2021 - Issue # 5
COGnitions:
Ramblings from the Northeast Area Director Hi all!
photo courtesy Bob Barbanti #7134
Once again, another year has come and gone quickly. I feel it was a better COG year. I am thankful I was able to get out for more rides this year than last year – I even hosted a few too. It was unfortunate I could not make the dates work for the Fall Weekend, but I had several conflicts. I’m happy that Kevin Martin was persistent in finding a way to make the event happen. Kevin wrote up nice article for this issue on the event and how have the event at the Gray Ghost Inn came to be. Steve Smith #3184 The COG NE election cycle is complete. The nomination/ election period began in October and wrapped up in November. Thanks to those who nominated me for another term. I did run unopposed and was elected by default. I truly appreciate the confidence you have in me, or did I just stand still while everyone else took a step back? I’ve had a good run and still enjoy steering the boat, but I just hold the rudder – most of the rowing effort comes from having a terrific northeast staff and other members who organize and attend events. Many thanks to you all. I want to give a quick shout out to Greg & Tracey Habel and say thanks for your contributions to the betterment of the club over the past 10 years run as AAD and best wishes on your retirement travels. I am hoping that someone (or a few someones to share task) will raise their hand to take over the AAD role, but so far no one has. It will be sad to see the momentum that has been created to slow down and fall apart. There are a few other regions around the northeast area where AAD roles have gone vacant and unfilled. It’s a lot of fun and there is a good support networks of others who you can learn from. If we get enough volunteers, there can be coAADs in one region. AADs are needed in Northern New England states (ME/ VT/NH/MA) as well as CT, RI, MD, southeast PA, western PA, central, west, and upstate NY, WV and VA. If you have some time to volunteer, please reach out to me so we can chat and discuss how easy it is to get started. As incentive to create more club activity during 2021 we had the Host Events, Win Prizes challenge. Members got one entry to be randomly selected to get a prize from the Northeast Area prize box. Congratulations to the winner of the final round of 2021… Kevin Martin (#145) of MA and Andrew Howgego (#8265) of CT. Previous winners this year were Chris Pero (#13243) of CT and Jason Kaplitz (#32) of PA. I hope to be able to continue this contest in the spring. Look for details then. On the afternoon of December 11th there was the MA/ME/NH/VT End of Year Social at the Horseshoe Pub in Hudson MA hosted by (Continued on page 2)
Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS
New Members
Concours Owners Groupsm
Marco Dirks
First things first, a warm Mark Wallace welcome to our Peter Denny Newest NE Area COG members! Robert Nelson Brian Evan Francesco Falorni Roger Gauss Yosef, Cohen
Tiverton, RI New Hope, PA Sudbury, MA Myerstown, PA Morgantown, PA Haverhill, MA Forest Hill, MD Brooklyn, NY
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NORTHEAST AREA NEWS Published 5 times a year for the Concours Owners Group and distributed to Northeast Area members. Past newsletters are archived in the club’s online member library at https://concours.org/library Also available at: issuu.com/cognortheast Written (most formats except Works) & photo (most formats) submissions are welcomed and members are encouraged to share their COG experiences. Please send to: Email: NECOGEditor@gmail.com Snail Mail: COG NE Newsletter c/o Maryann Geiser 139 Kennedy Rd Tewksbury MA 01876 © 1989-2021 Concours Owners Groupsm
(Continued from page 1)
Greg & Tracy Habel. On the same day Andy Howgego hosted a CT/RI/NY/NJ Christmas Muster at Senor Panchos Mexican Restaurant in Middlebury CT. With the worse of the pandemic behind us (I hope), it is time to set our sights to make next riding season the best one ever for COG Northeast. I feel the lull after New Years is the best time to begin planning your COG spring 2022 rides and activities. You should submit your COG activities to the calendar early so that it gets seen on the calendar as soon as possible, and gets listed in at least one newsletter for the best promotion. The NE Staff is here to help you get rolling. I’ve been asked a few times over the past few years when we could do another COG experienced Rider Course. John Purdy and I are scheduled to instruct a one-day, Experienced Rider Course on June 18, 12:30 PM – 6:30 PM in Waterbury CT. Registration opens in February and it would be terrific if this was filled with COG riders. If there is interest, we can plan to do lunch before or dinner after nearby. For course/registration information visit: https://nv.edu/motorcycle As a reminder, all upcoming club events can be found on the club’s online Events Quick List: https://concours.org/Events/List As we get into the holiday season, I wish you all Happy Hannukah & Merry Christmas. Have a happy and healthy New Year with lots more riding in 2022. That’s all for now. Be well and ride safe.
