W H A T ’ S
I N S I D E
MO NT HLY C O L U M NS
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Motorcycles, Travel & Adventure
FREE WHEELIN’ ..................................................3 WHATCHATHINKIN’ ...........................................4 POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE.......................5
Publishers
Brian Rathjen • Shira Kamil
Contributors
Mark Byers, Don Gomo, Bill Heald, Tony Lisanti, Dr. Seymour O’Life
ON THE MARK ....................................................6 BACKLASH..........................................................8
Editorial Office BACKROADS, POB 620 Augusta, NJ 07822
INDUSTRY INFOBITES.......................................9 GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN...............11 BIG CITY GETAWAY .........................................14 WE’RE OUTTA HERE ........................................16 MYSTERIOUS AMERICA..................................19 INSIDE SCOOP .................................................21
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WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE ............................47 UPCOMING EVENTS CALENDAR ...................48
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BACKROADS (ISSN 1087-2088) is published monthly by BACKROADS™, Inc. 2019. All rights reserved. BACKROADS™ may not be reproduced in any manner without specific written consent from the publisher. BACKROADS™ welcomes and encourages submissions (text and photos) and suggestions. Include phone number with submissions. BACKROADS™ will only return material with enclosed sufficient postage. The written articles and opinions printed in BACKROADS™ are not necessarily those of the publisher and should not be considered an endorsement. The Rip & Rides® published are ridden on the sole responsibilty of the rider. BACKROADS™ is not responsible for the conditions of the public roadways traversed. Please respect the environment, read your owner’s manual and wear proper protective gear and helmet. Ride within your limits, not over them.
BACKROADS • SePTeMBeR 2019
FREE WHEELIN’ BRIAN RATHJeN
Weather Worriers or if you got nothing good to say, don’t say anything! The rain may never fall till after sundown By eight, the morning fog must disappear In short, there’s simply not a more congenial spot For happily ever after in than here in Camelot We have said many times that nothing is more depressing than suiting up to begin a ride or long tour in the pouring rain. Getting caught in the rain is never fun, but starting out? Damn sucky at best. But, rain happens and if you really ride then you will get wet. That being said I am still a weather-geek. My go-to source for long-range weather prediction is weatherbell.com and Joe Bastardi’s updates. Joe bats around .800 and if he were a baseball player with that average, they would carry him to Cooperstown and create a bronze bust in his honor! Even though I keep a slight eye on what is coming my way, I try never to overthink it, unless it is a storm with a name or so strong it might blow me to Oz. But, there is a difference between vigilant and obsessive. We know there are a few riders – both gals and guys – who will start email or texting us, a week or so before our Backroads Rallies, to paint us a doom & gloom image of what might happen rain-wise. Not once have these same riders let us know when the atmosphere would
Page 3 provide a Mary Poppin’s manner of rally weather. I have found over the last few seasons that more and more riders now are looking at their smartphone weather apps every 5 minutes and then seem to dwell on something over which they have no control. If it were just one or two riders I might overlook it, but it seems that so many riders I meet talk more about what is going to happen with the weather over the next few days rather than where they are going to ride and what they are going to see, These were men and women who once laughed at Zeus and the other Gods of Weather, but now stare at screens and have become almost Chicken Littlish in their thinking. It is almost sad. No, it is sad. The last time I checked there were over 8,000 apps that were aimed at the weather. 8,000!? Yikes! We are not saying today’s readily available and current weather info is not a good thing – just pointing out the constant anxiety about what is coming in the sky by some riders. We use Dark Sky – it is easy, quick, very accurate and worth the price. On the road, I look to see what is coming and then go about my plans. I was recently riding with a friend that spent every offbike moment looking at a storm 1,000 miles to the west. Was it coming our way? You betcha. Two days from now, so my thought was to enjoy the 70 degrees and puffy clouds we had this day and deal with the storm when it began to rain. I was talking to another friend who was already at a rally that we were going to be heading up to in a couple of days. “How’s it going up there?” “Well, we got some rain coming in.” “When?” “Later in the week… at night.” Continued on Page 7
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SePTeMBeR 2019 • BACKROADS
WHATCHATHINKIN’ SHIRA KAMIL
if it ain’t broke – duCt it! My Suzuki V-Strom just turned two in July, although I didn’t really start riding it until the later part of August, and I’m working on getting it to 20,000 miles by that point. It’s running like a top, as it should be, and I’m enjoying the heck out of it. One of the necessary pieces of equipment added in its early days was engine guards. After this addition, I noticed a slight buzzing noise at about the 5300 RPM mark; not 5200 not 5400, just at 5300. After a quick search on some VStrom sites, I found that this was a common occurrence and learned to live with it. Fast forward to earlier this summer; I mentioned to Brian that ‘that noise’ from the guards had become a bit louder, still at the 5300 mark. I had just changed the tires
and brakes and, when I came back from picking up the bike, Brian took it out for a spin to see what I was talking about. He came back and asked ‘how long had this sound been going on like that?’ Having a very bad sense of time (if something happened in my life more than a week ago, it could have happened anywhere from a month to five years ago), I said ‘I don’t know, a week to a few weeks.’ He was a bit incredulous that I hadn’t mentioned it before. He brought the bike into the garage, set it on the center stand, and revved the engine to 5300 – the noise that came out was quite disturbing. He spent the next hour or more (there’s that time thing again) going over every nut and bolt on the front end of the bike; tightening, replacing, etc. No matter what, that noise was still there. He called me back out to the garage and, with a frown on his face, made his prediction that it sounded like the cam chain tensioner. My eyes went wide and my jaw dropped. I had had a cam chain tensioner issue with my BMW, which caused its demise. Despite that, I went on to get another BMW, which I replaced with what I assumed would be a bulletproof motorcycle – Japanese bikes are almost maintenance-free and will run forever. How in the world, with just 18,000 miles, could this practical, beautiful motorcycle have such a problem? A call was put in to Steve, the head technician at Hudson Valley Motorcycles, who asked if we could please bring it in. The next day’s plan for a fun ride to Knoebel’s Amusement Park in Pennsylvania was put on hold. As we mounted up, Brian said that I should keep the revs under 5300 RPM to avoid any stress on the cam chain. It took me a couple of tries to get the rhythm of the quick shift. To help me out, Brian had planned a route to Ossining through Bear Mountain Park so I didn’t have to deal with any highway speeds as well as making it more enjoyable. Steve came out and listened to the bike, raised his eyebrows then went back to get his ‘Suzuki’ guy for a second opinion. Dave took a listen and said, ‘I know what that is.’ You know how your mother used to say, ‘It’s not what you say, but how you say it.’ Well, that was the case with this statement. It was said with the emphasis on the ‘I’ and not on the ‘that,’ which makes a BIG difference. In addition, it was said with a smile/smirk rather than a frown. He asked if these were Givi guards, which they were, and said that he had had several customers with the same issue. The spacer between the left and right sides of the guards had been crushed over time, causing the metal to rub together just about the 5300 mark on the rev marker. There were smiles all around with a bit of a sheepish look on Brian and my face, knowing that we just took a 150-mile ride for no reason. Steve offered up some blue duct tape as a temporary fix (which was great as it matched my bike and my ‘stich) and we spent some time visiting with Duane, Corey (his son), Snappy (Corey’s French bulldog mascot) and Rich Sr., so it really wasn’t a wasted trip at all. We had a great lunch on Greenwood Lake and returned to Backroads Central. We covered the blue duct tape with some black to make it less noticeable and my V-Strom was, once again, the practical and beautiful motorcycle that it had been when new. So, if it ain’t broke and you don’t have to fix it – DUCT IT!
BACKROADS • SePTeMBeR 2019
Page 5
POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE BILL HeALD
Bits and BoBs And on the 19th Day, the Lord said, “Let there be stuff, and many, many things.” And low, there were items of all description, and they were plentiful. ~ Saint William the Consumer
happened in that chance meeting, and I remember riding back to NYC where I lived at the time with those cool new shocks installed. On that trip home (which incidentally was well in the last century), I remember a dual of twisting throttles between me and some annoying dude on a Harley on a fairly decent grade, and just about the time I was set to hit light speed and embarrass him a wasp appeared in my helmet, right on the front of my visor and looking a bit large and angry. Bastard! I bailed to the breakdown lane where I stopped and gently removed this miniature hive from my head. I lost the race to that dink, and he no doubt thought his noisy steed destroyed his foe through sheer mechanical superiority. All these years have gone by, and I still haven’t recovered from this sad contest. Many are the other minor tweaks made to this once daily ride, and the aftermarket seat cover reminds me of how, when I spoke to the representative of the company that made it, they went to great detail regaling how they measured and fashioned this excellent cover, and how smart it was they came out with a way to fix a worn-out seat Continued on Page 7
There comes a time, apparently, when you take a look at an older motorcycle in your stable and say, “Whaaaaaa? What the heck is that?” OK, maybe your time has not yet come to say this, but mine has and it seems to arise every 3-5 years. The reason the “Whaaaa?” moment comes along is because it’s one of those scenarios when you look at your ride and see something that’s been right in front of you all along, but for some reason was invisible. I own a fairly small number of motorcycles, and while the lion’s share have been resting for quite some time for some reason I can’t seem to part with them. And while there have been changes in my current Hero motorcycle (the machine that basically gets all the seat time), it does not match the wild evolution that has taken place on the older, now sleeping, rides. I see these bikes all the time, and every once in a while (usually at the above time interval) I see something that I don’t initially recognize; some part structure or modification that gets my attention. What the hell is that? Where did that come from? Let’s start with the mammoth in the collection, the Honda V45 Magna. Just the other day I was staring at the bike while thinking of something else (I was think I was pondering the whereabouts of my lightest jacket so I could take out the Hero in some really nasty hot weather) and I saw it. Why was this particular item vexing me? My eyes focused on a very trick fork brace on the front of the V45, that, for a brief moment, I didn’t recognize. Then, I remembered. I carefully installed this item decades ago to sharpen the extended (almost but not quite chopperesque) front-end’s handling and steering response. It is a billet affair, wonderfully polished and so well designed that if you weren’t up on your V45 Magnas you might even think it was stock. But it was a genuine aftermarket accessory, and try as I might I can’t remember where I got it. What I do remember, though, is the installation process because as I removed the old wimpy stock brace and put this stunner in its stead I knew from the stronger construction it would increase fork rigidity and good things would ensue. They did. 199 Main St. • Ste. 901 • White Plains, NY 10601 The front end was much more stable as a result. As my gaze expanded out from this glorious accessory I started to notice all kinds of little changes I made to this bike If you’ve been involved over the eons, for whatever reason. The radiator has in a motorcycle accident, shrouds on the sides of it that were initially polished silver with a black stripe down the center, and danged if get the knowledgeable, somebody didn’t paint the things a gloss black. Who the y b d sympathetic and forceful ente hell did that? repres ho has e B Oh, that would be me. Why did I do it? Along with legal representation ne w someo ng for over the origins of my fork brace, the answer to this question i id you are entitled to. is shrouded in mystery. Was there some damage that I been r decided to fix by obscuring it in black Krylon? No idea. No fee unless a recovery is made. But I do think it looks quite good this way. Along with Testimonials available. the fork brace, only a highly trained Magnaphile would notice the deviation from stock thanks to how well-integrated this modification was to the stock substrate. More examination revealed more evolution, and quite a few memories. Gone were the Variable Hydraulic Call the Law Office of Paul Gargiulo, P.C. Damping (VHD) rear shocks with their trick separate for a free consult and evaluation of your case. reservoirs, and in their place are some more progressive units. Lancaster, Pennsylvania. That’s where I got these suckers, at a Rider Magazine rally that was actually where I met then Editor Bill Stermer, and ended up writing my first story in the realm of motorcycledom. A lot
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SePTeMBeR 2019 • BACKROADS
ON THE MARK MARK ByeRS
the offer Took a look down a westbound road Right away I made my choice Headed out to my big two-wheeler I was tired of my own voice Took a bead on the northern plains And just rolled that power on ~ Bob Seeger, “Roll Me Away” This isn’t the first time I’ve used those lyrics to open a column, but they’re so apropos that I must repeat them; it’s the song that instantly started playing in my mind when I got “The Offer.” Opportunities like this don’t come along every day and when one did, I made my choice as rapidly as Bob. Every reference is perfect to describe The Offer, from the size of the two-wheeler to the geography. To explain, I have to take you back a few months to an online ad wherein a fellow was selling the front end from a Suzuki GSX-R600. That part is a perfect upgrade to the budget suspension on my SV-650, so I jumped at the chance. Most salvaged sportbikes have had arguments that destroy the front end, so an intact specimen is rare. I contacted the gentleman, who turned out to be an employee of the same organization as I, and we struck a deal. He was taking a job on the other coast and downsizing his worldly possessions. As I was carting away the Gixxer front end, I passed a very large cruiser: a 2008 Yamaha Raider S. We briefly spoke of it and he expressed a fondness for it and made it clear the bike was going West with him. I agreed that it was a fine specimen and we went our separate ways.
