Antique Boat Museum

Wednesday, Sept. 6

Rain again!  Today we were heading about 115 miles north to the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton passing the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario.  The ride was through some beautiful countryside with farms to the left and right; small towns with old buildings and little to no traffic.  The rain changed from heavy to light to no rain and then back to sprinkles.  Needless to say we had opt for cars again this morning.  The boat museum had houseboats, cabin cruisers, canoes, speed boats, and more.  Very interesting even for a girl with little interest in anything related to water other than drinking it.  A stop for ice cream topped out the day.  I had made arrangements to have some graphics put on my bike so I had left it at the shop.  I am very happy with the artwork and the price. 

Rain Holds No Threat

Tuesday, Sept. 5

What a great day!  Woke to steady rain even though the temps were not too low.  Talked to Bernadette at breakfast and she was going to the hospital to get George.  All the test came back negative and he is feeling fine.  Our first stop for the day was scheduled for 9AM at the Black River Canal Museum just maybe a mile down the road.  With 4 or 5 vehicles rain is not a problem.   The museum is normally closed for the season after Labor Day but they opened just for us and what a wealth of information.  Even had a hands-on room where we got to test lifting 30 pounds with 3 different types of pullies and a small canal where we could open and close the locks to float boats through the canal.  They had a canal barge built to specs that we could get on and see where and how the family lived and where the mules were kept when not pulling the barge.  Leaving there we traveled a few miles to one of the remaining locks to see the actual size and structure. 

Next stop – lunch then off to see the Oriskany battlefield.  If I can retain only a little of the information Gary shared I’ll be happy.  This was the bloodiest battle of the revolutionary war with British, Indians and Colonist all involved.   The rain was “light” so we got out of the cars to walk when thunder began to sound like cannons and lightening lite the sky and  the rain started to pour.  Dashing back to the vehicles with giggles ringing we headed for our 3^rd and final destination.

We arrived at the Native American Museum in Oneida.  Oneida is an Indian reservation solely governed by the Oneida people.  The Oneida tribe is one of only 2 Native American tribes to not be overpowered by the United States and their treaty is renewed annually.  The reason?  They were diplomatic enough to work with the budding new nation.  This is a tribe run by the women – oh they have male chiefs but they are in charge only as long as the women say they can be.  The women say when they will go to war and when they will stop fighting.  The lady in the museum gave us a short lecture and shared some information in their native language. 

Back in  the vehicles we head for the lodge with a stop at Tops to pick up subs and various food items for our dinner.  I quickly took my bike across the street to Jett Vinyl Graphics for some art work.  Meeting at 7:30 and I have the feeling Gary has a test prepared for us. 

What a group!  25 UTR members

Bernie was taking it all in.

Mina likes the hands on room.

One of the original Black River Canal locks.  The workmanship is amazing.

Just a few pictures of our happy bunch

Checking out the shops in Old Forge.  There is always one in the group!

Relaxing in the Lodge lobby with good friends. 

Lined up and ready to go. 

Our special speaker for the Sunday evening meeting.  Harvey is a local historian who shared lots of folklore and history about the area.  Gary White welcomes him.

Wow big chair at the Adirondack Experience.  This was our Monday destination.

Waitin on a woman!

The gangs all here for a good meal at the Boondocks.

Adirondacks Experience

Monday, Sept. 4

Up at 5:30 in order to be dressed, breakfast and  gassed up by 8AM.  A reporter from the local paper was coming to interview Gary and me for a story in Wednesday’s paper and get a couple of pictures of the group.  Boy it’s tough being famous! LOL  Temps were mid 50s so heated jacket and leather was the attire.  Sixteen bikes total so we had planned to split into 2 groups but we ended up together in a very short time.  I was leading the ride today but Gary had it all planned out even with gas stops.  Got to love this guy for all the hard work he and Ruth put into the rally.  Our destination was the Adirondacks Experience and the ride getting  there was just beautiful.  The roads are a bit rough in places due to the harsh winters, no shoulders, and no stop signs or traffic lights.  You can ride for 100 miles without stopping.  The roads are not the tight twisties we find in WV but rather soft easy curves that rock back and forth.  Wondered around the museum for a couple of hours then headed back to the hotel.  Dinner at the Boondocks but while we were waiting for our meals George Hires passed out and thank God we have Ken and Lois who have medical training.  Ken checked vitals and an ambulance was called.  George is in the hospital as I write having some test run.  Again this group jumped into action with several having prayer as soon as we noticed what was happening, Mike Brittingham riding back to the hotel to get George’s car and trailer and came back to the restaurant, several guys helped load the trike and Mike  brought it back to the hotel.  Ken and Lois have called Bernadette and will go to the hospital to pick her up when she is ready.  Back at the hotel after dinner Gary shared some information about the canal and the revolutionary war battles in this area.  We are having a thunder storm!  Hope the rain stops before morning. 

