Arr!! This Jack Tar Goes Looking for Booty

It's about 6 am in the morning sun is out and it is suppose to be a spectacular day for a ride. I planned the ride yesterday, so all I have to do is send the route to the GPS. That goes without a hitch, which is not always the case. Sometimes you don't find out until you are in route and the GPS just doesn't want to cooperate. Somehow a route shaping point, a waymark is corrupt.

Out of breakfast with MeAsWe and back home. Earlier I tried on my riding suit and zipped it up with no problem. Breakfast seemed to just push my midsection just a wee bit more and it was a struggle getting it zipped up. I did have another layer underneath since it is mesh.

First stop is Harrisville, RI for AR in the name. I must have 3 pictures of this place. One for the Villain tour for Ville, one for the Double Down tour for the RR and now the Talk Like a Pirate Tour .



Not the greatest photo or the most interesting but it does do the trick. I do try to provide some history or interesting facts about the places I visit. In Harrisville there is nothing really interesting. Kind of goes with the picture.

Headed for Harmony, RI. I didn't even know there was a town called Harmony within 100 miles where I live. No a whole lot here. In the beginning of the 20th century there was a place called the Yan-Yan-Kee Club. Kind of sounds like a New England version of the KKK. I was headed for some church but came across this place.



With the last stop and this one, I realized I left my spring clamps home (someplace in my room)that hold the flags in place so they don't blow away or blow around and have a way to mount them somewhere on the bike. Note to my self stop at the first hardware store.

I am headed due south, well sort of, heading west first and then south for I-395. Most of the time I avoid the interstates but figured it was good to get the bike up to speed, blow out what ever is in the internal part of the engine and exhaust and see if any weeble or wobbles that shouldn't webble wobble. Like stretching your legs. Plus I have been down CT 169 a ton of times.

Somewhere between Harrisville and Harmony or Harmony and I-395 I stopped at this place. Why ?? Well the totem pole caught my attention and the colors were so springy.

Off the exit around Mohegan Sun and come across a Tractor Supply Co. These have been popping up here and there. They claim to be the largest operator of rural lifestyle retail stores in the United States. (their words, not mine)I would have guessed they originated out of someplace like Kansas, but it was Tennessee.

Before I got into the store, I kind of expected an Aubuchon look and feel store, one like I used to go to with my father in the 1950's with lots of shelves, drawers, wooden floors, crummy lighting, something with a nostalgic feeling. First thing I see is a whole section off to the right of Boots, not a Walmart presentation of boots, but a rather nice display, sort of like the old department stores. Lighting was bright, but not too bright. Got my clamps and got out of there.



Tried to be artsy in taking a picture of the clamps. Having the background out of focus, focusing you on the clamps. Almost pushed them right out of the frame. I should stick to chasing down places.

The clamps are way stronger than what I needed. All I wanted was something I could squeeze between 2 fingers. I could use these to permanently fix a muffler that's hanging down from a car or clamping a mirror back to the bike that gotten broken off. However I do have a roll of duct tape in the GIVI for such an occasion.

Back out on Voluntown Rd. Dang I missed the turn, so I simply let the GPS decide the route versus making a U Turn. Sometimes things happen for a reason. The road I ended up on was very picturesque even if the trees didn't have leaves on them. A couple of shots enroute and one I just stopped because I liked the shape of the road.





Ledyard just has to be a Pirate town. It sounds like a yardarm to me. Ledyard was named after Colonel William Ledyard, who was killed with his own saber after he surrendered to the British. Those BASTAHS. Comedian Andy Dick supposedly grew up in Ledyard, but I think that is a stretch. He may have spent some time there. Doc Hammer of Venture Bros fame was born in Ledyard.



As I made my way toward the ocean or is it Block Island Sound, I figured I would have to come back down this way to capture some of the historical places. It just oozes history. I pass the Ninigret National Wildlife Preserve and make note to myself to come back down here with my Blue Goose Passport book for the stamps. Off on Scenic 1A and into Charlestown. See the Historical Society building, just no where to comfortably park the bike. I have the fire station as a target, but just don't like the size of the sign. Too small and I have to park a bit away. Settle on this.

Now I know why this place oozes history, it was settled in 1738 and named after Charles II. It is also the headquarters for the Narragansett Indians and the location of their reservation.

Down the road a piece or should I say up RT 1 is Narragansett for the highlight of the day. At the corner of RT 1A and Strathmore Rd is Peter Toth's Whispering Giant I have to get a picture of the giant, with my bike and the rally flag. I also have to get a picture of any plaques that are available.