Social media is a blessing and a curse, but in this case a distant colleague became an electronic “friend.” I followed his preparations for a new life and he followed my shenanigans carrying cameramen around at bicycle races and so forth. It was all very “social” and so it was a complete surprise when I received the following personal message: “So, what would it take to have you ride my bike from Maryland to Seattle?” And that, my friends, is the offer. Unbeknownst to me, the size of his possessions and the size of his truck and trailer weren’t suitable for the inclusion of the big Yamaha, so it was placed in the care of a neighbor. Not long after his landfall out West, however, he began to miss his machine. He is either completely daft or he verified my bona fides as a rider through friends of friends and presented me with the opportunity to do something special. He apparently considered shipping and decided that he was better off with me if I’d do it. And do it I will: when opportunity knocks, you have to answer the door. Doing a coast-to-coast trip has been a goal for quite a while. I did an Ironbutt to Madison, Wisconsin a few years ago, so I’ve done about 40% of the distance in a day. I don’t intend to push that hard this time and “taking a bead on the northern plains” involves the Badlands and Black Hills, so I need to spend a little time gawking. I need to assiduously avoid Sturgis week, not that I don’t love people, but I don’t love thousands of them all vying for the same roads and motels. Plus, if it’s like Daytona, the room prices become budget busters. I’m planning to fit this adventure in between Summer Squeeze and Fall Fiesta, sharpening my pencil to plan around a weekend that will minimize my use of vacation. I need to cross the Rockies before “the snows of winter covered this land” (if you’re a Monty Python fan). I will probably hasten to cross the Mississippi since I know the real estate from here to there pretty well, but I’ll take more time once I venture into the Northern Plains. It’ll be Continued on Next Page
BACKROADS • SePTeMBeR 2019
Page 7
free Wheelin’
Continued from Page 3
At night? Excellent. We must be in Camelot! Rain, rain, go away, Come again another day, Daddy wants to play I have also noticed a correlation with some of these riders and what they choose as riding gear. Almost to a rider, these motorcyclists wear gear that is not even water-resistant, let along waterproof. These are the riders that we see huddled under an overpass during a downpour, pulling on bulky and restraining rain suits over their less than adequate PostCards froM the hedge
Continued from Page 5
without having to replace the whole thing. Oh, and then there’s those funky highway pegs, which only an odd creature like me with short legs but long arms could find comfortable on long trips. Of course if it wasn’t for the excellent chrome engine guard (a genuine Honda accessory if I recall) I would have had no place to put these silly pegs, thus denying me the peerless aspect on the Mark
Continued from Previous Page
harvest season and the combines will be making sure the world stays fed, kicking up dust that’ll make the sunsets red. I’ll dodge the remains of late-summer storms and like Seeger, stand upon the Great Divide. Unlike him, I won’t have any choice but to go West, into
riding gear – only to have to peel it all off an hour later when the sun returns. Believe me, nothing is totally waterproof, but we have ridden for hundreds of miles in some very heavy downpours and only been slightly damp for our troubles. As Shira likes to say… “We ain’t made of sugar, baby!” Is high-end gear like Aerostich’s Roadcrafter suits and the like expensive. Yes. But, they work in the sun and the rain. Rain happens. Get used to it. But, instead of fretting about what is to come, enjoy the perfect sunny day that you have now. No reason to be a Weather Worrier. of a short-legged Easy Rider with no stars and stripes to be seen and no smuggled contraband in the fuel tank. What was I thinking with all the crap I bolted on this bike? I was thinking it made something great even better, and each and every trinket really did have a story behind it. This is perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of long-term ownership, especially if you choose your modifications with care. the sunsets, and deliver my precious cargo to the man who eagerly awaits her arrival. I’ll travel light: a credit card, a riding suit, and something to wear of an evening when I find a motel and a diner. I’ll wave to the emerging stone figure of Crazy Horse and dine on the meat of the bison. When I finally see my friend, I’ll thank him for the offer.
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BACKLASH
SePTeMBeR 2019 • BACKROADS
Letters to the Editor to becoming better, safer, more confident streets and trackside friends. One of my mottos is “never stop learning”. That would be both you guys with plusses.You’re always in attendance for the classroom, always ready to get more info and self critiquing like your great article points to. Two of my best students for sure. Come rain or come shine, you’re always looking for that little thing that needs correcting, well done. Looking forward to seeing you both come September. Say hi to your drag race buddy, tell him we’ll take good care of him. Thanks for all you do - ride safe, think fast. Cheers mates, Reg’o #163
Hey Brian, Just a quick note to let you know we Slingshot owners read Backroads too! Best wishes from the Blue Ridge! Your Loyal Subscriber lou fraulo Hey Brian, Shira, You’re the best. Just caught the latest copy of B/R. You don’t just put out one of the best motorcycle monthlies, but I come to realize your commitment
Hi Mark We rode with you many years ago on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Easter time with Steve Cobourn. We were a group of Canadians led by my husband Ross Copas and I think we stayed at the Willville Motorcycle Campground that year. We next saw you at the RA Rally in Canaan Valley during a huge storm. Just picked up a copy of Backroads during a visit to Motorcyclepedia in Newburgh last weekend. Saw your picture and thought we’d drop you a line. The mag has sure come a long way! Very well done!! Jean Copas Hi Brian and Shira, I hope this email finds you both doing well. I was out riding today with a friend and we stopped by Tramontin Harley Davidson. While there my friend picked up the last issue of your magazine. He was delighted to see a Honda motorcycle made the front cover of your magazine. I just had to share this with you for you made a Honda rider’s day. As always, I enjoy getting a copy of your magazine!!!! Have a great summer and ride safe. Joan Papuzynski B&SIt would be so nice to have a California version of Backroads. I get hungry reading the magazine. Clement Salvadori I will not renew my subscription to Backroads. The historical and geographical elements for which I initially subscribed do me no good in Florida. The fact that you do not cater to the Harley/V-Twin demographic, which make up the majority of motorcycles in the U.S., is also a factor. Thanks again and good luck in the future! Sincerely, frank Congro Frank, Sorry you will not be renewing. We are a northeast publication – rarely touch Florida; so we understand that. As far as the H-D/V-Twin coverage – we write about them when we have them. It is rare that H-D lends us machines, but when we do have them we feature them. We cater to motorcycle travelers – with places to go, things to do and superb destinations no matter what you ride. All the best. Good Afternoon Shira, Thank you so much for your note. I am glad to hear that everyone enjoyed their stay at The Penn Stater during your Spring Break Rally. I know our staff was thrilled to welcome everyone in your group. On more than one occasion staff mentioned how nice and courteous everyone was (and how much they like to see all the beautiful bikes)
BACKROADS • SePTeMBeR 2019
IN DU STRY INFOBITES TIM BUCHE STEPPING DOWN AS MIC CEO & PRESIDENT AFTER 23 YEARS The Motorcycle Industry Council, and three other industry associations announced that CEO Tim Buche will be shifting into a consulting role on Nov. 1. Erik Pritchard, president of the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America and Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association of America will become CEO of the MIC, SVIA, ROHVA and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation effective the same day. Pritchard also is general counsel for all associations and has been selected by the respective boards to be chief executive officer and president of all four associations effective Nov. 1, 2019. “Even though I have the same passion for the success of all our respective association members as I did when I assumed this role nearly 25 years ago, this succession has been planned for several years to ensure an orderly transition. I’m excited to continue serving the associations in a new way as a consultant,” Buche said. BaCklash Continued from Previous Page Please keep us in mind for future events. We are certainly looking forward to welcome you back to The Penn Stater. herbert Moller – Sales Manager Penn State Hospitality Services Hello Shira, Thank you for not only writing such a fun and positive review of our ice cream shop in Jefferson, but also mailing us a hard copy. We have just framed it and will be putting it up on the wall. Happy traveling to you! laurie kaler – Little Red Ice Cream Barn Dear Editors, My friends and I have been stopping at the Little Red Barn since they opened (the Club is my choice) but on your very first visit you come away with a Snallygaster AND a Dwayyo story! I feel a little like Dr. Watson to your Holmes. Another great cover for the August issue, BTW. Stay safe! larry Caine My Dearest Mr. Caine, As Sherlockians we are honored at the comparison. Finding folklore, history and fun destinations is part of the job. It is a game really, and the game is afoot!
GPS Help! Hello, and thanks for putting out such a wonderful magazine that I pick up as often as possible from my local motorcycle dealer. Finally I am going to take the plunge and just subscribe to it. Anyway… can you help? I am trying to load GPX files onto my iPhone and I’m not sure which app to use that will allow me to do that. I have tried a couple of apps and all they allow me to do is track and save my own routes. I want to load the files from the Ramapo 500 which I’m going to participate in thanks to your magazine John There are a few Smart Phone apps, but we use Garmin Zumo GPS, so I have no idea how well these work. Run a Google search to what’s out there and see what might work best for your needs. Good luck and thanks for the kind words on Backroads.
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News from the Inside OREGON’S NEW “VUNERABLE ROADWAY USER” LAW Back in 2007, the Oregon legislature passed House Bill 3314, creating an enhanced penalty for careless driving if it contributes to serious physical injury or death to a “vulnerable user of a public way”, providing legal protections for non-motorized roadway users such as bicyclists and pedestrians. The concept of “vulnerable roadway user” had previously been widely used by planners and safety organizations in Europe to categorize and describe non-motorized roadway users, incorporating the inherent vulnerability of humans who use the roads without the benefit of being encased in a 4wheeled protective steel cage. On June 11, 2019, Governor Kate Brown (D) signed Senate Bill 810 into law, modifying the definition of “vulnerable user of a public way” in Oregon to now include persons operating or riding on a moped or motorcycle.
THOUSANDS RIDE TO HONOR THE FALLEN 7 More than 3,000 motorcyclists rode across New Hampshire on Saturday, July 6 on the “Ride for the Fallen 7” to honor seven bikers killed and three injured in a collision with an oncoming pickup truck in June, as state police escorted the group along the 90-mile route to the site of the deadly crash. The victims were Marine veterans and their spouses, members of the Jar-
Page 10 heads Motorcycle Club, who were traveling west on Route 2 on their way to a charity event, when a pickup truck and trailer crossed into their lane from the opposite direction, plowing through the pack, according to a criminal complaint. Commercial trucker, 23-year-old Volodymyr Zhukovskyy of West Springfield, Mass., an immigrant from the Ukraine with a documented history of multiple drug and alcohol arrests and convictions in numerous states, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of negligent homicide. On July 13, as thousands more gathered at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., for a memorial service organized by the Jarheads MC, New England Patriots NFL team owner Robert Kraft made a surprise appearance to present a $100,000 donation to the crash victims’ GoFundMe campaign.
