What A Ride!

What an absolutely beautiful day for a ride yesterday!

We took off around 10AM, jumped on Rt 140 and headed West towards the towns of Belchertown and Ware Massachusetts, home to the Quabbin Reservoir.  All secondary roads and being a "work day" for most fools, traffic was light and the ride so enjoyable!

Before getting to the reservoir we stopped in the town of Hardwick, picked up some lunch and headed to a spot called Hanks Meadow within the reservation itself, which has some picnic tables and a terrific view of the Quabbin.  Such a quiet and peaceful spot!

After lunch, relaxing and taking in the views off we went.  We chose a different route home, which took use through some scenic small MA towns, many with beautiful old stone churches and building, then into Connecticut with some amazing farm-type land, eventually back into MA and back home around 6:30PM.

A tremendous 198 miles ride!

#Blessed

A Great Sunday!

What an incredible day yesterday was weather wise, absolutely perfect!  It was made even better with an 131 mile motorcycle ride with friends and a delicious lunch curbside!

The weather was SO nice that I capped the afternoon off with a 3.37 mile afternoon walk (disregard the "run" reference in the screen shot below), see my route below - 

Ended the day with fresh sheets on the bed, a couple loads of laundry done, a nice relaxing shower and a bowl of cereal while watching Goliath on Prime Video.

#Blessed

Maiden Ride Today!

Went on my first summer 2024 ride today!

An 137 mile roundtrip ride down into Connecticut and back.

Rain was predicted for the afternoon, so we opted for a half day ride and made it home dry...just barely!

#Blessed

Tow Zone

Those darn bikers are at it again.  Honestly, I don't think they know how to read...

HD Sportster Upgrades!

I made a couple enhancements to my motorcycle this off season. I replaced the original air cleaner with a new, sleeker, more attractive one and replaced the rear foot peg, so they now match the front foot pegs.

Looking forward to riding season and hope to get in more rides than I did last year! 

Stock Air Cleaner Before -

New, Upgraded Air Cleaner - 

New, Upgraded Rear Foot Pegs -

Bikes Bikes Bikes!

With spring upon us, riding season isn't too far off!

I've not been as diligent as I should have been over the winter months and just started working on cleaning my bike.  Much more work needed to get her sparking - on my list.  Have a couple of upgrades coming too, so stay tuned.

Here are a couple pics of what spiffy, shinned and polished Harley Davidson bikes look like.  They'll blind you in the sunlight with all this chrome!  A sea of colors too -

No Parking...

Darn bikers, there's just no reasoning with them!

All motorcycles pictured are parked in clearly posted No Parking AND Tow Zones!

Munching Machines

During our motorcycle ride this past Sunday, we stopped at a Rhode Island gas station for a snack and a stretch.

I may or may not have snuck off into the wooded area for a quick potty break 😉 before getting back on the bike.  TMI I know but when you gotta go, you gotta go!

In the wooded area I noticed a small oak tree that was almost bare of it's leaves, odd for this time of the season.  Upon closer inspection I saw the reason why, it had dozens of these caterpillars all over it and as you can see these are the culprits as to why the leaves were missing.

Turns out these are Orange-striped oakworm caterpillars and they're known to feed on the leaves of oak trees in late summer early autumn.  Seems they're native to North American and the good news is that these defoliators rarely affect tree health and since they're a native species, they have many natural predators to help keep them in check.

And away we rode...

Another New England Ride!

Another great day on the motorcycle yesterday!

It was a chilly start, brrrr, but ended as a beauty. There wasn't a cloud in the sky come the afternoon, blue as blue can be.

A 141 mile round trip ride into Canterbury Connecticut where we stopped for lunch at the D&G Pizza and Pub 

Motorcycle

The Open Road II

Another great day on the bike!

Yesterday was an absolutely perfect day weather wise!

128 mile round trip ride out to Princeton, MA and back, with a stop at Davis BBQ restaurant in Sterling, MA for a barbeque lunch!

The Open Road

Yeah, yeah, it's been a while, I know...

Finally took my new bike on it's maiden ride out to the Quabbin Reservoir in Belchertown, MA. yesterday!

What a beautiful day for a ride!  The weather was perfect, so was the ride.  I really enjoy our rural rides just taking in the sights, taking our time and seeing the fields, open spaces and occasional farm animals.  This time of year many of the fields were being hayed, so the aroma of fresh cut hay was in the air and many a field had corn growing!

It's about 180 miles roundtrip to the Quabbin and back from my place.  Takes most of the day but well worth it.  We stopped and grabbed some sandwiches, then made our way to a scenic spot that looks out over the reservoir, grabbed a picnic table and enjoyed lunch.

A bit sore today but, again, well worth it!

Getting My Shine On!

What a difference a couple of hours work, some polish and elbow grease makes!

New To Me!

Bought myself a new motorcycle, well new to me!

A 2003 Harley Davidson Sportster Anniversary Edition -

Joins my 1985 Yamaha Maxim -

A couple of good looking bikes, if I do say so myself -

Motorcycles and BBQ!

Although, it's Labor Day weekend, which signals the end of the summer, I went on my first major motorcycle ride today in several years.  102 miles, round trip, from Franklin, MA to Sterling, MA and back!

We drove out specifically to grab barbeque lunch at Davis BBQ, SO SO good!

I got the Gouda Mac 'N' Cheese Bowl with burnt ends and a side of Fried Cornbread w/Honey Butter, OMG to die for!  Well worth the trip!  It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, and the ride on routes 140 and 62 was tremendous!

Starting mileage -

Our lunch spot -

Our motorcycles -

Ending mileage -

What a great ride, what a great day and with a great friend!

Our New BarBQ Motorcycle Run

Made a 258 mile round trip rid on Sunday July 14.  We drove North through Mass, into NH, then onto VT for a late lunch at Curtis' All American BarBQ.  It was a long ride and long day but a great ride with amazing views on rt 63, WOW!

The 9th wonder of the world -

SO much to chose from -

Stopped for a few photos at the Ashuelot covered bridge -

First Ride of 2019

Took my first ride of the season this past Sunday down to Chaplin, CT to the Bach Dor Cafe.  118 mile round trip run.

The Bach Dor Cafe is a biker bar that draws bikers near and far. Sunday offers cheep eats, typically a smoked pig.  It's a great place to wander and look at all the bikers, as well as people watch.

It's a great, beautiful ride down and back and Sunday didn't disappoint.

Seem customary to mount the head of the smoked pig, tongue and all, on the fence.  Perhaps, to advertise the food is ready...

2018 Maiden Ride

My first motorcycle ride of 2018!

Destination Ocean Mist Bar, Wakefield, RI. for a variety of delicious chicken wings!

178 mile ride

It was a scorcher and the ride down and back was a hot one for sure.  However, the temperature at the ocean was cooler and a beautiful day.

Cheers to good friend!!

I See You. Oh, Where'd You Go?!

Is it an oxymoron that a motorcycle rider wears camo and then also a reflective vest?

I've Got Storage!

Hung my new leather bag.

A perfect fit too.

Although, it's not big enough to store anything large, i.e. a sweatshirt, it's big enough to carry the essentials which is equally as important.

P.S. Not my legs and feet...