March 2021

W H A T ’ S

I N S I D E

M ON T HLY CO L U M N S FREE WHEELIN’ ..................................................4

Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure

WHATCHATHINKIN’.............................................5 ON THE MARK.....................................................6 BACKLASH ..........................................................7

Publishers

Brian Rathjen • Shira Kamil

Contributors

Mark Byers, Dr. Seymour O’Life

INDUSTRY INFOBITES ........................................9 Editorial Office BACKROADS, POB 620 Augusta, NJ 07822

MYSTERIOUS AMERICA ...................................12 GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN ................14 WE’RE OUTTA HERE .........................................16 BIG CITY GETAWAY ..........................................18

24 32

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FE ATU R E S CHRISTMAS SUNSHINE ESCAPE....................24 RIDING THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY ..............32 LEARN TO RIDE/RIDE TO LEARN ....................35

PROD UC T R EV I E W S SHAD TERRA BAGS .........................................11 ODYSSEY BATTERIES ......................................31 2022 KAWASAKI KLR .......................................39 HONDA’S NEW SMALL RIDES .........................39 COVER IMAGE: THE BEAUCOLIC BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

BY WILLIAM A. BAKE

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BACKROADS (ISSN 1087-2088) is published monthly by BACKROADS™, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. BACKROADS™ may not be reproduced in any manner without specific written consent from the publisher. BACKROADS™ welcomes and encourages submissions (text and photos) and suggestions. Include phone number with submissions.

BACKROADS™ will only return material with enclosed sufficient postage. The written articles and opinions printed in BACKROADS™ are not necessarily those of the publisher and should not be considered an endorsement. The Rip & Rides® published are ridden on the sole responsibilty of the rider. BACKROADS™ is not responsible for the conditions of the public roadways traversed. Please respect the environment, read your owner’s manual and wear proper protective gear and helmet. Ride within your limits, not over them.

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MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS

FREE WHEELIN’ BRIAN RATHJEN

Into the Future As we wrote in a past Infobites, just like the rest of the world, motorcycle technology is in Warp Drive. What both the government has in mind and what the manufacturers are planning is far beyond what most of us signed on to decades ago. So many OEMs are making technological leaps that are almost scary, most of them starting in Europe.

Here are just a few examples of current developments in the industry that offer a glimpse of what solutions the European ‘Connected Motorcycle Consortium’ might look like: Smartphones – especially when connected via the upcoming, powerful 5G network – could be a major part of the solution, transmitting information between nearby vehicles.

Inspired by military headgear, U.S. manufacturers are designing smart helmets for PTWs, with cameras for traffic in front of and behind the driver and LEDs projecting warnings on the visor.

But it was this one that made me jump up and take notice…

Researchers point to the value of intelligent speed controllers.

As I said in Infobites, I could hear Sam Winchester saying… “Screw You.” Okay, that was a Supernatural reference – but it is my column.

Most of this is European-based legislature.

But, watch it jump the pond as quick as a super-flu.

Thankfully what’s missing, for now, is the required infrastructure, and the regulatory obligation for all vehicles to be equipped with such systems. The European Commission has launched an EU-wide strategy for C-ITS, facilitating investments, and exploring the rules required.

Here is another press release I recently received. And several manufacturers have already presented various innovations towards a fully operational C-ITS: BMW’s ConnectedRide, introduced in 2016, warns bikers when a car comes into the blind

spot of their rearview mirror. KTM is working on a Blind Spot Detection system, using short-range radar. Ducati has collaborated with Audi on CV2X technology warning drivers of a collision when near a crossing or behind a driver who suddenly brakes.

Please stop.

Hond patents a motorcycle that is controlled by the mind.

Que? No, it’s not the plot-line from a sci-fi movie, Honda has filed one of the wildest patents of the year, with an idea for a motorcycle that is partly controlled directly by the power of thought!

Of course, all motorcycles are already controlled by the ‘power’ of the mind – the rider ‘thinks’ and the brain sends messages to our limbs that control the bike – but this latest patent for a “mind control motorcycle” shows that Honda thinks there is a more efficient way to do that, with signals from the brain directly affecting the bike’s behavior.

“Honda’s wacky idea is not that you think ‘left’ and the bike steers to the left; this system is more about changing the bike’s settings and assistance systems,” according to VisorDown.com, going on to explain; “Within the rider’s helmet, there are a set of neural sensors that can pick up the stream of thoughts from the rider’s brain. The messages are then sent to the bike’s onboard computer which deciphers the messages and adjusts the required setting in accordance with the demands of the rider.”

But the news from Europe seems to get worse as the EU has now decided on when your old machine – now just cars, but motorcycles are right behind this law – is too old and has must be … removed.

According to the Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations, these rules are part of the End-of-life Vehicles Directive aimed at the prevention of waste from vehicles that have come to the end of their life. The directive also tells the EU Member States to set up systems for the collection and de-registration of all end-of-life vehicles, and to have all vehicles that have reached the end of their life ‘transferred to authorized treatment facilities’ to be demolished in an environmentally friendly way.

Motorcycle-eugenics? Yee gad!

But there is a bit of saving grace.

The French Government has pushed through a law that allows people to fix things they own without being penalized by the manufacturer. The French are saying ‘F Eew’ to the rest of Europe and doing their best to end “A law in France to combat planned obsolescence for appliances.” Good for them.

It is time for we as consumers and lovers of things we own, use and enjoy to be able to decide if we wish to fix or discard. If you love something, you should be able to keep that something.

The future is coming but it is up for “We the People” to shape it. ,

BACKROADS • MARCH 2021

WHATCHATHINKIN’ SHIRA KAMIL

PatIence and the Pass I am the first one to admit that I have a very low patience threshold when it comes to any motorized vehicle; much more so when I am behind the wheel of a car. Just ask Brian, who sometimes white-knuckles the armrest when he is a passenger with me.

I do believe that I inherited this bad habit from my mother. She was a good driver, in her day, but had absolutely no tolerance for red lights. She would drive miles out of her way just so she wouldn’t have to stop for red lights. When it came time for her to give up driving and I would take her on errands, she would direct me through neighboring towns, zigzagging the streets to avoid one or two red lights. Apparently stop signs were okay; I guess a ‘rolling stop’ was her answer to not really stopping.

I am not averse to the red light. What gets my panties in a bunch are the Sunday drivers who are on the road every day of the week. I do believe that Big Brother has a camera on our driveway and signals several turtle drivers to strategically be on the road just as I am leaving. Of course the slowest ones are dispatched when I have left too little time to make it to an appointment. I have gotten a bit better while driving locally, but out on the open road, brake lights beware.

We have a poster hanging in our office called ‘Journey’s End!’ It is the epitome of why being patient while riding can be the difference between life and death. Being able to read the road is a very good skill to develop. When there are blind curves, roller coaster roads or decreasing radius turns, looking at the utility poles and wires can be a big help in determining where that road might take you. If you are in a very rural riding area without

Page 5 any such clues, than patience is your best friend.

Just take a look at the poster…

Over the past year of riding, I have noticed a very encouraging trend in motorists while we’ve been out for rides. Perhaps it was the lack of traffic during the beginning months of quarantine when there were fewer, almost no, cars on the road. When people did return to the roads, it seemed as if they were more aware, or maybe there were just more motorcycles than cars out at that point.

During our cross country trip there were many times that, just as we were coming to what looked to be some very nice twisties, the vehicle in front of us would pull to the side and allow us to pass. For the most part we were not in any hurry anyway and in some of the most beautiful areas of our country, so making time was not at the forefront of our minds. But I did take notice of the many times when the Sightseer did look in his/her mirror and either pull into the overlook or simply to the right and signal us to pass. A very refreshing notion that drivers both use their mirrors and have the courtesy of letting us pass.

Brian is normally in the lead when it is just the two of us riding, and he is an excellent moderator for my impatience. But he, too, succumbs to the pokey, erratic, distracted driver who is in front of us and will make the pass at the appropriate time. Having this new phenomenon of awareness in drivers makes things that much easier.

Unfortunately, with people returning to work at their office or just life in general, that newfound habit is falling fast by the wayside. Drivers are returning to their oblivious ways and I am returning to my impatience. I have tried many things; counting to ten, deep breaths, practicing my up and down shifting while waiting for the right time to pass or for the driver to simply get out of my way. But what works the best is to visualize ‘Journey’s End!’ and realize that, pun intended, this too shall pass.

Enjoy the ride and I’ll see you at the end of the road. ,

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MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS

ON THE MARK MARK BYERS

LIke the PaLm oF my hand I just sold a bike. I don’t do that much, but I wasn’t riding her enough to justify the license and insurance. Plus, bikes need someone to love them: mechanical things can die just like humans can. In the camera world, it’s called “shelf death,” when parts aren’t exercised and lube doesn’t get spread around and aperture leaves start to stick and pretty soon the whole thing is just hopelessly corroded and seized. Bikes are like that too: gas tanks corrode and rubber diaphragms on carbs crack or collapse and tires dry rot. It’s better for them to be with someone who will ride them and love them, circulate and change their lifeblood, and exercise their machinery.

Letting go is hard. Before I sold this bike, I went through it to make sure everything was working properly, especially since I was selling it to a friend. Not that I’d sell something defective to someone without telling them, but when you sell something to a friend, you want it to be as perfect as possible for them. The one thing I found was that the rear brake light switch had failed. Fortunately, I

had a replacement and a few days before he was scheduled to pick it up, I changed the switch.

I didn’t just change the switch, though: I relived memories. Whenever I work on a bike, I’m faced with its particular idiosyncrasies. On this one, the seat has to be unbolted to get to the wiring underneath.

When I removed the seat, I looked down into the “heart” of the machine and it was like looking at the palm of my hand: the wires made lifelines and skylines and whatever kinds of lines a practitioner of palmistry would find. It was a familiar world, full of memories…and zip ties. I should write a book: “Confessions of a Zip-Tie Freak.”

I quickly found the brake light switch wires in that familiar maze and a moment with a jumper told me I was right about the switch being bad - shorting that connection made the brake light glow proudly. I carefully replaced the old switch, which took the place of the banjo bolt on top of the rear master cylinder, making sure I didn’t lose any precious brake fluid or introduce air into the system. I realized, thanks to my zip-tie fetish, that if I cut a few of them and rerouted the wires accordingly, I didn’t need to splice any fresh wires into the circuit. A couple bullet connectors and some dielectric grease later and the new switch was working like a champ.

I put the heat shield back on the wire and then - you guessed it - liberally zip-tied the wires into place so they’d not be banjo-string tight, but also wouldn’t abrade or get snagged. I carefully rearranged everything under the seat, and zip-tied some more. You might think me overly cautious, but I come from an aviation background and treating bikes like airplanes, both of whom have the elements and vibration as their sworn enemies, has served me well. People have told me that when they die, they want to be reincarnated as one of my bikes.

When I was satisfied that nothing was going to get abraded, I put the seat back on, saying a fond farewell to the air filter as I did so.

Then, I went over the bike again, carefully testing each light, each signal, the horn, the high beam - everything. I checked the choke and started the motor and set the idle so the centrifugal compression release wouldn’t clatter and let her sit there and run for a while so the battery would charge. I stopped her and restarted her again, this time with the kick lever just to say I could (and she would). She fired on the first kick, as well she should since she was warm. I pushed the little buttons that vent excess air from the front forks and reset the enduro mileage counter to zero. I checked the oil, and having been changed earlier, all was well.