Editor’s Corner I am grateful to all the folks who respond to my requests and write articles for this newsletter. Every time I have to fill this tiny space, I think about the much longer articles written by our members and volunteers and am glad that they fill this newsletter with interesting and entertaining content. I am thankful, too, for all the volunteers who plan rides, weekends, meet and greets, and coordinate us all into one organization. Even though the pandemic may have kept our gatherings smaller and kept some people away, COG remains active thanks to the volunteers who are passionate about motorcycling and keeping the group alive. Thanks for all you do! Maryann Geiser #4627A
Best wishes for a Very Happy New Year! Maryann
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Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS
Upcoming Events Kentucky Derby Weekend - Gettysburg May 6 - 8, 2022 Jason Kaplitz COG #32 We will be returning to Gettysburg, PA in May for the Kentucky Derby Weekend. No set agenda other than ride the beautiful country side of southeastern PA and Western MD. We will be staying at the Quality Inn Gettysburg Battlefield. This is a very nice property and breakfast is included. Rate is $125 + tax. Here is a link to book your room: https://www.choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/ZO70S2 This event is open to Concours Owners Group member and non-members and is not an official event of COG. More details can be found here: https://concours.org/event-4607611
Northeast Spring Fling Rally May 19 - 22, 2022 Jason Kaplitz COG #32 The COG Northeast SPRING FLING RALLY is headed back to Williamsport, PA. The historic Genetti Hotel is in a central downtown location within walking distance to many great restaurants, taverns, and two new brew pubs for evenings out off the bike! The host city of Williamsport has so much to offer as a rally location and is only a day ride for many Northeast and North Central members. It takes minutes to be out of town, and the surrounding area has terrific riding and sightseeing. Take a ride to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon overlook, the elk viewing area, grab a sammich at Wolfe’s General store in Slate Run, or ride to the summit of Hyner View State Park. Event details are here: https://concours.org/event-4378495 A limited block of rooms will be held until 4/20/2022 at a special block rate - book early. https://www.genettihotel.com/
Memorial Day Weekend Getaway May 26 - 30, 2022 Jason Kaplitz COG #32 I am inviting COG to join in the fun for great weekend of riding in S.E. Ohio and the delightful town of Marietta. We will be based out of the historic Lafayette Hotel at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskegon Rivers. You can watch the barges navigate the river from the roof top patio of the Lafayette! Many of you have heard about the famed triple nickel, Route 555, but this is just one of many great roads in the area. While they may lack the elevation changes of other locales, these road are a delight to ride. Serpentine ribbons of asphalt laid over the contours of the land challenging every rider’s skills! You won’t be disappointed. Checking out the Windy 9 website is a great place to start planning your trip: www.windy9.com Event details posted here: https://concours.org/event-4593667 Book your room now and come out to share in the fun. This event is open to Concours Owners Group member and non-members and is not an official event of COG.
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Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS
Around the NORTHEAST News from your Assistant Area Directors
Metro NY, NJ Holiday greetings to all! Santa came early to my house! I picked up a new 2021 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT on November 18th. It was definitely spur of the moment. I Terry Faherty #792 went to my local dealer to pick up the rear wheel of my trusty 2005 FZ-1 after replacing the rear wheel bearings and decided to just take a quick peek and see what they had on the floor. Well I opened the door and there she was....and it was red. I was smitten and ran home to do some quick research. I had been planning to upgrade to a new Versys 1000 SE LT for a while, it was time to leap into the latest technology. After plowing through online reviews, especially Zack Courts reviews of
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both bikes on his Daily Rider series, the new Tracer looked to be a solid choice. Almost all the same tech as the Versys only missing the fully automatic Skyhook suspension, and almost 4000 dollars cheaper. He actually rated it number 4 on his leader board behind the Ducati Multistrada V4S, BMW R1200GS, and the Versys 600. I was sold! I dropped a down payment and waited for my Deferred Compensation Fund to send me the balance. After three weeks the funds appeared and the new beastie was in the barn! After 16 years of faithful service my trusty FZ1 was put to bed in my parents' garage pending sale. Hopefully come spring and renewed bike fever I can find her a good home.
