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Hello world here's a song that we're singing
C'mon Get Happy
A whole lotta lovin’ is what we'll be bringing
We'll Make you Happy

I'll tell ya. You just never know what you're going to see out on the road. Kenny and I were snaking thru the Catskills heading up to the Adirondacks when we zipped past the Partridge Family Bus parked outside of what appeared to be a vacant building in Ashland, NY. Its not the original bus, but.. well.. does it really matter? It was cool nonetheless.

Travelin' along there's a song that we're singin'
Come on Get happy
A whole lotta lovin' is what we'll be bringin'
We'll make you happy
We'll make you happy

We had a dream we'd go travellin' together
And spread a little lovin' if we keep moving on
Something always happens whenever we're together
We get a happy Feeling when we're singing a song

-Come on get happy - by Danny Janssen and Wes Farrell

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Friday morning I rolled out of the driveway and into the morning at 5:30 heading for points... away. I wasn't armed with much of a plan other than to just get off this island before the morning rush clogged my escape routes across the bridges.

As i meandered up Route 97, i pulled off at the Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct. A spot i've passed many times but never snapped a photo of. I thumbed my nose at the man, living dangerously and parked in the no parking zone. Take That! Ha!

A quick stop in Callicoon, NY and I'm off again heading north.

Hamden, NY
I pulled off to take a quick peek at the Hamden Covered Bridge off of Route 10 near the northwest edge of the Catskills. It felt really good to get some elbowroom. There was one rain cloud that seemed like it was following me. Kind of like it was a big balloon on a string that was tied to my seat and I just dragged it along where ever I went. It cut loose right about here and floated off to to that corner of the universe where the sky keeps lost balloons.

I just continued poking along, turning here or there willy-nilly. I pulled off next to this old neon tube Motel sign for a closer look at it and to rest my noggin. I get this hot spot on my forehead in every helmet i've ever owned. I must have a lumpy head. Add that to the snaggle teeth, crooked ears and ever-maniacal hair and i'm quite the catch, huh?

I bet that sign has a lot of stories to tell.

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In the wee hours of Friday morning, the mighty Muffler Man of Elmsford, NY intently ponders the Bunyon-esque nature of his beard. Just look at him. Do you see that faraway look in his eyes? Surely he is reminiscing quietly of a time when he was shorn clean, free of his stubbled prison.

"Curse you, unkempt moustache! Sweet mercy, to be whiskerless once more. Clean shaven. Damn these missing arms! Damn, them straight to hell!"

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Jiminy Crickets, it felt like it was 186 degrees out today. I had 3 hours to kill so I figured I'd pop put for a quick scoot around town. Because traffic is a nightmare in these parts, I sometimes try to work within a basic framework of seeing some of the local sights. It makes for a more entertaining ride than just meandering around aimlessly. When I'm in places off of this sandbar that have more elbowroom, wandering around aimlessly is often precisely what I do. This is generally referred to around the house as 'riding around in circles'.

 "Where did you go today?"
    "No place, really. I just rode around in circles."

I pulled out of my driveway with the intention of visiting the Eaton's Neck Lighthouse. Of course, being armed with the information that the lighthouse is now closed to the public because it is a Coast Guard station might’ve been helpful before I ventured out into the oppressive haze. I believe G.I. Joe said it best,” knowing is half the battle.” So, not unlike my denial at the base of Mount Washington, so too was I so close yet so far from my goal. No dice on the lighthouse. I’m starting to get a complex.

Long Island being an island and all has quite a few lighthouses that are reachable or at least viewable from the mainland. While simmering away in my jacket with the sun on my back, thinking about the lighthouse, I remembered riding out to the Montauk Point Lighthouse back in 1999. Sure enough, I still have a pic or two tucked away in the way back photo storage machine here. It also had some pretty hokey pics of me taking myself far too seriously. :::sigh::: Youth is wasted on the young.

It one of my early morning trips to ride around in circles this past January, I stopped at the Horton’s Point lighthouse in Southold. 

I guess trying to visit the other lighthouses will give me something to do. Muffler Men, Lighthouses, giant balls of twine… so many things to see, so little time.

Horton Point Lighthouse – January 2007

This site has a nice map & personal photos of the lighthouses here on the Island as well as elsewhere if you nav up thru their pages.
http://www.birdsandbeacons.com/Lighthouses/LI_Lighthouses.htm

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Saturday I had a whole day all to myself. No place to go, no place to be, just me the sunshine and a the desire to kick this spring fever to the curb once and for all.

I left my house around 7 am, heading for points north. Before I left I kissed my still sleeping honey goodbye. He sort of opened his tired eyes and said to me, "why do you look so bundled up, its supposed to be nice today." As I rolled along the Expressway to get off this Island, it was about 39 degrees.

I can't believe I've ridden for so long with no electrics. I used to say, "bah, I don't need electrics." As it turns out... I was wrong. There is a string of ex-boyfriends who probably just got a strange, tingling sensation throughout their bodies as I typed that.

Somewhere near Albany, NY

I have an affinity for kitsch. This ride allowed me to visit, not 1... but TWO Roadside America Attractions in one fell swoop.

Behold....The Hancock, Massachusetts Muffler Man.
Muffler Man Linky

I continued on to North Adams, to ride the Mohawk Trail. I've only ridden it twice before, the last time unfortunately it was in pouring rain. I had the roads to myself all day. It was pretty amazing.

The obligatory shot of the "World Famous Hairpin Turn"
Linky
My camera has a stitch feature, but damned if I know how to turn that on, so you get what you get
(click for a larger view)

Still lots of snow and ice around upper NY state and Mass.
This was my turnaround spot. Time to head back to the Isle of Long.

I wave to the Big Indian and set a course for home...
Linky

I arrived back home around 6:30 pm, feeling pretty tired from the wind and the cold. That being said, it just felt so good to be able to get out, shake the dust off and put some miles on.

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