Then, I shut her down and sat there on the work stool, listening to the regular, metallic clicks of her cooling in the quiet of the big garage. I reached over and slowly turned off the petcock so that the fuel wouldn’t run into the engine should the float valve fail. I went over her visually, noting the familiar lines, lines as familiar as the palm of my hand. ,

BACKROADS • MARCH 2021

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BACKLASH Dear Brian & Shira, I can’t believe that it’s already been over five years since I sent you the congratulatory letter on the 20th anniversary of Backroads. And I can tell you that all the accolades and congratulations that I offered then are even stronger at the 25+ year mark. The magazine continues to be fun, engaging, relevant and just a pleasure to spend time with. The strong advertising support you have continued to get from the dealership and hospitality community— even during these times that they are all struggling with cash flow—is a testament to how much Backroads means to their respective businesses.

I am so proud for you, and of you.

As I was thinking back over all the years I’ve had the pleasure of knowing you, I received some photos from Jon Seidel. Though now retired, Jon has been working to sort and catalog a vast array of images and documents that had been stored offsite from Honda’s Torrance headquarters.

Look at the group photo I’ve attached, and pay particular attention to that good looking couple kneeling on the front row (picture right) just beside Pete terHorst, with Fred Rau and me standing just behind. That was the GL 1800

Letters to the Editor press intro—one that proved to be very memorable, with some great riding in southern Ohio and lots of great times together.

Again, congratulations on over 25 great years of Backroads.

Take care, Gary christopher

Questions from the Internet Brian, Great Free Wheelin’ in this week’s Backroads Report. I don’t know if there are exceptions to the naming conventions, or just holdovers, but there are rural names in cities. Like Minetta Lane in NYC, so most likely a hold over from when Greenwich Village was actually a village. When I was living in south Florida, I learned that the thoroughfares that went north and south were Courts, Roads, Avenues, and Places, CRAP. Anyway if you were to go down Easy Street, bear left onto the Boulevard of Dreams, and then go right on Electric Avenue, you will end up in Funkytown.

Best danny Shira & Brian, A few friends and I are familiar with your magazine and are interested in knowing more about your Spring Break trip. We usually take a few multiday trips each year and thought it might be easier to plan if we relied on you to do it for us.

Some basic questions: 1. Is there a limit to the number of participants? (No – ed.)

2. Do we all follow in a group or set off on our own? (We encourage small groups of like-minded riders to enjoy the suggested routes, or plan your own rides) 3. If group, do you split it by riding pace? (See above)

Page 8 4. How long are the day rides? (We try to keep the rides to 250 miles but sometimes they may be a bit longer and some shorter, if there are sights to be seen) 5. Do you provide GPX files in advance? (We will offer up ride suggestions as soon as we have them put together. You will find them on our Rally website and also a link on our Facebook page) 6. Is there anything else I should have asked? (Will the Mets get to the World Series under Cohen this year? When will all this snow disappear?

There are always more questions – feel free to ask away) Stay Healthy & Thanks. alan B. kane Hi Hello Shira and Brian: Looking at your last Backroads Report, when reading the MotoVermont event I thought that it would be a useful service for your readers if you could have a monthly section devoted to the many off and on-road training and riding opportunities and their upcoming calendars throughout the year - a one stop shop. It could include your Spring Break rides, Pridmore, Rawhyde, and many others. The MotoVermont link showed that the Oct. 2021 event was already sold out, so it would be helpful if anyone interested in a similar experience could find another such opportunity among the offerings here in the US. What you think?

Regards, andrew • machineartmoto Andrew, Thanks for the suggestion - take a look at this month’s Let’s Get Riding article and for other mentions in our weekly Backroads Report.

Hello Brian and Shira, It was with great upset that I read your words on the top of page 22 in your January 2021 issue. In order to reinforce your misbelief that wearing masks and social distancing are an infringement on your personal liberties you invoked “The Ben.” You printed Ben Franklin’s quote in hopes of making your misbelief stronger. Franklin stated, “Those who would give up essential liberties, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” You are greatly mistaken to think that Benjamin Franklin would have wanted you to use his words to support your counter-scientific premise.

Franklin was a passionate man of science. BACKROADS you misrepresented him!

What is most disturbing and insulting is that you have left me with the last phrase of Ben’s quote, “Those who give up essential liberties to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

There are a large number of people like myself that believe following CDC guidlines is our only line of defense against this deadly virus for the moment.

BACKROADS has invoked “The Ben” and in essence is saying we do not deserve liberty nor safety.

MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS You have the right to have your views, Brian and Shira, but please do not “slap us in the face” to make your point. We are all “in this thing together.”

May we rise out of this nightmare soon stronger and unified.

Bruce kagan reader/rider • Long Island, New York Bruce, What part of the Social Distancing and the other statements in that paragraph did you not see?

When this is over, and it will be, I think the many with your line of thought will simply put down the “The World is Ending because of COVID!” signs, and pick up “The World is Ending because of ‘Cause Du Jour!” signs.

If you want to see a slap in the face just look to some of the states and all the businesses that have shuttered, many to never re-open.

Another example is from the state of Colorado: GRAND COUNTY, CO – The Grand County, Colorado coroner is calling attention to the way the state health department is classifying some deaths.

The coroner, Brenda Bock, says two of their five deaths related to COVID19 were people who died of gunshot wounds.

“These two people had tested positive for COVID but that’s not what killed them,” she said, “the gunshot wound killed them.”

The state of Colorado classifies COVID deaths in two ways: A death due to COVID, where it was the underlying cause, and a death with COVID, where there was a positive test but it wasn’t listed as the cause of death.

We will NEVER back down from our beliefs or the way we conduct our lives. We do and did EVERTHING we were asked, and continue to, but this does not seem to want to end.

We both wish you well, but we believe in freedom, not fear – and, as two people that have suffered through this – and it was a suffering – we have paid the price, have antibodies, have given blood and still respect those around us. Yet, because we choose to live – we get vilified.

Stay well…

Brian Rathjen • Publisher , We want to know what you think. Send thoughts to: editor@backroadsusa.com

BACKROADS • MARCH 2021

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IN DU STRY INFOBITES AMERICADE MOVING TO SEPTEMBER 2021 The 38th annual Americade Motorcycle Touring Rally is moving from early June to the week of September 21st-25th. The additional three months should provide more confidence that the event will happen for Americade’s motorcycle industry partners, Expo vendors, attendees, and Lake George businesses. “We want to make 100% sure that a 2021 Americade will happen, but we’re not confident an event of this size will be permissible in June,” said Christian Dutcher. “But, moving it to September gives us a very high likelihood of it happening. And, September is also a perfect time of year for riding, with mild temperatures, no rain, and foliage season beginning. It should be beautiful.”

Americade’s customers are extremely motivated for the event to return, and the motorcycle industry is looking forward to an Americade 2021 regardless of the date.

However, finding an alternate date to Americade 2021 is challenging due to the need for multiple key venues to be available, as well as the need to not overlap another national motorcycle event. It turns out, the September dates are the only dates that would allow for an Americade 2021.

“We’re very lucky to have found a 2021 date that works for the community and the motorcycle industry,” said Dutcher. “I feared we may have to cancel until Americade 2022, but miraculously we are able to slide it into September.” Details at www.americade.com

News from the Inside DALE WALKSLER 1952 - 2021 It is with heavy hearts that our friends at Wheels Through Time let us know that their beloved founder, curator, and friend Dale Walksler passed away peacefully, with his wife by his side, at home on February 3, 2021, after a courageous four-year battle with cancer.

In 1967 at the age of 15, Dale built his first motorcycle, sparking a life-long love affair with American Motorcycles and their history. At 22, Dale established a Harley/Davidson Franchise in Mt. Vernon, Ill: Dale’s Harley-Davidson. His signal success as a dealer grew to include the decades-long work that would define his life: the creation of the museum we now know as Wheels Through Time.

A celebration of Dale’s life will be announced at a later date. At this time, the museum asks for privacy for the family as they mourn his passing. At Dale’s request, in lieu of flowers, please send any donations and condolences to Wheels Through Time, PO Box 790, Maggie Valley, NC 28751.

All donations will be dedicated to ensuring the continuance of the legacy that Dale created far into the future and to giving museum visitors historical insight into the vital role that transportation has played in American history.

The thrill of hearing the cycles run coupled with thoughts of riding into the wind will continue to evoke thoughts of Dale’s vibrant spirit… and his dream.

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MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS

RIDER MAGAZINE’S MARK TUTTLE RETIRES

SO YOU WANT TO LEARN HOW TO RIDE, OR RIDE AGAIN

Editor-In-Chief Mark Tuttle is hitting the road after nearly four decades in the saddle at Rider Magazine. “I’ve enjoyed an amazing 36 years at Rider Magazine, for which I’m eternally grateful to a great many people,” he says.

“The memories are priceless, and I’m proud of what I accomplished at the magazine, from shop grunt in 1984 to Editor since 1989. Now it’s time to step down from the EIC’s chair and ride my own ride.

When and if the world gets back to normal, I look forward to seeing all of my friends at the usual events and on the road! Named one of Dealernews’ Top 100 Industry Influencers, Tuttle’s voice, and vision will be missed.

On a personal note, Mark was one of the first of the West Coast Industry to reach out with a friendly hand. Over the years he and his wife Genie have become good friends of Backroads. We wish them all the best.

New from the Big Apple Motorcycle School - Join them for a free webinar for new and prospective riders. This seminar is geared towards people interested in learning how to ride. They’ll go over the different types of courses, bikes and gear and describe what’s involved in becoming a licensed motorcyclist. They’ll answer your questions and offer tips and suggestions on how to get the most out of your training. Whether you have little or no experience or have ridden in the past and want to get back into riding, this seminar is a great way to jump start your journey! All seminars are free and will be held virtually using GoToWebinar. Pre-registration is required.

Please register for their free seminar on Thursday, March 4, from 7:30 to 8:30 pm: bigapplemotorcycleschool.com/2019/seminars/new-rider-seminar/

BMW HAS GOOD YEAR INSPITE OF COVID Sales of BMW Motorrad models slid by a relatively minor -3.4% in 2020 despite a loss of business during periods of the year brought about by the COVID-19 crisis.

The German marque announced an annual global sales total of 169,272 units, compared with 175,162 motorcycles and scooters finding homes in 2019. Despite the dip, it still represented BMW’s second-best ever year of motorcycles sales.

Sales in Europe saw a -5.3% decline despite the enduring popularity of the R 1250 range, which continues to top the sales charts in various countries in RT and GS guise, but a 33% growth in China went a long way to cushioning that margin.

IF IT AIN’T SCOTTISH… Scotland could be the first country in the UK to make it illegal to ride a quad bike without an appropriate crash helmet. The push to introduce a law comes after a Scottish sheep farmer lost his life in an accident involving a quad bike in 2018.

Iain MacNicol, 76, was using the quad to round up his sheep on the family farm when the incident took place. As a result of the injuries he sustained, Mr. MacNicol sadly lost his life. Because of this incident, Sheriff Thomas Ward is calling for a new law to be brought in forcing all riders of quad bikes to wear helmets when in use.

“Although in this case there is no indication that the outcome would have been different if the deceased had been wearing a safety helmet, there is no doubt that it would be a prudent step for anyone driving a vehicle such as this to wear a safety helmet,”, said Sheriff Ward.