normally be arranging the traditional Javitz Show gathering but thanks to Covid I think it may be a thing of the past. I really miss getting to see all the new shinies and seeing the usual suspects at the after show get together. Let's hope the outdoor show actually happens next year. The Spring Fling has been announced and I will definitely be there. Williamsport is a great little town and the roads are definitely worth riding so come on out and join the party! I hope you all have a healthy and happy holiday season! See you on the road! Terry
MA/VT/NH/ME
Life is constantly changing with new opportunities for adventure every day. It’s a big world out there. As recent Greg & Tracey Habel retirees we love #7010/7010A the philosophy of viewing opportunities as lily pads; jumping from one to the next when we so desire. So ends our AAD lily pad adventures with others just beginning for us. These last 10 years as AADs have been rewarding, challenging, and filled with wondrous adventures. When AAD Kevin Martin asked me at the 2011 National in Mt Snow, VT to take on the role I remember feeling honored Unfortunately Mother Nature has decided to bring winter in a tad early and overwhelmed. We had just so I've only put about 150 miles on finished a big effort to be the Hospitality hosts at the VT her, but suffice it to say I'm more National. Although Tracey and I had than pleased with the purchase. Now if the damn supply hosted some rides, Kevin had an established track record in hosting chain decides to wake up the monthly rides, regional rallies and farkling can begin in earnest. I will unfortunately not be attending now a National. Big shoes to fill. After some discussion with the Connecticut end of season (Continued on page 5) social due to work so everyone have one for me! Right about now I'd
2021 - Issue # 5
(Around the Northeast - Continued from page 4)
Tracey, we decided to be partners to help share the responsibilities as Co-AADs. With guidance and support from NEAD Steve Smith, Kevin Martin, and the wisdom of many others, we put our toes in. We held camping rallies, regional rallies, un-rallies, Tech days, and day rides throughout the seasons, learning along the way. Our efforts were complemented by other local members holding their own events, easily filling the calendar. With Kevin Martin hosting his tried and true rides, Pat and Sherry Mulloy hosting the NE Tech Session, Lyle Cooper, Wayne and Maryann Geiser, Bob Dallon, Ed Dyer, and others hosting rides or events it made the year full of riding opportunities. Thank you all! For those of you who may be thinking of taking on more responsibility in COG, please do what you are able to do comfortably. There’s no need to match or exceed any prior efforts made by others. Have fun with it. On Saturday December 11th at
Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS 2005. To be honest we never expected back then to make so many friends and be involved in lots of adventures along the way. Thank you for the friendships.
12pm we held our last annual End of Year Social at the Horseshoe Pub in Hudson, MA. Nine people attended: Kevin and Amy Martin, Lyle Cooper, Paul and Loretta Medeiros, Bob Dallon, Tracey and I, and Chris Dupuis (our weekend guest all the way from Montreal!). We really enjoyed seeing everyone and the camaraderie reminded us of why we have stayed with COG since
Please consider helping out COG in some way that gives back to this wonderful club. It helps lessen the load for other organizers and you will make new friends along the way. As always, keep your eyes open for COG emails and have a regular look at the www.concours.org calendar for upcoming events. See you out there, Greg & Tracey
Atlantic Canada Well, another Christmas is at our door and so is the Omicron variant. I always enjoy Christmas, but this year seems more difficult than others since last
Claude Doucet #9011 (Continued on page 6)
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Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS (Continued from page 5)
year I couldn't celebrate with my family and there's a good possibility the same will happen this year. Never in my wildest dreams I thought we would still be dealing with this. It's obviously been another weird year but I managed to have an OK motorcycle season. My trusty 2014 Candy Cardinal Red C14 hit a
milestone of 100,000 km (or 62,150 mi) so it's just broken in :). I was lucky enough to ride the World Famous Cabot Trail in September; it was a last minute trip but I enjoyed every minute. With the ever changing COVID rules, it was really difficult to organize group rides and I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I didn't organize any. So I'm really looking forward to 2022 and the ability to ride with old and maybe new friends. My last significant ride of the year was on November 7. Ever year I attend the Ride in Red to Remember which is always held the
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Sunday before Remembrance day. It's a great way to honour all that have served and do serve and is also a great way to close out the season. The weather was great and about 70 motorcyclists attended. Happy Holidays to all! Claude aka MotorcycleClaude
Greater Toronto Season's Greetings to my fellow COGlodites in the Northeast. As I write the Omicron variant of Covid has taken firm hold throughout Canada. Infections Dave Perkins #5932 are climbing at an alarming rate. The governments of Ontario and Canada will soon announce a return to restrictions on both private and public gatherings as a matter of
