Riding diminished in the North Country..

Well, winter style weather is here in NH, that means cold and possible snow. This does tend to cut into our riding, especially the LD variety.

My recent Mich. trip was by car and I had not actually taken a ride for over a week. Tuesday, I got home from work and fired up both bikes, taking the Shadow for a short ride before dinner. It was about 40 and I was slightly cold, open helmet, limited wind protection and my lighter gloves. After dinner, I switched to heavier gloves and took the Wing out. I was actually pretty comfortable with the added wind protection and also the heated grips helped.

Today it was 30 deg F when I left for work. I took the Wing, layered up with shirt, sweateshirt, fleece lining and denim jacket. I was actually reasonably comfortable, had my grip heater running with heavier gloves. My lower legs and feet were chilled slightly but I know for a "ride" I can improve that with my boots and heavier hunting socks, thermals etc. Overall , I was pleased with my comfort level, yet also realize that it was NOT a LD ride and also I was averaging around 40 and maxing at about 55 mph, a far cry from the windchill I would face on a longer highway ride.

Why does all this matter??? I am planning on attemping an Iron Butt Association 1000 mile ride the first week of March. In NH, it will NOT be warm and also may have white moisture issues (snow). I am doing this little jaunts to find out how I handle the chills (mental and physical) at various temperatures and speeds. Those in the "know" may start yelling "Gerbings" (heated jacket liner and gloves) and I do plan on getting these heated items before my attempted run. In the meantime, I want to feel the affects of the cold weather and how I can protect now, figuring that with electrics later I will only be better. I already have my bike wired for them and it can easily handle the electrical load.

Enough rambling for today.... Time for me to get back to work... I will likely not be riding the rest of the week as I work a double tomorrow and Saturday I have to pick up my bike trailer in MA and then am attending a Comedy Night with some friends out in Exeter.

Have a great day and as always "Ride Safe"

Back to work now...

The Thanksgiving Holiday is over and I am back to work. I had a great time with my trip to Michigan, got to see lots of family and friends.

The tracker itself worked excellent. I was very pleased with that. I know some are looking at "Spot" but until it can be exported to a web for public tracking, I will stay with what I have.

This Blog, with the Jott "Voice" translation and upload works very well for sending short status updates to the Blogg while traveling. I will continue using this for a while .. hope to have it for updates during my motorcycle trips in the spring. I think it will make a great companion with the tracker for keeping everyone updated on both where I am and also how I am doing etc. on my travels.

I do hope everyone had a great Holiday Weekend... I am going to sign off now and get back to work. Enjoy your day and I will be back when I have something significant to say.

The eagle has landed...

The eagle has landed the second time we are home. The revised route worked out very well, smooth sailing, a little bit of traffic, no jam ups. I just pulled in the drive and shutting everything down.. we're here! thank you! Hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving weekend. Talk to everyone later. listen

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Re-routing North. We...

Re-routing North. We hits a major traffic on the Mass Pike(?). I expect is going to be even worse intersection of I 84 and was backed up for probably 5-10 miles and it will be worse and we will cut off on I-91 North and we are going to head North to pick up route 2 and then head back Eastover to 495, should have miss those traffic jams. listen

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Entering Massachusetts...

Entering Massachusetts just across the state line from New York to [...] Massachusetts. Should pick up a toll ticket here in a few miles and then we've got about 155 miles to get home. Two and a half hours. Roughly, we have one stop for gas on the way. Anyway the last leg of the trip. Here we go. listen

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He has found in [...]....

He has found in [...]. We are through Buffalo, got our tole ticket. We are on the New York State Thruway, proceeding along very well. We have made pretty good time so far and driving for five hours and 40 minutes only 19 minutes in stop, so we are doing pretty good, little bit cloudy, but the roads are clear. We are moving along. Next stop Albany. listen

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Albany, did I say Albany?...

Albany, did I say Albany? Yes, I did say Albany, but Albany is 265 miles away still, so we have still got a pretty good long ride. It's not like the next point is right down the street here, but this is [...] longest stretch of the trip, New York State through way Buffalo to Albany. listen

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I am now in Pennsylvania....

I am now in Pennsylvania. We just crossed the line in Pennsylvania. We are about 40 miles out of [...] and got to make gas stop of here very soon, this the first one of the trip and then get back on the road, so everything going well, road is clear, not too much traffic, clear skies, beautiful day. listen

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I am on the road almost,...

I am on the road almost, its about 20 after 4, I will get up little bit late, so can you guess together and step together hopefully, I will be on the road about 4:00 a.m. I had to back in the [...] just about raising over here so, everybody have a good Sunday. I will checking if you late. listen

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Heading back North we...

