THINGS------HURRICANE IRENE-----

OUR BACK YARD A FEW HOURS BEFORE 'IRENE'

WELL IT HAS COME AND GONE AND LEFT RUIN IN HER WAKE..WITH ALL THE SUFFERING AND LOSS THAT PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED I WILL NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT HAVING LOST THE CHANCE TO DO A POST ON ANOTHER MOTORCYCLE RALLY..HOPEFULLY EVERYONE READING THIS BLOG HAS PULLED THROUGH WITH MINIMAL LOSS AND INCONVENIENCE..LAST SPRING WHEN THE UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF SNOW WE HAD STARTED TO MELT DOWN, WE EXPERIENCED THE VERY FIRST BASEMENT FLOOD EVER IN OUR HUMBLE BUT HAPPY HOME..AFTER A LENGTHY AND EXPENSIVE CLEAN-UP ($6000+) WE INVESTED IN A SUMP PUMP SO WE WOULD NEVER BE CAUGHT IN THE SAME SITUATION AGAIN..WE WAITED FOR IRENE FEELING A BIT MORE SECURE..AS IT TURNED OUT THE PLACEMENT OF THE SUMP PUMP WAS IN THE WRONG PLACE.. THE WATER CAME IN FROM THE HIGH END OF OUR CELLAR AND SOAKED THE CARPET (AND WHATEVER ELSE WAS IN THE WAY) AS IT MADE IT’S WAY TO THE LOW END OF OUR BASEMENT--WHERE THE SUMP PUMP WAITED PATIENTLY..AS IT TURNED OUT, BY THE TIME THE WATER HAD SOAKED THE GROUND ENOUGH TO START MAKING ITS WAY INTO OUR CELLAR WE HAD LOST POWER SO THE PUMP SAT IDLY IN A FOOT AND A HALF OF WATER….(NICE)


ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKERS I'VE EVER MET-DAVE W.  MOWING
OUR LAWN IN THE POURING RAIN--THAT'S HIS OWN TRACTOR-

OVER $14G AND HE'S ONLY 19!!



OK—SO NOW IT’S A QUESTION OF WAITING FOR POWER TO BE RESTORED (DONE ON MONDAY EVENING) THEN RESTARTING THE FURNACE (DONE ON TUESDAY).. TOMORROW MORNING THE CLEANING GUYS COME AND DO THEIR BEST TO “MAKE IT LIKE IT NEVER HAPPENED.”  MAYBE BY SATURDAY ALL WILL BE KINDA BACK TO ‘NORMAL’ AGAIN…REALLY NO BIG DEAL HERE-COMPARED TO WHAT SOME HAVE GONE THROUGH AND CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH…

FOR US-ANOTHER SUMP PUMP-A DEPENDABLE GENERATOR-AND MAYBE EVEN A PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATION REGARDING WATERPROOFING BASEMENTS..

 I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE GONE AROUND TOWN TAKING PICTURES FOR THIS POST BUT YOU’VE SEEN ENOUGH ON THE NEWS AND A COUPLE OF OVERTURNED TREES ON SOME WIRES AND SOME HIGH WATER PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ANYTHING YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE MORE OF ANYWAY..

JUST GOT THE INTERNET BACK AND I REALLY HAVEN’T HAD A CHANCE TO PUT ANYTHING TOGETHER FOR THIS WEEK, BUT I DID HAVE SOME PHOTOS LAYING BACK IN THE FILES THAT I WAS SAVING FOR LATTER, BUT I’LL LAY A COUPLE OUT JUST SO I CAN MAINTAIN A BIT OF CONTINUITY FOR US….

THE GENTLEMAN TO THE RIGHT IS 81 YEARS YOUNG-COULDN'T HOLD THE BIKE UP ANY MORE-HAD A SPECIAL FRAME MADE SO HE COULD CONTINUE RIDING..THREE WHEELS IN BACK.. A KOREAN WAR VETERAN--MAY YOU RIDE FOR MANY MORE YEARS TO COME JEAN, I HOPE YOU RIDE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.. 

A FRIEND FROM WAY BACK IN THE SIXTIES-LEO G. WITH ONE OF THE MANY HUNDREDS OF BIKES HE'S PAINTED--MINE...

