September 2022

Motorcycles,

PREVIOUSLYON LOST…

Here at BRC all of us, even the cats, would say this with the ‘voice-over’ when the television show about the disappearance of Oceanic Flight 815 came on.

I loved that show even if it had a lame ending, and I thought all of it as pure sci- mystery and ctional writing … until Malaysia Flight 370 did the same thing.

Anything can get lost. Seriously – where are your keys, right now?

A few months back a good buddy of mine, Jeff, riding cross-country with another friend Denis, posted that he had somehow lost one of his sad dlebags along the way. It was not like it got sto len, or they suddenly realized it was missing. No, this bag jettisoned off his Triumph Tiger like a depth charge looking for a deep-running subma rine.

Denis watched it as it scurried past him at a seri ous pace and up, then over an embankment and into the brush. Of course, both riders stopped, circled back, and went to retrieve the bag. But like a commercial jet in the Paci c, it was… LOST!

We learned later that both riders, sharp and at tentive men, combed the roadside brush for hours to no avail.

Missing, missing, missing, missing Whoa…Missing Bruce Springsteen

When we heard the story of Jeff’s wayward bag, we wondered how something so large, like the sidebag of a Triumph Tiger could simply… disappear. Gone like the wind. Fade like Scottish Mist.

Then I had something along the same line happen to me.

We had been heading eastward for the past few days, meandering through the Ozark and Missouri and along the spectacular tiny back roads of the Blue Grass State of Kentucky.

We had made a quick stop at our niece’s home, near Paducah, and then the required stop at Nicky Hayden’s statue in Wellsboro.

Everything was going swimmingly - with such stupendous roads to me a photo-op with every turn, hollow, and ridge – I signaled Shira ahead of me so I could grab a few images of her riding this two-lane nirvana.

Shooting images while riding might not be in the MSF handbook, but I have gotten pretty good at handling small cam eras – point & shoot toys – for a long time.

Left hand holding the camera at a few wellpracticed positions and re away and see what we got later that day – off the bike.

My good friend Mike has told me repeatably, “One Day You’re Gonna Drop That…”

I know he’s right.

In all the years I have been shooting these sto len images I have only had one incident, and even then – I was able to retrieve the SD Card from the now scarred paperweight and had another item for the dead & obsolete shelf in the of ce.

Most of these cameras are around $100, more or less. Not chicken scratch, but simply a tool and means to an end and expendable.

This particular camera was not.

Years back Shira dropped a pricey Sony camera off the back while rid ing pillion in France.

I think she was more shattered by this than the camera.

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TAKE CAREOFTHE GEAR YOU WEAR

ATGATT. For those who have been reading this magazine for some time, you will know what this means. For those who are new, it is All The Gear, All The Time. We are big propo nents of this philosophy, and I have, unfortunately, tested the theory with good results.

If you do follow this, you will be wear ing your gear all the time (duh) and, thus, it will de nitely need some TLC. There is the opinion, mostly with a motorcycle and the long-distance riders, that leaving a bike showing the miles of dirt and trav el it has been through, is a badge of hon or. On the other hand, washing your bike – really getting into the nitty gritty – will expose any loose nuts and bolts or other things that may need attention or xing.

The same is true for your riding gear. I have been wearing an Aerostich two-piece Roadcrafter for many, many years. I like them because I can wear ‘civilian cloth ing’ underneath and, in less than a min ute, be out of my gear and much more comfortable. Some criticize that they are too warm, not enough ventilation and/or heavy. This may be true, but af ter years of use and the aforementioned testing, I feel very protected in my ‘stich. I have learned to position my hands just so that there is a con stant ow of air up one sleeve and out the other, almost like air condition ing (especially if there is a little perspiration present).

Relating to that ‘little perspiration’, I nd that after a particularly warm, long ride, the suit is certainly in need of a good washing. After our recent

jaunt to Spring eld, MO with temperatures in the 100 mark for days, my blue and yellow (either Ikea or Ukrainian) suit was in desperate need of that TLC. On another note, somewhere in West Virginia the leg zipper split (hey, it’s over 10 years old and never had any problems so…) and I resorted to large safety pins to cinch it up for the rest of the ride home. This solution kept me relatively dry in a pretty heavy rain, so I was satis ed with the x.

While I was set to get out the NikWax and see just how dirty I could get the washing machine water, after speaking with the good folks in Dulu th, MN, I removed the safety padding and, lth and all, packed it up for Aerostich to do its magic. They sent me an assessment for what needed to be done – replace and upgrade zippers, replace any Velcro that was frayed and a good washing. The service was super-fast and my pants were re united with my jacket in not too long a time.

Other textile gear can usually be tossed in the washing machine, follow ing the NikWax TechWash and Waterproo ng instructions. Just remem ber to remove the padding and close all zippers and pockets (after remov ing what might be in them.)

Leather gear has its own pro cess and products to take care of the grime and bugs as well as rid ding the liners of sweat and smell. There really isn’t anything like a well-worn leather jacket so taking some care to ensure its longevity is a no-brainer.

As you’ll read elsewhere in these pages, I recently upgraded my helmet, so the refresh and clean ing were taken care of but for you with sweaty, smelly liners in your helmet, here’s what to do: Con sult the owner’s manual to see the proper way to remove the liners, should that apply. If so, do that

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HATE

About this time a few weeks ago, it became clear to the doctors that the 18-year-old with the 1,000-watt smile was gone. In the wee hours of Saturday morning, the beloved, recent high-school graduate awoke from where he’d fallen asleep while watching a mov ie with his cousins and realized he needed to go home to sleep a few more hours and get ready for the second of his two jobs. He got into his little Ford Focus for the six-mile, ten-minute trip home. It was an understandable decision by a thoughtful, responsible young man; regrettably, it was also a fateful one.

A prior Marine Lance Corporal working as a contract helicopter mechanic got off work Fri day and decided to get a head start celebrat ing his 27th birthday, which was Saturday. Not much is known about his evening until his irre sponsible decisions intersected with the other young man’s fateful one. In the early hours of his birthday, the former Lance ran his Chevy pickup into the back of the little white car with a closure speed estimated at 80 miles per hour. He reportedly had a blood alcohol content of 0.19, more than twice the legal limit here.

I knew the rst young man well: he was not only a xture at my favor ite deli, doing nearly every job, but he also interned for me. He was due to study Mechanical Engineering in the fall and I had every intention of re-hiring him, this time as a college intern. People for whom he worked described him as a ray of sunshine - someone whose smile could almost

be seen through a COVID mask. Unmasked, it lit up the room. I have a photo of him in the tux he wore to prom. His father bought it so he could be buried in it.

It would be easy for me to hate the man responsible for that burial. I have either lost friends (especially moto friends) and acquaintances to thoughtless, careless, irresponsible drivers, or known people who were se riously injured by them. Backroads lost a friend and fellow scribe to an elderly driver and had another friend grievously injured by a woman who was in a hurry to have her hair styled. We lost a young military of cer from my work to a careless driver who violated his right-of-way as he pi loted his motorcycle through upstate New York. It would be easy to hate the people responsible.

The thing is, I can’t. I almost feel traitorouslike it’s a betrayal of the victims, their friends, and their families that I don’t hold the same enmity for the people who were responsible for their trag edies. Some of them are past those feelings, but it can take time. In this most recent case, lots of people are searching for an answer that will never come - why? In the absence of that answer, there’s a lot of anger: people feel the need to x their rage on someone and the perpetrator of multiple crim inal acts in this case is the perfect place. I felt that way myself for a time. Then, I reminded myself of something I learned quite a while ago.

I remember talking to a local guy, a former Viet nam POW who was tortured at the hands of the North Vietnamese in the Hanoi Hilton. I asked him whether he hated the Vietnamese for the ill treatment and he used an oft-repeated, multi-attributed quote when he said, “No. Hate destroys the hater, not the hated.” I frequently think of those words when I think my blood is about to boil and I nd comfort in them.

Two lives have been destroyed, one literally and one guratively, and Continued on Page 6

FREE WHEELIN’

Continued from Page 3

Still, SD Card recovered, place on shelf assured and new camera bought – eventually.

So, as I began to lean to the left slightly, steering more with my feet than hands, the front tire bobbled over a small bump… Everything slowed down in that “Oh Shit” way.

I clearly saw, and have seen again, and again, and again in my mind, the bright orange Nikon W300 popping out of my white Held gloved hand...

My body twisting and getting a small grasp on the Nikon; only to have it slip away and then, quickly glancing in the mirror, to see it bounce once and… well; I do not really know; as my attention was instantly back to piloting the BMW and getting it quickly and safely stopped and on the side of the road.

Shira disappeared into the distance.

I began to walk back along the road.

The bright orange and easily seen Nikon was MIA.

As I looked along the roadside a woman slowed and stopped her car to see if I was okay. I told her what I had done and asked her to tell my wife,

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and ll a sink or tub with warm water and baby shampoo, give ‘em a good dunk and scrub, rinse ‘em out and let them air dry on a towel. Do not put them in a washing machine or use a hair dryer or other such drying de vise. Once fully dry, pop them back in and you are good to go. If the liners are not removeable, there are products from Motul, Motorex and such to refresh and get rid of the smell. The outer helmet should be cleaned of ten, with the face shield cleaned after every ride, to make sure the moving parts keep moving.

I have small feet, so nding boots that t correctly is somewhat of a chore. When I do, I make sure to take care of them so they last a long time. As with leather care products, there are similar for boots. Should yours be ‘waterproof’ it is important to check the seams for any splits as well as the soles to make sure they are not ‘showing their belt’. I have a wonderful cobbler near me (Sparta Cobbler, Sparta, NJ) who has put a

ON THE MARK

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many others adversely affected. The former Lance from Michigan, whom social media shows enjoyed hunting with his father and brothers, sits in jail, knowing the anniversary of his birth is the day he killed the beloved and promising son of another. He will most assuredly spend a number of years in prison, but I suspect the worst punishment he’ll encounter in life is the one he builds for himself.