PRANK LANDS MAN IN JAIL FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER OF RIDER Late one night, on the morning after Christmas, a 45-year-old motorcyclist in Japan got a rope tangled around his neck causing him to dump his bike, severely injuring his back and hip. Luckily, the man who strung the rope across the road was caught on security camera footage, and Japanese police quickly tracked him down and charged him with attempted murder. Japan Today reports that police arrested Koichi Deki, 41, who claims the rope strung across the road was nothing more than a “stress relieving prank.” There is no indication whether Deki knew a motorcyclist was coming down the road when he tied a rope to a sign and a pole on the other side of the street, and he is quoted as saying he did it to relieve his stress and didn’t think his “rope prank” could kill anyone. The motorcyclist hit the rope roughly 15 seconds after the rope was stretched across the road, according to the time code on the surveillance footage, and now the prankster faces a prison sentence of several years.
IRELAND TO BAN ALL GAS-POWERED VEHICLES? The Irish Government has reaffirmed its plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, as part of a new strategy aimed at protecting the environment. In 2015, the United Nations agreed to 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and Ireland’s recently released Climate Action Plan details how that nation
SePTeMBeR 2019 • BACKROADS intends to achieve them. The greatest potential impact on Irish motorcyclists, according to Motorcycle Consumer News (MCN) involves halting the sale of all new non-electric vehicles by the year 2030, adding “It’s worth noting that nowhere in this plan is any mention made of motorcycles or other twowheeled vehicles as having any considerations separate from those of all other vehicles.” The city of Amsterdam has also come forward to state it’ll be banning nonelectric vehicles by 2030.
ETHIOPIA BANS MOTORCYCLES IN NATION’S CAPITAL Officials in Ethiopia’s capital city Addis Ababa said a ban on motorcycle use will be implemented in the city starting from July 7, in a bid to curb rising criminality. The capital city of an estimated 5 million plus population is generally considered a safe city, but rising incidences of violent crimes using motorcycles has alarmed residents and officials. Mayor Takele Uma said criminals have in recent months been using motorcycles to engage in assaults and robberies, and that the motorcycle use ban was implemented in the city after a one-week long study revealed many criminal activities are done using motorcycles.
RED LIGHT CAMERAS BANNED IN TEXAS Drivers in Texas are about to be seeing less red, as Governor Greg Abbott (R) has announced that he has signed legislation that bans red light cameras across the Lone Star State. House Bill 1361, authored by Representative Jonathan Stickland (R-Fort Worth), would prohibit the use of “photographic traffic signal enforcement systems.” Stickland told FOX7 the bill was motivated by “a lot of reason,” including privacy concerns and the right to due process. The new law included a grandfather clause for cities involved in red light camera contracts that have yet to end, except if the contract includes a provision allowing for state law to break it. Ever since becoming legal in 2007, Texas lawmakers have made attempts to turn the cameras off that were unsuccessful until now, according to the Star-Telegram. Red light cameras have come under fire elsewhere recently, with at least 7 other states trying to ban them.
BACKROADS • SePTeMBeR 2019
GR EAT A LL AMERICAN DINE R RUN Jefferson house 139 nolans Point road, lake hoPatCong, nJ 07849 973-663-3063 • www.jefferson-house.com Headlines read ‘Algae-Blooms Shuts Down New Jersey’s Largest Lake!’ This all started at the very beginning of the summer and what the state was worried about is call cyanobacteria - these harmful algae blooms happen when cyanobacteria overproduce in a body of water. In the right situations – such as sunlight, hot and calm waters, and high nutrients – the bacteria can cause a bloom that’s toxic to humans and animals. The blooms are fairly common in North Jersey lakes, but it is unusual to see the blooms this early in the season, the DEP says. Acute illnesses caused by exposure to cyanotoxins can happen, the DEP says. After short-term exposures, the toxins can cause liver and kidney damage. Livestock and pets could be particularly vulnerable, and contact with the water could be fatal to animals. Such a shame we thought. Summertime is big along the shore, on and in the waters of Lake Hopatcong, but this swimming ban had made it difficult for businesses that thrive during the summer months. We thought we would ride down to a waterside restaurant we knew of called the Jefferson House and see how it was all going.
Well, it was easy to get a dock-side seat. Out on the lake we saw… We saw a lake. No monstrous green blooms. We had a bunch of ducks go swimming by, seemingly happy with their day. Fish were clearly seen in the waters. Asking some of the locals and the waitress about the danger – they were as befuddled as we were. There didn’t seem to be anything different than the last time we had been on the lake. Was it nature, or politics, at work here? Hmmm? Maybe that is the real shame. Still, here we were on the trail of the Great All American Diner Run and at the perfect fair-weather destination - The Jefferson House. This place has been serving up great food since 1926, and after that long history which included depression, wars and, more often than not, good times. The Jefferson House is still one of the places to be on the waters of Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey. We sat down and the waitress brought out a couple of iced teas as we perused the menu – which had several
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tasty places to take your bike
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tasty choices. Appetizers included shrimp, both jumbo and Buffalo, as well as Maryland Crab Cakes and quesadillas. On the more healthy side they offer Caesar salad to which you can add chicken or shrimp as well as a wonderful sliced steak or harvest chicken salad.
Of course, the American standards are here: Burgers, just about any way you want, along with a selection of seafood. The Jefferson House also has ten different sandwiches from hot roast beef and turkey to meatball parm and French dip. The dinner specials were appealing as well – with Delmonico steaks and sirloin, along with many pasta dishes, chicken and pork chops.
Rip & Ride® • JEFFERSON HOUSE
RIGHT AT GORGE ROAD RIGHT AT ROUTE 23 NORTH INTO HIGH POINT PARK LEFT AT SAWMILL ROAD RIGHT AT DECKERTOWN ROAD CR 650 CROSS ROUTE 206 TO OLD MINE ROAD INTO WALPACK ROAD NPR 615 LEFT OVER BRIDGE TO MILLBROOK ROAD (#1) HARD LEFT BIRCH RIDGE ROAD RIGHT ON MILLBROOK ROAD (#2) LEFT ON FREDON ROAD…AFTER TOWN OF STILLWATER BEAR RIGHT AT INTERSECTION ONTO STILLWATER ROAD LEFT AT ROUTE 94 RIGHT AT WILLOWS ROAD/ FREDON ROAD LEFT ROUTE 206 SOUTH BEAR LEFT GRIST MILL ROAD-ANDOVER MOHAWK ROAD LEFT AT PERONA ROAD RIGHT AT ANDOVER SPARTA ROAD RIGHT AT SPARTA ROAD (ALMOST THERE) ROUTE 15 SOUTH RIGHT AT EDISON ROAD LET AT ESPANONG ROAD RIGHT AT NOLANS POINT ROAD TO RESTAURANT
139 NOLANS POINT ROAD, LAKe HOPATCONG, NJ 07849 973-663-3063 • www.jefferson-house.com • Approx. 135 Miles Download: www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/tcgwba
START AT BEAR MOUNTAIN BRIDGE SEVEN LAKE DRIVE RIGHT ON ARDEN VALLEY ROAD LEFT ON ROUTE 17 BEAR RIGHT ON RTE. 17A LEFT ON LONG MEADOW ROAD RIGHT ON SLOATSBURG ROAD RIGHT ON MARGARET KING ROAD RIGHT ON SHORE ROAD LEFT ON ROUTE 17A - PAY ATTENTION TO STOP SIGNS LEFT ON ROUTE 94 RIGHT ON CR 1A BEAR LEFT AT WATERBURY ROAD LEFT AT NEWPORT BRIDGE ROAD LEFT AT LIBERTY CORNERS ROAD RIGHT AT OIL CITY ROAD INTO STATE LINE ROAD STRAIGHT ON MAIN STREET – UNIONVILLE BEAR LEFT AT CR 36 – UNIONVILLE ROAD IN NJ
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I went for one of the salads – with chicken, nuts and cranberries and Shira dove into the Mexican food – which was really, really well done! The 3-Way Combo platter was certainly the way to go on a beautiful day along the very safe and normal Lake Hopatcong. In fact, we would recommend you take a tour of the lake and you can do this at the Jefferson House as they offer a narrated one-hour scenic tour of New Jersey’s largest lake, beautiful Hopatcong. While touring the lake you will see magnificent homes built to enjoy the beauty and festivities that the lake has to offer. You will pass by the Lake Hopatcong Yacht club where many of its members pride themselves on their classic wooden Boats. You will learn about the history of the lake along with many of its landmarks and buildings. Bring your camera, as you can see, the lake has many wonderful sights that you will want to take back with you. Purchase a cocktail before boarding! It’s just $12.00 and happens on Saturdays: 3 PM and 5 PM and Sundays: 1 PM, 3 PM, 5 PM.
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Enjoy the Jefferson House and the lake – it is as good as it gets. But, to get there let’s have a superb ride too – so follow along as we ride from the bridge at Bear Mountain on a circuitous route to Jersey’s big lake.
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Frontline Eurosports Presents
BIG CITY GETAWAY tiMe and the Valleys MuseuM 332 Main street, grahaMsVille, ny 12740 845-985-7700 • www.timeandthevalleysmuseum.org Many times history will glide right past us, sometimes it is we who glide by it. We try to be ever vigilant when it comes to new places and things to explore while riding motorcycles. Many times we will ride past something of great worth, unawares that history has just shown up in our mirrors. So, we try to make it a point to look for something new and different – even in old haunts. Such was the case during the first day of this year’s
daytrip ideas to get out of the daily grind Ramapo 500, the region’s premier road tour. We had just ridden over a pass and were scooting through Grahamsville, New York in picturesque Sullivan County when I got a flashing glimpse of a very impressive sign – way in the back of the library’s parking lot. Hmmm, well if somebody went to all that trouble to make such an impressive sign this might be worth seeking out. We doubled back and rode up to the Time and the Valleys Museum. We were very glad we did. The museum is the end result of the vision of several local residents who wished to preserve the region’s past and to educate folks today of this part of the Catskills’ history. After years of hard work, the museum moved into the three-floor facility in June 2011 alongside the new Daniel Pierce Library. My, how nice it was to see a real library again. Since that time, the Museum has created two permanent exhibits: “Water and the Valleys” and “Tunnels, Toil and Trouble”, a museum shop with trained, dedicated volunteer staff, a Local History Research Center, and several temporary exhibits. There are a couple of permanent exhibits here at Time and the Valleys Museum – the first floor dedicated to Water and the Valleys that covers the history of the Rondout and Neversink Valleys from the pre-history geological periods, Native Americans, early settlers, farming, tanning, and other early industries, through the 1930s. We found the displays and little bits of information wonderful. For instance; we have ridden through the region called Sundown dozens of times, but never knew how this part of the Catskills had gotten the name.
BACKROADS • SePTeMBeR 2019 We didn’t think it had anything to do with Gordon Lightfoot, and it did not. The truth was that when Europeans first got to this region the hemlocks were so thick and deep that the mid-day sunlight could not penetrate to the forest floor. Thus the name – Sundown. We love tidbits like this!
