Bonus Ride!

[ionbeam]

Like many places around the country this year, the weather sucked real bad from late spring until late fall. At the trailing end of the year we are finally getting some days where it gets over 50° and is dry, both on the same day!

After a couple of quick emails late Friday and hasty plans made, the next morning Fred W (with wife), FJReady and I hooked up for a North Shore ride in Massachusetts.

Fred W

FJReady

We are far enough north that at this time of the year the sun is noticeably low in the sky, tending to be blindingly bright or everything is very dark. This coupled with the bare browns tends to make a somber, subdued view of nature. On the other hand it is an interesting time to ride because we can now see all the things that were hidden by the woods. Picture taking was quite difficult because it was either too bright or too dark to take pictures while moving.

Rocks Village, West Newbury, Ma.

The farming is done, the fields are left fallow or seeded with winter rye.

Migratory birds mix with local farm water fowl.

Ipswich, Ma. overlooking Sandy Point State Reserve. Ipswich is king of clams, offering especially sweet clams coveted for fried clams.

The port of Gloucester, home port that the movie The Perfect Storm is based on. This is a major fishing port,

famous for cod and fish sticks. The statue is Gloucester Fisherman's Memorial

All the recreational boats are out of the water, the big boats are out fishing.

Migratory birds starting to gather on the salt marshes for the evening.

Sea barrier creating a protected waterway.

Final picture as it became too hard to take shots.

It was another Fine Day Out! Good scenery, great company and wonderful weather.

 

[fljab]

Great shots!

I did my first ever MC trip to New England this year and it won't be my last. Not sure why I haven't made the effort to get up there before now (I have been there, just not on a bike), but I really enjoyed the scenes and places I went.

I did learn to come prepared though, I had "all 4 seasons" in a few days of riding from my Adirondacks jumping off point (brother in law lives in North Creek, NY), throughout VT, NH, ME, and MA.

 

[MEM]

Great shots! I agree about the light. On the other hand, it's a wonderfully warm light for colour saturation. Riding along the river at dusk yesterday was breathtakingly beautiful.

Not a great photo but you get the idea. Gagetown ferry:

 

[BwanaDik]

Great report Alan! Thanks. We're planning to visit up there, possibly next spring. Keep those motivational photos coming!

 

[03HiYoSilver]

Ion,

Thanks for those wonderful shots of your area. I just saw the PBS show on the Blizzard of 1978 where Captain Quirk lost his life on the Can Do trying to save his brethren. Your expose really brings this to life.

May you have many more days like this before Spring comes.

 

[Shawn]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us - wish I could make it up there sometime...

 

[Fred W]

Nice work Alan. Or should I say Helen?

While Professor ionbeam was busy leading us around the twisty turny side streets of Cape Ann, Mrs 'beam was apparently wielding the digital camera to good avail. Unlike Mrs W, who didn't want to take her nice warm gloves off all day (even though I thought it was fairly warm). So it is that we have nary a scenic ride shot to be shared. :glare:

However, we did stop for a short break in Stage Fort Park, just before crossing over the Annisquam river into Gloucester proper. And I did manage a few "snapshots" there:

View out toward Gloucester Harbor. Can you say bleak? :blink:

Park building with "seasonal" facilities... :glare:

The playa's for the day (l-r Mrs. 'beam, The Professor, FJReady, and Mrs. W's back)

The partially chilled Mrs. W

And here's the track log for the day:

We had a great day. :thumbsup: I'm really hoping to have a few more of these before putting the B5 up for the long nap.

PS Alan, I did manage to burn another quick tank of gas around NH yesterday afternoon, after taming the leaves and before the Pats game. Gotta get maximal ride fixes in while we still can.

 

[James Burleigh]

Thanks for the post. I have a warm spot in my heart for Massachusetts from having lived there a couple of years as a kid in 7th and 8th grades (and learned how to spell the state). Lived in Framingham. Here in California (or as our governor likes to say, Kah-lee-for-neeya), it's only the rain that spoils winter rides, presuming you've got the gear for a low-40s temps day. In fact just last night I was looking at Yosemite Valley cabin availability in case I wanted to go up there after Christmas with my son when he visits from--you wanna talk cold--Minneapolis. :cold:

 

[ionbeam]

As an incidental outcome from the ride, one ride member says, "Your brake peddle is sticking." Then other member chimes in, "And one tail light isn't as bright as the other." All welcome information. I suspected that I had a sticking brake peddle because sometimes my cruise control wouldn't set.

Sunday morning it was quick to confirm that the left side tail light had the running light filament burned out. I pushed the brake peddle pivot shaft out a bit to check for lube but what I saw looked like a solid black tar substance. I had lubed the peddle last winter so it was a bit of a surprise that it looked so bad. Time to take it all apart for a cleaning and re-lube. I got a surprise when I removed the pin from the master cylinder clevis and large chunk of asphalt with a lot of ground asphalt bits came out. This was probably the real source for the sticking brake. When I pulled out the brake pivot I was surprised that there was no trace of the grease that I had last used. In fact, the shaft was starting to gall in two places. It took quite a bit of work to get it cleaned up. I lubed it all up with a different brand of lithium soap grease and put it back together. I took it out for a test ride and at no point during an entire tank of gas did I have any indication that the brake was sticking. All the paving projects from this summer has left a lot of asphalt in many bad places, I keep cleaning it but it never seems to end. It would be a good guess that riding in the rain nearly every day for 4 months contributed to the yuck on the brake pivot.