Any redemption he earns is in his hands.

Sitting there in his cell, he will not feel my hatred but I will and that is why I must not have it. The other reason I can’t feel hatred is the memory of the young man with the 1,000-watt smile: he wouldn’t want me to. ,

if she came across her riding up ahead, what had happened.

I later learned that she did nd Shira on the side of the road. When she said she had seen me back a few miles, Shira simply asked if my motor cycle was upright or in a ditch.

Nice. The deep concern touched my soul.

A short time later Shira came back and now two functional adults could not nd a super bright, highly-visible Nikon W300.

For half an hour, we looked up and down the roadside. Eventually, I had to make the call.

Yes, like Jack, Kate, Sawyer, and Jeff’s bag… the camera was lost.

Before we had left on this trip, and after hearing of Jeff’s loss, Shira and I both clear taped our business cards in every bag on our machines. If they are ever lost then found – we hope they would be returned.

But, somewhere on the side of a small road outside Pleasureville, Ken tucky (I kid you not) someday someone will nd this camera and, who knows, maybe the SD Card will give the nder a clue to who owned this camera.

But more likely like it’s now being used by Frank Lapidus. ,

small lift on my boots and I just brought them back to have them done again. They look stock. And when I picked them up, they were cleaned and the zipper was greased so that it operated smoothly.

Keep an eye on your gloves – check the seams for any splits or wear. It’s suggested to wash them once a year, especially if you are a sweat-er: rinse them (or soak brie y is very dirty) in clean water then use antibacterial liquid soap in the sink and let them soak a bit to get all the grit out. Work the inside and out until clean, then rinse enough to make sure that all the soap is gone. Starting from the ngers down, press or squeeze out excess water (do not twist), perhaps use a towel to wick extra water away. Let them air dry slowly, not in direct sunlight or high heat; in front of a fan is a good way to do it. Once COMPLETELY dry, us a good leather con ditioner, work it in well, and let them dry completely before using again.

With just a bit of time and effort, the gear your wear will last a good long time and keep you safe on the road while looking mah-ve-lous. ,

BEACH GRAND GIVEAWAY!

Beach’s Motorcycle Adventures, Ltd offers a European motorcycle tour Grand Prize to the BMW RA to be given at the 2022 RA rally to celebrate both organizations’ 50th year!

To celebrate the 50th anniversaries of both Beach’s Motorcycle Adventures and BMW RA, a lucky winner will get to experience some of the nest motorcycling roads in the European Alps during an epic twoweek moto-adventure.

The tour features charming hotels, outstanding cuisine, mindbending mountain scenery, bucket list Alpine Passes, and memories that will last a lifetime. The winner may choose from any of the two-week itineraries offered by Beach’s Motorcycle Adventures in 2023.

Valued over $7500!

Beach’s Motorcycle Adventures has conducted European motorcycle tours since 1972, making them the oldest motorcycle tour company in the world. We are excited to introduce another BMW RA member to the magic of riding in the European Alps.

120 YEARS - CELEBRATINGA MOTORCYCLE PIONEER

Dawn of a Legacy to Open at Glenn H. Curtiss Museum

If you have never heard of Glenn Curtiss, don’t feel bad. Most people haven’t. If you have, you probably know him as an aviation pioneer. If you’re a motorcycle enthusiast, however, you might know him for his

place in the annals of motorcycle manufacturing (tucked between Indian and Harley Davidson), and maybe even for that legendary ride on a beach in Florida in 1907 earning him the title “Fastest Man on Earth.” This

August is a special time at the Glenn H. thanks to a new world-class exhibit called “Dawn of a Legacy” commemorating the 120th anniversary of Glenn Curtiss establishing his motorcycle and engine manufacturing business. The exhibit will be open from August 5th, 2022 until August 31st, 2023.

It was during the rst years of the 20th century that Curtiss became a pioneer in motorcycles, engine design, and aeronautical endeavors.

More than thirty motorcycles built between 1902-1912 will be on display at the museum alongside other artifacts from the period. This special new exhibit will bring together the largest number of Hammondsportbuilt motorcycles ever gathered under one roof.

Visit curtissmuseum.org to learn more about Dawn of a Legacy.

PAINATTHE PUMP – GOOD & BADFOR RIDERS

Gas prices have surged to record levels causing what economists and strategists call “demand destruction,” where the prices will affect actual consumption.  They have already begun to cause a shift in driving habits.

The average U.S. retail gasoline prices have risen by over 30% since the start of the year, according to data collected by analysts at RBC Capital

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BACKLASH

Hey Backroads,

Does this look famil iar? I visited the Cor ner Piazza, featured in the August edition, on Saturday. It was a spec tacular riding day, and the Piazza served up an excellent pesto pizza – it is just a cool place. I told the owner I saw it in Backroads and he was thrilled and said now he knows someone reads the magazine. I told him more will be coming. I am gathering some friends that I made on the Backroads Summer Sojourn, Anthony and

INDUSTRY INFOBITES

Markets.  As recently reported in Newsweek; “These prices are affecting how Americans spend time on the road, including how they ride their motorcycles.”

TIRE POLLUTION COULD BETHE NEXT GREEN ISSUE

As the internal combustion engine gets ever cleaner and battery power increases, “tire pollution” could become the next point of focus as a new study claims Tire Pollution is 1,850 times worse than Exhaust Emissions.

Independent British research rm Emissions Analytics tested a number of tires at multiple stages of life to reach its conclusions, contained in their report titled “Tyres Not Tailpipe,” which focuses on the particulates produced when driving and riding that do not emanate from a vehicle’s tailpipe.

Tires as they wear produce tiny beads of microplastics, which are so

Steve are ready to go and I think Bill too. I did discover the place late June coming back from Sweet Sues in Phoenicia. Brios is still my fave for Pizza but this place is close in avor and much closer to home. Timely article!

Regards, Scott Burghart

Backroads,

I’ve been reading Backroads forever and have taken advantage of your advice, riding to Owowcow Ice Cream and that Guitar Barn this past weekend. Yet, after all these rides I have found in Backroads I have never joined a ride. I would love to do the Fall Fiesta Ride with you. Please sign me up or whatever the protocol is.

I plan to leave Rock HIll, NY in Sullivan County and take backroads to the Shippensburg Inn. What time do you all plan to arrive there... and where, in hotel, would we meet?

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small they can be carried on the breeze and, in some cases, end up get ting washed into water courses and washed out to sea.  Here they can be ingested by small animals and eventually end up back in the human food chain.

While the title would have you believe it centers around tires alone, it also notes other consumable parts such as brakes as being an area that adds to airborne particulates.

The study found that no matter how clean running a petrol engine or electric motor is, there is a bigger picture to understand when it comes to localized air pollution.

And don’t think the report is all about bashing the internal combustion engine either, as it seems electric vehicles -- in particular large electric SUVs -- could produce more non-tailpipe emissions than conventional combustion engines.  The report cites electric vehicles’ increase in mass as being one factor that could increase tire and brake wear. ,

BACKLASH

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I do not know anyone so feel free to pawn me off on a bowling team in need or I can volunteer when there. Let me know if there is anything else I need to know!

Eric Egeland  • Ducati Multistrada 1260

Eric,

Glad you are thinking of joining us in the fall. As far as ‘signing up’, there really isn’t any. We just pick places to go and folks make their own reserva tions. The Fall rally does have the bowling thing, so of course you can join in that, as you say, volunteer when there.

Usually folks start arriving mid to late afternoon. Shippensburg has a great outdoor patio restaurant/bar where most will gather. There are a few other restaurants, but mostly folks stay there for the evening.

We will post optional routes to the other venues and for the free day in West Virginia (watch our Facebook and website events pages). There are no group rides, folks just mingle and nd like-minded riders to join. For the past 25 years, it’s been a pretty loose, semi/non-organized thing and people have gotten used to it. The main thing is that pretty much everyone who comes on these are very friendly, so just introduce yourself and have fun.

Thanks for reading – hope you enjoyed Owowcow (one of our personal fa vorites) and the little guitar store, also a cool spot. See you in September, if not before.

Hello Brian & Shira,

At the end of your article on bike night at Jum boland, you requested others to come forward with any other bike nights.  I was a regular at Chatterbox and now at Jumboland, but wish there were more old bikes to see.

I am interested in attending any and all bike nights within an hour ride from Branchville area.  Please let me know if you become aware of any additional bike meets in the area.  Much Appreciated!

BTW, I was offered the trophy for my classic Ducati 750GT a couple of times at Jumboland.  I declined as I had to leave early both times.

Secondly, I see either you or Shira (or both) are rid ing a Kawasaki Z900RS.  I bought one new in 2018 and have added a few extras - luggage rack, wind screen, center stand, better tires, etcetera.  Let me know if you want any of the details.

I like Backroads - been reading it since you started! With more than 50 years on two wheels, I read every thing!

Thanks, Ted Hessler

Ted,

Sadly, there seem to be fewer and fewer shows. Wednesday evenings there is Bear Mountain -VERY Cool – mostly cars, (read all about it on page 12) and Blue Arrow Farm too, located at 86 Glenwood Road, Pine Island, NY

2022 Spring Sojourn

Dear Backroads,

Thank you for a great Backroads adventure and for spending the time on putting this Spring Sojourn to gether and for wonderful memories.

All the very best… Michael Wernick

It’s How You Say It!

Brian,

Commenting on your Free Wheelin’ from July … I’ve stopped there many times to use that bathroom, even lie down in the grass to recharge. If it was me, I would have just pissed on the sign - just don’t care

anymore. Just look on the bright side, in NY you can use the women’s or men’s room now, your choice.

Always listen to Mom .

Harvey Mushman

Escape From Ecuador

Hey Brian,

Thanks for sending me the Backroads.

Your article (you know the one I mean) was exceptionally well written. You did all you could to be fair, which is more than Freedom Tours de serves. After all, he broke the one and only Rabbi Dan Commandment.