A little rain but a nice day

Sunday, Sept. 3

Woke to rain but there was no ride planned for the day.  But not wanting to sit in  the Lodge for a whole day the group gathered in  our “meeting room” and made quick plans to visit old Forge.  Several people have trailered their bikes so we have enough cars to travel comfortably in the event of rain.   Ken even planned ahead and brought 3 or 4 walkie talkies so we can stay in touch while riding in cars if the weather requires.  Spent a couple of hours at Old Forge which is a real tourist location with gift shops, flag shops, coffee shops, restaurants, etc. up and down main street.  Back at the Lodge we spent a few hours reading or resting and then ordered pizza and wings for dinner to go along with the beer and wine provided by our host.  The lodge is just beautiful and so gracious.  We have a wonderful room provided for our meetings.  Gary had arranged with a local retired school teacher to visit us tonight and share local and Indian folklore and some history.  He talked for about an hour and was very interesting.  Well off to bed for an early day tomorrow. 

Boonville Rally 2017

Blog Entries Boonville NY Rally

Sept. 2 – 9 2017

Saturday, Sept. 2

The sky was threating to rain and a few sprinkles began to fall just before 7AM so on went the rain suits.  We pulled out of the drive at 6:50AM.  Three bikes; mine, Bernie and Faye and Don.  The route I had picked was the least miles but the longest traveling time because we were going to travel lots of secondary roads.  First stopped was at IHOP in Wilmington for breakfast and that took about 1 hour; rain was coming down harder but still not bad.  Heading off towards Downingtown on great roads; little to no traffic on roads with no shoulders but lined with trees, farms, corn and grain fields.  Lots of go left then go right as we meandered through small towns.  Next town we headed for was Pottstown on route 100; nice road with satisfactory speeds.  Then we headed for Mt. Pocono where we stopped for lunch.  A little girl and her mom were intrigued with my trailer and apparently thought it was a remote control car  (lots of people do) cause she asked how fast it could go and without thinking I said “as fast as my bike goes.”   The rain had stopped but the temps were in the mid 50s so I continued to wear the rain gear and the heated jacket. We arrived at the Lodge at Headwaters at 7 PM; 12 hours after leaving home.  Subtract time for breakfast, lunch and fuel/rest I figure we were riding in the saddle for 9 hours and thanks to my chiropractor no burning in my right shoulder.  In fact I really felt good BUT I was ready to stop.   After we checked in Gary, who towed his bike, took us to the restaurant for dinner where the rest of the group had just finished eating.  Back to the hotel to unload the trailer and settle in for the night.

We Are Home - Wrap Up

Saturday, Sept. 12

Rain is in the forecast.  Bill wants to pull out by 8 so we were up early to get the trailer packed and eat breakfast and put on the rain suits even though it wasn't raining yet.  Our group was Bill and Sandra; Ralph and Willa; Brad and Bobette; Roger and Ginny; Ken and Lois; Don and I; Dave Knight and Leon started with us but kept going when we stopped for gas.  First 100 miles were dry and I was beginning to think we were going to make it and then it started raining; not hard but enough to get the bikes awful dirty and us wet.  My CB stopped working and this is a brand new one!  I led around Harrisburg and then Bill took over the lead again.  We reached Lancaster by noon and then home for Don and I by 3:15.  The rain stopped around Newark  All said and done the trip was 1475 miles for me.  Now to get her in the shop and fixed and then probably only a few rides in the next month or two and then parked for the winter.