EVEERY ONCE IN A WHILE I CAN'T HELP BUT ADMIRE A FOUR WHEELED VEHICLE AND BELOW IS ONE SUCH EXAMPLE...OF COURSE IT'S A REPLICA BUT IT IS A BEAUTIFUL REPLICA OF ONE OF THE LEGENDARY 'SHELBY COBRAS'--427 CU. IN... NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE EVERYDAY..THERE WERE TWO 'SUPER COBRAS' BUILT.. ONE BELONGED TO BILL COSBY-HE DID A SKIT ABOUT IT...THE CAR SCARED HIM AND HE RETURNED IT..THE OTHER WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL CRASH..







SCOOTERS FROM MIDDLETOWN RALLY

WELL I KIND OF HAM AND EGGED THIS POST TOGETHER UNDER A BIT OF TIME PRESSURE..(SELF IMPOSED)..HERE ON THE EAST COAST WE'VE HAD KIND OF A TRICKY LAST WEEK.. AN EARTH QUAKE--THEN THE HURRICANE AND ALL THE MESS THAT IS LEFT BEHIND HAS STILL GOT TO BE CLEANED UP..WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE BUT IT'S NEVER FUN..IT'S GREAT TO SEE HOW PEOPLE ARE QUICK TO HELP ONE ANOTHER THROUGH THE TRICKY TIMES,,NEIGHBORS HELPING EACH OTHER AND VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS WILLING TO DO WHAT THEY CAN..

HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT WEEK-AND DON'T BE SHY-LEAVE COMMENTS----------JIM

AS ALWAYS-CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTOS AND CHECK THINGS OUT A LITTLE BETTER
                                          

PLACES---------YANKEE HARLEY DAVIDSON------DEALERSHIP



SOMETIMES IT’S KINDA HARD TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THINGS..I USUALLY TRY TO PUT A LOT OF THE DAILY CRUD WE ARE PRESENTED WITH BEHIND ME OR BELOW ME, BUT MOST OF THE TIMES IT FINDS IT’S WAY TO A PLACE WAAAAY BEYOND ME...SPEAKING STRICTLY FOR MYSELF,, I CAN’T EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF STRAPPING ON A VEST FULL OF EXPLOSIVES-WALKING INTO THE MIDDLE OF A CROWD AND TAKING AS MANY PEOPLE AS I CAN WITH ME ON MY FINAL JOURNEY..JUST DOWNS ME EVERY TIME I HEAR ABOUT ANOTHER SUICIDE BOMBER DOING HIS THING OR SOME EXPLOSIVE LADEN VEHICLE BLOWING A BUNCH OF INNOCENT MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN INTO THE NEXT LIFE..

THEN WE HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO LEAD THE COUNTRY RIGHT TO THE BRINK OF FISCAL CALAMITY BEFORE THEY PUT ASIDE THEIR PARTY AFFILIATIONS AND OTHER NONSENSE AND DO THE JOB THAT WE ELECTED THEM TO DO..THE SAME OFFICIALS WHO SEE FIT TO EXEMPT THEMSELVES FROM MANY OF THE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS THEY SEE FIT TO FORCE ON US..I WISH I COULD VOTE MYSELF A RAISE—DON’T YOU?? I WISH I COULD COLLECT A PENSION AFTER SERVING FOUR YEARS—DON’T YOU?? AS A MATTER OF FACT,, I DON’T REMEMBER THEM ASKING US TO EVER VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS OK WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IF THEY COULD COLLECT A PENSION AFTER SERVING ONLY ONE TERM—DO YOU?? NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY THEY TAX FROM US IT SEEMS TO NEVER-NEVER-NEVER  BE ENOUGH..



 SUPER NICE-SUPER SCOOTER





THIS BEAUTIFUL MONSTER HAS ME THINKING ABOUT
PARTING WITH SOME OF MY HARD EARNED CASH



ALL THESE BEAUTIES-LOOKING FOR A HOME
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE HERE..