Upstairs there was a superb display of watercolors, from varying artists, one of whom, Ann Higgins, was sitting there and happy to talk about her work - which was beautiful. The museum asked for a photograph of the subject to hang next to the original art, and that it had to be of a local spot or view that included water, which complimented the exhibit downstairs. Very nice indeed. But, for us, it was in the lower level that a story near to our hearts was told. Last winter we did a two-part story on the reservoirs of New York State, the Great Syphon and how so many people, families, and towns of the Catskills were displaced to sate the need of a city a hundred miles to the south. Here they have an entire floor dedicated to this amazing story.
Page 15 The exhibit is called Tunnels, Toil, and Trouble and tells the, sometimes, sad story of progress and the history of New York City’s complex water system as well as that of the towns taken to build the system. From the beginning to the modernday, this interesting and striking bit of local history is something we should all be aware of. Hundreds of men were killed building the tunnels, boring through some thousand plus feet at the bottom of the Hudson River and the incredible complexities of people, machinery, technology and …politics that keeps the Big Apple wet even till this day. When you see how all this was accomplished you will be amazed and far more knowledgeable the next time you ride around theses reservoirs. Located behind the Museum, the new 1930s Lost Catskill Farm tells the story of farmers who were forced to give up their land to build NYC’s water system. Period buildings include a farmhouse, outhouse, milk house and workshop powered by a working waterwheel. An 1870’s barn was painstakingly disassembled and reassembled on-site, and visitors can also see an original 1930’s power plant. We love finds like the Time and the Valleys Museum. Riding along the backroads of Sullivan County and the Catskills is always a blast, but this museum is worth the trip all by itself.
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WE’RE OUTTA HER E the roxBury hotel 2258 Co rd 41, roxBury, ny 12474 607-326-7200 • theroxburymotel.com The Catskills have long been known for quick getaways and summer hotels and great skiing during the winter. The topography of these ancient mountains has changed over the centuries, with man-made reservoirs being created, and towns appearing, flourishing and then fading away. The Catskills have had good times and not-so good times with their commerce and tourism. But, over the last number of years there has been a rebirth in parts of these mountains. Although the days of the giant resorts might be in the mirrors, we have found that smaller and far more personable inns have begun to spring up. This month’s feature is one such place – although the Catskills were never so amazingly cool as this. One particular valley, cut by the East Branch of the Delaware River, has always stood out to us. Flanked by steep peaks with Route 30 running north and south through it, here you will find the small town of Roxbury and the motel with the same name.
a weekend destination keeping you on the backroads Special, unique, remarkable and novel all in the most wonderfully aberrant way. This is the only way we can even start to describe The Roxbury Motel. We had been there 15 years ago when owners Greg Henderson and Joseph Massa first opened The Roxbury – converting an old and worn welfare hotel into something grand, colorful and fun! When we visited there were just 11 rooms; my, how things have grown. Yup, just a bit. Right now, The Roxbury Motel boasts 27 rooms, of varying size and accommodations plus the fabulous ‘Digs’, which we will explore in just a bit. Trust us, explore is the exact right phrase here. The motel now has a north and a south building – right across the road from each other. All of the rooms have a theme of some sort and we think it is best described by the creators of these wondrous lodgings… ‘When you walk into your room at The Roxbury, we want you to smile. Whether you call it ‘cool design,’
‘whimsical elegance,’ or our favorite – ‘decadently over-the-top’ – we’re all about design at The Roxbury and how it makes you feel. We designed our first whimsical suite, ‘The Shagadellic,’ not knowing how people would respond to a lot of orange and yellow and a furry zebra-print couch. The response has been so overwhelming that it gave us the guts to design THREE major expansions around fun, (yet elegant - one must never forget elegance) ‘theme-rooms’ inspired by a famous TV series, film or cartoon of the 1960’s or 70’s.
The key word here is ‘inspired by.’ We did not wish to recreate sets or exact replicas of the shows. We just allowed ourselves to get lost in the colors and textures and moods and whimsy of the shows. And we admit, yes, some of it had to do with fantasizing about what it would be like to be on top of a cloud or in a cartoon space home. This does not mean, however, that our original rooms are not also a cool experience. We learned a lot from our original rooms, and like firstborn children, we continue to nurture them and hold them dear to us because they were our first. Maturity is a good thing.’
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Page 17 As we had said, on this trip to The Roxbury we stayed at ‘The Digs.’ Grab your old bomber jacket, fedora and whip and cue the John William’s soundtrack – Think Indian Jones and you are halfway there. We’ll steal a bit more from The Roxbury’s website - as they say it best… “The Digs is a stand-alone cottage with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, living and bar area, full gourmet kitchen, outdoor shower, large outdoor deck with two dining tables, hidden treasures and maps, secret passageways, fulfilled prophecies, Gods, libraries, idols, reptile skins, surround-sound televi-
What if you could spend a night on a starship? How about inside a coconut crème pie or, even better, inside Jeannie’s bottle (sorry, Barbara Eden not included). If Jeannie didn’t pique your interest maybe a Charlie’s Angels room or a night in the Emerald City or perhaps a room of clouds? We hope you get our drift on how different The Roxbury really is! And, it is not just a delightfully different place to lay your head – it is the entire Roxbury Motel experience. There are two small spas at the inn – both a bit different from each other… hot tub, sauna or steam room – so you have some choices; or do what we did: don your complimentary VERY plush bathrobe and try them all. There is also a very quiet and relaxing lounge area with a superb mountain view complete with that soothing ‘New Age’ music that always works well in a spa. Schedule yourself a massage and succumb to the full effect of this luxuriating experience. There is an additional charge for the spas, but well worth the $20.
Page 18 sion, ancient, leather, hieroglyphics, bull whips, solid gold, fire features, Mayans, Egyptians, Mesopotamians, Micronesians, Indians, Romans, Spartans, Arabians, Aztecs, Siamese, Trojans, Crusaders, kings, queens, torches, babbling brooks, relics, and the ability to take a shower next to saltwater fish that are protecting Cleopatra’s long lost underwater tomb.” (yes, they just said Cleopatra and underwater tomb in the same sentence). That is all The Digs and there is still so much more... The Digs is perfect for a group of six as two of The Digs bedrooms have king size beds, one belonging to Cleopatra herself, and the other more Indy, and the third bedroom is a Mayan Temple with an extralong full-size Murphy bed that pulls out of the wall. To round out this luxurious elegance, all The Digs guests receive complimentary spa passes for their entire stay. We have stayed in many places, but The Digs instantly pushed itself into our Top Ten List and will be hard to beat come the best of Backroads 2019! The town has a neat restaurant well within strolling distance and a very ample continental breakfast come daybreak. There is also coffee to be found throughout the hotel – a big plus for us. While we were there we
SePTeMBeR 2019 • BACKROADS learned that Joe and Greg had purchased a mansion a few miles down the road and are very close to completion with a total of 15 more spectacular lodging options. The plans and the flair of these rooms take the Roxbury to an even higher level of cool, elegant (never forget elegance) and oh-so different. When this is done it will solidify our thoughts that The Roxbury is one of the most unique lodgings in the United States. When you combine their amazing vision, skill and style with such a fantastic riding destination as this part of the Catskills The Roxbury will be a very special place indeed. The Roxbury Motel has become very popular, so plan ahead or consider stealing a mid-week escape for yourself – ‘cause We’re Outta Here! Their website is very extensive and you can take a peak at most of their rooms to select just the environment that suits your soul. Here’s a 100-mile one-way ride from the Elias Cole in NJ to The Roxbury – ENJOY! www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/62ea1d
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Morton’s BMW Motorcycles Presents Dr. Seymour O’Life’s MYSTERI OU S AMERIC A the redneCk festiVal laBor day Weekend • WeissPort, PennsylVania So many times we just happen to come across a really good thing. The case in point this time around was The Redneck Festival, in Weissport, Pennsylvania. The reason for us traveling to the canal town, just south of Jim Thorpe, was a snazzy ice cream stop that Shira had heard about called Chantilly Goods. The parlor was everything Shira could want, but the party going on in the town park across the street grabbed our attention straight away. The Redneck Festival it said – emblazoned on old hanging tee shirts suspended on a long clothesline.
What was all this about? Well, it is about a town that is more interested in having fun than looking snooty, trendy and posh. Speaking with Jay Frey, the owner of Chantilly, he said it this way… “The town could have held The Weissport Festival and some locals would come. They made it the Redneck Festival and CNN and everybody showed up.”
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Now in its 11th year, held over Labor Day Weekend, the Redneck Festival is going strong and does its best to keep with the redneck good ol’ boy feel. Chinese Auctions, open-mikes, all sorts of games and events were to be found, as well as vendors of everything from soaps to antique church keys to beer taps of all varieties. Contests included The Korniest Couple and Best Beard with Mr. Redneck and Daisy Duke competitions. Sunday saw a Bedknobs & Rednecks Bed race, a watermelon eating contest and even a “Best Rack” contest. That raised an eyebrow, but we are talking deer rack – not, well, not the other thing. My goodness – this is a very family-style event don’t cha know!? But, being avid race fans, and on a Sunday with no MotoGP, we were very excited to get prime seating for the Big Wheel Race. With this, a number of kids (small kids) got to pick their plastic Big Wheelstyle trike and line up for some competitive action. Marc Marquez would not have had a chance – as little legs and a bigger front wheel would make all the difference. Yee haa!
SePTeMBeR 2019 • BACKROADS
Another racing spectacular was the Redneck Chariot Race using special modified … toilets on wheels. NASCAR has nothing on Weissport. As we ride around the backroads it is these small town events that we stumble onto that are the real America. An America that still lives and thrives – despite what you see or hear on TV and the web. It is little gems like the Weissport Redneck Festival that make two-wheel exploring the best way to enjoy a summer holiday. The 12th Annual Redneck Festival will be held Friday, Aug. 30 5-10pm, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 1 and Sept. 2 from noon to 9pm, rain or shine.
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the iCe CreaM station 76 Main st, PhoeniCia, ny 12646 • 845-688-7705 • Cash only seasonal hours Mid-aPril to laBor day (or later) Phoenicia, NY, has long been a stopping point for motorcyclists taking advantage of the great riding in the Catskills. Sweet Sue’s was always a favorite for breakfast, with their oversized pancakes and other large portion servings. Brio’s hit the spot for lunch or dinner with their most excellent pizzas and pretty much anything else on the menu. But there was a void for that between meal treat or dessert while strolling the quaint shops in Phoenicia. Not any more. Enter the Ice Cream Station. Housed in an old-timey setting which blends well with the rest of the shops along the road, The Ice Cream Station is certain to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. They proudly handdip Hershey’s, Gifford’s and Perry’s hard ice cream in a plethora of their signature flavors such as Queen of Hearts (dark chocolate with raspberry swirl and fudge-filled hearts), Oregon Blackberry Cheesecake (cheesecake flavored ice cream with Oregon blackberry swirls), Fly Fishing Fudge (vanilla base with M&Ms, cookie dough and chocolate chunks in a river of fudge) and Death By Chocolate (chocolate ice cream with chocolate covered almonds, chocolate truffles and fudge chips). It’s not all a bowl of chocolate here, as you can also get Grasshopper Pie (mint ice cream with fudge swirls and chocolate cookie pieces), Toasted Coconut or Cold-Brewed Caramocha. They offer up soft serve in your vanilla and chocolate variety as well as rotating flavors such as Peach, Cappuccino, Coconut and Pineapple.
Page 22 And of course, you can have any, or all, of these flavors in a cone of choice, cup, milkshake or whatever else strikes your fancy. Have them create a stupendous sundae with all the fixings. How about a refreshing malt? The sky’s the limit when it comes to ice cream.
