Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Rides, Rallies, & Events BA.com takes Connecticut

Any ideas as to what route you will be taking after you leave NH. Hills or Shoreline. If you end up in Litchfield County in the afternoon I'll try to hook up with you. Like Mert I have to work in the AM.
Mark

I'm cool with hills... I am spending the night in Hartford at a friend's house (well actually Newington I think), so if we end up in western or central CT, it's that much closer to burgers n beer for me...

We could tour the Northeast part(The Quiet Corner) of CT. I don't know the area(except near UCONN which mt son attends) but it is close to hartford and up the road from Shari.

It's a small state and newington is right in the center so anywhere we go Benny is within an hour of burgers n' beer,the staples of life .NW and NE are both good riding country.Benny I live 10 min from Newington so I can get you there from anywhere.

since shari put this little shin dig we might want to let her give us a tour of the shore line. probably the best time of year to that, warm but not gridlock with beach goers. just a thought

Definitely Shari's ride! She's the ride captain. I'm game for whatever ride... All I need is to get to the Best Buy on the Berlin Tpke, right by that big diner, and I'll find my way to my friend's place

I'll meet you guys at the dock. Then I'll follow you. Where ever we end up is where I'll be. Charlie

OK guys...here's the deal. I already spoke with Benny & Shari about this, so I guess I'll just cross any preexisting social boundries and put this one out on the table. As you know, I'm coming up from NYC and am a rather inexperienced rider (only been riding for a year). I'm REALLY looking forward to this ride, but there seems to be a black cloud hanging above my head at the moment. The deal is that I'm not exactly looking forward to riding back into NYC Saturday evening after a full day's ride.

So that being said, and acknowledging the fact that I've met none of you yet personally, I'm looking for lodging. Shari gave me a list of some hotels around New Haven and the ones that had availability were around $100. Normally this would be fine, but since I just wrote out $700 worth of checks to Mr. Taxman, I'm spread a little thin this month. So does anyone have any leads on cheaper hotels (that I shouldn't be afraid to leave my bike out all night), couches, garages, flower beds, basically anywhere for me to crash for a few hours?

Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Mark,

we will not leave you stranded. i am certain there will be a place for you to stay.

CTSPEED(mark) wants to ride too. mark, what time do you have to work until? looks like I will be working my regular shift. I'll bring the scoot to work with me so i won't have to waste time getting it after work.
guys, i really wish i could blow off the day, but it is my shortest work day of the week and i just can't rationalize giving away a day's pay for 4 hours of effort.

That said, if you all want to wend your way toward new haven for a noon meet, we can have early pizza then hit the road.


Charlie and Mike, there is plenty of room near the ferry dock for you guys to pull in and wait for benny and mark. just tell the security guys you are going to meet someone. if you really want to get the full effect of how close the ferry is to the train you can walk right up to the train platform from the ferry area, wait until 1125 or so and see me at my job when the train pulls into Bridgeport(just joshin')

lets figure on the route to ride as we get into the middle of next week.

really looking forward to this.

mert

Noon sounds good to me. We'll just take our time getting there. Just let us know where the Pizza place is or a good meetin spot and we'll head up there and kick tires till you get there.

Are we there yet? This is worse than waiting for parts from Brent! On a sad note, I just came from the wake of a friend that was killed Sat. night on his bike, in Bpt, by a drunk driver. I rode my bike. This was so senseless. I gotta go, I'm getting tears on my keyboard

I will meet you guys either at the dock or just outside near the train station. It looks like we will have a chilly day so dress warm!

matt,
the ride is next saturday 4/28. not tomorrow 4/22. you know that, right?

mert

Yes I know. I looked at the extended forcast on WTNH and it looks like it will stay cool through next week. I'm off to the NY car show tomorrow. I'll be going on the train from Fairfield.

4/29? Right? Charlie

You got it.

right charlie 4/29 not 28...sorry for the typo.

Matt,
i'll be on the 8:01 out of fairfield this morning. going in that early? i usually work the head end on that train.

shari

Nope-going on the 10:26.

shari,
I have to work till noon/1pm if you head up this way I'll
hook up with the group some place in litchfield county.
Mark(ctspeed)

I think someone else posted this, but the Triumph Demo Truck will be at Canton Cycle (now in Winsted at the end of RT8) from 4/25 to 4/29. If you can go week days less of a wait to ride. I'm off thur and fri hope to get up there and try out the new scrambler.
Mark

Now for a little good news/bad news post.