public safety. We had already officially withdrawn from the 2022 Toronto International Motorcycle show in January. Our reasoning was that the Covid bug is a still-present and mutating threat and the safety of our people staffing the booth was far more important. This reasoning is largely academic now as the show will likely be cancelled. A gathering such as the bike show, even though on a smaller scale, is a potential petri dish for infection. This was how I presented it to the organizers. They recognize our position and have kindly left the door ajar for our rejoining the 2023 show. Hopefully, Covid will have been reduced to a minor inconvenience by then. Fingers crossed but that hope and $7 will buy you a coffee at Starbucks. Our monthly meet and greets, which restarted in September and were gaining some momentum, will likely be postponed as well, dependent on the provincial mandates. In any case I'll continue to send out my monthly notices to our groups to maintain contact. Steve Smith reported on November 27th that Fred Boothe, the longtime membership officer for COG, had succumbed to pancreatic cancer after a long fight with the disease. Godspeed, Fred, you are missed. And in closing and on a happier note I extend my wish for a Happy Christmas to you all and your families and a wish for a Covid-free 2022. Merry Christmas Everyone! Dave
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History of the Brrr Ride Guy Young COG #1608 To continue what Dusty had written [ed—starting on page 11] – I can’t remember the year I started the Brrr Ride. I got up to the Otter Creek Campground on the BRP on a Friday, and there was one other fella camping there at the time – a bicyclist from up in New England somewhere. He was making his way south down to the Gulf, to see some relatives, IIRC. Unfortunately, he had broken some spokes in his rear wheel but couldn’t remove the sprocket assembly so he could replace them. The local Ranger lady said she’d carry him into Lynchburg, VA to a bike shop on Saturday so he could get it fixed. We Brrr attendees encountered this same Ranger lady a few years later, but that’s another story for another time. Now the timeline gets fuzzy. I believe that he and I were the only two camping there that night. The next morning, the only other attendee of that first Brrr event pulled into the campground, Mr. Pat Sprague. I’m hoping that he can remember the year all this took place, for I sure don’t. That night, there was a sudden snow squall. The wind was howling like crazy and woke me up some time in the middle of the night. I opened the fly and poked my head out, shining a light to see what was going on, I couldn’t make out a tree that was less than 3 feet from my tent. Figured, oh well, can’t do anything about it, but was a little concerned we might be there for a very, long time. That happened one time before around ’73. Four of us (non-COG) had ridden our bikes, all trail bikes, up to the same campground for a weekend of camping and riding. We fixed dinner and decided to go riding when we were done. Well after dark, we rode all over H and Creation up off the Parkway. Sometime after midnight we decided to head back to the campground. We’re scooting along and passed an entrance to one of the fire trails. All at once, all brake lights went on at the same time and we made the command decision to hit that trail for another couple of hours of riding, in the dark. We eventually did get back to camp and finally got tucked into our respective tents. At some point after I fell asleep, I’m suddenly getting wet. Can’t hear any rain, so look out and there’s about 2” of snow all over the place. The tent was covered, and the water was condensing on the inside and dripping off on me. Wonderful. Later, when everyone got up, we packed up, tip-toed off the mountain and headed for home, which was Lynchburg, VA for me at the time. That wasn’t the case on that first Brrr Ride. The next morning there was no evidence of any snow anywhere (Pat found it later the next day). After breakfast at the campground restaurant, which was open back then, we took the requisite ride of maybe 50-75 miles. After lunch at the Country Kitchen near Warm Springs, thought we might hit the high elevation airport north of Covington, but a postman heard our conversation and convinced us that it wouldn’t be such a good idea. We could see all of the trees waaay up on the ridge were covered with ice and thought it might be nice to get a closer look. Glad we passed. Believe we had dinner that night at the campground restaurant, and broke camp the next morning. We both headed for our respective homes. Pat to Luray, and me to Richmond. That’s when Pat ran into some of the lingering snow on his way off the mountain, slip-sliding his way down to clearer roads. But!, the above event wasn’t the one that provided the impetus to make such a ride a COG event. Being a fledgling NEAAD at the time of the Northeast’s Mid-Atlantic region, you’re always trying to come up with new and better rides to host. Also, my intent was to have one planned for each month of the year. I think we did pretty good in that regard. The Brrr was one that popped into my head one evening, again, looking for, “that perfect ride.” Back in 1984 I was the proud owner of a brand new Kawasaki GPz 750. Living in Richmond, VA at the time, I had a really good friend I used to work with back in Lynchburg, VA, who also had a love