If that’s not enough sugar for your system, their candy wall is beyond compare, with all those delightful candies you knew from your youth. There are bags of candy corn, licorice and Jolly Ranchers and shelves of sugary treats to make your dentist ecstatic. For the more discerning sweet-eater, just on the other side of the ice cream bins is a most wondrous enticement of homemade fudge in a plethora of flavors. They have a small indoor seating area but it’s much better to sit and watch the passers-by at one of their outdoor picnic tables or chairs on the covered porch. You can stroll and do some windowshopping at the eclectic stores that line Main Street. Whatever you choose, The Ice Cream Station is a splendid respite during a summer’s day ride in the Catskills.
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NATIONAL ICE CREAM DAY RIDE Thank you, President Reagan, for not only making the third Sunday of July National Ice Cream Day but designating the entire month to what surely must be the all-time favorite dessert of the United States. I was busy on July 21 but could never overlook a chance to take a ride to an unvisited ice cream shop and invite all of you along. As was the norm for the week before the ride, the temperatures were surely high enough to make the treats at the Yardley Ice House even more delicious. We had about a dozen or so folks meet us for breakfast at the Allamuchy General Store Café. A few years ago, a semi tractor trailer took out the front of this longtime favorite eatery. Like a Phoenix rising, they reopened their doors and are serving up some delicious and unique breakfast offering. Case in point was my ‘King French Toast’, stuffed with peanut butter and bananas. A few folks were on their way to a car show but, since this was on their way, stopped in to break bread
with us. With a good base of satisfying food, we mounted up and rode the 75 miles to Yardley, PA. The route, I must say humbly, was quite good, putting us on many roads we had not ridden before with some great twists and turns. Having misjudged the timing and not checked the shop’s opening time, we were a bit too early so Scott kindly took the lead (this was his back yard, after all), showing us some of his favorite roads in the area. We crossed the Washington Crossing Bridge – nothing better than a narrow grated bridge in 90-degree temps – and took a break to visit Washington’s boat and the sites in the park. There were a few artistic types taking advantage of the lighting of the day. We hopped back on the bikes for the few minute ride to the Yardley Ice House. Scott’s wife, Andrea, had been telling me about this place for some time and I was quite eager to try their ‘Philly’ style ice cream. I had only
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Page 23 my dismay, I could not finish it all. Brian came to the rescue as no ice cream should be left behind. We had a great time with friends old and new and, as the day was getting warmer, some decided to head off their own way while others came along for the ride north. We were due to make a stop at the Orchard View Lavender Farm. I had checked with Monica, the purveryor of all things lavender, and unfortunately, due to the very wet spring, their lavender fields had come and gone already. We hope to reschedule a visit there next spring but know that the farm, even without the lovely purple plants, is a very tranquil and relaxing place. They have a variety of events in which to participate and you can check out their calendar on their website: www.orchardviewlavenderfarm.com. We meandered our way north along some equally delicious roads, with folks taking their leave here and there. As we heading into the Backroads Central neighborhood, there were three and then there were two – with Brian and I pulling into the drive after a very satisfying day of celebration of my favorite dessert. Keep an eye out next July and remember that there’s always room for ice cream.
yardley iCe house 77 S. Main St, Yardley, PA • 215-321-9788 yardleyicehouse.com • Daily Noon to 10pm
orchard View lavender farm 101 Karrsville Rd, Port Murray, NJ • 201-341-8147 • Weekends 10am-5pm sampled Italian Water Ice once before and found it very refreshing. Theirs did not disappoint at all. They have been making their own water ice since 1994, offering a family-friendly place behind what used to be the Yardley Hardware store. They have developed an everchanging flavor menu including Cherry Bordeaux, Orange Creamsicle, Banana Cream Pie and Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup. You can check on their website for the daily lineup. Along with their water ices, there’s gelati, soft serve custard or any combination. Even though the Tigers Blood looked amazing, I opted for a combo of Banana Cream Pie and Key Lime Pie with some chocolate soft serve on top. Simply wonderful. To be warned – their large is quite large and, to
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THE HAYDEN MISSION words + images: Brian Rathjen
urely one of the most exciting days that Shira and I have ever ridden was in October of 2006 when we were fortunate to be at the final MotoGP in Valencia, Spain. everything was on the line at this final race of the season and a crucial mistake by the legendary Valentino Rossi on the 5th lap, when he tucked in his front wheel, crashing right in front of us, changed the outcome of the entire year.
S
American Nicky Hayden – the Kentucky Kid – went on to finish the race, taking third, but…. as a 5-point leader, helped by Rossi’s 13th place finish, took home the MotoGP World Championship. As Americans, we went nuts! The Spaniards around us congratulated us – like we had anything to do with this? But, it was a magical moment. Magical.
BACKROADS • SePTeMBeR 2019 That night, following our friends from IMTBike, we rode to La Mancha and an old castle-like Parador where our buddy Scott Moreno found a bottle of Kentucky bourbon. It made for a great picture, for sure. We think Hayden may be the last American champion for many years to come. Nicky was a great competitor, a superb human being and an excellent ambassador of the sport. All who knew him loved him and we were glad to have met him and his mom at one event, many years later, where he signed that image of my friend Scott that I had taken that very night he won the World Championship years before. Yet, one of the saddest days we have ever had while riding was May 22, 2017. We had found a small café in northern Virginia, returning from one of our Spring Breaks, when we received word that Nicky Hayden had died, succumbed to injuries from a bicycling accident while training in Italy a few days earlier. Stunned. Saddened. Sorrowful. We rode the rest of that day in silence. Where we usually chat back and forth all day – for the rest of the ride we were lost in our own saddened thoughts. When penning this, we are now in June of 2019 and Americade was happening in Lake George, New York, and the BMW Motorcycle Owners Association’s Rally was to be held in Lebanon, Tennessee the following week. A plan began to form that late winter and was revamped a number of times. Still, each version had the same mission at its end (or middle as was the case)… and that was to travel to Owensboro, Kentucky, home of Nicky Hay-
Page 25 den, to see the magnificent statue that had been raised in his honor in his home town along the Ohio River. No matter what version, we began to call it “The Hayden Mission”. The final version had us first heading to Americade and then back home for one day before continuing south and west. While in Lake George things changed again and after Americade we were joined by Fred Rau at our home that Sunday. Shira had ridden her 2004 Honda 919 to Americade and I rode the new Honda Gold Wing, but for the southern extension of our tour, we swapped for our own touring machines – her Suzuki V-Strom 650XT and my BMW R1200GS. Fred was astride the new R1250RT – a truly impressive machine. The weather, up until that point, had been nothing less than stellar, but that would change the following day as every weather app and every website screamed bright colors of blues, reds, and yellows gusting winds and rains of torrential character. We knew things had been just too good for us lately, and we’re not made of sugar. But, this looked bad – even by our standards. Yep, we are called Backroads, but with just days to get to the rally, we knew we had to make time south – and through some really mean weather. So, during a great meal of fresh corn, sausage, and burgers we had a serious discussion on the situation and we decided to head south along the Interstates – first being I-78, probably one
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of the most dangerous roads in the nation, in a cautious and alert fashion then head south across the Mason-Dixon Line and then, depending on weather, west along Shira’s new favorite piece of asphalt, Route 40, the National Pike. If things got wacky we would call it as we saw it.
To Davis, West Virginia We awoke to gray, but dry skies and a quick cup of coffee later we were heading south. Always better to start in the dry and ride into the rain, then to get up, gear up and mount up in the pouring wet. Yes, it did rain eventually, and pretty hard at times, but never anything too dire and it came in waves so it wasn’t too fatiguing. Every time it would stop we would think, naively, that it was over - only to get hit by another 20 miles of the torrent. We had breakfast in Fogelsville, and when leaving began sealing each other up - like astronauts about to make a spacewalk. We then made time south stopping just for a brief respite as we rode over Sideline Hill – a geological conundrum for east/west travelers for centuries. It took months to blast through this roadway and it is a truly impressive man-made mountain pass, visible from miles away, and is considered to be one of the best rock exposures in Maryland and the entire northeastern United States as well. The view from the observation deck was mightily impressive. Soon we were heading south on real backroads, across the Potomac River, and into West Virginia. The cold wet day had brightened and warmed and I thought we were good to go and through the worst of the tempest.
Ha! I thought wrong. By late afternoon, although we still had four more hours of light, we stopped for coffee in Davis. We had just passed a neat motel called the Alpine, that had a restau-
rant and the ridiculously fair price of 65 bucks a room. For once, just this once… the three of us made the right and wise call. We grabbed rooms and settled in. It was right about then the state catchphrase ‘wild & wonderful’ came to West Virginia. Mostly wild. As Clapton sang…Let it rain, let rain.
To Jackson, Kentucky The line of storms that ran along the entire east coast headed out and by 7 am’s coffee the skies were full of fluffy cumulus clouds and a deliciously chilly 48 degrees. It would stay in and around the mid-60s all day – making for a Mary Poppins sort of day – practically perfect in every way. Fred was a vendor at the rally, spreading the word about his well-known tours in New Zealand (www.fredrau.com), so he went his way and Shira and I went ours. We’d meet up with him a few days later at the MOA Rally in Lebanon. Our ride took us through some familiar haunts, past Canaan and up through Elkins before heading south through Beverly and a bunch of little West Virginian mountainburgs. Moving in the general direction of Kentucky we rode along regions even we had never touched. And, we have ridden a lot of the Mountain State. One roadway truly stood out – Route 99. This east/west piece of asphalt was not the twistiest, nor had incredible elevation changes, dark forests, bright moun-
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tain views or challenging pavement - like almost the entire rest of the state. What Route 99 is… was truly unique. The section of WV 99 west of Bolt was not even considered until 1968. Most of this stretch, approximately the westernmost eight miles, is built in a nearly continuous series of cuts in the side of Guyandotte Mountain. This mountain is huge and towers over Wyoming, Boone and Raleigh counties, stretching more than 33 miles across southern West Virginia. Along Route 99 you ride through narrow, but high and striking, cuts running through the mountain along a two-lane road that seems to fit in the notch to perfection. It was like Luke Skywalker skimming along the Death Star. Like Sideline Hill the day before, it was a combination of man and nature that took our breath away. We admit to loving small local places for food, and usually ride away thinking we did well; but my call this morning for breakfast, well – let’s say you should have chosen better, Grasshopper. Still the town Webster did have the claim to fame of holding a world Champion Wood Chopping Festival and has been at this for 55 years. I promised Shira I would make it up to her with a superb dinner. “Superb?” she asked. Gawd, I hate pressure. Our route from Davis to Owensboro and the statue of Nicky Hayden was about 620 miles – almost all tiny backroads, mountain passes, and follow the river
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sort of miles. We wanted to get as many of those miles behind us on this day as possible, so we kept stops to a minimum – gas, pee, water, throttle. Still, I couldn’t help but see offbeat little places and things as I was putting this day’s route together. I am fascinated by some of the names that find their way into different states. We have done entire series on this very topic and West Virginia has its fair share – Odd, West Virginia standing out among many. But, right along my planned ‘westward ho’ ride, I spotted two towns – one called Oceana and the other called Cyclone. Sadly Oceana, in a state nowhere near the sea, was the subject of a 2013 documentary that portrayed a bleak picture of a community affected by widespread abuse of the prescription painkiller Oxycotin called Oxyana. Cyclone, on the other hand, had no modern-day baggage, and was just fun; found along a rollicking Route 10 that flows evenly with the Huff Creek. I looked for a town sign, but came up empty till I saw the perfect photo stop – “The Church of God – Cyclone, West Virginia – Pastor Kennis Lusk.” Well, if God were to get pissy at some folks, a cyclone might just be the next thing coming their way and this is indeed how the town got its peculiar name, as it was once almost leveled by a tornado in the 1880s. Along the Tug Fork River, we spotted the massive coal train depots of Williamson and then crossed the river and finally rode into Kentucky – Goody. No… really – Goody, Kentucky. Real name, real town – I swear to a happy God! With a few more hours of daylight left this last few weeks of the spring,
we fueled up and continued on the route and then along a scrumptiously twisty road designated Route 30 that ran along a stream called Quicksand Creek. We didn’t ask. It was now time to call it a day. We had passed tried & true, know what you are going to get, chain hotels back an hour earlier – but Jackson came through with a clean, comfortable and inexpensive hotel and a Mexican restaurant that was seriously above many we have found on the road. Ice cream was found at one of the most exclusive ice cream parlors in the nation – the Shell Station next door and all was good in the world. The Garmin said 262 miles to Nicky.