Sheriff Ward isn’t just pushing for helmets to become mandatory, he also feels that some form of training should be given to new owners – as it stands a quad can be driven on a full car and B1 full motorcycle license, despite the machine handling very different to both a car and a bike. ,

BACKROADS • MARCH 2021

PRODUCT REVIEW

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SHAD TERRA BAGS • CARRYING YOUR GEAR IN STYLE AND STRENGTH

For the past few years I had been looking for some new luggage for my tried and true Triumph 800 Tiger. I have gone through a few different soft bags and soft tail bags, but wanted and needed something more substantial.

Last season I learned that SHAD Luggage was releasing four new panniers with different capacities (37 or 48 liters in the top case and 36 or 47 liters on the side cases).

Like all SHAD luggage, these were cases designed, engineered, and manufactured 100% in Barcelona, Spain – but distributed through SHAD USA and available from dealers or SHAD USA themselves.

The media information I got on them was impressive and soon I had placed an order for a set of Terra Bags – two side cases and the big top case.

In a few weeks, UPS rolled up the drive, and four huge boxes were left on my doorstep; three cases and all the hardware to go with the installation on the Tiger. With a normal set of tools, the installation had no surprises; a perfect project for a warm Indian Summer afternoon. I just took my sweet time with my favorite IPA at hand and the bike was transformed!

I had to admit they looked fantastic, complimenting the lines of the bike and looking like they came with the bike as it rolled off the assembly line in Hinkley.

The bags themselves were formidable; created out of 100% forged aluminum alloy. These aerodynamic bags are stronger and lighter than those of their competitors and features a reduced cross-section of 1.2mm to give them minimum weight with maximum resistance. After the install was complete the rock-like solidity of these mounted bags was impressive.

SHAD’s Terra Bags all use one key, making it easy to get in and out of the bags when needed. The top case came delivered with a second key and lock cylinder but again, their great instructions made it simple to swap out with the third identical key and cylinder that came with the order. As an added bonus, SHAD also has soft inner liners as well as a back pad for the top case – which also has convenient, mounting points to lash additional gear if needed.

Committing to buy hard luggage for your bike, espe-

cially my aging Tiger, was a big leap and not an inexpensive one either - but one I am glad I took the plunge.

The SHAD Terra Bags have worked brilliantly - and have turned my machine from a weekend warrior into a serious, comfortable, and most excellent long-term hauler.

The bags cost about $470 each, plus the mounting kits. For more information and to see if they have a system for you log onto www.shadusa.com ~ Michael Bellantone

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MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS

Morton’s BMW Motorcycles Presents Dr. Seymour O’Life’s MYSTER IOU S A MERICA the southwIck JoG We love looking at maps. If you look deep you find some amazing, interesting, and unusual things.

This last summer we were heading north. While I was Garminizing a route, my eyes came across an interesting little thing that I had not noticed before.

Just north of the town of Granby, heading into Massachusetts, is a bit of an anomaly. A tiny little “jog” of the state line. Hmmm, I wondered, what this was.

This is the “Southwick Jog,” a two-square-mile plot of land where an otherwise straight border between Connecticut and Massachusetts breaks and dips itself a little south.

Almost everyone living on either side of the Jog has a story to explain it. One legend says that the border dips because the Congamond Lakes on the land had to be given to Massachusetts since their source waters

were further up in her territory. Another story goes that the surveyors who set the border were drunk the whole time; when they sobered up and realized they had laid the line too far north, they gave Massachusetts that little pocket to make up for the lost land, instead of re-surveying. A joke explanation given in Massachusetts is that the Jog is there to hold the commonwealth in place, lest it slides into the sea. Still, other stories give reasons like complicated tax evasion schemes or bizarre royal feuds.

The real reason for the existence of the Jog is at once much simpler and more complicated than any of the folk tales from the area. The story spans more than 150 years and five different border surveys but starts with one lesson: Surveying is a job best left to professionals.

In the Beginning In the mid-17th century, English explorers moving through the Connecticut River Valley founded a farming community they called Southwick. To assert its sovereignty in the area, the Massachusetts Bay Colony sent two men to survey and mark the

BACKROADS • MARCH 2021 colony’s southern boundary in 1642. Instead of hiring professional surveyors to walk the boundary line, though, Massachusetts hired Nathaniel Woodward and Solomon Saffery, who were described as “skillful and approved” artists.

Connecticut was less enamored by the men’s skills but kept its mouth shut and allowed the survey to be done.

Line #1 According to the Massachusetts Charter, the colony’s southern border was to run west “from a point three miles south of the most southerly branch of the Charles River.” Woodward and Saffery botched the job right from the start—thanks in part to their lack of experience and their crude, inaccurate tools—by beginning at a point a few miles too far south. They made things worse as they moved west and decided that, rather than walking the line like other surveyors would marking it as they went, they would save time and effort and avoid confrontation with native tribes if they traveled by boat. They went back to the coast, sailed around Cape Cod, down into Long Island Sound, and then up the Connecticut River. When they reached what they thought the proper latitude, they fixed the line and established the boundary, skipping all that walking in between the two points.

There is a great show with Brian Unger on “How the States Got Their Shapes” – search it out. This is just one tiny little weird part of the USA which is right here in the northeast as well. ,

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MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS

G REAT A LL AMERICA N DINE R RUN Gronsky’s mILk house 125 west maIn st, hIGh BrIdGe, nJ 908-638-6030 • cash onLy But they do take Venmo hours: m-F 7-11am BreakFast/11am-2Pm Lunch sa-su 7am-12Pm BreakFast onLy We had been to Gronsky’s Milk House several years ago for an Inside Scoop run. It’s in a pleasant area, with some good riding, and while they do not make their own ice cream, it was quite good. With the weather bringing us a late Indian Summer in November, friends organized a late breakfast ride, picking Gronsky’s as the meeting spot. Brian laid out an entertaining ride south along the smaller roads of northern New Jersey, which led into a romp along the Musconetcong River with its culmination at Gronsky’s on the Raritan River. Along for the ride were friends Ken, Mike and Robyn, as well as a special guest – BMW’s newest offering of the R18.

We arrived ahead of the other group of friends traveling from the south. The day was glorious and, with outdoor seating being offered, we put in our name for a much-coveted table. We enjoyed a cup of Joe while waiting, taking a stroll across the wooden bridge where there are several picnic tables available to enjoy your ice cream (they do not have table service away from the main building). During this time, they did have a few well-spaced indoor tables, but considering the sun was shining and the temperatures were high, we wanted to take advantage of this gift.

While waiting, we took a look at the options ahead of us. Since it was the weekend, we were in breakfast mode, and very happy to be there. A month or so ago, Pete Genovese of NJ.com foodie fame, named Gronsky’s to his list of 20 best Taylor ham/pork roll sandwiches in New Jersey, coming in at #4. This was the raison d’être for being at Gronsky’s and many folks opted for their specialty. The debate

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT We hope to see you soon!

OPEN FOR DINE-IN or TAKEOUT. Visit webpage for menu See daily specials on Facebook.

Curbside Delivery Available.

Tues: 4-9 • Wed: 12-9 • Thurs-Sat: Noon-10 Sun: Breakfast 9-1/ Lunch-dinner Noon-8

RivertonHotelandRestaurant

the riverton hotel and restaurant At Belvidere-Riverton Free Bridge, Riverton, PA

610-498-4241 • www.rivertonhotel.net

Member of

tasty places to take your bike

on Taylor ham vs. pork roll is as heated as the feud between the Hatfields and McCoys, so you can choose how you’d like to order. On the menu it’s listed as pork roll, and from the map you can tell that the split seems to be somewhere between Routes 80 and 78.

Breakfast sandwiches aside, you will NOT go hungry at Gronsky’s. Their omelettes are numerous, including a Jersey with – you guessed it – pork roll and American cheese, which is what Brian finally ordered. Their hash and eggs – hash being made in house with Taylor Ham corned beef, peppers + onions – is served with two large eggs any way, home fries Learning done to perfection and toast, which is really not necessary but that it’s certainly delicious. There are platters including a choice of called Pork Roll eggs, home fries, toast, and/or waffles or pancakes.

Oh, the pancakes. According to the menu, they are HUGE so I took that as a challenge and ordered their pancake of the month, which was either pecan pie or pumpkin, for the table. I, Pork Roll of course, combined the two, making it on the sweet side but amazing, nonetheless. HUGE means it is the size of an oval dinner plate and even though there were five of us picking at it, it was not finished. If sweet is not your thing, you can get a super fluffy plain one or perhaps a Loaded BaconCake that is topped with cheese + eggs any style. For a tad extra you can get pure maple syrup and I highly recommend that addition.

Should you shy away from a lumberjack’s breakfast, there are two ‘healthy’ choices: a yogurt sundae with vanilla yogurt, mixed berries and crunchy granola, or the Power Breakfast of red quinoa with onions, peppers

BACKROADS • MARCH 2021

Page 15 + mushrooms topped with eggs any style and served with toast (I’m sure it something like seven grain, ancient wheat or something gluten free).

If you can make it to High Bridge during the week and stop in for lunch, the menu is equally impressive and, I’m sure, superb. You’ve got your salads, soups and deli sandwiches. There are some wraps like TBC (hot turkey, bacon, melted cheddar and chipotle ranch) or Thai Chicken or Shrimp (grilled chicken or fried shrimp, cabbage and peanut sauce). The sandwiches include staples like a tuna melt, BLT or Reuben and go on with Jen’s Favorite (roast beet, cheddar, raw onion, horseradish mayo on a hard roll), Thankgiving Everyday (turkey breast, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayo on a hard roll) or Gronsky’s Famous Cheesesteak (Boar’s Head roast beef, Joe’s steak sauce, peppers, onions and American cheese) that has won Best in Hunterdon several years in a row. You’ll find a selection of burgers (yes, the Jersey burger has crispy pork roll) as well as an Italian hot dog with the works.

Then there is the ice cream, for which Jackie and Steve Gronsky originally opened back in 1978. The restaurant was added in 1988. They use several brands including Welsh Farms and Hood + Kemps, and some of their most popular flavors are Chocoholic, Coconut Castaway and Lemon Bar. If dietary concerns are an issue, they have vegan/dairy free ice cream as well as sugar free flavors that rotate. I can’t think of a better way to end a great meal than with a scoop of ice cream, but that’s just me, Ms. Inside Scoop.

The ride north to Backroads Central was equally as fun, so we’ll give you both routes should you be heading to Gronsky’s from the northern (Taylor Ham) portion of New Jersey.

Enjoy and remember the pancakes are HUGE! , ~ Shira Kamil

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MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS

WE’RE OUTTA HER E

a weekend destination keeping you on the backroads

stuart, FLorIda The SaIL FISh CapITaL oF The WorLd Usually, we feature a hotel somewhere different and special, but this month we thought we’d share an entire town.

This one just happens to be in Florida and we came across it on an escape journey back at the beginning of winter and the end of the horrid 2020.

Runing into a town like Stuart, Florida was an unexpected pleasure. And we thought we’d share it with you kids.

The tiny seaside town can be found along Florida’s Treasure Coast, just a short drive from Clover Park, where the Mets have Spring Training.

But, this town has a great pirate history too.

