performance and longer tread life. New for the Michelin Road 6 tire ranges is Michelin 2CT+ Technology applied for the first time to the front tire, giving riders more stability entering corners.

Tire architecture: Michelin Amplified Density Technology is a highly dense, rigid tire casing that gives riders excellent feedback and handling. Aramid tread plies resist centrifugal growth at speed, reduce weight and provide stability.

Improved aesthetics: Michelin Premium Touch Technology is used in the design of the sidewalls, a feature originating from ultra-high-performance tires for sportscars. This exclusive technology uses micro geometry on the sidewalls to create texture, which in-turn allows it to modulate contrast and create shades of gray to highlight the tire markings and give an attractive finish.

The new tire range comprises six front and eight rear sizes, while the GT tire range is available in one front and three rear sizes. This complete range provides fitments for everything from small roadsters such as the KTM 390, through trail bikes, and up to GT machines such as the BMW K1600 GT/GTL. Prices range from $170 to $360 depending on tire selection and size. www.michelinman.com/motorcycle

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PRODUCT REVIEW

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GRYPHON MOSPORT LEATHER RACE GLOVES At this year’s AIMExpo in Vegas baby, our man or dynamic duo Vas and Yael spent a few days exploring the venue, taking the temperature of the industry, and looking to see what new products and companies were to be found.

One company, Gryphon Mosport, out of Indianapolis and run by husband and wife team Gary & Jenny Cuzner caught their vigilant eyes. After a long conversation with the couple, Vas forwarded their info, as he thought this

was a company that was on the right track… Gryphon Mosoport has a wide array of riding apparel and at prices that riders can afford without cashing in all of their stimulus checks.

According to Gary, during COVID they had that eureka moment and said, “Let’s start a ‘Motorcycle Protective Clothing’ Brand!” And there is certainly no shortage of them.

The upside to the available options in the market is that it forced Gryphon to think outside the box with designs in order to put themselves at the forefront of a competitive market.

Surfing their site they offer a nice compact selection of gear for both women and men – textile, mesh, and leather.

They have a dozen different glove offerings as well.

I zeroed in on the gloves as, with a new season approaching, the need for a new pair of well-built and tough gloves was paramount. I had been searching for a pair of gloves that would fit well, offer buko protection, and would last more than one long season.

Looking through the wide selection Gryphon had on their site I selected their Gryphon Mosport Leather Race Gloves which sell for $119 American and is their priciest glove.

Not $199, not $260 – but $119.

The glove, which are available in five different color combinations, are constructed of top grain cowhide leather, with external finger seams for comfort, and the palm is reinforced goatskin leather for enhanced grip and abrasion protection.

In addition, the palm also features a synthetic leather called Amara with a silicon print. Amara is an amazing product - a quality synthetic suede material for sports gloves, cycling gloves, biker gloves, safety shoes, mechanics gloves; and is known for its high strength and superior durability.

The very flexible fingers, that are “touch screen” compatible, get extra protection with additional TPU knuckle and finger protection.

The gauntlet on the gloves is a good size and easily slid up and over the cuffs of my Aerostich jacket and cinch down nicely with two hook & loop tabs.

Log onto Gryphon’s website at www.gryphonmoto.com for more information and take a look at Gryphon’s rider’s apparel.

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INDIAN SUMMER

T

here are many phrases in the American version of the English language - Indian Summer being one. You would think that in these misdirected ‘Times of Woke’ some dimwitted ‘Knight of Wokedom’ would start screaming about this term. But, no. It seems everyone likes a few good days of Indian Summer.

Why do they call it an Indian summer?

The precise origin of Indian Summer is uncertain, but here is a commonly accepted definition: A warm, tranquil spell of weather in the autumn, especially after a frost or period of abnormally cold weather. The weather was still warm in India — thus the term “Indian Summer.”

For us, it meant rearranging our scheduling a bit and wiping the calendar free of anything for a couple of days midweek in mid-November.

Well, free of anything except for riding motorcycles to where ever.

Take ‘Em While You Can words + images: Brian Rathjen

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022 Although the day might feel late springish, the reality was that, with the clocks falling back the weekend before, we had a limited window of riding time.

Morning tasks and errands were vanquished hastily this day and we were on the bikes on the road in time for a moderately late breakfast at the Elias Cole - a perennial fave of ours and a place that offers a great doorway to the roads of Sullivan County and the Upper Delaware River.

Roland the chef had ‘The Best’ pumpkin pancakes this morn and carb’d, caffeinated and ready to go ‘till dinner we rode north on Route 23 but quickly vectored east onto some of the lesser ridden northwest Jersey roads.

We had created our routes just a few hours earlier. I had put the morning route together and Shira the afternoon journey to our overnight destination.

We’re both happy making routes and we each have our own formula. It has been said that my wife is a QOG - Queen of Gravel, but I know she doesn’t do it on purpose, yet looks for roadways that pop out as peculiar, different, and off-the-beaten track. Yup, she’s good at this. Many times, the roads are so anomalous that gravel could almost be an afterthought.

My routes, on the other hand are… Hey, where did this gravel come from?

We were not a couple of miles out from the Elias Cole and we were off the pavement and onto the gravel.

“Nice,” was all I heard through the Bluetooth.

I shrugged it off as there were plenty of homes along the road and here is a Backroads Tip for you all; If you are on gravel and a bit upset by this…

Page 25 here’s the deal: If you are riding by homes, it can’t be that bad, right.

People live here.

But if the only thing you see is rabid dire wolves and dragons then choose your battles. It’s okay to turn around… ain’t no one gonna make fun of you.

Back on asphalt, we headed north and then slightly west over the edge of the Kittatinny Mountains that runs from the Hudson River and south far into Pennsylvania. Along this way, Guymard Turnpike, we rode past a compound about which we have long been curious.

To our thought … if you want to be secretive and hidden DO NOT POST ARMED GUARDS! Dragon Springs does just this and we noticed.

Who wouldn’t?

Well, a lot of people have taken notice of this not-so-secret “Secret Place.” Surrounded by forests, atop a small mountain, and guarded by armed security, Dragon Springs is a refuge for persecuted Falun Gong practitioners.

Few outsiders are permitted inside.

About 100 people are said to be living in a 400-acre property in upstate New York, in the shadow of the Shawangunk Mountains. It’s meant to be a mecca for the estimated tens of millions of Falun Gong Followers, members of a religious and political group persecuted in China, which calls the group a “cult”.

Googling this place, and the group that calls it home, opened a huge rabbit-hole that is definitely more Seymour O’Life’s domain and not mine and we are sure the good doctor will be on this sooner or later.

A quick ride further north on Route 209 and then we jockeyed over Oakland Valley Road. This road has a lot going for it as it mimics the pretty Neversink River – Algonquin for Mad River - running past the small race track in Cuddlebackville that sees both motorcycles and karting doing laps.