The good news is that I just got my license this weekend. I had been riding on my motorcycle permit, but I just completed (and passed) the written and skill tests of the MSF course in PA.

The bad news is that when I was back in PA, my sister informed me that her move date will be a week early. She was supposed to move to Fairfax, VA the weekend of May 6th, but instead she'll be moving this upcoming Saturday...So unfortunately I'll be in my car all weekend instead of on my bike with you guys.

My deepest regrets for not being able to attend...but we should definately have another one soon.

sorry to hear you won't be with us, Mark. We were all looking forward to meeting you. Congrats on your license and tell your sister she's a party pooper(kidding).

we'll put another ride together...

shari

OK Guys,
let's get a head count.

I'm leaning toward a Litchfield County ride after we pie down. This way we can meet up with CTSPEED/Mark.

My thought is to give Benny and or Matt directions to my digs from the ferry since most of you guys are meeting up with him at the ferry. pizza is around the corner.

we can leave the scoots at my place since parking is tight at the restaurant(Modern Apizza on State Street, New Haven.)
We can walk a few steps after lunch to digest then hit the road.

I am still trying to swap round trips with someone, but it doesn't look good. So plan on being in New Haven by noon15 or so.

phone #'s are a good idea; please pm me with your intention to ride and a contact #.

gettin happy,
mert(shari)

Mark, that sure is a disappointment. But, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Lets try again real soon.
Mert, I'm still planning on meeting Benny, and anybody else who comes, at the dock. I'll be there before 10am.
I'll PM you w/my cell #. Charlie

I'll meet Benny at the ferry. I will PM Benny and Shari w/ my #s. Shari, you can PM me with you address or directions(I can mapquest your address).Charlie, if the dock is crowded, we can meet benny at the train station. I wil meet you there.
Matt

Mark sorry you can't make it, I was looking foward to meeting you, I guess we will be forced to plan another ride I'll be at the ferry a little before 10:00.
mike

PM on it's way...

Don't worry Mark, plenty more rides. Also, I'm looking forward to a few weekends of NOT traveling far, so just let me know when you want to ride out east or need a hand with a mod.

Benny, a suggestion as to a route to NH. Since we'll have a little time to kill, and I don't like riding on 95, how about going N on RT8 from BPT to the Merrit Pwy(RT15), up to exit 58. Then E on RT34 into NH? I think this would be a more scenic/enjoyable way to go, as opposed to just blasting up 95. Let me know what you think.

Mert, my mom(now 88)is from New Haven. Her family owned the Federal style house at 169 Grand Ave. Across from a school, and next to a church. I have vivid memories of being there as a child for holidays. She was a teacher, and I think she taught at Hillhouse, and other schools. In the 80's, I worked at the Agora Ballroom on Whalley. Please PM me with your address, and cell#.

Let's get this show on the road!
Charlie

Mark, my buddies wedding is May 13th. After that weekend, I hope to NOT go anywhere for a couple weeks! So come on out.

UC, Sounds like a good route. I've taken Rt 8 many times, but never 34, so that part, your guess is as good as mine. The Merrit is nice! Traffic shouldn't be bad in the morning. Also, depending on timing, we can just hit the road then when we get there we can do plesentries and tire kicking, etc.

Shari, just want to let you know that this run is yanking my chain real bad. I live near the border on Pa., so the ride would be a two or three day affair for me. It would just be soooooo cool to be there with all of you that it is eating me up. I am going to have to take a pass on this one though. You all have a blast. If you get together again, I will definately try to make it a three dayer with a Hardley buddy, he can get lost while the pure of us ride. TR

charlie,
pm'ed you.

forgive me, i referred to your mom as your grandmother(in re the house)in the note i sent.

see ya in a few days,
mert

TR,

i am certain we'll be putting other rides together. the season is young.

thanks for wanting to be with us though. i think we're all pretty psyched. maybe a few pics will be in order and a posting to follow.

hope you get out and ride this weekend,
shari

Tom, I'm sure a Northern NJ/Southern NY ride will be in order sometime too. Ever ride the Hawk's nest?

Charlie I have to agree with you RE 34 into NH.We definately want to avoid 95 as much as possible.Does anyone have directions to Shari's place? or can we just ask around when we get into town I,m sure EVERYONE knows Shari in the elm city

Charlie I have to agree with you RE 34 into NH.We definately want to avoid 95 as much as possible.Does anyone have directions to Shari's place? or can we just ask around when we get into town I,m sure EVERYONE knows Shari in the elm city
mike

now you're scaring me...

no one knows me i am but a ghost about town...

shari