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The Founders Day ride was on Sunday and
was unusual to say the least in that it took the ride a little over
two hours to get to Enfield.
Did you say “Two hours”?
No...I did, you just keep reading and
stop interrupting.
So, put your feet up, grab a coffee,
light a smoke and let me 'Splain:
Two members did arrive to send us off,
Lane arrived on bike but would not be able to make the ride, while
Evert had put on his riding gear, pulled his bike out only to find
that there is an issue with the transmission or clutch because the
bike has a bit of a grinding noise issue and it went back into the
garage.
Eighteen bikes arrived at Dunkin for
the ride to pay our respects to the Clubs Founders resting place in
Easthampton Mass.. Two of the bikes joining the ride were
non-members and either one of them didn't know the ride was to
Massachusetts or he was unaware that Massachusetts has a Helmet Law.
With no helmet, the two riders would not be coming along, so first,
there was an attempt to find a spare helmet, just about everyone
there had a spare, none had one with them. The only other option left
was for them to go retrieve the missing brain bucket and since he
lived near Lake Hayward it was decided to take a short detour south
before starting the northbound run. At the time we had no idea this
detour would lead to another, along with a missing bridge, a U turn,
and some dirt tracking.
With an alternate route planned, Tom
took us out route 163 to 82, then onto route 11, at which point Ernie
Thody took the two guests around the column to take lead for the
helmet. Ernie took us off the highway onto Witch Meadow then along
Lake Haywood to the riders house.
Leaving his house the ride brought us out under route 11 at Colchester, Tom took us up 85 into town then made a right at the park onto route 616 the Norwich Colchester turnpike. A rather large sign at the beginning of the road would leave a person to believe the path would be blocked and a long return ride made necessary "Bridge closed ahead" usually has that outcome. But being intrepid, Tom continued on, I was wondering though. As we came down the hill towards Sherman brook, there was construction on the bridge but one lane was open, there I thought, no work on the weekends. But a little further on there was a stop sign planted in the middle of the road. The bridge which was closed was at the Yantic River (coming out of Savin Lake). We would get to make a U-turn (there always seems to be one on Tom's rides). We went past the sign and made the turn, we started to head back up 616 figuring on picking up route 2 for the bypass, but as we came back past the stop sign, the Heneys were pointing for us to make a right turn and head up Roger Foot road, Tom asked them if this would take us around the bridge and they confirmed it. To be honest I hadn't even realized there was a road there, I thought it was a driveway...a dirt driveway, but sure enough, it is a fairly nicely packed dirt road, and we headed up it. Myself I would have given it more gusto, being "Founders Day" it would have been like an homage' to the Clubs dirt racing days, and the 90 degree right turn onto Taylor Bridge road would have given us a great flat track, kick the back of the bike's tail out, corner. Tom being ever so mindful of those following would not take the opportunity even after a CB communication suggesting it. A right on Geer brought us back to 616, where we continued our eastward trek through Bozrah to 32. Passing through Willimantic on 32 I mentioned to him how this was probably the longest amount of time (an hour and a half) it had taken the Club to get from Montville to Willimantic.
Route 32 took us through Coventry, Eagleville, Mansfield Depot, Merrow, South Willington, West Willington, and Tolland to Stafford Springs where we picked up route 190 west. West Stafford passed by as did Somers, Somersville, Hazardville, and Enfield. Stopping at a light in Enfield, Paul Neves cruised up to the front to inform the leaders that there were a few people who needed to use a restroom after the 2 hour and 5 minute ride to get as far as we had. So Tom turned into a Mickey Dees. A dozen or more people headed to the head and a couple grabbed a bite or two. I believe Mike H wolfed a couple burgers down quickly while I had a four piece McNugget and a coffee to refill my coffee cup on the bike. While not the original location picked for a helmet stop the proximity worked out well and we placed the uncomfortable things on our heads while we were there, a few bikes headed for fuel while others used the facilities. When they didn't come back in a timely fashion we set off to retrieve them. The delay at the station was because the machines there did not accept plastic and each person had to prepay, fill up, then go back for the change.
With everyone back in formation the rest of the run was uneventful, we took 91 north into Massachusetts, through Longmeadow, Springfield, Chicopee, and Holyoke where we jumped off onto 141 for the ride over the hill into EastHampton. A left turn onto main Street saw the Guards deployed, they were sent ahead to go past the cemetery make a U turn then hold the lane for the Club, they did so with Military perfection arriving back at the entrance just as the tail-gunner made the turn in. There they pulled in and made a u turn in the cemetery positioning themselves for the Clubs exit. A better job could not have been done if I do say so myself, and....I just did. So Great job to the newly appointed, yet to be tried, Road Guard Captain (Appointed) and myself. @@
/ ,
Tom gave a short speech graveside about the Clubs Legacy, The Club posed for some pictures and we were off to Lunch, Once again the Guards worked their magic and the Club pulled safely into the street for the ride to Easthampton Village Pizza, which strangely enough does not serve pizza until after 3pm and instead of water they give you Sprite. I, whenever... Every time...always... I won't go there right now, it will be on the next post. Anyway, Until 3 pm you have to eat real food, either Breakfast or lunch, and Lunch includes Diner ,meals. Plenty of food was devoured consisting of items like Greek Salad, Bacon Burgers, Stuffed Grape leaves, Chicken Rice soup, Prime Rib, Leg of Lamb, Seafood Fra Diavlo, and many other tasty dishes. We were there for quite a while which...because...I...@#$%...next post.
Anyway, that is all I have to report on at this time, many people had places they had to be at by certain times and because of the lateness of the day a direct route home was chosen.
I...made.... a different choice....as usual.
klay
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