THINGS- ROADS-A COUPLE VIEWS OF MY FAVORITES

                                                       

WHEN I WAS IN MY PRIME AND FAR MORE CAREFREE (RECKLESS?)THAN I AM TODAY, MY MIND WOULD COME UP WITH IDEAS AND VISIONS THAT I WOULD ACT ON WITHOUT MUCH CONSIDERATION OF FUTURE CONSEQUENCES.. A PERSONALITY TRAIT THAT WAS A SOURCE OF FRUSTRATION TO THOSE CLOSEST TO ME AND THE UNDERLYING REASON FOR TERMINATION FROM NINE JOBS IN ONE YEAR.. A RECURRING THEME WAS TO VISIT MY FELLOW MARINES WHO WERE STILL STATIONED AT CAMP LEJEUNE, THE MARINE BASE IN NORTH CAROLINA.. I LOVED RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE DOWN THE LATE NIGHT HIGHWAY, THE RELATIVE SOLITUDE...RUMBLING PAST THE SLEEPING CITIES, CROSSING EMPTY BRIDGES, CRUISING FOR MILES ALONG LATE NIGHT TRUCKERS, EVEN STATE TROOPERS SEEMED MORE FORGIVING, MORE TOLERANT DURING THOSE DARK LONELY HOURS..

THE FREEDOM AND EXHILARATION I THRIVED ON BACK THEN WAS TEMPERED BY THE GROWING REALIZATION THAT MY LIFE STYLE DIDN’T REALLY WORK, I KNEW CHANGE WOULD HAVE TO COME. AND SO, RELUCTANTLY I SURRENDERED BIT BY BIT TO LIFE’S RESPONSIBILITIES..SOMETIMES GRACEFULLY AND OTHER TIMES ONLY AFTER GREAT INNER STRUGGLES AS WELL AS SOCIAL AND FINACIAL PRESSURES..THE FOLLOWING YEAR I ONLY LOST SEVEN JOBS (A SMALL STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION).

I STILL ENJOY RACKING UP HIGHWAY MILES BUT NO LONGER DO I FIND MYSELF ROLLING DOWN THAT LONELY INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.. (AND I HAVEN'T BEEN TERMINATED IN OVER 30 YEARS)

SHARING SOME PHOTOS WITH YOU OF A FEW OF MY FAMILIAR HAUNTS..THESE ROADS ARE LIKE OLD FRIENDS TO ME..AFTER A TRYING DAY, CRUISING THESE COUNTRY ROADS GIVES ME A SENSE OF PEACE, A COMFORT THAT SOOTHS MY MIND AND SOUL..SOMETIMES I CAN ALMOST SEE MY TROUBLES FADING AWAY IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR..

(A CHANCE FOR YOU TO MEET  A COUPLE FRIENDS THAT PULLED OVER WHEN THEY SAW ME TAKING PHOTOS-AS ALWAYS CLICK TO ENLARGE)

BURLINGTON CT.--ABOUT THREE MINUTES FROM HOME

ROUTE 4--RIDING OUT TO LITCHFIELD

ROUTE 72--AND HERE COMES A HOMETOWN FRIEND

TAKING A QUICK BREAK

BIKER-JOHN WEST---TOGETHER WE'VE PUT MANY MILES BEHIND US.

ANOTHER GOOD FRIEND FROM BACK IN TOWN--PHIL SAUCIER. AND HIS WOMAN, KAREN HABERERN

HEADING BACK HOME

***********************************************************************************
                    UNTIL NEXT WEEK --STAY WELL--STAY SAFE--ENJOY THE RIDE
                                                                          JIM

THINGS--2007 SHELBY COBRA GT-500

 THE 1960’S AUTOMOTIVE WORLD WAS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SCENARIO THAN WHAT WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH TODAY..MUSCLE CARS ABOUNDED AND TERMS LIKE ‘MPG’ AND ‘AIRBAGS’ AND "HYBRIDS" WERE UNKNOWN.. ‘DUAL QUADS’-‘SIX-PACKS’ (NOT BEERS)-‘ISKY ¾ CAMS’-‘TARANTULA INTAKES’-‘HOOKER HEADERS’ FUEL LINES THAT LOOKED LIKE MINI SEWER PIPES. A WHOLE DIFFERENT JARGON RELATED TO AUTOMOTIVE ISSUES..WE WANTED TO KNOW HOW FAST A CAR COULD GET FROM 0 TO 60-HOW FAST COULD IT DO A QUARTER MILE.. FUEL PRICES (AROUND 25 CENTS A GALLON) ENSURED THAT THESE HORSEPOWER MONSTERS WOULD PROWL THE STREETS..IT WAS A DIFFERENT WORLD THEN-OPEC HAD NOT YET FLEXED THEIR MUSCLE BUT THAT WOULD ALL CHANGE—AND WITH THAT CHANGE CAME THE NEAR EXTINCTION OF THOSE MAGNIFICENT TRIBUTES TO HORSEPOWER..NEVER AGAIN WOULD THE AVERAGE TEENAGERS OF AMERICA KNOW THE FEEL OF BEING PUSHED BACK INTO YOUR SEAT WHEN YOU PUNCHED A CHEVELLE SS 396 OR BANGED THE GEARS OF A GTO, A ROAD RUNNER, A HEMI CHARGER, OR A FAIRLANE GT390..MY FAVORITE MUSCLE CARS WERE THE MUSTANGS, THE GT SERIES AND THE MACH ONES ALWAYS HELD A PLACE IN MY HEART..IF IT WERE NOT FOR CAR SHOWS THE FEW REMAINING EXAMPLES OF THAT ERA WOULD BE AN EXTREMELY RARE SIGHT AT BEST..