Along the road, there is a Historic Marker. We try to make a habit of slowing down when we spy them as somebody thought something was important enough to make a sign for it.

This one surely was. Silent Movies; and it marked where the Caudebec Inn once stood.

Although many Silent Films were made in Fort Lee, a cheap ferry ride from upper Manhattan, famed film-maker D.W. Griffith, in search of new and fresh locations, discovered the region.

In 1916 Griffith recalled, “I discovered Cuddebackville, the most beautiful, altogether the loveliest spot in America…There is a quality about the light there, particularly a twilight that I have never found elsewhere; it is transcendently illuminative for [moving] pictures.”

Page 26 It was here that the first “fade to black” or blackout was used, as Griffith hated the sudden end to scenes in his film. The first one was created using a simple cigar box.

D.W. stated, “Taking a cigar box, I had it placed in front of the camera lens. The lid of the box was lifted gradually before the lens so that when the scene was projected on the screen, instead of that sudden stop – it faded off.” The picture in which this effect was first used was The Last of the Mohicans, starring Mary Pickford and Owen Moore.

We had an entire warm Indian Summer afternoon to ride before this day would fade to black.

Following the route that endeavored to follow along with some previously unridden (at least by us) slivers of asphalt, we scooted past the tiny lakes that make up this part of Sullivan County, New York.

We rode around the Woodstock festival site, once home to our great friend Sam Yasgur, who flew west just a few years back. His story of how, one Sunday during dinner, a helicopter landed on the farm and his dad, Max (yes, that Max), was approached about having his farm host a little music festival was hilarious – and the rest is Rock & Roll history.

From Bethel, the route brought us into some of what I call “Boldly Go” roads.

This part of the trip was a real keepa’, as the Sullivan County roads, just west of Jeffersonville, rose over the valley, down some sweeping farm roads, and generally had us with Shit Eatin’ grins filling our helmets.

I am pretty sure we will be back this way very soon.

Not soon afterward we hung a tight right onto Route 97 north towards Hancock. This part of Route 97 is truly stellar – especially the views from the viaduct near Basket Brook.

Umm, remember earlier when I had touted that I rarely put us on gravel? Well, whattaya think happened? Heading towards County Road 28 and the promise of more fantastical pavement, we had a few miles of up-

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022 hill gravel that went from “This is okay to… is that a dire wolf ?” in less than a mile. Recent rains left deeper and deeper ruts, so – we turned the tiny sportier bikes around and enjoyed the highest point on Route 97 as we rode into Hancock.

We have been to Hancock many times and have held several rallies and gatherings at the Hancock Hotel - a place that is very motorcycle-friendly and would love for you and your friends to roll up to their door for lunch, dinner, or an overnight stay.

But this day we were looking for a place that we had long heard about but never had the opportunity to seek out…Delaware Delicacies Smoke House.

For decades now Ray Turner has been smoking varieties of fish, trout, shrimp, salmon, as well as bacon and gouda, at his very end-of-the-road hideaway. But Turner is famous for something very special indeed. Smoked Eels.

Here is your word for the day – catadromous.

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022

Freshwater Eels are the only catadromous fish in North America. “Catadromous” means that they spawn in salt water and live as adults in freshwater. Anadromous fish, like Salmon and American Shad, spawn in freshwater but live as adults in the ocean.

Although the Eel looks snakelike, it is a fish.

The Delaware River in Pennsylvania has the most abundant population of Eels in the nation because there are no dam obstructions to prevent Eel’s upriver migration.

Think of this next time you jump out of a raft to cool off while heading down the river from Landers.

Eels were huge business a hundred years ago and in 1912, called an “offyear,” 50,000 Eels weighing more than 44,000 pounds were caught in Pennsylvania. Today, Eels are caught mostly by anglers looking for food and sport. Eels are remarkably good eating, especially smoked. This is where Ray comes in. His smoked eels are the stuff of legend.

Turner’s secret to this sweet and savory river bounty? He brines the eels in salt and dark honey before smoking them over applewood. If you have ridden along Route 97 and noticed the large v-shaped wooden constructions in the river – that is probably one of Ray’s eel weirs.

But if you think eels are different – meet Ray Turner. With a long white beard and a very loner-esque flair, Ray defiantly bangs his own drum.

Page 27 Be forewarned – Ray is very serious about COVID-19. VERY SERIOUS. After keeping our course on a road that was getting more and more remote by the yard we were greeted, even before we were off the bikes, by Ray asking loudly from a distance.

“AreuvaccinatedDouhaveamaskWash u’rhandswiththedisinfectant!”

I personally, long ago, have had enough of this… but, I can sometimes pick and choose my fights. I wanted to see the inside of Delaware Delicacies Smoke House.

So, I conceded… this time.

Like getting stuck; I regretted it.

Ray did not have any eel this day but did have a good number of choice words for New York state, politicians, and the government in general.

I was allowed to stay as I answered his question about my voting record. I am sure Ray is a nice man – odd, but nice – maybe. I was losing patience at this point and stepped outside. Shira is far more congenial and diplomatic and came out with a good sample of the smokehouse’s fish.

We packed the smokey booty away and went back into Hancock to fill up at one of the more historic filling stations in the region. The Old Bat Factory might be a Mo-

Page 28 bil station but this station is found in the old Louisville Slugger Bat Factory and has a great little restaurant as well.

World-famous Louisville Slugger baseball bats were made from Hancock timber for over 85 years. Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Joe DiMaggio, and Ted Williams all set records with bats that started out in the Hancock mill.

Fueled and caffeinated we headed out on Shira’s half of the day’s ride.

It might have been a beautiful day, but now we were in a bit of a race with the sun to see who would end their day first. We crossed over into Pennsylvania riding along some neat and paved roads heading west a bit and then south, along the Lackawaxen River...

Somewhere along the way the roads, that were clearly paved looking on Garmin’s Basecamp, showed to be less than that, and I ate Shira’s dust for a good amount of miles.

We vectored onto cleaner pavement and then, just as I thought we’d beat the sun to Hawley and The Ledges Hotel, our planned overnight, Shira’s turn-signal came on and we headed down a small (but thankfully

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022 macadamized) road called Creek Road, outside of Waymart. “Where are we headed?” I thought.

I had to ask, as we rode up the dirt drive to CreamWorks Creamery. Unlike many creameries and homemade ice cream shops, CreamWorks has been supplying locals with farm-fresh milk for decades – just like it used to be.

They had ice cream to go, as we had to as well, as the sun was dropping fast and we still had 30 miles to ride.

Mr. Blue, you did it right But soon comes Mr. Night creepin’ over Now his hand is on your shoulder Never mind I’ll remember you this I’ll remember you this way Electric Light Orchestra

We passed by the long Prompton Lake, created back in the 1960s with the help of a 1230-foot long and 147-foot high earthen dam that was built in response to severe floods on the Lackawaxen River in 1936, 1942, and 1955. Today it offers a great park to hike, explore, and fish. It looked great in the golden light as the day rolled into the night.

