WHAT’S INSIDE
FREE WHEELIN
saVinG ace
Remember when you would go to the local bike shop, just to get the feel, vibe, an avor that et o no o ere part of an extended family of riders? There are not a lot of bike shops that still give those vibes… Some, but not like it was.
Unfortunately these days so many go to the computer to make purchases and so many are losing out on the visceral shot of MOTO we used to get on a regular basis. But there are some things you are not going to be able to accomplish on the web. Case in point - haircuts and beard trims.
I am BBC Bald by Choice. I have hair, but what was once a Ka-Zar-like pony tail has morphed into a hair style designed by Kohler.
During the winter I usually grow a beard - winter coat as it is. But keeping with the letters HWHL Happy Wife, Happy Life - about 3 months into last year’s attempts at a Ned Kelly, Shira mentioned that she really enjoyed Dan Bisbee’s review on a chest-placed Moto Pack that he received as a door prize at the MotoMarathon in Vermont. The pack was designed and created by John Terzo who, in addition to being a barber par excellence by trade, is also an avid rider.
She mentioned that “maybe” we could ride down to Verona, New Jersey and hand deliver some of the January edition to John, and “Maybe” I could get my beard trimmed.
Spenser T. Cat, who has a very furry face, hissed and walked away. Yes, dear.
ere is a itt e a stor o o r first earning o ohn’s sho hira ha needed an image for the magazine and had come across a Barber Shop with a very two-wheel feel. It was just a simple image so it was used, and a few months later we heard from John, as he is a reader and loved that we used his shop.
Truthfully, we never like to infringe on people’s businesses, but those who have ridden with me know I often say it is “easier to beg forgiveness than ask for permission.”
t ohn as not t o t in the east s time ent e hatte rie in email, Dan received a Moto Pak, and loved it, and now here were on Bloomfie ven e in erona e erse stro ing into one of the coolest Bike Barber Shops in the nation.
In the window was a sharp Triumph Scrambler (courtesy of Cross Country), along the walls, classic e tan s fi the s a e giant s reen ha motorcycles zipping across.
A dozen Backroads were stacked under the Triumph. As the true New York Mets fan would say Oh My God!
We were greeted by John, a buoyant and very upeat e o e as st finishing ith a stomer who also rode. A lot of people coming through the door ride.
JT.’s has been around for years we like to think riders who need a shave and haircut would prefer this to some high-hair SuperCut.
We walked the shop, taking in all the motorcycle bits and bobs. Continued on Page
WHATCHATHINKIN’
it’s ettinG spooky out there
It seems like the stores were just putting out the summer patio furniture, grills and landscaping stuff. I swear I just put the basil in our garden and dug out the hummingbird feeders. Yet almost six months have motored by faster than Marc Marquez at almost every MotoGP race this season. The lawn mowers are being packed away while the snow blowers and generators are being readied. Baseball season is coming to an end (I think another disappointing season for the Mets but, as I write this during Labor Day, I can still hope) and the electric gear has taken permanent residence on the motorcycle for those long autumn rides. While I haven’t seen any holiday shopping commercials as yet, I’m sure the Black Friday Super Sales will pop up any day now. But before all that comes about, there is that magical and mystical time where costumes are being dreamed up, candy is being stocked and the ghosts, ghouls, and other supernatural creatures are getting ready for their annual earthly visitation. I thought I’d offer up a few destinations to get you in the spirit of the season. Enjoy the ride and watch out for headless horsemen and wacky witches.
BurlinGton county nJ troll trek www.co.burlington.nj.us/2076/Troll-Trek
Let’s start off with these mythical creatures, Nordic in origin and having various shapes and sizes. You may think of them as those cute brown-colored little dolls with big noses and rainbow shades of hair, but in reality, trolls are considered mischievous, sometimes dangerous, and may turn to stone if out during daytime. However, the Trolls of Burlington County are far from this. The 18 sculptures that populate the parks and downtowns are whimsical and quite friendly. Inspired by Big Rusty, a large troll created by world renown Danish artist Thomas Dambo, who lives in Hainesport near Route 38, they are here to bring smiles. They are all created from recycled and natural materials and pay homage to Dambo for selecting Burlington County as
home to one of his famous trolls. 16 artists or teams of artists were selected to bring to life Rusty’s cohorts, hi h o an fin sing the o n oa a e ma rom the website. As they are scattered in a somewhat broad area an some are a ha enge to fin o ma ant to spend at least two days, maybe more, on your Troll Trek.
BurlinGton prison museum
128 High Street, Mount Holly, NJ • www.prisonmuseum.net/ While in the Burlington Co/Mount Holly area it would behoove you to visit the Burlington County Prison Museum. Completed in 1811, this imposing stone structure still stands almost exactly as it did when built. The massive front door, brick and stone construction and original cell doors emit its forbidding essence. It housed prisoners of all ilk from 1811 to 1965 and, at the time of its closing, was the oldest continuously used jail in the country. During its time, the rison oversa e e tions the first eing i a eth reeman the only female, hung for murder.
Continued on Page
mrs m otoGp
Last year, when we went to the MotoGP at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, TX, my amazing wife decided to bone up on MotoGP so she would know what was going on. Boy, did she! You wouldn’t imagine a mid-sixties retired elementary schoolteacher with a quilting problem would turn into a MotoGP junkie too, but she did. By the time we got to Austin, she knew the rider names and the bike brands and liveries of every team on the top circuit. I forked over the $20 for a program and she immediately went into study mode, although she already knew most of it. Occasionally we’d have to refer to the program for the undercard races, but we primarily relied on her memory, especially for MotoGP.
It didn’t stop there. She got me the MotoGP streaming service so we could watch every practice, every qualifying, and every race. Once we found out about Joe Roberts, the only American in Moto2, we had to start watching Moto2 races. Joe obliged us by taking second in Moto2 at COTA, do-
ing a celebratory burnout right in front of where we were seated. That added Moto2 to the obsession, so we learned names like last year’s Moto2 champ, Fermin Aldeguer, (who subsequently upgraded to the top tier for this season) and Ai Ogura, the ‘24 Moto2 champ who also upgraded. This season has been a regular pattern of her saying “There’s racing this weekend!” and the two of us settling down over dinner with the remote to cue up either the sprint race, the main event, or both for at least two of the three classes. We will even do Moto3 occasionally if the action has been particularly dramatic, which it frequently is because the Moto3 i es s arm aro n ea h other i e angr h mming ir s fighting over the feeder. Frankly, Betsy stays more in tune with it than I am, keeping tabs on the offtrack antics and contract maneuvering.
This is the “silly season,” where contract moves are typically made, and the other a note that there as on one s ot e t to fi he imme iate sai h the ast rea there ere t o so the m st have fi e one of them!” We both held forth on how much we like Zarco and how he’s given the Honda faint hope a few times this year. We talked about the move to MotoGP’s Pramac Yamaha of Toprak Razgotlioglu, the amazing Turkish rider, World SuperBike champion, who is a great bike handler and who does amazing stoppies. It didn’t end there: I mentioned how I was surprised that Toprak’s new teammate Jack Miller was still on the grid, as he normally either does well or crashes, and she replied, “It’s because he’s the only rider who knows how to ride the Yamaha right now and his contract doesn’t end until next year.” She also held forth on Jorge Martin and his struggles with the Aprilia this year, including the injuries that put the defending champion out of action for most of the season. My wife is now “Mrs. MotoGP,” with a far greater breadth of knowledge about everything associated with the sport. I went off to an archery tournament last month and when I got back, I said something circumspect about the races that weekend and she simply said, “I know.” She’d already watched them in my absence. Who did this? Who kidnapped my three-decades-worth elementary teacher spouse who never even considered being near a motorcycle until she was in her fourth decade of life and replaced her with this MotoGP maniac? I know a few ladies who grudgingly watch a particular sport because they know their man is into it, but she’s way farther down the rabbit hole than I am when it comes to MotoGP.
