June 2022

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W H AT ’ S I N S I D E

MONTHLY COLUMNS FREE WHEELIN’ ........................................ 3

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022

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WHATCHATHINKIN’ ................................... 4 ON THE MARK .......................................... 5 BACKLASH ............................................... 6 INDUSTRY INFOBITES............................... 8

Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure

Publishers

Brian Rathjen • Shira Kamil

Contributors

Pamela Collins, Mark Byers, Dr. Seymour O’Life

Editorial Office BACKROADS, POB 620 Augusta, NJ 07822

MYSTERIOUS AMERICA .......................... 10 BIG CITY GETAWAY................................. 12 GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN......... 14 WE’RE OUTTA HERE ............................... 16

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WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE .................... 48

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FEATURES ECUADOR ESCAPE ................................. 20 LETTERS ON ECUADOR .......................... 34 GATHERING OF THE NORTONS............... 38

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LOCAL BIKE NIGHTS............................... 42 I KNOW THIS PLACE ............................... 46

PRODUCT REVIEWS SCHUBERTH COMM SYSTEM ................. 35 KERSHAW CINDER KNIFE ....................... 37 AIRMOTO AIR PUMP ............................... 37 A BOOK OF VALUES ............................... 44

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BACKROADS (ISSN 1087-2088) is published monthly by BACKROADS™, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. BACKROADS™ may not be reproduced in any manner without specific written consent from the publisher. BACKROADS™ welcomes and encourages submissions (text and photos) and suggestions. Include phone number with submissions. BACKROADS™ will only return material with enclosed sufficient postage. The written articles and opinions printed in BACKROADS™ are not necessarily those of the publisher and should not be considered an endorsement. The Rip & Rides® published are ridden on the sole responsibilty of the rider. BACKROADS™ is not responsible for the conditions of the public roadways traversed. Please respect the environment, read your owner’s manual and wear proper protective gear and helmet. Ride within your limits, not over them.

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022

FR E E W H E EL I N’ BRIAN RATHJEN

BACKROADS FUN SYNDROME Several years back some of our “Baker Street Irregulars” began a FaceBook page called Post Backroads Fun Syndrome. It was their way to keep the fun, frivolity, and feeling that so many have experienced at any of our rallies.

In truth, we were humbled and bewildered that these great friends would do something like this. You all rock.

When we got home from Ecuador in late March, after the toughest and, I’ll say it, dumbest overseas Backroads event we have ever held, I thought about this page and how I, and I think we all, have our own ‘Post Time Rituals.’

If you go away for a few weeks and things tend to pile up. But it is not just mail, day-to-day chores, and the additional ‘stuff’ that makes up life but other things. Sometimes it’s baggage that comes home with you as well.

Years ago, it seemed like the world was ours. But COVID, war, and everything else seemed to put a crush on it all.

Yet, at Backroads we have kept the course.

Multiple rallies. Good times. Some bad. But here we are.

So, after a longish trip – maybe one that did not go as we had hoped - we all have a moment of decompression.

Page 3 I have said that “nothing” beats coming home… but a few days later a single rider comes past our road and I think…. I need to be gone.

Not this time. It is late March. We have a full plate of riding ahead of us.

But, today…I am happy to be home.

This Sunday started nice enough but now it is friggin’n hailing. Still, I go about getting all the tools in order and trying to make sure the batteries are all up to snuff.

What a crazy world. But not as crazy as what we had just been through.

So, back home there are things to be handled. In truth, the real Post Backroads Fun Syndrome.

First, there is Spenser, with an “S” like the poet, thank you. After all this bit of time, he is just a tad pissed off. He will let us know this for the next day or so. I am sure you have been through this too if you have furry friends.

But, after a journey like this, we have to deal with laundry. Indeed.

A few years back I wrote a piece on washing riding gear and how each bit of grime, every slog of sludge, and ooze of muck that would be turning the clean wash water black is just telling a story of another mile on the road. After the last few weeks in Ecuador – the mountains, flatlands, jungle, and beach - my mighty Roadcrafter needed two complete washing cycles to reach any bit of acceptability. Even if it lives in the barn.

Helmets cleaned, boots refinished.

More than one or two cups of coffee.

Even if we are not about to head back out on the road for a bit, I like to make sure all is ready to go – especially in the days leading up and running away from the warmer months.

Continued on Page 6

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W H AT C H AT H INK I N ’ SHIRA KAMIL

F*#K-IT LIST When there are so many fabulous faraway places to see Why should Spain and Tahiti and Rio just be only names to you and me?

I feel certain there’s people we’d be glad to know there So tell me why don’t we get up and go there Go to those fabulous places where we long to be Fabulous Places - Bobby Darin Backroads has been around since 1995. In those 27 years I have been fortunate enough, along with my best friend and, many times, old and new friends, to have traveled to some very amazing places. Even before my traveling on two wheels, I did quite a bit of domestic and international trotting with my family. The large map hanging in our hall has numerous pins to remind me of where I’ve been and what is still to come.

The term ‘Bucket List’ seems to have been brought to vogue by screenwriter Justin Zackham. Back in 1999, while compiling a list of ‘things to do before kicking the bucket’ he realized that this might just be a good premise for a screenplay. Thus the movie ‘Bucket List’ was written and the

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022 term became entrenched in popular consciousness.

There are a few places/events on my bucket list: The Isle of Man during race time, the Kentucky Derby (just once), seeing the cherry blossoms in Japan and the tulips in Amsterdam, and seeing the Mets in a World Series (maybe this year?) as back in 1986 I watched on TV rather than in person.

Funny story/sidebar about that series: I was at Cooper Union, with friends, and making our way to Madison Square Garden to see Billy Joel (WAY before he was ‘in residency’ there). We were walking (poor students) and stopping at every appliance shop along the way, all having the Series on their window TVs. A crowd formed at every window – this was one of the biggest things to happen in NY – well, at least for Mets fans – in a long time. Needless to say, we arrived at the concert a bit late, but I think Billy did as well, being the Mets fan he is. He played ‘Meet the Mets’ to a standing ovation.

Diametrically, there are places I’ve been that I never need to visit or see again. We’ll call this the F*#k-It List. Funny thing is, some items on this list I have been to more than once, and that just reinforces the belief that I never need to do it again.

It could be as simple as a bad restaurant, a nasty overnight establishment or a concert venue with really bad acoustics. A bad restaurant may be given a second chance if it was rated as such for bad service. Everyone can have a crappy day that may be passed along to an unknowing customer. But bad food or atmosphere are things that, unless Robert Irvine gets involved, are usually not going to get any better. I have been to lodgings that, after new ownership has taken over and shaken out the carpets, become downright homey.

Then there are places and roads. At the very top of my list is Passo dello Stelvio in northern Italy, bordering Switzerland. I know that ‘bagging’ the passes in the Alps is on almost every rider’s bucket list. I do enjoy this too, but I have an unnatural fear of the combination of tight hairpins and tour busses.

Brian and I have ridden this road a number of times, both ways. I think the first time I was on a K75 and it was very early in my riding career. Being younger, I was fearless and took the turns with relative calm. Subsequently, and with passing years, it became more difficult for me. I would insist that Brian go through the turns first and report back ‘ALL CLEAR’ as he went ahead. Needless to say, this was a ridiculous situation for both of us.

Our last trip to this part of Europe was with an Edelweiss tour on which we had about two dozen Backroads friends and readers. What I do like about the Edelweiss trips, and many of the other organized tour companies, is the choice to go with the tour guide or head off on your own. On this particular day, seeing that the route was going over my dreaded Stelvio, I asked Brian if he would mind NOT doing that but picking another more benign road to enjoy.

Being the loving and understanding husband he is (and not wanting to deal with my stupid inadequacies) he agreed.

While my Bucket List gets cut down, I sincerely hope that my F*#K-It List does not grow. There are too many fabulous places in this world to revisit those that disappoint. ,

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022

O N T H E MAR K MARK BYERS THE VOICE I don’t know when I first heard it. At some point in my development, it just arrived: my brain generated a personal narrator for my thoughts and there it was - my inner voice. It doesn’t have a recognizable accent (unless I’m watching Bogey, Morgan Freeman, or James Earl Jones). It’s not a GPS or the lady who does “Google Maps.” It doesn’t have a real form - it speaks in thought-language and it talks incessantly. When I write, it speaks the words that fly from my fingers on the keyboard and that’s the time when I have the most control over it. At other times, it speaks unbidden and unwanted.

When I am listening to music, it might be absent, but sometimes sings along.

Some people’s inner voice is their biggest cheerleader and some their harshest critic. For years I fell in the latter camp, but over time I trained myself to listen to the cheerleader more than the critic, but it’s hard because they talk in exactly the same, toneless thoughtspeak as each other so you never really know which one has the mental microphone. You have to hear the words and the context to understand. It’s not really multiple voices, unless you have some schism of which you’re not aware, but rather the same narrator telling different stories, some positive, some negative. Multiple personalities exist inside a single inner voice.

Some are afraid of their inner voice and they seek to drown it, usually in a sea of music, hence the prevalence of earphones in everyone’s headholes. I think Alanis understood the phenomenon when she put silence in the song All I Really Want”:

Page 5 Why are you so petrified of silence?

Here can you handle this? [a few seconds of silence] Did you think about your bills, your ex, your deadlines Or when you think you’re going to die?

Or did you long for the next distraction?

Once again, you’re three paragraphs in and wondering what the hell this has to do with riding. Some of you may be getting the rear-wheel drift, so to speak, but let’s explore it together, your voices and mine: because our inner voices are so prevalent and insistent, they’re with us when we ride.

They speak to us as we get ready, encouraging us to bundle up when it is chilly. They’re clock-watchers, perhaps making us rationalize not wearing all the gear all the time because it takes time to gear up and we’re only going a few miles. Inner voices are masterful rationalizers. Some are good at reminding us to pick up things on the way home from work and some…aren’t.

Then, there are times when they’re not even talking about the ride, but rather shouting about something that upsets us. Sometimes, the incessant, stressful phone call going on inside our heads occupies our minds to the point where tasks are done reflexively with the lizard part of our brains. Those are the most hazardous times to ride, especially when the inner voice(s) are rehashing what we wish we’d said and to whom. Have you ever had one of those conversations going on to the point where you’re at work and you have no recollection of how you got there? I have. The conversation in your head can make you ride poorly. I have.

Sometimes on the ride the voice critiques me. The negative voice is particularly good at this, telling me my lane position sucks and I’m not looking in the mirrors enough. It nags me about everything from corner enContinued on Page 6

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022

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BACKLASH

Letters to the Editor

Name That Road My faves you did not mention would be: Beartooth Highway, Million Dollar Highway, Going-to-the Sun Road, northern one-third of the Natchez Parkway, Grossglockner, Amalfi Coast, Dalmatian Coast and Sustenpass.

Gregory Bagen Hi Shira....

Really enjoyed your Editorial on women riders (May 2022 Whatchathinkin’) and especially your trip to Ecuador. I have met those guys myself and have wanted to take a group of my Tour clients there as I know it will be a fantastic and memorable Tour... (just like Iceland was).

In 2016 I put on a Tour of of Tuscany that was for women only ... (and the guys that ride with them; we didn’t want to exclude Sig-Others from a trip to Italy) I decide that a great many

FREE WHEELIN’

Continued from Page 3

This past winter it seemed that each day had its own script and attitude – and when the Road Gods gave us a gift many of us took advantage of them.

But it only takes a few days at home before we hear that Siren’s call.

When we got back from Ecuador the March weather was more madness than cheer. Rain-soaked days and nights and the wacky hail that seemed to keep creeping back into our lives.

But a few days later and the Jet Stream began to shift and the first machine rolled down the country lane that Backroads Central sits along.

It amazes me how many bikes break loose as the mercury climbs.

It seems that we all crave the Backroads Fun Syndrome. ,

women that ride M/C do so at their sig-other’s urging... to be nice. After working a booth at Sturgis when part of Corbin in 2008... I got some real empathy for the gals dutifully riding behind the partners, being careful not to do anything embarrassing. in 6 days time I saw literally hundreds of women ride into Corbin Corner both feet off the pegs and visibly very nervous. I thought then that if you put gals together where the guys are not able to critique (nice word) them... they might relax and enjoy while they are more comfortable learning to improve their riding.

In a word.... it was fantastic to see comradery develop between people that didn’t know each other. Everyone had a fabulous time... Everyone improved their riding big time... and their self-confidence went through the roof. They were enjoying motorcycle riding like they had never done before. For me... it was fantastic and

ON THE MARK

Continued from Page 5

tries to following distance to weight distribution to signal usage. It’s actually kind of good and it’s WAY better than the argument voice. Sometimes I tell the critical voice to shut the hell up and I start a conversation with an angelic one about how blue is the sky and how warm is the sun and how lucky I am to be riding a beautiful motorcycle and how damn good I am at doing it. It usually takes an effort, however, because the negative voice is a strong, interrupting, obnoxious jerk.

