PLACES-----------------VANILLA BEAN CAFE-----------POMFRET CT.

THE HUMAN RACE IS ESSENTIALLY A GREGARIOUS SPECIES-THIS MUCH BEING SAID, WE ALL MAINTAIN A CERTAIN CIRCLE OF PRIVACY AROUND US. OTHER THAN A FRIENDLY NOD OR A ‘THANK YOU’ WHEN A DOOR IS HELD OPEN, WE ARE NOT PRONE TO ENGAGE A PERFECT STRANGER IN ANY FURTHER CONVERSATION (FOR THE MOST PART). HOWEVER, CONVERSATION USUALLY FLOWS FREELY AMONG THOSE WITH SIMILAR INTERESTS—BUT THOSE INTERESTS ARE USUALLY NOT READILY APPARENT.

IMAGINE A RARE STAMP OR COIN COLLECTOR GETTING OUT OF HIS CAR AND WALKING BY ANOTHER COLLECTOR WHO HAS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND INSIGHT INTO THE HOBBY THAT THEY BOTH ENJOY. PERHAPS ONE OF THESE TWO COLLECTORS MAY EVEN HAVE A SPECIMEN OR TWO FOR SALE. THE ODDS ARE OVERWHELMING THAT THEY WILL PASS EACH OTHER IN SILENCE AND A CONVERSATION THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUTUALLY ENJOYED NEVER EVEN HAS A CHANCE TO BEGIN, MUCH LESS FLOURISH AND LEAD TO FRIENDSHIP.

WITHOUT A DOUBT WE HAVE ALL PASSED STRANGERS WHO COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED A BIT OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING ONE OR MORE OF OUR INTERESTS. UNLESS A BUMPER STICKER OR A TEE-SHIRT LOGO REVEALS A MUTUAL INTEREST THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SHARED KNOWLEDGE FADES AWAY LIKE THE GLOW OF A FALLING STAR. 

SOME FRIENDS ENJOYING THE DAY IN THE WIND-AND A CHOW STOP AT VANILLA BEAN
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT---HIDING IN THAT SUPER COOL SILVER COUPE IS--RON L. NEXT ON THAT AWESOME MACHINE IS ROGER B.--THEN RICHARD V.---NEXT IS MIKE M.--SAL E. IS THE LONG TIME RIDER OF THE CREW WITH 44 YEARS ON BIKES--THEN BOB L..---GREAT MEETING YOU GUYS..



FORTUNATELY FOR SOME, THEIR INTERESTS MAKE THEMSELVES OBVIOUS – A CANOE OR KAYAK STRAPPED ON TOP OF A VEHICLE—A TRUCK TOWING A FISHING BOAT—A VINTAGE VEHICLE AND OF COURSE HAVING A MOTORCYCLE PULL UP NEXT TO YOUR BIKE…..NO DOUBT—SIMILAR INTEREST---CONVERSATION FLOWS FREELY…..



ROGER AND HIS ONE OF A KIND HARLEY--LOOKS LIKE IT'S FLYING EVEN SITTING STILL



IT WAS IN THIS FASHION THAT I MET ARMOND AND DIANE..(YOU CAN MEET THEM IN THE JULY ARCHIVES—‘PERFECT STRANGERS’). AS WE SPOKE OF ‘NICE RIDES’ AND DESTINATIONS HE AND DIANE BROUGHT UP THE ‘VANILLA BEAN CAFÉ’. I HAD HEARD OF IT BUT HAD NEVER BEEN TO THE PLACE. “GOOD CHOW AND A BIKER FAVORITE,” HE SAID, “IT MIGHT MAKE A GOOD POST FOR YOUR BLOG.”

SO ON SATURDAY (THE 10^TH) THE SKY WAS BLUE, THE SUN WAS OUT, THE LAWN WAS TOO WET TO MOW SO OFF I WENT – IN THE WIND ON MY WAY TO ‘VANILLA BEAN CAFÉ’.



KEVIN AND JILL FROM MASSACHUSETTS GETTING READY TO RIDE AFTER A CHOW STOP AT VANILLA BEAN



THE RIDE OUT  WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL (ARMOND AND DIANE WERE RIGHT).  IF I STOPPED TO PHOTO EVERY SCENE LIKE THIS ONE , I WOULD HAVE TAKEN HOURS TO GET THERE..

 WELL, I AM CERTAINLY NOT A FOOD CRITIC. FOR ME, EATING IS SOMETHING I DO TO KILL MY APPETITE AND KEEP GOING. MOST CHOW SUITS ME JUST FINE AND MY TASTES ARE ON THE SIMPLE SIDE (I REMEMBER WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GO TO BED HUNGRY SO I'M EASILY SATISFIED). ANYWAY, I ORDERED UP A CHEESEBURGER AND A SODA, SAT OUTSIDE AND ENJOYED THE  ATMOSPHERE, THE PEOPLE AND CHECKING OUT THE BIKES. AS FAR AS CHEESEBURGERS GO IT WAS GOOD. IT CAME WITH A HANDFUL OF CHIPS AND A PICKLE AND A BIRCH BEER SODA. KINDA HIGH PRICED ($12.00). WOULD I GO BACK? YEA, BUT NOT SO MUCH FOR THE CHOW,  MORE FOR THE RIDE AND THEN THE CHOW. I LIKED THE WHOLE AMBIANCE OF THE PLACE (JUST A TOUCH OF PREPPY HERE AND THERE BUT NOT TOO BAD). ANYWAY, IF YOU HAVE SOME TIME TO KILL AND YOU HAVE A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS IN YOUR POCKET, IT'S A REAL SWEET RIDE OUT THERE--AND HEY, WE ALL HAVE TO KNOCK BACK OUR HUNGER. CHECK THE PLACE OUT. THEY ALSO HAVE A WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN READ OTHER PEOPLE'S VIEWS ON THE PLACE..
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                             MORE SCOOTERS FROM THE MIDDLETOWN RALLY
                          AS ALWAYS-CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR MORE DETAIL


LOOKS LIKE A MACHINE 'CAPTAIN AMERICA' WOULD HAVE ORDERED-SWEET BIKE



'HOW FAST WILL IT GO?'--NO ONE REALLY KNOWS

I HATE TO ADMIT IT BUT I HAD TO WEAR MY LEATHER JACKET ON THE WAY BACK FROM THE CAFE. OUR GOOD OLD EARTH IS MAKING IT'S WAY CLOSER TO THE SUN AND EVERYDAY IS GETTING A LITTLE SHORTER.(YEP,, THE EARTH IS CLOSER TO THE SUN IN THE WINTER THAN IT IS IN THE SUMMER)..NEXT I'LL BE FORCED TO PUT ON GLOVES, THEN COMES THE WINDSHIELD. ONCE THE HELMET AND CHAPS GO ON I GO INTO THE WINTER FUNK..BUT UNTIL THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME BRISK AUTUMN DAYS AND ALL THE BEAUTY THAT THE SEASON BRINGS WITH IT..HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT WEEK..SEE YOU NEXT WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY.....STAY WELL..
                                                           ***********JIM*************