In the 18th century, several Spanish galleons were shipwrecked in this part of the 500-mile peninsula that brings the United States to its most southern point in Key West. The multiple wrecks were reportedly the result of hurricanes, although there are tales of battles between rival buccaneers, and the many ships were carrying unknown quantities of gold and silver.

Some of this treasure has since been recovered, and its presence resulted in the region’s name.

Great pirate stories abound such as this one: In 1832, pirate Pedro Gilbert, who often used a sandbar off the coast as a lure to unsuspecting prey, chased and caught the Mexican, a U.S. merchant ship. Although he attempted to burn the ship and kill the crew, they survived to report the incident, ultimately resulting in the capture and execution of Gilbert and his crew. The bar from which he lured his intended booty is named “Gilbert’s Bar” on nautical charts. That spot

now holds an upscale coffee bar.

As we stated Stuart is known as the Sailfish Capital of the World, because of the many sailfish found in the ocean off these shores. In the center of the town is a stunning 19-foot fountain with a jumping Sailfish at its center.

There are so many “Istiophorus” that anglers from around the world travel to Stuart to go after these incredible fish which can reach nearly 80-miles per hour when attacking prey.

One such fisherman was President Grover Cleveland. After a great day of fishing off this coast, got off the boat

BACKROADS • MARCH 2021

and immediately bought a large tract of land. Unfortunately, he died of a heart attack before his Floridian Dream Fishing Home was built.

The Stuart City Hall now sits on this salty spit of land.

The town also celebrates its other wildlife and world-renowned sculpture Geoffrey Smith. His wildlife work is amazing and he created the stunning sailfish fountain in the center of the town. Both his gallery and studios can be found in Stuart. If you like his works they are available – but you are not getting that new motorcycle this year if you do this.

Strolling further down Osceola Street, safely away from stunning and expensive statues, we slipped into something more comfortable - The Sandal Shack. Not just footwear but some of the most comfortable leisurewear around. Dienna has an awesome little shop and was as friendly as anyone in the Sunshine State. Great find.

Down by the water, there was a neat small amphitheater for outdoor concerts – right on the water, great breeze and wide-open seating - perfect during these times.

Next door was the Stuart Boathouse where we had a most excellent meal.

Shira had a marvelous Ahi Tuna Stack (truly a culinary delight) and I did some crispy salmon Sushi. Ahh, healthy, and very oceany!

We are always on the lookout for great and historic hotels and the town of Stuart came through in a big way with a visit to the Old Colorado Hotel. Not just one building but a great group of older buildings offering several attractive overnight accommodations.

But we liked the big building on Colorado Avenue.

This certainly would work for us as it is in the middle of this old Floridian town’s historic center.

We had one other fun thing to do while in the region

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– especially if you love Sea Turtles…

Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge is a coastal refuge bisected by the Indian River Lagoon into two separate tracts of land totaling over 1000 acres.

The 735- acre Jupiter Island portion provides some of the most productive sea turtle nesting habitats in the United States. Hobe Sound Nature Center offers both on and off-site native wildlife presentations and field experiences to local areas. Nature trails allow for hikes on estuaries, barrier islands, and sand pine scrub. A highly popular event is the sea turtle walk program, held on warm, summer nights from the end of May through mid-July.

As you can see Stuart, Florida has a lot to offer, do and experience and makes a superb Sunshine State We’re Outta Here! ,

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MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS

Frontline Eurosports Presents

BIG CITY GETAWAY Joshua tree The Highlands of Scotland Those big rocks in Joshua Tree I never would have made this trip If you weren’t rollin’ with me Bucket List - J. Rocket The bikes seem to glide seamlessly in a motorized procession along the tiny two-lane roadway that runs through Joshua Tree National Park. When the giant sand-colored boulders were not surrounding us, we were flanked on both sides by the ever-present trees that give this park its name …

Joshua Tree. Twisted and bristled, the unique trees of the park, Yucca brevifolia, are a member of the Agave family. These trees are not only a dominant part of the landscape but of its history as well.

Years ago, the Joshua tree was recognized by American Indians for its useful properties: tough leaves were worked into baskets and sandals, and flower buds and raw or roasted seeds made a healthy addition to the diet.

The local Cahuilla have long referred to the tree as “hunuvat chiy’a” or “humwichawa;” both names are still used by elders fluent in the language.

The name we use today has a history as well.

When Mormon immigrants had made their way across the Colorado River the legend has it that these pioneers named the tree after the biblical figure,

daytrip ideas to get out of the daily grind Joshua, seeing the limbs of the tree as outstretched in supplication, guiding the travelers westward. Following the LDS were ranchers and miners who arrived in the high desert with high hopes of raising cattle and digging for gold. These homesteaders used the Joshua tree’s limbs and trunks for fencing and corrals. Miners found a source of fuel for the steam engines used in processing ore.

Although most consider this park part of the Mojave it is really two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, that come together in Joshua Tree National Park.

We started our day trip from ‘Om Dome’ AirBnB, run by friends and fellow riders Vassili and Yael – both expatriated New Yorkers. The home is beautiful and unique with a wonderful southwest feel and domed bedroom and hot tub.

They are both musicians as well, so you will never want for good tunes while staying at Om Dome. Find and book here: www.hipcamp.com/u/theomdomeexperience From the home it is a short ride to the entrance near the Joshua Tree Visitors Center, that is worth the stop before going in as you will be a bit more familiar with why this most impressive piece of southwestern America is what it is.

There is more than 80 miles of paved road in this park and even more gravel / sandy roads for the ADV crowd. Just respect the heavily marked “Don’t Go Here” signs and you will be fine and welcome.

We paid the park entrance fee, which is good for several days, and took notice of both the electric sign and the painted marker asking to Go Slow for the Desert Tortoise which is considered heavily endangered and it is illegal to mess with them in any way.

BACKROADS • MARCH 2021

For miles, before we entered the park, the remarkable trees dominate the land, but in the park, their beauty was stolen by the rocky majesty of the massive boulders that seemed piled upon each other by ancient and angry gods. Surreal granite rock formations, some resembling giant piles of dripped wax, dot thousands of acres of scrubby landscape.

Contorted faces and bizarre animal shapes seem to appear in the cracks of the rocks.

There were plenty of places to pull over and park and it is okay to scramble up into these sentinels of an ancient time. James Kaiser, author of Joshua Tree: The Complete Guide, wrote about the geological history of how these unique formations took millions and millions of years.

Called Gneiss (pronounced nice) they had their begins with shifting continents, tremendous heat, and ancient oceans and pressure.

Once part of what is called the Rodinian mountains, it is the oldest rock found in Joshua Tree National Park. Similar types of gneiss are also found in Australia and Antarctica, indicating that a chain of Rodinian mountains

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once stretched across all three continents when they were fused together. When Pangea broke apart, as North America continued to push west, it overrode the eastern edge of the Pacific Plate, which was pushed deep below the surface of the Earth in a process called “subduction.” As the eastern Pacific Plate subducted under western North America, it was pushed nearly 400 miles below the surface of the Earth and as far east as Texas. All told, up to 12,000 miles of Pacific Plate may have been pushed under North America throughout this process, the eastern edge of the Pacific Plate acted like a giant conveyer belt, carrying vast amounts of ocean water deep underground. The friction of the moving plates and the intense interior heat of the Earth caused the ocean water to boil, helping to melt nearby rocks and sending huge pools of magma rising up under Southern California… when cooled they formed the boulders at Joshua Tree.

And they are cool!

We spent some time at Jumbo Rocks, which looks easier to climb than they actually were. Coming down was interesting too.

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We rode to the far side of the park towards Cottonwood to see the vibrant and oh-so-prickly Cholla Cactus – considered by many as the most dangerous cacti on the planet. Some call it the “Jumping Cactus” as the sharp spines called glochids, which will break off at the slightest touch, almost seeming to jump at the unsuspecting victim. If a “boxing glove” from a cholla attaches to you, its large and fine spikes get into your skin. The reverse barbs make them difficult to remove. Trust me on this. Really.

We back-tracked into the park, which was fairly well open and made for a spirited ride at heavily frowned upon speeds. We rode to the view at the beeinfested Key View (there was a Bee Warning Sign for a reason). Here at nearly 5,200 feet, the vista of the Coachella Valley below is stunning, and to the south, we could see the Salton Sea and even as far as Mexico. On the valley floor, the long cut in the land was the San Andreas Fault.

Joshua Tree is truly amazing.

We looped the long way around, avoiding the trails as the Gold Wing, KTM Duke, and Yamaha were not the best off-road machines. Still, the park took a good part of the day to explore and that evening we found a superb dinner at Pioneertown – where episodes of The Cisco Kid, Judge Roy Bean,

MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS

and other great old western shows were filmed. Across the street was Pappy & Harriet’s, a longtime local club and landmark built within the town’s original and only gas station, which counts among its regular customers’ notable musicians, including Paul McCartney, Eric Burdon, Johnny Rocket, Robert Plant and dozens of others. It is the hip place to go but still offered a laidback and welcoming feel.

We had a long day in and around Joshua Tree – we had been there many times before and I know we will be back many times again as it is one of the more magical parks in the United States! ,

BACKROADS • MARCH 2021

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The Law Office of Paul G. Gargiulo Presents

Welcome to the Jungle - The Art of Learning to Ride Skillfully A column dedicated to your riding survival hydratIon on the road… the Best and worst oF sPorts drInks I have known for a long time that I am better hydrated while riding my bike than when I am sitting at Backroads Central. My Camelback is a constant companion.

The brain is powered by hydration. Even the slightest drop affects us in ways we’d never think.

How many times have we pulled into the WaWa, or the like, and while taking a pee have thought…

“I am a little tired, I can use a little pick-me-up.”

Let’s throw the evil under the bus right away… ‘cause we can. Those little bottles of 5-Hour Energy Drinks, cans of Red Bull, and Rockstar Energy Drinks are maybe not really the best for a late afternoon pick-me- up for today’s rider.

According to the medical people: These style drinks have a whopping amount of some ingredients. Specifically, too much caffeine can cause nervousness, trouble sleeping, nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeats, and higher blood pressure. Many makers of energy shots say children and those who are pregnant, nursing, or sensitive to caffeine should avoid the beverages.

So, what is out there?

Even the perennial favorite Gatorade has a whopping 9 teaspoons of sugar. With 15 calories in a single teaspoon of sugar, consuming a 20-ounce Gatorade means you are drinking 135 calories of sugar. Gatorade Zero all the electrolytes you might need and none of the sugar.

So, if you need to Gator, go that way.

We like to play pharmacist when we stop for that “Dilithium-Powered” hydration so we’ll grab a sugar-free Vitamin Water and add a little kick.

For many years our “Kick” of choice has been Zipfizz, which I have gotten in the habit of mixing into a zero-sugar “Squeeze” Vitamin Water drink (lemonade). In addition to the neat tidbits and facts on history on the label, the company also packs this drink with 100% of vitamins b5 and b6, 50% of your daily antioxidant needs and a good dose of zinc and electrolytes. But add in a Zipfizz and you have a serious and healthy hydration drink that will do your body good and get and keep you in the riding game – alert and sharp for the rest of the day.

These come in a small and easily carried tube. ZipFizz energy drink-mix delivers a powerful charge of micronutrients to the body’s fuel system. Zipfizz has packed a convenient rush of vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, and key amino acids that protect the immune system and provide enhanced hydration in each tube.

Yes. It has 100 mg of caffeine from natural sources of green tea and Guarana. That’s less than one-third the caffeine in a Grande Starbucks drip coffee.

