July 2021

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W H AT ’ S I N S I D E

BACKROADS • JULY 2021

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MONTHLY COLUMNS

Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure

FREE WHEELIN’ ........................................ 3 WHATCHATHINKIN’ ................................... 4 ON THE MARK .......................................... 5 BACKLASH ............................................... 7

Publishers

Brian Rathjen • Shira Kamil

Contributors

Mark Byers, Tony Lisanti Dr. Seymour O’Life

Editorial Office BACKROADS, POB 620 Augusta, NJ 07822

INDUSTRY INFOBITES ............................... 9 MYSTERIOUS AMERICA .......................... 11 GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN ......... 13 I KNOW THIS PLACE ............................... 15

23

BIG CITY GETAWAY ................................. 16 WE’RE OUTTA HERE ............................... 19 INSIDE SCOOP ....................................... 21 BONUS INSIDE SCOOP ........................ 33

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WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE .................... 39

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FEATURES TIME OF OUR LIFE TOUR ........................ 23 BLAIRSTOWN 4TH OF JULY .................... 38

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BACKROADS (ISSN 1087-2088) is published monthly by BACKROADS™, Inc. 2021. 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 • JULY 2021

FR E E W H E EL I N’ BRIAN RATHJEN

MAPS! Ever since the first basic motorcycle GPS units arrived (my Garmin GPS V still sits on the shelf of the “Old but Not Forgotten”) we have watched the gradual shift from the venerable paper maps to digital, and more precise, Global Positioning Systems.

These days we jokingly refer to our still beloved charts as Manually Acquired Positioning Systems – or simply MAPS! We still carry these folded relics of this nottoo-distant past along for every ride – and for good reason. They almost always work. They don’t require US Military satellites or an expensive gadget on your handlebar. But mostly they’re fun and a big part of not only the United States but the world’s history and I have often said that my favorite author is Rand McNally.

A few weeks back Shira and I had a free Sunday and decided to take a ride to visit the Antique Auto Museum, in Hershey, Pennsylvania. We have been there several times and our “always on the go” scribe Pamela Collins had covered the museum’s latest exhibit on Mini Bikes just a few months previous.

The museum is always a treat and, in addition to the baby bikes they had an exhibit, there was one on ‘Hemis’ and on Maps called…

“They Gave Me a Map! For me, this was a big treat.

Years ago, oil companies used road maps to promote their brands of fuel and to assist the traveling public. Billions of road maps were given

Page 3 out at gas and service stations. The “They gave me a Map!” exhibit, guest curated by the Road Map Collectors Association, harkens back to days gone by. The exhibit presents the artistry, destination images, and geographic highlights that made maps glove box-sized resources for travelers.

In 1914, Gulf Oil began distributing road maps to their customers, a practice they continued through 1975. Free road maps became more common as years went by, and were a service expected by motorists for decades.

A vintage 1934 Gulf Oil advertisement commemorating the distribution of the first free road maps is the exhibit’s featured backdrop and is presented along with a 1912 Cadillac. The exhibition also features an assortment of other road maps from a variety of sources.

Today maps from state highway departments, AAA, and other sources are still published. Of course, almost all of us now use electronic maps or in-vehicle navigation systems to get from point A to point B on the bikes and in the car.

Here looking through this neat exhibit you can take a great look at how wonderful and serious some of these maps were. Some are true gallery pieces that include: How We Navigate; World of Maps; PA Turnpike at 80; Art Deco/Streamline Moderne in Road Map Art; Gulf Oil Maps; Sinclair Oil Maps; Road Map Oddities; and Collecting Road Maps.

Also, in the AACA Museum’s main gallery, enjoy “Women on Map Covers,” a study on how women were portrayed in travel and travel product promotion.

The AACA was also giving away old and classic maps from the past and some of these were very cool and found a way back home.

On the OBNF shelf, next to my first Garmin, is a 1938 Road Map of New York State from Esso. I searched this map out specifically a few years back for a “Big Mistake on Purpose!”

The General Drafting Company, one of the Big Three mapmakers at Continued on Page 6

BACKROADS • JULY 2021

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W H AT C H AT HI NK I N ’ SHIRA KAMIL

PASSING JUDGEMENT It happens to everyone. You look forward to a great day of relaxing riding, enjoying your favorite local roads, just getting out to clear the head and make life better. You exit your driveway and, within the very first mile, come upon the first of what will turn out to be many tortoise-like vehicles ahead of you, each one nicking away at the joy you anticipated in the day’s ride. Yes, patience is a virtue and prudence is most likely the better thing to have, but after half a dozen tortoises, the hare needs to break out.

During our Backroads’ gatherings we have always encouraged smaller groups when riding. Not only is it safer and more enjoyable, it makes for faster gas stops, quicker meals (usually) and just an overall better experience. I’d say 5 bikes is about right.

But, since we do put out our ‘suggested’ routes during the rallies, there is a good chance that several small groups will eventually come upon each other, thus making a much bigger group. More likely than not, the small group coming upon the

other small group will have some faster riders and will probably want to pass. That’s when passing etiquette comes into play.

Hopefully, the last rider in the front group will be using her/his mirrors and know that other riders have arrived. An even better scenario is that the riders are using connected headsets and can communicate. Thus, the ‘arriving’ riders, with patience and prudence, may safely and easily pass the front group and continue on with their swifter pace.

Unfortunately, there have been times, within our own groups, that the quicker riders were not considerate nor patient, passing as if the group ahead were standing still and on roads that were certainly not safe for passing at all, let alone at that speed. This brought on animosities which need not have been if passing etiquette had been followed.

Many times, often when riding during Americade in the Adirondacks, Brian and I have come upon a riding group (generally too many bikes) doing a much slower pace than what we like to ride. We will bide our time and, when safe, attempt to pass as easily as possible. We have been greeted with both waves and single-finger salutes, as they either knew we were behind and attempting to get around them or completely in their own worlds and probably startled when passed.

On our most recent outing, during the Spring Break, Brian and I were heading home from Shippensburg with a fellow Branchvillean – Bill – joining us. He did not have the route that we would be following but informed us that he had ridden these roads very often and if he was not behind us, not to worry, he’d find his way home. We did part ways while riding through a town with many lights and Brian and I continued on our way.

It was a beautiful day and we were enjoying the afterglow of a practically perfect rally – wonderful people, places, riding and weather. Traffic was light, our pace was spirited and we were passing cleanly. Brian was in the lead, as is the norm, and I was keeping a nice gap between us. On a nice piece of roadway in Pennsylvania – Cherry Valley Road – we came upon a car and, as Brian approached, he waited until the ‘coast was clear’ and passed. As the road was curvy, it was a bit of a wait until I could pass. I put on my signal and, as I went to pass, the car pulled to the left and blocked me. I was dumbfounded! I tried again with the same results. I told Brian what had happened. He told me to hold on, as he slowed down for the car and me to catch up. When we did, he told me to go past and keep going. Yeah, like that was going to happen…

As I passed with my visor up, this time with no attempted murder on the driver’s part, I slowed to see a young punky male driver with a female passenger. As I let loose my best Cliffside Park colorful language, he answered with the single-finger salute. I’m not sure if he realized that I was female (if that made a difference) or if Brian’s slowing had brought him out of his cell-phone stupor, but he immediately backed off and made the next left.

I will be honest and say that we did pass on a double yellow but, as in many states, this is acceptable when situations are safe to do so and there are no posted ‘no passing zone’ signs. I believe that Brian startled the car driver and, thus, he retaliated when I attempted to pass. A clear case of lack of mirror use, awareness of his surroundings and, perhaps, distracted driving.

Did we use ‘passing judgement’? We absolutely did.

Did it flutter my heart? It sure as hell did. But, after putting him in my rear mirrors, I continued on calmly. As we turned on to our last 5 miles before home, we came upon another motorcycle. It was our friend Bill. We followed until we came to the T where we parted ways, heading up the hill to home, our passing for the day now done. ,

BACKROADS • JULY 2021

O N T H E MAR K MARK BYERS

THE VALUE OF A SMILE In a 1971 Stanford study, a psychology professor asked 12 men to serve as prisoners and 12 as guards in a simulated jail. He planned to observe psychological changes over the course of two weeks, but the behavior of the men assigned to act as guards became so sadistic, and the prisoners’ mental health so compromised, that the experiment was suspended after just six days. One of the key things that transformed those acting as “guards” into monsters?

Mirrored sunglasses that hid their eyes.

For hundreds of years, people have understood that occluding a portion of a person’s face is key to changing their behavior. Masks have been used for centuries to create anonymity and hence, lack of accountability: if you were beheaded in medieval times, chances are the headsman wore a mask. Masks have traditionally been used by criminals to hide their identities while they were committing their crimes, making later identification by their victims difficult or impossible. A 1979 Purdue study showed that about two-thirds of the children who were wearing Halloween masks broke rules versus a third of those who were unmasked.

My intent is not to engage in debate about the efficacy ofmasks as a pandemic mitigator, but rather to relate personal observations from the early days of the “recovery.” From a psychological standpoint, masks have definitely changed both my behavior and my perception of others. I didn’t realize one of the key facets for me until just prior to the Backroads

Page 5 Spring Break, when the CDC removed their recommendation for mask wearing for those who were vaccinated. After just a day of being around more people who were without covered faces, I realized the incredible value of…a smile. I felt lighter somehow (my post-COVID girth notwithstanding).

For fourteen months, the vast majority of people I saw in public had covered faces. During that time, when I encountered someone in passing, I had no idea of their reaction to me, nor they of mine. I would try to “smile with my eyes” but it may have been perceived as anything from a case of myopic squinting to an outright sneer. Humans rely a great deal on body language, whether we realize it or not, and taking away such an expressive part of that equation as the face is really dehumanizing.

As a motor official for bicycle races, I’m encouraged to use a modular “flip-front” helmet. Raising that chin bar not only allows us to speak without being muffled, but it allows the messages to be delivered with a smile. From the cyclists’ standpoint, the message is being delivered by a person and not just an anonymous entity behind a mirrored visor and a chin bar. Many an agitated competitor’s demeanor has been changed with a thoughtful explanation of a sanction or a rule. I find it much easier to build a rapport with a peloton with the chinbar up.

I also noticed that I perceived the hotels who had embraced a more mask-free environment as having better atmospheres and better customer service, irrespective of whether their employees were required to do so or not. At one, where our waitress was maskless, it was really neat to see her smile in reaction to our silly antics - it was much easier to build that rapport.