of bikes and riding. I gave him a call one evening and proposed that we meet at the Peaks of Otter Campground, camp, and do a little riding. This was in late November/ early December of 1986, IIRC. He agreed, and we met up there late, one cold afternoon. Fortunately, the Peaks Lodge was open, as was the campground, one of the few that stayed open along the BRP year ’round. So, here we are, now what? The decision was to ride south on the BRP as far as we could go over a long weekend, camping along the way. The last place we camped that weekend was at Mount Mitchell, NC. Cold? Yeah, it was a little nippy. This was long before heated clothing made its way into our respective budgets – BUT – we had a blast. In later years, and now with COG, I wondered if such an idea would fly with a bunch of folks I really didn’t know all that well yet. Pat was the first to attend, and believe 11 or so the next year, and it’s been up and down in attendees over subsequent years. The fire bans prompted others who took it over to move down to the KOA in Natural Bridge. That kinda bugged me at first, but it turned out to be a good move; it’s still going strong. A lot of us camped there for the first few years, but slowly swallowed our pride and migrated into the Kabins. Musta been an age thing catching up with us, huh? [ed – a few folks are now lodging in motels, too.] Guy
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Event Reports
tional which was offered as a lower cost alternative to the Grand Summit Hotel, which was Rally Central. As expected for the off season, the Lodge was 2021 Fall Weekend Report closed, but booking arrangements are made through the Main Office at the Resort anyway, so my wife Kevin Martin COG# 145 and I rode up to the Grand Summit Hotel to see if we could work out some kind of deal for SeptemAs you may recall, due to pandemic restrictions, the 2020 Stowe Vermont Fall Rally had to ber. The booking agent I talked to told me that the be cancelled. In January of this year, I reached out to Resort properties were sold to a management group The Commodores Inn again to re-start negotiations based out of California and that all group events for a ’21 Fall Rally but unfortunately I was told that would need to be negotiated with them, and that Vermont State restrictions for COVID were expected they permanently closed the Snow Lake Lodge. to remain in effect through the summer of 2021 and Booking arrangements for the Grand Summit Hotel wouldn’t start until the winter ski season starts at possibly later. As a result, they couldn’t commit to the end of the year. So much for going back to the booking a group event in the Fall. In July, I contacted the Commodores again to Mt. Snow area I thought. I almost gave see if I could book a Fall event, but it was not to be. up when my wife Seems the pandemic restrictions left them with no and I drove past the staff and a closed bar and restaurant. In fact, the Gray Ghost Bed and Owners sold off the bar and restaurant portion of the Inn to a 3rd party who was renovating them for Breakfast on our way opening during the winter ski season. With this un- to dinner the night of our 2nd day in West expected news, I scrambled to locate a new venue Dover. Every place for our Fall Rally. After looking into possible New we visited in the Mt. Hampshire venues with little success, I decided to Snow area was pretty look and see what was available in southern Vermuch empty with the mont, around the Mt. Snow area. exception of the Gray Some of you long time members may recall Ghost Inn. When we that I hosted the Green Mountain National Rally drove by, their parkback in 2011 at the Mt. Snow Resort. With that in mind, my wife and I took a road trip to West Dover ing lot was filled Vermont to check out some potential rally venues. We had planned to stay in West Dover for a couple with motorcycles of days, so I pre-booked a room at the Mt. Snow and cars. I realize Lodge on Rt-100. I thought that the Mt. Snow Lodge that July is off seamight make a good rally location, but they too were son for a ski area, impacted by the pandemic restrictions. Most of the but it seemed staff was laid off, the internal bar was permanently strange that the closed, there were no hotel dining options, and the Gray Ghost was dirt parking lot and steep driveway wasn’t practical fully booked and for motorcycle riders. In fact, the first night we everyone else was stayed there it rained overnight, and we had to carepretty much empfully walk through a muddy parking lot to get to ty. They must be our car. That alone forced me to look elsewhere. doing something So, I decided to check out the Snow Lake right I thought, so Lodge, part of the Mt. Snow Resort. Members (Continued on page 9) stayed at the Snow Lake Lodge during the 2011 Na-
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Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS (Continued from page 8)
we stopped in to check the place out. It’s kind of like being on a ride and looking for a good place to eat then finding a local diner packed with people. The assumption is the food must be better at that diner than at the other local eateries. I’ve thought of staying at the Gray Ghost Inn before, but it seems that I’m always riding through West Dover and not staying overnight. On several occasions I’ve ridden out to West Dover and stopped at Dot’s for lunch then rode back home on a day ride. I know that the Backroads motorcycle club has stayed at the Gray Ghost a number of times, as well as the BMW riders, so we had a perfect opportunity to check the Inn out. When my wife and I walked into the lobby, we were struck by all of the motorcycle club banners, decals, and signs the owners collected over the years from different motorcycle groups and clubs. The lobby walls were covered with memorabilia and pictures from past events. My first reaction was that this place doesn’t just advertise that they are motor-