ANOTHER LONG TIME FRIEND-
LORI WITH HER AWESOME SPORTSTER
AS ALWAYS--LOOKING GREAT



HERE AT HOME (IN CONNECTICUT) WE HAVE TWO CASINOS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE STATE REVENUE..WE ALSO HAVE DAILY NUMBERS GAME (AFTERNOON AND NIGHTLY)-PLAY FOUR (AFTERNOON AND NIGHTLY) LOTTO-CASH FIVE-POWER BALL-MEGA MILLIONS AND ANY STORE THAT YOU MIGHT WALK INTO WILL USUALLY HAVE THE BETTER PART OF ONE WALL JUST COVERED WITH AN EVER GROWING SELECTION OF “INSTANT WINNER” SCRATCH TICKETS..OF COURSE WE ALSO HAVE A INCOME TAX WHICH WAS INITIALLY IMPOSED BY A GOVERNOR WHO WON THE ELECTION ON THE GROUNDS THAT CONNECTICUT DID NOT NEED AN INCOME TAX..NOW OUR SALES TAX WILL BE RAISED AS WILL OUR INCOME TAX-(WHICH WILL BE TAXED RETROACTIVELY)..LIKE I SAID—NEVER NEVER ENOUGH..TO ME,, ROBBERY IS ROBBERY,, WHETHER IT IS DONE IN A PARKING LOT AT THE POINT OF A GUN OR WHETHER IT IS DONE BY A MAJORITY RULE VOTE THAT IS HELD IN THE POLISHED AND PROTECTED CHAMBERS OF SOME FANCY “OFFICIAL” BUILDING..YEA-ALL THE CRUD DOES PUT MY HEAD IN A BAD PLACE SOMETIMES..START TO FEEL LIKE ONE OF THOSE POOR OXEN THAT THEY HARNESS TO A BIG WHEEL,, THEN MAKE IT WALK IN A CIRCLE ALL DAY LONG AND SUPPLY POWER TO SOME MACHINE OR PUMP OF SOME SORT..

I HAVE A COUPLE OF WAYS TO SNAP OUT OF THE OCCASIONAL FUNK THAT COMES TO HAUNT ME..SOMETIMES IT MEANS PACKING UP THE FLY-ROD AND HEADING TO THE RIVER (CHECK OUT THE “FARMINGTON RIVER” POST EARLIER THIS MONTH) AND OTHER TIMES IT MEANS GETTING ON THE BIKE AND HEADING OUT..

“YANKEE HARLEY DAVIDSON” DEALERSHIP IS JUST A FEW MILES FROM MY DRIVEWAY AND THERE IS  ALWAYS SOMETHING OR OTHER GOING ON..FOR ME, IT'S A 'FEEL GOOD' KIND OF PLACE.. THIS WEEKEND (AUG 20^th) WAS A USUAL RUN-OF-THE-MILL TYPE OF WEEK-END THERE..STOP IN FOR A COUPLE OF HOT-DOGS AND SOME BOTTLED WATER (FREE!!) MAYBE TAKE A MOTORCYCLE FOR A TEST RIDE AND ALWAYS GOOD PEOPLE TO TALK WITH AND FRIENDS TO BE FOUND..THE SALES STAFF KNOWS BIKES AND ARE WILLING TO BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO GET YOU ON YOUR OWN SCOOTER..YOU REALLY HAVE TO TRY HARD TO STAY IN A FUNK WHEN YOUR SURROUNDED BY ALL THESE MECHANICAL BEAUTIES AND FRIENDLY FACES..SEVERAL TIMES THROUGH OUT THE YEAR SOME PRETTY GOOD TIMES ARE SPONSORED BY AND AT YANKEE..THE VINTAGE BIKE CONTEST IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES..RADIO BROADCASTS—LIVE BANDS--AND A SMATTERING OF SPECIAL WEEKEND SALES AND OTHER EVENTS BRING PEOPLE FROM NEAR AND FAR..YANKEE IS THE THIRD LARGEST VOLUME DEALERSHIP IN THE U.S. AND IS OWNED BY A FORMER PLAYER FROM THE CHICAGO BEARS..BEING LOCATED ON ROUTE SIX IN BRISTOL MAKES IT A CONVENIENT RALLY POINT FOR MANY MOTORCYCLE RUNS AND EVENTS..IF YOUR READY TO BUY-THEIR READY TO DEAL--(MAKE SURE YOU TELL THEM JIM SENT YOU) CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS—AND AS ALWAYS--CLICK ON THEM FOR MORE DETAIL..

AFTER KILLING SOME TIME AT YANKEE I WRAPPED UP THE AFTERNOON BY TAKING A RIDE OUT TO BARKHAMPSTED..(CHECK OUT MY POST ON THE PLACE-JUNE ARCHIVES) AS IS ALWAYS THE CASE, THERE WERE PLENTY OF MY FAVORITE KIND OF PEOPLE THERE-BIKERS..