Will it last? I suspect so. Although, neither of us is looking forward to the future, when they downsize the engine sizes in the top class and make other moves (she knows the details, of course). I hope they don’t ruin it, because it is something we share, but with the purchase of MotoGP by Liberty Media, the governing body of Formula 1, there’s a pretty good chance they’ll hose it up even more, like they’ve done with F1 and their dizzying array of rules and track steward decisions. I mean, they’re…they’re…CAR people after all. Maybe they need a retired schoolteacher and quilter as a consultant on the board. I have a recommendation and I’ll carry her bags to the board meetings and races. ,
Whatchathinkin’
Continued from Page 5
But we are here to bring you some spookiness, so let’s talk about the paranormal events and hauntings. With the angry inmates, anguish and death during its 154 year history, how could there not be? After the execution of Joel Clough in 1833, who was buried on the grounds, guards and prisoners heard moaning and rattling chains, and smelled cigarette smoke from the dungeon. During the renovations of the 1990s, workers heard sounds and saw apparitions throughout the building. Some had their tools go missing, only to be found later in locked cells. After many paranormal groups came to make their own conclusions, the Burlington Prison Museum has earned the marker as one of the most haunted buildings in New Jersey. Open Thursday-Saturday from 10am-4pm, for just $5 you can wander the halls, see the eeriness and read the history, maybe even encounter a spirit or two. They also offer an Escape Game which is loosely based on the escape of inmate Eddie Adamski in 1933.
BuBe’s BreWery and catacomBs
102 N Market Street, Mount Joy, PA • www.bubesbrewery.com/
While Bube’s may not technically be a spooky destination, it certainly looks and feels like it. During the mid1800s due to the high demand for lagers of all sorts, a young German immigrant named Alois Bube, having honed his skills as a brewing apprentice in his homeland, bought a small brewery in Mount Joy, PA in 1876. Over its almost 150 year history, Bube’s has expanded, adding accommodations and dining.
Fast forward and it was reopened as a museum in 1970. Now, Bube’s rosetoy Brewery was the last standing ‘lager era’ brewery, in almost completely intact condition, in the United States today.
So what’s special about this other than its age, looks, beer and food, you ask? Well, it’s haunted, of course, housing spirits other than the drinking kind. The apparition of a young woman in a long gown wandering the art gallery, as well as a male ghost, reside on the premises. With a room such as their Catacombs, several stories below the surface of the street in the aging cellars of Bube’s, how could it not be haunted? You can take a Ghost Tour after enjoying a great meal in one of their three restaurants. No matter what, you will quench your paranormal thirst at this establishment.
skylands stadium Jack o’lantern experience 94 Championship Place, Augusta, NJ • skylandsstadium.com/jackolantern/
I’ll end our little Halloween excursion close to my home at the Skylands Stadium. Each year, from September thru November, they transform the stadium with over 6,000+ Jack-O-Lanterns for a walk-thru spectacular. There will be pumpkin picking and painting, live music, s’more roasting over the fire pit, over 30+ craft beers, ciders and other potent potables, as well as non-potent, and fun treats from the vendors. If you fancy a challenge, wander into the corn maze. And while you are in the area, make sure to take a ride or stroll through Branchville, right up the road, and visit the amazing Scarecrows on exhibit throughout the town. ,
BACKLASH
From The Backroads Report
Heroes of Booze was incredibly entertaining and interesting. It was the highlight of my Sunday with no MotoGP or WSBK! Great call! Robbo
But what actually happened to Pepe?
Gigi
Well, Gigi, if you take a VERY close look at the execution picture in the magazine, you’ll see another little brown monkey hiding in the plant. As in Hollywood, a stunt double was used, and no actual Pepe sidekicks were injured.
Hi, Brian Shira.
st the other night finishe m mmer o sti e rviva a o ’re gonna love my nuts...”) that stuff was really, really good. Is it sold in stores? BTW you need to stop beating yourselves--and Pepe--up about the Shippensburg to Staunton route. It was fun! It was adventurous! It got us exerising o r rains to fig re o t a or aro n t even ma e s a gh hat no Chevys ahead???”) Riding motorcycles is about exploration, and these days it’s pretty darned easy with the tools we have available. It seemed to
me like most people enjoyed the challenge, and it gave us something to talk about at the end of the day. I hope that nobody actually complained about that route...if they did, they should be made to walk the plank!
Stephanie
Stephanie,
Thanks so much. The nuts were a proprietary blend from a very special nut shop (also known as Walmart). If we can remember the mixture, we’ll send the recipe.
Hi Shira,
I was just reading your article ‘Luck of the Draw’ in the August issue and man it hit home. I have the same frustrations when plotting. I was up in central Vermont, just at the edge of Canada. The interstates, yes interstates, in some sections were “dirt”. I was on another trip and passing through Maryland, always have Basecamp dirt roads turned off, and I hit this one road, stee o nhi oose arge ro s an it ha t rns as fine on m iger but my two Harley friends were not happy. Most dirt roads are marked with tracks, but not all, as you know.
I still have a 665 zumo because the new XTs, I was told by Garmin, don’t use Basecamp anymore or a laptop at all???? You can use a tablet only, otherwise you plot on the unit itself. Seems to me the stupidest thing in the world to do. Without being able to use Basecamp and actually seeing the roads blown up, it seems Garmin doesn’t want you to plot, they want you to pick the destination and turn on curvy roads and that’s good enough. Also the new units, you have to “shape points it doesn’t really let you be in full control . Also it has a limit to the amount of waypoints you have, forcing you to have two or 3 routes where as you only needed one. I know storing the routes to the cloud and pulling anyone you want is great and other advantages the new units have.
Harvey
Harvey,
We have been using the XTs for several years still able to plot routes with Basecamp, just a different meth od of getting them from computer to unit. You have to
ree Wheelin’
BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2025 Page email it to yourself, then use Garmin Drive to transfer to the XT. It works well. So still able to use Basecamp the same way as always on either a desktop or laptop.
Yes, sometimes if there are too many waypoints it will split the route. Has only happened to us a very few times, usually when I’m making some cock amamie route.
Hi Brian and Shira, Congrats on your 350th issue of Backroads. I enjoyed Brian’s Zero-Sum Game. A few years ago Donna told me “No more motorcycles. But you can have as many model airplanes as you want.” I bought or built about 2 dozen. In the last year I bought 3 more that I just had to have.
Shira: a co-worker of mine moved to Easy Street in Howell. I would be remiss not to say I enjoyed the Summer Solstice Rally. Donna and I hope to join ya’ll for the Fall Fiesta.
Regards,
Ernie Vaupel
Re: “The Luck of the Draw”
I happen to like the routes you guys provide, especially some of the ‘messed up’ ones which can be interesting and memorable. Keep ‘em coming. Joe C.
Joe - are you encouraging the creation of messed up routes? This sounds like a potential theme for upcoming rallies!
The “You’re lost and you’ll like it” Spring Break. Or maybe the “Oh shit, I forgot my passport” Summer Squeeze. And the ever popular “I’ve never seen gravel this deep” Fall Fiesta. ere’s to a a o s t re fi e ith memora e messe s esses Jon B.
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Your routes are great. Ernie V.
Continued from Page
I took a seat in one of John’s classic barber chairs complete with a built-in ashtray. No smoking, just a classic and telling touch of days gone by and the talk immediately slid through the turn and onto motorcycles and riding. This place was worth the trip.
Needless to say, John deftly made me more presentable to my honey we learned of his love of bikes, and how the MotoPack came about and, as we left, I realized that I had found a new home for my winter fur taming and grooming.
Like I said - you can do a lot on the web. Buy this, that and the other thing, do research, even have sex (I heard), but when you need a quality trimming, haircut or the like, and you want it with a very comfortable and two-wheel air ta e a ri e to ’s ar er ho ts ar ersho om easi ri en to in erona e erse at oomfie ven e right o an o te 46 just a few miles from Holsten’s Ice Cream where we said goodbye to Tony Soprano.