As a job recruiter, I’ve noticed the value of a smile: two times in the past month I have re-interviewed people who were judged as “quirky” or “too

BACKROADS • JULY 2021

Page 6 FREE WHEELIN’

Continued from Page 3

the time, wanted to ensure that other mapmakers weren’t simply copying their work, so in the 1930s they invented the fictional paper-town of Agloe, placing it at an intersection along New York State Route 206. The name “Agloe” is an anagram of Lindberg’s initials combined with those of his assistant, Ernest Alpers. The idea was that, if Agloe appeared on someone else’s map, then the General Drafting Company would know that the map had been copied from one of their own.

A few years later Esso sued Rand McNally for doing just that.

However, it turned out that Rand McNally had received the name and location of the town not from ON THE MARK

Continued from Page 5

quiet” by other recruiters who interviewed them by phone. I interviewed them again via video and offered both of them jobs after being able to see them “face-to-face.” The difference for both of them was the ability to see their enthusiasm for the job reflected in their smiles while answering questions about the position. I will no longer conduct interviews by phone because I might miss those expressions and hence, miss some amazing employees.

Esso’s maps but the Delaware County administration. It turned out that someone had built a general store at the Agloe intersection and, based on the name of the “town” on the Esso map, the owner named it the Agloe General Store. That was enough for the administration to register the town on paper.

The town, that was just outside of Roscoe, New York is a true Urban legend these days and from a time when Manually Acquired Positioning Systems ruled and we had fun.

So, while we embrace the present technology and expect even more magic in the future, don’t turn your back on the past. A map just might get you home one day! , I believe it will be a while before people make their own choices and risk decisions and world circumstances dictate how much more mask use is appropriate - it’s not up to me to debate the clinical. I suspect that there will be people who will never abandon their masks. For me, however, I will both use and appreciate the absence thereof to reestablish my lines of communication with others so they can see me smile with my whole face.

Like the two young ladies who ended up with job offers, you just never fully appreciate the value of a smile. ,

BACKROADS • JULY 2021

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BACKLASH Backroads Spring Break 2021 The Comeback Tour Dearest Editor Friends, Thanking you for putting together another fantastic week filled with amazing people and gorgeous rides! So appreciative of your efforts that make it oh so easy for us to book great hotels, find cool spots to eat, never miss an ice cream and source really helpful motorcycle repairs/purchases. So many laughs, so many stories, so many great memories created. It’s a magical thing you’ve created with the Backroads community.

Love ya!

Andrea & Scott

Letters to the Editor be in trouble - Arlene types this for me) As traffic was so light, the return route was aborted, and I sampled 97 along the Delaware, 206 to Roscoe, and 30 towards home. Hadn’t been that way in 20 years.

Keep the great destinations coming.

Thanks, Jake Herzog Unfortunately, events at home necessitated my hasty departure from spring break, without bidding all a proper adieu. Additionally, my Mountain Lake Lodge digs had me parking in an auxiliary lot which clearly confused the toy fairy. So imagine my surprise when I woke this morning to find my tank bag topped with a spring break toy. The toy fairy found me in the far reaches of Vermont! All hail the toy fairy! All hail Brian and Shira!

Thanks Brian and Shira, for putting together another great rally.

Never a disappointment, fantastic routes, great accommodations, and it was so good to see all my motorcycle family members.

I’m sure they all feel the same.

Jeff Caruana 5 states, 1660 miles in 7 days. Epic trip! Thanks Backroads for all the planning! Super weather too!

Lisa Veliath

The Elias Cole After years of thinking about it I finally got a chance to ride down to the Elias Cole. A couple months ago I’d route sheeted roads including Frost Valley, returning via Peekamoose, etc.

The restaurant was fantastic, but that’s typical of all the places I’ve tried that you’ve recommended over the years. Had a nice chat with Nancy, and naturally you two were included in the conversation. The strawberry rhubarb pie was even better than my wife’s and that’s saying a lot. (I may

Thanks again for a fabulous Spring Break.

Hi Shira & Brian Long time, no see.

Regarding the Abandoned Fairy Village mentioned in this Backroads Report. We have lived within 6 miles or less to this (in Waterbury and

Page 8 Naugatuck) for the last 34 years and never heard about it before. I want to speak with a few friends who are life-long area natives to see if they know about it. Thanks for these great tid-bits from Atlas Obscura.

Warm regards Steve Smith

Heroes Located In “Free Wheelin” (May 2021) you state “In May of last year, we thought we didn’t need another hero. This year I think we desperately need them,” I have located two, Brian. They come neatly wrapped in a large white envelope and arrive at my mail box each month. The “Backroads” that you and Shira publish helps get me through dark hours brought on by the “Dragon of Wuhan”! I rely on “Backroads” to supply a splash of color and wonder ... hope.

Brian and Shira, you represent hope to me. Heroes Found!

Anonymous • L.I. New York Hi Shira & Brian, Hope you both are well and have been enjoying some early spring riding.

I was very much looking forward to seeing you both soon and opening up my riding season as I always have with your spring rally. However, the realities of me still having to work doesn’t fit well with the format of a Sunday thru Thursday ride and I think I have to cancel out. That is just a lot of days for me to miss, especially when it has been a bit difficult as of late.

So just a bit of input from one of your loyal readers – I much prefer the old format of Thur. thru Sun. Missing two days of work for a four-day weekend is doable. Missing four days of work for a five-day ride, not so much.

Hope Backroads can go back to that schedule. (Just one reader’s thoughts).

Anyway, hope it is a successful ride for all and I do look forward to seeing you both soon.

Safe Travels, Craig Grant

BACKROADS • JULY 2021 Craig, The reality of how our rally planning works is that we bend to the schedule of the lodgings. Since we had to cancel our Grand Tour last year, we have tried to incorporate those places who had planned on hosting us into the few events we did last year as well as this year’s Spring Break. Most folks plan their vacation days to attend, or are simply retired already, making it super easy, barely an inconvenience. We’ll try to hold some long weekend get togethers so you can join us.

Hi from NH. I know I am easily confused about such things, but somehow I feel like I am in merry old England looking at the Sullivan Catskills full page ad.

And when I looked at the April cover, I thought, I can read the Arai logo, so the photo is not reversed; good thing the Blue Ridge Parkway rider on p 1 & your cover rider are not on the same road. So maybe the Tiger rider on p 14 & the cover rider both are in England?? Where am I??

Did I float off into the Twilight Zone??

Can you help me get reoriented to which side of the road to be on tomorrow for my journey to Max??

Kate Hartnett Kate, Indeed, the April cover and the Tiger ad were supplied by Triumph, thus the opposite side of the road riders. As for the Catskills image, we can only guess…

Hey Bri and Shira Your West Virginny “By God” feature was spectacular! Thanks, we C19 hostages needed it!

Rob Roth • Wyomissing PA Hi Brian and Shira Love your magazine!

I was wondering if there is a way to search for specific articles in previous magazines. Looking for the article on road maps and how the map makers marked their work with a hidden “fake“ town.

We do most of our riding in northwest NJ. Hoping to meet up with you two on the road one day.

Stay safe Gary Kelly Gary, All our issues are available online here: issuu.com/backroadsmagazine We have done a few articles on what were called “Paper Towns”, Agloe, NY, outside Roscoe being the most famous.

I do not have the exact issue in my mind.

We have always said we need a data base, but we have a full plate already.

We need a college kid to intern and do all that for us.

We hope to meet you on the road as well!

BACKROADS • JULY 2021

INDUSTRY INFOBITES

Page 9

News from the Inside

PROGRESSIVE IMS OUTDOORS TOUR PARTNERS WITH STRIDER AND NON-PROFIT ALL KIDS BIKE TO GET KIDS ACROSS AMERICA ON TWO WHEELS The nation’s leading consumer motorcycle tour, Progressive IMS Outdoors, has announced two new partnerships with Strider and non-profit organization All Kids Bike to lead a two-part initiative designed to excite young kids about the thrill of two wheels by engaging children at an early age and teaching the younger generation how to ride.

The Kids Zone with Strider, the latest addition to Discover the Ride, will elevate the industry-leading new rider program by introducing two experiential courses geared toward all riders ages two through 15 at each stop along the 2021 tour. Furthermore, to complement the onsite attraction and extend support to the local community, the organizers of the Progressive IMS Outdoors tour join the All Kids Bike movement dedicated to teaching all children in America how to ride in kindergarten PE classes.

Collectively, the two initiatives spotlight the Progressive IMS Outdoors tour’s dedication to nurturing young riders and building the next generation of Powersports enthusiasts, while also providing more young kids the opportunity to learn balance, develop essential riding skills, build confidence, and foster a love for two wheels.

For the full 2021 tour schedule and to purchase tickets, please visit them online: motorcycleshows.com/schedule.

JASON DUPASQUIER • 2001 - 2021 Jason Dupasquier, a 19-year-old Swiss Moto3 rider, has died after being involved in a serious crash during the qualifying session at the Italian Grand Prix, MotoGP announced.

“Dupasquier was involved in a multi-rider incident between Turns 9 and 10, with the session Red Flagged thereafter,” the statement read. “FIM

Medical Intervention Vehicles arrived at the site immediately and the Swiss rider was attended to on track before being transferred by medical helicopter, in a stable state, to Careggi Hospital in Florence. Despite the best efforts of circuit medical staff and all those subsequently attending to the Swiss rider, the hospital has announced that Dupasquier has sadly succumbed to his injuries.”

ALMOST GONE IN 60 SECONDS In Great Britain, the owner of Hampshire-based off-road bike garage, R Spec MX, foiled an attempted theft after a Transit was used to ram the shutters at his premises. Richard Mead was woken up at home by text alerts from his CCTV and alarm systems in the early hours of Monday, May 25. He jumped straight into his car and headed for the garage, which is a couple of miles away, and rang the police to report the crime.

Mead explains what happened: “I always planned if this happened to use a railway bridge up the road to block them in but they were already too far gone for that to work so we waited in a layby for them to come past.

Page 10 One of the guys who works for us tried to block the road further up and they just sideswiped his van and barged through with a 4x4. They had the van with five bikes in it and then the 4x4 had a Kawasaki KX250 hanging out the back, too.” All of the stolen bikes were restored vintage crossers, including a 1990 Suzuki RM125 and the 1994 KX250, which eventually fell out of the rear of the 4x4 before being recovered. “We carried on chasing them along country roads until we could see above the hedgerows that the van had stopped around the next corner. I didn’t know what to do because it was just me and my girlfriend and I didn’t want us to get attacked but then the police came up behind us so we carried on. It turned out the thieves had abandoned the van and made off in the other vehicle with several police cars and the police helicopter in pursuit, leaving the bikes to be recovered.”