KING OF THE MUSTANGS WAS THE SHELBY GT SERIES, THE FIRST MUSTANG TO BE BRANDED A ‘SHELBY’ WAS BUILT IN 1964 AND BECAME THE FORERUNNER OF THE LEGENDARY GT 350 AND 500...PRODUCTION OF THE SHELBY SERIES STOPPED IN 1970 (SAY-FUEL COSTS) BUT WITH THE ADVANCES IN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, THE KING OF THE MUSTANGS HAS BEEN REBORN!! IN 2006 PRODUCTION BEGAN ONCE AGAIN AND IN 2007 A FEW LUCKY INDIVIDUALS BECAME THE PROUD OWNERS OF THIS MAGNIFICENT INCARNATION OF HORSEPOWER.. ACCORDING TO SOME ONLINE SOURCES LESS THAN 6000 HAVE BEEN PRODUCED..ENJOY THE PHOTOS OF ONE SUCH EXAMPLE OF MECHANICAL ELEGANCE,,BEAUTY AND POWER..

SATURDAY JUNE 19, I SAW THIS BEAUTIFUL BEAST ROLL BY AS I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT..I THOUGHT ‘WOW, WHAT A POST THAT WOULD MAKE’ BUT I KNEW I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CATCH UP WITH IT DUE TO THE TRAFFIC AND ABOUT A DOZEN LIGHTS THAT CONTROLLED TRAFFIC ON THIS MAIN ROAD..I HAD PLANNED TO GAS UP MY BIKE AND HUNT UP SOME PHOTOS FOR A POSTING..TO MY PLEASANT SURPRISE THERE WAS THE SHELBY IN THE SAME GAS STATION I PULLED INTO..A BRIEF INTRODUCTION FOLLOWED AND SHORTLY WE MET FOR SOME PHOTOS..MEET RICK (FROM LITCHFIELD COUNTY) AND HIS BEAUTIFUL 2007 SHELBY GT500..THE MOST POWERFUL FACTORY BUILT MUSTANG IN HISTORY-THE RESULT OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN CARROL SHELBY AND FORD’S ‘SPECIAL VEHICLE TEAM’ (SVT)..

RICK ALSO OWNS A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON HERITAGE AND ANOTHER MUSTANG THAT IS EVEN A RARER MODEL THAN THE ONE WE HAVE MET HERE..HOPEFULLY WE'LL MEET AGAIN AND BRING YOU ANOTHER SERIES OF PHOTOS ABOUT ANOTHER 'SVT' SPECIALTY MUSTANG..

                                            UNTIL NEXT WEEK--KEEP THE RUBBER SIDE DOWN
                                                                AND THE  SHINY SIDE UP

THE INTIMIDATING SHELBY LOGO





EVEN SITTING STILL IT LOOKS LIKE ITS SPEEDING



NOT A VIEW YOU WOULD SEE FOR LONG IN YOUR REAR VIEW MIRROR



THE MOST LIKELY VIEW ONE WOULD HAVE



OVER 475 HORSES LIVE HERE

                                 

RICK'S VERY COOL TATTOO--TWO WELL RESPECTED  LOGOS

                                      (AS ALWAYS-CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR MORE DETAIL)
  (TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHELBY GT 500 HIT GOOGLE--SHELBY COBRA 2007)

PLACES--MERIDEN TOWER-CONNECTICUT

                                                  

One of my many favorite spots but not one of my favorite motorcycle rides..The ride up to the tower is a constant exercise in shifting—the trip back down puts your braking skills (and components) to the test..Because of the never ending process of erosion, gravel, sand and debris is often washed onto the road and it is not uncommon to come across wet areas as well..In the fall these threats are covered by leaves adding yet another dimension to an already tense descent. If you are unlucky enough to leave the road there are places where it will be a while before you’re found..One of the very few destinations I would rather visit in a car instead of on a bike.. All that being said, the road to the tower is nestled in absolutely beautiful wilderness..Numerous small ponds and streams wind their way down to the reservoir, rock faces and cliffs abound and several hiking trails are available for the more energetic souls among us..

