Bayley-Hazen ride Sunday?

[markbvt]

Hey kids, any of you more adventurous types feel like exploring the Bayley-Hazen Military Road on Sunday? This ride is mostly dirt roads, so it'll work best for those who have a dual-sport they can ride, but street bikes will do fine too as long as you take it easy. It's a fun, very scenic ride along a Revolutionary War road.

We're meeting at 7:45 at the Trader Duke's/Doubletree Hotel parking lot on Williston Rd in South Burlington on Sunday morning (June 7). We'll ride east on Rt 2 (pace will be casual because some of us will be on dual-sports), then in Barre take Rt 302 over to Wells River and stop off at the P&H Truckstop for breakfast. After breakfast we'll hop on the Bayley-Hazen Military Road where it starts in Wells River and follow it all the way up to Montgomery, then head home from there.

Let me know if you want to join us.

--mark

[highsider]

This is an *awesome* ride. I did it a couple years ago.

When I get my work schedule, if I have Sunday off, I'll be in.

[SVenpointsixtwo]

I'm definitely interested, no dual-sport though... good thing the SV likes to get dirty! I gotta check my schedule for next week first.

[SVenpointsixtwo]

I have to work at 3:30 on sunday. Will we be back by then probably or would that be cutting it too close?

[markbvt]

My guess is we'd be getting back around then, but the thing about this ride is that we keep crossing over major roads, so you can easily just split off at any point and head home if time is getting tight.

--mark

[markbvt]

Okay, so who's on deck for this? Chris? David? Anyone else? It's a really fun ride and doable on the more upright street bikes.

--mark

[SVenpointsixtwo]

Yup, I'm in! I may have to cut out early if time gets tight, but I'll be there.

[markbvt]

Sounds good, we'll try not to linger long over breakfast. Bring your camera, this ride is super scenic.

--mark

[kbroderick]

Got a guesstimate on time at P&H? I may be in, but I need to get a bit of work done on my bike today and see how things go if I get a ride in tomorrow.

[markbvt]

I'm guessing we'll be at P&H about 9:45ish. We're taking Rt 2 over to Barre because I'll be on my dual-sport, so we'll be a little slower than normal.

And we're having breakfast there, so there will be a good-sized window of time for you to catch up with us.

--mark

[kbroderick]

I'll plan on catching up as you roll through Middlesex; I'm guessing that will be around 8:30, so I'll plan on being at the general store (corner of 2 and 100B) by 8:20. If anything changes, please text me- three two four eight three zero seven).

[highsider]

I has to work. Damn it.

[markbvt]

I'll plan on catching up as you roll through Middlesex; I'm guessing that will be around 8:30, so I'll plan on being at the general store (corner of 2 and 100B) by 8:20. If anything changes, please text me- three two four eight three zero seven).

We're taking Rt 2, so I'm guessing we won't hit Middlesex till closer to 8:45. At any rate, just hang out and we'll catch up to you eventually.

Chris, sorry you can't make it. Another time.

--mark

[catamount]

Anxiously awaiting photos from this ride!

[SVenpointsixtwo]

Awesome, awesome ride today guys! I had a blast despite having to cut out early (perfect timing, just rolling through winooski when it started to rain). Thank you to our fearless leader Markbvt who paved the way (so to speak ) on the SWEET backwoods dirt roads along the way. Here's some of my pics:

The beginning of the B-H military road:




A picturesque photo op:




Mile marker:



Kind of an odd spot for a bridge in the middle of a field:


Roman's sweet F800GS by a memorial stone:

[markbvt]

I need to pull all my pics off the camera, so I'll post them later.

Definitely an awesome ride today. The Bayley-Hazen is a lot of fun and incredibly scenic. I love how riding the dirt roads and really minor paved ones lets you see a whole other side of Vermont.

Also, unpaved twisties are fun.

