0
so i was blasting down rte 9 from amherst towards pittsfield today on my SVS and i figured i'd turn around before i got too far to make it back in the sunlight (was wearing my dark-smoked lid). before i turned around, i had ridden past what looked like a cool road (well paved, interesting undulation, etc), so i made a mental note to check it out on my way back.
anyhow, so i turned around, and on the way back i remembered to check it out. i think it was Stage Road, but i have no idea what town i was in -- i was able to see probably 1/4mi of it from riding past it on rte 9, and after going past that originally visible part, the road started to get a bit more sandy and had some steep inclines/declines. i peeled off from the fellow on a smaller BMW bike i had been tailing/riding with for a little while, chicaned my way left over the double yellow and then right, across the kink, and down the road.
i kept riding for another mile or so, past a closed dirt road next to a decently sized field on the left, before coming to a a really steep crest. i slowed down a bit, since i wasn't sure what the condition of the road would be and there was no way i could see it (particularly out in the middle of nowhere, fun roads have a nasty habit of going around a blind turn and then instantly turning into washboarded sandy-dirt crap-road extraordinaire.). sure enough, 15 feet past the top of the hill, the road turned into hard-packed dirt and looked like it ended at a farm. i figured i'd turn around and just head back, since it was getting a little brisk with all my vents open.
as i was coming back down the surprisingly steep, sand-covered grade, i looked to my right and in the field i had passed a few minutes earlier, was a group of 6 small deer. i was just letting the v-twin do it's thing, engine-braking in 2nd gear and coasting at probably 15mph. i squeezed the brakes and figured i might as well turn down that closed road that past by the field before being blocked off by large concrete slabs.
as i approached, the group looked at me, likely wondering wtf the alien-looking thing perched on some beautiful crimson blob making all this noise was and what was it doing. they didn't run, though, and i pulled to a stop probably 75yds from them and waited for them to go back to grazing before i hit the kill switch and threw down the kickstand.
i hopped off, looking at them as they looked at me, and slowly hopped across the run-off ditch separating the field from the dirt road. i tried to make my approach as non-threatening as possible, and ended up getting to within probably 50ft of them before stopping. one or two of them kept looking at me, while the rest ambled around the brush. i took my helmet off and i guess the sight of my ugly mug spooked em, cuz 4 of them took off, prancing in lazy arches up into the woods beyond. i sorta held my hands up in apology to the remaining 2, and turned around to walk back to my bike.
when i looked back after putting the key in, the two that had stuck around were gracefully hopping into the trees. wish i had gotten some pictures, but my cell doesn't have a zoom, and i don't like carrying a digicam around with me on the bike.
just thought i'd share -- kinda a surreal experience, one that you don't really get the chance to have when you're on 4 wheels.
anyone else have any cool stories?
~spicy
edit: pics for your viewing pleasure
Reply With Quote