In dirt riding, I know I’m a lot better rider when I listen to the voice that says “You can do this” rather than the one that says “Oh shit, I don’t know if we’re gonna make it.” I never ride alone - I’ve always got the voice and it tells me things that can make me a worse or better rider. ,

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022 amazing. I still hear from them.... their Tour was something they will NEVER forget... I share this with you because you are such a catalyst for women riding m/c and that is fantastic. I’m leaving in 3 weeks for our Portugal/Spain Tour. Happy to say we have two women riding solo bikes.... one a return guest from 2 years ago. The more we help women become good riders.... the more they will be respected as “Riders” ..... not just ‘women riders’!

Best to you and Brian....

Bill Kniegge • www.bluestradatours.com I wanted to find out about signing up for trips, specifically your Summer Sojourn. I’ve never ridden with you before so wasn’t sure if something was required prior to going on a ride. Please let me know what’s required and how I (and possibly a couple friends) can sign up.

Thank you Anthony Anthony, Well, it’s really very simple, and we like it that way. We choose a place in the case of the Summer Sojourn it’s West Dover, VT and Gorham, NH. You call the places and book your rooms (don’t forget to say you’re with Backroads, we might have a discounted rate). About a month before the rally, we’ll offer up some routes (totally up to you if you use them or not), and we’ll see you at the first night’s hotel. For the Sojourn, we’ll be having a group dinner on the Monday night return at the Gray Ghost, so if you are not staying there and want to join, you’ll have to call Carina and let her know (not sure how many she can take, sometimes it gets booked up). We don’t charge a penny for the rally, you pay the cost of your own travels.

What you get is great comradery with like-minded riders and quite possibly new friends.

Easy Peasy - we like to call it semi-organized chaos.

Hope to see you there, it’s a lot of fun.

Page 7 Hello Shira, What are your and Brian’s thoughts about switching to Schuberth Helmets? They are supposed to be quieter. Have either of you tested them?

They are expensive but if they really are quieter, it might be worth it?

The best to you and Brian, Bruce K Bruce, We actually had a review of the women’s C4 Pro in the April 2022 issue.

I’m sure it is totally comparable to the non-women’s (mostly cosmetic differences). Neither Brian nor I have used a Schuberth in a long time, so we can’t comment.

From The Backroads Report April 23 FYI, in response to your Royal Enfield Classic 350 article.

Alison and I were both born in Enfield, Middlesex, England. This is where the Royal Enfield motorcycle was originally made and got its name. Also the small arms factory in Enfield produced the Lee Enfield Rifle (standard British army issue through 2 World Wars and distributed throughout the British Empire).

Simon + Alison • The Kitzhof Inn

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INDUSTRY INFOBITES PRESIDENT BIDEN OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZES MAY AS MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH - A FIRST FOR THE USA The White House and President Biden officially released a letter acknowledging May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. This comes less than three months after the American Motorcyclist Association the Motorcycle Industry Council and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation met with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Buttigieg requesting White House recognition of the month and addressing other motorcycle industry priorities.

Last year, the AMA also worked with the MIC and MSF on a letter, joining their existing effort urging the White House to recognize Motorcycle Safety Awareness month, highlighting the organizations’ — and DOT’s — annual public-awareness campaigns.

“For millions of Americans, riding a motorcycle is more than a mode of transportation — it’s a way of life,” President Biden said in the letter. “A motorcycle offers freedom, recreation, and the opportunity to explore our great Nation coast-to-coast. But unfortunately, riding is not without risk. Each year, thousands of motorcycles are killed on our Nation’s roads and highways … My administration remains committed to ensuring the safety of everyone who rides a motorcycle and all who travel

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022

News from the Inside across our Nation.”

President Biden also addressed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and its plan to modernize highways, roads, and bridges used by motorcyclists across the country. That same law also reauthorized the Motorcycle Advisory Council (MAC) to advise the Department of Transportation on motorcycle safety issues.

SUZUKI CANNOT UNILATERALLY QUIT MOTOGP, SAYS DORNA MotoGP promoters Dorna Sports have contacted Suzuki following reports the Japanese manufacturer will quit the premier class at the end of the season, reminding them on Tuesday that their contract does not allow them to make a unilateral decision.

Media reports on Monday claimed Suzuki was set to quit MotoGP at the end of the 2022 season. Suzuki did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Suzuki Motor Corporation had last year renewed their involvement in the MotoGP championship in a deal until the 2026 season.

“Following recent rumours of Suzuki departing MotoGP at the end of 2022, Dorna Sports has officially contacted the factory in order to remind

them that the conditions of their contract to race in MotoGP do not allow for them to take this decision unilaterally,” Dorna said in a statement.

“However, should Suzuki depart following an agreement between both parties, Dorna will decide on the ideal number of riders and teams racing in the MotoGP class from 2023.”

Dorna said there was interest from factory outfits and independent teams looking to join the MotoGP grid.

AMA OPPOSES PLANNED E15 WAIVER The American Motorcyclist Association strongly opposes the emergency waiver to allow summertime sales of E15 recently announced by the Biden administration, along with any attempt to weaken the already inadequate labeling standards at the pump that puts motorcyclists at risk of misfuelling.

None of the estimated 22 million motorcycles and ATVs in use in this country is certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to use fuel containing more than 10 percent ethanol by volume.

E15, which contains 15 percent ethanol, is in fact illegal to use in motorcycles, boat engines, lawn mowers, chainsaws and other outdoor power equipment products.

“E15 has been shown to damage carbureted and fuel-injected motorcycles, reduce gas mileage and decrease shelf life of the gasoline,” said AMA Director of Government Relations Michael Sayre. “The fact

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022 that it is illegal to use in motorcycles, and that clear labeling at the pump is not required, poses a significant risk for misfuelling.”

The AMA greatly opposes modifying labels at the pump that could potentially misinform customers. The AMA instead advocates for stronger labeling at the pump to make the potential dangers of E15 clear and concise.

The EPA has acknowledged the growing scientific consensus that ethanol-blended fuels are worse for the environment than non-ethanol fuels, and economists and analysts doubt the waiver will have any measurable impact on lowering prices at the pump.

YAMAHA MOTOR RECEIVES GLOBALLY RENOWNED RED DOT DESIGN AWARD Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. announced that the company’s motorcycles YZF-R7 and MT-09 have received the world-famous Red Dot Design Award: Product Design 2022. These honors mark the 11th year in a row—every year since 2012—that a Yamaha Motor product has received a Red Dot Design Award.

The YZF-R7 was developed as a middleweight supersport model from the YZF-R series. Based on the 689cc CP2 engine and body of the road sports model MT-07, sharp handling, inverted front suspension, A&S clutch*, etc. have all been adopted based on horizontal lines, an air man-

Page 9 agement cowl that maximizes aerodynamic performance, the M-shaped duct, and the twin-lens position lamp, etc., inherit all the styling from the YZF-R series.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON 120TH ANNIVERSARY HOMECOMING EVENT AND 2023 DATES ANNOUNCED Harley-Davidson will celebrate its 120th Anniversary by launching the Harley-Davidson Homecoming event, an annual four-day festival filled with music, food and moto-culture. The inaugural event will take place at multiple venues throughout the Milwaukee area on July 13-16, 2023, and welcomes riders, enthusiasts, and fans to meet in Milwaukee for a huge celebration.

“We invite everyone, riders, non-riders and fans around the world, to

join us in Milwaukee next summer for the Harley-Davidson Homecoming where we will celebrate 120 years of our incredible brand,” said Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO of Harley-Davidson. “This will be the first in a series of unforgettable annual events in Milwaukee.”

To find lodging options in Milwaukee visit www.visitmilwaukee.org/harley-davidson-homecoming-2023/ ,

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022

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

MYSTERIOUS AMERICA

BROKEN ARROWS - ATOMIC FUN IN A COLD WAR WORLD WHY DID THE US GOVERNMENT KEEP LOSING ATOMIC WEAPONS? You would think that the one thing that the United States and other nuclear powers would have on a short leash would be their Atomic Weapons.

And, in truth, they do – but as we know kaka happens and when it does things can go sideways very quickly.

In the small town of Eureka, North Carolina, at the crossroads of the main streets running through town is a small historical marker.

It simply and rather nonchalantly says…

NUCLEAR MISHAP and that widespread disaster was avoided.

This was not a simple mishap – but something that would have changed the face of America forever.

On January 24, 1961, a B-52 bomber was en route to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (Love the name!), and the pilot decided to keep flying in an attempt to burn off some gas – an action he likely hoped would help prevent the plane from exploding if the risky landing should go wrong.

However, the leak unexpectedly and rapidly worsened. Immediately, the crew turned around and began their approach towards Seymour Johnson.

Without warning the huge plane began to shudder and shake – a mas-

sive structural failure was occurring and the bomber began to break apart. It’s entire right wing failed and the plane began falling towards earth. The order was given to abandon the plane, and eight crewmembers attempted to escape.

Five survived.

But two other objects joined the crew in the air with parachutes. Two Mark 39 nuclear bombs, one with a successfully deployed parachute and one with a failed chute, fell from the sky.

The chuteless bomb hit the ground at 700+ mph and buried itself so deeply into a tobacco field that some of its parts were never found. The other floated down on a parachute, planting its nose in the ground beside a tree. The parachute bomb came startlingly close to detonating. A secret government document said three of its four safety mechanisms failed, and only a simple electrical switch prevented a catastrophe. It was 260 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima and could have instantly killed thousands of people.

The Air Force sent a team out relatively quietly to find and defuse the nukes. Jack ReVelle told his daughter about getting the mission: “One night, I get a phone call from my squadron commander. And instead of using all the code words that we had rehearsed, he says, ‘Jack, I got a real one for you.’ You don’t often have two hydrogen bombs falling out of aircraft onto U.S. property.”

The first bomb was quickly found hanging from a tree. The parachute had kept its descent reasonable, and it had stuck vertically in the ground, buried only partially in the dirt. The team found that three of its four safeguards had either failed or triggered. Only one safety, the actual safe/ arm switch, had prevented a nuclear explosion.

Another famous quote from Lt. Jack Revelle, the bomb disposal expert responsible for disarming the device, reveals just how close we came

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022 to disaster: “Until my death, I will never forget hearing my sergeant say, ‘Lieutenant, we found the arm/safe switch.’

And I said, ‘Great.’ He said, ‘Not great. It’s on arm.’”

Indeed, the switch had been the only thing that prevented the first bomb from detonating. It had failed on the second bomb. As they recovered the rest of it, they found no safeguards that had properly survived. The bomb should’ve exploded. Engineers wrote in a classified report in 1969 that a single electrical jolt could’ve triggered a weapon. The lead on the study, Parker F. Jones, recommended that Mark 39 bombs no longer be used in an airborne role since they almost gave us Goldsboro Bay. But Jack and his team were able, through painstaking work, to recover most of the bomb, including the nuclear core. If even one of them had gone off, it could have killed approximately 28,000 people. 60,000 live there today and would, obviously, not be able to live there if the bombs had irradiated the whole area in 1961.

But there have been other such “Mishaps”.

Other Broken Arrows include a Mark-4 ‘Fatman’ jettisoned into the north Pacific in 1956. In 1965, an A-4E Skyhawk attack aircraft carrying a 1-megaton thermonuclear weapon (hydrogen bomb) rolled off the deck of the U.S.S. Ticonderoga and fell into the Pacific Ocean. The plane and weapon sank in 16,000 feet of water and were never found.

And the others were lost in the Spring of 1968. When the U.S.S. Scorpion, a nuclear attack submarine returning to home base in Norfolk, Vir-

Page 11 ginia, mysteriously sank about 400 miles to the southwest of the Azores islands.

An unarmed nuke hit the ground in Mars Bluff, just south of Florence, South Carolina in 1958. The explosives that would have set off the nuke blew a crater in Walter Gregg’s garden some 24 feet deep and 50 feet wide. The concussion caused damage in buildings for a five-mile radius and injured 6 members of the Gregg family whose home was heavily damaged as well.

Then there is the Tybee Island incident.

The United States lost a warhead off of Tybee Island, Georgia, in 1958.

Tybee Island is a stone’s throw from Savannah – one of the neatest cities in our nation. According to the U.S. Air Force, it did not contain a plutonium core and therefore could not be considered a functional nuclear weapon, though that has been debated. Whether you believe the U.S. Air Force on this matter is a personal call.

For sure the military has had some very close calls with their Broken Arrows – let’s hope these incidents are in the past while we ride the backroads of Mysterious America…

O’Life Out! ,

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022

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Beach’s Motorcycle Adventures presents

BIG CITY GETAWAY

daytrip ideas to get out of the daily grind

THE VOLLIS SIMPSON WHIRLIGIG PARK & MUSEUM 301 GOLDSBORO ST S, WILSON, NC 27893 252-674-1352 • wilsonwhirligigpark.org

You find the darndest things wandering this beautiful country of ours.

