Topic: Team New England- Godzilla has left New England

[andy750]

Looks like Ill be going to CA on the 4th July so good for the border run on the 2/3rd July. Crisis averted

Andy

[Frankencake]

Excellent.  Let's hope this rain goes away for the weekend.

[73nancy]

thats great andy. i was alrdy trying to convice myself to do the ride. well the rain should be gone in Maine/NH before sunday i hope. sat is up in the air right now. since the ride is this weekend can i have you guys pm me contact info for who ever is going to be riding in NH to ME boarder.

[Operator]

Here is the latest and greatest,

As of right now I am looking at a delay of a day or two at my place. I will be meeting the New England guys at the border on the 2/3 of Jul. I have an appt on the 4th I cannot miss. From there, I am planning on heading to Edmunston on the 5th. Handoff with Raynald and go from there. I don't think anyone from New England was planning on making the trip to the NB/PQ border with us. If you were you are still more than welcome, however there will be the short delay. Thank You for flying Honda.....and have a great day.

For those coming up from the states, I would advise buying your beer in Maine, case of 24 in NB is around $46.00. Not cheap.

[Frankencake]

The mapped out routes:  We can all decide if we want to go as far as Burlington on Saturday.  Dinner will be best accomplished in the Montpelier area and the rain destination is in Randolph, VT and is not mapped.
 
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Brattleboro,+VT&daddr=Townshend+Rd+to:VT-35+N%2FAthens+Rd+to:43.59868,-72.74989+to:43.9391991,-72.8424646+to:VT-17+W+to:VT-17+W%2FDrake+Woods+Rd+to:Main+St+to:US-2+E%2FWilliston+Rd+to:44.3745394,-72.8881958+to:VT-100+S+to:44.2121,-72.70376+to:E+Barre+Rd+to:VT-110+S&hl=en&ll=43.739352,-72.125244&spn=2.151062,4.768066&sll=44.037257,-72.990417&sspn=0.535085,1.192017&geocode=FWPajQId1Nqs-ym1iVqANRrhiTHyWJcuZODcYQ%3BFVR0kQIdiZar-w%3BFcBukgIdYs2s-w%3BFVhDmQIdvuyp-ykFpYDxhSzgiTHTrFGulSX6AQ%3BFX91ngIdIIOo-ymfZF2pFjy1TDHwXW_djDo-TA%3BFTAmogIdxoao-w%3BFS65oQIdqGql-w%3BFf-lpgIdIdmi-w%3BFT8LpgId6yel-w%3BFQsapQIdfdCn-ynD0Ft1ppy1TDE02wmqfK-R9A%3BFU-ZpAIdyMip-w%3BFYSfogId8KCq-ymFBsBh6Qu1TDF2nbhRQCrPIA%3BFQrUoQIdooqu-w%3BFWKFnQIdtbyt-w&mra=dpe&mrsp=4&sz=10&via=3,4,9,11&t=h&z=8
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Brattleboro,+VT&daddr=Townshend+Rd+to:VT-35+N%2FAthens+Rd+to:43.59868,-72.74989+to:43.984128,-73.1036384+to:VT-17+W+to:44.23052,-72.70897+to:E+Barre+Rd+to:VT-110+S&hl=en&ll=43.456906,-72.515259&spn=2.161181,4.768066&sll=44.17531,-72.640228&sspn=0.533837,1.192017&geocode=FWPajQId1Nqs-ym1iVqANRrhiTHyWJcuZODcYQ%3BFVR0kQIdiZar-w%3BFcBukgIdYs2s-w%3BFVhDmQIdvuyp-ykFpYDxhSzgiTHTrFGulSX6AQ%3BFQAlnwId6oak-yn3C_2GDUO1TDHMW4rZIElXCQ%3BFTAmogIdxoao-w%3BFXjnogIdloyq-ylx4zUIrgu1TDEiKc2dDuOaIw%3BFQrUoQIdooqu-w%3BFWKFnQIdtbyt-w&mra=dpe&mrsp=6&sz=10&via=3,4,6&t=h&z=8
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=VT-110+S&daddr=Brook+Rd+to:NH-116+E%2FBenton+Rd+to:Main+St&hl=en&ll=43.953282,-71.586914&spn=1.071685,2.384033&sll=43.979722,-71.05854&sspn=0.133901,0.298004&geocode=FWKFnQIdtbyt-w%3BFS5RoAIdwsqx-w%3BFUOPoAIdv6G1-w%3BFaGRnwIdB9XE-w&mra=mi&mrsp=3&sz=12&t=h&z=9