We usually get our Zipfizz by the 30-packs and spend about a dollar a day on this.

Right behind this option is another we came across at CLASS Motorcycle Riding School - Tactical Electrolyte Drink Mix.

They now offer a few different mixes – an electrolyte replenisher and a new ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) for rehydration from the most extreme conditions and environments. Created from World Health Organization standards, this formula turns 16oz of water into delicious electrolyte replacement when you really need it. These also are easy to carry in a tank bag or fairing pocket.

So, the key here, my friends, is to stay “more” than hydrated.

Water is great and I have it all the time, but it never hurts to get a good dose of daily electrolytes and vitamins. Think of these mixes as today’s Chocks, One-A-Days or Flintstones. Your mom would be so happy! ,

www.zipfizz.com • fluidtactical.com • vitaminwater.com

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MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS

tranquILIty Farms 47 decker Pond road/route 517 • Green townshIP/aLLamuchy, nJ 07821 908-979-0303 • tranquilityfarmsnj.com • oPen year round I sit here early in the morning on Saturday, February 6 with much anticipation. It is the beginning of one of my favorite days of the year. Nope, not my birthday (a close second) but Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. Funny, this morning I woke up and realized that it’s been a whole year since I’d been into Manhattan – sad and scary. That was for the opening of the soon defunct Ice Cream Museum – great place for little kids to satisfy their 20 milk teeth but not so much fun for the adults. This year was going to be sooo much better as we were heading to Tranquility Farms, a much more local, natural and pleasant experience.

A bit of history: Tranquility Farms, a third-generation, family-run business, started in 1989 with a few cows and a tractor on a rented farm in Newton, NJ. After building the farm and business significantly, they moved back to Tranquility Farms in 1998, a farm that Larry Freeborn’s father had rented since 1950. Tranquility Farms was originally owned by Peter Stuyvesant in the late 1600s who hosted hunts for aristocrats. Today, the Freeborn family are all very much involved with the business and look forward to continuing to bring fresh local produce and milk products to their patrons.

And milk products was what we were there for today. They have been making their own ice cream for a while now and have developed some great flavors. The farm atmosphere is so very ‘Jersey’ with the cows in the surrounding fields and the fresh farmer’s market and grocery inside the large open building. Their walk-up window was hopping on this not-too-chilly winter’s day and the sunshine made for a Mr. Blue Sky type of day. They had posted their Ice Cream for Breakfast Day menu earlier so the line was moving right along. While I held our place and chatted with those around me and watched the little ones playing in the snow, Brian did his thing and wandered around snapping pictures and perusing the wares indoors. I look over MOTORCYCLE TRAILER RENTALS & SALES just as he was heading out with a very nice planter full of succulent plants, to replace the ones that I had managed to destroy since moving them indoors.

BARN TRAILER RENTALS Today’s offerings were very creative and included Cinnamon Bun Sundae (2 718-426-7039 • www.BarnTruckRental.com scoops of cinnamon bun ice cream on top of a cinnamon bun, topped with glaze, OPEN & ENCLOSED TRAILERS whipped cream and a cherry), Cocoa Puffs Sundae (2 scoops of chocolate topped FLATBED TRAILERS • CAR HAULERS with hot fudge, cocoa puffs, whipped cream and a cherry) and a Crumb Cake Sundae (vanilla soft-serve on a piece of crumb cake, topped with candied pecans, HITCH INSTALLATIONS caramel, whipped cream and – you guessed it – a cherry). While these all sounded 5705 Broadway • Woodside NY 11377 (OFF THE BQE & LIE)

BACKROADS • MARCH 2021

too good to be true, we opted for one Waffle Sundae (a scoop each of coffee fudge swirl and milk n’ cookies ice cream, hot fudge, cinnamon toast crunch cereal, whipped cream and a cherry) and a Bacon Sundae (2 scoops of cinnamon toast crunch ice cream topped with bacon, fresh bananas, peanut butter whipped cream and the obligatory cherry).

Our breakfast in hand, we took a walk behind the farm store to the indoor greenhouse they had set up with picnic tables. While the parking lot was jammed and the line was growing, there were not too many folks taking ad-

vantage of this warm, yet outdoor, setting in which to enjoy these very wonderful ice cream bowls. Honestly, we could have shared one sundae (NOT) but I was very glad to have both to sample. While I am a lover of bacon with my ice cream, I have to say that Brian’s waffle nestled in those two flavors was a home run. We chatted with the owners of the Black Forest Inn, a Bavarian restaurant in Stanhope, NJ, who had their dachshund Ellie along with them. Ellie was very interested in everything, but especially the other little dog that was along with her family.

Our ice cream now sadly gone, we went back in to do some shopping and came away with some wonderful veggies and other tidbits. While we were inside, one of the Freeborns had come out with a front loader and cleared away another parking area. The line was still growing, but all had smiles (I assume, as everyone was masked) anticipating their marvelous breakfast to come.

Tranquility Farms is located in a most beautiful part of New Jersey and there are some of the best motorcycling roads surrounding them. Be sure to put them on your ‘places to go’ list as they not only serve ice cream

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year round but have soups and chili and other sustenance which can be enjoyed at their picnic tables under the gazebo. Check out all their offerings on their website and plan a great day’s ride once the feets of snow have disappeared from the fields. Don’t forget to mark your calendar for next year’s Ice Cream for Breakfast Day – the first Saturday in February.

You know where you’ll find me. ,

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W

MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS

e had spent the entire day snow blowing, shoveling, and kvetching about the 26-inches of snow that had piled up onto Backroads Central over the last 18-hours. Although some got less, we seem to live in the snow zone of the Skylands of New Jersey and this snow was particularly heavy. Even our monstrous Arien snow blower, complete with pinstriping, flames, and Backroads logo (c’mon, we had a bottle, or two, of wine and it was July when we did this. Seemed like a good idea at the time) was having a bit of a hard time cutting through it. So, slow, steady, and knowing this would take all day, our heroes carried on undaunted. Except for the quick reprieve when the college gal, with shorty short shorts and ponytail, ran by on the now dry roadway with a happy “Good Morning” (even the horses stopped to stare at her) it was a long, long day.

BACKROADS • MARCH 2021 That night, as I was falling asleep, Shira said something about just going to Florida.’ ‘Sure,’ I yawned, ‘I’m innnnn…’ Snore.

Upon waking, it took me just a few minutes to grasp all the routes, stops, friends, and family we’d get to see – as her plan was to leave in a day or two.

Ohhh. Florida. I swore I would NEVER drive to Florida again.

But, she was so happy and excited, especially to see her good friend Mindy, that I just smiled and sucked it up.

Ahh, but here is the rub, my motorcycle friends. Backroads says… Motorcycle, Travel & Adventure. Well, this was the travel & adventure deal.

The bikes were buried in snow and it was 10 degrees outside and the one concession I asked for was that we take our Dodge Durango rather than Shira’s Audi A4 convertible.

She gave me that – so I was totally, if not happily, in.

Allison, our cat-sitter extraordinaire, was called, and the Durango packed.

Well, not really as I took my bags I use on my bike, as did Shira. Okay, we grabbed sandwiches from the Yellow Cottage and got going.

Taking 3-hour shifts we made time south and, although I was in a groove at 10pm, I looked to Shira who had settled into the passenger seat and was fast asleep, so I pulled off I-95 near the town of Waltersboro, SC. It is funny how things happen.

Page 25 The next day we spent hours exploring this town; the Wildlife Refuge, the infamous Watertower / Town Jail (yes, the town water tower was once the jail) and the home base of the famed Tuskegee Airmen.

With morning already gobbled up and the need to get to southern Florida we hit I-95 with the Durango in Sport-Mode. At its Warp Drive we motored through Georgia and made it to Palm Beach Gardens by early evening - the home of Shira’s best buddy Mindy, her husband Ken and, of course, Brody the Wonder Dog! Transplanted New Yorkers (Brody too) Mindy and Ken moved down to the area for a number of reasons, but one big part of the motivation is their shared love of baseball. We can understand that.

Just a short walk from their home you will find Roger Dean Stadium – Spring Training camp to both the Miami Marlins and the Saint Louis Cardinals. The rest of the season both team’s minor league players take the field.

We walked the entire complex, which was enormous.

God, I hope we have real and open baseball games this year!

We took a ride to the beach to let Brody have some fun. They might consider changing his name to Tenacious as he played fetch with ‘his stick from New York’ for over an hour. I was exhausted just watching him.

We rode around Jupiter a bit, Ken bringing Shira to what he promised was

Left Block Clockwise: Waltersboro, SC is home to a unique combination of water tower and jail cells as well as the more historic Tuskegee Airmen Airfield and Memorial.

Right Block Clockwise: In and around Jupiter you’ll find Roger Dean Stadium and our friends Mindy, Ken and Brody, who will chase his stick as long as you will throw it.

Page 26 Keith Hernandez’s favorite gelato shop in the United States. Who would argue with that man…he’s Keith Hernandez.

Matty’s Gelato Factory. A native Floridian owner, Matthew Cairo learned his craft Up North when he moved to New Haven, Connecticut specifically to study under an Italian Gelato Master. He learned well, as it seems #17 knows his gelato as well as turning a remarkable double play.

See February 2021 ‘Inside Scoop’ for the whole story.

That evening we took in the sunset across from the Jupiter Lighthouse at the Square Grouper Tiki Bar, right along Jupiter’s inlet.

The Square Grouper got its odd name from Florida’s drug smuggling past.

The term square grouper was a nickname given to bales of marijuana thrown overboard or out of airplanes in South Florida in the 1970s and 1980s. In sharp contrast to the brazenly violent “Cocaine Cowboys” of the 1980s, Miami’s marijuana smugglers were cooler, calmer, and typically nonviolent.

On a less ominous note, it has also been the home of several music videos, including Alan Jackson’s hit “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere” with Jimmy Buffett. Baseball and ParrotHeads. This region must be Margaritaville!

It was time to begin our slow journey back north. Today was Christmas Eve and Shira had found a small hotel resort outside Vero Beach.

We planned to stop for everything and anything of interest – the first being an ascent of the Jupiter Lighthouse, which was the backdrop to the previous night’s sunset cocktail hour.

105 steps. I counted. Although the wind on the outside walk was brutal, the view was stupendous and well worth the easy effort.

MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS

We wanted to stay as close to the water as possible so we chose to drive up South Beach Road. This barrier island is accessed at the lighthouse and, while it looks like it runs along the coast, the water is camouflaged by a mixture of mansions and old Florida homes. Slow going, but we were rewarded when a pair of Sandhill crane meandered across the road. Beautiful creatures.

About 30 or so miles north along the ocean you will find the town of Stuart, Florida. For the sportsman who loves to cast a line, the open water offshore Stuart and the Treasure Coast is widely regarded as the ‘Sailfish Capital of the World’ by fishing enthusiasts and is praised as an angler’s paradise. The large sailfish fountain in the center of town and the many Historical Sailfish Markers attest to all this as well.

One interesting presidential note was that President Grover Cleveland loved the fishing down here so much he bought a large tract of land on which to build a home. Sadly he died from a heart attack before it was built and his widow sold the land back to the town and their City Hall now sits there.

We took lunch at a superb seaside restaurant called The Boathouse and then strolled the Historic section, stopping in one shop where we both bought each other exquisite cotton button-down shirts for Christmas. So romantic, right?

