Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Mount Greylock

Recently my friend Luc and I completed a six day ride through Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont.  One of the many highlights of this trip was reconnecting with my friend Jeff aka @joerocket and his wife Stephanie!  On day 1, we rode from Fredericton, NB to Amherst, New Hampshire; Jeff and Stephanie offered accommodations, a great BBQ dinner and an evening of friendship!

Jeff had planned on riding with us on day 2 and suggested that we ride to Mount Greylock, near Adams MA.  Jeff explained the significance of the mountain as it is the highest point in Massachusetts!  On the morning of day 2, we were up early, bikes loaded and headed for Adams, MA. The two and a half hour ride to Adams was fun, beautiful scenery and great roads. We stopped in Adams for fuel and a drink and from their it was off to Mount Greylock and one of the best rides I have ever been on!  Twenty minutes of pure joy, riding on a perfect road to the top of a mountain.  Check out the GoPro video that was taken from the engine guard on my Street Glide...it's worth 20 minutes of your time!



Many thanks to Jeff and Stephanie for their hospitality and for the guided trip to Mount Greylock!  More to follow on road trip...ride safe!

Monday, July 22, 2013

Close Call!

Today, I came the closest that I have ever come to a serious motorcycle accident, all because of a stupid driver! Let me paint the picture...I was returning home from a short ride and was approaching my house. I am riding in the right lane (in proper riding position) and I live on the right side of the road in a residential area...so a simple right turn, no crossing of lanes or traffic.

As per usual, I put my right turn signal on well in advance and check my mirrors. I see a SUV fastly approaching behind me so I throw up a right arm turn signal too (right turn signal light is still on & brake light is on) hoping this driver would see me. I was just getting ready to turn right and into my driveway, took another look behind and noticed that this SUV was not slowing down and is right on my tail...there is no way the SUV is going to be able to stop for my turn right! My only option was to quickly swerve to the left, no time...the SUV is right there! The driver in the SUV speeds by me on the inside right! If I hadn't swerved, there is no doubt that I would NOT be posting this message! This happened right in front of my house! This could have been a very serious accident...it happened in a fraction of a second and would have resulted in me being pasted all over the road!

I am not sure if the driver in the SUV was texting, talking on a cell phone or doing something else...all I know is that he/she did not see me! I pulled into my yard and could not believe what had just happened! After my heart stopped racing, I was just ticked off!

So, why am I posting this? To remind my motorcycle friends to be diligent and to ride defensively, assume nothing! To automobile drivers, please watch for us and pay attention at all times...a text message, phone call, etc., is not worth taking the life of a motorcyclist!

Okay, rant finished! I feel better now! Ride and drive safe!