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT-OMAR WHO HAS BEEN ON BIKES SINCE 02--THEN JARED WHOSE BIKE WAS OFF TO OUR LEFT AND NOT IN THE PHOTO, BEEN RIDING SINCE 05--THEN 'BIG RICK' WITH HIS BEAUTIFUL VICTORY, HE'S BEEN ON BIKES FOR 25 YEARS..THESE GUYS ARE PRETTY INTENSE RIDERS FROM A GROUP CALLED   'THE BUSA CREW'  VERY COOL BUNCH OF GUYS AND I ENJOYED MEETING YOU..

THE FOLKS IN THE PHOTO TO THE RIGHT CRUISE THE ROADS AROUND THE RESERVOIR EVERY WEDNESDAY EVENING THAT WEATHER PERMITS--LEFT TO RIGHT WE GOT-TONY, WHO HAS BEEN ON BIKES ALL HIS LIFE--NEXT TO HIM STANDS KATHY--NEXT TO HER IS ESTHER AND THEN BRIAN WHO HAS ALSO BEEN ON MOTORCYCLES SINCE HIS EARLIEST DAYS..HOPE WE MEET AGAIN-GOOD PEOPLE..



AFTER A VISIT TO YANKEE  AND A COUPLE  OF HOURS SPENT ON A GOOD MOTORCYCLE ALL THE CRUD OF THE WEEK JUST MELTS AWAY..BESIDES,WE'VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE-JUST DIFFERENT PLACES-DIFERRENT NAMES BUT THE TUNE REMAINS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME..YEA--A SUNNY DAY--A GOOD BIKE-SOME GOOD PEOPLE---------------------------------------------FTW----LET'S RIDE!!-----------------------------------

 THE BIKE PICTURED ABOVE IS ONE MORE OF THE PHOTOS I PROMISED TO POST  FROM THE MIDDLETOWN RALLY..LAST WEEK I HAD FEATURED THE TOP OF THIS CYCLE'S GAS TANK --THIS WEEK I ZEROED IN ON THE FENDER-A STUDY IN CONTRASTS...

      IT'S BEEN CALLED TO MY ATTENTION THAT MOST OF MY POSTS DEAL WITH BIKERS AND RELATED SUBJECTS..CAN'T REALLY HELP THAT, ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR..NEXT WEEK I HOPE TO DO A POST ON A REALLY GREAT RALLY THAT BENEFITS ALOT OF TERRIFIC AND NEEDY KIDS...HOPE THE WEATHER COOPERATES....REMEMBER-CLICK THE PHOTOS TO ENLARGE AND CHECK OUT THE DETAILS..HAVE A GREAT WEEK-STAY SAFE
                                                                             JIM

PLACES--MIDDLETOWN--MOTORCYCLE RALLY



****************

 THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST HAS BEEN A TRICKY ONE FOR ME..WRESTLED WITH SOME WILD GRAPE VINES THAT SEEMED DETERMINED TO OVERPOWER THE CEDAR TREES THAT SERVE AS A BORDER TO OUR YARD,,THEN HAD TO BEAT BACK A PARTICULARLY NASTY CLUMP OF A PLANT THAT I CALL 'DEVILS WEED'. IT'S THORNS ARE SHAPED LIKE SNAKES TEETH AND I WOULD SWEAR IT HAS A MALIGNANT INTELLIGENCE..WHEN CUT  IT ACTS AS IF IT'S SPRING LOADED AND INVARIABLY THOSE THORNS WRAP  AROUND YOUR ARMS, LEGS OR ANY OTHER BODY PART WITHIN REACH..JEANS DO NOT OFFER PROTECTION AND EVEN LEATHER WORK GLOVES WILL NOT GIVE ME 100% PROTECTION AGAINST THAT UNPLEASANT MASS OF VEGETATION..IT IS NOT AN EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT I HAVE SHED BLOOD EVERY TIME I HAVE PRUNED THAT UNHOLY MONSTROSITY BACK TO A SOMEWHAT ATTRACTIVE GREEN WALL OF SORTS.