The view is overwhelming, breath-taking for the first time visitor, inspiring for all..The Meriden YMCA sponsors an annual Easter Sunday Sunrise observance (since 1930) and hundreds see fit to attend..The Castle was dedicated to the city of Meriden in October of 1900 by Walter Hubbard (hence the name-Hubbard Park).. In April of 1986 the tower was rededicated after work was done to repair the effects of neglect..The Meriden Lions Club was responsible for the erection of a ninety foot flag pole, which is lit (along with the castle) by the efforts of the “Light The Flag Committee.” Enough about the here and now—Let’s take a GIANT step back in time..

Two hundred million years ago dinosaurs lumbered through a much different vista..Meriden sat in a sandstone valley that was eventually covered by at least two major lava flows..Each flow cooled into what is called basalt and covered over by sediment from the surrounding hills which, in turn, formed brownstone..After the volcanic activity came to a halt the whole region fractured and tilted westward..The softer sandstone bedrock eroded, leaving behind the much denser volcanic layers which are now the lofty perches from which we may enjoy the present day views..

I do plan to return in the fall when Mother Nature covers the hills with brilliant plumage..At that time I’ll tell you about one of the darker legends that surrounds the area..Until next week—May the most you wish for be the least you receive..

(AS ALWAYS-CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR GREATER DETAIL)





 





 

 

I HAVE SKY DIVED BUT THESE VIEWS

ARE MUCH MORE RELAXING

FLAG POLE ERECTED BY MERIDEN LIONS CLUB

THE EFFECTS OF EROSION CLEARLY VISIBLE

TWO GOOD PEOPLE I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING
AT THE TOWER
JIM (FROM MERIDEN) AND HIS FIANCE-- MEGAN (FROM BERLIN)
BEST OF WISHES AND LUCK FOR A HAPPY FUTURE TOGETHER

TILL NEXT WEEK

PLACES--BARKHAMSTED RESERVOIR--CT.

Saturday-June 4^th: After what has been an unusually brutal winter, today was one of those days that nature creates as a way of balancing things out...A perfect day and what made it even more amazing was that it fell on a weekend!! The lawn was mowed earlier in the week (Thursday) and there was only one more load of laundry to be done..However, there will always be some more things that need to be done, some weed whacking, jeep needs washing, plants that need planting, some interior trim that should have been done months ago, I kicked it all off to the side..Feeling a bit of guilt, but hey, I needed to do some time on two wheels, kind of good for my mind and soul.. Mother Nature herself would be insulted if a biker didn’t spend some time in the wind on such a day..I strapped my leather to the sissy bar, put my camera in my pocket, gave my bike a quick safety check and after a short prayer (asking for Devine protection) I was once again free, flying low, feeling so good that it’s probably against the law..

One of my favorite rides is to Barkhamsted reservoir..My route runs alongside the Farmington River for most of the way..The air smells clean, is considerably cooler and the traffic is always light.. I had planned to do a mileage check and a “how long did it take to get there” to include in this post, but then I realized I didn’t really want to turn the ride into a stupid study about time and miles..Suffice to say the trip takes me just a few miles from the Massachusetts border..the scenery is mostly lush green forest and a smattering of small towns, fishing equipment stores, antique dealers, farm stands and the like..A long winding road on the east side of the lower lake (Lake McDonough) leads one to a road that spans the top of the dam face..As is always the case a number of motorcycles were parked in the lots at each end of the dam..The only time I have not seen bikes there is in the dead of winter (yea, I do ride in the winter). Given the view from the dam, the beautiful ride, the whole ambiance of the surrounding towns, this is a favorite destination of many bikers who, just like me, want to enjoy a couple hours of just cruising..

The dam itself is 135 feet tall and 1950 feet long..It holds back 36.8 billion gallons of water and is the primary water source for Hartford Connecticut..The Army Corps of engineers started construction in 1936 and finished in 1940. After eight years it was finally full. The reservoir is eight miles long, reaching almost into Massachusetts..Under all that water are the remains of a village that was once called Barkhamsted  Hollow.

I’ve posted a few pictures of the bikers who were there when I arrived, as well as some who pulled in as we spoke about bikes, near-by chow stops, an ongoing car show etc. As always-good people to be met-good places to go..Later posts will cover some of the events in the nearby villages as well as a few pictures of the fall foliage-colors are awesome, like a rainbow factory exploded..Till next week---Happy Trails

                                                               THE  GATE HOUSE

                                                             LOOKING NORTH

                                                            LAKE   McDONOUGH

                                        "YOU CAN PHOTO THE BIKES-BUT NOT US"
                                                                     ~OK--GOT-CHA~

                                                                                                                                                                     

Some good people I met from Massachusetts-left to right--Fran C.--Gina C.--Dan A.--Danielle M.--Jim G.

AS ALWAYS-CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR MORE DETAIL