When needs find you traveling on an interstate to get from point A to B, make sure you take the time to stop at the state visitor’s centers. They certainly vary, from just a place to make a pit stop to one that may require a bit more time to explore.

Thus was the case on our most recent trip south this winter. Unfortunately we had done this route before simply to make the most of the time at our destination. And we had stopped at this visitor’s center each time we passed. In the front of the North Carolina visitor’s center is a very unusual sculpture. It is reminiscent of the windmills seen on farms in the Midwest only with much more whimsy. We inquired inside and were informed that this was created

by Vollis Simpson and there was a whole park full of them in Wilson, North Carolina – well worth a stop, we were told.

With that information tucked away, along with a ton of booklets and brochures on all parts of North Carolina (it really is a remarkable visitor’s center), we headed for a visit with our cousins Maureen and John in Clayton. Always a great time spent with family, during our conversation this sculpture came up and Maureen adamantly said, ‘Oh, you

must go! It’s on your way.’ With a double resounding recommendation, the next morning we pointed our wheels toward Wilson, NC for a visit with Mr. Simpson’s creations.

Vollis Simpson, born into the Depression/WWII era in 1919, had the traits of that generations – industriousness, frugality and creativity. The Simpson family side business was moving houses – an unusual occupation which used techniques of fulcrum, leverage and rollers and went from horse power to automotive. Serving in the Army Air Corps, he put his mechanical skills to use by rigging a windmill to power a washing machine, as the troops were struggling to keep uniforms clean on the isolated island of Saipan in the South Pacific. When he returned to his home in Lucama, North Carolina, he worked as a rigger and farm machine repairman. When he retired at age 65, he turned his mechanical skills towards artwork and created giant, kinetic, wind-driven sculptures which he installed around the pond on his farm, 11 miles outside of Wilson. He

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022 worked on these sculptures seven days a week until about six months before his death at the age of 94 in 2013.

Word spread and people came to wonder at these whimsical creations which, very soon, became the top tourist attraction in the county. The name ‘whirligig’ was attached and the rest, as they say, is history. As his health declined he was not able to do the maintenance required to keep these beautiful works of art – made of recycled industrial parts – safe and working after thirty years of rain, sun and hurricanes.

It was feared that they would fall into disrepair and obscurity but in 2010, a plan was announced to create the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park so that future generations might enjoy and wonder at these giant creations.

The Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park & Museum purchased and conserved the whirligigs from his farm and relocated them to a 2-acre community park in Historic Downtown Wilson. They have been dubbed the official Folk Art of North Carolina. Vollis Simpson saw the first of his creations installed before his passing. There are now thirty of these kinetic wonders placed here, the largest collection in the world. The Green, a grass amphitheater, is reference to the Simpson’s pond around which the whirligigs were originally built. In addition,

Page 13 the space contains a stage where various concerts and performances take place and the rows of concrete and garden squares, mimicking rows of crops and long lines of tobacco, pay homage to Wilson’s heritage of agriculture.

We spent much longer than we thought staring up at these tremendous creations, with themes of farming, transportation and entertainment.

We were lucky to have a wind coming through to bring them all to life. While they all brought smiles, what brought more was watching the looks of the children seeing these in motion. Although we were there during daylight, apparently a night visit illuminates the thousands of reflectors on the whirligigs.

We crossed the street and took in the museum, which tells more about Vollis Simpson as well as giving an up-close look at how these amazing sculptures work. Of course, it’s a gift shop as well to pick up a souvenir of your visit.

There are plenty of eateries in downtown Wilson, as well as the Freeman Round House Museum and Wilson Botanical Gardens. Several festivals take place during the year so take a look at explorewilson.com and plan a visit the next time you are heading that way – you won’t be disappointed and we guarantee you’ll come away with a smile. ,

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Thisilldous Eatery presents

GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN JERSEY DOG

77 WATER ST, NEWTON, NJ 07860 973-756-7007 • www.jersey-dog.com MON-SAT 11AM - 8PM • CLOSED SUNDAYS The Frankfurter. The Hot Dog. It is believed that the first hot dogs, called “dachshund sausages”, were sold by a German immigrant out of a food cart in New York in the 1860s – perhaps explaining how they acquired their canine name. Around 1870, a German immigrant by the name of Charles Feltman opened the first hot dog stand on Coney Island.

The ‘Little Dog,” as it became known, morphed into the

tasty places to take your bike

name “Hot Dogs” and today they are a staple of American culture.

Given the choice between a juicy burger, its hardy competitor, and the crisp snap of a well-done Hot Dog and we’re going ‘Dog’ every time.

A few years back we did a “Hot Dog” Run – where we had a long and loopy route to various “Dog Houses” around the Tri-state region. It was a huge success in both flavors and calories.

We love a good Dog House and lucky for us we have a superb one just a few miles from Backroads Central, heading into the County Seat of Newton, New Jersey – welcome to Jersey Dog! Located in what was once the old Hess Gas Station, Jersey Dog was a welcome addition to Sussex County – a part of the state that has seen good restaurants fade away and great ones filling the gap.

Although you’ll find Jersey Dogs entering the busier part of Route 94 / 206 just north of Newton, it is well worth seeking out.

We have been there a few times before and, with Spring arriving it was great to see the lights back on and the place busy.

Here at Jersey Dogs, you have your choice of not one, but three dogs – your classic “Dirty Water” Sabrett or two different “Deep-Fried,” as they offer both Thumann’s and Big Dog; a foot-long monster – done in the classic “Jersey-style” that always seem to come out snappy and delicious.

Of course, there are assorted toppings that you can add, mix and match.

Bacon, cheese, chili & Coney, coleslaw, and a spicier Texas chili with mustard and onions.

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Alongside your Dog-of-the-Day JDs offers nearly 20 Fun Sides from fries to onion rings, macaroni & cheese bites, bloomin’ petals, chicken wings, fried clams, mushrooms, zucchini sticks, and, our favorite – fried pickles. Many of these are covered and deep-fried with a most excellent bread coating. We strongly suggest Jersey Dog’s own ‘Dirty Jersey Sauce’ their house-made and spicy mayo!

At any normal Hot Dog joint this might be enough, but this is New Jersey and we take our Dogs very seriously, especially here in Newton, and Jersey Dog Signature Puppies are off the chart. Well, if there is a chart for Hot Dog joints!?

Sixteen different Hot Dogs will be found on the menu and many of them can be had with any of the three unique and different tasting hot dogs – Sabrett, Thumann’s, or Big Dog. Some of the Signature Dogs you will find here include the Bacon Buffalo Chicken Dog – topped with Buffalo chicken, shredded cheddar, and your choice of ranch or blue cheese. With ‘heart healthy’ in mind follow that up with the BLT – a dog wrapped in bacon, topped with lettuce, tomato, and mayo.

When we stopped by last Shira ordered the Boston Baked Bean Dog; yet another bacony delight, this time covered with spicy brown mustard, shredded cheddar, and a truly superb offering of Boston-style baked beans. She had hers with a deep-fried Thumann’s and I could hear that hearty snap of a perfect dog when she took a bite! With this, she added JD’s superb onions rings and she repeatably pilfered my fried pickles chips – that Bellatrix.

OK – I share with her. But, being the well-disciplined and health-oriented guy that I am, as well as making my constant attempt at actual deep journalism I had not one, but two of Jersey Dog’s Signature offerings. The Chicago (Cause I love the band) – yellow mustard, onions, pickles, sweet relish, tomato topped with pepperoncini & celery salt.

Yes, it did Make Me Smile!

That was followed by Round 2, and keeping with the geographic flavors I chose the North Carolina Dog- a deep-fried, snappy, and very tasty Thumann’s covered with chili, coleslaw, and hot sauce and this was chased down by Jersey Dog’s own Vanilla Cream soda. Add in any remaining fried pickle chips that Shira might have left me and I had a very filling and tasty experience.

Other Signature Dogs you will find on their menu include the Pizza, Reuben, Nancho, Italian Double Dog, Volcano, and Rodeo.

Page 15 And, of course, let us not forget our beautiful Garden State with the Jersey Girl - Bechamel cheese, potato, with a pureed roasted red pepper sauce, and the Jersey Dog itself – We suggest you go Big Dog with this one.

Drum roll, please…

A dog wrapped in Taylor Ham served with yellow American (New Jersey) Cheese and topped with crumbled Hash Browns, Salt, Pepper & Ketchup.

Nothing else needs to be said.

Oh, if you just haven’t had enough fried goodness, you can finish off the meal with deep-fried Oreos or Twinkies – goodness me!

We alluded that Jersey Dog is found on a busier road, as the Americanization of our small towns continues unabated – still, this old gas station now living its life as one of the best Hot Dog spots in the region harkening back to an old-style north Jersey feel and we’d have it no other way.

There a some counter seats inside, as well as covered picnic tables outside.

So, with all this in mind let us give you a funtastic route to get to Newton and Jersey Dog. Download the GPS Route, which will start across the big river to the east at Hudson Valley Motorcycles – one of our long-time supporters and a seriously great shop as well.

Enjoy and run with the dogs, my friends – the Jersey Dog! ,

www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/xbk41e

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WE’RE OUTTA HERE

a weekend destination keeping you on the backroads

THE BOND 1786

3 HUDSON ST, WARRENSBURG, NY 12885 518-855-1786 • www.thebond1786.com Like so many of us riders here in the northeast, Americade and Lake George, New York have become a yearly two-wheel holiday.

For us, we are up and around the Adirondacks numerous times each riding season and over the years we have stayed at a wide array of hotels, inns, and B & Bs. This past September, during the 2021 Autumn incarnation of Americade, Shira found an interesting inn, just north of Lake George Village in the hamlet of Warrensburg, New York.

The Bond 1786 was everything we expected but there was a bit more and a good dose of history always gets our blood flowing.

This is an excerpt from their website: The Bond 1786 is named after the first settler in the Warrensburg area, William Bond. Bond settled in the town in 1786; Echo Lake, a local swimming and fishing pond was originally named after him, Bond Pond. Almost 50 years after Bond settled, Stephen Griffin II, a prominent lumber-

man who owned extensive mill properties and timberlands built the first residence on the current property. In 1880 Griffen built a tannery in Hamilton County near the town of Wells. In 1875 Griffin became a member of the state legislature and twice held office of town supervisor here in Warrensburg.

Stephen Griffin II was named for his grandfather Stephen Griffin I. Stephen Griffin I was born Jan 22, 1754, and died March 1, 1841. As a young man, he served in the Army of the Revolution with the rank of Ensign. In the winter of 1780, he was stationed at Valley Forge when a welcome change came on May 29th as his brigade was ordered to proceed to Albany. They were then ordered to march to West Point at once. There, in September, Stephen was an actor in one of the most dramatic episodes of the Revolution, the “Treason of Benedict Arnold” and “The capture and execution of Major Andre.” His part was to guard Joshua Smith, the man who made the secret meeting possible between Arnold and Andre. The following excerpt from Stephen’s journal is an exact copy and the language and spelling are his…

“Munday Camp Orange town Sept 25 1780 This evening the whole of the armey was under arms about 12 oClock at Night and Everything in Readeness to March at a Moments Warning Genl Wain (Wayne) Marched with his Brigade and all the Pennsylvania troops and we was informed that Genl Arnold had sold West Point and all the Stores and that our People had taken the Adit Gen’l (Andre) of the British armey as a spie and Gen’l Arnold hearing of this Maid his escape to New York as he had sold the fort for three Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling…

Munday Camp Oct 2 1780 Orange town this day at 12 o’clock the Adj’t Gen’l was hanged there was two battalions attended his Execution as well as a great Number of Spectators…”

Today The Bond 1786 is home to a beautiful 10-bedroom inn and spacious Adirondack-styled restaurant. Each room in the Inn is equipped with its own bathroom and fireplace.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Bond 1786 offers comfortable lodging and dining in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York.

The stately and uncommon inn was not only tucked away, off the main road of Route 9, but beautifully landscaped and it is still a work in progress as the owners have recaptured much of the inn’s previous feeling and flair, but there is still more coming its way.

The gardens are beautiful and relaxing and the ev-

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er-present coffee on the spacious patio is a great way to relax after a day’s good ride. In the evening, there is a firepit to gather ‘round and recount the day’s adventures, or plan for tomorrow’s.

It’s nice when a place offers dining as well, but The Bond has brought this to a whole ‘nother level!

With both tavern and dining room menus, The Bond’s restaurant serves affordable, creative cuisine, something on the menu for everyone, and in a comfortable and attractive setting. We’ll call in Adirondack chic.

The Tavern menu serves up several burgers and salads among others dishes and is served in the pub only – but you can order off the Great Room menu if you like. Their craft cocktails have become local celebrities and the Espresso Martini, Bond Old Fashion, and Bees Knees looked to be outstanding.

The Great Room was simply that – great, and here you will find what The Bond is now known for - a wonderful selection of fine dining.