cycle friendly, they actually do welcome motorcyclists to their Inn. And there was the answer to my earlier observation. The Gray Ghost Inn was fully booked in the off season because they use the off season to welcome other types of enthusiasts, like motorcycle groups and clubs, car clubs, etc., and they are a pet friendly Inn. Pretty smart business model. My wife and I were met by the owner Carina Hellstrom who was very nice and offered to give us a tour of the B&B even though she was obviously very busy taking care of a fully booked Inn of Harley riders. Almost immediately we felt very welcome and comfortable there. After touring the Gray Ghost and talking with Carina, I was sold, and she seemed happy to have us book our first Club event for the Fall. To kick things off, I booked my room for September dates we agreed upon before we left. When I got home, I talked to Steve Smith, our AD, and we agreed to move forward with the event. We called it the COG Fall Weekend, rather than a Rally since I had decided to make this a no-frills event with no registration or formal rally banquet and fee. We blocked off the B&B for September 24 26, but I booked an extra day on Thursday the 23rd, to get there early so I could make sure everything was all set for the group weekend. Carina made the whole process of booking the weekend and arranging our group meal in her B&B dining room so easy, I didn’t have to worry about anything. On Thursday September 23rd, I met up with Bob Petit for lunch here in MA, and we headed out for a day of riding Vermont before we checked into the Gray Ghost later that afternoon. Rain was forecasted for Friday so heading out on Thursday worked out well for us, but Bob unfortunately ran into a brief downpour on I-495 on his way to meet me for lunch. After lunch, it was sunshine and dry roads. As we headed north, Bob and I dodged a few showers during our day ride while taking the long way out to West Dover. It was a great day for riding with only an occasional damp road from an earlier shower. It rained hard overnight Thursday and into Friday morning. Bob and I hung out on the front porch (Continued on page 10)
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Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS stopped by to visit guests, say hello with tail wag or look for a quick back scratch. On Friday night we walked to the Last Chair Restaurant and Pub for dinner, and after a full day of riding Saturday, the Gray Ghost hosted a group dinner in their dining room. The meal was great and the service was excellent. After dinner, Marc Hering started a nice gesture of collecting tip donations to show our appreciation to the Staff for all their hard work putting the group meal together… thanks again Marc. Sunday morning after breakfast, the group spent time saying goodbye to friends and packed their bikes for the long ride home. Putting together a Fall Rally in short order was a little difficult durchatting with a few early bird COG Members and a ing this pandemic, but thanks to the Gray Ghost Inn couple of Honda ST riders staying the weekend. everything worked out just fine. Most attendees will Eventually the clouds broke, the sun came out, and agree that the Gray Ghost would be a great place to we were riding to lunch on dry roads by noon time. visit again, it’s definitely on my bucket list. After lunch Bob and I rode up through eastern and central VT on some of my favorite routes, then Kevin down scenic route 100, back into West Dover. The rest of Friday afternoon was spent greeting COGgers as they arrived at the Gray Ghost. Without asking, the Gray Ghost Staff set up a bike wash station and stacked dozens of clean towels for wiping down bikes for folks who rode in the rain to attend the event. Now that’s what I call a motorcycle friendly place. Since we were staying at a Bed and Breakfast, it was very convenient getting a full breakfast to order each morning during our stay before heading out for a ride, and I would be remiss if I didn't mention the four black labs that (Continued from page 9)
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Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS (Continued from page 10)
2021 Brrr Ride S.L."Dusty" Schilling COG #4899 A Beautiful 2021 Brrr ride! Not exactly sure when Guy Young and other elders of COG NE started the Brrr rides, but I am pretty sure my first time was either in 2001 or 2002. That Brrr was to enter COG lore: camped on the BRP, bitterly cold, fire ban so someone replaced the campfire with a fluorescent lantern! Ahh, good times. For some 14 (15? more?) years we have been having the Brrr ride around Veterans Day at the Natural Bridge KOA. After canceling last year due to the COVID we were determined to go ahead this year. Even though they were not able to make it had some nice email exchanges with some of the luminaries of COG (Guy Young, Pat Sprague, Clyde Watson) and recalled some COG stories. Of course we all knew Russell has passed on but we had hoped Bobbie or Wayne of others from MD would make it, but alas they did not.