Counterclockwise: The Square Grouper at sunset, Jupiter’s Lighthouse & Museum, view from the top, Navy Seal Museum obstacle course, tree-lined road to Stuart.

BACKROADS • MARCH 2021

Continuing north towards Vero Beach we made a short side trip to the US Navy Seal Museum. Very impressive, even from the outside.

There is an obstacle course that you, if you care to sign your life away, may attempt, a number of fast boats and other craft that went over my head but did not fail to impress. This certainly deserves a return trip next time we are in this region.

By late afternoon we rolled into the Caribbean Court Boutique Hotel –a very cool, laid back, and flavorful spot to spend the night.

(See February 2021 ‘We’re Outta Here’ for full report) Shira had selected our lodging and I stayed away from the web on this, wishing to be surprised on Christmas Eve – and I was. Superb in every way and made more so when we were joined by our brother from a different mother, Larry Mosca.

Larry has been a riding buddy for

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decades and he drove up from Pompano to join us for Christmas Eve dinner, which was very, very nice. After dinner drinks were had at their Havana Nights Piano Bar and, with Christmas Eve sliding into Christmas, we scanned the quickly chilling skies as it seemed Saint Nick was bringing more than presents from the far north. A Canadian cold front ripped into the region plummeting temperatures in hours from the 60s to the 30s.

Coldest Christmas in 42 years, they said.

Right, of course it was.

Even with the late goodnights, we were all up at 7 am and on the beach to watch a glorious Christmas sunrise, with Shira’s sandals making for popsicle toes. It was certainly one of the best moments of this COVID Christmas Miracle Road Trip.

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MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS The hotel provided neat little breakfast baskets and we dined al fresco, bundled with sweaters. Larry headed south and we headed north, sticking to the coast as best we could and made time for a long stop at Pelican Island, America’s first National Wildlife Refuge.

Pelican Island’s designation as a wildlife Refuge came about through the valiant efforts of many individuals, from a pioneer boat builder living on an ancient shell mound overlooking the island in the late 1800s to a conservation-minded president, as well as conservationists, sportsmen, and environmentally conscious citizens. On March 14, 1903, with one pen stroke, President Theodore Roosevelt changed the United States forever. There is a reason he ranks among my favorite presidents.

We were headed to Ormond Beach and the home of Backroads alumni and writer extraordinaire Pam Collins and her husband Tim. They kindly invited us to overnight and after a great meal and evening, we rode around with them as Tim showed off the Ormond region. State parks, some homes that were beyond belief, and then the beach

where we visited the Birthplace of Speed.

Many people know Daytona Beach as the hub of NASCAR. What might not be as well-known is the fact that racing in the region actually got its start a few miles away in Ormond Beach.

In 1903, the smooth, hard-packed sands of Ormond Beach became a proving ground for automobile inventors and drivers. These first speed tournaments in the US earned Ormond the title ‘Birthplace of Speed.’

Records set here during speed trial tournaments for much of the next eight years would be the first significant marks recorded outside of Europe. Motorcycle and automobile racers brought vehicles that used gasoline, steam, and electric engines. They came from France, Germany and, of course, the United States.

It was here, on January 24, 1907, that Glenn Curtiss set the world record of 136.36 miles per hour on a V-8 powered motorcycle that was originally built for aircraft. He remained ‘the fastest man in the world’, the title the newspapers gave him, until 1911, and his motorcycle record was not broken until 1930. This motorcycle is now in the Smithsonian Institution.

It was lunchtime and we got bounced from our first choice by Christmas Day crowds, but our Plan B was far, far better. Rose Villa was outstanding and the first floor was dedicated to all the early A very chilly Christmas sunrise at Vero Beach, Land Speed Records. beautiful tile steps leading to Havana Nights, Built in the late 1800’s, Rose Villa satisfying breakfast taken poolside, the Boys was established as a bed and breakfast are happy with their digs, Pelican Island in 1901. A small exclusive adjunct to makes for a great nature walk, Pam - the Henry Flagler’s Ormond Hotel, it achostess with the mostest and great chef too. commodated important guests who preferred more privacy than the famous

BACKROADS • MARCH 2021 hotel afforded. Time goes on and, thankfully, in 2007 it was rescued and refurbished into the jewel it is today.

From the bold cranberry and apple green colors on the outside to the magnificent custom wallpapered walls and ceilings throughout, you are transported to the era of the 1920’s with every minute detail.

The Bluebird Bar is dedicated to the March 7, 1931 attempt at the World Land Speed Record by a Brit named Sir Malcolm Campbell. He would go on to be the first human to go over 300 miles per hour at Utah’s Salt Flats. Above the bar is a stained glass picturing of the land-bound rocket and above it a model. Throughout the entire restaurant there are marvelous paintings of racing greats from that era.

The service and food were marvelous and, while waiting for our plates, I went searching around the old house.

Upstairs I found a secret door that led to their SpeakEasy Absinthe Bar with an ice-cold zinc bar, which was something, but not as impressive (well at least to me) as the next room which was all about one of my top 5 U.S. leaders, President Teddy Roosevelt.

Oh, I have found me a home. Well, at least my favorite restaurant in Ormond, Florida.

After lunch we said our goodbyes and bolted west to Winter Gardens so we could spend some time with my great buddy Mark and his wife Cassie. Mark was my best man and after decades we remain steadfast and still look forward to getting into trouble with the gals whenever we get together, as best friends should.

The next day we began to head to St. Augustine but, as often happens with Shira and me, we got side-tracked.

Cassadaga, Florida. Yep, every town needs something, but this town has taken it to a whole other level.

Some towns have antiques, others great shops or restaurants. Cassadaga is especially known for having many psychics and mediums, and has consequently been named the ‘Psychic Capital of the World.’ They sell tshirts that say ‘Cassadaga – where Mayberry Meets the Twilight Zone.’

With a rather short drive to St. Augustine, we spent a good deal of time here. We took in a seminar that was very, very interesting (in a good way) then Shira took a seat at the town’s hotel for a late breakfast, while I went ‘exploring’ the hotel’s upstairs (hint: never ask permission – if needed, beg forgiveness). Nice, certainly haunted, and a perfect escape for those looking for different while in Central Florida.

I came back to find the jazz guitarist wooing Shira with some great licks on his left-handed guitar. He was very, very good.

We stopped by the store, Shira bought a few gifts, and we got going northeast towards the oldest city in the United States – St. Augustine.

Once again we freeloade… I mean we stayed with friends. Jan and Ron have been long-time friends from our area and their new Florida home is beautiful.

After settling in Ron fired up his Jeep and the four of us drove for 30 miles on the sand, taking in the sights.

We stopped for a bit just to look at how beautiful it all was and as the sun set, we rode back north, past the lighthouse and through downtown St. Augustine, which had been transformed into a City of Lights for the holidays. This was the 27th Annual Nights of Lights, which dazzles the city as some three million lights adorn every corner of the historic district for two months.

Crowded? Oh sure, you betcha. But worth the traffic.

Come morning we pointed the Durango north and in hours we were out of Florida and halfway through Georgia.

By evening we were in Clayton, North Carolina, and the home of my cousin Johnny and his awesome bride

Page 29

Exploring the wetlands around Ormond, hanging with Pam and Tim, Rose Villa was a great lunch spot while visiting the Birthplace of Speed, Jan and Ron host our last night in Florida.

Page 30 Maureen. I love these people and have always been grateful that they took me in as family when I was a young boy. Hanging with family is superb, almost a good as Johnny’s bacon-infused bourbon. Trouble, I tell ya. We did not hurt ourselves too terribly, and the next day saw the Durango making quick time for our last overnight mooch of a room, this time in Maryland with columnist Mark Byers and his bride Betsy.

We passed it by on the way south but had to make a stop at Pedro’s South of the Border on the way north.

Besides, it was one of the only restaurants open (food poisoning be damned) and we picked up a case of Blenheim’s Ginger Ale (produced right there at South of the Border) for the Byers.

Further north, we found a little bit of history as we went in search of the Death of John Wilkes Booth. Stay tuned for that story. By 5 o’clock we rolled into the Byers’ driveway. For us this was very close to being home, in feeling and miles. Great night and in the morning we had a fun breakfast at the Showtime Deli – a favorite of Mr. Byers… and now us too.

As Mr. Wizard would say to Tooter Turtle, ‘Drizzle, Drazzle, Druzzle, Drome; time for these ones to come home.’ With hugs goodbye, it was time to do just that.

By eveningtime, we rolled up the now beautifully paved driveway to Backroads Central. Okay, it was not a motorcycle journey, but an adventure just the same.

Needed, called for, and now done.

We came back to no snow (yes!) and after a quiet New Year’s Eve, we were out on the bikes for a New Year’s Day Ride.

Goodbye 2020 - hello 2021! May it be superb for us all. Ride safe, ride smart! ,

MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS

BACKROADS • MARCH 2021

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PRODUCT REVIEW

ODYSSEY BATTERIES THE ULTIMATE LONG-TERM TEST Looking back, I might have had no real reason for being a bit miffed that the battery in my KLR 650 had finally given up the ghost. How dare it!? Why don’t things last anymore!?

But, would you not be a bit peeved that this battery had lasted a paltry 5,500 or so days? Right?

So, resigned to the fact that the battery had called it quits I went about removing the power cell that had faithfully started this machine for nearly 15 years.

Wait, did I just say that? 15 years?! Yes, indeedy! That is almost unheard of. It is phenomenal. It is almost crazy – but that is the deal.

There is a reason they call their batteries ‘The Extreme.”

Odyssey batteries, with an eight-year design life, will save you time and money because you do not have to replace your battery as often. It is also the only battery that is capable of delivering a large number of deep cycles, up to 400 when fully discharged or up to 500 when discharged to 80%. Plus, the battery is specially designed for high vibration applications.

This particular Odyssey has some standout highlights 1269 DOLSONTOWN RD MIDDLETOWN NY 10940 when it comes to cranking up your machine: 545 cranking amps for 5 seconds 495 cranking amps for 10 seconds 845-343-2552 • WWW.CYCLEMOTIONINC.COM 420 cranking amps for 20 seconds Short circuit current over 1200A Cycle Motion is your provider of motorcycles, ATVs, 18-minute reserve capacity with 25amp load scooters, and utility vehicles by Kawasaki, Suzuki, Polaris, Yamaha and Can-Am. With a large parts department, qualified service technicians and a full shop of parts and accessories, we're here to meet all your power sport needs.

For every rider - on or off road, whether they like doing it in the dirt, carving the twisties, or cruising the backroads, we have their weapon of choice.

Unlike conventional batteries that need to be recharged every six to twelve weeks, the Odyssey battery will maintain up to 50% state of charge after 2 years if stored at room temperature (77ºF). At temperatures lower than 77°F, storage times will be even longer. The cranking power of Odyssey batteries is double to triple that of equally sized conventional batteries, even when the temperature is as low as -40ºF. Odyssey batteries come with a 2-year warranty.

But, this all comes with a steep price, compared to conventional batteries. We found this battery for sale from anywhere between $130 to $170 PLUS shipping.

So if you want the very best battery possible then I highly recommend going for the bucks.

You’ll thank me in 2036! , Want to get more BACKROADS in your life?

Sign up for the BACKROADS REPORT delivered to your inbox every Saturday.

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“The idea is to fit the Parkway into the mountains as if nature has put it there.”