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Braised Short Ribs, Lamb’s Shepherd Pie or Farrow Island Salmon fill the menu. We chose The Bond’s Candied Brussel Sprouts, Lamb Bolognese, and the Steak and Frites. All perfection and more than enough for sharing.

We were very full by the time it came for dessert, but undaunted our heroes carried on as the Vanilla Bean Crème Brulle and Salted Caramel Cookie Skillet could not be passed up.

That evening the large room was more than a welcome sight, as we were more than done after a full day at Americade and an even fuller dinner.

The bed was as comfortable as any we have slept on in a while and morning coffee on the patio with some fresh fruit was a great way to start a Saturday at Americade.

But, you don’t have to wait till the big rally to enjoy The Bond 1786 – it is open year-round and in any season The Bong is our new “Go-To” inn in this part of the New York Adirondacks. ,

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LEOPOLD’S ICE CREAM 212 E BROUGHTON ST, SAVANNAH, GA • 912-234-4442 • leopoldsicecream.com • OPEN DAILY AT 11AM Seems like I’ve been following a bunch of ice cream’s history lately. A few months ago was the legend of the Nobel Prize dessert and then the maker of the first ice cream cone. There are many ice cream shops that have been bringing confectionary smiles for many, many years. Bassett’s Ice Cream, considered the oldest ice cream parlor in America has been located in Reading Terminal Market in Philly since 1892, was founded in 1861 by Lewis Dubois Bassett and is now owned by great-great grandsons.

This month we’ll head south to the gentile city of Savannah, Georgia, with its swaying Spanish mosscovered trees, slow southern drawl, incredible history and food mecca extraordinaire (Paula Deen’s The Lady and Sons restaurant is high on my ‘to do’ list).

While taking a little winter respite, we spent some time here with friends Laura and Helene. Before we even got our helmets off, Helene said, ‘You HAVE TO get to Leopold’s before you leave.’ With that resounding order, how could I resist.

Leopold’s Ice Cream was opened in 1919 by George, Peter and Basil, three brothers from Greece.

The Leopold’s learned their art of candy and dessert making from an uncle who had already settled in America. When they were ready, they opened their original shop on the corner of Gwinnett and Habersham Streets, a perfect spot as two streetcar lines had stops here. For 50 years, Savannahians and those who visited were thrilled with their frozen delights as well as all the other great treats served from the soda fountain – thousands of malts, milk shakes, black and white sodas and banana splits passed over the marble counter to smiling faces.

Johnny Mercer, famed lyricist, grew up a block away from Leopold’s and even worked at the shop as a boy. He was a huge fan of their Tutti Frutti ice cream and told Peter that he would write a song about it.

Unfortunately, the original shop in Gwinnett and Habersham closed its doors in 1969, after the original owners passed.

Peter’s youngest child, Stratton, learned the art of making premium ice cream as a boy.

While ice cream was in his blood, Hollywood was in his heart and when Peter passed, Stratton headed west to pursue his dreams of movie making. His dreams were certainly attained, as he has been a working member in the motion picture community, producing such hits as Mission Impossible 3 and so many others.

Although Stratton may not have been in Savannah, Leopold’s continued the tradition, opening its doors in 2004 on Broughton Street.

It contained many of the original fixtures such as the black marble soda fountain, wooden back bar and telephone booth. And when Stratton does return home, he can be seen scooping ice cream and washing dishes, just as he did as a young boy. In addition to the memorabilia from the old shop, there is plenty of Hollywood adorning the walls, with movie posters from Stratton’s accomplishments and equipment from his trade.

We took a walk through the streets of Savannah, a very hip and happening city. Window shopping and people watching is a great pastime here. Finding a nice Mexican spot for a little lunch, we then wandered over to Leopold’s for a much-anticipated dessert. As it was February, the crowds and lines were minimal, giving us just enough time to take in the atmosphere and peruse the menu, which is quite extensive. All their super-premium ice cream is made

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on premise using the original, secret recipes and techniques handed down from Stratton by his father. Many of their toppings are prepared from scratch by Leopold’s chef.

It was difficult choosing, as there were some flavors that simply couldn’t be overlooked: Of course, their famous Tutti Frutti, original since 1919 – rum ice cream with candied fruit and fresh roasted Georgia pecans, Rum Bisque – rum ice cream with in-house baked almond macaroons, also since 1919, Rum Raisin – sweet plump raisins soaked in rum and liberally mixed into REAL vanilla ice cream (hmmm, I’m noticing a theme here…). I hardly ever pass up a good peppermint, especially when made with real peppermint candies, or pistachio when loaded with roasted pistachios. And then there was Lemon Custard, with fresh lemon zest and, also, unchanged since 1919. But, what about Coffee, described as the most memorable you’ll ever have.

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What I finally settled on was a double scoop of Honey Almond & Cream, which uses Savannah Bee Company honey and fresh roasted almonds, and Savannah Socialite, milk and dark chocolate ice creams packed with Georgia pecans and swirled with bourbon-infused caramel.

Holy Mother of G-d! I was in such ice cream heaven I don’t even remember what Brian ordered, but I would guess it was Coffee and Coconut.

Sundaes, splits parfaits, sodas, milk shakes, floats and malts are all available with any of their amazing ice creams. If you need more of a pick-meup, there are coffee drinks (their version of an affogato, called Caffe Leopold, won’t disappoint).

How about some pie a la mode? Sure, they have that.

Settle in, enjoy your ice cream and surroundings, and have a wonderful visit to Savannah and Leopold’s, a true vintage stop on the Inside Scoop.

My Page20 20 Page

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eyes fluttered open. Out the window of the 6th floor room, I could see the sun had begun to filter westward, lightly flowing over the peaks - just a vague brighten of the forthcoming day. The usual bustle that should have emanated from the busy streets below were eerily silent - it was Sunday and all the raucous noise from Saturday night had faded hours ago.

I reached for my Timex Explorer and read 6 o’clock. Although I was in the same time zone as home, I knew there folks were rising as well to “spring” their clocks forward this day.

But not here. Here it was still the same; six am.

This would be our third excursion here to the line that separates the northern hemisphere from the south. A country of bustling modern cities surrounded by old mountain towns and all that enwrapped in an ancient and sometimes mysterious history.

Welcome to the middle of it all. Zero Latitude. Welcome to Ecuador.

Unlike some of the bigger tours that we have cobbled together, this particular trip began with the idea of a late winter escape for Shira and me.

Then, a few friends expressed some interest in coming along, and things sort of blossomed. So, what began as a quick flight to Quito to grab two bikes from Freedom Tours and riding to equatorial Pacific for Shira’s birthday became a full-blown tour with 13 bikes and 14 people.

Most flew in a day or two before the tour would begin and this Sunday found us all strolling into the headquarters of Freedom Tours.

Anybody that has spent time riding in Ecuador is familiar with Court and Sylvain, the men who own and operate Ecuador Freedom Bikes, and have been helping riders from around the world discover what we like to call “Middle Earth.”

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Day One

Let the “Adventure” Begin!

By mid-morn, we had all gotten acquainted with our rides for the next ten days, a healthy mix of Suzuki V-Stroms, Triumph Tigers, BMW GSs, and my lone DCT Honda Africa Twin.

Court had us gather for a ride briefing where he went over road rules, for Ecuador and our tour, and other pertinent information such as routes, day’s mileage and what we at Backroads like to call housekeeping.

We had a large group, with Court taking lead and Sylvain and puppy Salina following behind with a Ford Pick-up (packed for whatever), but the first day’s escape was made far easier with Jordy, and the camera-wielding Denise, who help us navigate out of the very busy city of Quito.

Just north of Quito lies the Equator. Latitude 0.00.

Nearly 25,000 miles in circumference, it encircles the planet and, as we know, separates the northern and southern hemispheres. Standing astride it should be on every human’s “Bucket List!”

And we did this day; as we made a stop along the Imti Nan, The Road of the Sun, and spent some time straddling the Equator, one of the most famous geographic and cartographic places on the

planet. We learned of Ecuador’s history, traditions and crafts before saddling up and heading on our way.

Continuing north we rode up into the Andes Mountains that are the backbone of Ecuador and into the town of San Rafael with its picturesque church in the town’s center. We then followed Court along 30 miles of some of the craziest roadway we have ridden and this was both good and bad. Some of our group were very dirt-oriented, while others… not so much; and it was the mix of mountain and road that wound up the Andes that was a hard task - first in a mix of clay, dust, and mud which turned into the longest cobblestone road we have ever seen.

Page 22 Ancient cobblestone, I might add.

Nearly 20 miles in length and built from hundreds of thousands of stones, it made for an afternoon of determination, excitement, and a seemingly never-ending mix of the ‘Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat.” There were several gravity storms to be encountered, but nothing we couldn’t handle in the long cobblestoned run.

We made a stop at Tahuantinsuyo Weaving, a workshop that did fabric weaving in the ancient native way. Stunning designs made of Alpaca, wool, and cotton – all spun by hand and run by the Andrango family for five generations. Master Weaver Miguel Angrango, along with his wife, gave us a demonstration of his amazing skills. It might not seem like a stop for a group of motorcycle riders, but Freedom wished

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022 to mix up Ecuador’s deep and flavorful history along with its, sometimes, challenging roads.

By evening, just minutes before a massive thunderstorm overtook the mountains, we rode into the region of Otavalo and the extraordinary Hacienda Pinsaqui. Built in 1793 for agriculture, it was soon used as an Obraje (weaver’s workshop) making fabrics from sheep’s wool. It has been in the Larrea family for six generations, with Pedro Freile Larrea – fifth generation owner - just passing in 2017. The Hacienda remodeled in 1995 and opened its doors as this most wonderful Inn. As Ecuador has a deep history, some of its deepest is in this large family home that has seen its share, including the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship with neighboring Colombia in 1836, that still holds till this day. The room in which Simon Bolivar resided during these campaigns is now rooms one, two and three.

That night we were treated to traditional music – guitars, flutes, and drums - along with Canelazo, a native tea, with or without aguardiente.

With dinner now behind us, we all made our way back to our rooms – ours being a huge two-room affair that had a comfortable fire going upon our return and hot water bottles on the mattresses.

This day we had that wonderful mix of history, geography, a road that was a rush or just evil (depending on your paradigm) and for me, the bed was most welcome that night.

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Day Two

It just keeps getting better…

Michael Valentino Mosca The storm that had run through the previous night had moved east towards the Amazon and we had puffy clouds and blue sky to start this day.

We’d be heading to a wilderness lodge in the rain forest, just south of the border with Colombia near the town of… well, there was no town.

But there would be a road – sorta.

Indeed again this day the roads were a mix of fairly decent paved twolaners that cut through verdant green valleys flanked by the Andes and cobblestone paths. These peaks were still impressive, some even covered with a dusting of snow from the storm the night before, as the valleys themselves flowed between them at over 6,000 feet. The ragtag cobblestone, in truth, we could have done without.

Page 23 Still, the intense beauty of the peaks and the steep valleys, more viridescent than any green we have ever seen, was the distinct memory of this day’s ride.

We made a stop in one small town to visit a small shop where regional and native musical instruments, pan flutes, and the like were made and then a longish visit to the textile market in the town of Otavalo as well as a stop at a generations-old tannery.

Maybe you don’t want to know where that nice leather jacket of yours ‘really’ comes from? Still fascinating to see how things were done for hundreds of years… and done well.

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Our lunch was taken in a most magical place in the mountains and just as much time was taken to explore the grounds, with its incredible tiled murals and outrageous statues.

The afternoon was filled with a few hours of incredible riding on fairly well-paved roads, occasionally interrupted with bombed-out, rutted sections caused by landslides or perhaps the Russian Army.

As the day drew later, we vectored up one semiroad that had a split personality…

Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde.

Hyde won as the entrance to our night’s stay was so difficult that we had to have a meeting about how we’d approach it as a group.

The tiny hotel called the Hacienda Primavera Wilderness was not all that far from the Hyde Road, but it was a difficult cobblestone road that went straight up like an F-18 looking to gain quick altitude and a decreasing radius hairpin tossed in to make it all the more fun. Maybe not.

Some rode up, some walked, some drove up in the truck.

Although the infinity hot tub soaked away some of the grumpiness – the general feeling was a talk had to be made with our boys from Freedom. Although no one had gotten hurt – yet - it seemed that we had a different idea of what we’d hoped for. All of us were game for the occasional challenge – but we were all here on a riding vacation and thus that is what it should be.

My business card says both Backroads and Publisher… so I had the talk.

Day Three

Gravity… It’s the Law! As Blood, Sweat & Tears sang… what goes up must come down and after breakfast, we had to shuttle the bikes down the Rampo del Morte’ that was now soaking wet and three times as slippery. But we survived.

After riding back down Mr. Hyde we got onto the Ecuadorian highway, more like a decent and large two-laner. For the most part, the pavement was good and it was nice to see that Freedom’s Africa Twin had a 4, 5 & 6th gear. Morpho butterflies and the occasional small squirrel darted by and every few miles we might run into a landslide that ate up half the road – but such is life in Ecuador.