Did have some 11 folks touch base. Jason (Mr Cog) + 3 executed a drive by from the Natural Bridge Hotel and we got a group shot of most of us up on the BRP. Jim "Millerized" Miller came and camped like the iron man he is, haven't seen Jimmy in many years. We couldn't have asked for better weather. Nice temps, then heavy rain (but ONLY overnight),
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and a return to true Brrr temps as a cold front rolled through. Our core Horseman were of course all in in the traditional Cabin 63 (Roger, Tom, Paul and me Dusty) and our Canadian buddies Brian and John made it though the border to stay in the death trap, ah, cheap hotel. The campfire was roaring!
Pink Cadillac was open for dinner but not breakfast, their sister restaurant The Lexington Pancake House did a great fill in job. Absolutely beautiful riding, foliage in fine display and roads were great. Have never before experienced riding the BRP amidst CLOUDS of leaves blowing around the road, just awesome. The next day leaves were all gone from the road but still beautiful vistas. Astonishing. Guess I coulda taken a picture. Oh well. All in all 4.5 days of great riding and no incidents. Well, except that huge mud pit (Oklahoma type syrupy mud) I wandered into inside the
(Continued on page 12)
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Concours Owners Group NORTHEAST AREA NEWS (Continued from page 11)
campground. I was well and truly stuck, in the dark -- but my COG Horseman buddies came to the rescue. Paul rounded up some campgrounds folks to help, abut Roger and Tom pushed me out. My favorite part was when the campground folks strung up a rope (in TOTAL Darkness) and said "Don't worry people keep knocking this rope down you're not the first to do this". How about some freakin lights, reflectors or I don't know a SIGN? Ah well.
look forward to next year. Heading home afterwards made me reflect on two quotes that capture the COG experience: "Money is like a glove. Friendship is like your hand. One is useful, the other essential." "Friends come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime".
S.L."Dusty" Schilling
Understand Brian and John will be aimlessly wandering the USA to find a COVID test and let the SNOWSTORM up in Canada clear so they can get home. Snowstorm? I told them I didn't realize Canada had weather it all just goes blank at the border on my apps ! A great COG Brrr ride and I Area Director NE Newsletter Editor
Naugatuck CT Tewksbury MA
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nead@concours.org maryanngeiser@gmail.com
Greg/Tracey Habel #7010 Steven Rutter #9715 George Griffith #6377 Tim Traylor #12811 Steve/Sue Cerutti #6763 Terry Faherty #792 Dave Perkins #5932 Derek Pugh #11636 Christian Dupuis #10098 Claude Doucet #9011
AAD MA/VT/NH/ME AAD S. Central PA/MD AAD Northeast PA AAD US Capital Region AAD E Hudson Valley NY AAD Metro NY/NJ AAD Greater Toronto AAD Eastern Ontario AAD Greater Montreal AAD Atlantic Canada
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OPEN POSITIONS—please inquire
2021 - Issue # 5
AADs for Central NY, Southeast PA/Philly, DelMarVa, VA/WV, W Hudson Valley NY, Long Island NY, Central NJ, MA/VT/NH/ME and CT/RI
NE AREA STAFF
Steven Smith #3184 Maryann Geiser #4627A
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