BACKROADS • JULY 2021

NEW DAKAR RALLY A new rally has been set up for classic cars and bikes that will roughly trace the route of the Dakar before it moved to South America.

Called the Dakar Enduro Rally, the event is being run by Bespoke Rallies, who have been involved in the world of rallying for over 20 years.

KAWASAKI LAUNCHES 2022 Z900 RS IN CANDY TONE BLUE Kawasaki introduced the retro-styled Z900RS to much fanfare in 2018.

Harking back to the original Z1, Team Green designers not only replicated the ‘70s silhouette but also lifted the iconic orange and brown colorway from the superbike of yore. Now, the brand is following in its own footsteps by releasing a new color scheme that imitates a later iteration of its 900 Super Four platform.

Launched in 1972, the first Z1 flaunted a candy orange and brown livery in the U.S. that earned the nickname “fireball” from Kawasaki enthusiasts (a second candy yellow and green colorway was available in Europe and the U.K.). Encapsulating the era with its warm hues and two-tone paint, the fireball colorway timed its return perfectly, giving Kawi an instant competitor in the hotly-contested modern-classic segment

It will start at Brooklands, before making its way down through France, Spain, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania and finally Senegal roughly three weeks later. The route covers more than 4000 miles of A-road, Broad, gravel track and sand dune. Just like the Dakar the route navigation will be done by roadbook.

Any classic machine is welcome to enter but it’s primarily aimed at the early Dakar bikes that inspired the first range of ‘adventure bikes’ as we know them now, such as Africa Twins, GSs, Ténérés, Elefants and XTs. Taking part in next year’s event on one of his many classic off-road machines is Dakar bike collector Harry Metcalfe, a former performance car magazine owner who runs a popular YouTube channel called Harry’s Garage where he shows people around his two and four-wheeled delights.

Ahead of the event’s start next year, some of the entrants met up at Harry Metcalfe’s farm for a briefing and bit of practice.

The rally starts in March next year with places still available, priced from £5850 (Around $8,500). For more info head to www.bespokerallies.com.

BACKROADS • JULY 2021

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

MYSTERIOUS AMERICA

PEALE’S MASTODON A revolutionary hero and artist makes the greatest scientific discovery of his time Does the name Charles Wilson Peale ring a bell?

If you are a Revolutionary War buff his name might be familiar, but Charles Wilson Peale was a man of many talents, thoughts, and endeavors. Among his numerous accomplishments—artist, inventor, naturalist, museum proprietor, co-founder of the Pennsylvania Academy, and patriarch of an artistic dynasty —Peale was also a soldier in the War of Independence. Despite his abhorrence of violence, Peale’s desire for a free America compelled him to enlist. He rose to the rank of Captain, striving to ease his troop’s hardships during the hard winter at Valley Forge.

Intelligent and energetic, Peale even managed to further his emergent painting career during the war, executing miniature portraits, including some of General George Washington; Peale did at least four portrait sittings with the future first president.

But, as much as we love Washington, it was

something else, as equally remarkable with which Peale became involved, having to do with a sitting US President, a French naturalist, and a creature dead for nearly 15,000 years.

It was 1797 and the French Naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon had published a multivolume work on natural history, ‘Histoire naturelle, générale et particuliére’. This massive treatise, which eventually grew to 44 quarto volumes, became an essential reference work for anyone interested in the study of nature.

But he did write something that just totally pissed off Thomas Jefferson?

He claimed that their North America and its people were “devoid of large, powerful creatures and that its human inhabitants were ‘feeble’ by comparison to their European counterparts.” Buffon attributed this alleged situation to the cold and damp climate in much of America. The claim infuriated Thomas Jefferson, who spent much time and effort trying to refute it— even sending Buffon a large bull moose procured at considerable cost from Vermont.

Page 12 Some years earlier French explorers (irony?) discovered large bones along the Ohio River, near what would become Bone Lick, Kentucky.

The native Shawnee were aware of these giant bones and later on the famous frontiersman Daniel Boone and others, such as the future president William Henry Harrison, collected many more bones and teeth at Big Bone Lick and presented them to George Washington, Ben Franklin, and other American notables. Sponsored by President Thomas Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark also recovered remains at the site, some of which would end up at Monticello.

But then word came about that large bones, much like those found in the mid-west, had been uncovered in a marl pit not far from the Walpack River, just outside the town we know as Montgomery, New York.

Owned by a farmer named John Masten, who refused to sell the remains

BACKROADS • JULY 2021 to Jefferson, but in 1801 Peale succeeded in buying Masten’s bones and teeth, paying the farmer $200 (about $4,000 today) and tossed in new gowns for his wife and daughters, along with a gun for the farmer’s son.

With an additional $100, Peale secured the right to further excavate the marl pit.

Things began to happen quickly; It was a marl pit.

They are a mess but as we learned a few years back in this column when I wrote about a similar pit in New Jersey – marl pits can contain pre-historic gold.

Marl pits tend to fill with groundwater so Peale hired a local millwright to build a huge wheel to remove the water. It took four big men walking abreast to provide the power to move a chain of buckets and bail out the water and recover all the bones they could find. In his quest to get as many bones and teeth of

the mastodon as possible, Peale acquired additional remains from marl pits on two neighboring properties before shipping everything to Philadelphia. One of these sites, the Barber Farm in Montgomery, is today listed as “Peale’s Barber Farm Mastodon Exhumation Site” in the National Register of Historic Places.

And, here we are today – across from the Valley Central High School - on New York Route 17K where history happened, yet few remember.

We had gone for brunch at The Borland House – a wonderful find by itself – and came across a bit of history, national indignation, and scientific discovery – all part of Mysterious America. ,

BACKROADS • JULY 2021

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Thisilldous Eatery presents

GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN THE BARNYARD

1 WANTAGE AVENUE, BRANCHVILLE, NJ 07826 973-0780 • THEBARNYARDNJ.COM We have gotten into definitions, as some words can mean so many things. This month we’d like to take a look at crossroads.

According to Merriam-Webster the definition of crossroads is a road that crosses a main road or runs cross-country between main roads, or the place of intersection of two or more roads, or a central meeting place. We think that this month’s installment of the Great All American Diner Run is the perfect “crossroads’ eatery.

Branchville is a true historic town, although you might be hard-pressed to see this today.

Located just east of Route 206, New Jersey’s Mother Road, it is no longer on the beaten path that it once was.

The Historic Sign states: “On or about the year 1690 William H. Beemer settled here on 1,000 acres of land and built the first mill.

James Haggerty purchased this land in 1793 and built additional successful mills lending the area the name known as “Brantown” due to the many mills located here. Named “Branchville” in 1821 by Schoolmaster Samuel Bishop. The post office opened in 1824. William H. (Billy) Bell established a railroad line in 1869. In 1882 a devastating fire ravaged most of the Village of Branchville. Charles Crisman erected a dam and powerhouse along the Culver Brook to generate power in 1892.”

Back in the day, Branchville was happening for sure.

tasty places to take your bike

For a good bit, it seemed that Branchville would fade into one of those tiny backroads towns you ride through and not think much of, if anything at all. But that is changing. The Milk Street Distillery and book store has added to the town’s flavor, as well as one of the oldest drug stores in the state – Family Drugs and our friends Phil & company do a great job keeping us up and at em’.

All in all – we feel this tiny burg is one of the last of the many home town-feeling burgs left in the Skylands region.

Still, every great town needs great food and at the 5-way intersecting crossroads you will find The Barnyard.

The owners Amy and Paul Fiorentino have been working their food truck for years and we have often had their great eats at Trivia Night at Angry Erik’s Brewery.

So, we were especially happy when The Barnyard opened its doors.

When we arrived, it was a warmish spring day and dining al fresco

Page 14 seemed the right thing to do. The food here is a high-end and sometimes different twist on some old-fashioned American favorites – and so far we have never had anything that was not scrumptious.

Starters include quesadillas and you can add chicken or beef to these. Great wings – both chicken and cauliflower, chipotle bacon & mac, and for our friend Pete Miller – fried pickles along with a bunch more.

Shira ordered a number of empanadas - ordering one each of the Philly cheesesteak, queso chorizo, and one filled with chipotle sweet potato and brown rice.

See… just a bit different.

I was in a burger mood and they make seriously delicious burgers – some 17 different burgers. Here are just a few that jump off the menu…

The Squealer: Local Mangalitsa (pork) bacon burger topped with shredded Napa cabbage, Zinfandel onions, and spicy Mangalitsa ‘Nduja spread The MSD: An artisanal collaboration with the Brothers Geerhart of Milk Street Distillery: an Angus patty with bourbon candied bacon topped with bleu cheese crumbles, crispy onion straws, and War Pennyinfused BBQ sauce (that’s one of their fine bourbons, in case you didn’t know).

Ya Filthy Animal: Pulled pork and fresh coleslaw on an Angus burger

BACKROADS • JULY 2021 smothered with their BBQ sauce.

The Jersey Burger: Burger topped with thick-cut Taylor ham, American cheese, and topped with a fried egg.

I went for the Tuscan, which was an Angus burger topped with provolone and mozzarella with roasted red peppers, pesto mayo, and local arugula.

It was amazingly good, really. So much so that you will see why The Barnyard is a little pricier than your average. Think ballpark prices. But, this is money well spent.

If you are a Vegan or have keto wishes or gluten problems, you will also find a listing of “Not Burger” – five chicken offerings, pulled pork, and a superior grilled cheese.

Salads range from Chopped to chicken Caesar to Asian tuna and southwest and they serve Jones premium cane sugar drinks as well as fresh-made ice teas and lemonade. Many things go into making it into the pages of Backroads Great All American Diner Run. Great roads, good location and, of course, most excellent food.

Follow along with our Rip & Ride GPX route from Perkins Drive at Bear Mountain and you will have it all: www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/nmrhxb. Remember: Never ride hangry! ,

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SHIRLEY’S SOUL FOOD CAFÉ

124 W CURRAHEE ST, TOCCOA, GA 30577 • MON-SAT: 11:30A-2P 15 years. That’s the first time we walked through Shirley’s doors. It was after seeing the first episode of Alton Brown’s Feasting on Asphalt. We were heading to the now defunct Curved Cowboy Rally which was being held at a very nice resort in Georgia. Being fans of anything Alton Brown brings to us, we were delighted to make a stop at one of his featured restaurants.

We have told you about Shirley and her wonderful home cooking. You already know that when you walk in her door you will be greeted with a smile and have some of the best soul food around. But you may not know the full back story of how Shirley came to bring her delicious food and goodness to the community.