Stanley Abbott, Chief Landscape Architect for the Parkway We would hope that every rider and reader has heard of the famed Blue Ridge Parkway that winds like a 469-mile long asphalt serpent atop the Appalachian Mountains.

But, if not, or you still have never had the chance or opportunity to ride along this American jewel, let us tell you a bit about this beckoning marvel.

Back in the 1920s, National Parks were taking shape out west. During the 1930s on the east coast, National Parks became established as part of public work programs created by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. On November 24, 1933, the Blue Ridge

Parkway, dubbed a “park-to-park” highway, was approved for construction.

The Parkway would be the longest sprawling park of its kind. Interestingly, Skyline Drive, which runs through 105 miles in the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, the beginning point of the Parkway, was completed in 1933 but the park which it runs through wasn’t deemed a National Park until December 26, 1935. And the Great Smokey Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, the ending point of the Parkway, wasn’t officially a National Park until June 15, 1934. Work began on September 11, 1935, near Cumberland Knob in North Carolina; construction in Virginia began the following February. On June 30, 1936, Congress formally authorized the project as the Blue Ridge

MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS

Parkway and placed it under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service.

Some work was carried out by various New Deal public works agencies.

BRP Factoid: It is the longest road planned as a single unit in the United States.

The parkway’s construction created jobs in the region, but also displaced many residents and created new rules and regulations for landowners, including requirements related to how farmers could transport crops. Residents could no longer build on their lands without permission or develop land except for agricultural use. They were not permitted to use the parkway for any commercial travel but were required to transport equipment and materials on side roads.

The start of World War II brought everything to a standstill and it was slow getting the project back up so construction of the parkway was completed in 1966 except for a 7.7-mile stretch that included the Linn Cove Viaduct around Grandfather Mountain, which was completed in 1987.

Now this beautiful scenic ride will have you cross four major rivers, more than 100 gaps, and six mountain ranges.

BRP Factoid: With over 20 million visitors a year, it is the most visited National Park in the U.S. The Blue Ridge Parkway has twice the number of visitors per year as Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone combined!

BACKROADS • MARCH 2021

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Is there a better way to travel the Blue Ridge Parkway than on a motorcycle? We think not.

The road is a blast, is beautiful, but be aware of the speed limit and of authorities.

We’ll ride the Blue Ridge anytime, but prefer weekdays as traffic is far lighter and most of the time you will have miles and miles to yourself.

Although you might be tempted to let the road carry you on, we recommend stopping on occasion at an overlook simply to gaze at blooms or mountain ranges or just to stretch your legs.

BRP Factoid: The Blue Ridge Parkway is home to sixteen peaks over 5,000 feet and the highest peak east of the Mississippi, Mt. Mitchell. Aside from Mt. Mitchell, the Blue Ridge Parkway is also home to the deepest gorge in eastern America - Linville Gorge.

More than just the Blue Ridge Parkway Along with the 469 miles of glorious scenery winding along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the parkway, there are several other motor routes in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia that are popular with motorcyclists. Probably the most well-known route is the Tail of the Dragon that boasts 318 curves in just an 11-mile stretch of US 129 starting (or ending) near Deal’s Gap in Robbinsville, North Carolina.

Stop in at Deal’s Gap Motorcycle Resort. We have been there many a time and it keeps getting better.

They have a General Store, rooms, and an ambiance that is hard to beat.

From here you can continue onto the Foothills Parkway, a motor route through eastern Tennessee that currently connects US 129 and US 321. Nearby you’ll find the 43-mile Cherohala Skyway (Shira’s personal favorite), which we think is a far more enjoyable ride than the tight, twisty, and sometimes squidly Dragon, between Robbinsville, North Carolina, and Tellico Plains, Tennessee. The skyway passes through the Nantahala and Cherokee National Forests. The Diamondback Route, NC 226A, twists its way from Marion, North Carolina to Switzerland Inn, on the edge of Mitchell County, North Carolina.

But, this part of the nation offers even more great riding. The Great Smoky National Park is beautiful to behold and offers great motorcycle riding as you run through Tennessee.

Not to be outdone, just to the north, Virginia offers their own Dragon routes: The Claw of the Dragon includes loops of varying lengths, some traversing portions of the Blue Ridge Parkway, in the Galax, Marion, and Wytheville areas of Virginia. The routes can be combined to form a 237.1-mile loop that offers challenging During this time, we remain OPEN for SERVICE and REPAIR. Please call/email for an appointment.

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curves and thrilling elevation changes. The Back of the Dragon connects Tazewell and Marion, Virginia via a curvy, and very tiring, 30-mile ride on VA 16. The website Appalachian Backroads (no relation) has vetted over 1,500 miles of roadways and offers route maps that are rated by technical difficulty.

There’s also a Meadows of Dan loop beginning in Fancy Gap and multiple loops comprising the 268-miles of The Jagged Edge. Here, you’ll explore some of the curviest and most picturesque roads in the southeast, following the Blue Ridge Parkway from near Fancy Gap all the way to Roanoke on any one of the eight loops. One run even navigates 12 separate mountains!

From Swain County, North Carolina to Franklin County, Virginia, and beyond, the entire region is filled with great bi-ways just waiting to be explored.

MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS

To assist in your planning, the Blue Ridge Parkway Association has road trip itineraries designed for motorcycle riders and other travel enthusiasts.

Motorcycle-friendly attractions from wineries to museums are also available near the Blue Ridge Parkway. And when you need to stop for the night, there are lodging options offering everything from a cabin along the parkway to a full-service resort that provides lodging and dining plus other amenities that will make your day’s end as fun as the day itself. There are even more motorcycle-friendly lodges and resorts near the parkway just waiting for you to come and discover as you ride throughout the region.

Visit www.blueridgeparkway.org for resources to help in planning your road trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway region. March is a great month to plan your rides to make 2021 a year to remember. ,

BACKROADS • MARCH 2021

Page 35 There are many beginner courses across the country and you can find an MSF course near you at training.msf-usa.org.

New Jersey Bergen County Harley-Davidson Riding Academy 201-843-6930 ext. 170 www.bergenharleydavidson.com/learn-to-ride Central Jersey Rider Training Inc. jerseyrider.com • 877-308-2578 Motorcycle Riding Centers, Inc. 201-787-0661 • theridingcenter.com Rider Education of New Jersey 732-572-0800 • RENJ.com

Whether you’ve been recently bitten by the two-wheeled bug and are searching for a beginner’s course or you have miles of experience under your tires but always feel there is more to learn, we are here to try and make your search a bit easier. All over these United States are courses, trails, tracks and classrooms waiting to give you just what you want – be it pavement particulars, a dirty experience, on-track insight into the right line or anything in between. We hope to bring you a comprehensive listing so that you can make an educated decision on which will be the best for your needs.

Starting with the Basics

I remember the first time I attempted to learn to ride. Brian bought me a Kawasaki KZ440. Sitting to the right of me in the driveway on his Ninja 600, he instructed me to do this and do that and, apparently, I did not follow instructions exactly. In his haste to show me the correct way, he hopped off his bike without fully putting down the side stand. His bike knocked both my bike and me onto the ground. I got up, gave him a nasty look and informed him this was not the bike for me. Needless to say, I signed up for an MSF course, where I fell in love with riding.

First lesson in learning to ride: take it to the professionals.

New York Big Apple Motorcycle School 516-639-9977 • BigAppleMoto.com NY State Motorcycle Safety Program 518-384-0045 • nysmsp.org On The Road Again 631-862-RIDE • LR2RIDE.com Trama’s Motorcycle School 718-847-2015 • tramas.com

Connecticut Connecticut Rider Education Program • 860-773-1451 Pennsylvania Total Control Motorcycle Training 888-601-0613 www.totalcontroltraining.net

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Take what you’ve learned a step further While learning to ride in a closed environment is very safe, it does not give you all the necessary skills and information that you’ll need on the open road, let alone actually being on the open road. Once you’ve learned the mechanics and feel comfortable on your motorcycle of choice, you’ll need to learn how to prepare for all the thrills and adrenaline of taking to the backroads.

Here are some ‘next step’ courses that can help you enjoy your newfound freedom and build on your sturdy foundation skills.

BMW Performance Center • bmwperformancecenter.com Located in Spartanburg, SC, the BMW Performance Center covers it all while using one of BMW’s motorcycles: MSF Basic Rider Course, Street Survival Course (including a Women’s Only) and off-road courses.

This is a marvelous facility with professional instructors who will teach you everything from basic skills to on-road challenges and the exhilaration of off-road riding. You will be ‘challenged by choice’ so that you determine your own comfort level.

MotoMark • motomark1.com MotoMark (Motorcycle Accident Reduction Knowledge) offers special teaching aids utilizing teachers, not racers, to train motorcyclists to go from Point A to Point B with no injury to person and no damage to machine. They will help you to become knowledgeable in smooth, safe, strategic operation of your motorcycle. Located in North Carolina, there are a number of different courses available – beginner to advanced, parking lot to open road, class or one-on-one.

MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS Riding in the Zone ridinginthezone.com Ken Condon has been involved in motorcycling for over 40 years in every aspect: commuter, tourer, off-road, track day instructor, journalist, racer and plain old street riding, along with his wife and daughter, who also ride.

His Riding in the Zone course has many options from advanced parking lot to private lessons on the street. The 2021 schedule is limited, so schedule early so as not to be disappointed.

Ride Like A Pro • ridelikeapropa.com • 484-336-6679 Have you ever seen a motor officer handle a motorcycle? Would you like to ride your motorcycle without the fear of dropping it or worry about making a tight radius turn in a parking lot? Then this is the course for you. Created by Jerry ‘Motorman’ Palladino, training takes place at Classic Harley-Davidson in Leesport, PA.

Upping the Ante and Moving to the Track So now you’re confident, your proficient on the road and you feel that you have taken advantage of higher motorcycle education. But these are perishable skills that must be practiced and worked on constantly to keep them fresh. While many people will take the same or similar versions of the same course every year, maybe you want to shake it up a bit and move to another closed environment – not a parking lot but a racetrack.

These courses will help you become a faster, smoother rider and develop more advanced techniques like sight lines, hitting the apex and counter steering.

California Superbike School superbikeschool.com • 800-530-3350 Keith Code has developed a technique that advances a rider’s

BACKROADS • MARCH 2021 skills through four levels. Each level is a complete and integrated package of technical skills. Each of the levels is its own set of related skills broken down into easily understood, bite-sized chunks. Take a look at their website to determine where you fit into their learning set. Tracks are located across the country, with east coast sites at Virginia Int’l Raceway, NJ Motorsports Park and Barber Motorsports Park.

CLASS • classrides.com • 805-933-9936 While held on a racetrack, CLASS is geared more for street riders and sport riders who would like to take their riding to the next level through focus and control. It is not a ‘race’ school, as you will attend classroom sessions as well as on-track. Consideration and courteousness is stressed, as all levels of riders are welcome and encouraged to attend. There is a reason we do this every year.

Tony’s Track Days tonystrackdays.com • 413-247-4419 Tony’s Track Days is all about fun, learning, and safety. Since 1996, they have encouraged average street riders to come to the track to hone their skills and have a blast in an environment void of typical road hazards.

They invite all street riders to bring their motorcycle to the track to see just how much fun and learning happens at their track days. All types of bikes and riders are welcome. There are several locations: Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.