Some dessert after your JT Experience might be in order - just sayin’! ,
THE WORLD’S FIRST GLOBAL BAGGER RACING CHAMPIONSHIP
Harley-Davidson and oto o fi ia -
ly unveiled the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup, along with its full 2026 race calendar, marking the launch o the first g o a raing series dedicated to high-performance Harley-Davidson bagger motorcycles. Announced at a press conference at Austria’s iconic Red Bull Ring, the six-round series will debut next year, bringing American V-Twin power to legendary circuits across the U.S. and Europe.
The series kicks off in the United States before making its way across Europe and onto the global stage. From the hills of Mugello to the historic straights of Silverstone, the Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup will bring distinctive American performance and international competition together in a thrilling, six-round championship.
BRITISH COUPLE RIDING AROUND WORLD IMPRISONEDIN IRAN SINCE JANUARY
A British couple detained in Iran for the last nine months on espionage charges have been moved to separate prisons in and near Tehran, heightening fears for their welfare, their son said on Monday.
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, both 52 and who previously split their time between south-east England and Spain, were seized in Kerman, in central Iran, in early January while on a round-the-world motorbike trip. Their family have gotten little information, but say they learned on Sun-
a via the oreign fi e that Lindsay has been transferred to Qarchak women’s prison near the capital.
Human rights groups have repeatedly criticized the dire conditions reported there.
“It’s one of the worst prisons in the world,” Lindsay’s son Joe Bennett told AFP on Monday.
His stepdad, Craig, has been moved to Tehran’s infamous central prison, also known as Fashafouyeh, which is about 30km (18 miles) south of the capital and has similar notoriety.
Bennett, who has yet to talk to his parents since they were detained more than 200 days ago, called the developments “unbelievably tough”.
“Because of where they are, I’m worrying more than I was ever,” he added, rging ranian a thorities to a o ritish o fi ia s resh a ess to the o e and to let his parents call home.
“You’re just thinking, is she OK,” he said of the seven-month ordeal, adding “it’s like you feel sick all the time”. ritish o fi ia s are in rrent negotiations ith ran to se re the o e’s release.
$15,000 FUNDINGTO CONTINUE SUPPORT FOR DEAF, HARDOF HEARING STUDENTS
The National Motorcycle Safety Fund has replenished its sign-language interpreter grant program with another $15,000, with a goal of making motorcycle safety training classes more accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing community. The program reimburses training providers that hire
BACKROADS • OCTOBER 2025 Page interpreters for students enrolled in MSF courses. “This program was launched in 2023, and it proved to be very successful,” said Christy LaCurelle, President and CEO of the Motorcycle Safety o n ation ter the first ro n o n s ere e ete the oar unanimously agreed that continuing this program is essential to ensuring safety courses remain accessible to all individuals seeking rider education. his initiative re e ts o r ommitment to e iminating arriers an e aning opportunities for those who aspire to learn to ride.”
RUSSIAN’S GIVE ALASKAN MANA MOTORCYCLE
An Alaska man might have walked away as the biggest winner of last week’s high stakes summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage. He rode off with a new motorcycle, courtesy of the Russian government.
Putin’s delegation gifted ar arren a retire fire inspector for the Municipality of Anchorage, a Ural Gear Up motorcycle with a sidecar, one week after a television crew’s interview with Warren went viral in Russia. Warren already owned one Ural motorcycle, purchased from a neighbor. He was out running errands on it a week before the summit when a Russian television crew saw him and asked for an intervie arren to the re a o t his i fi t o taining arts or the bike because of supply-and-demand issues. “It went viral, it went crazy, and I have no idea why, because I’m really just a super-duper normal guy,” Warren said Tuesday. “They just interviewed some old guy on a Ural, and for some reason they think it’s cool.” Warren said a document he received indicated the gift was arranged
through the Russian Embassy in the U.S., which did not immediately return a message Tuesday. Warren said he initially thought it might be a scam. But after Putin and Trump departed Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson following their three-hour summit, he got another call informing him the bike was at the base.
He was directed to go to an Anchorage hotel the next day for the handoff. He went with his wife, and there in the parking lot, along with six men he assumed to be Russians, was the olive-green motorcycle, valued at $22,000.
“I dropped my jaw,” he said. “I went, ’You’ve got to be joking me.’”
All the Russians asked in return was to take his picture and interview him, he said: “If they want something from me, they’re gonna be sorely disappointed.”
WOULDN’T YOU LIKE THISIN YOUR GARAGE?
A custom design house has taken Ducati’s 821cc TestastrettaV-twin engine and sandwiched it within streamlined bodywork to create a special edition motorcycle limited to just nine units worldwide.
Simply called the Ducati 821, the shimmering machine is priced at $44,900 plus shipping and was built by the team at Bandit9, overseen by Design Chief and Founder, Daryl Villanueva in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
he finishe ro t omes following a request from a collector in San Francisco, who wanted something sporty to ride on his local mountain roads, that would also draw attention from other motorists. That eye-grabbing brief was certainly met, with the whole bike wrapped in a rounded set of bodywork reminiscent of the dustbin fairings used on race bikes of the 1950s.
GREAT ALL AMERICAN DINER RUN
matchBox caFe
6242 US-9, Rhinebeck, nY 12572 845-876-3911 • www.thematchboxcafe.com
One of our favorite parts of the northeast, the nation for that matter, is the Hudson Valley. Starting at the New Jersey Palisades, reaching 832 feet high at High Tor, and especially as you head further north from the Tappan Zee Bridge (Sorry, that’s the name the Triboro is still that too).
Although many towns and small cities run along the Hudson’s 315-miles, there is still so much natural beauty that has not changed much at all since the t h ast n ia om an finan e ng ish navigator enr son in his attempt to search for the Northwest Passage in 1609. Henry Hudson sailed his ship, the Half Moon, up the river that would later be named after him. As he continued up the river, its width expanded, into Haverstraw Bay,
leading him to believe he had successfully reached the Northwest Passage. He proceeded upstream as far as present-day Troy before concluding that no such strait existed there.
For the Dutch, the British, and then Americans the river was a source of commercial, and colonial success. Not that the native Lenape, Esopus, and Mahicans were happy with this, but that is another story and another issue.
tasty places to take your bike
Still today the Hudson River features dramatic cliffs, particularly Breakneck Ridge, known for its steep, rocky cliffs, is a prominent landmark along the river. Right across the river, on the west shore, you will see Storm King Mountain on the opposite bank, which also contributes to the dramatic scenery, forming the “Wind Gate” at the northern entrance to the Hudson Highlands. Here on the eastsi e i o ar an rea some e era ro ert r es o an fin the building that houses the Great Syphon that helps bring drinking water from the Catskills, under the river, and then down to New York City. Why there are no soldiers with weapons here 24/7 is beyond us.
In the middle of the river sits Bannerman’s Castle, a regal ruin that once stored munitions on Pollepel Island before it blew up.
Today, for motorcycle riders, this part of the river is magical, and this month we’d like to stick with the Hudson Valley’s natural beauty, and one particular café that just seems the perfect place to ride, dine, and relax just south of the tiny burg called Rhinebeck. After running one of the most successful bakeries in Manhattan, Dessert Delivery, Joann and Sam Cohen, who had fallen in love with the Hudson River Valley, looked for a bit of property, and soon the Matchbox Café opened its doors and was an instant smash. That was 15 years ago, and since then this dynamic duo has made a steady base of customers, friends, and has become one of those places you wish someone had told you about. That is where we come in.
We had heard about the Matchbox over the winter, so e ma e it one o o r first r ns as the ne season opened up.