First and foremost, Shirley Combs is a devoted and religious woman. By trade, Shirley was a school bus driver, and happy doing that. Cooking and driving a school bus were two of the main things she always wanted to do. One day her son came home and told her about an empty restaurant next to the barber shop in her town of Toccoa and he suggested that she open her own restaurant. She told him he was crazy, but also knew that the Lord worked in his own way and if it was meant to be, it would be.

In 2000, Shirley opened her Soul Food Café. With much anticipation, she expected many folks to show up to eat all the food she had prepared for her cafeteria-style servings. As the day progressed, her anticipation waned as there were no customers coming through the door. At one point, a homeless gentleman came by, looking hungry, so Shirley fed him

Page 15 and asked him to bring others and she would feed them as well. From that day forward, each day, at 2pm, the front door is closed and the back door opens for those who are homeless and in need to eat their fill and soothe their hunger. As Shirley says, ‘It does not matter how many paying customers we serve. What matters are the people who come through the back door.’ It gives her joy and reinforces the knowledge that THIS is what she was meant to be doing.

With good fortune and prayer, Shirley opened her first shelter in 2007, giving men and women a place to heal themselves and get back on their feet. These folks work at the Café while they are fixing their paths, and Shirley has been able to open two more shelters since, giving 250-300 men and women a chance to better their lives and become self-sufficient.

In 2013 Shirley suffered a heart attack, having one stent put in and another blockage which the doctors said they could not fix. As Shirley said, ‘That’s okay, I know who can fix it…’ and with her faith in God she has been fighting the good fight and helping so many souls to help themselves. For 21 years, Shirley has fed thousands, both through the front and back doors, and every one of them have received her gracious smile, amazing home cooking and good will.

Should you find yourself in this part of Georgia, there is no finer spot to park your bike and grab a bite than at Shirley’s Soul Food Café. Fill up your plate, enjoy the company and please tell Shirley that we send our best to her. If you would like to make a donation to Shirley’s Shelters, you may make the check payable to Shirley Combs and mail it to: 124 W Currahee St, Toccoa, GA 30577. God bless. ,

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Frontline Eurosports presents

BIG CITY GETAWAY BARBER VINTAGE MOTORSPORTS MUSEUM

6040 BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARKWAY, BIRMINGHAM, AL 205-699-7275 • www.barbermuseum.org If there has ever been one place in the world of motorcycles that we had not been to, and knew we needed to get to, it is here.

Located just outside Birmingham, Alabama, this museum is far more than just that. It is an institution, a place that deftly mixes our dreams and our memories. For riders like myself, it delights and makes me both happy and introspective at the same time.

For those of you who might know what I am talking about let me introduce you to the Greatest Motorcycle Collection in the World - The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.

Created and built by George H. Barber, the museum and adjoining 16-turn, 2.38-mile road course lay on a stunning 880 acres that are more park-like than any track I have ever seen.

The museum and track had its beginning years back when George Barber was racing Porsches in the 1960s. Barber did not just race. He won. A lot! He held an impressive track record—63 first place wins.

In the late ‘80s he rediscovered his love of motorsports and began to restore classic cars. At one point he thought of opening the World’s Greatest Auto Museum – but that had been done and, following the advice of long-time friend Dave Hooper, he began to collect motorcycles.

daytrip ideas to get out of the daily grind This beginning has now flourished into the largest collection of twowheel machinery on the planet – and that is from the folks at Guinness World Records.

In 1995 Barber opened a museum in Birmingham, but it was a call from New York’s Guggenheim Museum in 1998 that was a defining moment for George and the Barber Museum. He sent 21 of his motorcycles to exhibit at the original New York show, “The Art of the Motorcycle.”

The thrill of the New York exhibit sparked a much bigger dream for Barber.

“We can do this in Birmingham!” he maintained. Barber set out to create a one-ofa-kind, world-class facility. Going even further, he imagined a road course as well where the “living museum” quality of the collection could be demonstrated.

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He purchased the property outside Birmingham for 70 million dollars, cleared hundreds of acres, built an expressway in and out, and began to shape the land with select trees, incredible landscaping, and art – lots of art; something that Barber has as much passion about as motorsports.

Interestingly enough George Barber’s thoughts for his museum would be a cross between the Guggenheim art museum in New York City and a parking deck that he liked in Birmingham.

It currently has five floors and 144,000 square feet of exhibit space, and around 650 machines on display, but they have more than that in storage and in various states of restoration.

When we arrived we met Jeff Ray, the museum’s executive director and he told us the best way to see it all was, like the Guggenheim, to take an elevator to the top floor, then follow the pull of gravity down and through

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this amazing motorcycle Mecca.

Amazing, remarkable, awesome, mind-blowing, and staggering!

There are not enough adjectives to describe Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum to do it justice.

“These are living exhibits,” said Jeff, “which means that all of the museum’s motorcycles, even those that are over a hundred years old, can be started up and taken out for a spin. Mr. Barber wanted the museum to be utilitarian and industrial to really bring out the chrome and color of the motorcycles.”

Natural light flows through floor-to-ceiling windows to illuminate the concrete interior. In the center atrium, bikes are stacked 50 feet high in “aging racks” like fine wine.

Most of the motorcycles in the galleries are showcased on pedestals surrounded by lots of open space. Visitors can walk around the bikes and study them from many different angles, just like sculptures in an art museum. For George Barber, who views motorcycles as mechanical art, and who became passionate about them as an adult, not as a teenager, it makes perfect sense.

Jeff said that roughly 650 motorcycles (and several dozen rare cars) are

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on display at any given time and they are all spotless and, most, better than anything in a showroom.

“We have a cleaning staff; we clean constantly,” said Jeff.

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If this is a garage, it’s the cleanest one in the world.

I knew walking around Barber that when I returned home my barn would at least be put in some semblance of order.

But let’s talk a bit about some of the motorcycles Mr. Barber had on display this day. Well, almost everything from my misspent youth.

Seriously there is so much here it is almost futile to start pointing out one machine or another, but…

An 8-cylinder Z-1 with a hand-crafted engine – actually mating two together? Oh, yes. Craig Vetter’s Mystery Machine. A phenomenal collection of race machines from Daytona, great drag bikes, and historic motocross and dirt machines. They have a famed collection of adventure machines from the likes of Ed Culberson and others.

The space here at Barber is highly utilized with stacks of pristine machines from the past running up along the walls and the elevator.

Brough Superior, Vincent, and other iconic motorcycles are all represented.

There is also a fine collection of race cars, exotic machines from the past, and art…lots of art everywhere.

Stupendous!

At the far window, we could see the Indy Series holding practice on the very alluring road course.

(How do we get on this for a few laps?)

The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum has built two bridges that allow museum visitors to walk a bit of the grounds and cross over the track in two sections. The bridges have transparent floors installed so we could see the Indy cars blasting by as they passed beneath.

As you can tell by these words; we were more than blown away and we bet you will be too.

The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum could be the #1 moto destination in the United States, I mean North America….

No! The Western Hemisphere or the galaxy as we know it.

Heck, if George Barber could get JPL to bring Perseverance back from Mars he would have that on display too!

Plan your ride and ride your plan to the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum in Birmingham, Alabama - you will be so glad you did. ,

Keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for upcoming events for 2021

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WE’RE OUTTA HERE

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a weekend destinationkeeping you on the backroads

GOLDEN ARROW LAKESIDE RESORT 2559 MAIN ST, LAKE PLACID, NY 12946 518-302-0480 • www.golden-arrow.com

Now and again we like to look back at a place that we have stayed a few times and bring the inn back into the pages of Backroads.

Several years ago we held a Fall Fiesta at this month’s WOH escape, and everyone had a great time and we have had many requests to return. And, we shall, but between then and now let’s take a ride into the Adirondacks, a park that contains six-million acres, and covers 1/5 of New York State.

This park was created in 1892 and is the largest park in the contiguous United States – it is equal in size to neighboring Vermont, and is nearly three times the size of Yellowstone National Park! Big, lots of roads for all styles of riding.

Big long scenic byways, very tight and twisty mountain roads, and plenty of well-maintained gravel for you ADV-riders.

There are many little towns sprinkled through the forests and mountains, but none of such fame as Lake Placid, New York.

The town is famous for its international sports. It was here that a unique double occurred when American Eddie Eagan achieved an incredible feat by winning gold medals in both summer and winter sports. In 1920 in Antwerp, he had won the light-heavyweight boxing category at the Olympic Summer Games. In Lake Placid, 12 years later, he won in the four-man bobsleigh. Sixty-one years later Lake Placid was witness to the Miracle on Ice, the great U. S. Hockey Team’s Victory over the Russians in 1980.

Today the mountain town is still a winter sports destination, but during the warmer months, it is a super base-camp for riding the hundreds of superb miles of road that wind through the deep woods and mountains of the Adirondacks.

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BACKROADS • JULY 2021 Right off Main Street, you will find the Golden Arrow, sitting along the shore of beautiful Mirror Lake. The Golden Arrow is special in many ways – one being it was the first resort in the U.S. to receive the Audubon International’s Platinum Eco Rating for Hotels.

There are now only six hotels in the United States to obtain this honor!

Unlike so many of the places we feature in this column the Golden Arrow, which proudly touts that it is Women-Owned, still retains a wonderful small-town ambiance and the staff were cordial, polite, and went the extra mile for us.

The resort has 165 guest rooms along with 8 specialty rooms and 15 different kinds of suites.

All the rooms are modern and well-appointed with refrigerators, microwaves, Keurig single cup coffee brewers, hairdryers & free wireless internet access.

For those that like to keep in shape while touring on the road, the Golden Arrow has a great fitness center, steam room & sauna, two Jacuzzis, and a heated pool as well as a racquetball court.

If you want to get a bit nautical after a long day of exploring the mountain backroads the resort has complimentary rowboats, paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards on Mirror Lake.

Take a little paddle – what could go wrong?

Although the town of Lake Placid has many, many restaurants and eating options the resort’s restaurant Generations is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In keeping with the sustainable philosophy of Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, the menu features many foods that are grown and raised locally. Their goal has always been to keep their offerings as local and fresh as possible, showcasing the many wonderful farms and products that are grown, raised, and cultivated in New York’s Adirondack region.

When we were there, we had a good size crowd sitting outside every evening enjoying local brews and chatting up the day’s rides with “Tall Tire Tales.”