Then things got stupid.

A cut-through road bested a few of our riders and at one point we had to ride around a closed road surmounting a hefty curb to and fro.

It was high noon – which is a different animal in this part of the world.

While waiting for everyone to make it ‘up and over’ our improvised detour we had a delay that seem to stretch on and on. Shira and I were both wilting and, being we had GPSs, we rode on hoping to find some shade – perhaps beneath a cocoa tree as they seem to dominate the land for as far as you could see.

We never found a place to hide from the sun, so I made the call to ride onto lunch, along the cooling breezes coming off the Pacific- about 40

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miles further to the west. Along this road we ran through several small towns, more hovels than homes, and still we would marvel at the long lines of cocoa nuts lined along the roadway, laid out to dry.

But, after we got to the Pacific and the designated town for lunch, things went even more sideways.

In the vein of Monty Python, we (Okay I) had ridden into trouble as both Court and Sylvain were a bit put out with us for leaving the group.

Like the skit with the Piranha Brothers, Shira and I had broken one of the unwritten laws... and they nailed my head to the floor when the group caught up to us.

The words got more than hot between us and them – but they made their point and I made mine. We had all come to Ecuador for a good time… and escape – but some of the routes seemed a bit much for some and the last thing we ever want is any of our friends getting hurt.

They did not want us straying.

I wondered how this would work out on the days when we had free days and people wanted to do their own thing. We’d see.

Our seafood lunch was taken in the shade and breeze of the Pacific, with some dipping a toe or taking a full plunge.

Day Four

Up to the mountains, then down to the sea

Ecuador is a mix of a small middle class and a much larger poorer population.

As we fueled, outside a small town along the coast, I watched as a mother bathed her baby… in a small plastic tub along the side of the gas station, with a beat-up garden hose. She let me take her image… I left her a bit of change that I had in my pocket.

The difference from here to there is striking at times.

We rolled into our hotel for the night, just in time for sunset and cocktails.

It was a long day… I hoped that this day we had turned a corner.

Jimmy Buffett What a difference a day makes – and we certainly did turn a corner.

Many, many of them …. mostly sweepers following the Pan American Highway south along the rolling coast of the Ecuadorian Pacific.

We rolled into one town for a lunch – Shrimp? Yes, amiga, yes!

Although the first few days were tough, and harder on some than others, we were all still rolling and far better riders for this.

I have been told that what does not frack you will make you stronger.

I hoped that was true.

At lunch we had a minor hiccup as one rear tire ate a long nail; but almost every Ecuadorian town has a vulcanizadora where you can get patched, plugged, or replaced. A tad later we were all rolling at the best pace of the tour – eating up miles south.

As we rode back across the Equator, I spied a decades-old billboardsized sign - faded with years of being beaten up by the monstrous Pacific.

Court vectored us down a comfortable dirt strip, alongside the wide salt ponds where local shrimp farmers would raise some of the most succulent crustaceans in the world.

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We slid into the town of San Clemente and a two-night stay at a stunning and happy resort right on the beach and ocean. We immediately dove in as quickly as possible.

Sunset and cold Cerveza, birthdays to celebrate and we finally had a solid group of happy riders this night!

Day Five

Free Day on the Pacific…

I could not remember the last time I woke up to quickly dive into a warm ocean. It had been far too long and it seemed well-worth every rock, baby-head, puddle, and seemingly insurmountable mountain we had ridden to get here.

The day was spent strolling the town solo in search of that unfindable barber. It was St. Patrick’s Day and I was wearing my winter fur a day too long.

Walking the road into town from our hotel, a very modern, clean, and comfortable place, it only took a block to see how many Ecuadorians live.

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Lots of dust and grit and here, in San Clemente, butted up along miles and miles of the seemingly unending Pacific. To the west, about 9,500 miles away, was Papua New Guinea.

The ocean grabbed us all day long and, in between getting pounded by the waves, I spotted two frigates, a common, almost bat-like designed bird along this coast. There are hundreds of them, as well as pelican and blue-footed boobies.

But these two stood out to me as I rose and fell in the warm waters. Two, almost traveling as one. One black-tipped wing tilting a smidge to the left and the following wing copying the motion exactly to the degree. They swooped down with one wing, then the second, tipping down and just glancing the still spot of the ocean between the waves It reminded me of two riders, perhaps close friends, that followed each other through the turns of life.

It was both magnificent and introspective.

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Day Six, Seven & Eight

It’s the end of the world as we know it…

REM (Rapid Eye Movement)

The day started off nice enough…

This would be the longest day of this journey.

The acrimonious feelings from the previous rides had settled down and the ocean’s name seemed to work its magic.

We rode through miles of lowland, generally east, with a slight southerly bent. Miles and miles of banana, mango, and cocoa trees flanked the ride.

We took lunch at one of the mango plantations and quickly remounted as we had miles to go this day.

In one fairly bustling town, we had a ferry crossing as the nearest bridge had been washed away by this year’s rainy season that had already caused mayhem in Ecuador.

The locals had several ferries constantly crossing the swollen river and even though the rainstorms also seemed to create some ‘gravity storms’ coming through the region, we all made it safely across. I love ferries. I am not sure my feelings were equaled by our group who had the smoldering fires of discontent getting a touch of fresh air.

From here the road sailed us east and ahead of us I could see a solid line of grey-black, that blocked everything from the north to the south – stretching as far as one could see.

Was this another storm?!

I channeled my inner Obi Won and said… “That’s no moon… that’s the Andes!”

Indeed, and as the first half of the day was ridden at 100 feet or so in elevation, we began a steady and quick ascent and, as we went up, the rain began to come down; as did some of the humidity.

“I’ll Make it a True Daily Double, Alex!”

As you might have read, we had asked for a fun ride… clearly.

We did not mind a touch of dirt thrown in, now and again, as had been the case on two previous jaunts with Freedom Tours; we thought we all were on the same page.

But…any good feeling that Court and Sylvain had gotten back was about to be thrown off an Andean mountain cliff.

We had been told there was another cut-through road - maybe 10 miles of gravel.

Tough, but doable.

Heck, it might even be paved. No one knew - as neither of these two, who talk a lot about researching their tours and routes on a constant basis, had ridden anywhere near this road, in ten years.

I asked if we could avoid this, but was told that the major road (really a country two-laner) would add another hour or so to our arrival – it was a deal we never even knew we had…and would surely have taken.

It started well enough for a few miles, as we rode from the town of Chillanes, and then the pavement disappeared in an instant. Almost as quickly the sun followed along, vanishing below the western side of the peaks, with that the coming of a light rain as we were led up one-lane, rockstrewn, and battered road-wannabe in the ever-enveloping darkness.

We had maybe four or five riders who could handle this; the others - terrified.

Have you ever ridden terrified? We hope not. It is debilitating.

Terrification, yips, and major loss of faith in yourself can get you killed.

With each mile and every hairpin turn ‘Gravity Storms’ enveloped us, and we were forced to sketchily stop to pick up our brethren off the mud, sand, and rock.

At one point we all stopped and I simply ask Court “How much further?” Not in anger, no yelling. Just a simple and reasonable question.

As with our Backroads rallies, when we have fucked up, I know how stressed we get as the bottom line is - it is on us. The last thing I wanted was an explosion of emotion at this time. But, that is what I got.

Similar to the beach scene, the owner of Freedom Tours exploded… screaming at me that “WE WERE TOLD… blah, blah, blah.”

Indeed, yet we had said PLEASE, let us try Plan B… something a bit lighter adventure-wise.

Nothing, NOTHING we had said sunk into them. Their helmets must be made of Teflon.

When I asked this question Court slapped my hands away… nearly knocking me off the bike. Indeed… he used his hands.

I know that Court is a better man than this, and that stress is a Mo-Fo! I ate the hit. I did not want to lose a decade-long friendship.

Their ten miles, “maybe now-paved” shortcut might have saved them an hour on the bigger road but had set us up almost 9,000 feet of certain hurt or death with a heavy mistake.

But no… wait, wait… there’s more. Yes, kids, if actually gets better… okay, much worse.

After picking my wife up for the third time and both Court and Sylvain REFUSING to let her or the other knocked down riders get into the relative safety of the chase truck, we continued on until the first four of the bikes rode into thigh-deep mud.

A landslide had just occurred and, with the reality that we really only had just a few more bullshit, unnecessary and uncaring miles before the main paved road and our hotel, we would now have to… go back. All 20 something miles. In the dark. In the rain. Through the mountain jungle full of rabid dragons and miffed ocelots!

I know that neither Court or Sylvain ever wanted something like this to happen, and perhaps the recent ADV surge in the industry has vectored their tours in a more hard-core direction?

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022 Still, we all felt lied to, and worse, that they truly did not want to take any responsibility for what they had planned – after four months of Shira and I telling them mostly PAVEMENT – and the fact that we were basically fucked on an Andean Mountain. Royally!

The kindness of a humble village…

I think you now have my point and feelings on what had happened.

From this point, this story will tell a shortened and frank tale.

While walking back and forth trying to figure out what to do, a few young men appeared out of the mist on small dirt machines.

They had heard about the slide and had seen us pass their small village of Chiriyacu and knew we would never make the main road. They came to see if they could help. Simply because they could.

I am not ashamed to say I am tearing up as I write this … such kindness – but it got better in the most amazing way.

For those who could not ride anymore, young hombres rode their bikes for them back up the mountain and to the town. Others followed on their own bikes and in the truck.

Page 29 We parked the bike under a metal-covered cement soccer field and then the town appeared. The entire town.

From young to old. Parents with small ones in tow, young people, the men of Chiriyacu, and the women. God bless them all.

Court and Sylvain were now in Plan Whatever-Mode and to their credit, they had an almost insurmountable task. They said two buses were coming to take us back on the Andean Death Road in the dark and rain.

I did not envy them, but I was thinking that we, Backroads – Shira and I – we were responsible too. We had told our friends one thing and had ended up giving them another.

But here we were…, and as one famous starship Captain had once said (will say?) …

“I do not believe in no-win scenarios!” Me neither.

Then the real magic happened.

A fire was lit, beer and some sort of mountain moonshine appeared.

The young men and women of the town, along with everybody else, were all around the bikes, looking, poking and taking in the machines that are twice the size of what they are used to.

We gave them some of the things we had brought down from the US as part of Freedom Tours “Pack with a Purpose” program. Instruments were passed among the young men, who began serenading us with flute music. Toys were passed along to the children, as well as school supplies. We were so grateful for their hospitality, it was all we could do to show our gratitude.

As I have said – Court and Sylvain are good men – they needed a bit of time to admit they had maybe overestimated the skill of the group as a whole. This became evident as the late-night slid into early morning.

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Then I smelled the food.

The women were cooking… for us.

They had stopped their night, gathered the food they had, and began to cook for all of these strangers stuck in their mountain town.

The rain continued. The buses, thankfully, never came, as I had already heard the newscast in my mind… “Bus slides off Andean mountain killing a dozen American motorcyclists – film at 11!”

The chicken, rice, and beans was the best meal I think I have ever eaten. It was certainly the most appreciated I have ever tasted.

We had eaten in a small poured cement community building and around O’Dark 30, riders began to stretch out… some sleep would be a good thing.

Right about then, some tempers boiled over and some well-needed words, from the most unlikely, but most serious voice, filled the covered soccer field. He, as were we all, was done.

The argument escalated and heated words passed.

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022

Shira grabbed my arm to stay out of it.

I didn’t think so. In all my years of traveling this was the only time where I thought a bit of physical violence was imminent. Remember that bit about not believing in “No-Win Scenarios?”

If things got messy – it would strongly apply. I chose words over fists…

I think we all had our say.

Done.

With tempers boiled over, we all tried to get some sleep.

Once again, the town’s people – who just saw and heard all - came to our need – bringing mattresses and armfuls of heavy woolen blankets – inviting some to stay in their homes – all with smiles and genuine care.

It is true that the less some have the more they are willing to give.

Most of us spread out atop the bedding in the building where we ate dinner.

At that point, at least to me, it felt like The Ritz.

‘Cause baby, there ain’t no mountain high enough Ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough To keep me from getting to you, baby Marvin Gaye The next day, and I give credit when and where it is due, Freedom rode back to the last real town, hired two trucks to return to Chiriyacu, and then we loaded some bikes onto the back of the trucks and the rest of the group began the trek back the way we had come the night before.

I don’t know what was more alarming – the ride in the dark, with perceived certain death from any wrong move – or actually seeing the cliff that was always just a few gravel and muddy feet away.

Shira piloted Freedom’s pickup truck with bike in back, picking her way carefully along the narrow path. At one point she said she heard a thud

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022

and, looking in the rear mirror, saw the bike had fallen over. Her words were, ‘Jeez, I’m not even on the bike and it fell over!’ Fortunately, Sylvain and Paul were taking their time, sightseeing, so were able to right the bike and send her on her way.

We all made it.