We arrived on a beautiful, if warmish, Sunday afternoon, and scored a table under some very full trees, offering some shady dining experience. Inside the Matchbox is a cozy place, with some pieces of art here and there, some tables sprinkled around, and a great photo of Joann’s baby blue Karmann Ghia. The story goes that the mechanic shop next door was changing the oil in the German sport car, when Sam and Joann noticed a small building next to the shop. he tho ght it o ma e a fine i tin eater t as available and they bought it… soon after the Matchbox Café opened its doors, and although small in size it is ig on avor an st e ti even ith the avor an st e the ee it simple with a plain tri-fold paper menu and the saying “Fine Dining on a Paper Plate.” ere is st a sam ing o hat o i fin at the Matchbox…
Their now-famous challah French toast with bacon, old-fashioned grilled cheese, homemade and freshbaked mac cheese, homemade lasagna, fried shrimp po boy, or shrimp roll. Their salads are stated as “Unmatched,” and we do not doubt the deliciousness of Sam’s offerings, who is also the head human in the kitchen; Joann is the pretty face, has a cool car, and keeps everything going. Their business plan seems much like ours.
While there I had the burger (all top-grade beef, no fi ers that has e ome ta e a o t an o n the river cheddar, bacon, and everything but onions, Sam.
Shira went to their veggie burger which was a great mix of spinach, zucchini, potato, and Vidalia onions served with their garlic mayo and house-made fries.
After we were done, we also somehow bought some of Sam’s pastries and monstrous cookies for later that night while watching FUBAR, or if we got peckish on the ride home.
We know you will not be disappointed with the Matchbox Café, and we will give you a 120-mile oo ri e there an a rom the ra fi ir e at ear o ntain ri ge that will head north then south, pass under both Storm King and Breakneck Ridge, as well as the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Enjoy and say hi to the Cohens. , Download .gpx file here: www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/co41kw
Warren County Tourism presents BIG CITY GETAWAY
edelman ossil park museum
66 Million MoSaSaUR WaY, SeWell, nJ 08080 856-284-346 • www.efm.org
We had been to what is now the Edelman Museum, far back in the past… like a decade ago. Something we would learn is, maybe, just one tiny pixel of the ink on the start of this story; if this story were in a book 1,000 pages long. Earth has been around a long time.
When we did visit, all that was here, back then, was a very large marl pit, behind a Lowe’s Shopping Center in Mantua, New Jersey. At the time, to us, yet another O’Life WTF Mysterious America thing. We went down with Dr. O’Life anyway only to meet another doctor!
It was ‘Community Day’ and we got a chance to poke around in the marl, under the watchful eye of Dr. Kenneth Lacovara. He had his hands full with dozens of kids running around and digging in the quarry, yet when Shira unearthed a small, oddly shaped stone, she approached Dr. Lacovara and asked what he thought. Let’s remember just who Dr. Kenneth Lacovara is. He was not just a kind man, with letters after his name, who was poking around in the dirt, who loved kids and sharing his bountiful knowledge. Okay, he is
daytrip ideas to get out of the daily grind
that. But he might want to add GOAT at the end of those other letters. This man discovered the Titanosaur, the Dreadnought, the world’s biggest dinosa r a ovara as art o the team that n overe the ara ititan the first discovered in Egypt. He also has peeled back time in China and other parts of the globe. He has received the Explorers Club’s Highest Medal. He is the man. He is the Jordan, the Ali, the Agostini… of the Dino world!
He looked at the stone, eyes widened as he took it, and rolled it around in his fingers smi e s rea a ross his a e an he oo e an to hira she had just found an oyster. An oyster that was 65 million years old. Sixty-Five!
The redhead was shocked, but even more when Lacovara winked at her and told her to put it in her pocket. It now rests against our megalodon tooth.
At that time, Dr. Lacovara had talked to us a bit, and about the possibility of a museum being built at the quarry, to celebrate the incredible discoveries found here in a quarry that, until recently, had been used for ma ing ater rifi ation s stems by the Inversand Company factory atop the ridge.
It was a fascinating and happy day for us.
A few years later, we got word that Rowan University had joined in on the thoughts of a museum, and Rowan University alumni Ric and Jean Edelman had stepped up with $25 million to make it happen.
These two seem to make a lot of good things happen, and cannot be thanked enough.
Now, just ten years later, we rode up a nicely paved divided road to a series of parking lots, and atop the small ridge, just a bit from where the old factory once stood, we found the new Edelman Fossil Park Museum. Wow… this was impressive. But it would get better.
Like most public facilities, the museum had a notice that they were SmokeFree and Weapons-Free, but added they were also Asteroid-Free for the last 66 Million Years. Funny, and good to know. I walked back to the bike to stash my cigs and Glock. I considered keeping my helmet, but what were the odds?
We expected good, but what we found exceeded expectations it was pure excellence and a bit more.
Entrance and checking in was a bit more Jetson than Flintstone, but we Medicarsauruses muddled though the touch screens and entered the museum.
Welcoming us were large dinosaur skeletons suspended from the ceiling, and strolling into the large gallery, we were both taken aback but what we saw. Many dino-museums give you the basic facts that we all know here at the Edelman Museum, you will pick up so much more. Here you learn about these creatures lives, and how they lived them. How they would survive, or how they would not, and, for us, one of the most important facts was how much our home state of New Jersey played such an important part in the world of the dinosaurs, and our knowledge of them today. e have eat re the a rosa r s the first rea i-
nosaur discovered just 11 miles from the museum, in a onfie so e e e te to earn a it more a o t Haddie but the replicas here at the museum were on a different level than any we had seen previously and we have seen a lot of them. The Hadrosaurus was there, ready to protect her young from the dangerous Dryptosaurus New Jersey’s original apex predator. This as the first rea ranosa r s a arnivoro s thero o dinosaur here in New Jersey, and it was found just a mile from the museum. There were many more to be discovered, but for me it was the monstrous Mosasaurus - a huge beast that ruled the oceans. More than 50 feet long, its huge tail could accelerate it from zero to
30 miles an hour in one second. That is as quick as a Rimac C, the $200K electric super car.
Moving on, we slipped into a group that was being given a private showing of the research center, which was especially exciting to get so close to the real deal and their Meg teeth were far better than ours.
There was plenty else to see at the Edelman Fossil Park Museum, including the marl pit where you can still dig and search for your own fossils, a great wall which brings you to the edge of the forest and ocean during the
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Morton’s BMW Motorcycles presents Dr. Seymour O’Life’s MYSTERIOUS AMERICA
sa-sa-na memorial
The FiRST MonUMenTToa naTive aMeRican WoMan eveRgReen ceMeTeRY, oWego, neW YoRk
There have been, and will sadly be, more monuments to horrible events. Most are created from a feeling of civic duty. Some have a need for closure. Atop a high hill, overlooking the broad river valley below, in the town of Owego, New York, stands a 17-foot white marble obelisk.
Inscribed on it are the words: A Daughter of the Forest, By Adoption a Child of God. his is the fina resting a e o a o ng oman named Sa-Sa-Na Loft, a Mohawk native. That inscription refers to Sa-Sa-Na’s conversion to Christianity, which is what would ultimately bring her to Owego.
She, with her brother and sister, were singers known through the region for their melodic and wondrous voices. The three performed at the Oquaga House on Front Street in Deposit, New York, over the last weekend, and that Monday boarded the train to move on with the busy schedule of upcoming performances in other New York towns.
They were traveling around singing and entertaining in an attempt to raise money to translate the Bible into the Mohawk language.
The Lofts gave two concerts in Owego, staying as guests in the home of a prominent judge, har es ver hen the finishe in ego
the trio boarded a train and headed to their next tour stop in Deposit. They played one concert there and, the next day, were scheduled to travel to their next destination. That’s when disaster struck.
On a cold morning, February 17th, 1852, a mail and freight train, that was sharing the single line with the passenger trains, was on the Main Line, rolling down from Gulf Summit, New York simply called The Summit. The passenger train was standing along a siding in the town, and the two should never have shared the same track but, sadly, the switch to keep the freight train off the siding was never thrown.
There is a fortunate side to this sad tale, as most of the passengers and crews of both trains were enjoying lunch in the town, when the heavy freight train began to slowly slide backwards down the hill.
