Northeast CT Ride Oct 12th

[madmax-im]

Call me fickle but I am prolly gonna go with a 2 nite stay.. Randy are you staying 1 or 2 nites?I just like to be relaxed and rested the actual day we go for our ride together.Still gonna do the Harley thing and trailer it.That way my route will be the most direct and shortest distance Hope the motel has space for my trailer

[randy]

You really think sitting behind that aircraft wing of a fairing and on that lazy-boy seat is going to wear you out? And I thought I was feelin' old!

Ben, I'm sure we can find room for your trailer, but you'll have to find room to bring home the Harley Award!

Both Carolyn and I will be staying 2 nights, arriving Sat, leaving Mon, so you'll have some company. It'll be good to see you again, old friend. And Max, too.

[Scootstado2]

Originally posted by randy
Basic rate is $55 for a single full bed, $65 for two full beds. Guy I spoke to was not the sharpest knife in the drawer, so I'll call back later for possible group rate discounts.

This Budget Inn has no affiliation with the large chain, so can't book on-line, must do it by telephone.

Ok I called and booked Sunday night. The rate for non-smoking is $65 a night. The $55 is for smokers only.

I told her that didn't make sense but she said non-smoking rooms are better.

I didn't even go into a discount when she said she never heard of "XS Motorcycle Group".

[randy]

That's hilarious! i told you they were a few cards short of a deck! i just called two minutes ago and she asked me "what group" i said "XS group" she answered, "OK, XS Group, We'll hold it til 6PM"

[madmax-im]

I called and made a reservation for 2 nites.I asked the lady if she knew abt the XS 11 group and she said yes.I got the non smoking rate at $65.FWIW the lady is Indian...could tell by her accent.Geez I guess I could change it to "smoking" If I did smoke it wouldnt be tobaccoAs for the Harley Award didnt know it could be awarded for what is essentially a RTE...but hey somebody has to do it...As for being worn out...I did close to 1000 miles this past weekend and my total mileage on all bikes since the XSEast rally is up over 10k.Thats double what Ive done in past years.

[madmax-im]

YESSS...I'm gettin excited! Wish we could do this all year round...I might be going out to Slate Run PA the week before this event so it looks like I cant get away from either PA or CT...which really is fine with me.One of these yrs I am gonna head out to the Southwest...NM,AZ,Colo,UT and various staes along the way...been dreaming of that for a while...

[Scootstado2]

Originally posted by madmax-im
One of these yrs I am gonna head out to the Southwest...NM,AZ,Colo,UT and various staes along the way...been dreaming of that for a while...

As one who has done it (twice) do it! You will have no regrets.

[madmax-im]

hey Russ ...I appreciate the advice...I lived in Tucson for 15 yrs and really do miss the SW.I have friends in AZ and Colorado and havent seen them in many years.Its just a matter of getting the time.I have everything else...the right bike and the funds to do it.I've driven across the country many times but never toured to country by m/c.The midwest might be the most boring part but that would only be true if I took the interstates.But since the goal is to get to the SW then the slabs would be the quickest way to get there.I have no qualms abt traveling by myself however 1 or 2 other riders would make it more fun and safer too.

[BobE]

Well, seeing as how there were some intelligence issues going on at this motel I was going to suggest maybe the Americ-Inn the next exit down, but I don't think it was a park outside the door deal. But it looks like everything is working out after all!

Now I suppose you need someone to show you around the area...all right, all right, you twisted my arm enough!!!

Here's what I have in mind so far, nothing is written in stone....

- We meet at the motel...duh....
- We head for parts semi-known, in a meandering sort of way around the Connecticut countryside
- We cruise westward across the top of Connecticut to Stafford Springs, the home of Stafford Springs Speedway and Harley-ness (long story, I'll tell ya about it sometime...)
- We head north into Massachusetts
- Our destination....the Quabbin Reservoir, approx. 60 miles, average speed is probably going to be around 40 mph on these back roads through state forests
- After Quabbin we head back to base camp in a totally different meandering route in the spirit of never going back the same way you came (a motto I ALWAYS live by)
- If I am not lost by then (chances are slim I will be, been on just about every road in the area) and we have time, and the general concensus among the group is good, I just might drag you guys into western Rhode Island for a brief look-see
- After that, we make our way to the Golden Greek to stuff ourselves and have a great time. At some point along the way, we will call ahead of time to reserve a table once we know the approx. time we'll be there (this WILL be Columbus Day Weekend and Sunday, after all!).
- Then it is just 4-5 miles back to Dayville and the motel where we can relax for the evening and yak a lot if we want to.

