[JeffL]

Did a nice little ride today with Fazerchic (nice to meet you Sarah! ) and had myself a ball. My 2nd day in a week I put some real numbers down mileage wise. The loop we did took us about 140 miles around Northwestern Mass. Weather was better than we both expected and was truly a pleasant surprise.

We started in Greenfield, just off of i-91 at the base of Rt. 2 west. Met at 9:30, but by the time we got going it was 10am.


We made it up route 2 and took a quick stop in Charlemont before hitting the curvy stuff in Savoy. It was here we met a nice gentleman in a late 80's Dodge Caravan with music so loud the speakers couldnt even play it clearly, all while the van sat at an idle burning oil and making a nice blue cloud. I think he was in the rest area washing his clothes in the river but I really couldnt tell.


We hit the curvy stuff heading up through Savoy and Florida and stopped at the East Summit overlook and gift shop for photo ops and bathroom break.

[JeffL]

From Eastern Summit on Rt. 2, we kept heading west and stopped again at "The" hairpin.



For some reason we didnt ride through the hairpin, stopped here at the restaurant halfway through. Afterwards we thought it was kind of silly we didnt ride through it. Then Sarah was too stubby to back her own bike up from where she parked it, so I had to push her out.




Help, I'm stuck!!!!


Nah, it wasnt that bad. Then I got my first taste of "city" driving as we went through the center of N. Adams and made our way over to Rt. 8a to Rt. 8 and finally jumped onto rt. 116 which we rode from Adams all the way down to S. Deerfield. I really cant wait until that road is completely repaved this fall.

[JeffL]

We hit the end of 116 and stopped in S. Deerfield for food and drink. We dined at THE newest Subway grinder shop in alllll of South Deerfield, it was just splendid. I thoroughly enjoyed my turkey sub!



From there we headed on down to the center of Sunderland and made our way up Rt. 47 where we crossed over onto Rt. 63 and cut over some backroads through Leverett and Shutesbury and over onto 202 near the north end of the Quabbin. We headed north on 202 and stopped at a little scenic overlook at the very north end, no water to be seen, but still a nice view.




We then headed back down 202 towards Amherst and Belchertown, and cut down through Pelham into Amherst where we stopped for gas, realized just how late in the afternoon it was getting, and both headed off our own ways.

I shot back up 63 and stopped at a little picnic ground/parking area off 63 near the Connecticut river and took some bike whoring pics.




And then I rode the last 10 miles home and parked the bike and lubed the chain. The end.

[FazerChic]

I'll start throwing mine in. Here's when we first met up in Greenfield. Jeff's putting air in his tires.

By the way, it was nice to meet you Jeff! We'll have to do another ride sometime again soon.

[FazerChic]

Jeff hanging out just taking in that guy's blaring music. What was up with that?

[FazerChic]

At the summit gift shop. What a nice view, kinda hazy though, but can't complain. It didn't rain!

[FazerChic]

Another pic of Jeff at the summit.

[FazerChic]

A nice view of North Adams from the hairpin turn.

[FazerChic]

So my bike was sloped down a little...heavy bike to back up.

Oh is that Jeff smoking??

[FazerChic]

Our bikes resting in the shade off 202. It was starting to get pretty hot by this time.

[FazerChic]

What a nice view from where we took a break, by the Quabbin.

[FazerChic]

Here's when we ended up in Deerfield, and had lunch at Subway.

Is that Jeff smoking again?

[FazerChic]

My final pic of the day. What a great ride we had. The weather turned out great - but got pretty hot and humid. As long as we were moving, it didn't matter.

[JeffL]

So I might have a bad habit

[TLC_CBR]

This has got to be just the cutest little post-ride-report thingy I have evr read. It just makes me want to say aw fuck-it and take a day or two or a week off and ride all over western mass and nh before this NICE SUMMER weather is gone. But then realty slaps me in the face, kicks me in the ass and reminds me my jobs are all two months behind.

Damn I'll just have to keep trying to make it up on my weekend rides!!!!

[bigred875]

not enough pics

[Proulx06]

Cool pics, I love ride reports with pictures. But shame on you two for taking up two parking spots

[Zin]

That's one hot little fizzer right thurr...

Happy to see she's getting put to good use Jeff! Great job bud!

[McBiggity]

nice pics- great ride report-
Jeff- good to see you getting some miles on that bike! and good job on the gear!!

[bump909]

nice.. looks like it was a fun ride! next time you guys are planning a ride, i might have to jump on the opportunity.

[LordZero]

I ride an FZR as well.. and have the same dirty habit... maybe we should go riding together sometime before the end of the summer?

[a13x]

HOw'd you get Sarah's bike up on that rock? That's crazy! must have taken some arm strength

nice pics. fun ride area.

[sportbike1006]

looks like you guys had a nice ride

[JeffL]

I'll be riding to unknown destinations this weekend if anyone wants to join me.

Too bad my MSF lost my certificate in the mail so I have to call for another one. I forgot to prepay.

So as of right now, "legally" speaking, I'm stuck to in-state riding, once I get my full endorsement however, NH, VT and NY here I come.

[ZX-12R]

I hate to be the squidly one here (who am I kidding!) but the little kids love it when you rip a wheelie coming out of the hairpin turn!

The weekend of 8/20 there is a chance I'll be back in the Berkshires. I'll ride with ya!