It was a high hill, and a good distance from the Deposit train depot. The conductor, Mr. Maston, as on the at orm an the first to see the train rolling down the hill, gathering more and more speed. An awful smash was inevitable, and Maston gave alarm, shouting at the top of his voice for all passengers to clear the cars then immediately, with much presence of mind (knowing that the engineer was from his post), sprang upon the engine and, in the instant, gave it the whole head of steam. This being so sudden and powerful it detached the engine from the train.
The entire train rolled away from the impact and made the shock much less than if the train had been at a dead standstill.
Still, this move was too late for the unfortunate ones who were in the last car, except for a few who were near the doors and jumped before the crash.
According to a letter from Reverend Chester N. Shew…
“Language is inadequate to express the appearance of the wreck. The engine run its whole length into the hind car tearing and sundering everything before it, the oors seats in o s ere s ivere finer than kindling wood. Oh! Oh! It was the awfulest scene that I ever witnessed and perfectly indescribable.”
One of the many dead was Sa-Sa-Na Loft. Her death, which was also described, was far too awful to repeat in Mysterious America, and will haunt me for some time, I think. But know, with train wrecks back
then, there was tearing metal, crushing wood, and steam a lot of steam. It was awful.
After the carnage and stunned disbelief had settled, there came word that Sa-Sa-Na’s family wished to make arrangements to bring her home, but Judge Avery intervened, and as the entire town of Owego was also crushed by this tragedy, he offered to bury Sa-Sa-Na in the most beautiful location atop the hill in Evergreen Cemetery where she could be above all, for as far as the eye could see, forever.
The family agreed, and to this day, Sa-Sa-Na Loft rests beneath this beauti memoria he ver first s h mon ment to a ative meri an oman in the United States given to her and the Mohawk people by kind, white Christians who felt all the pain, and simply wanted to do right by Sa-SaNa, and God.
Visit Sa-Sa-Na, it is a stunning and serene hill and vista, and will give you some time to wonder of the good things in this Mysterious America.
O’Life Out! ,
Wayside inn
7783 Main ST, MiddleToWn, va 22645 540-869-1797 • www.thewaysideinn1797.com
There are not many inns that can honestly state that they have been operating for more than two centuries, through three North American wars in the same location; a location that is steeped in history. But The Wayside Inn, in Middletown, Virginia, can say just that. Before the birth of our nation, the inn had its beginnings as a waystation and stagecoach stop. As the Valley Pike (now Route 11) was developed, the inn became a busy relay station for stagecoaches, where weary passengers could refresh themselves while horses were changed.
Back then, local boys were hired to scan the hills for a sign of travelers and the dust rising along the trail running through the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley. If they did, they’d skedaddle back to “The Kitchen” at the stop, and by the time travelers had arrived, they had a meal prepared and waiting. At this time it was a ‘drive-in’ as horse and carriage pulled up to the window and were handed their meal. It since has been enclosed as part of the tavern.
The Old Kitchen soon had a tavern and was the main “watering hole” for the growing hamlet that would become Middletown.
As the years went on, the nation was born, and in addition, the original kitchen was expanded, which is still to be seen at the center of the Wayside. In 1797, it became known as Wilkinson’s Tavern.
Years later, the British tried to halt the westward expansion of the United States, and the Wayside still remained open and grew.
In 1842, the bar at the inn became known as Larrick’s Tavern. The Wayside was known for its hospitality and style. he thir ar o r ivi ar ha o fi ers rom oth the orth an o th spend time at the inn but not at the same time obviously.
During the Civil War, the Wayside Inn played a unique role in providing shelter, food, and fellowship for Union and Confederate forces. The inn was even used as a makeshift hospital for wounded soldiers, but it was untouched, even if the region was at war.
As times changed, and cars replaced horses, the inn changed a bit too, e oming one o the first g est ho ses to a tive ater to ami ies an sinessmen traveling through the area, crossing north and south on Route 11.
We have passed by the Wayside many times, always noting how the sign almost looked out of place next to the beautiful colonial-era buildings. This sign was created by then-owner Leo Bernstein, a Washington D.C. real estate eve o er one o the first to see that ars an trave ma e a rofita e combination.
ernstein’s in en e on the region is egen ar e a so r hase an
refurbished the local theatre, also called Wayside, and had a young Peter o e ta e the stage that first season o o e over the ears another bunch of nobodies like Susan Sarandon, Kathy Bates, Sam Gold, Kathryn Damon. Not done yet this man went on to restore numerous other properties in the area, including the Hotel Strasburg, Stonewall Jackson Museum, and Crystal Caverns in Strasburg, the Battletown Inn in Berryville, and the Bure organ i in i oo t as this in en e an investment in the to n that t rne the a si e aro n an rovi e a h ge finan ia oost to the town and the surrounding areas. Without this purchase, we wonder if the Wayside, or Middletown, would still be here.
But they are.
We were greeted by Wayside manager Brittany, who was happy to give us a tour.
I was expecting a bit of rundownseenbetterdays, but was happy to see this was not the case.
Does the Wayside have some season to it? Of course it does, it’s two and a half centuries old but it is still pretty damn good looking for a gal her age. (Ahh, a collective gasp from my feminist friends)
The “Old Kitchen” still takes front and center stage in the center of the inn, and alongside is the bar and newly opened restaurant called Clem’s Kitchen. Each of the 22 rooms are beautifully appointed, and ours was far larger than e e te ith a sitting room an arge athroom that ha a oor ti e back when they cemented each little tile one-by-one.
The bed was very comfortable, and even though the inn is right on Route
11, the Wayside was a quiet and comfortable stay.
There were a few pianos, about all in tune, but sadly no guitars (innkeeper take note).
There were several sitting rooms, one even considered the Gentlemen’s Sitting Room (another gasp?), The innkeeper joked that it was because of the stuffed animals here.
he i e or h as ver inviting an the o ee first thing in the morning was a welcome sight, as was the more than ample parking for one or two dozen motorcycles.
But there are two strange things of note. One being a large enclosed wooden relief of mounted soldiers called Aigues-Mortes. It is very old, and stunning in its small details. It was from Aigues-Mortes that King Louis IX launched one of the Crusades, and though the town was known for other things, torture (ask the Templars), and most of all salt, we think this great piece of art depicts the Crusaders departing the city. We are not sure why this relief is here, but it is, and it is fascinating. The other thing we might want to mention, especially in this Halloween month, is that the Wayside just might be a bit haunted. Okay, a lot haunted. With well over 200 years in the mirrors, you have to expect this. ests an sta mem ers have e t o s ots i ering lights, and ghostly footfalls along empty corridors. Its Civil War history, tales of tragedy, and tales of previous owners’ legends have all lent the inn its haunted reputation. Most of the spirits are friendly ones, while others are simply curious. We stayed in the infamous Room #14. We made it a point to be friendlier than Casper to any spirits there, and we were, sadly, not bothered in the least.
The Wayside is an interesting part of America’s travel and lodging history the fact that it is still here and thriving is amazing all by itself.
If riding the region, we can highly recommend a night in the nation’s oldest inn. ,
t’s har fin ing great han ma e i e ream er sing the o ’ ists fin that there are more that have been to than haven’t. When we are on road trips, Brian has a een e e or s otting i e ream signs in a ash an it’s hit or miss whether they make their own ice cream or not. If a shop or stand is in a great riding location, has a ‘schtick’ or unique offering or is just a very cool spot, I can absolutely overlook the use of another ice cream producer being ‘hand scooped’. I know that Hershey’s is going to be good, and when a local dairy is supplying the shop, that works for me. I know that there is ‘not so good’ handmade ice cream out there, but when the effort is put in to produce something original, there are points scored.