Best

Daniel Herbst

Dear Brian,

We will be happy to donate some Dingmans toll tickets for your riders for the Backroads Bennys Bodega Charity Ride.  I will leave a total of 60 tickets for you to pick up, and will also give you a stack of postcards to share with the riders.

We are very grateful for the mention of the Dingmans Bridge in your magazine!  I remember reading an article that including the Dingmans Bridge, in this magazine a few years back.

Best wishes for a successful run this coming Sunday!

Carol Phillips

Beach’s Motorcycle Adventures presents WE’RE OUTTA

ROSELOE MOTEL

10849 SAM SNEAD HIGHWAY, HOT SPRINGS, VA 24445

ROSELOEMOTEL

On the very western edge of the Dominion State, near the border with West Virginia, you will nd Route 220. Not only is Route 220 beautifully laid out, charting its way along the valleys of the Virginian Appalachians, but is an odd duck of sorts - as most north/south routes have odd num bers – yet 220 remains even.

U.S. 220 travels 187 miles across western Virginia from south of Mar tinsville to north of Monterey.

In 2003 the three miles of Highway 220 that pass through Hot Springs was named for a famed golfer –Sam Snead, who was born in Warm Springs on May 27, 1912, sharing a birthday with one of the publishers here at Backroads.

The Slammer, as he was known, was one of the top players in the world for the better part of four de cades, having won the PGA of Amer ica, and Senior PGA Tour events over six decades and widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Snead was awarded a record 94 gold medallions, for wins in PGA of America Tour events and later credited with winning a record 82 PGA Tour events - tied with Tiger Woods including seven majors. Re

markably, he never won the U.S. Open, though he was runner-up four times. Snead was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.

We’re not much when it comes to golf – we’ll leave that to the pros like our cousin Johnny. Still, even with some excellent courses here, for us this part of Virginia is about the roads and the ride.

In addition to the golf connection, Bath County is one of the few coun ties in the United States without one traf c light. Not one! Amazing. And, the roads that will bring you to and from this county are nothing less than stellar.

There have been travelers coming this way since the mid-1700s, with the draw being the remarkable natu ral hot springs that could be found along the valley. Today the town is dominated by the Homestead Re sort, a very, very nice place, but maybe a bit too nice for our tastes and wallet.

Right next door you will nd the Vine Cottage B & B, where we stayed a few years back. Wonderful hosts, but sometimes hard to book because, well because it is a great place and we have found reserva tions in advance is a good idea.

Earlier in the season, we would be heading south and some of the roads and routes we have used over the last few years of Backroads Ral lies in these parts have brought us along some superb, beautiful, and challenging roads.

From the north, we rode west along Route 33 to Brandywine – stopping for coffee, dessert, and that sugary/caffeinated pick-me-up at the big General Store, before hanging a left then south on County Road 21 and County Road 678, which runs along the Cowpasture and Bull Pasture Rivers, both tributaries of the James River that ows some 350 from the mountains to the Chesapeake Bay.

Although Route 220 is a ne road, coming in from the north these two, far smaller roads of fer a far bigger ride.

At the intersection of Route 39, a right turn will bring you up and over the mountains and towards the Hot Springs region.

Along the way, it is well worth taking a few minutes at the Dan Ingalls Overlook as the view is well worth the stop.

This month’s stop in Backroads We’re Out ta Here came about by happy necessity, as the Vine Cottage was booked, the Homestead far too supercilious for us and we were look ing for something in the area that was simple, clean, and comfortable.

Then I remembered the RoseLoe Motel.

Just what we had in mind.

Rooms were available and, as we thought, the Roseloe was perfect and perfect for just around a Franklin.

We were not the only riders who thought the same and, as we rode up, there was a well-traveled GS in the lot, with a rider sitting in a nearby rocking chair. Nice to meet and make new friends.

The town has several restaurant choices, but we like to stick with where the locals go and The Country Café, a few miles south on the Sam Snead Highway, offers up some good eatin’ – also with prices mere mortals can appreciate.

The RoseLoe’s accommodations worked well – comfort able bed, great shower, WIFI, and the lobby had a steady and plentiful supply of excellent coffee – always a plus in our books.

Looking for a superb region to explore this season, then roll down to western Virginia and spend a few days in Bath County – the traveling is great and we guarantee you will not get stuck at the light.

See ya on the road. ,

Warren County NJ Tourism presents BIG CITY GETAWAY

BEAR MOUNTAIN CRUISE NIGHT WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGHTHE RIDING SEASON

Mid-summer nights bring with them much to do and so many happen ings to ride to, that you might end up with more than a few reasons to gear up on a summer evening and get out on the road.

We’re headquartered in the northwest part of Jersey, basically along the borderlands with New York and Pennsylvania.

Wednesdays have had a couple of like-minded events and both are with in an hour or two rides from Backroads Central.

Cruise Nights are an All-American phenomenon, and the biggest in the region is held mid-week, weather permitting, in the huge parking lots at Bear Mountain State Park, right along the Hudson River in Harriman State Park.

The gathering has been happening for decades and we always try to ride over at least once or twice each riding season.

Although avid riders, we have a deep love and respect for great automo biles – and the number, the incredible variety, and styles of cars that roll into Bear Mountain are nothing less than staggering.

Although most of these rides are pre80s, there are several high-end mod ern Eurosports, Japanese and American Muscle cars too.

We rode over on a brilliant Wednesday night. It was fairly hot during the day, but the evening promised a cool crispness –simply superb to walk the rows and rows of four-wheel fun.

As excellent as we hoped the night would be our ride there would not disappoint ei

ideas to get out of the daily grind

ther, as we have many variations to get to Bear Mountain which we put to use that later afternoon and the roads of Harriman State Park - almost empty this day - are always a treat. Pesky corvette, notwithstanding.

Rounding the mountain at Perkins Drive and then dropping down to wards the river and the Bear Mountain Cruise Night made for a great way to start.

This weekly seasonal event is held by the Rod Bender Car Club, from Highland Falls, New York – a strictly not-for-pro t group.

There is a $5 admission taken by the New York Park Service, but it is money well spent.

We parked in a lot that was dedicated strictly for motorcycles – always a good thing, it made for quick and easy access to the big lot and eld that had an enormous amount of cars this early evening with more and more neat cars rolling in by the minute.

These cars seemed to park themselves in groups.

Mustangs, Corvettes, and a long line of Subaru WRXs – a favorite of mine, but snubbed by Shira who thinks they lack…umm, aesthetic ap peal.

Although we have a differing opinion on the Subarus we could both agree that some of the older machines were beautiful, and a real treat. There was one older cream-colored Jaguar that was one of the most stun ning machines we have seen in a long, long time.

Then there was a sweet Volkswagen Beetle, “Rag Top” in an aqua/blue that took Shira back to her California Days… pre-me and years before Backroads.

Both of these rides were splendid, yet basically stock; on the other side of that coin were some cars that were nowhere near what the engineers and designers had in mind.

Two young guys drove in, all full of pride and just a bit of happy wise-

ass’ness – their ride was a smallish Honda SUV.

But this one had slick aerody namics, a hood scoop, airs, a huge spoiler, and even a splitter; all made from cardboard - corrugated for strength, of course!

Then there were the high-end Supercars. Ferraris, Lambos and Maseratis. But, the Aston-Martins always seem to stand out, don’t they?

On the bike side of things, you will nd a good showing of just about every avor that is out there. We ran into some old friends and one, Peter Conti, even took the Best Bike of the Week Award… which he seemed to take in stride.

This show will continue to run throughout the riding season, but we’d recommend checking their FaceBook page or their website at bearmoun taincarcruise.org for weekly and daily updates with summer weather be ing what summer weather can be.

Enjoy your ride and enjoy the show! ,

DINER RUN

CULINARY

There is little doubt that cable and the internet have expanded our choic es for watching television and being entertained and educated without leaving our homes.

Although the plethora of programming certainly runs the gamut for se rious and informative to light hearted and fun - OK , there is plenty of moronic feldercarb out there as well.

But I think few would disagree with us when we say that the rise of the “Celebrity Chef” and the various cooking shows that can be found run ning around the cable/internet industry is certainly cookin’!

There are a number of 24-hour Foodie-type chan nels to choose from and we know we can get sucked into Beat Bobby Flay for hours. Bobby, if you are reading, we’d go against you with our ‘Pesto’ any time, anyplace. So there.

But, where do many of these talented and gregarious chefs get there start. Well, many at this month’s stop on the Great All American Diner Run…The Culinary Institute of America.

Located along the picturesque Hudson Valley, just north of Poughkeep sie and south of Rhinebeck, America’s greatest school for chefs had its beginning one state to the east when the New Haven Restaurant Institute opened its doors on May 22, 1946.

At that time it was the rst and only school of its kind in the United States. Speci cally created to train returning World War II veterans in the culinary arts, the Institute enrolled 50 students and employed a faculty consisting of a chef, a baker, and a dietitian.

For nearly a quarter century the school masterfully trained men and woman who would become master of the trade themselves. Over the years the number of students and faculty continued to grow and the need for a bigger school – one truly dedicated and large enough to handle what was becoming an ever-growing voca tion and career choice was plain to see.

Locations in Chicago, Atlanta and Columbia, Maryland were all considered but the CIA nally came upon a state ly Jesuit novitiate in Hyde Park - St. Andrew-on-Hudson. With this purchase the Culinary Institute of America, as we now know it today, was born. As of this printing you will nd other Culinary Institutes in California and Texas as well.

Here along the Hudson Valley our CIA not only trains some of the greatest chefs, but so many who have changed the way we think about cooking in our own homes. Maybe you have heard of a few of them: Cat Cora, Geoffrey Za karian, Anne Burrell, Marcus Samuelsson, Scott Conant, Michael Symon and the late great Anthony Bourdain – for whom the CIA has a tting memorial opposite the entrance.