To Owensboro and Beyond The Jackson Inn made for a comfortable night and in the morning we began to rework the route that would bring us to Hayden’s hometown of Owensboro, a great town on the Ohio River, and we added another more somber destination into the mix. Plus, as we always do, we were sure things would ‘pop’ up and add to the journey and the story. Skirting west along the northern side of the Bluegrass State, we had a mix of rural backroads and one or two state highways that ate up the miles and brought us further west. As we passed through Lebanon, Kentucky - not in Tennessee yet - we both took note of a sweet and smoky aroma. To our left was a rather large manufacturing plant and lots and lots of wood and planks. Shira, the bourbon connoisseur of our team, knew immediately what we had stumbled across. ISC (Independent Stave Company) is the cooperage that makes almost all of the barrels for the famed Kentucky bourbon industry and beyond.
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BACKROADS • SePTeMBeR 2019
Shira was already whipping a U-turn and we spent some time visiting the plant that happily gives tours three times a day each weekday. It is a fascinating craft and seeing how it is all created gives you a better understanding for those who love Kentucky liquid fire. We could have headed to Bardstown, but chose the other direction and rode to Hodgenville, Kentucky instead - the birthplace of President Abraham Lincoln. In the town square sits Honest Abe, a grand bronze figure, as if watching over the town. A few miles down the road we visited the place of his birth that is magnificently built with a long set of stairs leading to a neoclassical building that houses a symbolic recreation of the humble cabin our 16th president began his far too short life. Built on the knoll above the sinking spring where many believe the Lincoln cabin originally stood, the Memorial Building at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park was constructed between 1909 and 1911 in an effort by the Lincoln Farm Association to commemorate the life and accomplishments of the sixteenth President of the United States. Rooted in the architectural forms of ancient Greece and Rome, the Memorial Building was designed by early twentieth-century prominent architect John Russell Pope and constructed of Connecticut pink granite and Tennessee marble. Pope’s design of the building included many symbolisms related to Abraham Lincoln, including fifty-six
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Page 30 steps leading up to the building to represent the fifty-six years of Lincoln’s life. Sixteen windows in the building and sixteen rosettes on the interior ceiling are there to remind visitors that Lincoln was the sixteenth president as are some quotes by which we can all live. We had less than 100 miles now to Nicky and after scoring a crushed penny for the book (what, you don’t collect these?) we got going towards Owensboro. As we neared the Ohio River, running in and around the small city’s traffic we hoped that the memorial statue would be easy to find and, indeed, it was – directly across from the Owensboro Convention Center – just a short stroll from the river itself. Riding up to the life-sized bronze of the world champion we felt like a big part of this two-wheel journey was complete. We slowly approached, holding hands. Letting go of my hand Shira smiled and walked up to the statue, and said, “Hello Nicky.” Nicky continued to gaze to the heavens – the American flag clutched proudly in his bronze hand. The #69 stood out proudly in the Kentucky sunlight.
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BACKROADS • SePTeMBeR 2019
Page 31 1997 1999 1999 1999 2002 2002 2003 2006 2015
AMA Dirt Track Horizon Award winner AMA Ricky Graham Rookie of the year AMA Pro Athlete of the year AMA 600cc Supersport Champion Daytona 200 winner AMA Superbike Champion MotoGP Rookie of the year MotoGP World Champion MotoGP Legend
While we were there a car pulled up and the passenger looked over and rolled down his window, asking what we thought and if we were fans. We told him the truth – it was magnificent, stupendous and fitting. He told us that he and his wife, who was driving, knew the Hayden family for years and that Nicky was as fine a young man as he was a racer. We then told him about being at Valencia on the day Nicky became champion. He listened to every word – his smile became wider and wider. His Kentucky pride shone forth and he actually reached out to shake my hand and thank us for coming to his city to visit with Nicky. She lightly grasped the bronze throttle, and as roadracing legend now has it, by doing so allows for great motorcycling adventures and maybe a bit more skill in your future. We enjoy folklore like that. The bronze was beautifully created and mastered by artist George Lundeen from Loveland, Colorado, and sits atop a marble base that depicts Hayden’s “Victory Lap” image from his win at Laguna Seca. His familiar #69 is prominently displayed, as is his nickname, ‘The Kentucky Kid’, along with his accomplishments throughout his racing career…
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I began to get chokey. We suited and mounted up and, tipping our helmets, said goodbye to America’s last MotoGP Champion – at least for now. It was time to begin the ride south into Tennessee, but there was another and far more solemn visit. Just to the south of Owensboro, nestled alongside a large field of corn, already way past knee-high in early June, you will find the Pleasant Grove
SePTeMBeR 2019 • BACKROADS
Baptist Church Cemetery. There is a small paved road that runs around it and towards the center of the back, near a small stone fountain in the most peaceful of settings you could imagine, we found the final resting place of Nicky Hayden.
BACKROADS • SePTeMBeR 2019 The headstone is exceptional - an etched image of that famous photograph atop a shining black stone. It reads:
Nicholas Patrick Hayden 2006 MotoGP World Champion July 30, 1981 – May 22, 2017 On the bottom, it read Champion of Our Hearts
His #69 logo is emblazed on the back. We knelt quietly with our thoughts and placed a Backroads emblem among the other small items left in respect of the champion that touched so many lives. Almost silently, as if on electric bikes, we rolled out onto the road as dark clouds rolled in. We did make it a point to ride Kentucky State Road 69 just because and late evening found us pulling into the Beaver Dam Inn at around 7 o’clock, only to realize it was really only 6 pm. Somewhere along the day we had crossed into the Central Time Zone, but I couldn’t tell you exactly when, now could I. What I did know was that tomorrow we’d head to Lebanon, TN.
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To Lebanon, Tennessee So, with all the personal goals behind us, it was time to have some fun and make good time south early the next day towards the border with The Volunteer State. And, we did just that – much to Shira’s delight, as she really wanted to get to the rally and then onto Nashville for a few days visiting. But, there was just one thing. One little side-trip I had ‘forgotten’ to tell her about. Right before we left I got an email from Doctor Seymour O’life – Backroads’ ruler of all that is mysterious, strange and, in this case, maybe unworldly. And, when the good doctor calls, I usually, and eagerly, answer. Shira did not need to know about this until it was too late. Following south on some easy riding Kentucky roadways we made our way to the border with Tennessee. Just before the state line, the GPS told us to make a right, then a U-turn. I put my blinker on and Shira told me we just needed to go straight. As Mulder would ignore Scully, undaunted, I followed the route and immediately found what I had come for… a Kentucky historic sign that told the story of one of the first documented UFO cases in the United States, and the only one on a state historic sign and the first involving the death of a US serviceman.
On January 7, 1948, 25year-old Captain Thomas F. Mantell, of the Kentucky Air National Guard, was attempting to pursue what was called an Unidentified Flying Object. Mantell’s P-51 Mustang crashed and he was killed. The event made headlines and prompted the creation of the U.S. Air Force’s infamous ‘Project Blue Book.’
SePTeMBeR 2019 • BACKROADS I am pretty sure the entire Mantell Incident will be in a Mysterious America column soon – but not before Shira has a talk with O’Life! In another mile or so we crossed into Tennessee and we tried to find the most interesting and tiniest route to the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America’s yearly rally that we could.
We did particulary well, especially when, along one small tree shrouded creek, the bikes spooked up a Great Heron that paced along with the machines looking for his own route of escape. The rally, that had started just hours earlier, was already at full steam with BMW machines (and others) from all over the nation pouring in. These east coast MOA gatherings always bring in the biggest crowd and the fairgrounds here were exceptional in every way. We signed in, parked our rides and spent the day sauntering around the massive vendor's areas. Both inside and out the MOA Rallies have the best vendors for traveling, touring and adventure riders on the planet. Touring gear, gadgets, gizmos, exceptional travel destinations and tour companies all could be found here. This is our sort of place and the people at the MOA, especially 2019 rally
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Chairs Vance & Mari Harrelson, did a stellar job with it all. They always do. The MOA Rally also gives us a chance to meet up with friends who we don’t get to see that often and it was good to sit down for dinner that night with Mike and Janet Nemlich, from Chicago, at a dockside restaurant along the Cumberland River. Being that the rally was so close to Nashville, we decided to spend a good part of the day exploring the city and its famous music haunts. Shira had booked an AirBnB, just west of the rally in Mount Juliet, and just a stone’s throw from The Hermitage, the home of our 7th president, Andrew Jackson, and that would be our first stop the next day before riding into Music City USA. There are a few must-sees in this city – The Grand Old Oprey, the Ryman Center and maybe barbeque for breakfast at Martin’s, just down the street. For me, it was a few hours at Gruhn Guitars – one of the most fa-
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SePTeMBeR 2019 • BACKROADS
Route 739 • Dingmans Ferry, PA • 570.828.1920
mous guitar shops on the planet. Here they let you play just about everything and anything. Okay, maybe not the 1957 Gibson Les Paul in a hermetically sealed case ($65,000.00), but they were happy to let me play a $20,000 McPherson. This is a very, very dangerous place for people like me who suffer from GDS – Guitar Deficit Syndrome. We stopped by Nashville’s Parthenon, built to help bring more culture and life to the city about 100 years back. I think they succeeded as Nashville has plenty of both these days. No trip to Nashville would be complete without a little Hot Fried Chicken and we heard the best was actually in Hendersonville, in a small strip mall joint called Moore’s. Damn! Perfect, crunchy and
just a wee bit hot. Shira scoffed it up. I waved the white flag fast. We returned to the MOA Rally later that day to make plans for dinner and take another quick walk around the impressive fairgrounds. The final day of the rally we wanted to sit in on some of the interesting and informative seminars that were scheduled over the last few days. Our companion to the Valencia MotoGP race all those years back, Scott Moreno from IMTBike, had a seminar on their travels through Portugal. Michelin was slotted to speak about the new Anakee Adventure tires, which I had been running during this journey, and I got a chance to join Scot Clark from Michelin as he talked about the company’s long history and these tires in particular.
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We did another walkthrough, checking out the many rows of outstanding vendors and talking to many about their products and applications. This night the MOA would hold its closing ceremonies, but we had a free afternoon and one more place that we had to absolutely must see… The Lane Motor Museum. We had heard about this wild collection for years and it was recently featured on Jay Leno’s Garage, so we dialed in the address and took off west, back towards the city and the largest collection of European automotive history in the United States. The Lane Museum was everything we thought it would be and more, and an easy couple of hours were spent taking all of it in. At this time the museum featured ‘Then & Now’ with models of cars from back in the day and the modern version of the same machine – at least in name – now. We returned for the closing of the 2019 Rally – a huge success in every way; and one of the best we can remember in a few years. The ceremony started with an exhibition from the BMW Performance School showing the 6,800 attendants just what a GS BMW can do in the right hands – truly amazing. Yup, I can do that…right… Awards were given out, a bike was given away and, as the sun set across the western Tennessee sky, we headed out for a late dinner with friends, and to set up for an early departure come dawn.
