Cholesterol Run

The Club rolled out of Dunkin a little after 10am this morning on it's way for a late breakfast at Oxford Massachusetts. Tom took us up 395 to route 169 in Lisbon, we had a pretty good turnout, large enough to make a dent on the roads but not too large that required any Road Guards. We ran 169 into North Woodstock, on the way two bikes dropped off at 101, they ran ahead into Pomfret and at the Vanilla Bean they waved us through. We hooked a right onto route 197 which took us diagonally east into Webster Mass. and Route 12. Route 12 took us to the front door at the Oxford Diner, as usual, we went around the back to park.

Many of the Club headed for the door, a few headed to the side door...

Nice blurry photo, guess the camera wasn't wearing it's glasses either.

Once inside it was the normal Carl's fare, lots more than you need, probably more than you can eat.

I played it smart, I ordered lite since I still planned on riding and there was a stop planned for more food. A simple bacon Grilled cheese sandwich and a coffee..(Which you could tell by the menu, Grilled Cheese $2.09, Grilled cheese with bacon $ 6.29, there would be a little bacon involved). I wasn't expecting the home fries with it. 

Carls Oxford Diner (Wallpaper)

I also placed an order of ham to go, (Also wasn't expecting the homefries). 

The place was as crazy as ever with the crew moving in a blur, and the rapport with the regulars was down right funny. There was a small collection can at the register, I decided not to help, I have enough issues keeping myself supplied in my own vices. 

One of the items on the menu that people usually are amused to see is the kielbasa and egg sandwich orders, myself I hate the stuff, Smoked sausage, Chirico, Linguica, or Morcia, OK, just don't like Kielbasa.

Bon appetit .

As mentioned on an earlier post Danny and I were not going to ride back with the Club, we had an alternative destination, We needed "Food".

The few people who saw the earlier post and were interested also had conflicts with the time. The distance between breakfast and dessert was only a few miles, but I planned a ride to eat up time, add mileage, and help make room for more food by giving the digestive system and opportunity to work on breakfast.

We scooted out the back road and connected with Charlton street, this took us over to route 31. 31 took us north through Charlton and Spencer, past route 20 and the Mass Pike, to route 9. In Spencer we hooked a left to the Brookfields. Where, in East Brookfield I pulled on to Cottage street and hooked a U turn, then waited for Danny to catch back up with me after making his end of road turn around. The Yamaha Road Star may have Balls up the Ass (uncomfortable me thinks), and be fast as hell off the line, but it turns like a pig. It would appear that in the Yamaha Library if you need to make a "U" in a two lane road, the instructions on how to do it are found under "Y" in the owners manual.

Anyway, at East Brookfield...

Photo from an earlier trip, today there was no train and no green

The planned ride was to head north after the lake and run up route 67 to Barre Plains, then hook route 32 south, come down through Ware to River street at Rondeaus Dairy bar, take that down through Thorndike, and pick up 181 into Palmer Mass. Information from "Hagar" indicated expected rain about 3pm. Seeing as it really wasn't as warm as the day was expected to be, we decided wet and cold sucked and should be avoided. On this decision we stayed on route 9 west and made good time. We did get behind one truck but he was moving right along.

In West Brookfield we turned left onto route 67 which after clearing West Warren allowed us to Crank up the throttles. 67 took us to 20 and into Palmer for dessert at the "Steaming Tender" (Former Boston and Albany Railroad and Central Vermont Railroad station. Tracks cross on a diamond behind the station). 

No, that's the New England central, former Central Vermont Railway Palmer yard office, look behind you

Yes, that's the place, don't judge from the outside, go inside and see the restored interior wood work and try the food.

The Steaming Tender always has good food and cute girls, which can actually sing. the table next to bar (where else did you expect us to sit) had a birthday party and the girls sang "Working on the railroad on this Special day" with the aid of a actual train bell and assorted hand held train whistles. (It would seem, from what I have been told, is that the song "Happy Birthday to you" is copyrighted, and to sing it in a business actually can lead to copyright infringement. (What a lame country we have become. the Dollar before all else).

    The food was as expected... Glorious, Yuengling lager, Jack Danials and Whiskey Bread Pudding, (the reason for going there).

Finished it was just a matter of pulling out of the parking lot (dirt) picking up 32 south and opening the throttles. (Which we did). One stop in Willi-Rico at Dunkin to grab a coffee for the road, then 32 to 289, the Beaumont highway, to 87 through Lebanon and 32 to 2. We split up at 395, Danny went south I went through Norch past Tree's and took 2 to 2A to 117 and Home.

I walked in the door at 4pm sharp, the odometer showed 171.6 miles, not a bad little short day hop to start the season.

Oh yeah...Hagar....It didn't rain, that cost us about, 38 miles. 

Oh..by the way, the shirts that the crew at Carl's Diner were wearing are available at their website "Welcome to Carl's Oxford Diner"

You will also be able to check out the "Meaty Menu"