In the shop

The weather is getting nicer and I am looking forward to more riding. However, my bike has some starting issues. It's in the shop now, getting an inspection sticker and figuring out this problem. It seems to be the same issue that arose after I purchased the bike. This is quite disconcerting as I am planning on taking some longer rides in the near future. I wouldn't like to be caught out in the middle of nowhere (where I like to ride!) and have the bike quit on me.
I plan on some long rides, but probably not as long as this nice trip.

Overdue report

At long last, another post. I have not posted lately because there hasn't been anything noteworthy on my short rides. Yes, the weather has been unusually nice and I have been commuting to work. I have also taken some short rides around town and neighboring towns, just to relax. I also had some long rides and a short ride with a new riding friend, Dennis. With just the usual hazards of drivers on cell phones too engrossed in the conversation to notice who they are about to kill, roads in bad to worse states of repair and, even worse, the repair of the road has begun in some places leaves dangerous riding for all of us. On the plus side, detours make for new and sometimes interesting rides. One of my regular roads was closed for repair and the detour added ten to twelve minutes to my ride. But the road was nicer and there seemed to be less traffic on it; it might become a regular route! The quality of the road and the added twisties make up for the extra time. I could just leave a little earlier when I wanted to ride that scenic route.
Dennis and I had a nice ride out through south central Mass and then south to Connecticut. A short stop at the Vanilla Bean Cafe for a quick bite and then back home due to the looks of the weather. (The weather turned out to reach 90F as was predicted, but no rain as predicted and looked.)

Sunday Breakfast with the Beemers

It was a little chilly, early, going out the the Yankee Beemers monthly breakfast meeting. I do need to get some cold weather pants. My jacket keeps me warm enough and I just got some new gloves at the motorcycle show in Willmington, MA, a couple of weeks ago. I also got a scarf at the sportsmen show in Worcester, MA, last month. My boots were warm with the thick socks I was wearing. Just the pants area needs improvement.
The breakfast brought out many Beemers! The parking lot was loaded with new bikes and old bikes.
After a short ride I noticed that a screw on the faring was loose. I tightened it and wondered if the one on the other side was loose. It wasn't, it was gone! I had just gotten the bike back from Wagner Motors and it appears they left a couple of screws loose. I will have to give them a call on Tuesday when they are open.

First ride of 2010

Got the bike out on the road today, celebrating the first day of spring. The weather was great and I couldn't wait to get it out on the road. Took a short ride around Sutton, Douglas, Oxford, and back home. I noticed a rattle somewhere and and discovered that the screw holding the hand guard had come loose. After tightening it, some chain wax on the chain, and I was off again. This time due west towards Oxford, in an attempt to find a dirt riding area. I took a turn to the right and followed the road when I should have turned off to the left. Checking it out on a map at home, I found my mistake. I need to rig up the GPS!

The ride from Rome

Had a nice ride home. The roads, backroads, major roads, secondary streets, highways, were all great riding in Maine. The drivers were courteous and aware of motorcycle riders. Compared to what I am accustom to in Massachusetts. When I saw the sign, welcome to Massachusetts, I soon saw a change in the road conditions and the drivers attitudes. Traffic got nasty and I got off the highway. The back roads were a bit slower but I didn't care to deal with Massachusetts highway traffic.

Around the Lakes

Took an afternoon ride around the Belgrade lakes area. The lakes were a little choppy because the wind kicked up now and then. I went around Great Pond and stopped at the Lazy Lab Cafe in the center of Belgrade. Had a coffee and a little conversation with the owners. They were grateful the tourist season was over. I found the ATV trail out on Rt. 27 near New Sharon. It was very rough, so I didn't travel it far. The bike now has over 20,000 miles on it! I only got it last May with under 7000 miles.

A circle around the block

Didn't get to ride too much today. Just a short jaunt around North Pond. I started on Wooster Hill Rd., and went down a road/trail called Ladd Rd. that turns into Bacon St. I saw a large group of turkeys making their way along the edge of the field. They just took their sweet time, checking out me and deciding I wasn't going to eat them, then ambling off to look for more food. Then Beech Hill Rd. then stopped at the boat ramp at the stream at the north end of North Pond. Around into Smithfield, I stopped to look out over the pond. It was quiet with only one boat fishing out in the middle. A couple of kayaks were heading out for an evening paddle. It was calm after a windy day.