When I got home from the test ride I discovered that Helen had managed to finish clearing the leafs out of the flower beds and from around the foundation plantings while I was gone :ermm: Fortunately, I had come home with the fixings for a lobster dinner

 

[Iris]

Wow.....looks like you all had a very nice ride. I like that part along the coast too.

Jim and I went out Sunday with Roadrunner and Pete (forgot his forum name). We rode 323 miles in the Adirondacks. It was a wonderful day but unfortunately we didn't take pictures to share.

We all felt pretty lucky to be able to ride on Nov. 22nd. We didn't hit any salted or sanded roads.

-Iris

 

[Old Michael]

Very nice.

Geez, it looks cold. Still in the 40's?

Amazing that almost all of the leaves are gone. (They're still mostly on the trees here, but dropping fast.)

Quite a contrast.

Lived up "noth" of you there for a bit. Remember it fondly.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Thanks for posting up...it was good to match faces with names and to see Mrs Ionbeam and the Prof. again.

Hope you guys get another chance to get out. :clapping:

 

[Fred W]

Yup, every leaf has fallen from the trees in my neighborhood (I know because I picked them all up!), except for a couple of gnarly old oaks that tend to hold some of them, all brown and withered, all through the winter into early spring. That along with the low sun angle and short days is why it can be so depressing around this time every year.

Living nearer to the equator has some real advantages psychologically, as well as climatologically. How the Canuckians, or even worse Alaskans can stand it I'll never know.

 

[beemerdons]

Ionbeam and Fred W: Outstanding Ride Report and Photographs, thank you very much for sharing your cold and scenic ride!

A small item: "How the Canuckians, or even worse Alaskans can stand it I'll never know." Just mentally picture barb and odot!

 

[BikerGeek99]

Cool stuff.

Helen - thanks for taking the pictures!

Alan - thanks for posting 'em up and providing the narrative!

Your pal,

BG

 

[ionbeam]

Yup, every leaf has fallen...I know because I picked them all up...That along with the low sun angle and short days is why it can be so depressing around this time every year...

Even though it has been in in the low to mid twenties on many mornings I'm still able to ride to work. The ride home in the 50's makes it worth while. I'm beginning to see more deer now.

After all the cold, dark and drab the first white snow that blankets everything is beautiful. It helps us forget how ugly it was. It begins to change after that though.

Oct. 14: Sandown, New Hampshire - it is the most beautiful place on earth. The leaves have turned all colors and shades of red and orange. Went for a ride through the beautiful countryside and saw some deer. They are so graceful. Certainly they are the most wonderful animals on earth. This must be paradise. I love it here!

Nov. 11: Remembrance Day. Deer season starts soon. I can't imagine anyone wanting to kill such a gorgeous creature. Hope it snows soon. I love it here!

November 27: It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!

December 9: We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the whole world? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had. Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveways and the sidewalks too. This afternoon the snow plow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveways, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life.

December 12: The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man. I'm glad he's our neighbor.

December 14: Snow, lovely snow! 8" last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so.

December 15: 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Explorer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in New Hampshire, after all.

December 16: Ice storm this morning. Fell on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.

December 17: Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. We had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should have bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.

December 20: Electricity's back on, but had another 14" of the stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.

December 22: Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white stuff fell today, and it's so cold it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and by the time I got dressed, I was too tired to shovel. Ted said to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter; but Bob says he's too busy. I think he is lying.

December 23: Only 2" of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she...nuts??? Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's also lying.

December 24: 6" of snow, now packed so hard by snowplow, l broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the guy who drives that snowplow, I'll pound him into the snow for sure. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was busy watching for the snowplow.

December 25: Merry Christmas. 20 more inches of the @#$%& snow tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's an idiot. If I have to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to kill her.

January 1: Still snowed in. Why did I ever move here? I was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.

January 7: Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze.

January 9: Warmed up to above -50. Still snowed in. This is driving me crazy!!!

January 13: 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?

January 14: Roof caved in. The snowplow driver is suing me for a million dollars for the bump on his head. The wife went home to her mother. 9" predicted.

January 18: Finally got out of the house today. Went to the store to get food and on my way back a damned deer ran in front of the Explorer. Did about $3,000 damage to the truck. Those @#$%& beasts should be killed. The bastards are everywhere. Wish the hunters had exterminated them all last November.

February 3: Took the car to the garage in town. Would you believe the thing is rusted out from all that @#$%& salt they put all over the roads.

February 31: Set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.

March 8: I feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

 

[MEM]

Yup, every leaf has fallen from the trees in my neighborhood (I know because I picked them all up!), except for a couple of gnarly old oaks that tend to hold some of them, all brown and withered, all through the winter into early spring. That along with the low sun angle and short days is why it can be so depressing around this time every year.
Living nearer to the equator has some real advantages psychologically, as well as climatologically. How the Canuckians, or even worse Alaskans can stand it I'll never know.

pharmaceuticals and ...... name your poison. Cognac seems to be Bungie's . Plus whatever indoor activities our sluggish brains can conjure up.

of course, there's always 'fly & ride'

 

[Fred W]

Certainly, self medication is a way of life around here.

Delaying the onset of PMS is my only strategy toward preservation of what's left of my liver...

 

[Geezer]

Of course you guys are exaggerating, and I'm not quite as far north as you are, but I like the winter. In fact I like all four seasons. Snow is a lot of fun to play in, and most locals have 4 wheel drive vehicles and know how to drive in the slippery stuff. I don't like the shorter daylight hours in winter, but they are compensated for by more daylight in the summer.

I admit that I do pay a guy to plow my driveway, and I only shovel around the vehicles if I really have to. And I heat with wood.