Help from our readers is always appreciated. I recently received a suggestion from Joe Burke for a shop in Hopatcong, NJ. Looking up their website, I saw some very tantalizing avors oste a sti note on m om ter so as not to forget. It seemed like every time I looked at it and thought, ‘Let’s go today’ it was Sunday, the one day they are not open. he a fina a eare hen e ere hea ing in that irection, sort of, during the week. It also happened to be the week of the Sussex County State Fair, which can cause chaos ith tra fi hea ing north on o te o r s a a home from ‘down below.’ Being creative, we vectored towards the Lake Hopatcong area and True Vine Ice Cream. The Lake Hopatcong area has always been a fun place to ride. The circuitous route around the lake, with its sometime tight curves and changes in elevation, is entertaining. With the summer gone, as are the lake crowds, you’ll have a very pleasant ride and an even more pleasant visit to True Vine.
On this warm summer weekday, we made our way around the lake to River Styx Road. I always thought this an odd name for such a benign road, but I sup pose that during the summer many who travel it may think they are on the boundary between the world of the living and the underworld due to the congestion. We parked in front of the shop, which is easily found on the point West and River Styx Road. True Vine is an open and colorful space with hand-drawn artwork on the walls, as well as their menu board. Owners Ken and Cecilia Steup have created a place to relax and enjoy their wonderful ice cream. Ken and Cecilia have a passion for food; Ken discovering his while working in the kitchen of a confection shop during high school and later as a cook in the military and Cecilia through a family of cooks and bakers as well as working at Fresh Fields (now Whole Foods). Their love for ice cream started early, and they even had their first ate in an i e ream sho hen the became serious about the path to an ice cream shop, they attended Scoop School and Penn State University’s Ice Cream Short Course. With the business of ice cream understood, they went on to the reative art o eve o ing ni e avors onsisten an high a it deliciousness. This is all represented in their motto: Love Ice Cream, with the True Vine name coming from John 15:1-8. avors rom antasti a to o n the a it o e ami iar avors i e Tahitian Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry as creamy and smooth as you can imagine, Brown Butter Pecan Pralines and Dulce De Leche to tickle o r s eet tooth an or hata a e i an avor ith a ri hness o the
est ri e ing o o ing i e o ’ fin iger ai oo
Orange ice cream with a licorice caramel swirl, Key
Lime Pie with graham cracker crust mixed in, Winter Wonderland, coconut ice cream with toasted coconut, white chocolate chips and marshmallows and Don’t Fear the Reaper, a lushly dark chocolate ice cream with Carolina Reaper Powder. When I saw this I thought of my brother, who would make ice cream to hurt you, with hot peppers and such. Ken assured me that, while the Carolina Reaper is a hot pepper, this ice cream packed a bite but not enough to devour your taste buds. I took his word and had a taste the chocolate was delightful and the spice at the end was absolutely present, but not overwhelming.
s an ones rom s gar to a e to iege a e a resh ma e ea ti arm e gian a e ha to tr this an to e it ith a scoop each of Winter Wonderland and Raspberry Cheesecake. Brian had a a e one ith a s oo ea h o or hata an o ee he or hata was as good as any ice cream I have ever tasted, but I am a huge fan of ri e ing he o ee taste i e the first si o resh re e morning o ee ish ith a e an i e ream ma e me soooo ha that we decided to have ice cream for lunch. The Raspberry Cheesecake was sweet and tart, with bits of cheesecake spread throughout and the coconut of the Winter Wonderland went perfectly with it. The warmth o the a e soa e the avors in a the noo s an rannies ma ing it most decadent.
True Vine’s toppings are too numerous to name. Their portions are genero s he a so serve mi sha es s n aes oats an resh ma e i e cream sandwiches. There is seating both in and out.
Here’s a 90-mile route showing off the beauty of Lake Hopatcong and the surrounding area. True Vine is a lovely spot to relax afterwards with a perfect scoop, or three. Enjoy and peace be with you, today and always. , Download .gpx here: www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/hdl4ug
This has been a strange year in the northeast. Wet spring, blistering hot start of the summer, which worked its way to a rather pleasant last few weeks leading into the no fi ia s i e home or s mmer
What you hold in your hands is our October edition and that means nature is getting ready to squeeze her tubes of vibrant paints, and get her brushes ready to stroke the season’s foliage with subtle shades, and coruscating hues of chromatism and light.
With Mother Nature being such an artist, this was almost called Pacing Picasso, or simply Van Goin’!
To me, artists had names like Adams, Frazetta, and ir these g s ta e a sma orner o the o fi e (my corner), but Shira has a different take on artistry, and Van Gogh’s Irises take up one entire hallway here at Backroads Central. Claude Monet once exclaimed, “Color is my day long obsession, joy and torment.”
Such a wonderful, deep artist. But then again, did Monet ever save the planet from Galactus? Exactly. Sticking with art, it takes many forms, and this time aro n the s n e’ eat re five great a es to see different art and, with a little mapping effort, you can sha e the a to them ith the est an rightest fireworks of this year’s autumnal intensity. Enjoy the art and your ride.
skylands museumoF art
15 RoUTe 15, laFaYeTTe, nJ 973-729-3323 • www.skylandsmuseum.org
This museum is deceptively larger than it looks, and every time we have visited, we are amazed at the won-
derful, paintings, sculptures and variety of art to be found right here in Sussex County, New Jersey. Their founders Ailene Fields and Neil Zukerman have created a worldass art e erien e in a region fi e with corns, pumpkins and cows. Best of all here in the Skylands of New Jersey there are a plethora of roads to bring you to and from this superb artistic destination, as well as some great restaurants too.
opus s culpture park
356 geoRge Sickle Road, SaUgeRTieS, nY 845-246-3400 • opus40.org
It has been a long time since we featured this stunning work of earth, stone and art snoozled in the heart of the New York’s Catskill Mountains. Opus 40 is a monumental environmental sculpture rising out of an aban-
doned bluestone quarry at the foot of Overlook Mountain in Saugerties, New York. It is all the work of one man: the sculptor Harvey Fite. Extending over more than six acres, with thousands of tons of exquisitely laid dry stone walling, Opus 40 is one of the most extraordinary attractions in the Hudson Valley.
Rolling Stone describing it as “the best outdoor performance venue in the Northeast.” We are just going to say that a visit here during the height of the fall colors will be a long-cherished memory.
Opus 40 is that special.
an oGh’s loWers at the neW york Botanical arden 2900 SoUTheRn blvd., bRonx, nY • 718-817-8700 • www.nybg.org
Since 1891 the famed Botanical Gardens in the Bronx have had millions of visitors strolling its impressive 250-acres. Yes, it does entail a ride into the Bronx, but this exhibit is worth it, and coming in from the north is a very doable thing on a nice day.
Be creative.
This entire summer the gardens have been dedicated to the Dutch painter, and have become a canvas for the colorful brush strokes of one of the or ’s most revere artists r ama ing to fin o rse immerse in stunning botanical displays and large-scale art as you wander through a reathta ing a n o mon menta s n o ers an see the e ressive master ie es oom in re reations ma e o iving o ers
ladeW topiary ardens 3535 JaRReTTSville pike, MonkTon, Md 410-557-9466 • www.ladewgardens.com
Located in Monkton, Maryland, Ladew Topiary Gardens is a historical sanctuary of ever-changing beauty, with 22 acres of award-winning gardens, over 100 topiary sculptures, a historic Manor House, and a mile-long Nature Walk.
Every place has history, but these gardens have an interesting one. The Ladew Gardens estate is a living testament to the vision and creativity of Harvey S. Ladew. Born into wealth in 1886, Ladew was an avid fox hunter whose love for the sport and the Maryland countryside led him to purchase the Pleasant Valley Farm in 1929. The farm, which eventually became Ladew Gardens, provided the ideal canvas for blending his passion for gardens and architecture, transform-
ing it into a historical landmark of natural beauty and cultivated elegance. Ladew was a recipient of several awards throughout his lifetime. He was the Master of the Elkridge-Harford Hunt for several years, and he received the Distinguished Service Medal of the Garden Club of America for his “great interest in developing and maintaining the most outstanding topiary in Amer-
ica, without professional help.” A lifelong bachelor, Ladew died on July 28, 1976, in Monkton, Maryland, at 89. Today it remains a superb riding destination in Free State, just south of The Line.
enimore art museum 5798 nY RoUTe 80, coopeRSToWn, nY 607-547-1400 • fenimoreartmuseum.org
Did we save the best exhibit for last?
