The date of this ride was June 7 2011,so I packed light(as I am a minimalist when it comes to traveling) Sunday June 5. I packed a few tools: Motorcycle Pump ,some wrenches,and one lightbulb that I had.I also packed one day's worth of clothes and my lunchbox with water bottles,my video camera,point and click camera,my cellphone,and of course my HD GoPro Camera.
Now,I must add here,I was second guessing wether I should ride up to NY or if I even wanted to from the day I found out I had won and all the way up to connecting with I84 from Route 209.I kept saying to myself,"I should turn around and go home,I got stuff on the DVR to watch,I don't really have the money,I don't..blah blah blah." Finally I just said "Hell with it,I don't want to get to the end of my life and say 'I wish I had done this or done that' and instead say 'I can't believe I did that!'."
I worked out a route that involved very little tolls.
Route 222N
I78W
Route 33N
Route 209N
I84W
I87N ($4.15 for tolls)
Route 9N
I was debating wether I should leave at 2:00a Tuesday and go straight up,stay all day and then come right back,or go halfway and get a hotel.I stopped in Albany,NY and stayed overnight.
I got to Albany NY about 9:45p,got my hotel room and rode 2 miles and got some burgers off the dollar menu at McDonald's and brought them back to eat in the room.Albany is only about 58 miles from lake George,so I slept until 7:00a and left about 8:00a after hitting the dollar menu again and getting gas.
Clement Salvadori and I
Clement shows me the route we're going to take on a paper map and it looks like a great ride even on paper.It has lots of windy roads and curves.I can't wait,which becomes evident when he asks me if I wanted to go to lunch first to which I responded "No,let's ride!" So,we head downstairs to where Brian and Shira are eagerly waiting as it's not everyday they get to ride with the one and only Rory Anderson of Hero Story Productions !!
We put our riding coats and helmets on,gloves too,and head out of the parking lot of the hotel.It is a little crowded,but not as crowded as I thought such an event would be as we cruise on 9N into the mildly twisty roads around Lake George,NY. The ride is beautiful and uneventful, for about 30 minutes or so when we come upon a slow moving tractor trailer.Clement,who is leading,our awesome little group,makes it around the truck.I'm feeling nervous,as I always do when attempting to pass on a two lane windy road.The truck drops a gear and moves slower.Brian and Shira pass me and the truck.I'm left behind looking for a safe placew to pass and I am right behind this truck.He tries to downshift again and misses the gear.BANG!!! He comes to a stop and I almost crash into the trailer liftgate, I see a clear opening and pass the stopped truck,Shira and Brian, wave me past to my position right behind Clement when I catch up to them.We ride for another 10 minutes and stop at a pull off overlooking Lake George.It is a stunning view.
We take off again leaning into curves and once again letting all the problems slip away as only a motorcycle can accomplish.
We stop to take some action photos that(hopefully) will make it into the magazine which I don't have copies of at the moment.
We then ride into Chestertown,NY for lunch at a place called Luna Pizza.We sat outside in wrought iron seating on the sidewalk,because,who in their right mind would sit indoors if they don't have to?I had a large slice of pizza,Clement and Brian had Paninis and Shira had a salad,which was large enough that I finished off the half she couldn't eat. Clement tells me he that when he was offered this job at Rider magazine,they told him "we don't pay well,but there will be more motorcycles to ride then you can handle." he thought about it for 2 seconds.......I'm thinking I already got the not paid well part going for me,now only if I could get out of the truck and on the motorcycles.(Hey Rider,you reading this?)
Luna Pizza,Chestertown NY
Clement,Shira,and Brian
There was also a neat little Ural Motorcycle shop right next door,but unfortunetly, they weren't open.I really would've liked to take a look at a Ural up close as i've only seen them in magazines and on TV.
After lunch,Brian and Shira,top off the gas tank at a nearby gas station and take off as Clem and I ride back towards the Village of Lake George,NY.We stop at the offramp and Clem tells me which events are worth seeing at Americade and other great roads to ride.With that,we shake hands, and he is fading away on his Harley.
I decide to just start heading home after getting gas and some water as I want to bring the wife up here on the motorcycle for a weekend adventure into the backroads and woods of Lake George,NY.I leave at around 2:40p and make it home 330 miles later at 9:30p. I did see two deer,one on I84 that a blast of the horn chased him back off the highway shoulder and into the woods.The sceond deer was on Route 209 in Delaware Water Gap,but that deer just looked at me like I was an idiot when I laid on the horn.
It was a great experience and I am so glad I decided to do it. Life is too short. I look forward to the next adventure!
Here are some videos from the ride! The first 2 videos 1 video in 2 parts.
That sounds like it was a chance experience to go on. I would have skipped the iron butt ride too.
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