A much better focus on the carving.

Now for the really exciting part of the trip. Head north to West Warwick RI. Most folks try to avoid the cities on the bikes, but I get just about the same enjoyment of seeing an urban setting as a rural setting. Yeah ya gotta pay a little more attention to the drivers, the pot holes, the pedestrians, the traffic lights, but once you get over that there is some beauty in the cities.

West Warwick exists solely due to politics. West Warwick was once part of Warwick, and the Democrats at the time wanted to consolidate their power and isolate their section from the Republican part of the town. Lots of old textile mills in the area.





One of those mills I happened to pass coming in.



Next up is Warwick, which was settled in 1642, making it pretty damn old. Lots of history in this place. James Woods, the actor, grew up in Warwick.

This is what I wanted to tag for Warwick, just no place to park.

My itinerary had me heading for Barrington and Warren, but decided I got all season and can hit them up another day. I brought up my favorites in the GPS and headed for Chartley MA. Up thru Providence, which I really don't like, matter of fact I detest riding on I-95 thru Providence, I miss me exit and end up on RT 146 heading north. With that miss I am on a path for home and just decide to head for the barn.

Off onto Quaker Highway pass the old Quaker DriveIn and see a monumental picture that I just had to have. Make a U-Turn and head back, turn into the street, make another Uwey and park the bike kinda of in the middle of the street so I can the bike and sign in the frame. Dismount, get the camera out of the tank bag, lens cap off, bend down do I am pointing the camera up at the sign. AND THEN IT HAPPENED. In the matter of seconds it went for 70 degrees to 69 degrees. Really now, I was just about ready to pull the trigger. Did anyways.



Given the winter we went thru 70 degrees was monumental.

Last pic of the day is a fun type picture. This remind me of Charles Lee Ray aka Chucky or Stephen King's clown in the movie It. Don't let the smile on this guy deceive you.



So the day was suppose to be just around 200+ miles and ended up around 170 or so. Still a great day of riding Willie style.

Here Comes the Sun

here come the sun ... and I say its alright...its been a long cold lonely winter... the smiles are returning to the faces...its seems like years since its been clear...here comes the sun

The Race Is On

After having a successful starting of the FJR, I went to GIFF's to get the bike inspected. Bike passes inspection and Giff inflates the tires to a more appropriate pressure. Putting SPRING air to replace the Fall air that I parked the bike with.

Bill is heading out to ride around the block and while not totally dressed appropriately for a ride, I throw caution to the wind ( the day has been going so good at this point, I didn't want to ruin it by finding out my riding suit has ...shrunk while hanging in my room) 

 

Not a far ride, but one to find out if there was anything substantially wrong the bike like brakes not working or fading, no suspension travel or rebound and stuff like. Managed to avoid the pot holes the sand drifts. Only one vehicle that did something erratic

All in all a great first ride and even got to ride home in the rain. You gonna get caught sometime might as well get used to it now.

The riding season has begun.

Ladies and Gentlemen Start Your Engines

So I finally opened up the garage door now that all of the snow is gone and I actually still have a FJR. No one stole it before the snow started. First task accomplished.

I then looked at the tires and they are not flat and probably have enough air in them to get to Giffs for inspection. 2nd task accomplished.

Walked around the bike, no fluids on the garage floor so the antifreeze stayed in the bike and so did the rest of the fluids. Life is good.

Then the big test....went inside and got the keys...you see where this is going. No battery tender during the winter.. put the key in..Turned it on...I have lights. Reached for the starter button ... (think sound) whirl whi hmmmmmm...varoooommm varooom (me twisting the throttle). WOO HOO

One more task. you know when you get that notice from DOT...you send them money they send you another piece of paper and a sticker. It is the middle of winter. temps are like 6 degrees...the snow is 4 feet piled up and there is just no way it makes sense to go put the sticker on now. So you put the registration in the extra special spot so you won't lose it.. well you need to put it in a spot where you won't lose it and be ABLE TO REMEMBER where that special spot is. Well the perfect storm happened. The sticker was right where I thought I put it so I would not LOSE it.

Riding season is off to a GREAT START !!!

 

Pirates Chasing Giants

Well the riding season has arrived. Oops, there still is snow blocking the entrance to the garage where my FJR is located, however with the temps finally rising, it will succumb to bike wash soon enough.