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE THROUGH MOTORCYCLING: A WOMAN’S GUIDE TO BEING YOUR BEST SELF ON AND OFF THE BIKE Alisa Clickenger, Founder of Women’s Motorcycle Tours and organizer of the Suffragists Centennial Motorcycle Ride announces the publication of her first book. “The evolution of this book has been a curious thing,” said Clickenger. “After providing so much freelance content for the industry in order to put gas in my tank and travel the world on two wheels, last year I scaled back and decided to begin producing original content for my own website. Throughout the Women’s Motorcycle Tours community I kept hearing about how confidence was making or breaking women’s joyful experience on two wheels. Since motorcycling was what transformed me from a shy housewife into a world traveler, I decided to distill the many lessons from my own confidence journey into a set of practical, actionable tips which other women could benefit from.” Boost Your Confidence Through Motorcycling contains ideas and inspiration for both experienced and inexperienced riders, and uses examples from Alisa’s own personal journey learning to ride “Women build confidence differently than men do and we get inspired about what’s possible for ourselves in a large way through other women. Many of us have grown up with specific societal conditioning that, for a variety of reasons, we often let get in the way of our showing up boldly in the world. Motorcycling is one place where we can let our hair down, so to speak, and be truly, authentically ourselves and let the layers of societal conditioning roll off of us and disappear in the wind,” said Clickenger. Alisa knows first-hand that motorcycling can be a physical, mental and spiritual journey for women, and hopes that her book not only helps female riders become more comfortable riding motorcycles but also draws many more women to the sport. Boost Your Confidence Through Motorcycling: A Woman’s Guide to Being Your Best Self On and Off the Bike is available on Amazon.com in Kindle ($4.99) and paperback ($14.99) formats. Contact Alisa for bulk orders of 30 or more books at alisa@WomensMotorcycletours.com.
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CTX BATTERY SENSE Module and App checks battery status with Bluetooth connectivity A few months back a buddy of mine left to go for a ride on a machine that he had just ridden hundreds of miles and seemed in perfect order just the night before. But this day… the battery was dead, morto, fini. For any number of reasons, a battery can go dead. Too hot, too cold, not maintained or just old. Not many machines come with volt meters these days, but we have found a new product from the CTEK Company, the same that make those outstanding battery chargers, that can keep track of your battery’s health by simply looking at your smartphone, as this unique Bluetooth enabled smart tracking device has the battery’s data delivered through a free App download to your iPhone or Android. Simply connect the Battery Sense Monitor to your battery, follow the in-app instructions and your mobile phone will give you data 24/7, all year round. You can even sync multiple monitors to your phone for a complete battery management system. And if your battery’s charge falls to a critical level, Battery Sense will tell you when it’s time to reach for your CTEK battery charger. This unit is suitable for all car and motorcycle batteries and works with Android OS 4.4 and higher, as well as iPhone iOS 7. What we really like is that the CTX Battery Sense will send a ‘push notification’ straight to your mobile phone if your charge falls to a critical level. You can find the CTX Battery Sense for around $50 and you can log onto www.ctek.com for more information.
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SePTeMBeR 2019 • BACKROADS
EVENT RECAP
43RD RUNNING OF THE RAMAPO 500
How best to spend a July weekend? Sign up for the 43rd Ramapo 500. In relative terms, I’m a newbie on the Ramapo 500 having only participated since 2016. It’s ironic in that the Ramapo Motorcycle Club is based so close to my hoe. It seems I had been missing out all those years. I now realize that the extended family that is Backroads has been enjoying the event for years- some since early 1980’s. This year we started out with a Friday evening dinner with some travelers from New England;, Ron & Gina, Kimberly & Laurie made the trip down from Vermont & New Hampshire. The next morning, with the weather nicely cooperating, we all met up at the VFW in Congers to check in, get our routes and wristbands and set out in small groups for the ride ahead. Check in was easy, well organized and by 7:30 Paul Donoghue, Jose and I were off. Under bright blue skies we meandered our way up through Harriman State Park into Orange County, Montgomery and up through the Shawangunk Mountains. Dropping down to Rte. 209 in Kerhonkson, we rode into Catskill Park. The outbound route neatly wove together three of the larger NYC watershed reservoirs; the Ashokan, Rondout and Neversink. If an amusement park were to make a Catskill-themed thrill ride, they would do well to look at the route the Ramapo MC crafted. Soon we were back in the heart of the Catskills on Rte. 28. After a welcome lunch stop in Phoenicia, we continued north towards Hunter and
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BACKROADS • SePTeMBeR 2019
through Prattsville and Gilboa before winding our way down to the Blackthorne Resort for the night. Each road was better than the previous. The first 250-mile route would be tough to beat. Upon arrival at the Blackthorne, some opted for rustic accommodations while we chose primitive camping under the tall pines. We were not alone, as a few dozen others had pitched their “rooms” for the night. Cooling down at the pool under still bright late afternoon sun was a great way to cap off the afternoon. Later in the evening a barbeque dinner was provided and the Ramapo MC’s own emcee Claudia Parrington hosted the awards for oldest, youngest, farthest and largest. This year’s awards included: Best Rep Club Southern Cruisers with 10 Members youngest rider Luke Connell - 20 years’ old Oldest Operator Jerry Foster-Julian - 76 years’ young Longest distance Kimberly Harvey North Conway, NH 400 miles Oldest couple ed Walters & Natalie Ross 148 years combined age Longest distance (club) New Sweden MC Oldest bike (Tie) Mike Heffner 1981, Unknown 1981 For the record, Laurie Mack, also from New Hampshire, traveled 390 miles so we anticipate Kimberly sharing the award with her riding companion! A generous list of door prizes, many provided by Deltran, the Battery Tender people, were handed out along with a 50/50 raffle. After the formal festivities, it was all about having a beverage (adult or otherwise) and talking riding, bikes and solving life’s problems under the star-filled sky. Hanging out near a bonfire with all of the Backroads Faithful is always welcome. While some found entertainment and live music into the early morning hours,
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others were happy to sack out and rest for the next day’s ride. The next morning, camping gear was stowed and packed and breakfast was served inside the Blackthorne’s dining room. This was a welcome surprise and was much improved over year’s past. By 8 AM or so we said or goodbyes and our trio was back on the road. The return route wound us back through the central Catskills and bit west toward Route 30. The route wove back and forth on and off 30. We soon found ourselves in Roscoe for a short break and gas stop. The route continued southeast passing through Calicoon, NY and crossing the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. Many of the roads were familiar and kept us in the shade as the afternoon temperature soared into the mid-80’s. A lunch stop along Rte. 97 in Barryville was a welcome break. Winding through Sullivan and Orange Counties the journey ended at Rhodes Tavern on Route 17 in Sloatsburg. We were rewarded with our coveted patch marking the completion of another Ramapo 500. This year’s Ramapo 500 was able to take advantage of near perfect weather and the great roads of the Catskill and Delaware River valley. Claudia reported there were 230 people registered for this year’s edition. A ton of effort goes into putting this ride together, from the start in Congers to dinner, door prizes and breakfast. We are all grateful they continue this summer tradition. Congratulations to the Ramapo Motorcycle Club, Claudia and all the volunteers who made this another fantastic 500. We’ll see you next year! ~ Tony Lisanti
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a day at the raCes the northeast grand Prix at liMe roCk Park 60 WHITE HOLLOW RD, LAKEVILLE, CT • www.limerock.com I like spur of the moment things. Shira had taken off for South Carolina and two days of intense four-wheel instruction at the BMW Performance Center with her sister Rowena – a little retirement gift for her and, as she strolled out the door to the airport, I received an email from Lime Rock Park, the beautiful race track in Connecticut. It seemed that the next day, Saturday, the IMSA WeatherTech Northeast Grand Prix (International Motor Sport Association) would be going on at the park’s small course, just under a mile and a half, making it one of the tightest tracks in the nation. Passing at Lime Rock is an adventure each time it happens. As I said the races would be held on Saturday, as there is a No Racing on Sunday policy at Lime Rock – the only track in the nation to have such a ban – but, the real issue would be something that was under no one’s control. This was the weekend of the Heat Wave. Remember that? I almost decided to drive my Dodge Durango up that morning, but this is a motorcycle magazine and sometimes you have to prepare for a little bit of heat and stay in the game.
BACKROADS • SePTeMBeR 2019
With a camelback packed with ice and water, I headed northeast and arrived at Lime Rock just as the first of two races was going to start – the Michelin Pilot Challenge. Both races were a little over two hours in length, so I strolled the track, taking far more images than I needed. Lime Rock is also unique as it has no grandstands, but the small track is easily walked and is very spectatorfriendly. I grabbed a seat on the grass and watched the action play out on the track – which worked well, but for the stifling heat. The battle on the first race was exciting and it was Owen Trinkler and Hugh Plumb of Team TGM Mercedes-AMG taking the checkered flag for the GS-class, with Carbahn Motorsports Audi A8, and Murillo Racing following with another Mercedes- AMG. In this class, there were also Ford Mustangs, Porsches, and Aston-Martins. The second class in this race, the TCR, was won handily by Byron Herta Autosport with a Hyundai Veloster, followed by an Audi RS3 and another Veloster. Wow, this is racing for everybody! Between races I hit the Hospitality tents, seeing what was new, as a lot of manufacturers brought cars to show and it had a very carnival feel to the whole thing. Shira was busy doing real laps in South Carolina, so I grabbed a BMW M-
Page 43 Series flag for her and a Team Gulf tee-shirt for me. I can watch Steve McQueen’s LeMans in style now! The big race of the day was the GTML and GTD Classes in the North East Grand Prix. Incredible cars, incredible driving, and both classes were nailbiters. With Richard Westbrook of Chip Ganassi Racing in a Ford GT holding off a Porsche driven by Earl Bamber for the win and Dennis Olsen Porsche 911 GT3 beating the Acura NSX driven by Mario Farnbacker by a nose in a drag race to the checkered flag in the GTD class. A day at the races was lots of fun, inspite of the ridiculous temps, and Lime Rock is a very easy track to deal with. I quickly parked and effortlessly rode out at the end. Also, I’d like to note that Lime Rock gives free admission to active military AND veterans at all events. That is a fantastic policy and a great way to show appreciation. You will find the track in the northwest corner of the state, just over the border from New York. They will be holding the Historic Festival 37 over Labor Day Weekend. Enjoy vintage car racing at its best. The event opens with the Vintage Race Car & Sports Car Parade through the local towns culminating in a street fair in Falls Village on Thursday, Aug. 29. This is followed by three days of vintage racing at the Park and finishes with Concours d’Elegance and Gathering of the Marques. For more details visit www.limerock.com.
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SePTeMBeR 2019 • BACKROADS
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THE OTHER SIDE OF YAMAHA “Here’s something different; a yamaha, built in Japan, by a piano company. By the looks of it, they should stick to making pianos…” On Any Sunday II That is an actual quote from the sequel to On Any Sunday. I have to tell you, searching that particular quote out, only vaguely recalled after all this time, I only remembered the first half of it. The second half – did the announcer really say that!? He did. Well, we were hanging out with a few friends at Monkey with A Gun the other night… Roberts, Rainey, Lawson, Lorenzo, Rossi, and Vinales (Just won today in Holland!) and they all took a bit of offense to this.