Spaceman Spiff, the Zorkons, Mrs. Wormwood, the dreaded Susie.
If these names mean some thing to you then you know we are talking about Calvin Hobbes.
Created by cartoonist Bill Watterson, who stole the hearts (& minds) of readers from introduction to this kid an his imaginar tiger in ate ovem er on he fina stri ran on Sunday, December 31, 1995, depicting Calvin and Hobbes sledding down a snowy hill after a fresh snowfall with Calvin exclaiming “Let’s go exploring!” And we all felt like we lost a part of us.
Nobody has a relationship with a tiger like Calvin has with Hobbes. (Okay, maybe Brian Spenser).
The Fenimore Museum, in Cooperstown, New York, is a stunning art venue, and through the end of December they are holding a special exhibit on the 6-year-old and his stuffed tiger. But from Calvin’s perspective, he is a living, breathing—sometimes even dangerous—tiger. He’s also a best friend, a playmate, a co-conspirator and, occasionally, the voice of reason. The exhibition features original Calvin and Hobbes daily and Sunday strips as well as specialty pieces by Watterson from his collection of more than 3,000 originals housed at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library Museum at The Ohio State University.
This will be a stop for those on our Fall Fiesta Rally when Northward Ho, and on the way back down from the Adirondacks. Don’t be a Zorkon go see this exhibit. Go out and ride! ,
The turning of the leaves and the dip in temperatures are usually a very welcome event, but this year summer, at least in the northeast, was quite stunted. May was full of rain, June and July saw some pretty hot weather, but August was mostly delightful. As I’m writing this during Labor Day weekend, I’ll refrain from predicting what September will bring but, always the optimist, will hope for some more beautiful riding days.
What I know for a fact is that October will bring one of my favorite, very anticipated, events of the year. For the past 10 years, Jeanne and Brad Heinke have been organizing joy in the little burg of Branchville, NJ with their annual Scarecrow exhibition. I have covered this several times in the past during the autumn season, but I’ll refresh or enlighten on the details.
Jeanne and Brad were on vacation on Cape Cod 12 years ago, and, while walking through Sandwich, MA, they admired the array of scarecrows displayed on the sidewalk in front of the stores. Brad mentioned that they could certainly do this in Branchville and, with some brainstorming and ideas in hand, they approached the town council to pitch their idea and receive
approval. They saw their idea reach fruition in October of 2016 with the creativity of 60+ scarecrows designed and built by Branchville’s residents, sinesses an non rofits ith roa treet oo s first on oar in the project. Over the past ten years, this number has grown and in 2024 there were well over 250 scattered throughout Branchville residences, businesses, at Selective Insurance, and in Struck Park, with school kids scarecrows o ating the fie What exactly goes into building a scarecrow display? First of all, thoughts and ideas, a bit of hard work, a lot of creative juices and the love of bringing joy to the whole community and those who visit. The only ‘rules’ for the creation are that it be family-friendly and that a real pumpkin be used for the head. Brad Heinke, a retired carpenter/woodworker, makes all the forms on which the scarecrows are built, from straight-up forms to many customized for different activities and poses, as well as delivering them an i ing them or s hoo an non rofits a ter the estiva is finishe ea arms hose ami roots go a to in sse o nt donates all the pumpkins used for the scarecrow’s heads for the school and non rofits rom then on it’s to the in ivi a s organi ations s hoo and businesses to be as innovative as can be. Over the years, we’ve seen the Beatles Abbey Road cover, the Wizard of Oz, the cast from Peanuts, Amelia Earhart, with airplane, Bob Ross along with his puffy cloud painting, and, one of my personal favorites, Van Gogh’s Starry Night. There have been
too many amazingly awesome single creations, as well as complete scenes, to mention here. I asked Jeanne and Brad which, over the past 10 years, they liked most and, although like children it’s hard to favor, they particularly liked Selective Insurance’s baseball team, complete with suspended ball and all positions covered, as well as a lady in left fie i ing o ers en h spectators featuring Flo from that ‘other’ insurance company.
Jeanne and Brad get into the game as e ith their first creation in 2016 being two scarecrows on a bicycle built for two found in Lafayette out for trash. While not in it for the judging, they are out to be inclusive and to let others know, ‘Hey, let’s get things going!’ Speaking of Selective Insurance, which has been headquartered in Branchville since 1926; they graciously have been the major sponsor since its inception, donating the prize mone hi h goes to first se -
ond and third place and People’s Choice. There is a Photo Bomb contest, sponsored by the Branchville Rotary, which always brings a chuckle. The Branchville Borough Historical Society, of which Jeanne and Brad are active members and ast o fi ers has een a e s onsor for the event, offering their 501c status and keeping the books. Local businesses and the community graciously donate gift cards and such for honorable mention prizes. Jeanne would like to acknowledge each and every person and business who have helped, from gift cards, advertising (Yetter’s Diner posts it on their digital sign), young folks who offer to build scarecrows for those who aren’t able, and the whole community for getting behind this project.
The timing of the Scarecrows is a it i t s a egins ear October with more and more showing up as the judging date draws near. The culmination is just before Halloween, so if you plan to pay to visit, certainly come early and often to see the growth, but if you can only make one visit, wait until the third week of October. Maps are
available on their Facebook page (Branchville Scarecrows) and many of the local businesses have them to hand out or will print them for you. There are some wonderful and varied eateries in the area: Cuban Queen in the center of Branchville, AG Pizza on Mill St, Victoria’s or Yetter’s Diner, Yellow Cottage, Riveria Maya, and Jumboland, all on Route 206, and the Barnyard at Skylands Stadium.
We’ll toss out a couple of routes, one 70 miles from the Bear Mountain Bridge and one 100 miles from Hermy’s BMW / Triumph in Port Clinton, PA. Enjoy the ride, Branchville and the 10th annual Scarecrow exhibit. Shira Kamil ,
Hermy’s BMW / Triumph, Port Clinton PA to Branchville NJ: www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/y2i4wt
Bear Mountain Bridge to Branchville NJ: www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/8sywqm
i s i e the non rofit organi ation on a mission to tea h ever indergartner in America how to ride a bike, announced a partnership with children’s book authors Nancy Gerloff and Mark Augustyn, creators of the popular book series Mimi and Moto, to further inspire young cyclists.
hen an er o an ar g st n first connected with Ryan in 2017 he taught them that ‘bicycles are the gateway to motorcycles’. Since the goal of Mimi and Moto is to get more kids excited about motorcycles, it is imperative that we get them e ite a o t ri ing i es first heir new Bikes book is a ‘prequel’ to their Adventures book and shows Mimi and Moto before they rode motorcycles.
Describing the project, Nancy Gerloff says, “Our goal has always been to inspire a love of riding from the very beginning.”
“Partnering with All Kids Bike is an honor and ee s i e a er e t fit e e ieve ever hi sho have the han e to e erien e the onfidence and joy that comes from learning to ride,” continues Mark Augustyn.
“Mimi and Moto bring the joy of learning to ride a bike to life through vibrant storytelling that mirrors the excitement we see in classrooms across the country,” comments Lisa Weyer, the executive director of All Kids Bike.
The fourth book in the series, Mimi and Moto Learn to Ride Bikes , is designed to inspire preschool and kindergarten-aged children (4 to 6) as they discover the joy of learning to ride bikes.
“These lovable characters don’t just teach kids how to ride, they inspire them to believe in themselves,” summarizes Ryan McFarland, founder of Strider Bikes and All Kids Bike, in his foreword to the book. “I was honored to work with Nancy and Mark on this story. We’re looking forward to building lifelong habits of movement onfi en e an a vent re ith he rom Mimi and Moto.”