What a beautiful day.

We rode across US 6 and Shira asked if I wanted to just cut the last bit of the route off and make straight for Ledges?

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022 Heck no! And with The Hornet Deer Alert Systems blaring (not just an advertiser, but a necessity) we rode the last bit of her excellent route into Hawley and down the winding road, along the natural cataract rock ledges of Paupack High Falls to the once fine glass factory, now a very stunning and upscale hotel that combines natural beauty, deep history, and modern amenities to make it a very worthwhile overnight destination.

That evening’s dinner at the hotel’s restaurant ‘Glass’ was only overshadowed by the stunning falls and the rising half-moon with Jupiter just above.

The soft light, the waterfalls, and rocks…the image looked as if it was painted by Thomas Kinkaid.

What a way to end that gift from the Road Gods called Indian Summer.

Make the most of the 2022 riding season.

Get you and your ride ready before heading out.

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Your Spring Fling

A

Places to Explore. Things to Experience. Roads to Ride.

s Spring comes rolling in, we thought we’d offer a few suggestions of places to go and things to see for the beginning of the 2022 riding season here in the northeast. Indeed it is fine and good to simply get out and ride and, many times, the beauty is just the ride itself, but a fun destination can make it all the better so let us toss out a few suggestions…

The Mysteries of O’ Life’s Mysterious America

What an odd duck our man O’Life is and over the years he has written about some very odd, strange, and sometimes unbelievable places. When he heard we were writing a Spring Fling piece he wanted in and thought this spring he would remind you of some of them.

Each one of them is amazing in its own way so clear your calendar and follow along the backroads of Mysterious America with the good doctor.

Take it away, Seymour…

THE MYSTERY SPOT OF LAKE GEORGE 10 BEACH RD, LAKE GEORGE, NEW YORK

If you live in the northeast and like big rallies, I am sure you have been to Americade up in Lake George, but there is a very odd spot to be found right where Route 9 meets Beach Road; very odd indeed and I’ll wager, unless you are privy to this, that you have walked right past it a hundred times.

Behind the Lake George Visitor Center there is a circular platform with a painted blue map of the lake and a compass pattern etched in. In the exact center of the circle, two metal rails cross each other in the middle of the map, forming a literal “X” that marks the mystery spot. Stand here and you’ll witness, or rather hear, a strange natural phenomenon that seems to defy the laws of acoustics.

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022 If you stand in this exact spot, facing the lake, and start shouting, you’ll hear your own voice echo back to you as if from another dimension. Only you can hear it, and only in this precise spot. Cue the Twilight Zone theme!

The acoustical phenomenon will make your voice sound tinny to your own ears, while the other visitors around you will wonder why you are standing around shouting or singing opera. Only when they stand in the direct center as well will they, too, hear the effect.

Theories range as to how the mystery spot works its wonders. Some say your voice is bouncing off the curved semi-circular stone wall; others point to the position of the lake and mountains. The most intriguing explanation is a local Native American legend, which holds an ancient god that appeared long ago at this spot and his wisdom still echoes around the lake. Regardless of the reason for this acoustical mystery, the Lake George Mystery Spot remains one of the best-kept secrets of Lake George, hidden in plain sight.

THE PEMBER MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

33 WEST MAIN STREET, GRANVILLE, NEW YORK 12832 518-642-1515 • www.pembermuseum.wordpress.com How about a ride along the border with New York State and Vermont to make a stop at a most, err, unusual museum. The Pember.

As they say… a “Victorian Collection of Animals and Artifacts from Around the World.”

The Pember Library and Museum were established in Granville, New York, in 1909, by Franklin Tanner Pember and his wife Ellen Wood Pem-

ber. Both institutions continue to operate in the building designed and built for this purpose. The Pember Library is housed on the first floor of the granite structure with marble accents and the Pember Museum of Natural History is located on the second floor with an elevator that can access both the library and museum.

Head upstairs and be prepared to be amazed at their most amazing collection, the lifetime obsession of Franklin.

Pember was born near Granville in 1841. He was an entrepreneur, with interests in the fur trade, oil fields, and orange groves. From boyhood, he was interested in the natural world and collected mounted birds and mammals, bird nests and eggs, shells, insects, plants, and rocks and minerals. This collection became the basis of the Pember Museum.

The Pember’s eventually funded the building of the

Page 31 Granville library that the museum was to go into and in 1909 Franklin’s life’s work was assembled and opened as the Pember Museum. It is displayed today much as it was then, an incredible natural history collection displayed in wood and glass cases. Victorian maximalism at its best. Unfortunately, not long after the Pember’s deaths (they died within a few weeks of each other) in 1924, the Pember Museum fell into neglect and disuse.

Today, revitalized in the 1970s by the local community of Granville, the Pember is open and active. As one explores, Pember’s presence can be felt throughout. Pember did much of the collecting, as well as the taxidermy in the museum himself, and his obvious love of natural history and his skillful hand at taxidermy are fully on display.

Strolling through the second floor of the library is truly a bit of Mysterious America.

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THE NARRAGANSET RUNE STONE

55 BROWN ST., WICKFORD TOWN SQUARE NORTH KINGSTON, RI 02852 • 401-294-3331 Who made this odd stone that now sits in the Wickford Town Square?

Was it made as a prank, was it native Americans who carved Norsestyle runes onto it. Or, was it the Vikings; and we don’t mean the football team.

The earliest known eyewitness accounts of the inscription dates from 1948, at which time neighborhood children began calling it Indian Rock due to the characters inscribed upon it. This rock, as it was submerged for the majority of daily tidal cycles, was known only to the locals until l984 when a quahogger, working from his skiff, noticed the inscription. He notified researchers interested in Norse runic inscriptions in North America, setting the stage for the numerous attempts at an explanation ever since. Some believe it is a record of a visit to Narragansett Bay by the Vikings or other Norsemen, or Icelandic explorers/trappers, still others a voyage by the Knights Templar. Some believe it was more likely rendered by immigrants to our area, out of national pride, in the 19th-20th centuries. The Stone disappeared in 2012. It was recovered by the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management in 2013 and was installed in Wickford in 2015. Although no one can say with complete certainty exactly by whom or when

these intriguing Runic symbols were carved into this stone, it is safe to say, as quoted from Professor Henrik Williams of Uppsala University in Sweden, the rune stone is “of considerable cultural significance to Rhode Island and New England, not the least because of the controversy, mystery, and even intrigue connected with it.”

Whoever did it – this bit of Mysterious America is truly worth the ride to Rhode Island as we roll through the spring. ~ O’Life out!

By now you are probably thinking, “Hey Rathjen… Kamil – we’re getting hungry. So are we… Here are three super eateries that range from comfortable and cozy to exquisite and, well, a tad upscale in the most artsy and fun way…

BIG KEV’S BBQ

90 ROYCE RD, SWAN LAKE, NY 12783 845-798-7395 While Rat’s may be a tad upscale for you, then our first suggestion is the polar opposite. Basic, easy and relaxed.