WITH THE FRONT LINE OF GRAPE VINES AND DEVIL WEED BEATEN BACK (FOR NOW) MY NEXT WEAPON AGAINST THE UNRELENTING FORCES OF NATURE,WAS THE WEED WHACKER..WE HAVE A VERY LARGE YARD AND IT IS NOT AN EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT I SPEND MORE TIME WITH THE WEED WHACKER THAN MOST PEOPLE DO MOWING THEIR ENTIRE LAWN..FINALLY CAME THE EASY PART--STARTING THE LAWN TRACTOR AND WRAPPING THINGS UP..WELL, AFTER FINISHING ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF THE YARD A BELT SLIPPED A PULLEY AND DERAILED MY PROGRESS..WHAT SEEMED TO BE AN EASY FIX TURNED INTO A NIGHT MARE AND BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON I WAS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM WITH SEVERE BACK PAIN AND MUSCLE SPASMS..SO BETWEEN SPIKES OF PAIN THAT LEFT ME BREATHLESS AND LIGHTHEADED, A RECURRING THOUGHT KEPT COMING TO MIND--"MAN, I HOPE I CAN MAKE THE MIDDLETOWN MOTORCYCLE RALLY.."



***************

AFTER MISSING A DAY AND A HALF FROM WORK AND SOME SERIOUS PAIN MEDS AND MUSCLE RELAXERS THE 10th OF THE MONTH ROLLED IN..I CUT EACH OF MY MEDS IN HALF, WASHED THEM DOWN WITH A CUP OF COFFEE, MET UP WITH SOME FRIENDS, AND AWAY WE WENT..THE RALLY BENEFITS A FEW COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS AND IS JUST A GREAT TIME--LOTS OF FRIENDS-MUSIC-CHOW-MERCHANDISE-EVEN RAFFLE TICKETS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COUPLE OF SWEET BIKES..KIND OF IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT ALL THE PICTURES THAT I TOOK OF SOME OF THE MORE EXOTIC SCOOTERS INTO THIS ONE POST, SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS PUT ONE OR TWO PHOTOS IN THE UPCOMING POSTS..SOME OF THESE BIKES COST MORE THAN A HOUSE DID IN THE LATE SEVENTIES AND EARLY EIGHTIES-REAL BEAUTIES..BUT FIRST A COUPLE PICTURES OF THE CROWDS AND ALL THE IRON HORSES-CHECK IT OUT...

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN READING MY BLOG ON A REGULAR BASIS YOU MAY RECOGNISE THE PINK HARLEY FROM AN EARLIER POST I DID ON AN ALL FEMALE MOTORCYCLE CLUB CALLED 'CONNECTICUT WOMEN IN SEARCH OF A CURE'..REALLY AN AWESOME GROUP OF WOMEN..TAKE AN EXTRA FEW MINUTES TO LOOK UP THE BLOG ABOUT THEM AND MEET SOME OF THE MEMBERS.DEBBI "KILLER" HENNINGER IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CLUB AND THE OWNER OF THE ONE OF A KIND 'STANDS OUT IN THE CROWD' PINK HARLEY..SOME GREAT GIRLS!!! 

FOR ANY BIKER THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO SPEND A FEW HOURS..LOTS OF WELL KNOWN CLUBS WERE PRESENT AND MY PICS CANNOT GIVE A FAIR REPRESENTATION OF ALL THE PEOPLE AND BIKES THAT WERE PRESENT..OLD-YOUNG-WHEELCHAIRS-CRUTCHES-EVERYBODY JUST HAVING A GREAT TIME ADMIRING THE BIKES AND MEETING ONE ANOTHER...



IF ALL THESE BIKES WERE TURNED TO CASH
IT WOULD PROBABLY CUT THE NATIONAL
DEFICIT IN HALF

.   

WELL-SOMEONE HAS TO KEEP THE PEACE

REALLY--CLICK ON THE PHOTOS--THE ART WORK IS UNREAL AND THERE WILL BE MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS RALLY IN WEEKS TO COME--REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT THE EARLIER BLOG ABOUT 'CT. WOMEN LOOKING FOR A CURE' THEIR POST IS IN THE JULY ARCHIVES

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK

***JIM*** 



PLACES--FARMINGTON RIVER--CT..