Now, with the promise of a straight, and more or less paved route to the planned two-day stop in Baños, we got going.

Nuclear Option?

A few hours later, as we began another ascent towards Chimborazo, we stopped for lunch and, for reasons that befuddle all of us, Court began to hold court … basically saying they did nothing wrong and then began an obtuse sales pitch for the trip and how it was all an adventure.

Sure, until somebody got an eye poked out…

I had to walk out. With everybody calmed down and getting back into the groove of the ride, bringing it all back up seemed like another needless “Nuclear Option.”

I was told once, by my friend Danny who was riding with us on this trip, that we really don’t need Ten Commandments.

We need only one – Don’t be an Asshole. Indeed.

Undaunted our journey carried on in an ever pleasant and altitude-raising way.

Page 31 The bikes spun up towards Chimborazo which, at 20,547 feet, is the highest point measured from the center of the Earth, than any other place in the world. We were in the highest part of the Andes and the road wound up at a fantastic rate.

At 14,500 feet we passed under the cloud-shrouded Chimborazo.

This is so high you could put Mount Washington atop the road here and the Ecuadorian Mountain would still be higher… with mucho gusto s o c k s!

The ride into Baños de Agua Santa was amazing and I hoped that any of the remaining bad feelings, that might have been lingering, were dropping away with the miles.

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seemed happy enough, the angst and acrimony of the mountain had begun to morph into one helluva motorcycle story… and it surely was. Excellent.

Day Nine

Court and Sylvain brought us in a less than direct way to the town, which sits beneath the mighty Tungurahua volcano. Dirt-lite – it was what we had hoped, signed, and paid for.

The gorge that runs through the town was magnificent and the Posada del Arte Inn was perfect.

The next day, happily off the bikes, Shira and I set out for a day with each other. Shopping, coffee, a shave for myself, massages for us both, and a lunch of the Ecuadorian semi-delight called Cuy – yes, Guinea Pig. That evening, a number of us tuned into MotoGP, and everybody

Over on the mountain, thunder magic spoke Let the people know my wisdom Fill the land with smoke Better run through the jungle Whoa, don’t look back to see ~ CCR Leaving Baños we continued along the top of the gorge, this part eaten away and created by the Rio Blanco, and made time for what has become a Backroads’ Ecuadorian tradition.

Some begged off, but most harnessed up and ziplined across the gorge – flying across the chasm at nearly 300 feet above the rolling white water below.

This time around you had the choice of two bridges – the new, just swaying slightly or the wacky bridge of death that we had tackled four years back. There were only two takers of the Bridge of Death; Janet, who would take on any obstacle with a smile and Rick, saying he may never get this chance again. Good on them!

Both would get us back to the bikes that would continue east and made a stop at Pailon del Diablo - Devil’s Cauldron. There we took in the three menacing and rushing cascades that fall some 260 feet, before spinning through the ancient potholes and then falling twice more.

Very beautiful, if a bit of a hike.

A few hours later we dropped in altitude and the land began to level out – welcome to the jungle – welcome to the Amazon.

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022 Freedom Tours had arranged for a safe place for us to stow both bikes and gear and, in a short time, we were on outboard-powered canoes and heading upriver a few miles to a wonderful eco-style lodge along the Rio Napo; a part of the mighty Amazon.

We had been here before and we knew our friends would enjoy it.

Spending a night out here is always special… what was that making that noise as you closed your eyes? Is that an ocelot or jaguar scratching at the screen? As I drifted off, I hoped it was an “E-Type.”

Come dawn I went for a swim, and then Shira and I discovered a huge fist-sized snail making its way to where ever a snail would be going.

After breakfast, some chose to take in a local zoo and a bit of tubing in the river. We had done this a few times, so we opted for a hammock and book high above the Napo.

After all had returned, none getting eaten by jungle cats or piranhas, we had lunch and then canoed back downstream to the motorcycles.

Our ride back was pleasant and uneventful, with a quick stop at a mushroom farm and then the magnificent charge, once again, around Chimborazo. By late afternoon, we rolled back into Freedom Ecuador’s headquarters – all safe. All with the most incredible two-wheel tale to tell.

Most times, with each telling, a story gets a bit bigger, better, and badder – probably no elaborating or embellishing will be needed with this one… for we all know strange things happen in this world.

As Joe Friday said… “Just the facts, Ma’am.”

Final Thoughts…

This was our third tour with Freedom in Ecuador, the previous two were wonderful and the only reason there was a third.

This time I think that Ecuador Freedom Bike had fallen into the hard-core adventure riders craze that has dominated the industry for a number of years.

I truly do not think they were out to hurt or scare our group – but unfortunately, that is what did occur.

They should ‘own that’ and remember not all riders are Jimmy Lewis, and in some terrain, riders can quickly become Jerry Lewis. Not good.

So – if you are a hard-core dirt rider and looking for amazing travel – then give Ecuador Freedom Bike Rentals a call. You will not be disappointed. They know their adopted country and have put together some amazing places to show off its beauty.

If you are a happy paved, or every other Sunday rider – look elsewhere as there are plenty of options on paved roads in civilized places.

But, ride somewhere…! ,

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What did they have to say? thoughts on the tour…

Ecuador from the Back Seat “Where are you going?” You’re going on a what!” Just a few of the questions this passenger was asked prior to going to Ecuador. Once I decided to go, I then became the pillion & the only one on the trip. For a nonrider, getting the appropriate gear can be a struggle & you certainly don’t want to look like a pescado out of water!

Riding with Michael and Backroads for a couple of years has brought about the appreciation for the scenery you would never see in a car or bus.

The first day was daunting, as I wanted to fit in but let’s face it I couldn’t walk the walk or talk the talk. So I hopped on (not exactly at 62) and let my pilot take me on the “trip of a lifetime”.

Ecuadorians are kind, and are pretty considerate on the road. Passing so often was new to me and it took some time to adjust to. The landscape was beautiful and each day brought a new place. On the back of the motorcycle, I had an opportunity to see how people live and of course think about where and how we live in the US. The roads are twisty and winding & having an operator with skill is all the difference for me as the passenger. The expectation of dirt was looming but not rain, fog, dark skies and yes a mudslide! Now is a good time to share the tip of buying boots that come up high enough to withstand being stuck in a mudslide! Fortunately, 2 superheroes lifted me off…. I’m not sure what was running through our guides head (prob WTF) but mine was filled with thoughts of never seeing anyone again (yes, very dramatic).

We relied on the kindness of others and got through it. As I look back, my Ecuador experience did not disappoint. Filled with adventure, beautiful landscape, new foods & some great places to stay. But most of all, it brought an appreciation for the skill of the riders (mine especially) & the story that 13 people will always share. So take that trip! ~ Robyn G.

Let’s ride to Ecuador, they said…

It’s been a while since we all landed safely back home in New Jersey, and I’m still trying to process and mentally unpack from an amazing trip. It was truly fun, epic, unparalleled; but also at a few times downright exhausting and terrifying. When Keene and I decided to sign up back in late 2021, as it was explained to me it would be more or less a repeat of an asphalt-paved road route that Brian and Shira did years prior. We decided to go as we needed to do something epic after the covid travel restrictions from the previous couple of years.

Some days stood out as really challenging. The first day of riding ended with a segment of large-rounded cobblestones along steep switchbacks.

That was very challenging, but I managed pretty well. Given I have little

off-pavement riding experience, the few mishaps were not unexpected and my gear protected me fantastically.

Day six was a long day of riding from San Clemente into the mountains, and I was happy that the group left early in the morning. You have read about the details in the main story but I’d like to add that the villagers who took us in for the night were absolutely amazing. I’m tearing up just thinking about the selflessness they showed us. Court and Sylvain left early the next morning, hiring extra pickup trucks, and bought gas and food for us to get down the mountain. It was a good end to an unbelievable night.

The remaining trip was much more predictable and much, much less stressful. All in all, I did have a fantastic time, and am thrilled that we were able to come out unscathed from the events of the trip. The memories, experiences and friendships all formed have made me a better rider and person. The mudslide, NO ONE could have predicted understandably. This is what I call force majeure level of unpredictability. I think though, there were many contributing factors that lead to this situation: a large group of 13 bikes, people with varying levels of unpaved/dirt road riding experience, and arriving at dusk or after dark on many days. It’s possible things could have been planned slightly differently. Splitting up into 2 smaller groups would have possibly helped our transit times. Also, setting up the itinerary with less activities packed into a day would have possibly helped us get to our destination sooner. I know that Court and Sylvain had a huge responsibility and I so appreciate their efforts in putting a trip of this magnitude together, and having to pivot to rescue the group off that mountain. I am happy we all managed to finish the trip without major incidents. All in all, I had a wonderful time with stories that will last a lifetime. ~ Lisa Veliath A beautiful country, with great (although pothole-strewn) paved roads should have provided a relatively uneventful trip. However, an overly-ambitious tour guide without the ability to accept or acknowledge his mistakes, made for some very difficult and potentially dangerous situations.

Riding through mountains, off road, at night, in the rain, with fog, should be avoided, especially when nearly the entire (overbooked) group was not prepared, or expecting to face such a challenge.

What was truly amazing was the kindness and generosity of complete strangers, basically a small village taking care of us, and asking nothing in return. They treated us with such warmth and hospitality, I was in awe and touched by their empathy and caring.

A truly epic journey. ~ Keene Hepburn

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022

PRODUCT REVIEW

SCHUBERTH HELMET’S SC1A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM Voices in my Head

Once upon a time, riding a motorcycle gifted us pilots a respite, a getaway, a removal from daily grinds and worries. Freedom awaited as the blacktop beckoned; saddle time pushed the pause button on life’s duties as an engine propelled us, temporarily, toward a welcome break from the mundane and monotonous. Responsibilities didn’t intrude on our ride.

But…that was then. Now, chatter abounds and responsibilities won’t wait.

Our rides have adapted, and while our motors still can provide a bit of respite, often a to-do list hitchhikes along like an unwelcome passenger.

Communication systems began simply for riders to communicate with other riders or their passenger, eliminating crazed hand gestures signifying a needed emergency bathroom or gas break. Then, slowly, cell phones, music players, GPS navigation, and other devices thumbed their way into our rides, all clamoring to be heard.

Hence, more involved communication systems developed to handle these more involved communication needs. Now, while rolling down the highway we can conference call, close a deal, read an email or have one read to us through navi systems, be told where to turn, jam to tunes, and—oh yes— talk to other riders.

Be that good or bad, depending on your personal perspective, communication systems now handle myriad tasks, and have evolved along with our new-fangled motorcycle “assistants.” Gone are the days of a complex installation that required stuffing wires and speakers underneath a helmet’s padding, boom-style microphones dangling in front of your lips, and cords and connections that tethered a rider to the bike. Systems shrunk in size to be nearly invisible in the helmet and cords all but evaporated thanks to Bluetooth® technology.

Schuberth Motorcycle Helmet’s SC1 and SC1A systems reign as leaders in this communication evolution. Sena, a recognized trailblazer in this type of technology, developed the systems specifically for Schuberth C4 and R2 helmet models. The 1 and 1A systems offer identical features, such as HD Voice, Voice Control for the functions (commands such as saying “hello” to answer the phone), speed sensitive volume, and four-way communication with other riders.

The 1A, though, also includes an FM radio with presets, Advanced Noise Control, Audio Multi-tasking (where a rider can hear another rider and navigation directions simultaneously, or talk to another rider and listen to music), and 14-hours talk time (versus ten hours with the SC1). Personal preferences and numerous details for the true control freak such as sound quality and speed dialing are set through a “My Schuberth” phone application, through which you can access a quick setup guide and a complete user’s manual, handy for figuring out instructions while traveling.

I installed the SC1A system on my C4Pro Women’s Helmet and my husband’s 2-year-old C4 helmet. This only required removing two latched cover plates on the bottom rim of the helmet; into the right-side compartment went the battery, and the left-side compartment received the control unit. Push in

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Page 36 the units until they click, replace the cover plates, and the job is done, easy peasy. The helmets come with the speakers and microphone already installed, eliminating the worst part of wiring the older systems.

The left side unit houses the charging port and the system includes a microUSB cord for recharging duties. Three hours charges the battery fully (colored LED lights indicate battery status), the charge lasts about one week when not in use, and I found I really didn’t need to charge the battery every night—it held well. The left unit also features the push-button controls—on and off, volume, and menus for various functions. Most features are initiated by pressing a combination of buttons that emit various-toned beeps to alert what function is activated or to enable Bluetooth® pairing to any number of devices. A pleasant female voice speaks to help you track the particular menu you’re using, to let you know what or who you are connected with, as well as to welcome or bid adieu when powering the system on and off.

With Bluetooth® version 4.1 the SC1A will connect with up to two mobile phones, a navigation system, a music device, and up to three other intercom units—plenty to keep your ears busy while riding. The pairing process has, well, pared down to only requiring a few steps for success as opposed to the systems of yore, and I found the SC1A consistently automatically reconnected to my husband’s helmet, my phone, and my Garmin Navigation system after the initial pairing process.