Another feature that sets Generations and The Golden Arrow apart is their “Green Roof!’ In the summer months, the outside deck of Generations showcases expansive views of the Golden Arrow’s Green Roof. In addition to providing fresh herbs for the restaurant, the Green Roof grants a beautiful ecological backdrop, and views of Mirror Lake, Whiteface Mountain, and the High Peaks, and the Adirondacks So, summer is here, and this year it is time to make up for last and get going – and we think The Golden Arrow is a phenomenal place to start. ,

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BOYERTOWN ICE CREAM & WATER ICE FACTORY

835 E PHILADELPHIA AVE, BOYERTOWN, PA 19512 484-415-0315 • FIND THEM ON FACEBOOK • 11A-10P SUN-THURS / 11A-11P FRI-SAT It was a whirlwind few weeks. We had just done a terrific ride in the south on some very tasty Triumphs.

Returning home, we had time to feed the cats, change our clothes and hope back on our own bikes to attend the Oley Swap Meet with some friends. If you haven’t been, make sure you put that on your calendar for next year. Even if you aren’t into antiques, the people watching and certain oddities to be found are well worth the time.

John had plotted a ride from Oley back to his home and informed me that we’d be making a stop at a new ice cream shop that recently opened. Well, hell’s bells, doesn’t that just make for a perfect day. Not only was the ride great, I’d get some homemade ice cream.

Boyertown Ice Cream & Water Ice Factory (a mouthful but so is their ice cream) is the creation of Larry O’Toole, a fellow motorcyclist.

In November of 2019 he was involved in a severe motorcycle accident which left him with many broken bones, as well as several brain bleeds. He went through many surgeries and returned to work in March, only to be let go on April 1. After a routine CAT scan, he was back in the operating room and, while recovering and pondering what he would do moving forward, he was made an offer ‘he couldn’t refuse’ from Argento’s Pizza of Boyertown to rent their ice cream shop next door.

I asked Larry if he had previous experience making ice cream and he told me that he spent over 200 hours watching the Emery Thompson website (makers of fine ice cream machines since the early 1900s), experimenting with the recipes and taste testing at several private social clubs and parties.

Finally, in March 2021 he was ready to set sail on his ice cream excursion with Boyertown Ice Cream & Water Ice Factory. Larry makes all his ice cream and water ice on premise, usually on rainy days when the flow of customers is lighter. Being a Jersey girl, I was not too familiar with water ice, which is a very Philadelphia ‘thing’. If you, too, are not familiar – water ice is a combination of sugar, water and various fruits, mixed together before

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BACKROADS • JULY 2021

being served, and often comes out a little slushy. Most of the world may know this as Italian ice, but in the Philly area, it will always be water ice.

Larry offers 13 flavors of hard ice cream, 11 water ice and 8 soft serve flavor burst. These come in cups or waffle bowls, which are a much more civilized vehicle for ice cream than cones which tend to melt and drip everywhere (IMHO). Smoothies and milkshakes in a variety of flavors, as well as hot beverages, are available. For a base before ice cream, they also serve hot dogs and Philadelphia soft pretzels. Being a NY Mets fan, I was having a little difficulty with all this Philly stuff, but once I tasted Larry’s ice cream, that melted away.

Our little group showed up and, with plenty of parking available, bellied up to the window to make our dessert decisions. The menu was enticing and it seemed that almost everyone went for a different flavor, with the choices being Old Tyme Vanilla, M&M Plain Flavor, Oreo Crunch, Banana Cream Pie, Cookies ‘N Brownies, S’Mores, Old Tyme Chocolate, Coffee Crunch, Reeses, Milky Way, Apple Pie, Honey Vanilla and Frankenstein. I had to go with the Cookies ‘N Brownies and certainly was not disappointed. It was creamy, had a terrific texture and perfect balance of

flavor. I tried some of Brian’s Oreo Crunch and Coffee Crunch and had the same opinion. I only wish I had had room to sample the water ice – but that’s what return visits are for.

Not only does Larry make some great desserts, he gives back to the community is a great way. When he hosts an event for non-profits, he donates 20% back to them. In addition, any gift cards sold have the same 20% donation back to the charity and, when the gift cards are reloaded, the 20% keeps on going back – a never-ending fundraiser. It is an amazing thing for a business to continually give back, and that is exactly what Larry is doing.

Boyertown Ice Cream & Water Ice Factory has a large patio with several tables at which to enjoy your frozen delights. As I said, there is plenty of parking and Boyertown itself is a pretty cool town to explore before or after your ice cream.

I wish Larry success, continued healing and look forward to my next visit to get some of that Philly water ice.

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words + images: Brian Rathjen • images: Backroads’ peeps

A

s if on schedule the Wizards of the CDC began to lift mask mandates just days before Backroads’ first big rally, tour, road trip shindiggy thing of the new season was to begin. With the light at the end of the tunnel seemingly getting brighter by the minute, our first day on the road was greeted with spectacular sun and mild temperatures.

Day One • Joseph Ambler Inn, North Wales, PA Rather than do any sort of group ride this day we simply put out the word that the Spring Break would begin at the Joseph Ambler Inn, just west of the Delaware River and north of Philly in Pennsylvania.

We were sure all would find their way and their own route down, or up, or across to North Wales and the Ambler.

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Shira and I, along with our friends Mike and Robyn, met mid-morn and began to amble through the forests and farms of New Jersey to the Joseph Ambler.

We gave a shot at running along some road combinations that were untouched by us before – making for a longer ride than necessary – but far more fun, and lunch at the Sky Manor Airport was right on cue with the various planes flying in and out an added delight.

This was the week of the faux gas crisis, but enough was said for me to decide to mount extra Roto-Pack fuel cells on my bike in case we ran into a French situation (Those people always have gas strikes, like once a month).

Of course, mounted up high on my saddlebags, the extra fuel sloshing around made things… a little Koyaanisqatsi. I would take some ribbing from friends about over-doing a non-event, but who knew… we might need them down the line.

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The Ambler was to be found in a fairly suburban Philly outskirt, but the expansive grounds and century-old buildings made it seem like another world. It was a most excellent first night destination, and it seemed many of the riders and bikes began rolling down the long circular driveway around the same time that fine sunny Sunday.

Motorbikes parked, unpacked, showers taken, and feeling far fresher we strolled around to say hello, and then we settled into some tables and chairs on the lawn to spend a few hours catching up with our Backroads peeps.

As usual old friends were met, new friends came to say hi and, unlike last year, there were far more hugs and handshakes and most of all - smiles to be found. Yes, finally real light at the end of the tunnel, and all of us were more than ready to ride to it.

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Day Two • George Washington Hotel, Winchester, VA Another great day met us this Monday and, after a shaky breakfast, riders mounted up and headed south.

For those who rode the entire 250-mile route this day you might have noticed it was a bit full of U.S. Military history; early and the deadly middle. It would seem that the Founding Fathers – mostly Washington and Jefferson - would ride along with us for much of this week-long tour.

The route ran through Valley Forge where Washington camped the third of eight winter encampments for the Continental Army’s main body during the war. In September 1777, Congress fled Philadelphia to escape the British capture of the city. After failing to retake Philadelphia, Washington led his 12,000-man army into winter quarters at Valley Forge, located approximately 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia. They remained there for six months and the Continentals struggled to manage a disastrous supply crisis while retraining and reorganizing their units. Washington saw men that long brutally hard winter die, (about 1,900 soldiers would die from disease) but so many more become true fighters thanks to the workings of Friedrich Wilhem August Heinrich von Steuben. He turned a bunch of scraggy commoners into a serious fighting force. Valley Forge was and is a huge part of our history.

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We then ran past Brandywine Creek.

September 11th has been an infamous day for centuries as Washington had one of his biggest defeats on that same fateful day. The forces met near Chadds Ford as British General Howe moved to take back Philadelphia - then the American capital.

The British routed the Continental Army and forced them to withdraw, first, to the City of Chester and then northeast toward Philadelphia. More troops fought at Brandywine than any other battle of the American Revolution. It was also the longest single-day battle of the war, with continuous fighting for 11 hours.

Not long after we rode through the town of Paoli. This was another disaster for our side. After Brandywine, Washington left a force under Brigadier General Anthony Wayne behind to monitor and harass the British as they prepared to move on the revolutionary capital of Philadelphia. On the evening of September 20,

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British forces under Major General Charles Grey led a surprise attack on Wayne’s encampment near the Paoli Tavern. Although there were relatively few American casualties, claims were made that the British took no prisoners and granted no quarter, and the engagement became known as the “Paoli Massacre.”

We rocketed past these places of serious American history and never even know it unless we take the time to look for it.

We then crossed into Pretty Boy Park and the beautiful dam. Although the odd name is actually a reference to a horse, it is hard for us to ride through here without thinking Seinfeld….’Nice game Pretty Boy! June 14th, 1987 Mets vs. Phillies…’ I know… sad how our minds work.

Halfway through this day’s ride I reached for my inner Phillip Glass and dumped all the extra fuel tanks into my bike. Things got better when there was not a small child scrambling around behind me.

We continued on, into Maryland and then the Virginias – West and, just Virginia.

Rounding into one valley we spotted something I do not believe any of us had seen before – a crop-dusting helicopter. He was a scary good pilot, running a few feet over the crop and missing the surrounding elm trees by what seemed like mere inches.

The last jaunt past Summit Raceway is always a fan favorite (at least to me). By evening we were rolled into Winchester and the George Washington Hotel – which we had used many times before. Usually a most excellent place, but they certainly dropped the ball on all fronts this day. No bar, no restaurant and - worse … no morning coffee. Still, Winchester is a super town with a marvelous pedestrian walkway lined with shops and places to eat. Besides the Southern Contingent is a rolling fête that brings the fun and party with them.

That day we were joined by an old friend, Danny, whom I worked with at Honda back in the day and had not seen in a decade, and by early evening the crowd doubled from the night before and it truly felt we were now riding out of this black tunnel together.

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Day Three

The Mountain Lake Lodge, Pembroke, VA A few years back, while heading north from one of our rallies, we followed along a very twisty backroad up through a valley, with the road shaded with deeply leafy trees. As we came around one bend we spotted a most magnificent building to our right.

It was the Mountain Lake Lodge.

We made a somewhat quick turn around and four of us sat down to a nice breakfast in a very nice dining room.

Very nice.

But, it seemed that this lodge had an unusual history – one involving a girl, a boy, and some Dirty Dancing. Yes, this was the stand-in for Kellerman’s and was where most of the film was made.

When putting together this comeback rally of 2021 the idea of using historic hotels came about and we quickly booked 40 rooms at the lodge for two nights.

The ride from Winchester to the Mountain Lake Inn was planned out months in advance by two semi-retired riders during the deep snowstorm of the century. Roads were chosen and then deleted, replaced by another.

We really, really tried to avoid the hated gravel – but in the end, we simply made two almost identical routes – with one heading over some excellent paved roads and the other going over the mountain on a glorified clay path.