Major props to David and Kevin for doing this ride on street bikes with street tires -- they did great, even when the surface got really loose. They even survived the Class 4 section (which was gnarlier than I remembered).

After David split off, we headed over Hazen's Notch and I lost Kevin and Roman (sorry again, guys!). We met up again further down the road, then took a bunch of other dirt roads home from Montgomery. I'll put up a map with the full track when I post my pics.

--mark

[catamount]

Roman's sweet F800GS by a memorial stone:

Awesome! I was with you guys in spirit. One of these days I'll have a weekend free.

I googled "Moses Sleeper" and found the story behind the memorial in case you're interested.

http://kingsley.locke.net/gen/sleeper/moses.htm

The Story of Moses Sleeper
September, 1781.

One of the northernmost skirmishes of the Revolutionary War occurred in the town of Greensboro, NH near a block house on the Baley-Hazen Road along Caspian Lake (then called Lake Beautiful).

After the Baley-Hazen Road was completed in 1779, a few block houses were constructed at various intervals along the road to make the route safe for transporting troops and supplies. These structures were garrisoned by American troops from time to time and on various occasions they were attacked by Indian allies of the British who came down along the Hazen road from Canada.

One of these block houses was built in 1779 along the western shore of Caspian Lake, but it remained unoccuppied until the fall of 1781. That summer a number of Indians had attacked Peacham and taken many prisoners back to Canada with them. Somewhat later, the local commandant, Capt. Nehemiah Loveland, sent a scouting party up the Hazen Road as far as Greensboro so as to prevent a repetition of the Peacham raid.

Soon after they arrived at the Greensboro block house in early September, they were surprised while walking near their base by a large band of Indians from Canada. A fierce struggle followed, but the soldiers were badly outnumbered and were soon defeated. The soldiers managed to kill one Indian with their muskets, but the Indians in turn killed two of the soldiers, Constant Bliss and Moses Sleeper, and captured the other two soldiers. Bliss and Sleeper were scalped and abandoned while the other soldiers were taken to a prison in Quebec where they were held until the end of the war.

Today there is a stone marker on the Hazen Road in Greesboro commemorating the courage of the two soldiers, Constant Bliss and Moses Sleeper.

[catamount]

PS: My 91 year old Grandmother was born and grew up in a farmhouse on the Bayley-Hazen road in Ryegate. The farm bordered on Ticklenaked Pond.

Have always wondered how that pond got it's name. I'll have to ask her while I still can.

[SVenpointsixtwo]

They even survived the Class 4 section (which was gnarlier than I remembered).

That was one of my favorite parts! It's decided... I need one of these


or these


or these


or these


or these


ok, enough enduro-porn...

One of the northernmost skirmishes of the Revolutionary War occurred in the town of Greensboro, NH

really?

[markbvt]

Okay, got my pics processed...









Track and stats for the day:



--mark

[markbvt]

I want one of those too. Shame they're not available in North America.

--mark

[MotoFreak]

Hmmmm...maybe I'll sell the pit bike and grab me a duel sport like Mark says I should do...I just want one of everything really!

[markbvt]

Everyone who rides a motorcycle in Vermont should own a dual sport. It pretty much doubles (or more) the amount of roads you can ride and opens up parts of the state that you just don't see otherwise.

It doesn't need to be a true dual sport. Even an old Honda Nighthawk with semi-knobby tires will do.

--mark

[SVenpointsixtwo]

Tell it to my bank account

[kpinvt]

As usual, too late for the party. No you don't need a dual sport to ride that road. I did it June 2008 as part of the Minute Man 1000 on a 2003 Honda Silver Wing scooter. The scooter is gone now having been traded to Max BMW in NY. Here is a link to the page on Max's web page that shows pics of my dearly departed sweetie:

http://www.maxbmwmotorcycles.com/mac...ls.asp?ID=1573

I was busy with the BMW Motorcycle Owners of VT Puppy Dog Ride this past weekend. With no bike to ride I volunteered.