Heading back North we left [...] before heading West back to Joe's [...] had a nice visit with David, nice dinner, and spent some time at the store and we are heading back to Joe's now get a goodnight sleep 4:00 a.m. comes early we hope to be on the road by then, goodnight all. listen

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Well, I had a very nice...

Well, I had a very nice lunch just finished up, heading back to Joe's [...] I had good morning with Sharon and her family and then took them to lunch in town and now just heading back and trying to get things packed up before heading out to see Dave later on . Hope everybody is having a good weekend.
listen

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Last Full Day in Michigan

Saturday morning, this is my last full day here. I hope to be on the road by about 4-5 am tomorrow to head back to NH. It has really been nice so far. I have enjoyed seeing everyone and even though it was an emotional moment for me, it was nice to go with my sister to visit my brothers grave. My mom's grave was there also, but I was unaware unil we got there that my grandfathers was also.

Today, heading to my daughters (Sharon) and visit with them and 3 more of the grandchildren. Later I am taking them and Joe and AJ out to lunch. Late afternoon I will head back here to Joe's and get things packed for the departure. I picked up some stuff of my brothers that I am taking home.

This evening, Joe and AJ are heading out to a friends birthday and I will be heading down to Taylor MI to see my longtime friend Dave. He has his own retail store and I will likely visit him at the store and then we will go out and grab some chow and coffee... talking about the good old days..

Tracking will be running.... Have a great day!!

On the road again. we've...

On the road again. we've left to Cemetery. Heading back to Joe's house [...] Linda and Stephanie are both following and we are going to visit back at Joe's with everybody for a while and then probably take them out to dinner. Cemetery went well, little emotional, I saw my mom's grave and my grandfather's [...]. listen

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Heading to the grave...

Heading to the grave site. My sister just called and heading on up we should be here in about 15 minutes at the cemetery and go visit my mother's grave and my brother's grave first time for both, so this will be a little different. listen

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Well, it's Friday afternoon...

Well, it's Friday afternoon and we had breakfast with Don and Pat great time got to visit for about three hours, waiting now for my sister, she is on her way down and as soon as she calls me I am going to meet her at the cemetery we're going to visit the gravesite for my brother who passed away earlier this year. So, hope everybody is having a good day, I'll touch base with everybody later. listen

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Black Friday

No, I am not going shopping... well, I do have a get a U of M hooded shirt for someone back home!

Had a real nice day yesterday, hope everyone reading enjoyed their Thanksgiving. Joe had some company in, 2 of the grandkids came by and we had a great dinner. Turkey, stuffing, ham, veggies and potatoes, deviled eggs and other assorted side dishes.

Today I am off about 8:30 am. I want to stop and get a picture of the Hell Michigan sign, then down to Westland Michigan to have breakfast with Don and Pat who I have know since 1966.. Don and I worked together for 21 years.

Later I am meeting my sister and heading to Livonia (both cities are subburbs of Detroit on the West Side). My brother Mike's grave (he passed away in June) is there and his headstone is supposed to now be in place. After that we will likely go to dinner and visit before they head home and wander back up to Pinckney.

The tracker will be running and I may send a couple entries here to the blog from Jott..

Have a great day!

Pat (RockyNH)

The Eagle has landed....

The Eagle has landed. We are at Joe's and safe and sound and off the road have an coffee. Happy Thanksgiving everybody. Talk everybody later. listen

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Happy Thanksgiving. We...

Happy Thanksgiving.
We are in Michigan, I'm heading on 94 right now about an hour and 40 minutes away from Joe's house, gonna make a 1 stop when I find a Dunkin Donuts and get myself a coffee and I'll be back on my way with the last leg of the trip. Should go fine but again, happy Thanksgiving. listen

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Entering USA it's 7:30...

Entering USA it's 7:30 thanksgiving morning we are waiting in line at customs to cross back over to the United States at the sonyapozuran(?) just cross the blue auto(?) bridge Canadian travel was rough lots of snow and sleet but it looks like it's clearing up here catch you all. listen

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It's cold out there,...

It's cold out there, but so far it is going good, we are at the Ontario service plaza on the New York through way about 44 miles from Buffalo so there will be one more entry to the blog before we hit Canada, so going good, we are going to take a little break here catch you all later. listen

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Entering New York, just...

Entering New York, just cross the State line. Massachusetts to New York says 30 miles to Albany and 312 to Buffalo. Buffalo seems like it's a long ways away. listen

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Traffic is clearing....

Traffic is clearing. We just passed the exit for High 84 to head down towards New York City, and maybe [...] after that, the traffic cleared. Unfortunately, that 25 mile stretch from when we got on the pike. [...] High 84 took us about an hour, so we've lost about 40 minutes down(?) our trip [...] stretch. The traffic is clearing we're [...] along. listen

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Well Mass Pike here...