Of the 50 or so riders, I am aware of just half a dozen who rode the mountain, which I believe is part of the BDR. From all accounts, this day’s ride might just have been the best miles Backroads has ever offered up – and we have had some very good days over the years.

Cow Pasture Road was a winner and Route 33 always a delight – especially traffic and LEO-free. “Look, Lean, Roll & Believe!”

We spent some time in Bath County – a riding paradise that does not have a stoplight in the entire county.

Along Route 220 I spied Falling Spring Falls. A quick turnaround brought a few of us back to this marvelous and impressive cascade - a

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breathtaking 80-foot waterfall that is one of the most visited and photographed spots in the Alleghany Highlands. This is one of the largest waterfalls in Virginia and cascades from an overhanging ledge that is visible from the roadway.

Thomas Jefferson described Falling Spring as a “remarkable cascade … falling over a rock about 200 feet to the valley below.”

A quick stop at the Paint Bank General Store to refresh and recharge and as some headed for the pavement miles, Mike, Robyn, Andrew Serbinski – the owner of MachineartMoto - and I did the mountain.

I have ridden over this peak before, from the other direction, but today it was wet, slick, and just a bit slippery. But, still doable and barely an inconvenience.

Mike, with the very intrepid Robyn sitting pillion, did this with a loaded BMW R1200RT with street tires. Very impressive ride, Mike and you can pick up your new Chrysler Cordoba at Morty’s office.

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Eventually, we arrived at the lodge, slightly dirty but with a little more street cred, or was that gravel crud under our belts?

The Mountain Lodge was a huge hit and we had others join us that night – and it was especially great to see some who had to take four-wheels instead of two. You are all welcome to any Backroads event.

A special shout out to our friends Jim Gardner and his gal Marilyn along with Glen, Bridget, Dave and Alma.

And, especially Lisa - who does not love Lisa!?

Day Four • Free Day in the Mountains We had built several suggested routes around the region and some riders got an early start to break the Back of the Dragon and to lunch in Wytheville, while others did loops around Burkes Garden, and still others rode the Blue Ridge Parkway and explored the tiny town of Floyd.

Shira, who had plans of relaxing, reading a book and exploring the beauty of the Mountain Lake Lodge, instead headed out with a small cadre of riders to Burkes Garden. We’d been there a few times before and it is always a pleasant ride. However, the roads there and back

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are some of the tastiest curves you’ll find. Shira, known to do a spirited pace, brought her group back with smiles on their faces, in time for some to do a little skeet shooting at the lodge.

Mark Byers and I took the morning to mosey over to the town of Salem, Virginia, and visit our friends at Frontline Eurosports. Time and again Hugh, Chip and Company have come through for us and our group while we have rallied in this region. They have a top-class dealership that sells and services BMW, Ducati, Triumph, and now Indian as well. Their service department is stellar and each of the staff friendly and knowledgeable. If you are passing through this part of the Old Dominion State I highly recommend stopping by – you will be impressed.

By afternoon most riders had returned and set about exploring the lodge and the surrounding – looking for their favorite Dirty Dancing spot.

Me? I was just happy to sit in the corner.

BACKROADS • JULY 2021

Day Five • Summit Inn, Farmington, PA We all knew today’s ride was a long one, with nearly 300 miles of mountain backroads to be covered.

The previous day we had one BMW have a bit of a technical issue so Scott and Andrea rode to Frontline Eurosports to see if they could get it sorted out. We hoped they would catch up to us later.

Shira had created this route that brought us in and out of Virginia and West Virginia multiple times.

Many made the General Store at Paint Bank their first stop for breakfast while we just did a quick stretch of the legs before the long and sweeping run north, making for an easier and quicker pace and quickly eating up the day’s long miles.

As always, we hit a detour (now seeming to be a daily occurrence), but our heroes trudged on ever forward and re-routed on the go with the

BACKROADS • JULY 2021

routes heading through both Jefferson and Washington National Forests.

Most riders stopped at the Cass Railroad for lunch and a bit of browsing at their General Store. While there we learned that two of our friends, riding Harleys, were in need of fuel in a dire way.

Tony and Jose thought they’d make it over the mountain to the next fuel station, but Jose’s machine sputtered and ran out a few miles up the mountain.

Remember those extra fuel cells I had brought along? Ta da!

A quick run over the mountain, on Route 66, to the fuel station beneath Snowshoe at Route 215, and back had Jose’s Harley back on the road.

I had told Shira to carry on ahead and I would see her later.

I felt a touch bad to do that, as it was our 31st anniversary, but no need

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for her to sit in a fuel station on an increasingly warm day. I had hoped to ride just the two of us, as last year’s 30th anniversary, planned to find us in Portugal, was a complete bust, to say the least.

Thankfully, a year later, we were on the road in West Virginia – one of our favorite places to ride.

When I got back to Route 215, I fully fueled the GS, took care of business, packed my Camelbak with ice water, and got on the road solo.

It was the first time I had ever ridden solo in West “By God” Virginia and I was looking forward to an easy ride and enjoying the Mountain State.

I put on some music and that’s when the plan changed. The opening power chords of Golden Earing’s ‘Radar Love’ came blasting through my headsets. The plan and the pace drastically changed and I got into a charge to see if I could catch up to my bride who was about an hour ahead at this point.

Yes, there was some passing. Actually, a lot of passing and the distinct possibility that I might have bent velocity laws in a dozen counties and three different states.

She beat me to the Historic Summit Inn by just 15 minutes.

All the hotels had been great so far, but the Summit Inn was in a different class. The service and the food were incredible. The deep history – located on the National Road Route

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BACKROADS • JULY 2021

40 – came through in every nook of this place.

It was a phenomenal night, and spending our anniversary with all our friends and so many readers was the best thing for us both.

Day Six • Clarion Shippen Place Hotel, Shippensburg, PA Sadly, this would be the last official day of this Spring Break Rally as the following day our diverse group would be scattering throughout the northeast and riding back to their homes. Before taking our leave, we had to take a short hike to the Treehouse we had heard was nestled about a quarter-mile into the woods. In 2014 ‘Treehouse Masters’ built the Black Bear Bungalow which was inspired by the resort’s ski lodge, which burned down in the 1960s. The platform rises 20 feet and is supported by three black oak trees. The suspension bridge leading to the wraparound deck has quite a swing to it, reminding Shira of her muchfeared return walk from our zip line ride in Ecuador. While we couldn’t get inside, it looked very cozy and the perfect place to enjoy an evening sipping cocktails and watching the installed bear cam below.

The Summit Inn was not all that far from Fort Necessity, where a young George Washington, then a 21-year-old British lieutenant, clashed with the French, starting what would become the French & Indian War, and would suffer a humiliating defeat.

The National Battlefield is extremely well done and the film about the happening and the birth of the National Road - now called Route 40 - is well

BACKROADS • JULY 2021

worth the watch. Along this road, you will also find the grave of General Edward Braddock who was a British officer and commander-in-chief for the Thirteen Colonies during the start of the French and Indian War. His life, death, and hidden burial site is a story all in its own.

Our route would spend a good part of the morning returning to the National Road several times and in Grantsville, Maryland we stopped at the Casselman Inn, a small yet neat old inn that has been serving travelers for centuries.

The food was outstanding, the in-house bakery a wonder and what we found in the gift shop was like nothing we had ever seen before. Stay tuned for a feature in ‘We’re Outta Here!’

Although some of the route had to slog through the town of Cumberland, the reward of Route 26 heading north and returning into Pennsylvania was well worth it as Route 26 is a long-time favorite of Backroads and a true roller coaster of a road.

Things went along swimmingly until, well, they didn’t.

I had heard of roads being dropped into a farm, but never a farm being dropped onto a road. We rounded a sharp uphill right-hander and the quick left we were to make… it wasn’t there. Just a farm. Uh oh.

This did cause a great deal of confusion and concern with riders rescued and maps consulted but all figured it out and made their own detour back to the purple line of the route – although a few miles of gravel road were suddenly sprinkled into the day’s ride.

Arriving at the hotel, in the town’s center, the lot was completely filled with motorcycles and even more friends had arrived. Not able to come on this return of the Spring Break on motorcycles – they had driven to Shippensburg simply to say hello. This night found our people all about the town; the brewpub, the local barbeque, and the outside decks close to the hotel’s ample bar. It was one of the best nights of the trip – and unfortunately the last for this Spring Break.

Day Seven • Home Happy ‘cause I’m going home. Take me home country roads. Homeward bound…Home is wherever I’m with you!

So many songs about home and going there.

With extended hugs and goodbyes, bikes were packed, GPSs activated and our group scattered to the winds, disappearing like Scottish mist, along the backroads headed to wherever they call home. My music played Cast your Fate to the Wind by Vince Guaraldi. How perfect.

Shira and I, along with another local rider Bill Denton, followed a superb route given to us last year by John Mawhinney.

Last year John had linked together a delicious mix of pavement with us ending at one of the neatest lunch stops in the eastern Keystone state.

Along the way we crossed Amish land, with the horse & buggies, but then came upon something I had never seen on the roads before – an ancient steamdriven automobile, and then another one. How marvelous, it must be a gang!

120 or so miles later we sat down at the Wannamaker’s Store for lunch – simple, easy and delicious.

We then continued east, eventually into the Pocono region and then over the Delaware River and back into Jersey – the only “New” state that doesn’t need the friggin’ “New” to know where you are.

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Final thoughts…

Wow… I type “Final Thoughts” like it is easy. This time it should not be.

We have all been through so much. We did what we were asked, we helped each other over and over again. I remember the Chai Riders coming to Shira’s side when they knew she might be ill – simply to spend an hour of Shiva with her after her mom passed.

Riders driving for miles in the winter just to have lunch and say hello.

Shira and I gave blood repeatably, as we had anti-bodies, and then like so many took the vaccinations – which time will tell on that.

Yet, through it all we, as riders, as Backroads readers, stayed in touch, supported, and stood by each other.

This week in mid-May we finally got out in a big way…

No! In a huge way!

For those who rode with us again - thank you! For those who were on their first Backroads adventure – welcome to the club.

It’s only gonna get better.

It was an amazing week – and sorry, as I have to say this …

It might have been the time of our lives! , Hotel Resources

At the intersection of 521 and 626 Bill went right and we went left.

We rolled into the drive and, getting off the bike, I could see Spenser T. Cat banging his head at the window – the cat’s version of “Oh, thank Bastet your home, and I am so pissed at you!”

We all have our routines when we get home from a long trip.

For us it is to check on the pond, WATER the garden and plants, and then spend time with Spenser and LG – our furry feline kids.

