Tuesday, June 8, 2010 8:57 am
June8
Bucket List: A list of things you want to accomplish before you kick the bucket.
Hopefully this will be an ever-growing, ever-changing list as new ideas and goals cross my mind AND… as I find a way to cross completed things off.
- Ride in a Sidecar
- Ride to Alaska
- The Stelvio Pass
- The National Motorcycle Museum
- Ride through the mountains of Arkansas
- West Virginia Mail Pouch Tobacco Tour
- Visit the Nurburgring
- Visit the Barber Museum
- Attend a MotoGP event
- Go to Japan and see Bosozoku motorcycles
- Ride the length of Route 66
- Ride to Monument Valley and camp under the stars
- Be able to ride 20,000 strictly pleasure miles in a year
- 1 word: Colorado
- The Lolo Pass in Idaho
- Visit Mont Saint-Michel while riding in France
- Own a Confederate Wraith
- Going to the Sun Road
- Have my picture taken at the signpost forest
- Ride a motorcycle in New Zealand
- Visit the Isle of Man for the TT
- Ride to Nova Scotia
- Visit the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse
- Actually write an article and have it published in a moto rag
- Ride the Puppy Dog Route
What’s on your motorcycle bucket list?
I encourage you to make one, too. It can be an inspiration to keep track of your dreams. Enjoy!
Posted in
Saturday, June 5, 2010 9:30 am
June5
Not long ago, I realized that I had a handful of pictures of Long Island’s windmills. Following that post, on a lazy Sunday I decided to head over to Shelter Island to see if I could spot the Shelter Island Windmill. Built in 1810 by Nathaniel Dominy Jr., the mill was moved to Shelter Island on board a barge and placed on the Sylvester estate. Sylvester’s smock mill is on the National Register of Historic Places.
I find something very relaxing about being on Shelter Island. It is a small, quiet place and very peaceful. There are often so few people on the roadways that you have the opportunity to ride lazily along looking at things without worrying that you’re creating a parade behind you. There are several small parks, beaches and of course the Mashomack Preserve to enjoy.
Where Can I Find More Information?
In my travels I have found a few sights on Long Island that I would love to know more about. Lately it seems that I have reached dead ends when trying to get more information from the web. I have gone so far as emailing local libraries, towns, companies and chambers of commerce who never seem to reply to my email requests for more information.
There are 2 things spotted while on this Shelter Island excursion that I don’t know anything about but would like to: The house with the windmill on top and the brick smokestack-like structure on the north end of the Ice Pond. Any leads or tips would be greatly appreciated!
Posted in
Saturday, June 5, 2010 9:25 am
June5
Spotted: A great pair of painted, non-working gas pumps outside of Olson Gallery on North Ferry Rd., Shelter Island.
Posted in
Thursday, June 3, 2010 3:41 pm
June3
No trip to another state is complete without checking to see if there is a Muffler Man in the vicinity. You can never be sure if you’ll pass that way again, so stopping is a must! On our recent trip to Birmingham, Alabama it was no different. We stopped in to see “Stan” the GCR Muffler Man.
With the fiberglass giants getting up there in age, they often need some upkeep and repair. They also get customized and personalized. Many of them have unique features like chest hair, eyelashes and in blue-eyed Stan’s case, white gloves.
I don’t know that I want to venture a guess as to what he’s up to with those gloves on but he looks like he’s beckoning you to ‘bring it on!’
Stan underwent some major surgery in 1998 after a storm did a number on him.
Hey -you can view some more of the big fellas we’ve visited in the Muffler Man Gallery.
Posted in
Tuesday, June 1, 2010 7:35 am
June1
Has there ever been a finer looking sidecar than the one on this 1958 Ariel Square Four? No. No, I don’t think so.
It doesn’t say so on the placard but I’m pretty sure that when you open the door on the sidecar, you are greeted by a snow white unicorn galloping down a glittering rainbow of Skittles. It leaves an eddy of whirling diamonds with every pillow-soft touch of it’s magical feet. It’s just that good.
Placard Reads:
Ariel Square Four
4G Mk II
“The Ariel square cylinder layout was unique in an era when 90% of motorcycles were of single cylinder or v-twin design. Originally conceived in the 1930′s, it was developed into the final version you see here. While not particularly powerful, it was incredibly smooth and had a distinctive exhaust note that was unique. Square Four’s command the same respect as a Vincent, with a lot of myths regarding the performance. One of the boasts was that they would accelerate from 30 to 100 miles per hour in high gear.”
Posted in
