Ma & vt

[g®eg]

a bit of dual sport camping....

my wing man (merc) and I headed out to do the Trans Mass and a bit of the puppy dog last weekend.

we probably picked the best weekend we have had so far this year in the North-East, cool & sunny. great riding weather!

texting g/f before heading out

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/2009%20VTMA%20Recce/IMGP4491.jpg

bikes prepped & loaded? check. tunes on? check!

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/2009%20VTMA%20Recce/IMGP4492.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/2009%20VTMA%20Recce/IMGP4493.jpg

life is good!
this beats the heck out of working!

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/2009%20VTMA%20Recce/IMGP4497.jpg

following the GPS we made it here

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00676.jpg

but the bridge was closed.... :(

so we walked across... with the bikes P^

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/2009%20VTMA%20Recce/IMGP4498.jpg

great day / great views

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/2009%20VTMA%20Recce/IMGP4499.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/2009%20VTMA%20Recce/IMGP4502.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00678.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00679.jpg

we were making pretty good time up the Trans Mass when the skies started to get a bit dark. We also needed some fuel. So we stopped at the cow-on-the-roof in Cummington & bought supplies. The ladies there pointed us to an old Mobil station down the street & suggested the DAR State Forest. So off we went.

When we got to the DAR they were full :confused:
But just as we were getting ready to leave... a car pulled out and they said "they checked out early, there is now a camp site for you!" Cool :thumb

we set up the tents

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00680.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00681.jpg

and actually had a camp fire (we generally don't spend the money...)

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00682.jpg

happy to report Merc did not require a doctor after using his hatchet.

checking in with home...

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00683.jpg

after that, the rain started down hard & fast.
we sat under the awning and drank ourselves numb and then hit the hay.

180 odd miles for the day & a really good time!

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/day1.jpg

[g®eg]

Day 2

did I mention it poured down on Saturday night?
as I tried to regain consciousness on Sunday morning all I could hear was rain on my tent... it came in waves and I thought "aw Fudge :p ... just like Gaspe trip last year..." as I sat there though, I realized I could hear the breeze first, and then the rain. I dragged myself out to find clear blue skies and just water being shaken out of the trees P^

sweet!

all packed and ready to rock

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00685.jpg

we rejoined the Trans Mass and continued north along the Green River.

people were really into making these little statues...would this be a cairn? :confused:

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00686.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00687.jpg

into Vermont we see covered bridges (of course)

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00689.jpg

what's that?

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00688.jpg

got $2?

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00690.jpg

I guess that's yes

we stopped at a "Scottish Pub" for lunch.... and the waitress ordered out for her food. :confused:

I had the bangers and mash... pretty good stuff (needed gravy though).
bikes look happy

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00691.jpg

chillin' at the Townsend Dam

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/2009%20VTMA%20Recce/IMGP4509.jpg

so we make it into Woodstock for gas and see a grocery store... it's getting late, so we stock up and as we're leaving we see this old girl.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/2009%20VTMA%20Recce/IMGP4511.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/2009%20VTMA%20Recce/IMGP4512.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j203/Mercury264/2009%20VTMA%20Recce/IMGP4513.jpg

we couldn't get over how big it was. No idea what it was....

we hit the Quechee State Park for the night, really nice place! In no time at all we are:
unpacked
set up
drinking!P^

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00692.jpg

bikes tucked away

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00693.jpg

so... since he survived the hatchet.. Merc decides to try his luck with gasoline. "I've not brought this grill all the way up here to not try it out...."

hang on, let me get my camera and step back....

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00697.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00698.jpg

happy to report... no 911 call here either.

burgers on P^

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00699.jpg

serious drinking & eating ensued


http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/day2.jpg

the day was about 170 miles & perfect weather :thumb

[g®eg]

last day.. heading home :(

so, we should have kept going north, and we'd still be riding, because as Merc says "working is a mug's game" (or something along those lines).

but we're happy enough in the morning

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00702.jpg

fresh OJ, coffee and bacon butties

we dial up "shortest route" and set off. 175 miles for me back home, and we end up on 5 south through VT onto 12 in NH and then 140 through MA and into RI.

not many pics on the return journey... bit boring anyway.

the route:

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/day3.jpg

and the tale of the weekend:

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc125/Gregory_Jarvis/recce%2009/DSC00707.jpg

good times P^

[Trailace]

Great start! P^

Will you share your tracks for this ride when your done? My brother lives in MA and might be in the area someday.

[Chief]

That looks like a great ride and ya'll eat good on the dualies.P^
When I camped with Trailace last year on the TAT all he fixxed was Dinty Moore beef stew!:eek:

[g®eg]

Great start! P^

Will you share your tracks for this ride when your done? My brother lives in MA and might be in the area someday.


I can send the gamin Route data for the Trans Mass Trail & the southern part of VT's puppy dog trail. No problem.

[Black and Blue]

Chief
You know I'm getting to think that when Trailace goes for a ride everything else is just a distraction to him, including eating.:p He just wants to ride.:D

[NewEngland Jim]

Great pics, what part of RI are you from. I live in north county. I didn't realize there were any places you could off road along the Ma/vt boarder. BTW what is the trans /Ma. ?

[Trailace]

I can send the gamin Route data for the Trans Mass Trail & the southern part of VT's puppy dog trail. No problem.
You can Attach the file to this Thread. If you need help let me know.

[g®eg]

You can Attach the file to this Thread. If you need help let me know.


garmin route attached
P^