Joseph Ambler Inn • 1005 Horsham Rd, North Wales, PA • josephamblerinn.com George Washington Hotel • 103 E Piccadilly St, Winchester, VA • 540-431-2498 Mountain Lake Lodge • 115 Hotel Circle, Pembroke, VA • mtnlakelodge.com Historic Summit Inn • 101 Skyline Dr, Farmington, PA • summitinnresort.com Clarion Shippen Place Hotel • 32 E King St, Shippensburg, PA • 717-312-3933

BACKROADS • JULY 2021

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NATIONAL ICE CREAM MONTH BONUS INSIDE SCOOP MOUNTAIN FRESH CREAMERY

6615 CLEVELAND HWY, CLERMONT, GA 30527 • mountainfreshcreamery.com • 770-983-1MOO Since July is National Ice Cream month, with July 18 being National Ice Cream Day, I’ll bring you a bonus ice cream spot as well as an ice cream ride. For those not in the know, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month back in 1984 (bless his heart) with the third Sunday of the month being National Ice Cream Day. Apparently, President Reagan had a sweet tooth, as he always had a jar of jelly beans on his desk.

Forever on the hunt for fresh homemade ice cream to bring you wherever you may travel, here is one right from the farm, off the beaten path in Georgia. During our recent travels to ride Triumph’s Tiger and Trident, our large loop in and out of Marietta hit some very historic spots as you saw in the June ’21 ‘Magical History Tour’ issue. I would certainly be remiss if I did hunt down some equally refreshing ice cream stands along the way.

Jennifer and Scott Glover opened their Clermont, GA location in 2011 with the primary focus of bringing fresh, all-natural milk to their community. That accomplished, they knew that their high-quality milk would make a phenomenal ice cream.

As their motto states, ‘From cow to cone in less than a day’ produces the freshest, creamiest, richest ice cream in North Georgia – and I wholeheartedly agree.

We pulled the Triumphs into the gravel lot, parking next to their giant cow, and went over to peruse the menu board. The Silo, the ice cream portion of Mountain Fresh Creamery’s operation, serves up between 10-12 flavors at a time, with chocolate being their top seller. Someone said to me, when asked what their favorite ice cream flavor was, that 99% of people say chocolate and the other 1% are lying.

For those liars, there is vanilla, strawberry, butter pecan, peach and salted caramel, with seasonal flavors adding pumpkin, Key lime pie and gingerbread. No matter what the flavor, every batch is made with the same formula, which begins when the cows are milked. The cream is pulled from off the milk, added to whole milk with solids and stabilizers from a dairy products company, with sugar finishing off the mix. They produce 100-gallon batches at a time, making 6-8 flavors a day. Since the ice cream is so fresh, the creamery runs out of almost every flavor by the end of the week, thus constantly producing new flavors to satisfy their hungry customers.

During our visit, the flavor of the week was mocha cappuccino in addition to their regular offerings. Brian went for the special, while I had a double scoop of salted caramel and peaches-n-cream. Everything they brag about their ice cream is true. It was creamy, delicious and, due to the high fat content, lingered on the tongue to enhance the flavors. We sat at one of their covered picnic benches, enjoying our treats and watching the children play tag around the giant cow. All too soon our ice cream was gone and it was time to move on to our next great find on our Georgia tour.

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BACKROADS • JULY 2021 Should you find yourself in the Clermont, GA area, do yourself a favor and plot a course to the Mountain Fresh Creamery for a scoop or two of their premium ice cream. Say hi to Bessy for me.

And here is your National Ice Cream Day Ride; a 190-mile loop starting and ending in New Paltz, NY. You can start with breakfast – there are several choices but I’ve started it from the Main St Bistro.

Stop in Saugerties, NY and have a scoop or two at the Alleyway Ice Cream shop. Continue your ride through the beautiful Catskills.

Should you find yourself in need of more ice cream, make a stop in Phoenicia at the Ice Cream Station, just a little detour off the route on Main Street. Walk off some of the sugar before returning to New Paltz for a final scoop at the Huguenot Creamery. Enjoy the day and we’ll see you on the road. , Download .gpx file: www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/vmdnxs

BACKROADS • JULY 2021

PRODUCT REVIEW

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YAMAHA YDX MORO PRO E-BICYCLE

In the beginning (not The Actual Beginning), there were bicycles. Soon came the notion that bicycling was hard because roads, as we know them, did not exist. In no time man decided it was a good idea to have external, then internal combustion devices supported in the cradle of the tube frames to add propulsion. Such propulsion would be generated by releasing the potential energy stored in chemically formulated fuel (kerosene or whale oil, then gasoline). Such fuel was prone to a low ignition temperature when mixed with the proper amount of air (stoichiometric ratio). The little explosion within the combustion chamber pushed a slider down and created torque around a crankshaft. After 150 years or so of refinement we now have pretty much perfected the internal combustion engine. While this was happening, bicycles were going through there own evolution. In recent years there has been a major resurgence both in road and mountain bicycles. This past year bicycle sales soared to record levels with many local shops running out of inventory.

Mountain biking in particular remains very popular especially here in the Northeast. If your old, it’s still popular, just not that easy. Enter the electric bicycle. Pedal assist bikes are not for purists. But they can be great for anyone who isn’t 20, or 30 or even 40 anymore. Especially for mountain biking where tight technical trails and steep grades present physical challenges much different than on road. E-bikes however still require a great deal of physical effort. You’re just able to cover more ground. After a year of pedaling off road the hard way, I stumbled across an e-bike that I had my eye on for some time - the Yamaha’s YDX Moro and Moro Pro. Both are the latest in e-mountain bike technology from the good people

at the tuning fork company. Yamaha has a history of making bicycles. It’s their motorcycle innovations that Backroads readers are most familiar with.

Both versions share an innovative Dual Twin frame design with a split double down tube and back bone. The split down tube allows for the battery to be neatly tucked in and protected rather than simply being attached inside the frame. The split backbone allows a near horizontal rear shock to be nestled in front of the seat post rather than in a vertical position. If you are of a certain age and remember when Yamaha introduced the first mono-shock YZ Motocrossers in the mid 1970’s, the Moro and Moro Pro rear suspension may look very familiar. The result is a great handling bicycle with low center of gravity. The difference between the models lies in the suspension and wheels. The Moro Pro has upgraded forks, shocks, shifting components and alloy wheels.

Both the Moro and Moro Pro have a 500 watt-hour battery, Yamaha PW-X2 motor producing 250 to 500 watts and 80 Nm of torque. The

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Moro Pro has all types of high-tech features such as has 5 ride modes that vary the amount of assist.

It has a push mode that provides maximum torque when applying pressure to the pedals to get you going, like if your stuck on an uphill and are experiencing something similar to cardiac arrest. Push the pedal and the motor provides a surge of torque so you can get going. It sounds trivial, but on a single-track hill strewn with rocks it’s a great feature. The ride computer includes five modes of power-level control plus an auto support mode that switches between modes while riding. The on board LCD screen has a stop watch, odometer, trip odometer, multicolor LED indicating the various power modes and push assist button that will push the bike while walking alongside.

The rear wheel hub is equipped with Yamaha’s Speed sensor, which regulates power input based on speed. The result is a much smoother assist from the motor providing a more natural feel when pedaling.

The bike is fully suspended front and rear and the RockShox Yari RC 160mm forks and Super Deluxe 150mm travel rear shock absorber. Both ends are fully adjustable for air preload, rebound and compression. The

BACKROADS • JULY 2021 wheels are 27.5” tubeless capable alloy wheels.

Tires are Maxis High Roller and fitted with inner tubes from the factory. Gear changes are made via Shimano XT long cage derailleur and 11-speed cassette on the rear wheel. Brakes are Magura MT30 203mm Storm CL rotors and 4-piston calipers. The seat is standard fare, comfortable but comes with a dropper post allowing for quick saddle height changes on the fly. All in all Yamaha built a bike with very high quality components. The whole package weighs just over 53 pounds so it’s no lightweight compared to pedal only bikes.

On the trail, the YDX is an absolute blast to ride. The gearing is ideal for all conditions and the ride modes provide as much or as little assist as you could want. The frame design and low center of gravity gives the bike a planted feel. Riding at speed on single track you notice the weight but it’s hardly a liability. The handling is confidence inspiring and fun. As suspected the pedal assist allows you to extend the range of a mountain bike ride and opens up more terrain to tackle. The claimed range is about 40 miles depending on the amount of assist used. ECO mode reduces the amount of assist and extends battery life. So far the rides have used anywhere from 30% to 60% of the battery capacity in about an hour and a half of use (roughly 8 to 10 miles) on very hilly and rocky terrain. Charging the battery to full capacity takes approximately 2-3 hours.

The Moro frame color is Desert Yellow and the Moro Pro is a two-tone Podium Blue/Titanium color and is very true to the Yamaha Team colors.

E-bicycles are a solid alternative to a full-on dirt bike for woods riding and the best part is they still offer a great workout.

Pricing starts at $4,499. You can find out more at yamahabicycles.com or your nearest Yamaha dealer. , ~ Tony Lisanti

BACKROADS • JULY 2021

PRODUCT REVIEW

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GIVI TREKKER DOLOMITI MONOKEY TOP CASE

When we took possession of our new R1250GS, we looked for a top case that would be able to carry a lot of the things we feel we need on tour - Maps, ZipFizz, extra gloves, medical kit, etc…

The Dolomiti Monokey case came in a natural aluminum finish and it is a full 30 liters in size and easily handles all the above and more; and it easily swallows a 15-inch computer bag.

Still, unlike my last case that was really large, Givi Trekker Dolomiti Monokey Top Case has a low and sleek profile and blends well with the lines of the BMW GS; and many other machines. The aluminum case is reinforced with stainless steel rivets and has an easy to operate security lock with a dust-cover screw-top to keep the lock clean.

Inside there are hooks to fix an elasticated cargo net on the underside of the lid and four nylon belt-strap loops on the lid, which allow the mounting of additional bags using Givi’s Trekker Straps.

For me it also made a great and shiny canvas for the various and everrevolving stickers. It’s a GS thing.

The bag goes on and comes off incredibly easy and is very, very secure.

The Givi Trekker Dolomiti Monokey Top Case is the perfect top case for those looking to carry your required stuff and gear and enhance the looks of your machine as well.

Givi Trekker Dolomiti Monokey Top Case lists for $334 and is available online @ giviusa.com

BACKROADS • JULY 2021

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SMALL TOWN CELEBRATION

BLAIRSTOWN FOURTH OF JULY

10:30-4:30 • Footbridge Park, Blairstown, NJ Everyone has their favorite or traditional way of celebrating the Independence of our nation. For many years of my youth, it would be split between Ithaca, NY, with family and friends watching the grand fireworks display or standing along the Hudson watching the Grucci brothers do their best. Most small towns have parades and festivities with games to entertain young and old, carnival food and just a general happiness in the air.