We found Big Kev’s years back and, in the warmer months, it is a superb roadside barbeque that has been feeding locals and travelers for years now. Located along Route 17B in White Lake, New York – not far from Bethel Hills and the original Woodstock site, Big Kev’s barbeque is always superb and worth the wait as at times Kev and company get quite busy.

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022 Grab your ‘cue and take a seat at one of the picnic tables and enjoy – that is what this ride was for.

THE RED WOLF INN

130 COUNTY ROAD 519, BELVIDERE, NJ 07823 908-475-4772 The Red Wolf has been a favorite of ours for decades. The Inn, more like a tavern, is located in far western New Jersey, just east of the Delaware River, right on County Road 519, one of the best roads in the state for a great ride!

They serve up the best steaks in New Jersey – end of story. But they also offer up so much more. The appetizers include clams, mushrooms and escargot and the mussels in the Wolf’s garlic cream sauce are amazingly delicious. The plates of pasta are also a great choice – and we particularly love their Seafood Alfredo. They have offerings of seafood, pork, and poultry – but it is rare we do not go to The Red Wolf and not order steak.

Named after the wolves that once lived at the restaurant – you can find a portion just perfect for you… add the garlic butter, seriously great!

If you have a great spring ride planned along the Delaware River make it a point to spin by The Red Wolf for an early dinner (they start serving at 5pm) and you’ll understand and appreciate us making mention of this phenomenal restaurant for a Spring Fling ride!

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RAT’S RESTAURANT

16 FAIRGROUNDS RD, HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ 08619 609-584-7800 • www.ratsrestaurant.com In southern New Jersey, there is a most wondrous place – it is called Grounds for Sculpture and, on its 42 beautifully manicured acres, you will find some of the best and most creative art in the nation.

Huge statues of stone and metal, the incredible creations of Seward Johnson and other notable artists are scattered throughout Grounds for Sculpture – but we have ridden here for their famed restaurant – Rat’s.

This superb restaurant is surrounded by wonderful art and lies along a koi pond that is a stunning recreation of Monet’s Water Lilies.

Rat’s is inspired by Claude Monet’s hometown, Giverny, and its decor resembles a French countryside tavern. Its chefs take advantage of local New Jersey produce to create a distinctly French menu, including specials such as trout amandine, the fish luxuriously dripped with brown butter and almonds, and roasted duck breast on a bed of farro, piquant with tart cherries and chili walnuts.

The restaurant is named after the rat from The Wind in the Willows, the children’s book about rats, toads, and moles who enjoy chilling out by a river under the titular willow trees, and

Page 34 downing a few after dinner.

We think it is one of the neatest places at which we have ever eaten – and we have several times. You should too, this spring.

Make That Monster Road Trip Plan…

I’m talkin’ baseball!

Like Reggie, Quisenberry.

Talkin’ baseball!

Carew and Gaylord Perry, Seaver, Garvey, Schmidt and Vida Blue, While we were putting this Spring Fling piece together we were also following our own advice and making plans for a big ride later this year… and for us, the trip will probably include…. Baseball You might think most motorheads are not ball & stick fans, but we here at Backroads love baseball and try to get to games whenever we can whether it be our beloved Mets, our local Sussex County Miners, or pulling off to the side of the road to watch a few innings of Little League or Amish boys & girls going at it like they were in The Show.

This year the BMW MOA National Rally is being held in Springfield, Missouri – a decent distance away from Backroads Central and a road trip that will eat up a few weeks if we do it right. We have a plan to do just that.

As soon as we booked our hotel near the rally, Shira brought up the possibility of catching a few Major League games while on the road. You see we are on a quest to get to all the MLB Parks and have a good number already notched. So we looked at the map, the calendar and played with the trip in our heads.

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022 If all goes as lightly planned right now we’ll tag three new parks. We’ll see if the owners and players can make this all happen.

First out to Cleveland, Ohio. Here along Lake Erie and the not-on-fire Cuyahoga River we will catch the Indians trying to scalp the Oakland Athletics – and we’ll make time for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame too.

We’ll then head further west and across the mighty Mississippi River, but not before stopping on the eastern shore and visiting Cahokia.

Cahwhatyasay?

Cahokia was the largest and most influential urban settlement of the Mississippian culture, which developed advanced societies across much of what is now the central and southeastern United States, beginning more than 1,000 years before European contact. Trust us – this is a very important place and a very deep and almost forgotten chunk of this continent’s history.

Heading across the Big Muddy we’ll see if the St. Louis Cardinals can turn away the Pirates of Pittsburgh… arrrgg!

The next few days will see us blasting the backroads of the Ozarks, south through Arkansas, and then back north to the BMW Rally in Springfield. With the rally in the mirrors, we’ll start heading home, enjoying the stunning pavement of Kentucky before crossing the Ohio River and making a stop at The Great American Ballpark to see my brother’s beloved Cincinnati Reds play 9 against the Los Angeles Dodger. Go Reds!

This has us on a great vector to enjoy Ohio’s Triple Nickel Route 555 and then into West “By God” Virginia and back home.

As Steely Dan sang… “The plan was set the plan was done.”

Time to make your plans too! ,

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022

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AIMExpo 2022 • Gathering of the Motorcycle Industry I had the chance to take in the 2022 AIMExpo in Las Vegas this past winter.

In a time that the industry is doing both good and bad – if you could do both at once - the motorcycle industry has this covered, selling out existing stock and then moving into the used bike market as the supply chain broke.

Let’s start with the positives…

From the manufacturer’s side of things only Triumph, Suzuki, and Benelli were present amongst the big hitters. There were also a couple of lesser-known off-road brands there from the Asian markets which might be a plus to get young middle-class families and their kids into the motorcycle game.

On Triumph’s corner, they featured three bikes. The new Tiger 660 is a fantastic bargain at an MSRP of just below 10k. The speed triple 1200RR cafe styled beast, as well as the all-new flagship Tiger 1200.

Suzuki had a small presence showing off the return of the Hyabusa as well as the GSX and the new GT. We look to the opportunity to try one as a long-term test bike to see its travel worthiness.

Benelli, who has made quite the resurgence in Europe, especially in Italy, was also on hand showing off their models. Pretty exciting for the entry-level market. Quality-built bikes with a low-price tag. I believe their

approach will help get new and younger riders into our sport. They featured a 500cc adv bike and a cafe-style bike complete with a hood ornament on the front fender like days of old. Designed in Italy and manufactured in China they seem to be doing a great job. On the downside for them, the 2023 models are complete rip-offs of the Harley Sportster, Honda’s CBR600, Kawasaki’s Z bikes, and BMWs

R9T in the design department.

I was hoping to see some fresh ideas in the accessories department as well.

As always SW Motech was there showing off their innovative designs along with Givi and Nelson Rigg in the mix.

