BACKLASH

Backroads Spring Break 2021 The Comeback Tour

Dearest Editor Friends,

Thanking you for putting together another fantastic week lled with amazing people and gorgeous rides! So appreciative of your efforts that make it oh so easy for us to book great hotels, nd 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

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 nally 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 be in trouble - Arlene types this for me)

As traf c 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

Thanks again for a fabulous Spring Break.

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 nd 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!

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 t 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 dif cult 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 ve-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

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 oat 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 speci c 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!