As near as I can figure, you guys aren't like The Venturers, where we hosts of a Ride-In are practically compelled to supply a complete routing information for you to plug into your GPSs Since I don't have or use a GPS (I'm old-fashioned, rely on maps and instinct instead), I will not be able to supply you with a plug-in map for your GPS. Besides, some of the route I will be winging it anyway! I don't like to overplan a ride, love finding places and roads I haven't been on, makes the ride that much more enjoyable to me....

How does that sound, Guys?

Oh, if it rains, I can bring up my conversion van instead and escort you folks around (or drag you to Foxwoods or something).

If it snows, the van definitely applies!

[madmax-im]

Serendipity!

Bob...Thats what i like no real set course...just a gen'l idea of what and where to go.Since you already know the area...I at least dont mind just going along for the ride.Sounds good to me BTW dont mention rain or snow...bad juju

[Scootstado2]

Originally posted by madmax-im
hey Russ ...I appreciate the advice...I lived in Tucson for 15 yrs and really do miss the SW.I have friends in AZ and Colorado and havent seen them in many years.Its just a matter of getting the time.I have everything else...the right bike and the funds to do it.I've driven across the country many times but never toured to country by m/c.The midwest might be the most boring part but that would only be true if I took the interstates.But since the goal is to get to the SW then the slabs would be the quickest way to get there.I have no qualms abt traveling by myself however 1 or 2 other riders would make it more fun and safer too.

Not to get too far off the thread, but you can rent a BMW out of Denver for about $900 for a week and do the four state loop. Then fly home. One way to do it with limited time. I may do it this way next time I go.

[randy]

Bob,

Sounds like a good time. Some of us only use the GPS on the larger rally runs. When we have 30-40 bikes, it can be helpful to keep the pack together. And the routes/stops need to be more tightly planned. Then again, during XSEast '08, Gary had his running, but some of the roads I planned weren't even in the system! I don't use it. I map it, and If I'm leading, I'll run the routes a couple of times so they're in my head, but again, only for the large groups.

The smaller groups, like this, are more fun, looser and relaxed. Glad to hear you got the Coot fired up OK. Later I was saying to Carolyn, 'you know, if Bob had just ridden the Coot here, his battery would have been charged by the time he got here' I know, 20/20 hindsight!

Thanks for organizing this, I was going to make Torrington the last ride of my season. Thanks for extending my season! See you there.

[CarolynS]

Sounds absolutely lovely!

This is going to be the best time!
BobE-if the 'meandering by instinct' is anything like that first ride in Mystic, we're all in for another treat! Those roads were great, with some awesome sights-i.e.-Mohegan Sun rising up out of nowhere! Who needs GPS anyway? More fun to 'rough it', I think.
Thanks guys for coming up with this plan! I am SO looking forward to chasing along after everyone! Finally!!!

[madmax-im]

Carolyn...haven't touched base with you in a while...so you're street legal now?Congrats on passing the test!Lookin forward to seeing you and the Witch too.Glad we can extend the season a bit further too.Oct us a great month to ride New England but be ready for cool temps!Personally I love the Autuum riding!!!Yee Haw!

[madmax-im]

Re: Sounds absolutely lovely!

Originally posted by CarolynS
This is going to be the best time!
BobE-if the 'meandering by instinct' is anything like that first ride in Mystic, we're all in for another treat! Those roads were great, with some awesome sights-i.e.-Mohegan Sun rising up out of nowhere! Who needs GPS anyway? More fun to 'rough it', I think.
Thanks guys for coming up with this plan! I am SO looking forward to chasing along after everyone! Finally!!!

You might be chasing but you wont be the last one in line...typically I like to bring up the rear because I wear Hi-Viz Lime Yellow and its good for the cagers following to see us.Plus an experinced rider should always allow less experienced riders ahead just so no one runs into any unexpected problems.As for GPS it has its merits however I find it can be distracting at the most in-opportune times if you know what I mean.