Students there not only learn to cook, but their training goes far beyond culinary wizardry and touches all aspects of the restaurant and hospital ity industry and they all spend time at the CIA’s many restaurants – Bo cuse, Caterina de’Medici, the Apple Pie Bakery Café and the new Brew ery at the CIA.

Our favorite has been American Bounty – which serves an ever-chang ing menu featuring local food, produce and all with an American air. We have been here, and the other restaurants many, many times over the years; and proudly we were part of an intensive Food Fight years back in our misspent youth.

A few months back a far more mature (sorta) crowd rode up one sunny Saturday in April for a snow date reprise of a winter’s dinner that never happened. Along for this American Bounty dinner was our friends Keene Heburn and Lisa Veliath. Keene, a hell of a rider and a guy that has for gotten more Rock & Roll knowledge than most have ever known also has Lisa for a wife.

Have you ever met a gal that just seems so together? Well, Lisa ts into this category. These days she is a scientist and chemist, and she always seems to nd her path and take it; but when she was a younger woman her path led along the Culinary Trail and she attended and gradu ated the Culinary Institute of America. Then became a scientist. Well, good food is made with a good formula and recipes. So, maybe not as big a pivot as you might think.

It made our visit to the CIA even more meaningful, especially when she gave us an abbreviated tour of the school.

The meal was superb, as you would think and I don’t feel the need to list all that we ordered, but know plates were passed, there were smiles all around and once again the Culinary Institute of America did not disappoint.

From simple to modern elegant, the four restaurants will t to your taste and budget. The Apple Pie Bakery Café, open from 8am-4pm Mon-Fri offers light lunch fare, amazing desserts and coffee to accompany. Ristorante Caterina de’Medici, open TueSat 6-8:30pm, offers authentic regional Italian cuisine in a mag ni cent Tuscan villa setting. Both American Bounty and Bocuse are open Tues-Sat from 11:30-1 for lunch and 6-8:30 for dinner.

Bocuse, with its sleek and strikingly contemporary setting, offers a three course menu featuring classic French cuisine in a re-imagined updated style. In addition, Caterina de’Medici and American Bounty have private dining rooms should you want to bring a group with you (up to 16 peo ple).

The Culinary Institure of America is located in prime rising area, so plan on a lunch or, should you like to overnight and par take a ne dinner, the Roosevelt Inn of Hyde Park makes for an excel lent stop. www.rooseveltinnofhydepark.com/

Morton’s BMW Motorcycles presents

Seymour O’Life’s MYSTERIOUS AMERICA

NEW JERSEYIN RUINS!

My adopted state of New Jersey gets an unfair rap from all the other states and Hollywood, especially. Like California has got it sooo together?

But, as the Garden State was one of the rst to be settled by Europeans, it was also one of the rst to have some great struc tures and buildings erected. Mansions and churches all seem to outdo each other.

As time moved on, what were once grand homes and places of worship have been abandoned and reclaimed by nature - look ing at some of these you realize that this are New Jersey in Ruins.

SPRING VALLEY CHRISTIAN CHURCH SPRING VALLEY ROAD HARDWICK, NJ

This rst stop on this tour of ruins is just miles from Rathjen and Kamil’s headquar ters also known as Backroads Central.

Just west of where Spring Valley Road meets County Road 521 you will come upon an impressive ruin to your right.

This is not some old wooden farm house, nor an abandoned mill – it is the ruins of Spring Valley Christian Church.

For the longest time, not many knew the history of this stone shell of a church but, with the help of some friends, I discovered that the church was built back in 1841 by the Chris tian Connection, a group that left old European ways across the ocean and making it a bit different place of worship. Although built to hold 400 worshipers, the church barely got to 50 and the last service there was a fu neral in 1870.

It might have well been for the church itself.

The locals that do know of its history say that af ter years of abandonment the roof collapsed, yet the walls and the cross, built into the foundations and stretching along its entire length, are still intact. Thankfully the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places and it is easily accessible, as it is right of the road.

VAN SLYKE CASTLE

CASTLE POINT TRAIL, WANAQUE, NJ

Built in the early 1900s by William Porter, a stock broker, Van Slyke Castle (previously known as Fox croft) transitioned through multiple owners until the nal blow to the property came when vandals burned the mansion in 1959. Large portions of the castle, pool and water tower can still be explored today (the pool and water tower are not too far from the castle ruins).

Porter named the property Foxcroft, as it was built on Fox Hill. Porter died in a car crash in 1911 while his wife, Ruth, was traveling home from a European vacation.

Ruth later married Warren Van Slyke, an attorney who served as an assistant to the higher naval com mand of intelligence during World War I, in 1913. The couple changed the mansion’s name to Van Slyke Castle and used it as a vacation home. Ruth retreated there permanently after Warren passed away in 1925.

Ruth died in 1940, leaving the castle without an owner for nine years. It was nally purchased in 1949 by a couple who subsequently resold the property two years later to Suzanne S. Christie. She abandoned it shortly after. No one knows why she left the place, though it’s suspected it could have been the result of a bitter divorce… or perhaps something a little more…odd?

After years of desertion, the mansion met its ery demise when vandals broke in and set the place ablaze. The overgrown remains are now part of Ramapo Mountain State Forest.

OLD STONE UNION CHURCH

FAIRVIEW AVE. LONG VALLEY

This was also called German Valley Lutheran Union Cemetery and it is off Fairview Ave. in Long Valley, just south of Schooleys Mountain.

Built in 1774, the Old Stone Union Church was a joint meeting house of the Dutch Reformed and German Lutheran congregations in Long Valley, N.J. The “Father of American Lutheranism,” Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, pastored a congregation that met at the building, which is on the state historic register.

In the spirit of religious cooperation two congregations, seeking one God, found unity in this shared space in the late 18th century.

The original stone structure was built in 1774 to replace a log church

built circa 1747, on the same location. In the last few years, the remain ing portions of the church were rebuilt and stabilized. The project–which began in 2006–was spearheaded by the Washington Township Historical Society.

While only the rugged walls of the building remain, there is enough to envision what it looked like over 200 years ago when it was one of the most modern structures in town.

“These folks were building for the ages,” said Dr. Richard Veit, Associ ate Professor of Anthropology at Monmouth University.  “They dug all the way down to bedrock to lay the foundation for their church,” said Veit, who was hired to conduct the archeological investigation of the site.

“Outside the building we found a deep trench dug during construction of the walls. The trench held the church’s foundation. They didn’t cut any corners, which is probably why the walls are still standing today.”

CLIFFDALE MANOR

PALISADES ALPINE APPROACH RD, NJ

Along the Palisades skyline in Alpine, New Jersey, are the ruins of a once opulent mansion built in 1911 on a 25-acre cliffside property over looking the Hudson River.

The publishers of this ne magazine used to go there all the time when they were rst dating… Yes, that is a 28-year old Shira.

The Cliff Dale Man or was built as a summer home by a wealthy busi nessman named George Zabriskie. The proper ty was then purchased in 1930 by J.D. Rockefell

Choose your favorite.

er, Jr., who donated the property two years later after the Palisades com mission decided to return the skyline to its natural terrain.

Plans for the demolition of the two-story stone mansion were set forth, but the demolition didn’t go as planned. The top part of the structure was demolished, but the large bottom portion still stands today, looking much like the remains of an old castle. Today the large ruin, including parts of the garden and a few stairways leading nowhere, can be seen on a nice hike in Palisades Park.

A BONUS RUININ SOUTH JERSEY – HOMEOFTHE PORK ROLL BROOKSBRAE – GRAFFITI COVERED BRICK FACTORY PASADENA WOODMANSE ROADIN MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ

Nestled in the Pine Barrens lays the town of Pasadena, New Jersey. To the naked eye of a weary traveler, the town seems almost vacant, but sur prisingly, there is history all around you. Speci cally, the ruins of Brooks brae Terracotta Brick Factory. There are many tales of murder, arson,

Pasadena Woodmanse Road seems to dominate the landscape with sur rounding undergrowth in full bloom. A lone rail, from the old Raritan & Delaware Bay Railroad Company, runs parallel with gravel pouring from both sides and eagerly showing its age (est. 1866).).

There is much to see, so feel free to explore the property, spanning just shy of one acre. Be careful of the many pitfalls along the ground and when climbing, use extreme caution. With every season comes further separation of the man-made structure. Freezing water, precipitation, and even plant life forces the concrete apart with an unbelievable amount of force. As you nally reach the structure, you will nd two large pieces of brickwork with two large holes in them. To your left, a 14-foot archway with an entrance on all four sides. To the north, you will see a long wall, spanning approximately 120’ in width and about 8 feet in height.

A piece of Weird NJ and Mysterious America at the same time.

O’Life Out! ,

death, and decay associated with Brooksbrae to fuel your curiosity. Some of which are well documented, some are old wives’ tales.

We knew we had a good long week on the road, and two solid days on the track at Vir ginia International Raceway with Reg Prid more’s CLASS School – and we also knew that Shira’s go-to track machine, which spend 99% of its real life as a happy standard sport-touring machine, would be in need of new rubber.

She probably could have gotten another 1,000 or so on her previous Avons, but Reg likes fresh rubber on his student’s ride, and a long 2021 season had run her previous tires to a happy end and it was getting close to their time.

She wanted and needed fresh and Avon offered their new AV79 & AV80 3D Ultra Evo Tires.

Avon’s 3D Ultra Evo gives sport bike riders the perfect compromise be tween grip and durability, offering a large stable footprint, fast warmup times and high-performance, silica-rich multi-compound, making it a perfect choice for the road. All versions of 3D Ultra offer advanced fea tures which combines an all-new compound formulation, which generates additional grip and feedback compared to the previous Avon offerings –which offered superior feel already.

Calling on decades of tire development and construction these Avon AV79 & AV80 3D Ultra Evo utilizes race-derived construction to deliv er precise handling on road and on track.