A smaller LoJack-style system was on hand called MoniMoto GPS tracker.

A compact reusable emergency fuel pouch.

Pinlock, with the anti-fog lenses, surprised me with their earplugs. I grabbed a pair to put to the test in this coming season.

Plastex Plastic Repair Kits were also quite interesting. You can create a mold and repair most plastics and even recreate

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BACKROADS • APRIL 2022 broken tabs. They also offer an aluminum mix for repairing engine cases.

A new apparel company called Gryphon based out of Indianapolis created by riders for riders with quality products and cool innovative features to rival the big manufacturers like Klim without the high price tag. Great for new riders as well as riders with a lower budget. Great gear at affordable prices is a thumbs up and helps keep people in the sport without pricing them out.

A new helmet manufacturer from Thailand, KYT, is entering the US market. EU and FIM approved helmets at an affordable price point. Proving once again that quality and safety can be had without breaking the bank. Keeping riders in the sport and inspiring new riders to join our aging dwindling ranks. The importer also runs tours in Thailand and is co-owner of the Ohvale Mini Bikes used by racers to train and apply techniques at lower safer speeds.

As for the downside…

Once again there seemed to be too many non-motorcycle vendors. From electric bicycles which at least have two wheels to underwater electric handheld propulsion devices, Skateboards, scooters of different varieties. More like children’s toys than power sports.

But, we do need new blood in our sport.

Many manufacturers and suppliers had no new products due to covid and supply chain issues. So, from boots to bags, much of it was all the products we’ve seen already in previous years.

We hope, as we ride out of the pandemic, the industry’s supply chain rejuvenates and we’ll have a far bigger AIMExpo come 2023. ~ Vasilios Rallis • www.greek-adventures.com

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A Pyrenees Prance Text and Photos by: Stephen Davis The seed was planted on a prior trip to Spain while driving a four-wheel rental admiring the engineering of the Spanish roadways. They portended exciting riding and glorious scenery on two wheels. After getting a medical report that came with the likelihood of a reduced life expectancy, there was new emphasis to complete an adventure on some of the best roads on the Iberian Peninsula.

The Pyrenees Mountains beckoned.

The booking with IMTBike for a custom, ten-day, self-guided tour from Barcelona to San Sebastian and back was made in July 2019 for September 2021. Little did I know a pandemic would intervene. Fortunately, by the time of the scheduled trip, I was vaccinated, in decent health, and had obtained travel clearance from the United States, Spain, American Airlines, my doctors, and my spouse. How did enjoying motorcycling get so complicated? During the process, I yearned for the days when, as a teen, on the spur of the moment, I could kick start my 1972 Suzuki TS250 and go riding in the mud!

Getting Started in Barcelona The tour included a first night stay in central Barcelona at the Abba Sants Hotel, where I was to meet my IMT contact “Nacho” at 6 pm in the lobby. He came with a friendly attitude, a detailed tour handbook, and maps.

Most of the info in the tour book was previously provided via email, so I had purchased my own maps on Amazon and marked the ten-day course

with a highlighter and notes. Nacho gave me the same maps with his own highlighting, plus a map of the zigzags in and out of France not covered by the other maps (more on that later). After a beer and some war stories, Nacho and I walked two blocks to the IMT shop in Barcelona where we went over the rental bike, a 2021 1250GS, equipped with all the bells and whistles, including “shift assist” (quickshifter), multiple riding modes, a

programmable nav unit, and BMW side and top cases. It even had cruise control and a heated seat. It was a hopped-up, water-cooled, high-tech version of my 2001 1150GS oil head. Since I wasn’t planning to hit much dirt on this trek, I requested tires suited to spirited riding on asphalt. I was pleased to see that IMT kindly obliged by outfitting the GS with brand new ContiTrailAttack 3s.

Page 38 The nav unit was preprogrammed with each daily course for the entire tour, including suggested lunch stops (on your own) and five-star hotel accommodations (included in the tour package with parking and breakfast).

The routes were carefully planned, featuring the best roads with the least traffic for thrilling riding.

After a hearty breakfast buffet at the Sants, washed down with a couple of cafés con leche, I wheeled my duffle bag across the street and around the corner to pick up the GS, dodging pedestrians, bicyclists, electric scooters, moto scooters, motorcycles (universally “motos” in Europe), skateboards, and seemingly every other land-based mode of transportation known to man. Nacho had the bike fueled and ready to go. It was 9 am. I loaded my gear into the on-board cases with room to spare and slipped on my trusty Aerostich suit, AGV helmet, and gloves (mandatory in Spain). Leaving the duffle with Nacho and bidding him a friendly adios, I eased into the jumble of weekday traffic and headed north.

Barcelona to Costa Brava The morning Barcelona city slog gave me insight into local riding practices. Lane filtering was implemented by all motos. Taxi and bus lanes were also fair game. I happily joined the flow.

North of Barcelona and headed for Sant Feliu de Guixols (the destination for the night), the turn off the “national road” (freeway), C 35, at exit 94 (Gl 681) was where the highlights of the day began. This two-lane road, with some sweepers and twists, winds down to the picturesque costal pueblo of Tossa de Mar. With its charming, well preserved medieval walls and castle, Tossa is probably the best place in all of Catalunya to stop

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022 for a seafood lunch. I took the opportunity to gorge on octopus (pulpo) and mussels while enjoying a glass of Albarino and a gentle sea breeze on the terrace of a local bistro. As I sipped the wine, noting a hint of nectarine over its crisp acidity, and a light, citrus finish, I began to understand why the Turkish and Berber pirates frequently plundered this part of the coast centuries earlier.

Alas, I had to leave to do some plundering of my own, for the best stretch of road awaited. After a shot of expresso, I snugged up my helmet in excited anticipation.

The two-lane snake from Tossa to Sant Feliu (Gl 682) is simply spectacular. It is well known to Catalan riders who call it the “Carretera de l’Any” or the “Highway of The Year” due to its 365 curves in 20 kilometers. I selected the “Dynamic” riding mode on the GS. The road is an engineering masterpiece and well maintained. Importantly, late on a Monday afternoon, with an alternate national road preferred by most drivers, traffic on the road was sparse. The 20 km beauty has only one side road and undulates up, down, and around along a glorious coastline interspersed with patches of forest, low shrubs, and steep cliffs that drop hundreds of meters to the blue-green Mediterranean Sea. It was like an amalgam of the Pacific Coast Highway, The Tail of The Dragon and the Twisted Sisters, without traffic. Testing the limit of the big GS and my own riding skills, I moved at a brisk pace. The Conti tires stuck like glue (I put 170 km on the new rubber before pushing them hard on this part of the ride). The low center of gravity, telelever suspension,

BACKROADS • APRIL 2022

Page 39 was an even more remote stretch of asphalt winding through the town of Monells and on to the provincial capital of Girona. Going up and over a 484-meter peak. This secluded backway is full of great curves and forested sections with absolutely no traffic. You will note a recurrent theme of little traffic on the routes described. IMT found the “best” roads for the type of tour I wanted to experience. I requested twisty, technical, challenging

excellent brakes, and reliable torque of the twin boxer proved ideal for this type of riding. There were 9 other vehicles encountered during the 20 km stretch, 6 going south and 3 that I passed. It was an adrenaline rush not to be forgotten. I arrived in Sant Feliu in time to find a bottle of Macallan (12 Year Triple Cask) in town and retire to the Park Hotel San Jorge before dark. Watching the darkness descend over the sea from the terrace off my room, I heard the waves crashing against the rocky shore. Raising a glass, I toasted a great day of riding with 9 more to go.

