| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
New Year’s Day Nearly every year, I go out for a ride on New Year's Day. It's a bit of a tradition for me, and I look forward to it. I’ve gone out when it’s been cold (8°F), when it’s been warm (59°F), when it’s been raining and when it’s been snowing and even when it’s been sunny and mild. Some years, I don’t go very far; I remember New Year’s Day of 1984 when it was something like 14° and the wind was blowing fiercely. I had a passenger on the back and she and I both agreed that turning back after only going about a mile seemed like a good idea. Other years, I’ve gone out for hours. Last winter, I didn’t want to ride my bike much: I had little enthusiasm for riding, but I still got out on Jan. 1 for a few miles. Then I put the bike in the garage and didn’t take it out again until March. Picking a destination can be tough. While some years, I just ride randomly, I usually like to have an objective. In 2008, I rode to Emerson Hospital in Concord to take a picture of my bike at the Helipad. (I didn’t get the picture. It was too cold out and the low temp killed the camera) Usually though, the places I’d like to go are farther away than I want to ride, and probably revolve around food or at least a good cup of coffee. When I lived in Medford, I used to go to Redbones in Davis Square, Somerville, and I still would like to go there, but 40 or 50 miles each way is a bit much when it’s 22° F, so I think I’ll give it a miss this year. Last night, I was watching the 3 Stooges Marathon, and the guys from the Phantom Gourmet were talking about Coney Island Hot Dogs in Worcester, and it struck a chord. I’ve heard about them from friends, but I’ve never gone there. I don’t know if they’re open today; but hey, it’s someplace to go. Even if they’re closed, I bet there’s a Drunken Donuts nearby and I could at least get a cup of coffee. The idea is to just get out on the bike. The destination isn’t important; it’s the ride itself that counts. I think I’ll forego the Interstate and stick to back roads, though; just to keep the wind chill down. Anyway, that’s my New Year’s Day tradition. I hope you all have a Happy New Year, whatever your personal traditions are. | ||
| 86129squids |
Your Crustiness, that's a great tradition- the first several years I worked at Smoky Mountain HD/BUELL, a group of us including the owner would do the Deal's Gap/Cherohala loop, SLOWLY as the elevation increased... One year, common sense and self-preservation took over! I'm all for a 1/01 ride, but not this year, Mr. Flu got me. Dangit, but what channel was the 3 Stooges marathon on?! I probably couldn't get it anyway, gave up basic cable for a digital antenna and a Netflix and Amazon stream... but I LOVE those guys- including Shemp! | ||
| Crusty |
Well; I went out as planned, but my plans went awry when I opened the garage. My bike wouldn't start. I had to mess with it for about 20 minutes until it started the way it's supposed to. After that, I had no trouble with starting for the rest of the day. I'm still wondering about just what was wrong, and why it started working right. Maybe the bike just didn't want to go out. Anyhow, I took the back way to Worcester. I found George's Coney Island Hot Dogs, but there was a closed sign in the window. Since it was just down the street from the Smokestack BBQ, I figured I'd swing over there and get some ribs instead. But the Smokestack was closed as well. I saw a Pizza joint on the corner of the street and decided that a couple of slices would make a good brunch, so I rode over to it; but the place was empty and there was a sign in the window that said Location Available. At that point, I decided that I wasn't going to eat in Worcester today. I decided to ride over to Hudson and get a cup of coffee at the Honey Dew Donut shop. When I got there, I called Ernie and invited him to join me in a cup of coffee. There were three guys who had ridden their Harleys there, and we had a bit of conversation until they decided to head back out. After they left, Ernie arrived and we shot the bull until I noticed that the sun was getting pretty low. So I jumped on my Norge and rode home. I've had colder New Year's Day rides, but I've had warmer rides as well. At least the roads were free of sand and salt. I got home, took a hot shower to take the chill out and fixed supper. I put on about 75 miles and saw a total of four other bikes out; all of them Harleys. It was a good ride, even if every place I wanted to eat at was closed. | ||
| Crusty |
Oh Squids; the 3 Stooges Marathon was on WSBK - channel 38 in Boston. | ||
| 86129squids |
3 Stooges on World Superbike?!?! THAT I'd like to see...  | ||
| 46champ |
I thought Crusty had such a good idea ridding on the 1st that I decided to do it myself. So I rode about 25 miles 1 way to meet with a friend. Road was dry but it was cold about 35 going down and 37 coming back this evening. This is the limit with the gear I have while ridding on a M2. While we were at the sports bar we watched Oregon pound Florida State like a red headed step child 59 to 20 GO DUCKS. |