[bender01]

Nice! I wish i was there! I grew up an inch north of Woodsville NH in Monroe. Town is so small it doesnt make your map. My Father is planning to catch you guys in North Haverhill at your C on the map. If you make it to Montpelier or further you probably will cross into NH on rt 302?  He can be there even quicker. Hes ready for Sunday.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

$46 a case!! Wholly Crapz that's expensive, even if you buy it with Canadian dollars!!

[Alan F.]

Just looked it up and its about $1.02 C to a greenback, damn! I'll be heading back to see the New Hampshire walmartians for an $18 bud 30 pack I think!


Edit: Think I'll load my side bags with beer, the rain will keep it cold!

[Frankencake]

Just looked it up and its about $1.02 C to a greenback, damn! I'll be heading back to see the New Hampshire walmartians for an $18 bud 30 pack I think!


Edit: Think I'll load my side bags with beer, the rain will keep it cold!

You have to drink it all before you cross in to Canada.

[Frankencake]

Nice! I wish i was there! I grew up an inch north of Woodsville NH in Monroe. Town is so small it doesnt make your map. My Father is planning to catch you guys in North Haverhill at your C on the map. If you make it to Montpelier or further you probably will cross into NH on rt 302?  He can be there even quicker. Hes ready for Sunday.

The camp spot is southeast of MontP.  We'll cross at VT5/NH10.  Give your dad a copy of the third map I posted. (VT to NH).  That'll be the best way to find us and I already sent you my phone number. Pass it along to Dad and I'll be more than happy to set it up to meet him somewhere.  I don't know what time we will rally on Sunday morning as I know that it will be a very long day for some people.  He can also ride out super early to where we stay and meet us there for coffee. 

[andy750]

Boston/MA riders:

Ill be leaving Roslindale, MA at 8am and heading along Rt2 W to Rt 63N. PM me for my number if you want to meet up along the way and suggest a meeting place  (Ken/BigKO)  Ill call you this afternoon!)

Forecast for weekend is looking kind of soggy. I may make Saturday a day trip only. I have been riding in the rain to work all week and a little fed up with it. This and the fact Ill be riding to Canada next week. So Scott (Cupcake) you may be doing Sunday without me.



http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Roslindale,+Boston,+MA&daddr=42.78052,-72.48541+to:Brattleboro,+VT&hl=en&ll=42.673349,-72.03186&spn=0.516958,1.352692&sll=42.71448,-72.449341&sspn=0.129154,0.338173&geocode=Ffw6hQId_qfC-yln-N42yH7jiTEOl11ISOsJ3g%3BFWjHjAId3vWt-ymh79UmBhfhiTGhQ2wFAc6NLg%3BFWPajQId1Nqs-ym1iVqANRrhiTHyWJcuZODcYQ&mra=mrv&via=1&z=10

[bender01]

I did not get your # Cupcake. My Father has Computer problems.  N. Haverhill will be where he catches you. 116/Benton rd.He has Andys # and Andy has his. Hoipefully they will contact each other soon. Have a great weekend and ride safe.

[andy750]

Big/KO is leaving Newport, RI at 8am. There will be 2 riders coming from Boston/Haverhill meeting him in Athol, MA at 10.30am (at latest).

From Athol, MA we will be taking Tully Road to Athol road to Rt78N to Rt 119 to Bratelboro, VT.

ETA 11.30am latest.

See you at Lynde Motorsports!

Andy

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Enjoy the ride and the company!!

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Have fun boys.  Be safe. AND, keep that damn lizard under control, whew 

Andy, have you shamed Mike into involvement yet?

[mrbreeze]

Here is the latest and greatest,

As of right now I am looking at a delay of a day or two at my place. I will be meeting the New England guys at the border on the 2/3 of Jul. I have an appt on the 4th I cannot miss. From there, I am planning on heading to Edmunston on the 5th. Handoff with Raynald and go from there. I don't think anyone from New England was planning on making the trip to the NB/PQ border with us. If you were you are still more than welcome, however there will be the short delay. Thank You for flying Honda.....and have a great day.