Costa Brava to La Seu d’Urgell The San Jorge is perched on a rock wall above a private beach. A winding wooden staircase joins the two. The grounds offer magnificent views and excellent facilities, including an Olympic size swimming pool, elegant bar, first class restaurant, and an expansive high-ceilinged salon housing a superbly tuned Samick grand piano. As I explored the resort in the morning, I imagined staying longer, but the road and a new adventure awaited. So, bidding farewell to the Mediterranean, I loaded the bike and headed for the Pyrenees foothills.

The memorable riding started on GI 660 out of Calogne. It is a beautiful, twisty, mountain road leading into the Serra de les Gavarres and to the small city of La Bisbal de l’Emporda, a place of medieval origin, known for fine ceramic craftsmanship since the eighteenth century. However, the highlight ride of the day

riding, with as little competing traffic as possible. For me, the less traffic the better, since I can go as fast or slow (usually fast) as I want without the stress of worrying about vehicular conflicts. While European drivers are generally more cognizant of motorcyclists, and more courteous, there always seems to be at least one or two idiots out to get you, no matter where you are. So, all other things being equal, less traffic is always better. Also, law enforcement for speeding was minimal. The generally recommended practice is to strictly comply with the speed limit going through the towns along the way. Elsewhere, one can be more liberal with the throttle. Conveniently, the BMW nav system signals you of the presence of speed cameras and there are even friendly signs along the roadway warning in advance of their location.

Girona was not on the tour set by IMT, but I wanted to see its cathedral (Cathedral de Girona) and basilica (Basilica de Sant Feliu). The Catholic art in these two structures was magnificent, rivalling some of the fin-

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est museums in Rome.

The architecture of the Cathedral is unique.

The solid west face is Catalan Baroque; the cloister and tower, Romanesque; but the rest of the building is Gothic. The single nave is the widest in the world and behind the altar is “Charlemagne’s Chair”, named after the Frankish king whose troops took Girona in 785 AD. Beyond Girona, the next stop of interest was Besalu. Walking over the ancient bridge leading to the city, defended by a river, walls, towers and vaults, I imagined what it must have been like in the Dark Ages. As I passed, there was a musician sitting on the ancient stone structure playing for tips in the shade of one of the magnificent arches. I threw a Euro in his overturned hat. In the square and around the narrow cobblestone streets (pathways), I found unique shops, bough a ceramic cup (for my Macallan), picked up some fruit at a farmer’s market, and relished the medieval vibe. I even found a coat of armor standing guard at a vendor’s door.

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One expected to see a character from Game of Thrones come around the corner.

Back in my own suit of armor (my riding suit), I still had 158 km to the next hotel. No more time for sightseeing. The next few roads were excellent and, again, without much traffic. Cresting the Coll de Canes at 1120 m, I was gaining elevation and digging the GS Dynamic mode. I have always loved the up and down sprints following the path of rivers. Here, there were plenty. Heading north off the B 402 to the ski resort town of La Molina was a special road (BV 4031) that runs up to the source of the Llobregat River. Navigating amazingly fun switchbacks, I soon hit 1900 m before dropping down into the valley on equally challenging switchbacks and arriving at La Seu d’Urgell and my accommodation for the night, the Parador Nacional de la Seu. As I settled into another 5-star hotel and poured a couple fingers of Macallan in my new ceramic cup, I felt pleased with my choice of motorcycle.

There was no way anyone could have fun on a cruiser on this route (IMT didn’t offer one). ADV, sport, or sport tourer are the bikes for the Pyrenees. This was not a ride for the novice. The torque on the GS in Road or Dynamic modes (mostly in 2nd gear) was vital for snapping out of uphill switchbacks. Even loaded with side and top cases and with a 200-pound rider (including gear), I had no trouble nimbly navigating the rising and falling, twisting, asphalt. This was getting really good.

Tomorrow morning couldn’t come soon enough. ,

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2022 INDIAN PURSUIT DARK HORSE & LIMITED Indian Motorcycle, America’s First Motorcycle Company, unleashed the next generation of American V-Twin touring performance with the launch of the Indian Pursuit. Featuring the liquid-cooled PowerPlus engine, seamless ride-enhancing technology, a chassis-mounted fairing, and loads of touring amenities, the 2022 Indian Pursuit stakes its claim as the most capable and refined American touring machine on the road. Packed with unparalleled comfort and performance, the Indian Pursuit was thoughtfully engineered for discerning riders who value the journey as much as the destination. Available in two models with two trim levels for each, riders can select from four total offerings to fit their personal style and riding preferences. Models include the Indian Pursuit Dark Horse and Indian Pursuit Limited – each available with a premium package that offers advanced ride-enhancing technology and additional comfort features. “Touring bikes are one of the ultimate expressions of freedom – enabling unforgettable experiences through longer escapes and epic adventures on the open road,” said Mike Dougherty, President for Indian Motorcycle. “With Indian Pursuit, we’ve expanded on the unparalleled sophistication of the PowerPlus motor to deliver a class-leading, fully-loaded touring machine that combines top-tier performance with unparalleled comfort and advanced tech features, delivering an American V-twin touring experience unlike any other.”

The 2022 Indian Pursuit lineup will in Indian Motorcycle dealerships late this spring. indianmotorcycle.com

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DUCATI MULTISTRADA V4 A NEW COLOR, ELECTRONIC UPDATES AND NEW ACCESSORIES AVAILABLE FOR 2022 With almost 10,000 motorcycles delivered worldwide, the Multistrada V4 ended 2021 as the best-selling and most popular family in the Ducati range. In its first year on the market, the Multistrada V4 was able to confirm the expectations created since the day of its presentation, establishing itself as an ideal motorcycle for any kind of trip.

The fourth generation of Multistrada has conquered many new Ducatisti. The Multistrada V4 is effective on all types of roads, thanks to the dynamic qualities and smooth delivery of the V4 Granturismo engine, which guarantees a sporty and exhilarating ride on mixed roads and provides easy off-road riding. The bike features state-of-the-art technology: it is the first motorcycle in the world equipped with front and rear radar, with

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Blind Spot Detection (BSD) systems which represent a precious aid to riding comfort, especially on long journeys. In addition, the Multistrada V4 has benchmark maintenance intervals with valve clearance control set every 60,000 km (36,000 miles).