Minutes after Jeff the UPS Guy dropped them off we set to put them onto Shira’s venerable Honda 919 that, at nearly two decades old, still does yeoman’s work on the road and the track – which was where Shira and her 919 were headed… eventu ally.

Between home, Virginia Inter national Raceway and back again would be a few thousand miles of backroads and all that comes with it.

Rain would be inevitable and the 3D Ultra Evo Tires ‘Sipe Technolo gy’ carried away the road’s H2O and kept the bike planted and con dent, even in real gully washers.

On the track we found the 919, with its updated sus pension and the Avon AV79 & AV80 3D Ultra Evo tires to have a rail-like feel to it, never once giving either of us any cause or concerns. They felt as close to an allin track tire – but one that was more than happy along the tertiary roads of the mid-Atlantic as well. The best of both worlds.

So far, with a few thousand miles on board, the 3D Ultra Evo Tires look to have plenty of life to go – something we were pleasant ly surprised with considering our thoughts when we rst unwrapped these… and thinking we had never seen tires pick up so much of our gravel driveway – just rolling the bike into the barn… cold.

In the rain, heat, cold and even light gravel the Avon AV79 & AV80 3D Ultra Evo Tires seem to simply eat up the miles in a con dent and inspiring way.

Truly the best of both worlds. , www.avontyres.com/en-us

BOBBY SUE’S HOMEMADE

I needed a hook. I had already put together a pretty decent day ride for our Summer Sojourn stay in New Hampshire with lunch at Harraskeet’s on the water in Freeport, Maine. Before I even got my helmet off, I was asked where the ice cream stop would be. Well, it’s easy enough to throw a dart these days and hit a homemade ice cream shop. The trick is to nd a GOOD homemade ice cream shop. Making it an even harder task, it was National Ice Cream Day, so the stakes were pretty high.

I had a ‘guy’ in New Hampshire that could point me in the right direction. Not only could he throw out some road suggestions, especially if we were interested in ‘off the beaten track’ trails, he had a nger on the taste buds of the area. I shot a message to Jeff Adams, formerly of Whitehorse Press, and pretty quickly he put out some suggestions. I mapped them according to where lunch was and found this little gem for this month’s Inside Scoop.

Bobby Sue’s Homemade Ice Cream opened in 1987 by Ken and Pat Dumas, but Autumn & Thatcher Graves took over in 2012 and have been cranking ever since. Autumn scooped at Bobby Sue’s as a teenager and was taught the craft from the Dumas’ as has been churning ever since.

Bobby Sue’s sits on a little plot of land called Cozy Corner, just up the road from the Ossipee River. There are a couple of picnic tables in the shade where you can enjoy your ice cream. While there is no in door seating, there is standing room, which we took advantage of to escape the heat of the day and also peruse the various items for sale – pins, stickers and such. Should you have a freezer bag on your bike or happen to be staying close by, there are several freezers full of pints and quarts to go, which was very tempting but impossible on this day.

The inside of the shop is bright and cheery with inspirations signage such as ‘Never settle for just one scoop’ – words to live by. The offerings are plentiful, with room for 45-50 different avors in the freezer

from which to choose. From Almond Joy to Salted Caramel Cup and many in between, it was almost like trying to pick from a diner’s menu.

I asked the young man scooping what their ‘signature’ avor was and he thought that black raspberry was probably the most ordered.

While I like to go with seasonal selections when available (today peach was on the board), I had to go with Black Raspberry and, of course, Ginger. Brian saw a mixture of two of his favorites – Coffee Oreo – and, along with a scoop of Maple Walnut in a homemade waf e cone, he was a happy camper. Along for the ride this National Ice Cream Day was Michael Wernick, ice cream taster extraordinaire, who went with Mint Chocolate Chip.

Also available for you lactoids are dairy-free avors made with coconut milk as well as sorbets. If you are a true Luddite, you can order up soft serve vanilla, chocolate or a twist.

Once you’ve tasted Bobby Sue’s Homemade Ice Cream, you might be tempted to seek it out elsewhere, and that is possible as they are carried in several small farm stands and markets in Conway, Wolfes boro and Intervale, New Hampshire.

The riding in New Hamp shire is superb. Yes, the paved roads may be fewer than oth er states, but if you are not afraid to put a little gravel in your travel, you can combine to achieve a most excellent day’s ride with a reward of some excellent homemade ice cream during or after the ride at Bobby Sue’s – the Freedom

is yours, enjoy the ride and we’ll see you on the next stop for In side Scoop. ,

We would be remiss if we didn’t mention Das Creamery, one of my favorite ice cream spots and supporter of this magazine, and their recent crowning as 2022 Morris County Golden Cone Champion. It was a tight competition, but they took it with just 3/10 of a point over Cliff’s in Dover, NJ. Although Cliff’s took the Vanilla competition, Das Creamery wowed the judges with their Fan Voted Flavors, putting them in rst place with Maple Walnut. Ac cording to Pankaj and Komal, father and daughter owners of Das Cream ery, ‘Cliff’s was one of our inspirations to make ice cream 8 years ago. This has been an honor and dream come true.’ Make sure you stop by and con gratulate them while having some of the best ice cream anywhere: 100 US Hwy 46, Budd Lake, NJ

Ozark East

The rest of the story

In late spring the BMW Owners Association held its annual national rally in the mid-west in Spring eld, Missouri, which we made into a few weeks’ journey and got to explore a lot of the heartland of the nation – both going and coming back east. The city of Spring eld has been called the Birthplace of Route 66 - a road that runs or ran, nearly 2,500 miles from the Windy City of Chicago to Santa Monica, California. You wonder how a small city in Missouri ended up with this claim? Well… On April 30, 1926, a telegram was sent from Spring eld’s Colonial Hotel—demolished in 1997—proposing that the road from Chicago to Los Angeles be named Route 66. It is for this reason that Spring eld is recognized as the birthplace of Route 66. This two-wheel travel tale starts right here – at the spot where the Colonial Hotel once stood. Springfield, Missouri to Paducah, Kentucky

We had happened on this historic location af ter dinner with friends at the close of this year’s BMW MOA Rally – held at the local fairgrounds.

The rally had been a hot one and once we got to Spring eld we did lit tle in the way of explor ing and with the need to head home eventually, we

Named after the famed writer who, as Samuel Clemons, wished as a young boy to be a River Boat captain. “Mark Twain” (meaning “Mark number two”) was a Mississippi River term: the second mark on the line that measured depth signi ed two fathoms, or twelve feet—safe depth for the steamboat.

He liked the sound of that and the rest is history.

Although I thought I had us plotted along Missouri’s best-paved roads we, as always, ended up on gravel. But, the Show-Me State’s idea of gravel and the rest of the world might be a bit different as most of this was a small marble-like concoction. After one or two segments I mentally rerouted along the nicely paved roads that owed in the same general direc tion – east!

These roads were amazing and not only beautifully paved, but cambered in just the right way that keeping a quick pace was a joy.

We ran into a dam detour but we have found that life is full of detours and when approached with a good attitude can be that much more fun –as was this extra 30 miles this day.

plotted a course that would spend our rst day east rambling across the Ozark.

Some call the region the moun tains, while many geologists call it the Ozark Plateau, the Ozark is the only extensive elevated area between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountain ranges. The word Ozark is a corruption of the French name for the region, Aux Arcs, which means “at the bows.” The Ozark Plateau includes the Ouachita, Boston, and St. Fran cois mountains.

Mountains or plateau, I guess it depends on your opinion and why you are there. We came to ride and the Ozark did not disappoint. Spinning east we rode into the Mark Twain Forest.

This also brought us by an interesting Historical Marker that told of the 1939 Share Croppers Strike. In January of that year, motorists on highways in the “Bootheel” of southeastern Missouri began reporting a strange sight: thousands of sharecropper families were camped out on the roadside, their meager possessions piled around them, exposed to the

wintry cold. The families, almost all African-American, but many whites too, had been evicted by the owners of the farms where they had lived. Because sharecroppers were entitled to a portion of the harvest of the elds they worked, the government had recently announced they were also entitled to a direct portion of federal farm subsidies — a distasteful arrangement for the landowners, who had decided they would rather keep the full subsidies and hire day laborers to bring in their crops.

Thousands of farmers and families made new homes along Route 60 and the media took notice, as did President Roosevelt who ordered his Secretary of Agriculture to render assistance to the people who “went out on the road,” and the First Lady addressed them in her nationally syndi cated newspaper column.

Some of the sharecroppers were able to capitalize on the protest public ity and raise enough money to purchase 93 acres of land and establish the community of Cropperville.

Their story went on for years and was a sad bit of American history.

As we neared the con uence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers we could see huge and sky- lling black smoke.

At rst, I feared that a jet had gone down, but what we were seeing was farmers burning recently harvested wheat elds. It was an amazing sight to behold.

We crossed into Illinois and then Kentucky near Fort De ance, and then a family visit with our niece Jillian and her husband Jeff. After a nice din ner we rolled a bit further to Paducah, one of our favorite little towns.

Paducah to Louisville, Kentucky

In addition to being the home of the National Quilt Museum, it also has the most magni cent historic murals along the city’s oodwall.

Created by the renowned Dafford Muralists, they capture Paducah’s rich history in paintings on this UNESCO Creative City’s oodwall overlooking the con uence of the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers. This vi sionary project began in the spring of 1996. The rst twenty-panel timeline was completed in 2001 and the last painting in the three-block section in 2010.

As Paducah’s most popular 24/7 art history attrac tion, the oodwall murals are an amazing way to read all about this river city’s colorful history. The one-

liner, “Bright Star on the River” certainly describes these images, espe cially when showcased after the sun sets as they glow like a shiny border, framing the images along Paducah’s riverfront.

From this part of Kentucky, you simply have to jump up and away –across the Ohio River to Metropolis. Yes, there is a Metropolis, and it does pay homage to the last son of Krypton.

Kal-El, Clark Kent… Superman!