BEAUTIFUL-RELAXING-INSPIRING-SOOTHING TO MY VERY SOUL..THE FARMINGTON RIVER FLOWS FOR EIGHTY-ONE MILES AND IT'S AQUIFERS AND RESERVOIRS SUPPLY WATER FOR ONE THIRD OF CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS..
IN YEARS GONE BY I SPENT MANY HOURS KAYAKING IN THE MORE AGGRESSIVE WATERS OF THE RIVER..MY KAYAK HAS LONG SINCE BEEN RELEGATED TO ONLY A MEMORY (HIT TOO MANY ROCKS AND MY TOUCHY BACK WON'T ALLOW ME TO EVEN CONSIDER THE SPORT ANYMORE).

 A FEW YEARS BEFORE THE KAYAK MET IT'S WATERY DEMISE I DID PURCHASE A CANOE FOR THE MORE TRANQUIL WATERS OF NOT ONLY THE RIVER BUT SEVERAL OF THE LAKES AND PONDS WHICH I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE ACCESS TO..THE CANOE NOW SITS PATIENTLY IN THE BACK YARD AWAITING IT'S FATE..KINDA HATE TO GET RID OF THE THING-LIKE CLOSING A CHAPTER IN MY LIFE..

 THIS WEEK I THOUGHT I'D SHARE JUST A FEW PHOTOS OF THE BEAUTY THAT I NEVER GROW TIRED OF WITNESSING WHEN I PUT ON MY WADERS AND VENTURE INTO THE KINGDOM OF THE TROUT...IN THE PHOTO ABOVE YOU CAN PICK OUT MY FISHING PARTNER-JAY MORIN OFF TO THE RIGHT..A FLY FISHERMAN EXTRAORDINAIRE!! OUT FISHES ME ALL THE TIME..

 THE PHOTO TO THE RIGHT AS WELL AS THE ONE BELOW ARE TWO VIEWS OF THE AREA WHERE THE RIVER TAKES A DRAMATIC TURN NORTHWARD..THE FARMINGTON FLOWS IN ALL FOUR CARDINAL DIRECTIONS (THE ONLY RIVER TO DO SO IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE)..BEFORE THE ICE AGES THE FARMINGTON EMPTIED INTO LONG ISLAND SOUND BUT AS THE GLACIERS RETREATED THE DEBRIE LEFT BEHIND FORMED DAMS AND LAKES THERE BY CHANGING THE FLOW OF THE RIVER..NOW THE RIVER FLOWS INTO THE CONNECTICUT RIVER ITSELF...

 THE QUINNIPIAC AND MILL RIVERS ARE PORTIONS (OR REMNANTS) OF WHAT IS CALLED THE 'PREGLACIAL FARMINGTON RIVER'..THIS ALL WORKED OUT JUST GREAT FOR ME--ALL OF THESE MAGNIFICENT VIEWS OF THE RIVER ARE NO MORE THAN FIFTEEN MINUTES FROM MY DRIVEWAY...

 A COUPLE PHOTOS OF SOME OF THE LOCAL OCCUPANTS FOR YOU TO CHECK OUT--OFF TO THE RIGHT -I BELIEVE THAT'S A CIGARETTE BUTT IN THE BIRDS NEST..IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS THERE WERE FOUR EGGS PRESENT--LAST TIME I LOOKED THERE WERE FOUR HUNGRY MOUTHS TO FEED FOR SOME VERY BUSY PARENTS..

 I JUST HAD TO STOP AND MAKE SURE THIS HANDSOME FELLOW MADE IT  ACROSS THE ROAD SAFELY BEFORE I CONTINUED ON MY WAY..HE IS A SOMEWHAT CAMERA SHY 'EASTERN BOX TURTLE'....

OFF TO THE RIGHT IS ABOUT THE BEST  PICTURE I COULD GET  OF THIS 'TIGER SWALLOW TAIL' BUTTERFLY.UNFORTUNATELY HE DIDN'T SEEM TO WANT TO  SHOW OFF HIS PLUMAGE..

IN 1994 CONGRESS DESIGNATED SECTIONS OF THE FARMINGTON RIVER AS 'WILD AND SCENIC' WHICH LENT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PROTECTION TO THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE AREA..UNFORTUNATELY MANY TRAILS HAVE BEEN OPENED WHICH IN TURN ALLOW ACCESS TO PEOPLE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT HAVE GONE OUT OF THEIR WAY TO ENJOY THE SIGHTS..I WAS GOING TO POST SOME PHOTOS OF THE REFUSE LEFT BEHIND BY UNTHINKING INDIVIDUALS BUT DECIDED AGAINST DOING SO..WHY SHOULD I SPOIL THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE PLACE BY SHOWING YOU SUCH DISPLAYS OF DISREGARD FOR  THIS PRISTINE WONDERLAND??BAD ENOUGH THEY RUIN IT FOR OTHERS I WOULD RATHER NOT RUIN THESE VISIONS FOR YOU...