The success of the Ducati Multistrada V4 is proven not only by feedback

from the press, but also by the satisfaction of the enthusiasts who have chosen to purchase it. This is a further incentive for Ducati to continue developing the project in 2022.

The main goal, pursued through constant research and development work, is to continuously improve the bike by taking into account all of the needs of the Ducatisti, ensuring available updates and introducing new features on the production bikes.

The first new feature for the Multistrada V4 family in 2022 concerns the color range of the S version, which expands with the addition of the new Iceberg White livery. It is a glossy white color that enhances the refined lines of the bike. The Iceberg White Multistrada V4 S is planned to be available in North American Ducati dealerships starting in Q3 of 2022, and will join the Ducati Red and Aviator Grey color options. Pricing for the U.S. is planned to begin at an MSRP $26,295 for Iceberg White. The bike can be ordered in four different trims (Essential, Radar, Travel & Ra-

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dar, Full), which can be viewed in the dedicated section of the Ducati website.

For the electronics package, the main update lies in a new semi-automatic function of the electronic suspension for the Multistrada V4 S, called Minimum Preload. This feature allows you to reduce the height of the motorcycle and makes it easier to place your feet on the ground during city use or when maneuvering at low speeds, especially with a passenger on board.

Another important software update concerns the interaction between the rider and the bike, which is now more functional thanks to the improvements implemented in the Infotainment (Ducati Connect) and HMI (Human-Machine Interface) areas.

The new package of updates is available both as a standard feature on new motorcycles and free of charge for those who already own a Multistrada V4 S, confirming the continuous attention that the Bologna-based

manufacturer reserves for its enthusiasts. Multistrada owners who can take advantage of these new features will be contacted gradually through the MyDucati App and via email, starting March 15, to go to their trusted Ducati Service to receive the updates.

The latest addition to the Multistrada family is designed for motorcyclists who have a strong aptitude for traveling. In fact, starting in April 2022, the aluminum side panniers and top case, designed by the Centro Stile Ducati and made in collaboration with Givi, will be included in the catalog. The considerable total capacity (76 litres / 2.7 cubic feet for the side panniers and 41 litres / 1.4 cubic feet for the top case) allows motorcyclists to take everything they need with them for their trip. The cases are designed to be filled from above, in order to maximize capacity and facilitate loading and unloading.

Log onto www.ducati.com for more information and updates.

DON’T SUFFER FROM FOMO GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND FOLLOW US FOR UP-TO-THE-MINUTE NEWS • IMPROMPTU RIDES www.facebook.com/pages/Backroads-Motorcycle-Touring-Magazine

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NOLANGROUP’S NEW FULL-FACE HELMETS: NOLAN N80-8 AND N60-6 It was in 1972 that Nolan presented the N01, the first injection-moulded jet helmet in LEXANTM polycar-bonate. In 2022 the company will celebrate 50 years of history and continues to offer the market helmets that have contributed to the involvement of this sector, with the same passion that it has always demon-strated. Nolangroup is currently the leading manufacturer in Europe, with 400,000 helmets/year made entirely in Italy.

Since Lander Nocchi founded the company (in February 1972), Made in Italy excellence has been one of the factors that have made it unique, together with a constant commitment to research and innovation. These are values that are reflected once again in the 2022 collection, which sees the addition to the range of two new Nolan full-face models in polycarbonate: N80-8 and N60-6. Two helmets that perfe≠ctly encom-pass the know-how gained over these 50 glorious years of history.

The N80-8 is the new Nolan top-of-the range on-road full-face helmet, the heir to the extremely popular N87. The bold and modern design enhances every detail, from the shell to the air intakes. Thanks to its rich technical characteristics and standard equipment, it is the ideal helmet for any occasion, from long urban trips to the most challenging journeys, whatever the motorbike used and the destination to be reached.

The N60-6, on the other hand, is the new entry-level on-road full face helmet by Nolan, characterized by a contemporary and sporty design. Its technical features make it suitable for any situation, in the city and on the highway.

These two helmets highlight the attention to detail and the technological development that the company based in Brembate di Sopra has honed over the years.

N80-8 and N60-6 encompass the progress made by Nolangroup both on and off the racetrack. Nolan’s commitment to the world of competitive sports, with the sponsoring of riders who have reached important milestones, has also made a significant contribution to the development of on-road helmets. N80-8 is one example, as it offers a number of technical characteris-tics of “racing” origin, such as NERS (NOLAN EMERGENCY RELEASE SYSTEM) and LPC (LINER POSI-TIONING CONTROL), elements that make the Nolan N80-8 a top-of-the-range helmet.

However, the design of the products has also played a key role in the success of the Italian company. The in-house style department has always presented graphics that are in line with market trends. In order to celebrate this special anniversary, this year sees the introduction to the range of brand-new commemorative livery, with elegant graphics that are, at the same time, sporting and full of character, with gold iconic detailing and the specially developed 50th logo.

Find the full line, details and pricing of Nolan and X-Lite helmets online: nolan-usa.com

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INEARZ SPORT UH-3 EAR PLUGS • POWERFUL EAR PROTECTION WITH POWERFUL SOUND Personal ear protection has come a long way in the last few years.

From riders wadding up cotton shoved in their ears with flimsy helmets barely holding them in, to foam ear plugs bought at the local hunting store, to more dedicated and modern designs.

Every professional racer uses custom-created ear plugs to attenuate the loud noise of their profession.

We have been using custom plugs for years now and these, too, have evolved and just gotten better… way better.

At most of the bigger rallies you will see some vendors that provide custom plugs for your riding comfort. At the International Motorcycle Show in Carlisle this past Fall we stopped by the InEarz Sport Booth and talked with Mark Hood – the creator and designer of his custom ear plugs.

While there, we had Mark make a mold for some InEarz Ear Plugs - of which he did two. One set were made of flexible silicone and were created for track days when I did not need to hear any GPS voice prompts or the first three albums by Chicago.

The second set were a bit more purposed and would pack a serious punch of Hi-Fidelity. These were custom cast in acrylic and had what InEarz calls their Triple-Drivers.

The first set I was able to ride away with – which worked perfectly for me as the next week I would be spending two days at Virginia international Raceway with Reg Pridmore’s CLASS. The InEarz Ear Plugs suppressed all the intrusive track noises, yet allowed for enough input that I was aware when I had a rider coming up from behind for a pass.

It took a bit for the Ear Plugs with the Triple-Driver Headsets to arrive – but they were certainly worth the wait.

For years I have been used to the softer and more pliable silicone plugs, as they were available as well – but I chose their solid aplastic acrylic plugs, and these took a bit of getting used to.

But these were well-made and digitally created custom plugs that truly fit my ear canals like a glove and after a bit of getting use to, slipping them in and out, they seemed to get more and more comfortable. The mark of a great custom ear plug is that you should not even know they are there.