The museum features over 70,000+ items from the life’s work of longtime Superman enthusiast and collector, Jim Hambrick who has amassed one of the greatest collections of Superman memorabilia in the world.  Among the items showcased in the museum from the iconic superhero’s 75+ year history are vir tually every Superman toy ever produced as well as movie props and promotional mate rials from all the Superman movies and TV series (including “Smallville” and “Man of Steel”) and maybe one of the only George Reeves Superman costumes still in existence. If you have not gured this out yet, I am a Geek and proud of it! This place was out of this world.

Either side of the Ohio River works for a great morning’s ride, but since we were in Il linois we stuck with its River Trail and wound north and east along the river, and crossed back into Kentucky on the short ferry at Cave-in-Rocks - once a hide-out for infamous river pirates and highway men, including the Harpe Brothers – now considered one of the rst true serial killers in the United States. Very, very bad men that killed for pleasure more than money.

For us, Kentucky would ride us into far happier miles as we mimicked the riv er and rode to Ow ensboro, home to Nicky Hayden – The Kentucky Kid and America’s last Mo toGP World Cham pion. On May 22, 2017, Hayden died ve days after being struck by a motor ist, while training in Italy.

Louisville, Kentucky to Glenville, West Virginia

On the second Saturday in May, no matter where we are, or what we are doing, Backroads (that means me, Shira, and Spenser) stop what we’re doing and we watch the Kentucky Derby, the oldest sporting event in the United States.

This year’s shocking win by an unknown and last-second entry called Rich Strike was unexpected and exciting, and we thought we’d visit the home of the derby – Churchill Downs - on a day that wasn’t total may hem, as it is on Derby Day.

The museum and tour were fun and educational and we even got to see some horses training that morning.

We did not get out of Churchill Downs until mid-morning and we quickly made up time riding some of Kentucky’s best backroads.

If you have never ridden in the Bluegrass State then etch it in stone and toss it into your bucket – the roads here are some of the most amazing in the nation. Well paved, twistalicious, perfectly cambered, and a mix of hills and tight turns that will keep your attention riveted for the entire af ternoon.

In his hometown of Owensboro, there is a superb statue of The Ken tucky Kid and we always like to drop by and say hello to The Kid when in this part of the Bluegrass State.

Continuing north along the road that mimicked the great river we ate up miles as the sun was shining on these long days right before the solstice.

We passed by Fort Knox, once the depository for the nation’s gold and still named for the brilliant Revolutionary War General Henry Knox famed for dragging 60 tons of cannon from Ticonderoga in New York to Boston, totally surprising the British and forcing their withdrawal to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Called by historian Victor Brooks “one of the most stupendous feats of logistics” of the entire war, Knox’s effort is commemorated by a series of plaques marking the Henry Knox Trail, in New York and Massachusetts.

For 60 years, Fort Knox was the home of the U.S. Army Armor Center and the Army Armor School – training soldiers to operate tanks.

Henry would have been proud.

Now you know why Fort Knox is called Fort Knox.

We could see why Nicky was such a great rider!

Heck, they even have a town called Pleasureville. I kid you not. The sto ry of how it got this name is best left unprinted.

We traversed back across the Ohio for the fourth time in two days into the state of Ohio and explored some of the southeast roads that made this part of the Buckeye State a rider’s paradise.

Once again, and for the last time this go around, we crossed the river at

Point Pleasant – the lair of the Mothman.

In the mid-60s there were dozens of reports of a man-like winged and ying creature, with burning red eyes that had terrorized locals. It has be come the stuff of legend and the statue of the Mothman is a serious piece of art – standing in the middle of the town.

Part protector, part tourist fodder.

Hell, it has brought me here a half dozen times. I’m a Geek, remember?

It was the longest day of the year and with a few hours of daylight to burn we continued east on Route 33.

U.S. Route 33 runs northwest-southeast for 709 miles from northern Indiana to Rich mond, Virginia. The parts that pass through West Virginia and Virginia are our stuff of legend.

One of our favorite pieces of pavement has been mentioned in Backroads again and again – and will probably be mentioned a dozen more times.

That night we found a cheap hotel, take-out Chinese and a little MotoGP to celebrate a great upcoming summer and nearly 500 backroad miles this day. Glenville, West Virginia to Backroads Central

So far on this two-week trip, we had only one run-in with the wet – but it was a doozy.

Our Dark Sky App called for more of the same coming our way, so we bit the bullet and took an hour or two on Route 33 heading east, stopping in Weston at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum – we’d be crazy not to, and then up I-79 to I-68. Interstate 68 is 113 miles of pure pleasure – much like the Kentucky town.

As Interstates go it sets a high bar with stupendous views, great pavement and it seemed each exit offered something of interest.

Sideling Hill, where engineers had to cut through the mountain, is an amaz ing thing to see and would have cost… ready…over 76 million dollars today.

Ride through it… your parents paid for it.

Making miles on the Interstate, even for a magazine called Backroads, is sometimes the best option, but still a heavy and dark cloudburst, complete with air-to-ground lightning strikes, forced us into a fortuitous rest stop for a bit, but by late afternoon we were off the big roads and back in familiar riding grounds along the Delaware River and then into Warren and Sussex Counties of New Jersey and home.

We had spent a couple of weeks on the road and it was great to get back – even if we had to deal with an angry and slightly petulant cat.

The United States was built on the backroads and during this multi-state romp, we rode thousands of those miles.

They are all waiting, full of history, grandeur, beauty, and miles of fun, there to be discov ered. Go explore! ,

TPX PRO RADAR + LASER DETECTION SYSTEM

To know your enemy, you must become your enemy Sun Tzu

We rarely do group rides, but many times when we do some of the riders that come along with us are Law Enforcement Of cers. We have great admiration for LEOs, and many of our family and friends proudly wear a badge.

These days it seems that some feel to go at these stellar men and women. It is something we will nev er understand. To serve & protect means a lot.

Yet, there is one thing we occa sionally have to deal with.

The Speeding Ticket.

When it comes to this issue, we feel it is a benign war, and it is best that you ght re with re.

Consider it a game. Us vs Them.

Most local and state law enforcement use radar and laser to snag aggres sive drivers and riders – so, as Sun Tzu said in the Art of War - become your enemy.

Speeding Fact #1 42 million speeding tickets are issued in the United States every year. That is 36 percent of drivers, assuming one speeding ticket per driver. In reality, 20.6 percent of drivers average a speeding ticket per year.

That is a whopping number and, from our perspective, this has little to do with public safety and everything to do with revenue.

With that in mind you, as an adult and mature rider, should be pre pared. Call it a battle, war, or just a game…

If they are using technology to catch you – you should be using technol ogy to not get caught.

Radar Detectors have been around for decades, and some are far better than others. The cutting edge for cars has been Escort and Val entine One – neither of which were designed for motorcycles.

Enter the TPX Radar & Laser Detection System.

This unit has been around for several years as well – but things change and evolve and the newest generation of TPX rises to the top for many reasons.

Designed with the motorcyclist in mind, the TPX Radar and Laser Detection System is water, shock, and vibration resistantmuch needed in a two-wheel environment. The Detector Unit features oversized buttons for ease of use with riding gloves. Its large, angled, top-positioned LCD optimizes viewing from all riding positions and is easily viewable in direct sunlight.

The TPX comes with a brightness-adjustable LED Visual Alert and can also be used with the optional TPX Wireless Headset. The Detector Unit is powered directly from the motor cycle’s battery with the included wiring harness. The harness has a 3.5mm mono auxiliary-out jack for integration with other audio or communication systems. It can also be integrated with Bluetooth headsets with the use of a Blue tooth Transmitter.  Mounting to an Adaptiv Mount or almost any other third-party mount is easily achieved with the included quickrelease plate.

Speeding Fact #2

The First-Ever Speeding Ticket was Slow

Speeding tickets have been around since May 20, 1899. That speeding ticket was in the Supreme Court of New York, in downtown Manhattan.

The driver was speeding 12 miles per hour in an 8 miles per hour zone. He was arrested. He was im prisoned. He was released a few days later.

Although the TPX came with everything needed to mount the unit on just about any machine, I used a pre-existing plate – simply for convenience and I opt ed to use TPX’s super bright LED Visual Alert.

This got moved around a bit till I found a placement that could be easily seen, yet not intrusive or apparent to others on the road.

The wiring harness was easily hooked into a 12-volt supply and the plug & play jacks made for a clean in stallation, with any extra harness zip-tied and tucked neatly away.

Speeding Fact #3 • The Revenuers

Yes, some towns do use the police for raising funds. - the process is called “fundraising.” It is a term for when local city police officers pull over more people and give out more tickets (rather than warnings) to raise money for their local government. This is dis tinguished from giving speeding tickets for safety or law enforcement.

If some have told you this is not true, then please note that Governor Glenn Youngkin, of Virginia, recently signed a bill into law that would ban the practice of police ticket quotas in Virginia. Why would he have to do that?

The Test…

We have several automobile radar detectors, so we ran a test between the TPX and the Valentine One (considered by many as the very best) and we found that the TPX either matched the V1 or was a tad quicker on pick-up during extremely scienti c and monitored testing which used both constant radar and gun-style used in most police cruisers.

Add in that the TPX was made for motorcycles and is extremely durable and you have a clear winner here.

Speeding Fact #4

Average Speeding Ticket Costs Vary Wildly The most expensive state is: Virginia – $1,350.00. The least expensive state jurisdiction for a speed ing ticket is Tennessee – $50.00. For the price of one ticket in Virginia, you could buy three TPX radar detectors. Just sayin’.

ONTHE ROAD…

This is where it really counts, right?

Although I am not an overly aggressive rider on the road, I am not a doddler either. My thought is to keep a pace a tad more forceful than everyone else.

Stay in the powerband of the machine, as that al lows for far better control and acceleration if some thing stupid begins to happen.