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Okay, that is a fabrication. They were not at MWAG – but they all became winners and champions riding Yamaha motorcycles. For Yamaha Motor Company, racing is in their DNA. It has been an integral part of its corporate culture since the company’s founding. Yamaha entered its first race at the Mt. Fuji Ascent Race—one of the biggest in Japan at the time—with their newly released YA-1 model just 10 days after the company was founded. So, you could even say that the history of their race activities is a central pillar of Yamaha’s corporate history as well. Yamaha was an unknown brand at the time, but they won their debut race in dominating style. Despite being a latecomer among the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers, Yamaha’s racing success quickly spread the word of the performance and reliability of its motorcycles. Then, taking to heart their founder’s, Torakusa Yamaha, vision of “If you are going to do it, try to be the best,” Yamaha Motor set out to compete on the world stage, beginning with their first international race entry at the 1958 Catalina GP in the United States – and that is where that very misguided quote came from - and later their entry into the World Championships in 1961. Since then, they have expanded their racing activities to regions around the globe with participation in the Road Racing and Motocross world championships and more. For over half a century, these challenges they have taken on in the race arena together with numerous legendary riders have brought Yamaha a brilliant record of success.
BACKROADS • SePTeMBeR 2019 The Yamaha Motor Group Racing Division is currently conducting its racing activities in line with the following three basic policies: branding, feedback of technology and promotional activities. More specifically, they see racing activities - from local events to MotoGP - as a way to bring Kando (Japanese word for the simultaneous feelings of deep satisfaction) and the “joy of watching motorsports” to people all over the world. All of this is powered by the Spirit of Challenge that they have embraced as a motorsports company from the start. Yep, Yamaha bikes kick ass. But, I am here to talk about the other side of Yamaha. The musical side. Yes, Yamaha does make pianos – really great ones too – and for a long time. Far before motorcycles came into the picture. So, how did a music company get into the moto-business? It was back in 1887 that Torakusa Yamaha built his first reed organ. Thirteen years later the new Yamaha Piano company began to build upright pianos. It was a bit later, 1955 in fact, that Yamaha had this crazy idea about motorcycles. Motorcycles? What were they thinking? This will never work. Ahhh… okay, maybe it would… With the post-war reconstruction and the once-piano factories now geared toward warfare, things had changed, and the need for cheap and affordable transportation was evident. Yamaha saw this and entered the moto-business; and they have thrived ever since. But, for years they were known for their musical side… Already celebrated for splendid keyboards, Yamaha reached for more and in 1966 built the FG 180 – their first acoustic guitar. At the same time, they jumped on the American and British Rock & Roll craze and began to sell
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electric guitars, basses, and amps. So, in addition to proving the voice over in On Any Sunday II wrong on every count – Yamaha has re-established itself as one of the biggest players in the music industry in every direction of music. Which brings me to this article… I was sitting at the office and took notice that the receiver (yes, a receiver) that powers the music around Backroads Central – we have speakers everywhere – is a Yamaha HTR-5560 – an ancient 290-watt unit that is currently selling on the net for about $49. Wow, that is deflating. Sometimes, you shouldn’t look. But, that got the conversation going, as over the winter and, on a whim inspired by watching Bruuuuuce on Broadway, we bought a Yamaha Keyboard.
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SePTeMBeR 2019 • BACKROADS
Do Shira and I play? Well, we didn’t - but we are holding a tune now. Hey, for under $300 we have a piano, organ and a boodle of other effects Yamaha has added to this keyboard.… what are the chords to Tarkus? My thought was just to learn to play the same chords I play on guitar. Nothing fancy, nothing cute. Here at Backroads Central it is pretty apparent that we are not just about motorcycles. Monkey with a Gun? Indeed, there is such a Tiki Bar. Awesome as it is. But, something else you will find is that we own more guitars than motorcycles. We know…it is an addiction. Those of you who suffer from MGS (More Guitars Syndrome) know what I’m talking about. In the stable, to jump from the Yamaha flair of this story, are a few electrics. An Aria Pro-FA-80 hollowbody jazz and a Fender Telecaster. The thing with electrics is you need an amp. No amp, no sound. Yamaha comes through here as well with their award-winning Line-6 Series. To be honest, I bought the Line-6 and didn’t even know it was a Yamaha product until a bit later. This just added to the cool factor. Toss into the mix a few Ovations, a Guild, and a Martin back-packer. So, although not ridiculous, we do have a few guitars. Every now and again I receive emails from Yamaha, sometimes motorcycle and sometimes musically inclined. Recently they have returned with some newer and updated versions of the classic FG Red Label-series. These are beautifully crafted guitars and they do not come cheap. The top of the line FGX5 lists for a cool $2,320. Try to think of it as an investment. At least that is what I try to tell Shira. So, next time you hop on your Yamaha remember that it was not always just about motorcycles – from street players to symphonies, the Japanese company has a colorful and musical history as well. Ride far, play well!
BACKROADS • SePTeMBeR 2019
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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
DON’T STARE Don Gomo • Empire MC Safety Ever notice that more often than not things our parents used to tell us, when we were kids, seem to come full circle and we wind up saying the same phrases at certain times? Ok some we found out were just comments for them to avoid dealing with stuff, but a lot of times the repeated comments had value. When it comes to the expression ‘Don’t Stare’, they may have meant it in a different way than we will be talking about this time around; in this case, learning not to stare can possibly avoid a conflict that could develop a crash. Some of us may have heard of Target Fixation or even know what it’s about. In the event this is a new “catchphrase” for you, it describes the combination of mental and physical (eyes) focus on a point that excludes information and/or vision from other sources in the surrounding area. This phenomenon can develop unwanted issues and perhaps can be a cause for a crash. The term target fixation was first recognized as an issue during WWII when pilots would wind up crashing their fighter planes into the exact object they were trying to avoid. The object consumed so much of their focused attention that they wound up flying directly into it. This problem is one that may be a hard point to teach a rider to avoid, plus it is also one that is very difficult to track as a cause for crashes. One could easily estimate that it may have had a part in more crashes than we like to consider; no matter if the crash scenario was a motorcycle only or multiple vehicle crash. While the process of avoiding a case of target fixation has a physical aspect to it, along with a mental processing side, it is something that is not easy to teach as compared to how one squeezes a clutch lever or how to apply pressure for brake use. There are probably too many undocumented crash reports where target fixation played a major part in the outcome of a crash that we will never know about.
So how do with deal with something that could become a hazard yet is not an easy thing to avoid? Good question. First, we need to realize that the process of target fixation may not be what our eyes see at the actual moment, but what our mind puts together from information our eyes have gathered, which depending on the situation may be the start of the unwanted focus issue. Many times the situation is one that suddenly developed and the form of panic takes over which unfortunately enhances the fixation even more and things start going south from there.
To take steps to help avoid this unwanted incident, we need to start taking in the big picture of our surroundings. We have discussed the strategy that the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) promotes of “SEE” (Search-Evaluate-Execute), this is definitely one we need to incorporate to prevent this unwanted issue. We need to constantly Search by scanning our area of riding (front, back and sides) for any possible hazards that could become part of our path of travel, Evaluate their potential for a risk and Execute by making the proper adjustments or having an escape plan. Now this doesn’t mean we will be relentlessly swerving, braking hard or other use of skills to avoid everything we come across, the more we look ahead and consider a possible conflict, the better chance we can avoid it and even prevent falling into the fixation trap. Being untrained, inexperienced or carefree about this process could have a rider’s quick glances become a stare of an object which in turn just raises the overall risk factor – not good. Taking steps to avoid that undesirable problem of fixating on an object should include keeping your eyes in continual scan mode, do not become complacent with your surroundings, consider than almost anything can develop into a hazard way before it may happen. This is far better than needing to react suddenly because you didn’t consider something or see it in time and let the panic side of your mind takes over. Granted there may be situations or conditions that happen suddenly that we may not be able to adjust for in time, but the more we use the strategy of SEEing things plus the support of increased development of proper skills, the better chance we have of avoiding them to continue doing what we enjoy. So to wrap things up; keep those eyes and minds open, take in all the information you can as early as possible and as your parents may have told you more than once - Don’t Stare.
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SePTeMBeR 2019 • BACKROADS
UP C OM I N G E VE NT S CAL END AR
What’s Happening
EVERY MONTH - WEATHER PERMITTING every Tuesday • Two Wheeled Tuesday at Spiegel Restaurant • 26 1st Avenue, NyC. An eclectic gathering of motorcycles served with multi-cuisine meals. Kick some tires, have some couscous, enjoy the crowd • www.spiegelnyc.com • 212-228-2894 every Thursday • Bike Night at JumboLand, Route 206, Branchville, NJ every Thursday • Bike Night at Skylands Beer/Wine Garden. 447 Rte. 284, Wantage, NJ • 973-875-9463 • SkylandsBeerandWine.com every Saturday thru October • Bergen County H-D Saddle Up Saturday. 9am for coffee and bagels. Ride departs 10am. Returns to dealership for free music and food. Proper attire MUST be worn! BCHD, 124 essex St, Rochelle Park, NJ • 201-843-6930
SEPTEMBER 2019 6-8 • BMW Motorcycle Owners of Vermont host 2019 Green Mountain Rally, Camp Thorpe, Goshen, VT. Registration incl. 4 home-cooked meals, self-guided tours, Gap and GS rides, live bluegrass music, door prizes and awards, camping with hot showers, and bonfire Sat. night. Full details: bmwmov.wildapricot.org 6-8 • Women's Sportbike Rally east presented by yamaha - Deals Gap, North Carolina. Lodging: Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge and Resort, Stecoah, NC. Visit their website for details, registration and information • www.womenssportbikerally.com/east-rally-2019 8 • 31st Annual Harvey C. Irons Make-A-Wish New Jersey Ride hosted by Blue Knights NJ IX with proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey. Registration: Vasa Park, Budd Lake, NJ • 9-10:45am • Ride Leaves 11am • $20/pp, under 12 FRee. Coffee/Donuts at registration. Scenic ride through Morris & Sussex counties. Vendors & lunch upon return. Live band - Little Raymond & the Rhythm Preachers • www.BKNJIX.org • nj9@blueknights.org 8 • 20th Anniversary Andiamo Run. Sign-in: 8-10am • KSU 10:20am sharp. Start/end: Andiamo Restaurant,23 Hardenburgh Ave, Haworth, NJ. Fully police-escorted 50-60 mile run through northeast NJ and southeast Ny. After party at restaurant included food, live band and exhibition of police motorcycle skills. Info: 201-384-1551 • info@andiamorun.com 9-12 • Rolling Thru America Virginia. Limited to 100 guests • 518-798-7888 • Sign up at www.rollingthruamerica.com 14-18 • Women’s Training + Dual Sport Tour with MotoVermont.com 15 • 36th Annual Italian Motorcycle Rally presented by Italian Motorcycle owners Club. Hamilton Rod & Gun Club, 24 Hamilton Rd, Sturbridge, MA • 10am-3pm. This year's featured motorcycle is the Benelli. Bike show for all Italian Motorcycles and Scooters. Judging at noon for rally classes, special Peopel's Choice Award and a Concours Award. $10/rider; $15/two-up incl. pin and door prize ticket. Swap meet area $20/setup. For more details call Steve Rossi @ 248-470-5788 • www.imocusa.com 22 • Forever Friends Charity Bike Run in loving memory of Mark Khoury and Jeremy Ramirez. Skylands Stadium, 94 Championship Dr, Augusta, NJ. Scenic Ride: 12:302pm. Full day event for all riders and non-riders: 10am-6pm. $25 donation/pp incl. food, vendors, live music and more. Info: www.foreverfriendsmotorcycleawareness.org. 25-28 • Rolling Thru America Maine. Limited to 100 guests • 518-798-7888 • Sign up at www.rollingthruamerica.com 28 • American Flat Track Races at the Meadowlands Mile. Check for details on the website: www.americanflattrack.com 18-23 • Backroads Fall Fiesta. Always a great time, rain or shine. Full details on our Rally site. Four nights in Virginia with the last night near Lancaster PA. Rooms may still be available so ACT NOW! www.backroadsusa.com
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