***********************

NEXT WEEK--PRETTY COOL BIKE RALLY

HOPE THE WEATHER DOESN'T WRECK IT

BUT SOMETIMES ME STARTING MY BIKE IS LIKE AN INDIAN DOING A RAIN DANCE

*SEE YOU SOON*

JIM

(AS ALWAYS-CLICK PHOTOS FOR GREATER DETAIL)

PLACES---COLEBROOK RIVER LAKE---COLEBROOK CT.

           





LOOKING SOUTH TOWARDS DAM

  WOW!!!! WHAT A NICE RIDE…LAST FOUR DAYS HAVE BEEN SCORCHERS AND BEING ON A MOTORCYCLE THAT IS STUCK IN TRAFFIC CAN TURN VERY NASTY-VERY FAST, ESPECIALLY IN 95+ TEMPS WITH THICK HUMID  AIR THAT YOU CAN ALMOST SWIM THROUGH..I’M PRETTY FORTUNATE; I CAN BE ON COUNTRY ROADS WITHIN MINUTES FROM MY DRIVEWAY, SO WITH JUST A FEW MILES PUT BEHIND ME I WAS CRUISING THROUGH CONSIDERABLY COOLER AND MUCH MORE REFRESHING AIR (DAMN!! I JUST LOVE MOTORCYCLES!!)..I REALLY DON’T MIND THE CHANGE OF SEASONS HERE IN CONNECTICUT, KIND OF MARKS TIME PASSING..I DO HATE THE EXTREMES THOUGH..CAN’T REALLY DEAL WELL WITH THE BITTER COLD WINTER DAYS (FEELS LIKE A DAY ON ONE OF SATURN’S MOONS) AND THE EXTREME HUMIDITY AND HIGH TEMPS BEAT ME UP JUST AS BAD..AT LEAST IN SUMMER YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE OUT THERE SHOVELING THE HOT OFF THE DRIVEWAY..

ON THESE HOT MUGGY DAYS I HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THAT I FREQUENT..ALL OF THEM SEEM TO BE TOWARDS THE NORTHERN AND NORTHWESTERN PARTS OF THE STATE, THE TRAFFIC IS NEVER REALLY TOO BAD EXCEPT FOR A FEW SPOTS IN SOME OF THE BIGGER TOWNS..I TRIP OUT ON SOME OF THESE BACK ROADS—LIKE A LONG TUNNEL MADE OF TREES..NO DRIVEWAYS THAT SOME CAR CAN PULL OUT OF AND TAKE A BITE AT YOUR LEG—VERY FEW ROADS THAT INTERSECT—BIGGEST THREAT IS THE OCCASIONAL GOOSE, TURKEY OR SOME OTHER CRITTER HIDDEN AROUND THE NEXT CURVE..  

   

LAST WEEK AFTER I FINISHED MY POST WRITE-UP ABOUT OVATION GUITARS I PROMISED TO SHARE SOME PHOTOS OF MY RIDE TO ONE OF  MY MANY FAVORITE PLACES--COLEBROOK RESERVOIR..HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE VIEWS THAT MAKE MY EYES FEEL REAL GOOD--CAN'T SEE ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN THE CITY--THANK GOD I'M A COUNTRY BOY!! 

 LONG STRETCH OF OPEN ROAD-NOT A CAR IN SIGHT-COOL, CLEAN AIR--SOMEONE ONCE SAID --"FORTUNATE IS THE MAN WHO'S PLEASURES ARE SIMPLE"..                        

THESE TWO ROADS CUT THROUGH THE REMAINS OF MOUNTAINS THAT WERE FORMED AFTER A COMPLICATED SERIES OF CONTINENTAL PLATE COLLISIONS  250/450 MILLION YEARS AGO ..THEY WERE BETWEEN 25/30000 FEET HIGH..AT THAT TIME CONNECTICUT WAS MUCH CLOSER TO THE EQUATOR..MT.EVEREST IS 29,035 FEET AND IS STILL GROWING MORE WITH EVERY  PASSING YEAR BECAUSE OF THE SAME GEOLOGICAL FORCES..