I will be participating in 2 Grand Tours this year. First one is the GLMC Talk Like a Pirate Grand Tour. I have participated in GLMC's GT for the last 5 years and finished in the top 10 in four of them. 

In addition I will be heading out to see some Whispering Giants this year for Team Strange. I have participated in a bunch of TS tours, including Smoke Chasing (BBQ Joints), President places and their 40th Anniversary Tour. Team Strange sponsors the organization Eddie's Road.

The sandboxes

Whispering Giants

Talk Like a Pirate Towns. There are 674 opportunities this year. I might get to 1/3 of the them.

How to Save Money by Spending Money

Last week I received my Nikon D7100 camera and it was this past weekend when I really got to use it. When I got home and downloaded all the files to the computer I started working some of the bracketed photos I had taken.

In the sky of 2 of the photos was a dot. Easy enough to clone it out, but I didn't spend all this money on an upgrade to test my post processing skills. I suspected I had something on the lens sensor that just didn't show up before this. I posted a couple sample photos up on the UglyHedgeHog forum asking opinions. I got varied opinions but 90% of the folks felt it was probably dust on the sensor. One person said it could be mold in my lens.

I haven't had this camera for even 3 days yet. I have had my D5100 for about 3 years and never a hint of a dirty sensor in any of my pics. How could this be.

I eliminated the lens as the problem by switching lenses, having the same problem with both.

Into the menu system to find that menu option that will shake, rattle and roll the sensor to knock the dust off. Didn't work.

Up to the B&H Photo site to order a Giottos - Rocket Blaster Dust-Removal Tool (Large, Black) which is essentially a camera turkey baster. Take the lens off, turn it so the opening is pointing down, lift the mirror up and blow some air in to hopefully knock the dust off the sensor. No canned air is ALLOWED.

The Giottos - Rocket Blaster Dust-Removal Tool (Large, Black) is 9.95, plus an additional 2.29 for shipping. I hate paying shipping. If you look to the right of the picture of the product there is something about FREE SHIPPING





Do you see where this is going. Not only is it FREE but EXPEDITED. I got to thinking, the new camera is heavier than my old one, and it is a bit more costly than the old one, the strap that comes with the camera is pure crap, so maybe I should stroll over to the Strap Section.

Ordering a camera strap is akin to ordering RAM mount parts for the bike. There is this option and that option, prices range from 15.00 to 100.00. So up to the UglyHedgeHog site again to find out what I need to know about straps. Quick research indicate OP/Tech brand is well thought of and a good value for the money.

What parts do I need to make a sling type strap. Call up Customer Service via Chat. Tell the person what I am trying to do and within minutes I get disconnected. Sigh. Well low and behold B&H Customer Service detected the disconnect and sent their recommendation to my eMail.

So I now have 40.00 or so in my shopping cart and need 9.00 more for FREE SHIPPING. I then noticed that OP/Tech products have FREE shipping.



Sure enough, my shopping cart indicates that shipping is covered for all items, not just the Op/Tech stuff. One more item was ordered to convert the above strap from around the neck to a sling type strap and we are good to go. I stopped looking for another 9.00 item to complete the purchase.

Oh I didn't get the expedited delivery since I didn't spend the extra 9.00, but the stuff is due to arrive tomorrow. That's 2 days in transit time.

So I spent an additional 30.00 to save 2.29 and that's how you Save Money by Spending Money.

Frozen River

On Sunday, MeAsWe and Me headed up to Hampton Beach for a birthday party. I wrote about that event here. We headed up I495, then I95 and got off the highway on RT 107, 1 exit before the toll. From there we headed up RT1 north to our destination. As we were driving along US 1 we passed a spot that I said to myself we should stop on the way back and take a picture.


The party was a blast, the food over the top and folks couldn't be friendlier. But as parties do, they end. On the way home we headed out to RT 1A to see if we could get a shot of the ocean with the sun setting. No sun and the snow was piled so high, no view of the ocean. Still a nice ride but hung a right and headed back to US 1.

Well that spot came up, I looked to the right and there was the scene. Same as it was on the way in. Didn't slow at all and keep going. About 2 miles past the spot, I turned around and headed back, saying to myself, stop being so lazy.

So here's the 2 shots I took of Drakes River, which merges and converges with a lot of other brooks, ponds, stream and rivers to make it's way out to the Atlantic Ocean. The texture of the ice on the banks of the river is what grabbed my eye. To me it has a look of bitter cold desolation.