Here in the part of northwest New Jersey we call home you will nd smaller towns and lots of them with nearly empty roads in between. My thought is to enjoy the county two-laners – but when in town, I always slow down.

There are rarely speed traps along these byways but on the larger main road, especially leading into larger municipalities, it can be far different and that is where and when most of those 42 million citations happen.

That is where the TPX Radar & Laser Detection System really comes into play – and on these roads,

I have at least a bit more con dence that I can avoid the local LEO, while still enjoying a happy ride.

The rst bright red ash of the LEDs usu ally catches my peripheral vision and as the signal gets stronger the ashing becomes more intense. If potential ‘Imperial Entan glements’ might be ahead - you should be well forewarned.

Operation and control of the TPX are eas ily handled with 5 oversized and backlit but tons designed with gloves in mind. You can turn the backlighting off if desired, dim the LED, and the ve-stage volume is easily con trolled as well. You can also easily swap from city to highway modes, as well as control be tween the different bands of radar. The TPX is incredibly well thought out.

The local Law Enforcement (Bless their hearts - seriously) are using technology and have been for years – maybe it is time you did too.

Ride safe, ride often…but, ride smart.

The TPX Pro Radar & Laser Detection System sells for $399 and can be found at adaptivtech.com ,

Benny’s Bodega Run • A Great Day’s Ride for a Worthy Cause

Have you ever met some people that can be totally sel ess and giving to others? We’re sure you have; and it is what these folks do, day after day, that can make a huge differ ence to many in a community.

A few years back we learned of Benny’s Bodega. What we rst thought was a young upscale and probably hip store turned out to be nothing of the kind. Okay, they are hip and young, but in actuality, Benny’s Bo dega is a non-pro t organization that helps locals in the Sussex County area getting much-needed goods and lling the day-today wants and needs of those less fortunate here in northwest New Jersey.

This might sound like a big organization but, the truth is, Benny’s Bodega is really one family – Heather and Ben Davies, along with her mom Terry, their two kids Lily and Carter, and a bunch of volunteers who somehow make it all work.

Each time we walked into our gym we’d see the “Donation Box” for the Bodega and last year we decided to help in a small way and this past July we held our second Benny’s Bo dega Run.

Like every Backroads event, there was no set charge, fee, or expense – rather we simply asked for donations of nonperishable items or, if riders wished, an easy donation via the Bodega’s website.

The 150-mile Mystery Ride took place the last Sunday in July and we’d like to thank those who came out to help sup port Benny’s Bodega. In addition to riders bringing non-per ishable goods so many made very...VERY... generous donations. Thank you, Thank You, Thank You All!

We had riders from the other side of the Hudson and Delaware rivers, and special kudos to Joe who rode up from Virginia.

Wow! You are da man, Joe!

For all those who we (Shira, me, and Spenser T. Cat) feel are part of our extended Backroads family, who couldn’t come for the ride, it’s

NEVER too late to make that much needed donation because every bit helps to go a long way with the Bodega. Hop on their website and hit the donation button – super easy, barely an inconvenience: www.bennysbodega.com

ish - the Red Wolfe Inn, in Belvidere. The Red Wolfe Inn opened hours early this day to help support this ride and we’d like to thank them deeply for doing so.

Again, thank you all who were kind enough to roll out and ride with us this great summer’s day your support was awesome and we hope you all had a great day. Oh yeah, here’s that website again for donations… www.bennysbodega.com

~ Brian Rathjen ,

For those who did ride, it was a superb day - with a great, meandering route that had all of the typical detours and road closures and turnarounds that riders have come to expect from a Backroads Ride. See? We wouldn’t let you down. We even arranged for that napping bear in the tree on the Old Mine Road detour – we got you cov ered!

From Newton, New Jersey, to New York, into Penn sylvania (a big Thank You to the folks at the Ding mans Bridge for the toll ticket donations), and back into the Garden State with a hearty meal at the n

Getting Dirty

AACA Museum’s Latest Exhibit Highlights the History of Off-Road Vehicles

Motorsport trends roll across decades like a new set of tires…high-per forming and popular at the start providing oh-so-much excitement, then waning and wearing until the barely remaining tread indicates the time to change is now.

For example, highways these days carry a plethora of three-wheeled mo torcycles, more suitable for the motorcyclists who don’t want to (or who can’t any longer) perform the two-wheeled balancing act. The same ap plies to enthusiasts who enjoy their time in the dirt; many motorcycles now offer hybrid off- and on-road capabilities for riders looking to strad dle both worlds.

What is going around now rolled around once before, and is featured in a new exhibit entitled “Off-Road Adventure” at the Antique Automo bile Club of America (AACA) Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The display highlights dirt-focused machines of the three- and four-wheeled variety.

The reason behind an exhibit like this? “Familiarity,” says Jared Kauff man of Dillsburg, one of the exhibit’s guest curators. “Everyone has a story about riding these machines or knowing someone who rode these machines,” adding these surefooted, dirt-based vehicles often

served as the appetizer for the main meal of two-wheeled motorcycling.

The exhibit discusses the history of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and allterrain cycles (ATCs), Honda’s copyrighted name for its three-wheeled off-road vehicles. While not as old or distinguished as many museumdisplayed motorcycles, the rugged machines shown here relate a story of success and decline that began just over 50 years ago, beginning in 1970.

While the Internet lists many “ rst” three-wheeled ATVs predating 1970, Honda receives a general ac knowledgment for producing the rst mass-marketed machine, a 90-cc, seven-horsepower all-terrain cycle. Suzuki manufactured the rst four-wheeler in 1983. Those two companies, along with Yamaha and Ka wasaki, have produced the majority of three- and four-wheelers in existence.

Kauffman says the vehicles became especially popu lar around 1980, lling several niches. First, they pro vided fast fun, and that morphed into racing—hillclimbing, moto crossing, dirt-tracking, and at-track racing (the American Motorcyclist Association sanc tioned races until 1988).

They also served as utility vehicles for farmers and ranchers, proving popular as modern workhorses for towing, moving, and general work previously ac complished by four-hooved creatures. The snow and

cold of winter don’t hinder them, further increasing their usefulness for a landowner. Manufacturers who saw offroad, two-wheeled motorcycle sales slump in the cold months especially appreciated this fact.

The mountain-goat-like vehicles also became popular as a way to escape into nature for everyone. Kauffman says Hon da “family-ized” ATVs and ATCs with its advertising, often showing Dad and Mom with kids and various-sized ATVs lined up outside an idyllic woodland cabin. ATV riding be came an “in” thing to do for families in the 1980s.

The museum’s exhibit has over 20 examples of threeand four-wheeled vehicles, from child-speci c mod els (that taught children the now-disappearing art of manual shifting) to specialized racing machines. A local group of vintage ATV enthusiasts collectively pooled some of their nest examples of off-road ma chines for the museum display. Fellow guest curator, Justin Wenrich Of Hummelstown, a former ATV rac er, says he thought the exhibit would “be cool” and t well with the museum’s mission, so he reached out to other area collectors for display machines. Kauff man, who says he began riding ATVs at four or ve years of age, began actively collecting them eight years ago and says the market for the machines and parts has “exploded” recently. Many of the exhibit’s vehicles are in original condition or feature “new, old stock” parts so they look their best.

A 1985 Tiger 200 stands as the display’s rarest ma chine; only 200 to 250 or so of the Rotax-powered, race-ready, “for competition only,” American-made machines were manufactured. A 1984 Honda Big Red four-wheeler (with optional snowplow) repre sents the highest production year ever for the quad ATVs, with Honda making over 200,000 that year.

Many of the vehicles hold memories for their own ers, such as Ryan Gerz of Landisville, PA, just a lad begging his dad to buy the most powerful ATV at the time they went to the dealership. Dad didn’t listen and instead purchased the more sensible four-wheel

er Gerz has on display at the museum; he says his grandson rides the ma chine now. And therein lies a major draw of these machines, as old mem ories pass down and new memories form within families that own them.

Most of the three-wheeled ATVs fall into the category of “collectible,” because, in 1987, the United States Government Consumer Product Safe ty Commission essentially banned them for being “dangerous.” Easy to roll over and somewhat unsteady, injuries and deaths resulting from rid ing three-wheelers led to bad publicity and government hearings. The four Japanese manufacturers agreed to make reparations to injured parties, put a bigger emphasis on safety through education and improved gear, and refrain from manufacturing the three-wheeled vehicles for ten years. They could continue produc ing four-wheelers, however.

This agreement dropped a death blow to three-wheel ers. Ten years later, when the moratorium expired, none of the manufacturers returned the now forgotten, publiclyridiculed three-wheelers to production.

Kauffman calls the blow dealt to the ATV unfair, cit ing lack of education and

common sense among riders as a key reason for the accidents. Wenrich agrees, saying, “A lot of the problem with three-wheelers were the untrained, unskilled riders on them; often times, too small of a kid on too big of a machine.” When asked which they preferred to ride, three or four wheels, they both enthusiastically answered “three.”

Kauffman says a three-wheeler provides a “more active rider experience,” with riders often having to “hang off” the vehicle’s side to help steer, similar to motorcycles. “They’re more dif cult to ride, but more fun,” he admitted. Wenrich says his favorite ride was a Honda ATC 350X. “I spent a lot of time trail riding and motocross jumping with that.”

As for current interest in four-wheeled ATVs in today’s marketplace? Not as popular as they once were, having lost their market share to the more car-like category of side-by-sides that can haul multiple people and gear over similar rocky and rugged terrain. In time, sen timent might shift and roll back to traditional four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles. Until then, Hershey’s AACA Museum offers a glimpse of what they once were.

The ATV exhibit runs until October 19th. For more info on the exhibit, visit the museum website: www.aacamuseum.org. ~ Pamela Collins

IXS TOUR JACKET GERONA-AIR 1.0

A good motorcycle jacket must let through as much air ow as possible in summer. The summer jacket from iXS, with breathable mesh lining and large mesh areas, ensures optimum ventilation and enables good body temperature regulation. For wet and cooler weather, it has an option for attaching the windproof and waterproof Montevideo-ST membrane lining.