NORTHWARD VIEW OF COLEBROOK RIVER LAKE

DURING A RIDE LIKE THIS AND ON A DAY LIKE THIS, YOU ALMOST HATE TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION AND SHUT OFF THE BIKE, BUT ON THE POSITIVE SIDE-THERE IS THE VIEW TO ENJOY AND ALWAYS GOOD PEOPLE TO MEET AND TALK TO A BIT..BE SURE TO CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO GET MORE DETAIL OF THE BEAUTIFUL AREA--AND MEET SOME OF THE BIKERS THAT HAD THE SAME PLANS FOR THE DAY THAT I DID--CRUISING IN THE WIND--




IF COLEBROOK RESERVOIR WERE DRAINED YOU WOULD FIND THE REMAINS OF WHAT WAS ONCE CALLED 'COLEBROOK VILLAGE'... IN THE 1930'S THE 'METRO DISTRICT COMMISION' BEGAN BUYING UP LAND,,MOVING CEMETERIES, ROADS AND PREPARING FOR WHAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BE KNOWN AS 'COLEBROOK RIVER LAKE'....

ONE WEEK PRIOR-WATER COVERED WHERE THE
TRUCKS ARE PARKED
  

 IN 1955 THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TOOK OVER THE PROJECT AND THE DAM WAS DEDICATED ON JUNE 27 1969..THE LAKE EXTENDS 6 MILES, CROSSING INTO MASSACHUSETTS..IT IS 200 FEET DEEP AND HOLDS A MAX OF 16 BILLION GALLONS BUT THE NORMAL LEVEL IS 10 BILLION..IT HAS A WATER SURFACE OF OVER 1200 ACRES AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE BOAT LAUNCHES WITH PLENTY OF PARKING...

          
SHAWN AND KIMBERLY FROM MASSACHUSETTS WITH SHAWN'S 1995
HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER--SHAWN'S FIRST YEAR ON BIKES...WELCOME TO A GREAT BROTHERHOOD SHAWN..



MIKE PARENT AND BARLEY WICHMAN WITH MIKE'S 1996 ROAD KING

MIKE "GREW UP ON BIKES" AND SERVED PROUDLY WITH THE 82nd AIRBORNE



FROM LEFT TO RIGHT--SHELLY AND BANGER WITH A REAL LIVE 1952 PAN-HEAD!!

BANGER HAS BEEN UP ON TWO WHEELS FOR 40 YEARS

ROSE WITH HER BEAUTIFUL BEAST HAS BEEN ON BIKES FOR 25 YEARS AND AT HER SIDE IS DAVE WHO HAS BEEN IN THE WIND FOR 38 YEARS

VERY SWEET


THIS IS BANGER'S TRUSTY OLD PAN-HEAD..DEFINITELY NOT A PIECE YOUR GOING TO SEE TOO OFTEN..THE HARD- TAIL FRAME'S SLEEK LOOK IS THE PRECURSOR TO TODAY'S SOFT-TAIL FRAME DESIGN..THESE OLD FRAMES WERE THE STARTING POINT FOR MANY CUSTOM BIKES OF THE BY-GONE ERA OF THE CLASSIC CHOPPERS..(REMEMBER EASY RIDER?)



***********                                                     ************************


TO MOST PEOPLE THIS SIGN IS JUST A NOTIFICATION THAT YOU ARE LEAVING ONE STATE AND CROSSING THE LINE INTO ANOTHER...TO A BIKER FROM CONNECTICUT IT READS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT...TO US IT SAYS --''UNLESS YOUR WEARING A HELMET YOU SHOULD TURN AROUND''...SO MY RIDE COULD PROGRESS NO FURTHER--BUT THE ROAD LEADS IN MANY OTHER DIRECTIONS--LOTS OF GROUND TO COVER--MANY PEOPLE TO MEET-- I'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP RIDING PAST THIS SIGN IN THE COLDER WEATHER-(NEED THE HELMET TO KEEP MY BRAIN FROM FREEZING)-THEN I'LL SHOW YOU THE FAR SIDE OF COLEBROOK RIVER LAKE AND SOME OF THE BEAUTY OF THE FALL COLORS THAT PAINT THIS AREA...UNTIL NEXT WEEK--HANG ON AND ENJOY THE RIDE*****SEE YA---JIM