Well Mass Pike here we are. We just got on the Pike about 6:30. Traffic is extremely heavy and it's bumper to bumper on the Pike. Looks like it's gonna be that way for quite a while. Probably about 30 miles an hour right now is all we're gonna do. So, maybe a big slow down here for quite while. Weather wise okay, just a little bit of misty rain. No freezing. Catch you all later listen

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Okay everyone, we are...

Okay everyone, we are now on the road. It's just about 5:30. So, we got a little bit earlier than I planned. Roads are okay, it's kind of foggy and a little bit of misty rain. Supposed to get some freezing later. Talk to you everybody later. Wish us well. Bye! listen

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Okay, the tracker is...

Okay, the tracker is active. I just checked everything and it appears to be sending signals so I am pretty sure that everything will be tracking fine this evening. This will be the last Jott test for the blogger before I leave tonight at 6:00 PM. Talk to everybody later and have a good day. listen

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Trip Preparation!

I just thought I would take a few moments and update everyone on my trip plans, preparation and this here Blog.

For background, I ride motorcycles, sometimes long distances. I am a regular participant on a Delphi Internet Forum called the MTF (Motorcycle Tourer's Forum) http://forums.delphiforums.com/MCTourer/start

Earlier this year I set up a tracking system so that I can share my trips with friends and family. This was the result of Greg Rice from the MTF who was using it. http://www.accutracking.com

Later Todd Ryan, also of the MTF, introduced us to JOTT and how we could do Blog updates via cell phone was on the road with our motorcycles. http://jott.com/ It is from that, that this Blog was borne as part of a test of the Jott system. So far, it is working reasonably well and I will do further testing on my trip today. With or without Jott, I will likely keep the Blog going as a way for family and friends back home in Michigan to keep up with my various activities and life happenings.

Todays trip is NOT by motorcycle, I will be traveling all night as I am not leaving until about 6:00 pm from NH. My route is via MA Pike, NY Thruway to Buffalo, cross into Canada at Niagara. I will follow the 401 to 402 entering Michigan via Sarnia and the Blue Water Bridge. My trip will end when I reach my sons home in Pinckney Michigan. The plan calls for T-day with my son, Friday will be some time with old friends and my sister, along with a visit to my brothers grave. Saturday will be with my daughter and 3 of the grandchildren, followed by a late dinner and visit with Dave Flynn, a very long time friend. Sunday, morning, well its the return trip and because of the holiday traffic I am avoiding the border crossings by returning via Ohio, Erie PA and back into Buffalo... Going out should be around 14-15 hours, the return will be at least an hour longer with the extra distance staying stateside.

All is packed and ready to go... I am working until 3 or 4, will gather the last items and try to be traveling by 6:00pm. My only issue now is my tracking system was not broadcasting this morning but that may be a delay due to just re-activating it all. I will try and get that working later on and then I can broadcast that over on the MTF and to my friends and family in email.

Ok, back to work now.... you now know what is going on and why this Blog etc.. I will use JOTT to update this blog via phone... I hope everyone following enjoys...

To All... A Happy Thanksgiving!

Pat in NH

Good morning everyone....

Good morning everyone. It's about 6 AM on Wednesday. About 12 hours before I head on my trip to Michigan via the truck. The roads are a little slick this morning, some snow cover on the ground light, but hopefully it's gonna warm up later today and the road will be clear by the time I head out. Everything is packed, ready to go. I just got to spend the day at work and get home and change clothes and hit the road. So, Hopefully talk to you all down the road-- listen

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It's just after 11 o'clock...

It's just after 11 o'clock still Tuesday. I'm just doing another test Jott to blog and it seems to be working reasonably well, just everybody knows it's snowing out side here in New Hampshire. Hopefully, won't hit(?) too much weather when I head to Michigan tomorrow, catch everybody later. Bye for now. listen

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Good morning blog, it's...

Good morning blog, it's 6:00AM and I'm on my way to work. The only problem could be having with this is the 30 seconds seems to go up before I am ready for some messages the last one got cut off. (Edit: so I deleted it...) But anyway expecting snow today, turning back to rain, so should not accumulate much. And I'll catch everybody later, bye. listen

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This is a test of the...

This is a test of the Jott system. Using voice message to translate to the blog system. This will be the first test message. So that I know if I will be able to send me messages from a traveling motorcycle. I hope this works out okay. Thank you, good luck. And I'll talk to you later. listen

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Testing of the Blog Page

I am just testing this out, my first post to see if it is working. The intent will be to use this wit JOTT to document some of my travels, mostly on my Motorcycle.

If this seems to be working, I will then be testing it with Jott later, a method of calling in while on the road.

Pat AKA RockyNH