WHATCHATHINKIN’

SHIRA KAMIL

FORWARD AND BEHIND

Over the past several weeks, perhaps months, I have had some turmoils in my life. I would like to say that they relate to my two-wheeled life, but other antics and hijinks have thrown the trolley off the track. Not to worry, the cart is in the process of being righted so things will work themselves out as we always hope they will.

While dealing with these events, I had a good long time to think and re ect on how our daily habits and routines effect our riding and motorcycle lives. We have taken Reg Pridmore’s CLASS for so many years now that I have lost track, and I do make reference often (never too often) to the teachings that go out from that classroom and track. One of the pieces of wisdom that has stuck in my head for the longest time is, ‘What is in your mirrors no longer matters, it is what is in front of you that makes a difference.’ Looking at the goings on in my life now, I see that all the curves, gravel roads and other bumps in the road, while not effecting my path forward, certainly have shaped my outlook and how I do and will handle the curves and bumps ahead.

We had a great Summer Squeeze recently at our home away from home, West Dover, VT. Our stay at the Gray Ghost and Kitzhof inns was excellent, as always, with folks heading hither and yon, over gap and trail. Sure, there was moisture, but there were more smiles than puddles and, from what I saw and heard, everyone had a tremendous getaway. Thank you to all the new riders who joined us and we hope that you got a good dose of Backroads Family Hospitality.

Brian and I decided, after more than 15 Summer Squeezes under our belts, to just hang. We had thrown out a few routes and Paul Donoghue kindly added to those, so riders were well set to explore on their own. In all our years doing these, we never really just ‘sat.’ So, sit we did – reading our books at the pool, people watching on the front porch, spending some one-on-one time with the others who decided to do the same and playing a bit of the house guitar in the dining room.

We took a walk to the deli/grocery up the road a piece and got some of the best sandwiches I have had. Again, all these years and I had never set foot in this well-stocked grocery/deli. I am so glad it was nally discovered. One night we walked to the Dover Bar and Grill. We had had a bad experience many years ago and never returned. Carina, the most wonderful innkeeper at the Gray Ghost, mentioned there were new owners and we should give it another go. Off we went, and we were quite pleased with the whole experience. During our quietness, there was much time to think back on the many gatherings Backroads has held. From the very rst gathering in 1998 of a dozen curious folks, wondering what ‘Backroads’ was all about and how we might entertain them on a weekend in the Finger Lakes to our most recent Spring Break ‘Time of Your Life’ Tour which was nothing short of stellar, we have collected people from all walks of life, all corners of, mostly, the east, and riders of all manner of two-wheeled transport (some three and, now, more four coming along). We’ve had glorious sunshine, days of teeming rain and even a snow squall in the middle of May. Our lodgings ranged from the luxuriousness of the Stonewall Jackson Resort to the quirkiness of Tupper Lake. We had a horse race named for us in Charlestown, WV, explored the wilds of Ecuador with Freedom Bike and brought two dozen folks to ride the Alps with Edelweiss.

My conclusion from all this reminiscing? It is ALL of you, who continue to trust us when we say, ‘Hey, we’re going to Hole-In-The-Wall, Kalamazoo or wherever’ and follow along. Sure, Brian and I have travelled and will continue to do so, but having all of you come along for the ride has made it all the more fun, adventurous and memorable. The stories that come Continued on Page 11