The helmets retain their sleek look with the units installed because the control units sit nearly flush with the helmet’s surface. However, though the buttons rise above the unit for easier tactile detection, they still prove challenging to consistently press correctly with gloved hands, and require

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022 removing your left hand from your handlebars to push the buttons, not easy to do in all circumstances and conditions. I feel the voice control offers a great advantage here.

Schuberth also offers an optional Bluetooth® handlebar remote control that keeps your hands on the bars, while allowing you control over the helmet functions. It installed quickly and paired easily with the system. By tapping its four buttons you can control volume, answer phone calls, change radio stations or input device audio while maintaining steering control.

I’d call the sound quality “pretty good,” relatively clear and distinct, whether listening to my husband talk, or receiving directions from my navigation system or from Google maps, via my phone. The FM radio automatically picked up stations nearest my locale and the broadcast sounded fine, and music from my phone sounded good, too. I could hear phone call audio well, and the people calling me said they had no issue, either.

I did not enjoying the Audio Multi-tasking; too many voices simultaneously talking in my helmet felt distracting. A couple finger presses in the app took care of that.

My only problem with the system occurred when riding through mountainous, curvy regions, as those conditions shorten the projected communication range of about two-thirds of a mile. Sometimes my helmet disconnected from my husband’s and wouldn’t always reconnect quickly when we’d close the gap between us. Then, I’d find myself turning the SC1A off and back on to reconnect our lids.

Confession—I appreciate my quiet time on my motorcycle, hearing my exhaust, the wind, and nature’s sonic beauty around me. Riding takes me away from voices, from chaos, replenishing my sanity. But, the SC1A Intercom system proved itself a worthy traveling companion, let me share thoughts of the ride with my hubby in the present tense, told me of upcoming turns, and kept me abreast via the phone of an ongoing business deal at the time. It now holds a place on my list of motorcycle must-have’s.

And if I ever find the noise too intrusive or bothersome? Well, that’s why it has a “power off ” feature.

The SC1A system retails for about $349 per unit, and the remote sells for about $109 per unit.

For more information visit the website at www.schuberth.com. ~ Pamela Collins

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS

KERSHAW CINDER • TINY – BUT AMAZING! Backroads has had a great relationship with Kershaw blades for almost a decade now.

Kershaw has some serious day-to-day use blades. But then this shows up…

The Kershaw Cinder.

We have been huge fans of one particular blade, but for whatever reason they felt the need to create this.

Kershaw Cinder-Copper has everything desirable in a small keychain knife; perfect for pack, pocket, at home or in the car; and it makes quick, accurate, easy, efficient, convenient, fast work of any task. The copper handles give this mini knife a unique look and will develop an attractive patina over time. Upswept tip positions the edge at a convenient position for cutting, breaking down boxes or cutting twine and string.

Manually open knife with thumb stud, featuring an exposed liner lock for visual appeal, and sports a handy bottle opener at the back end of knife and showcases beautiful and copper handle scales.

With its lanyard point and bottle opener option – for the price it does not get much better. It’s tiny…very tiny. And it will do anything you need it to do.

Never say it’s a knife. Not a good thing. LEO gets upset and tool is more the truth. The only human I have ever stabbed has been myself. These are tools, and the Cinder can certainly be considered one of these.

Kershaw has some seriously great blades and their design and finish are some of the best in the world.

Curiously our friends at Kershaw have wondered about my dedication to the larger Scallion – which is still one of their smallest tools. The Cinder will happily be tucked into the side pocket of my RKA tank bag.

Sometimes you really do need something sharp…. Very sharp!

Log onto kershaw.kaiusa.com to find the Cinder – all of $20!

Buy one for every bike in the stable.

AIRMOTO SMART AIR PUMP • WE’RE GONNA PUMP YOU UP Nobody represented body building better than Hans and Franz, played

by Dana Carvey and Kevin Nealon, respectively on Saturday Night Live.

I thought of these two kooks when we got our Airmoto Smart Air Pump.

“We’re Gonna Pump You Up!” Well, yes you are.

If you have ever been stuck on the road, with no way to inflate a flat tire, you might like to continue reading.

Unlike our two athletes, the Airmoto Air Pump is actually smart, and is a modern air pump built to be used in inflating almost anything inflatable from motorcycles and cars to household items such as basketballs and soccer balls, and everything else that needs strong positive pressure.

AirMoto can be used to check the pressure of your tires to the exact PSI as so many riders neglect checking their pressure on a regular (once a week) basis.

AirMoto is compact, lightweight and very portable.

It’s thin size takes up minimal space and taking it along on a ride – whether it be a day ride or cross-country tour - is easy and barely an inconvenience. The AirMoto’s battery can last up to 45 minutes on a single full recharge; more than enough for your motorcycle tire.

The AirMoto provides your inflatables pressure output of up to 120 PSI. This means that AirMoto will practically inflate anything to a set and programable PSI. The AirMoto is very simple and fast to use. The AirMoto has an LED display screen that shows the tires PSI, and also a LED flashlight in case it gets dark. AirMoto is indeed the smartest air pump on the market and it is definitely a must-have for all riders.

You can find it at their website getairmoto.com for $69.

Page 38 Oh my God! Two years. TWO YEARS! Some 730 days, more or less, since one of the greatest mustering of classic and memorable motorcycles in the northeast has assembled near the spot that General Washington crossed the Delaware River.

The event held by The Delaware Valley Norton Riders has become a wonderful symbolic passage from winter into spring and this 27th incarnation was held on a stunningly beautiful Sunday in the third week of April.

Like so many things it was on hold for the last few years, so it brought a huge smile to our faces when we received a flyer announcing this year’s event.

Although Washington Crossing State Park is just a few hours south, we happily took an invitation from our friends Sandy and John to overnight at their home. It gave us a chance to catch up with friends and put us right in the Bucks County area.

To be honest … attending “The Gathering” is a wonderful two-fold event, as our friend Lori has been holding a huge breakfast before the event for years and we would not miss this for the world.

Okay, maybe the world.

By the time we rode into Washington Crossing State Park’s long parking lot hundreds of riders were rolling in and there were rows and rows of machines – of all types, styles, and genre. There were some machines that were never truly real to begin with.

There were a lot of motorcycles to peruse, so we parked on the grass and made a game plan on taking it all in and trying not to miss anything special – and there was a lot of special.

Although touted as a Norton event and held by a Norton club, the park-

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022 ing lot is open to all breeds of machines. British, German, Japanese, American, and, as I alluded to, some motorcycles of questionable provenance.

Although a Norton will always grab my eyes, there was a lot of moto-candy to be had and some in flavors I had never even heard of.

Being a child of the 60s & 70s I tend to gravitate to the bikes I grew up with and some of the older Honda and Kawasaki machines had me oohing & aahing; pointing out little details and features to Shira who patiently let her husband ramble on like an excited little boy at a zoo. I might be in my 60s, but I think like I’m six.

A Honda 500 Four 4-stroke just steps from a Kawasaki 500 two-stroke got the pulse rate rising just a bit; as whenever I attend these types of events I get a dream of buying a bank account sucking monster… don’t we all need one of those?

This is usually the point that Shira does step in and makes me ease off my day dreaming throttle.

My buddy Tim had ridden his Suzuki GSXR to the show. This bike is a pictureperfect replica of Kevin Swantz’s 90s Lucky Strike racer and I think Kevin would be mightily impressed by this machine.

There were some classic Harley ‘Bobbers’ to be seen as well as a small contingent of red, white & blue Hondas; an XLV 750R – an early adventure machine powered by the ubiquitous V-Twin engine that powered many other Honda’s back in the day.

This was a rare sighting, as this machine, introduced in the early 80s and for the European and Australian market, predates Honda’s Transalp and Africa Twin.

A couple of Craig Vetter-designed Triumph X-75 Hurricanes dragged me in as well as a Norton Combat 750 that was in decent shape AND for sale.

I often compare Backroads to the Starship Enterprise and though I think I am Kirk - I know Shira is Scotty and with this Norton I got the “You canni’ do it, Brian” look. Sigh.

The Nortons on hand were special, particularly a custom number with a powder-coated red frame and black livery. Damn sexy she was.

Vincent? HRD? Yup, they were there too.

We came across a few Yamaha RD machines. The true “Giant Killers” of their day, these machines were sweet to look at and even more sugary when started.

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022

With that fresh in mind, I spotted a pristine Kawasaki H2 – the Widow Maker.

Giant Killer. Widow Maker. Bikes these days never get monikers like these. Superb machine and special in so many ways. Besides, I love the smell of two-stroke in the morning. It smells like victory.

Then there was the Thomas.

The Thomas was made in Buffalo, New York during the first couple of decades of the last century. But as this Thomas rolled by two things jumped out at me. First, that it was running, and second that it was running very quietly. I stowed those two observations away in the back of my feeble brain.

As we strolled the aisles we came across the bike and could not help but notice the drip pan underneath it. This is not uncommon, right?

But it did pique our interest when the owner added a few more squirts

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of oil from an antique oil can to the small puddle already gathered underneath the Thomas.

It turned out the bike was a fake, phony, fraud – in all the good way. It was electric and the engine was fabricated to simply hold the works and the builder fooled everybody by adding the drip pan – with old used oil, by the way, to complete the charade.

You gotta love how creative some humans are!

The Gathering of the Nortons truly is a rite of spring and we’d like to thank the Delaware Valley Norton Riders for bringing it back. It is one of the reasons spring is our favorite time of the year.

Log onto DVNR.org to find out more about their club and upcoming events. ~ Brian Rathjen

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Lori’s Gathering Breakfast Although we’ve stated that we feel The Gathering of the Nortons is the unofficial beginning of the riding season here abouts, the real beginning is a bit smaller, yet larger in a happy and in a more homey fashion.

For 17 years our friend and fellow rider Lori Weiniger has hosted an early pre-Gathering breakfast. At her home. Early on a Sunday morning.

On the circle of a cul-de-sac – surrounded by other homes with families not far from Washington Crossing Park.

We’re not talking a small little get-together either – but dozens and dozens of riders, on their way to the Gathering, rolling down her street and parking around the circle.

Her neighbors, bless their hearts, love it.

It is a once-a-year moto show for them; and it also gives us a chance to give a small bit of the non-riding public an opportunity to see that riders are not only just other people with a very cool

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022 hobby, but human beings as well.

I always try to spend time with Lori’s neighbors and thank them each spring for being so gracious and accommodating. Especially the hot little blonde with the Mercedes that slipped her ride between the bikes.

We asked Lori to tell us how this all came about….

And, Lori? THANK YOU from us all – you Rock… and Roll!

Lori wrote: Let me start like this: I started riding in 1975 while attending the University of Arizona. I needed transportation. That means I ‘grew up’ in the motorcycle culture where we’re all family. Everyone carried brake and clutch cables because they broke. Alot. And you ALWAYS stopped to help a motorcyclist on the side of the road. (Remember that!? I still stop).

The ‘Norton Breakfast’ started in 2006 as a means to thank the motorcycle community that has been my surrogate family. I invited one club and a handful of people, rented coffee pots and tables and cooked breakfast.

Throughout the years, the Breakfast has grown. Now five clubs and a long list of individuals get invited. Breakfast is always Rain or Shine.

In a ‘bad’ year, 50 bikes show up. I’ve had as many as 100.

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022 This was the 15th breakfast, having lost 2020 and 2021 to COVID restrictions.

Every year I award a trophy for something like, “Oldest Bike” or “Most Bike Registrations” and the like.

The last Breakfast before the pandemic was 2019. At that Breakfast, I cooked 350 eggs, 15 lbs. of bacon, French Toast, sausage, served 3 dozen bagels, assorted muffins and pastries; and everything served inside a motorcycle part. There were novelty key chain tools and dog tags engraved with “Norton Breakfast” for anyone who wanted a memento. There were also Donation Cans which were added after the first 5 years.

Every year I try to bring something different to the breakfast. I invite new people and add a decorating twist. I never want it to be the ‘same old same old’. It’s loosely ‘invitation only’ and attracts amazing people with the coolest bikes. There’s also an opportunity for someone to promote their product. Like Armand Ensansian who had a book signing or putting a sign up for Backroads.

Bringing people together is important to me. It’s a gathering for likeminded people to meet fellow sufferers and make new connections.

I can never repay the motorcycle community for the support, love and adventures it’s afforded me. No doubt it’s alot of work and money out of my pocket, but how do you put a price on love?

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BACKROADS • JUNE 2022

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Your Local Bike Night • Anytown, USA Some seasons we tend to repeat ourselves on suggestions for fun destinations.

Some of our picks may seem far off, others can be right in your town.

Throughout the riding season all across the nation, the motorcycle community, along with restaurants, bars, and local parks will be holding regular Bike Nights.

For us this all starts with one of the best in the USA – the Gathering of the Nortons at Washington Crossing Park, along the Delaware River in Bucks County, PA. As we have written time and again – a seriously great day for true moto-enthusiasts.