The acrylic plugs really deaden the outside world and, firing up the GPS, the prompts were crystal clear. But that is an easy thing.

It was the music that I have bluetoothed into my

communication system (Sena 30K) that was truly impressive. Without a doubt this was the most amazing headset I have ever heard … ever!

Amazing clarity came pouring in and I was picking up notes and instruments I had never picked up on before.

The UH-3 Triple Drivers were made for listeners that can hear the difference and demand a higher-level listening experience. The rich, fullness of the triple drivers and enhanced low added a smooth transparency to all reproduced signals. Every instrument was clear and by itself – there was no muddied sound to be found – whether Rock (The Clash), Jazz (Steely Dan) or Classical (Motown, baby!).

Although listening to music while riding is not the most important thing on my mind when I get on a bike – it is nice to have and better to have the very best.

The InEarz SportsUH-3 Ear Plugs seem to be just that. The very best!

These triple driver and crossover in each ear piece produce amazing sound and they still provide protection of 29-32 dba reduction of outside sound.

The plugs, that come in a two-system carrying case complete with small cleaning tool, are available in two lengths of leads - 24 and 48 inch.

I think 24 is probably too much as it is, but I usually wrap them up a bit to prevent them catching on controls and such.

Now here is the part that you might not like when you hear…

These are not cheap.

Their Dual Driver UH-2 sell for $329… and the Triple Driven UH-3 $675. Not cheap, by any means.

So, as a rider and a consumer the choice is yours.

You will find Mark and InEarz at many of the bigger rallies or you can log onto their website at InEarz.com for more information and availability. $329 for the Dual UH-2 Drive and $675 Triple UH-3 Driven Headsets

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Bonus Dr. Seymour O’Life’s

MYSTERIOUS AMERICA

UFO WELCOME CENTER

4004 HOMESTEAD RD, BOWMAN, SC 29018 So, we have seen what one man can do with, well, junk in Austin but Vince Hannemann is not the only fish in this very small pool.

At a tiny crossroads in the small town of Bowman, South Carolina they have a guy named Jody Pendarvis and his own junk creation – the UFO Welcome Center.

When I heard of this Welcome Center my interest was piqued and knowing Rathjen and Kamil were down in that region – well, more or less – I set them on a task.

It is hard to miss this place and Rathjen told me when they were riding into town Shira was tracking their route on her phone.

The Durango had come to a stop and Shira told Rathjen that she was pretty sure the UFO Welcome Center was down this block and around the corner.

Rathjen pointed out the windscreen and said – “No, I am pretty sure we’re here – unless the town has two.”

It is hard to miss this “creation.”

Built from scrap and junk it dominates Homestead Street off of Route 178.

According to our friends at Roadside America…

“The saucer-shaped UFO Welcome Center stands in Jody’s yard. He began building it in

1994, intending it to be a place where aliens could be comfortable meeting people from Earth (it’s 46 feet across, the same diameter as most UFOs, according to Jody – really?). He later added a second, smaller saucer on top so that the aliens can take Jody with them when they leave.”

From their report Rathjen was all gung-ho and, with no one in sight, he started inside to explore… perhaps meet a wayward junk loving alien.

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Looking back, he said Shira was standing there, her head swinging left and right.

“No, that’s okay Indiana – you go ahead. I’ll wait here.”

Smart gal, as this place, being created out of junk, might be a tad unstable and does not seem, God forbid, up to South Carolina building code.

Inside, the first floors had real stairs, after that any

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up meant climbing some aluminum ladders, that kinda leaned against the opening to the next level.

Rathjen did eventually come back down, only to head back in – evidentially he felt a well-positioned Backroads sticker, which might give him some brownie points with the aliens when they show up… and they will show up.

He thought the funniest thing he saw was a wooden plank that said…

“If this shit takes off, we are in for a wild ride!”

That’s the truth.

When the aliens do come back to Earth they might think twice about Bowman, South Carolina’s Welcome Center – First impressions count. ~ O’Life Out!

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The Law Office of Paul Gargiulo, P.C. presents

Welcome to the Jungle - The Art of Learning to Ride Skillfully A column dedicated to your riding survival

PERCEPTION What you see is what you get I said what you see is what you get, now baby And the real thing is the best thing yet, the best thing yet The Dramatics Perception: Perception is the organization, identification, and interpretation of sensory information in order to represent and understand the presented information or environment. All perception involves signals that go through the nervous system, which in turn result from physical or chemical stimulation of the sensory system.

This month will fill in a few of the Senses articles that we have been running this Spring.

When we whip all the six senses together in the gray matter bowl that is our brain we come up with awareness from these observations and this leads to your assessment of what your senses are feeding you – and it happens in a millisecond... thousands of times every day.

But you and I can be at the same place at the same time seeing and experiencing the very exact same thing but how we perceive it will most likely not be exactly the same. Maybe very close if we have the same paradigm on the world and perhaps similar backgrounds and upbringing, but it will still not be exactly the same.

In many cases, two rider’s perceptions of the same thing will be completely different.

Visual perception can be affected by other things.

Your mental state and outlook and even the time of day and the light that comes with it.

Other things and colors can affect your insight as well.

If you’ve ever seen an all gray/black police car with black lettering, that’s a specially-marked police vehicle with what is known as “Ghost Graphics.”

It can be hard to tell if it’s actually a police vehicle, especially in the dark.

The lettering is reflective but is a dark enough color that at first glance, it might just look like a normal SUV. The Ghost cars are there to blend in with the road – but I like that the municipality name and logo are in a retro-reflective wrap. A good thing as law enforcement has a hard enough time these days to have to worry about NOT being seen at times - especially along the side of the road when they are in the middle of a traffic stop or investigation.

But here is where perception comes in and plays with your mind.

My question is… if you come around a turn, at speed, and see a squad car

sitting there; do you have a different reaction to the standard white police car or the darker “Ghost” police car? Let’s keep this bit of perception going… The lights come on behind you and in the mirrors you see red, or maybe blue.

Does one color get the adrenaline going a bit more than the other?

Does the input you are getting from the color of the lights you see in the mirror of LEO’s car, barely hidden, while throttling out of that fast turn affect you differently?

That is a question for you. But I am curious about your thoughts so feel free to email me with your thoughts on this: brian@backroadsusa.com As I said… everybody’s perception is different. ~ Brian Rathjen Look at these two images.

They are the same, but are they? To me one shows a chilly and cold New Jersey afternoon, the other gives me that warm Key West vibe.

This digital manipulation was done on purpose just to evoke your perception of these images.

I sometimes wonder if we do not even see things and situations in exactly the same way in a different manner. It would be funny to learn that what is red to me is blue to you – but I am sure there is a scientist or a persnickety reader that will edumacate on this.

Look at the logo for the Bronx Zoo… what do you see? Did you pick up the New York skyline? Some do, some don’t.