Central NJ

[TJConc]

Googus?

He sniffed around it a little already.  

[ST-DocLizard1]

RIDE REPORT: SUNDAY< 7/25/10

A very nice turnout on Sunday considering that it is mid-summer and people are on vacation. Our objective for this soiree' was to piece together all of the best routes that we knew of in Warren and Sussex Counties with a short course through Hunterdon to get the blood flowing.

The "Sweet Sixteen" were split into three groups that left the Pilot Station at staggered intervals. A short course via county roads led us up on to Interstate 78 for a short sprint on the superslab to warm up the rubber. Some of the highlights were Turkey Hill Road, Brass Castle Road(love those sweepers), and Lommason-Glen(CR 626) on our way out to Belvidere.

The temperatures were climbing as we headed for Ramseyburg Road and the canopy of shade that it provided. Through the hamlet of Hope and onto CR 611 brought us to "Shades of Death Road" for a spirited romp through the woods bordering Jenny Jump State Forest. Flirting with CR 519 for a while led us over the ridge to NJ 94 and CR 614. West End Road is of interest because it has a downhill tighty-righty with no signage and zero tolerance for speed. If you run wide there, your going to do some landscaping for sure.

The weather was starting to turn after a pit stop at Swartzwood Lake and then up to Culver Lake. I was hoping to get up to Deckertown Turnpike before the storm hit. Just before Beemerville, the rains came and our group pulled over for a wardrobe change. We took refuge on the leeward side of an old barn smokin' and jokin' as the area was pelted by the downpour.

Hustling on out after the deluge, we came upon the largest black bear I have seen in Jersey(my 7th sighting in 3 weeks) crossing the road and heading north on CR 649. We slowed down to get a good look and give him a wide berth until he disappeared back into the bush. CR 650 took us over the ridge into High Point State Park and Stokes State Forest.

Refueling at Valero Station on NJ 23, we hooked up with Marty's crew, some of which were soaked to the bone for the lack of rain gear. I saw someone remove his boots and pour the water out. TJ's crew was no where to be found at this point. After a short interlude, both flights saddled up for a run down through Peters Valley and the Delaware Recreation Area(Jersey side).

The rain had pretty much given up on the way home and we were treated to some dry pavement from Riverton over to Mt. Bethel where we had planned dunch. On arrival, TJ's crew had already eaten and was heading out. Apparently they recognized the gravity of the weather situation and streaked for restaurant to dry out and warm up thus never reaching the northwest apex of the Garden State.

Marty's skeleton crew and mine joined Tommy during his lengthy warm-up inside TK's Steakhouse. Hot coffee was the most popular beverage among the biker horde. I'm sure the temperatures  had a range of about 30 some degrees during the course of the day as some will attest, which will add allure to another war story about a C-NJ Ride.

Thanks to all who participated, Marty & TJ for leading a flight, and GearedUp for running my back door.

And thanks to JamminJere for the curbside laundry lesson.

Welcome to the newcomers:

Hazra
ZZR12
& Ms. Andrea(2-up with Smoker as TJ's backdoor and no backrest on the FJR)


Doc

[ST-DocLizard1]

A few more....

[ST-DocLizard1]

and the last.

[Skee]

Thanks for putting another great ride together yesterday. Great seeing everyone.

I would have posted up last night when I got home, but the line was down.

Yes Doc, I was dropping breadcrumbs.  
 

Here’s a couple of photos from my pre-ride yesterday.  Found a nice little park for an early morning sojourn.
 
 

Passed this guy on the way to the meet up.  Must be why they call it Shades of Death Road.  
 

Who said Jerzey ain't got twisties
 

 

[ST-DocLizard1]

Good show there Frank. Looks like you got some great miles in before the Pilot.

The GPS mapping gives you little more perspective than my narrative.

Is that a "Tar Snake?"



Doc

[TJConc]

Nice pics gentlemen!  

[ST-DocLizard1]

Nice pics gentlemen!  

Thanks T.

Are you dried out by now?



Doc

[TJConc]

Are you dried out by now?
Doc

Gloves are still a bit damp, but, the SV fired right up and took me to work this morning.  


Anybody wanna buy a Connie?  

[ST-DocLizard1]

Anybody wanna buy a Connie?  

I'll give you "Sixteen Reasons" for Connie Stevens.

Still looking good at 72.


Doc

[Smoker]

Still looking good at 72.


Doc

1972?  

[Mastros2]

1972?  

Haha!  

[Skee]

Yep - that is a genuine tar snake - scares me more than the slippery kind.

[ST-DocLizard1]

1972?  

At my age, most everything looks good.


Doc

[ST-DocLizard1]

Just a heads-up. The paving is just about complete on CR 512 in Hunterdon County from the Califon Line to the Pottersviile Deli. The striping remains to be painted and the intersection of 512/517 at the Fairmont light should be finished today.

Enjoy the new ribbon of asphalt and watch out for the Tewksbury PD.

Now if we can just get Somerset County to repave CR 512 from the Deli to US 206, it would be perfect. I hate tar snakes and that section just full of them.


Doc

[googus]

yeh i drive on that road everyday and the LEOs suck

[JamminJere]

Doc,

Just an FYI, because I never know where you guys are planning to go.. The road into High Knob that we took last fall has been washed out last spring and DCNR is not repairing it this year due to lack of funds...  There's cement legos blocking the road both ways because about an 8ft wide by 8ft deep swath was taken out of the road where a 36" drainage pipe went under it.  You can still get in to the overlook, albeit its a partially gravel surface (Marty will love it) If you go into Forksville and down 87 to the Rangers Station and up the road that way to the overlook.

Put that in your memory bank for any possible PA Endless Mountain rides this year..

JJ

[ST-DocLizard1]

Doc,

Just an FYI, because I never know where you guys are planning to go.. The road into High Knob that we took last fall has been washed out last spring and DCNR is not repairing it this year due to lack of funds...  There's cement legos blocking the road both ways because about an 8ft wide by 8ft deep swath was taken out of the road where a 36" drainage pipe went under it.  You can still get in to the overlook, albeit its a partially gravel surface (Marty will love it) If you go into Forksville and down 87 to the Rangers Station and up the road that way to the overlook.

Put that in your memory bank for any possible PA Endless Mountain rides this year..

JJ

Good to know. Thanks for the update & detour.



Doc

[Smoker]

  You can still get in to the overlook, albeit its a partially gravel surface (Marty will love it) If you go into Forksville and down 87 to the Rangers Station and up the road that way to the overlook.

Put that in your memory bank for any possible PA Endless Mountain rides this year..

JJ

There's a nice little waterfall on that side too, good place to cool off on a hot muggy day.

[ST-DocLizard1]

Just a heads-up. The paving is just about complete on CR 512 in Hunterdon County from the Califon Line to the Pottersviile Deli. The striping remains to be painted and the intersection of 512/517 at the Fairmont light should be finished today.

Enjoy the new ribbon of asphalt and watch out for the Tewksbury PD.

Now if we can just get Somerset County to repave CR 512 from the Deli to US 206, it would be perfect. I hate tar snakes and that section just full of them.


Doc

Striping is completed and it is the smoothest 6 miles of pavement I have seen in a long time. Enjoy.


Doc