Starting in the 2025–2026 school year, All Kids Bike will include a copy of Mimi and Moto Learn to Ride Bikes with every new Kindergarten Learn-To-Ride Program delivery. The integration of this engaging and relatable story supports All Kids Bike’s mission by helping children connect to the experience of disover hi e rein or ing the o an onfi en e that comes from learning how to ride.
“Just like our All Kids Bike Kindergarten PE Learn-to-Ride Program, this book encourages children to embrace the fun and freedom of two wheels. We’re thrilled to support resources that spark imagination and reinforce the importance of active lifestyles at an early age.”
We have featured Ryan and All Kids Bike in our pages before. Please visit www.striderbikes.com and allkidsbike.org to see the amazing work Ryan and his team are doing to get our youth on two wheels.
We have also featured Tucker reading the other Mimi and Moto Adventure books, and now he is on his way to riding a bicycle; ‘Learn to Ride’ will only get him more excited to be on his way to two wheels.
Get Mimi and Moto Learn to Ride Bikes here, as well as all the other great Motorcycle Monkey books: mimiandmoto.com
Okay, we ain’t yo mamma…but we will toss out a few ideas for this year’s a iesta an that i give o a n h o ee s to e i e hat oats your boat. Here are some suggestions.
Calvin & Ho es
The Fenimore Museum will be holding its Calvin Hobbes exhibit during this weekend. In addition to the museum, Cooperstown is… well, it’s COOPERSTOWN!
A Baseball mecca; and the Hall of Fame is awesome, as are all the tiny shops and one of the smallest diners on the planet.
ma on si e ig on avor
Fa into the Gap • Gr n Mountains of Vermont
Located in Camel’s Hump, Vermont’s largest state park, the Appalachian Gap is a very popular motorcycle roadway, and offers excellent views of the Champlain Valley, Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains from the summit (2,375 feet), and along the way. The ride from either side up Route 17 is several miles with sustained pitches of 15% plus. From New York, after crossing the Lake Champlain Bridge, it
runs east for about 40 miles, but it is the eastern parts of the road that offer all the fun. If you are seeking lunch, or need to have the best Maple Milkshake on the planet, then head south about 27 miles on Route 100 to the Rochester Café.
Here is where your day can get interesting. Yes, it will involve an unpaved, but ridden and driven daily, road. The Lincoln Gap. This narrow, twisty road is a fun challenge for those who don’t mind a little gravel in their travel. Okay, there is this little fact that we should toss out. It is the number 24 and we don’t mean Willie’s Mays or Byron. The paved side of this mountain road runs on a 24% grade, making it the steepest paved road in the United States.The steepest road in America. One side paved. One not.
Pepe T. Monkey asks, “What could possibly go wrong?”
For this use the Gravel Route: www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/hxs9sf
Or stick with the Paved Route that will bring you west over Scenic Route 125, then back across into New York State and the 25th Century. Download Paved Route: www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/4qcszm
Starship Enter ise - e Original Series Set
In the Lake Champlain town of Tion eroga o i fin a etailed recreation of the Desilu Stage 9 studio where the original Star Trek eries as fi me i ense CBS Consumer Products, the only one on the planet! Well, there is one on Talos IV be nobody can go there. But here in Ticonderoga James Cawley has spent decades faithfully rebuilding the sets just as they would have been seen 60 years ago when the series as eing fi me o i ee like you are on the Bridge, Engineering and Sick Bay. We have been here a number of times, and if you are a fan of TOS then make the Star Trek TOS a stop this Fall Fiesta you do not even have to slingshot around the sun… just ride your motorcycle. o i fin it as inating Ride Long and Excelerate.
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Cretaceous Period, that ended with a city size asteroid slamming into the Gulf off the Mexican coast, and which was featured in an amazing video here at the museum. There is a café and a gift shop, as well as a dinosaur playground, for the young and those of heart. New Jersey has waited a long time for a museum like this…. 65,000,000 years and a couple of days, I think. Dr. Lacovara and team should be very proud of what has become of that marl pit behind a Lowe’s deep in southern New Jersey, and for its monument to the region’s amazing and ancient history. If you are a dinopersonanaurus the Edelman Fossil Park Museum is for you. ,
BiG city etaWay
The Law Office of Paul Gargiulo, P.C. presents
Welcome to the Jungle - The Art of Learning to Ride Skillfully
A column dedicated to your riding survival
ettinG to carneGie hall
How many times have you been on approach to one of your favorite few miles of roadway, maybe along some twisty backroads that you know like the back of your hand, and as you come over a rise, there is one car or pickup truck driving at 10 miles under the limit?
This occurs with some regularity, so much so that we have come to think it is a ee tate ot against s ersona i t re a om ter fi e ar oom ith en in a e t mani ating tra fi around us.
“Okay, Corolla - old man with hat, make a left in 3,2,1…Now, plumber’s truck, pull in front of those idiots from the right, on my mark, and hit the brakes!”
Another younger female technician calls out, “All looks good, Colonel satellite shows they have just had to slow by 15 mph! His vitals read elevated epinephrine, angst, and general pissed-offedness. Hers are off-the-charts.”
“Good job, crew… good job. Keep them slow and steaming.”
Okay, maybe that is really not happening, but we tend to notice the slight disappointments in life, and rarely the little wins.
wheel tagged something on the road, which caused some major trajectory iss es hat irginia mo ntain s ee er instant transmogrifie rom st another practice curve into a rabid and snapping dragon with sharp teeth that looked very much like stainless steel guard rails. The bike went from ‘on rails’ to on a water slide.
If this were Hollywood, we’d stop this incident in mid-frame and have the announcer, Morgan Freeman, describe what was happening, and what could occur - twice.
I have taken to softly accepting when I have keenly oblivious drivers in front of me, especially on weekends, when they can be literal Sunday Drivers.
Sunday drivers believe the mirrors are for applying makeup and checking their teeth after lunch. They are on a bus or train the other six days of the week.
Knowing, without a foolish pass, that I am stuck, I will try to run through oming rves ith finesse an smoothness t’s i e ra ti e
This practice, all the time mindset, is an ethos I think some of us adopt intuitively. Some riders never think about their actual riding when they are out on the road. They drive their bikes, rather than ride them. They think about their day-to-day lives, their kids and grandkids, or about work, or sports… and their lives that never seem to change. Their skill has never changed either.
Some folks get up every day and hit the gym, happy to push themselves for an hour. Others have to be dragged there. You can pick them out at the gym. The ones making every set or step count the others watching a Tick Tock video.
When Shira and I are riding together, we chat back and forth, and often the talk is about our riding… the line we just took, the braking or trail-braking just used, the deer up on the hill, which could mean there are some more along the roadside using an RCD (Romulan Cloaking Device). We try to stay ‘Situationally Aware.’ Do our minds drift? Sure, on occasion, but for the most part, we are in HPM. (Happy Practice-Mode)
This was on my mind a few months back when we were riding two-up in Virginia, and I asked her... When does practice stop and real life begin? She honestly answered that she did not know. But when it happens, she would tell me.
t as a se fi ing ro heti er min tes ater m i e’s rear
One involves some heavy-duty CGI with the bike, and both Shira and I, having a brutal collision with the dragon-teeth Armco. The other clip was a slow-motion split-screen showing my eyes widening with that WTF shine, and then peeling, and looking far through the turn to the exit of the sweeper… hundreds of feet down the road. The bike safely being brought back under control and trajectory.
There was a LOT of discussion on this incident… as soon as the adrenaline cleared the bloodstream. The WTF realization and effort to recover seemingly happen at the same time. They do not, but in the human scope of time perception, they seem to happen simultane-
So here is the thought for the month.
Ride your machine like every mile, every turn, every acceleration, and braking task matters. Because it does.
Try to fall into the paradigm that practice is fun. Practice is good. Practice can make perfect or as close as you will need to be to make the next practice.
When does practice end and real life begin? I can’t say for sure but you will know it when it does and you’d best have gotten all the practice you can to be ready for it.
Ride far. Ride smart. Ride the Backroads. ,