Last year was a wash, so this year most of those venues will bring out the big guns to make up for lost time. In our neck of the woods, we’ve been heading to Footbridge Park in Blairstown, NJ, for our celebration. They have been holding their fourth of July shindigs long before we were in the area and have it down to an art.

Each year Blairstown celebrates Independence Day with a terrific line-up of festivities. An entire day is filled with American spirit and pride at Footbridge Park, located between the Paulinskill Valley Trail and Route 94. Festivities begin at 10:30 am and include family-friendly contests, children’s activities, delicious food, amazing vendors, and exhibits by community service groups.

After taking a year off the July 4 Duck Race sponsored by Blairstown Rotary is back by popular demand. This year the grand prize has been increased to $3,000 and the primary recipient of the proceeds will be Blairstown Hose Company. Tickets are on sale now or may be purchased at the celebration before the race. The race is 3:00-4:00 pm.

In 2019 Brian was, sort of, goaded into entering the pie-eating contest. He decided to make the move after eating a lunch of sausage and peppers. Apparently the reigning champ was a local young buck but Brian had some tricks up his sleeve.

With pie in hand and garbage bag in place as a protective apron, our hero soldiered on and, when time was called, he had triumphed. His prize? A snazzy blue ribbon and, of course, a cherry pie. Total entertainment for young and old and some great blackmailing pictures for future use.

Another very amusing game is the frog race. There are buckets of frogs from which you may choose and, as the flag drops, the frogs are let loose by their handlers. Mayhem ensues and laughter is had by all.

There is a good array of food available as well as varied vendors. Our good friends from Paulinskill Photography, Ami and Jim, have their marvelous images for sale and there are other products to peruse. Live music by some very talented folks will have you dancing and there is plenty of lawn space should a nap be in order.

This year’s fireworks display, also sponsored by the Blairstown Rotary, will go off JULY 5, 8:30-10:00 pm, at North Warren Regional High School.

If you don’t have your own small town Fourth to attend, take a spin to Blairstown. The riding is great, the celebration is patriotic and you may even see Brian defending his title. ,

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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

EFFORTLESS But I love to watch that woman dance Yeah, I love to watch that woman dance Eagles Effortless adjective • /ef-ert-les/ Done so well that it seems not to need much mental or physical energy Requiring or involving no effort displaying no signs of effort; easy: Ex: Her riding looks effortless.

Although I probably saw it first, I was not the first nor will I be the last rider to comment on how smooth, precise, and sinuous my wife Shira is on a sweet and curvy open road.

Okay, she is lacking a bit in the slow speed and parking lot maneuvers, but on the backroads, she rides with aplomb.

Always a joy to watch and follow.

A few years back, during the lunch break at CLASS at Virginia International Raceway, two instructors came looking for Shira – they had half a dozen Group B riders behind them.

At that time Shira was wearing her blue and yellow Aerostich Roadcrafter suit – for a time her colors, as it were.

Asking for her by name, I could see her cringe as they came up. She thought, “Oh God, what did I do?”

Nothing…

Two of Reg Pridmore’s instructors, some of the best on the planet, told their group to, if they could not find a coach, follow this woman… she makes no mistakes.

Shira was incredibly humbled. I was as proud as could be.

There are other women I know who can ride like this. Kristen (Okay, she does ride like a girl…duh!), Helene, Sandy, Lisa, Lauren…

Girls kick ass. They are lighter, more nimble, and,…ooops, braver than us XY guys. Or, is it just, they are more in tune with themselves.

Satori. Zen. I wrote about this a year ago when Shira piloted her Honda 919 through a flock of deer, needling through the group in a precise and surgeon-like direction.

Satori is the mental state of being totally in tune with exactly what you are doing. In this case, riding motorcycles.

This thought came flittering across the gray matter on a late afternoon jaunt.

The day had started cold, clammy, and wet, but a strong afternoon high front pushed the clouds east and the brilliant sun was now painting the hills and forests of northwest New Jersey.

“We should go for a ride,” said herself.

“We’d be fools not to,” was my reply and I rolled out her Honda and my new Z900RS. I followed Shira’s lead north, along County Road 519, and while I seemed to have to work at everything this day, Shira was the epitome of smooth; flowing through the turns with seemingly effortless efficiency.

It was fun to watch.

Seeing how she was dancing with the bike this day made me aware that I was seeming to have to work a bit harder just to stay up with her. We all have days

we are better than others, but when you consciously have to work at being smoother you most likely won’t be.

Reg, AMA Champion and Riding instructor extraordinaire, has a Recurrency Checklist. I have one above my desk and one above the shelf where I place my helmet after each ride. Twelve-Points on riding that hopefully, over time, become part of your day-to-day riding without the need to consciously ponder on them while riding. Things like demanding concentration and becoming “distraction-proof.” Add on to this the idea of making a plan and relaxing to let the bike do its thing. Panic control, body steering, and -the key – to be smooth at all times.

Like I said - I have good days, not-so-good days and, on occasion, spectacular days. Some days I am like Pee-Wee Herman – on rare occasions Mark Marquez (Okay, not really – but it’s my mind so we’ll let it lay, shall we?) Riding effortlessly takes determination and the ability to strive to get and be a better rider without letting it take over your mind and defeat its own purpose.

Work at smoothness. Work at preciseness. Always strive to be a better rider and one day it will effortless too. ,

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UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR JULY 2021 24 • 24th Annuyal Kids and Cancer Motorcycle Benefit Run. Sign in: Zippo/Case Visitors Center • 9-11:45am. 120 mile mapped route through the beautiful mountains of scenic northwestern Pennsylvania and the Allegheny National Forest, event pins to first 500 participants, awards + door prizes, raffle tickets available for purchase. $25/ pp. More info and registration form: kidsandcancerbenefitrun.com 23-25 • 5th Annual Soggy Bottom MotoFest, Port Matilda, PA. 3-Day Adventure and Dual Sport Rally. Registration includes 4 ADV/Dual Sport rides with GPS files, 5 meals (beer included), live music, event t-shirt, vendors. On-site camping available with hot water showers. Registration available online now: www.kissellmotorsports.com 30-8/1 • BMW MOA Getaway at Skytop, PA • BMWMOA.org • 864-438-0962

AUGUST 2021 12-15 • BMW RA ‘Game of Roads’ National Rally, Waynesville, NC • They come to this quiet valley nestled in smoky mountains to learn from sages and magicians, to outfit

What’s Happening their steeds with glistening new farkles, to renew bonds with old compatriots, and to make new ones. But most of all, they come to ride, to feel the curvature of the earth, to lean into the unknown, to slay dragons and snakes, and to play the Game of Roads. • Visit BMWRA.org for info and to register.

16-18 • BACKROADS SUMMER SQUEEZE. We’re heading back to West Dover, VT for a few days of kickin’ back and riding new and old familiar roads. Watch for details on our rally site: www.backroadsusa.com/rallies.html and Facebook page 20-22 • Progressive IMS Outdoors • Goebbert’s Farm, Pingree Grove, IL. The newly rebranded tour, previously known as the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows (IMS), will provide exciting hands-on experiences. Tickets go on sale April 22 and more details will be available then • motorcycleshows.com 18-22 • Touratech Dirtdaze Rally. North Haverhill, NH. The Touratech DirtDaze Adventure Bike Rally is a fun, adventurous and educational multi day festival for dualsport and adventure motorcycles in the east coast. For full details and registration visit them online at dirtdazerally.com 22-27 • SheADV/Women’s Motorcyclist Foundation Inc. DIRTY for GOOD Adventure Rider Training/Fundraising Tour with Northeast Backcountry Discovery Route. For further details visit womensmotorcyclistfoundation.org • email Sue.Slate@ womensmotorcyclistfoundation.org or text Sue @ 585-4158230 for a return call.

SEPTEMBER 2021 3-5 • Progressive IMS Outdoors • Brooklyn Army Terminal, Brooklyn, NY. The newly rebranded tour, previously known as the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows (IMS), will provide exciting hands-on experiences. Tickets on sale now.

Full details here motorcycleshows.com 10-12 • Progressive IMS Outdoors • Carlisle Fairgrounds, Carlisle, PA. The newly rebranded tour, previously known as the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows (IMS), will provide exciting hands-on experiences. Tickets go on sale May 13 and more details will be available then • motorcycleshows.com 17-19 • BMW MOA Getaway at Sugarbush, Warren, VT • BMWMOA.org 20-21 • CLASS returns to Virginia International Raceway, VA and BACKROADS will be heading back once again. Plan to improve your skill with some of the best instructors in the business at one of the nicest facilities around. Follow us on Facebook or check our Rally webpage for more details on travel to and from the track. To book your space visit CLASSRides. com • Reservations at VIR virnow.com/lodging.

21-25 • NEW AMERICADE DATES. America’s Largest Touring Rally brings the 38th Annual Americade to the Fall, with the great Adirondack foliage and cooler temps. Make your plans to join the gathering of the annual ride to Lake George • Questions? 518-798-7888 • www.americade.com 25-26 • 2nd Annual Fall Foliage Tour of the Mountains sponsored by Bradford County Tourism and Canton Lions Club. Enjoy a weekend of beautiful riding in the Pennsylvania mountains to benefit local charities. 200+ miles over two days includes great scenery, historic stops, lunch and a poker run.

See full details @ tourarmeniapa.org 30-10/3 • Horizons Unlimited Virginia Travellers Meeting, Holiday Lake 4-H Camp, Appomattox, VA. For seasoned travellers or complete novices. For full details and registration, visit www.horizonsunlimited.com/events/virginia-2021

OCTOBER 2021 8-10 • Progressive IMS Outdoors • James L. Ward Agriculture Ctr, Lebanon, TN. The newly rebranded tour, previously known as the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows (IMS), will provide exciting hands-on experiences. Tickets on sale now.

Full details here motorcycleshows.com 10 • Forever Friends Motorcycle Awareness Charity Bike Run. Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Rd, Augusta, NJ • 8am-5pm • $20/rider; $10/non-rider. 15 Food Trucks, live music by Rated R and Beckwith Baker, North Jersey Hot Rods car show, tricky tray and 50/50. For full details visit foreverfriendsmotorcycleawareness.org 29-31 • Progressive IMS Outdoors • Georgia Int’l Horse Park, Conyers, GA. The newly rebranded tour, previously known as the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows (IMS), will provide exciting hands-on experiences. Tickets on sale now.

Full details here motorcycleshows.com

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