Page 37 Yamaha Ride Like a Champion • ridelikeachampion.com Here you will build upon two principles they call ‘Champion Habits’ – how the best riders in the world ride and how a modern motorcycle is designed to be ridden.

Whether you are early in your street riding career, touring, track day riding or heading to the races, ChampSchool will focus on your riding improvement, either on your own bike or one of their Yamaha fleet bikes.

They are located at NJ Motorsports Park but visit other tracks as well.

When the Pavement Stops, Keep Going Do you panic when the pavement ends? Well, there’s no need to and, and when you venture off the beaten path, you will find SO much more than other motorcyclists. Here are some options, from beginner to advanced, that will bring your riding skills full circle.

American Supercamp americansupercamp.com • 970-227-2385 This is a riding skills and balance improvement course for ALL motorcycle riders using aggressive and innovative riding drills composed by the best riders in motorcycling (Carr, E. Bostrom, Edwards, and more). The camp is designed to force students to critically think about their actions and the effects on the handling of the motorcycle. The camp focuses on improving your techniques of cornering for safety and speed; improving your abilities going into a corner, getting out of a corner, and if need be, past the competition.

Another great place to get comfortable with your motorcycle when conditions are less than perfect, be it on pavement or not. Locations in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois and Delaware.

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Page 38 Colin Edwards Boot Camp texastornadobootcamp.com • 512-677-0877 ‘Where the road meets the dirt and the adventure never ends’ is the motto of Colin Edwards’ – the Texas Tornado Camp Tornado. What could be more fun than learning from two-time World Superbike Champion. Sure, you may pay more for this one, but it is a four-day, all-inclusive immersive learning experience and, where other schools end at 5 o’clock, this one goes on well after, with riding starting again under the lights when the sun goes down. Located in Montgomery, TX – check out all the info on their site; besides honing your riding skills, get comfortable when the bike gets loose underneath you and you’ll shoot big guns.

MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS Jimmy Lewis Off-Road Training jimmylewisoffroad.com • 775-990-8557 Jimmy Lewis’ name is synonymous with dirt riding. Master of Dakar and Baja, there is no better place to learn dirt riding than under his tutelage. Along with his wife Heather, you will come away with more than a basic knowledge if you are a beginner (see their skillset questions) and extreme confidence if you’re already an off-road rider. There is one class – Series One – and they will challenge you to show them you’ve mastered this class. Classes held in Pahrump, Nevada (what could possibly go wrong here?) and some rental bikes are available.

MotoVermont • motovermont.com • 802-860-6686 For those new to Adventure riding, this is a great educational weekend. The learning curve for proficient and independent adventure riding can be quite steep. So many questions; What bike to buy? How to best ride it? What gear to wear?

What to do when things go wrong? These will all be answered and more during this weekend event. Beginner rider training, Beginner and Intermediate Adventure rides, gear demos, medical seminars and mechanical demonstrations are what you can expect during this weekend-long Adventure clinic and ride.

While all dates are sold out for 2021, take a look at their site for other options and potential added dates. Located in Vermont.

Rawhyde Adventures rawhide-offroad.com • 702-209-8503 Developed by Jim Hyde and the only company in North America sponsored and sanctioned by BMW as an official training center, these Adventure Camps are more than a simple riding skills program. In addition to learning a lot about riding your motorcycle in challenging conditions and skyrocketing your confidence, you’ll learn about navigation, GPS, trail repairs and many other ancillary things. There are four levels of classes, from ‘Intro to Adventure’ to ‘Expedition CV’. Locations are California and Colorado.

We hope we have piqued your interest in furthering you’re riding education or, perhaps, going past your comfort zone and taking on a new riding experience. As said before, riding is a perishable skill and the more you learn, practice and experience, the better you will become and the more you will enjoy it.

See you on (or off) the road! , ~ Shira Kamil

Now that you’ve read about all the courses available, make the move and enroll in one TODAY. Riding Season is Around the Bend.

BACKROADS • MARCH 2021

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THE RETURN OF THE KLR650 • KAWASAKI’S WORKHORSE RETURNS We have had a KLR650 in the stable for a few decades now. It seems that so many talk about their motorcycles – their Harley, their BMW and then add… “Oh, and I have a KLR650.” Of, course, you do.

Although mostly playing second-fiddle on our Backroads rides, it still does reminds me how much fun and capable this machine is every time I ride it.

For 2022 the legendary dual-sport bike is back and better than ever. Featuring the new technology you’ve been waiting for, and the same reputable reliability, the KLR650 is ready for your next expedition. Whether it’s traveling long distances or making the daily commute, this adventure-hungry, on-and off-road machine offers the versatility and toughness required to accommodate any adventure.

The all-new 2022 KLR650 receives the addition of fuel injection to the 652cc single-cylinder engine offering increased reliability and fuel efficiency. It was the carbureted engine, that hardly changed in decades, that forced if off the market due to stricter emission-standards world-wide.

Back in 2008 it had a facelift – but the bike was more or less the same. This new bike looks like a world adventurer.

It sports a new multi-functional digital instrumentation panel with a fuel gauge (Oh how fun it was to have to reach to the petcock!) and that is paired with a new fuel tank design with greater useable volume. Numerous parts have been updated for increased riding confidence when carrying luggage, reduced vibrations, and increased generator capacity, contributing to the improved performance and ride comfort that is needed when searching for a tough adventure partner.

The KLR650 now features a new LED headlight and is available with optional ABS. For 2022 the KLR650 motorcycle will also be available in two new special editions featuring a number of Kawasaki Genuine Accessories including side cases, engine guards, LED auxiliary light set, and more.

The four versions will range in color, price and accessories from a base-model at $6,699 to the KLR650 Adventure at $7,999 – that is ready to go to Ushuaia.

Or, lunch. Expect the newest best selling ADV-bike to arrive in showrooms this June. ,

ALL-NEW PCX HEADLINES HONDA’S SMALL-DISPLACEMENT NEW-MODEL OFFERINGS • SMALL CAN BE FUN! American Honda revealed four small-displacement powersports models, including a sport bike and three scooters, headlined by the all-new, newly renamed 2021 PCX. Each of the included models is impressively versatile, and all underline the brand’s commitment to economical, fun, dependable transportation.

Previously known as the PCX150, the PCX gets a significant upgrade that includes new, elegant styling, advanced equipment and a larger, 157cc engine that is freeway-capable in all 50 states. Equally suitable for new riders and more experienced customers, the more-versatile PCX offers a relaxed, fulfilling ride in a wide variety of situations, including around-town travel, highway commuting and suburban touring. While it’s still the ultimate tool for tackling urban environments in style, it has evolved to a new level of comfort, as well.

Also confirmed are Honda’s first two 2022 model-year offerings—the timelessly styled Ruckus and Metropolitan, which make welcome returns to Honda’s scooter lineup, in new colors—as well as the popular 2021 CBR300R sport machine.

“Scooters and small-displacement motorcycles continue to play an important role in American Honda’s on-road lineup, appealing to new riders and serving as fun and economical transportation,” said Lee Edmunds, Senior Manager of Powersports Marketing for American Honda. “With the introduction of the allnew PCX and the return of our stylish 50cc scooters, there’s something for every commute and around-town ride, while the CBR300R is great for those seeking a sportier experience.” Expect these machines at dealers in the spring. ,

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MARCH 2021 • BACKROADS

UP C OM I N G E VE NT S CAL END AR

What’s Happening

Please check on your scheduled event for postponement or cancellation.

We look forward to a full season and seeing everyone on the road again.

MARCH 2021 The destinations listed below may have restrictions on social distancing and mask wearing. Abide by COVID 19 CDC and Site Rules before entering any establishment.

Please check the POLAR BEAR website for updated information.

It is not necessary to be a member of the Polar Bear Grand Tour to do these rides.

There is generally food at the destination and if you just want to go for a nice ride and join other folks, feel free to attend.

Polar Bear cancellations & updates will be posted on the website. Sign-in is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. unless otherwise posted. Check the New Member page for general information about the Polar Bear Grand Tour: polarbeargrandtour.com/newmem.htm 7 • BAHR'S LANDING, 2 Bay Ave., Highlands, NJ 07732 • 732-872-1247 • www.bahrslandingnj.com 14 • BRIAN'S HARLEY-DAVIDSON, 600 S. Flowers Mill Rd., Langhorne PA 19047 • 215-752-9400. • www.brianshd.com 21 • THE HICKORY BBQ SMOKEHOUSE, 743 Route 28, Kingston, NY 12401 • 845338-2424 • www.hickoryrestaurant.com 28 • PLUMSTED GRILL, 457 Rte. 539, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514 • 609-758-5552 • www.theplumstedgrill.com 5-14 • Daytona Bike Week, Daytona, FL • www.officialbikeweek.com

MAY 2021 16-22 • BACKROADS ‘Time of Your Life’ Spring Rally. A week’s worth of great riding, historic lodging and exploration. See full details on page ??. Make your reservations today as rooms are limited. For questions: 973-948-4176 or editor@backroadsusa.com 20-23 • BMW RA ‘Game of Roads’ National Rally, Waynesville, NC • They come to this quiet valley nestled in smoky mountains to learn from sages and magicians, to outfit their steeds with glistening new farkles, to renew bonds with old compatriots, and to make new ones. But most of all, they come to ride, to feel the curvature of the earth, to lean into the unknown, to slay dragons and snakes, and to play the Game of Roads. • Visit BMWRA.org for info and to register.

JUNE 2021 12-20 • Laconia Motorcycle Week, Laconia, NH • Often referred to as the Oldest National Motorcycle Rally, these roots reach back to the summer of 1916, when a Gypsy Tour gathered for several days at Weirs Beach on the southern shores of Lake Winnipesaukee.

24-27 • Thunder in the Valley, Johnstown, PA • Historic downtown Johnstown is the hub of the rally. Multiple venues with food booths, vendors, live music, kids' activities, manufacturer displays, demo rides, and stunt shows offer something for everyone. • www.visitjohnstownpa.com/thunder-valley

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION

24-27 • BMW MOA International Rally, Great Falls, Montana • www.BMWMOA.org

JULY 2021 23-25 • 5th Annual Soggy Bottom MotoFest, Port Matilda, PA. 3-Day Adventure and Dual Sport Rally. Registration includes 4 ADV/Dual Sport rides with GPS files, 5 meals (beer included), live music, event t-shirt, vendors. On-site camping available with hot water showers. Registration available online now: www.kissellmotorsports.com 30-8/1 • BMW MOA Getaway at Skytop, PA • BMWMOA.org • 864-438-0962

SEPTEMBER 2021 6-16 • SheADV/Women’s Motorcyclist Foundation Inc. DIRTY for GOOD Adventure Rider Training/Fundraising Tour with Northeast Backcountry Discovery Route. For further details visit womensmotorcyclistfoundation.org • email Sue.Slate@womensmotorcyclistfoundation.org or text Sue @ 585-415-8230 for a return call.

17-19 • BMW MOA Getaway at Sugarbush, Warren, VT • BMWMOA.org 20-21 • CLASS returns to Virginia International Raceway, VA and BACKROADS will be heading back once again. Plan to improve your skill with some of the best instructors in the business at one of the nicest facilities around. Follow us on Facebook or check our Rally webpage for more details on travel to and from the track. To book your space visit CLASSRides.com and to make reservations for a room at the track visit virnow.com/lodging. Rooms book quickly, just sayin’.

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

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