For those coming up from the states, I would advise buying your beer in Maine, case of 24 in NB is around $46.00. Not cheap.

WOW!!!.....what an up n' down post from an east coast Canadian bro..........Thanks for flying Honda and have a great day............rocked my world and made me smile!!!!............. case of beer for $46..............I don't think so!!!!!

[andy750]

One word...epic ride!

Another great riding weekend. 514 miles for me of pure motorcycle joy.

Left Roslindale in the rain on Saturday morning but rain got progressively  less as went west on Rt 2. By Athol, MA where I was was meeting AlanF and BigKO (Ken) from Newport, RI it had dried up and we wouldnt see rain again until 8pm that night.

Met Alan at 9.55am in Athol and waited for Ken from Newport. When Ken did arrive at 11.05am he was a bit frazzled from the ride from Newport decided he had enough riding for that day and opted to return home rather than go North as the forecast was for thunderstorms  in VT (which actually never materialized until the end of the day).

Ken saying goodbye to Godzilla



With Godzilla once again in our hands we set off for Brattelboro found a great set of roads - Tully Road to Athol Road to Rt 78N - amazing combination! Empty twisties and for the most part well paved. The bikes loved it! Got to Brattelboro at 12pm and 5 riders (Scott (Cupcake); Adam (Dragon), John (Tree), Anders (Anders), Bethanie (riding a Shadow) were waiting for us.

After a photo op and some chit chat we set off up Rt 30 towards Ludlow.



 It wasnt long before we had a mechanical failure...Cupcakes CB750Fs centerstand had fallen off....easy repair!





Scott (Cupcake) holds up the centerstand trophy while Anders looks on



Anders from NH K8 with superb sunrise orange paint



Johns suprisingly fast 550k



Lunch in Ludlow and then a ride up Mt Okemo (left to right: John (Tree), AlanF, Anders, Adam, Scott (Cupcake), Bethanie



Coming down Mt Okemo -AlanF on Nighthawk







Not often you see a bike and ski lifts together...



John on his 550 very happy after a mountain gap run over Rt 17



Adam looking very happy as well on his speedy 550K....



and Anders the dark horse who beat us all on the corners on his K8...turns out he is a racer! And it showed as he carved up the corners. Impressive stuff.



and of course girls cant resits the K2



The bits in between the mountain gap runs were fast sweeping roads that were devoid of traffic or if there were cars they were soon "terrorized" by this unruly band of New England SOHCs and were quickly overtaken.

Coming down Rt 12 from Montpelier, rain came in the last 10 min of the ride into Randolph VT. Another SOHC mechanical issue came up... Anders K8 ignition switch plastic connector melted...causing his power to fail intermittenly. No fun on a dark wet road in VT! However we limped to the local hangout in Rasndolph, a Cumberland Farm gas station.....which caused great excitement with the locals....

.....this woman on her way out for the night all dressed up had just popped into the gas station for a bottle of wine.....she heard Anders plight and so popped her car hood and offered him some fuses!!



And then more locals got involved..



And here is Cupcake finally connecting the circuit and Anders had power again...the day was saved!



The plan had been to camp but given the rain and the fact that some of the group had not brought camping gear, Cupcake (Scott) had a friend (Steve) in Randolph and after a quick phone call he very generously offered to take in 7 bedraggled bikers he had never met, fed us and generally took great care of us! Thank you Steve! We dined on venison, chicken, pasta and salad cooked up by Steves partner Regina. Thank you very much!!

After a night of rain the sun came out....and here we are in the morning getting ready to leave:



a very dirty K2



The rest of the group wet onwards to North Conway but myself and Bethanie had to get back and for me it was to sort out the K4 in time for a run to the border (although John may be relieving me of that responsibility). Here we are at Silver Lake, VT on the way back Sunday



We passed through historic Chester, VT

Chester Train station



Yosemite Engine house, Chester, VT



Rail museum, Bellow Falls, VT



Hanging out and playing with trains..all aboard!



More of Bellow Falls, VT



Great weekend and thanks to Cupcake (Scott) for organizing the VT section and making it such a memorable ride. It was a real pleasure meeting all the other riders (Adam, John, Anders, Bethanie) and thanks to AlanF again for riding up with me.

Cheers
Andy







 

[Damfino]

Fantastic looking ride fella's!

Now, I have to point out though, that Anders...

looks suspiciously like...