But, all around the nation – the world - there are Motorrad Nacht, Notte in moto, Noche de motos… Bike Night.

For us here in Sussex County, New Jersey that would be Thursday eve-

nings at Jumboland, on Route 206 north of Branchville, NJ. When the famed Chatterbox was taking its last breaths and waiting on the wrecking ball I was approached by Pam Johnson and Shell Huber. We really didn’t know them then, but over the last few seasons, they have become solid friends.

It is really these two who got and kept Sussex County’s new Bike Night alive and thriving.

In early May, with the warmer nights slowly approaching we saw on social media that Jumboland was on for the beginning of the 2022 riding season. We got there early and over the next few hours machines rolled in and out, with over 100 machines coming to Jumboland that night.

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022

Tommy, the friendly owner, was manning the outdoor grill, quickly serving up dogs and burgers, and the restaurant was open for a deeper menu for those that wished, whether sitting indoors or out.

We knew it was truly Spring when we saw our buddy Andy roll up.

The bikes were a varied crew of old and new and never seen before creations. In fact, one old and homemade trike powered by a ‘50s Flat Head Harley engine, took away the “Best Bike” trophy for the night.

Although some purists balked at this, what with an old BMW GS, a rare Moto-Guzzi Quota Adventure bike, as well as

other different and attractive machines. But this bike was a one-off and home-built. Blood, sweat & tears count too; and there is always next week kids – so stay tuned on these weekly awards.

Another thing that we enjoy about Jumboland’s Bike Night is that it is a ‘family-oriented’ gathering

Page 43 and there were several families with kids in tow. The little ones loved the bikes, almost as much as they did their ice cream. We thought one kid was a mini-Chunk from the Goonies.

He sure looked the part.

Yes, Jumboland has some great ice cream – but that is almost a given when you have a diner/drive-thru.

Nights like this, at any one of the hundreds held each week around the nation, offer moto-enthusiasts the chance to get out on their machines in the middle of the week or for a good weekend ride; and to mingle, talk bikes, and generally enjoy what motorcycles and the people who ride have brought us.

Where is your local Bike Night… email me at brian@backroadsusa and tell us about yours. ,

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022

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BOOK SPOTLIGHT

A BOOK OF VALUES BY ALAN KOVITZ

Where is your head at when you are out on a ride?

There has been much talk over the years about the beneficial attributes that come from riding a motorcycle.

I have a book written by Bernt Spiegel called The Upper Half of the Motorcycle. This book addresses how we as riders work with the motorcycle – becoming almost a single unit. Although a deep read at times, Spiegel makes excellent points about the mind/motorcycle connection.

But here I’d like to take it a touch further towards our mind’s connection with riding and how we feel, think, and react governs not only how we work with our motorcycles, but also our day-today lives.

Our friend Alan Kovitz has released a new book about Values.

For years Alan has been coaching entrepreneurs and business folk on leadership and planning and he has come about to know that certain core values will not only help you be successful in business but in life as well.

So, what does this have to do with riding?

Far more than you might think.

You can be a gym rat, yoga princess, or marathon runner and be in great physical shape – very important for riding.

But, if your mind is not right it will surely be to your detriment.

There are so many acronyms floating around that I have to look half of them up to see what they mean – but this one I have heard for years, and though it originated with a recovery program it works for all, especially when astride your motorcycle.

HALT. HALT stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. The model was first developed to help people in recovery from alcohol or drugs see when they were most vulnerable to relapse. Since then, it’s been useful for other people, too – both in the workplace, and in their personal lives.

I think it works with riding as well.

Having any of these feelings or thoughts invading and dominating your mind for anything but the briefest of moments while riding your bike will add up to a less than a great time.

We all have bad thoughts – but toss them quickly and get back into the ride.

This brings me to Alan’s Book of Values.

How we view ourselves, our lives, and our core values will rule our lives and our thoughts.

Being aware of how you really feel, think and act allows you to be a better you. A calmer you.

A happier you. And, happy and calm riders make for better riders.

What do we mean by “Core Values?”

Your core values are those you hold that form the foundation on which you perform work, and conduct yourselves – the way we live our lives.

We have an entire universe of values, but some of them are so primary, so important to us that throughout the changes in society, government, politics, and technology they are STILL the core values we will abide by. In an ever-changing world, core values are constant. These values underlie your work, how we interact with each other, and which strategies you employ on a full-time basis. They are the practices we use (or should be using) every day in everything we do.

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022 In a Book of Values, Alan lays out 52 small, easily and quickly read values and how, when utilized in the most positive way, can make your life, your relationships, and all that you do easier and happier.

Motorcycle riding included.

The sub-title of the book is “Your Personal Guide to Meaning and Happiness.” Digested and utilized you just might have a happier outlook on the world and, as I said, Happy Riders, Happy Ride!

I have gotten into the habit of picking up Alan’s book a few times a day – usually in the morning and at bedtime.

Simply opening the book to no particular page always seems to lead me to something I most likely needed to read.

A Book of Values was never meant to be read like a novel. Best to pick up golden tidbits of values here and there – digest them, think about them, and see where they sit with you and how you sit with them.

To be the best rider you can be the body AND the mind need to be sharp, smart, relaxed, and happy. Having strong and positive Core Values allows this to be possible.

There are lyrics to a song that was written by a friend of mine years ago and they still ring true: “Take a good look at yourself, you gotta know who you are, ‘cause you ain’t nobody else.”

A Book of Values is an easy read and it can be fun to think that you have more good going for you than bad.

Kovitz’s book can be found at Barnes & Noble for $19.99 ,

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We were once told that the most dangerous thing in a kitchen is a dull knife. That just might be true.

A dull blade is actually more dangerous to use than one that is sharp. Here’s why: A dull blade requires more pressure to cut, increasing the chance that the knife will slip with great force behind it. A sharp knife “bites” the surface more readily. Cuts more quickly and, importantly, smoothly.

Here at Backroads Central, we are admitted “Foodies” and we love to cook and create all sorts of things. Both of us have been to the Culinary Institute… OK, not as students – but we have eaten there a lot – and our friend Lisa is an alumnus; so guilt by association, right?

In the Spring a number of us rode to Hyde Park to have a long over-due dinner at the CIA’s American Bounty Restaurant. When plans were being made Lisa brought up a shop that many of the students and teachers from the CIA frequent…

Warren Kitchen & Cutlery.

Oh yes, we are so there.

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022

According to their website: “Warren Kitchen & Cutlery is where top chefs and food enthusiasts have bought their kitchen tools for 20 years.

Our mission is to enhance your culinary experience, whether you are an at-home cook or a culinary trained chef, by providing top quality products and excellent service.”

Indeed the folks at Warren have been serving the CIA, restaurants, chefs, and the public for a number of decades and have grown a reputation as the place to go for fine cutlery as well as kitchen equipment and accessories. The aisles of the modest-sized store are lined with all sorts of bakeware and cookware.

From items to make your cocktails cockier to a great selection of cast iron pans, pots, skillets, and griddles to some of the finest cookware on the planet – you will find it at Warren.

Shira was able to find the perfect digital thermometer as well as some unique flavorings for her upcoming ice cream creations.

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022 Simply walking around Warren was a bit overwhelming to a wanna-be Bobby Flay like me and I had to take into consideration that we were on two wheels and the Durango was parked back in Jersey.

But, we had come for the knives and were not disappointed. In fact looking at the many, many knives on display I got anxious, slightly befuddled, and had the dawning realization that I knew squat about what makes a good kitchen knife a good kitchen knife.

One of my chef heroes, Anthony Bourdain, believed that you did not need an entire drawer full of knives. He said, “Here’s all you will ever need in the knife department: ONE good chef’s knife, as large as is comfortable for your hand.”

What did Bourdain use – a Global G2. Oh, right on the wall there.

Speaking with Rich, one of the principles at Warren, he went on to begin to explain what makes a good knife and how all these knives in front of us differed in many ways.

I say begin, as the science of knives is both sharp and deep – like a good cut.

As he began to tell us about the differences between Japanese and German cutlery, he spotted the bikes.

Page 47 “Is that your GS,” he asked?

Oh oh… Yes, Rich is one of us. That was good and bad. I wanted to talk knives, Rich…the Isle of Man. We reached a happy medium and talked both.

Do you know the parts of a knife? My only education on this had been from watching Forged with Fire on the History Channel. So listening to Rich talk with passion about how these fine blades are created, forged, and made was fascinating.

But, on that same note, had me flummoxed on making a purchase. The good thing is I can go back.

Warren also carries a good selection of ‘daily use’ knives, with our favorite brand – Kershaw – being well represented.

I left with no new chef’s knife tucked away in the saddlebags, but we did speak with Rich about professionally sharpening the knives we currently have in the waytoo-small kitchen at Backroads Central. Although I do have several stones and one electric sharpener – nothing can top having your knives sharpened by a professional.

We shipped 8 knives up and a week or so later we had our kitchen’s equivalent of the Jedi’s lightsabers resting in the large oak block on our butcher block counter.

This service is key – as I now know the most dangerous thing in my kitchen is most likely me – and that’s okay.

If in the Hudson Valley and Rhinebeck area drop by Warren Kitchen & Cutlery…it is your kitchen’s dream come true. ,

SAVE THE DATE • SUNDAY, JULY 31 - BACKROADS BENEFIT RUN FOR BENNY’S BODEGA

BACKROADS • JUNE 2022

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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

The Sixth Sense The last sense of the six senses we have mentioned might not be what you think.

This isn’t the X-Files or Mysterious America.

No psychics here, sorry Shawn.

The truth is the last sense, that mysterious sixth sense that has been with you all your life, and you probably already knew this if you went with your first thought - Intuition.

Intuition is the ability to know something without any proof.

It is sometimes known as a gut feeling or instinct.

Intuition is a rider’s sixth sense, an instinctive awareness that gives us a hunch or a gut feeling about someone or something.

Intuition is an ancient concept, and most of us are familiar with it in our own lives. It’s a feeling we get occasionally: a kind of sixth sense that often comes in the form of a sudden, mysterious impulse towards a particular decision: I can trust this person; I shouldn’t walk down that dark alley; I better get out of this lane right now!

We are all born with this natural ability, so whether you’re psychic or not, you can still use your intuition to guide you through life.

Studies and evidence reveal that our intuition or gut feelings are correct an astonishing 80% of the time. How often have you thought of something and then decided on the next step based on logical thinking, instead of your gut feeling? So many of us kick ourselves when we have acted in a contradictory way, and indeed our intuition is proved right. Our instinct is an inner voice, often flagging up an intuitive sense that may feel like just a strong ‘knowing’ or a feeling of suspicion against what our brains are telling us. Our intuition if you like, bridges a gap between logical thinking, instinct, and reason, between the unconscious mind and the conscious.

I believe this is a combination of a built-in human nature combined with our past experiences and knowledge.

Think about a few of these life and riding scenarios…

The first comes from a Fire Department from the Windy City. A fire broke out in the kitchen of a house in Chicago, Illinois. A team of firefighters kicked down the door of the house. They stood in the living room as they sprayed water at the fire in the kitchen. Strangely, the fire would not go out. One of the firefighters had a feeling that something was very wrong. “Get out, now!” he ordered. The team ran out of the house. Moments later, the floor they had been standing on in the living room collapsed.

Looking back, the firefighter believed his brain must have had the ability to know the future. A researcher who studies decision-making wasn’t so sure. He talked to the firefighter about what was going through his mind before he told everyone to get out of the house. The researcher found out that the firefighter had noticed three strange things: water was not putting out the fire, the living room was unusually hot, and the fire was unusually quiet. The researcher believed that the firefighter’s intuition recognized

this pattern and knew that the situation was not safe. A part of his brain beyond his own awareness knew that the fire was also in the basement underneath the living room, making the living room unusually hot and the fire unusually quiet.

He listened to his sixth sense.

Here is another example.

Laurie is sitting in the left lane at a red light. It is late at night or early morning and this part of town is void of any real traffic.

Her music is playing low in her headset and, as the light goes to green, her brain goes into Spidey-Sense mode. She looks into her mirror and she shoots forward and to the far left of the lanes – just as a drunk driver in a silent Tesla shoots by half in the middle lane and half in the left… missing her by inches.

Brad is riding along one of his favorite backroads. The day is a stunner and his ride has been one of the best of the year. As he approached a blind right-hand turn he tucked in preparing for a late apex and to roll on the throttle.

Then something deep in his brain says “SLOW DOWN” and as Brad comes around the turn, at a much slower pace, he comes upon a bad traffic accident. Police and emergency vehicles are on the scene and one officer is in a jog to get to the entrance of the turn to warn approaching drivers of what’s up ahead.

Brad makes his way through the mess and as he rode home he wondered how or why he felt the need to slow down at that point.

Brad went with his intuition and with all three examples lives were probably saved.

Trust your gut – you are probably right. ,