If you are sitting on a motorcycle in high temperatures for long periods, you will appreciate the airy and comfortable Gerona-Air touring jacket. Thanks to many sizes from M-9XL and the width adjusters on the upper arms, elbows and cuffs, the jacket can be adapted ideally to the body, thereby offering a perfect t. The Gerona-Air is also practical in terms of its large storage volume: the four outside pockets, two inside pockets and Napoleon pocket have everything you need for a motorcycle tour.

The all-round fastening zip also provides the perfect combination with the trousers of the same name.

iXS also makes no compromises when it comes to safety. The tested shoulder and elbow pads ensure maximum protection. The jacket also has a pocket for attaching a back protector.

The elegantly cut Gerona-Air touring jacket is available in a black-grey-red combination and in many sizes up to 9XL.

The jacket is also perfectly accompanied by the Tour Gerona-Air 1.0 pants and lists for $229 from iXS dealers. ,

GIVI’S NEW ALASKA 56-LITER TOP CASE • THE BEST GETS BIGGER!

GIVI’s best-selling range of Monokey aluminum cases is growing and they have announced the availability of the new Alaska 56-liter top case. The Alaska line was designed as a more affordable option to its top-of-the-line Outback ADV range, while also being easier to repair and more modular. You can expect the new top case to feature all of the properties of the existing Alaska side bags, including fewer moving parts, fewer rivets, and a more streamlined assembly process. Stainless steel hinges and technopolymer are also used to keep costs down and sturdiness high.

The most appealing feature for the hardcore adventure-touring rider is the boast of 56 liters of capacity. This is enough to t two full-face helmets and, with a pair of 36-liter Alaska side cases, makes a total of 128 liters of storage.  Available in both natural aluminum nish and black powder coated $515 & $535 respectively, this large top case is safe and secure with the adoption of the new Security Key system, water and dust resistant, rugged and ready to travel across the globe, should that be the plan… or to the local Whole foods if that is what’s needed. Hell, you could put a week’s worth of gro ceries in this case!

The Trekker Alaska 56 can take two full face or even modular helmets, it has integrated strap loops in the lid, self-locking and strapless hinges, stainless rivets and, of course, it is fully compatible with any of the Monokey top case mount plates, like the M5, M7, M8 and M9. Check this and other GIVI luggage options at your local dealer or on their site at www.giviusa.com.

X-LITE X-1005 ULTRA CARBON HELMET

Five years. That’s the recommended length of life for a motorcycle helmet. Yes, this does depend on the frequency of use or any damage done (dropping, scratching, etc). As my helmet gets used pretty consistently, it was getting on the ve year mark.

I have been sporting a Nolan N100-5 in a very bright and noticeable yellow for the past ve years. It has made my rides quite comfortable, so I thought to just replace it with the same. But when I looked around at the other offerings from Nolan and X-Lite, I was immediately drawn to the X-1005 Ultra Carbon. It was like car shopping; you think you’d be happy with a very utilitarian but sporty Subaru WRX but then a Nissan Z oats across your sights – buh-bye, Subaru.

The X-Lite X-1005 Ultra Carbon has been updated signi cantly from the 1004 – interior, ventilation and design. Starting from the outside, the shell is made of carbon ber and offered in three shell sizes: XXS-M, Large and XL-XXXL. The option of sizing will ensure that the t will be more accurate

and the comfort and safety will be far superior. The carbon ber also makes for a lighter helmet, weighing in at 3lb 12 oz. While light weight is important, t and comfort are the true determinant when it comes to a touring helmet. More on this when I get to the road test.

Moving to the inside of the helmet, the interior of the X-Lite X-1005 UC has some upgraded features. The liner features X-Lite’s ‘carbon tting’ comfort, meaning there are carbon laments woven into the fabric to help absorb sweat, reduce static and modulate temperature. The netting up top assists in ventilating air and circulation through the liner onto your head.

The ventilation system works very well, with ports at chin and top of head. With the face shield down and both vents open, there is a clear movement of air throughout the helmet.

The construction includes speaker pockets for those using communication systems sans custom ear plugs. It is also well set for N-Com Bluetooth installation, should that be your desire, Something I nd very valuable, as I have worn glasses practically my whole life, are the glasses grooves positioned so the stems of your glasses won’t push into your head, making for some mighty discomfort. Liners are easily removeable for cleaning, as well as having an adjustable liner positioning system, which consists of a small strap which can be tightened/loosened to adjust how it sits. There are thinner and thicker cheek pads available for an even further custom t. The chin strap has some comfy pads to prevent any cha ng you might encounter. The chin guard on the X-1005 is ECE certi ed and has a locking option so you can ride with the chin guard in the up position (which is not recommended for any length of time). In addition, in SHARP testing (Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme utilized in the UK but testing is testing), the X-Lite helmets have ranked extremely high. Part of the reason for its high safety is the two-button release catch, keeping the chin guard where it needs to be in case of unforeseen contact.

Helping you get down the road on those sunny days is the drop-down sun visor with UV400 protection. Dropping down in stages, it allows full coverage or just a little blockage when the sun is high in the sky.

With a touch of the button easily located, it springs back and out of the way.

Should you need to change the visor, X-Lite has made this super easy, barely an inconvenience, with just a ip of a lever and off it comes. The opening is wider and deeper than the 1004 for full peripheral vision and there is a pinlock anti-fog insert to keep your vision clear on those steamy rides.

On the road I found the X-Lite X-1005 very comfortable from the start – no break in period needed.

Using it on my V-Strom 650 with a fairing that comes just below mid-vision, there is no buffeting, although riding with the face shield up, there is a little vibration. Being a modular helmet, the wind noise is higher than a full-face but, with proper ear protection, it is barely noticeable. The wide visor opening allows for full vision all around, air circulation was quite cooling on some very hot days, and the vent ports and sun visor mechanics were easy to nd and operate with gloved hands. At the end of the day, there was no fatigue and the inner pads are easily removed for cleaning after sweaty rides. I got the Carbon (black) ultra carbon but there are many color combos to t your style. MSRP is $462.55 through www.nolan-usa.com ~ Shira Kamil

The Law Office of Paul Gargiulo, P.C. presents Welcome to the Jungle - The Art of Learning to Ride Skillfully

A column dedicated to your riding survival

WHATTHE FRACK WAS THAT • PART II Now to the biologicals that can kill us

Deer is our most prevalent enemy.

According to one statistic, there are over one million vehicular deer inci dents and around 25,000 deer are killed by vehicular accidents each year. Another stat states that the state where you’re most likely to hit a deer is West Virginia.

Over 10,000 Americans are injuries in vehicle accidents involving deer each year and the injury rate with a deer versus motorcycle strike is a high 70% with over 90 percent of vehicle-deer crashes occurring on two-lane roads, between dusk and dawn.

Deer suck. We have been riding in deer-infested areas for decades and the only thing that has helped is The Hornet from Xp3 - a passive elec tronic deer Avoidance System.

Yes, they are one of our advertisers yet we have found the sharp and ir ritating pitch the Hornet throws at the road in front on the bike to work remarkably well.

Bambi and friends have never answered any of our surveys, so think of it as an elec tric “Rabbit’s Foot,” and, for the $80 invest ment, better to have one on your machine than not.

Remember we don’t hit deer, deer hit us.

Up north moose is a huge issue – in both size and scope. Moose kill more humans than any other mammal in North America.

Although in some regions of the United States brown bears are more dangerous simply because of their aggressive behavior – the moose popu lation is far greater than any bear population.

Treat moose like a deer on crack or meth as they, unlike deer that usually and happily run away, will happily stomp you into oblivion when enraged. Remarkably, moose seem to not like The Hornet either and we have had moose raise their massive noggins and move off the road and back into the forest while riding in Maine and Newfoundland.

Black bears have run in front of us dozens of times, and getting hit by one is go ing to be a very bad thing. There have been many mo torcycle rider fatalities due to bear strikes over the years.

Avian Issues…

Years back a friend, a professional road racer, was struck hard by a seagull that came out of the blue. He suffered a concussion, and as an ex perienced racer knew this and wisely parked himself for a few days in the next town he came upon.

In this region Turkey Vultures are often found dining on the aforemen tioned deer strikes. Startled they can easily y up and into passing mo torcycles. So, if you see a wake of vultures best to slide away from them and be vigilant.

Most birds will y out of the way, but not al ways. Depending on the bird’s size you will ei ther punt them away or they can cause you to lose control and create a “gravity storm!”

The key here is to try not to panic.

If a bird strike is immi nent throttle up and go for the punt rather than the crash. Like deer, birds usually hit us, not the other way around.

Try to avoid condors – they are very big.

Some of the other critters to consider run the small mammal gamut –woodchuck, porcupine, squirrels, opossum, and racoons all seem to cross the road at the wrong times.

Up here in northern New Jersey, we have a lot of otter hits and I re member one Americade riding on a small backroad off of Route 28 and having a large sher cross our path. Part of the Weasel family – they have been showing up more and more in the northeast in the last few decades. These are really big, but there are plenty of other smaller weasels that can pop out in the more rural areas.

I have mentioned bobcats, but there have been reports of small pumas and coyotes and hybrid coydogs seem to be more and more plentiful these days.

Now let’s talk the small stuff.

A wasp, bee, or hor net getting in your jack et or helmet can cause all sorts of mayhem. A mean-looking spider or the like crossing on the inside of your face shield might cause the same reaction.

Being a ‘Hornet Stung Veteran’ I can tell you to accept you have been stung. Yes, it hurts like hell, but be brave, alright kiddo?

Compartmentalize the pain. DO NOT let it take control as you will probably lose control … of your bike and matters will just get exponen tially worse from there.

There are animals out there – humans for the most part, but that is what this column has always been about. Stay vigilant, never panic and work on your riding skills.

It’s a jungle out there. ,