A) Captain Smith of the Titanic...

or...

B) Andrew Carnegie...

 

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Looks like I need to add another category: Most ride segments. Andy would be in the lead with the first border run.  Perhaps an International Rider/Border Crosser category too!

Andy, great write up. Are you going to duplicate it in the other ride section? I can see what I might be able to do but I'm not sure.

[andy750]

Thanks Jerry! Duplicated already!

cheers
Andy

[BobbyR]

Bravo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The best ride report yet. Damn nice looking bikes too.

[73nancy]

great write up andy. i made it back home with godzilla to oxford,me without any issues. had a great time meeting everyone who rode the two day trip up into maine. was great to so some fellow sohc riders. we didnt have much time to hang out but it was good all the same. ill post some pics of my quick ride after my handoff of who ever ends up coming up for the ride north.

[Frankencake]

I'll stock up on Advil before I take a 500 mile trip on my 750F.  My hands hurt.  My butt hurts and my back and neck are aching but I wouldn't trade this trip for the world.  It was a blast and I met some great people and covered many great miles.  I even got to lighten my bike by removing my center stand.  I was nervous about my bike's integrity since I had about 100 (+ or -) miles since I put it together but, it made it, I made it, and we all made this a trip to remember.  Thanks to all who joined us and all who helped out along the way.  Here's some pics and commentary:

I have no idea how a this gentle giant of a man curls himself up and fits in the cockpit of his cafe racer.  He's right though about girls and the K2.  That girl in the window ran up to see it.



I had the honor of riding with Godzilla on my bike.  He was my bike's figurehead until I set him loose in the great state of Maine.  I think he made my bike faster.


Alan F. and Andy before breakfast at our savior Steve's checking the bikes before the trip to Maine.


This, in Andy's words, is a wonderful morning picture and payback for the center stand shame pictures.  I was just documenting the proper procedure for checking air pressure prior to a long journey.


The two in the near field on the left are Steve and Regina.  Steve is the guy who fed us and gave us a place to stay on our first night.  He offered us the place a few weeks ago when I asked him to ride along.  He rides a Harley now but he used to have a Honda G-wing and a CB350 so he's not all bad 


This is a view of the a typical country road in Vermont.  That's my father-in-law on his high-tech HD leading us to meet Bruce (Polecat) in North Haverhill, Nh on Sunday.


Everywhere I went this weekend, these guys followed me.  The kept mumbling about some plastic lizard.


This is my father in law Andy on his brand spanking new HD Lounge glide.  Soon after he got it, he posted a pic of himself sitting on it with the Green Lanterns head superimposed on his.  I had been wearing a heavy backpack all day and he was nice enough to let me to stow it in his top box.  There's enough storage room in that bike to raise chickens.



I took the opportunity to race ahead up the Kancamangus and stopped at the top to take this pics.  I missed Anders because he was too fast and wasn't going to let anyone get too far ahead.  I caught these guys just in time.  Dragon79, Tree, and Alan F.  With a big green HD behind.


Me, Ryan (73Nancy) and Bruce (Polecat)  Looking over all of the names on the banner.  I am proud to be a part of this relay.


Handing Godzilla over to Ryan. I didn't know it at the time, but my mother-in-law photo bombed the picture.    I am absolutely dog tired here.  I had 200 miles to go before I get home.  It was all worth it.



That's it.  I wish I had more interesting pics for you all but I am not that guy.  All in all it was a blast and I'm glad to have met all who rode along. Thanks and lets ride again!   

[cb550fcafe]

Awesome details, felt like I was riding with you guys/gal! Pics are great, truely represents New England. I think the other regions will have a hard time topping us! (just talkin some smack to motivate the other riders  )

Cupcake, how did you see over that tank bag? That thing is huge! BTW, great ride report.

Andy has set the bar pretty high for miles, states, and probably soon to be countries traveled with GZ.  There must be some sort of GZ iron butt award we can come up with.

[Alan F.]

Wait a minute, Don't I have more miles than Andy does with the lizard right now? Witnessed the handoff in Rhinebeck with him, was present for the handoff at Oxford, Ma with him, Picked it up in Athol, Ma with him, was present for the handoff to Cupcake and rode with Cupcake to Fryeburg,Me for the handoff to 73Nancy... 

I know it won't last very long at all but that's the record for the region isn't it?