UpST8 2 Up 2 UpST8 Part 1 All packed up and ready to roll........ With summer just kicking off we found some time to get away, Mrs. UpST8 worked extra hours to get some time off and I had some vacation time saved up as well. We figured it was time to go home.....UpST8 that is or New England...however you would like to call it. The Mrs. would cage it from VA Beach to Albany, NY with our two furry kids and alot of luggage (she is a girl after all and girls need their clothes). I would ride the Wee or Suzuki DL650 VStrom...however you want to call it... As with all travel in, out and around Hampton Roads Virginia there must be traffic and traffic jams......Heck of way to start the trip. It was cool to have Mama caging it though, she took some pretty good shots......that was until she came into my lane and almost killed me......then the picture taking while driving ended..... Finally away from traffic we crossed over the Chesapeake on Route 13, only 500 miles to home!!! The weather was perfect, I was all fired up for this trip, I had to salute the inmates!! My wife freakin hates this salute by the way......maybe that is why she tried to run into me about 10 seconds after this was taken.... Not much else to report about super slabbing it to NY, it is long and boring, it is filled with homocidal, texting, cagers who are out for blood, it kinda sucks....but it beats working!! When we got close to NYC we hit rain.....perfect....rain, 5 oclock traffic on the Garden State Parkway.....3 pile ups....perfect! I couldn't have planned this better. Stay tuned.....it does get better.
God bless California lane splitting / European "lane filtering", I just wish we were permitted to do it here.. heck, they don't even let us ride solo in the HOV lanes.
On to Part 2.... After 506 miles we finally roled into my home stomping grounds of Albany, NY. The pace was slow due to the wife driving the truck with the pups in the back, she had never driven this far in her life, she always slept while I drove it. Wish we could have two upped the whole thing, but she wanted to bring the dogs and kenneling them 2 weeks would have cost big money. We finally got there after nearly 13 hours on the road, with many, many, too freakin many pit stops..... The next day was spent with my Mom and a couple of my siblings stopped in to say hello....my mind was already in the mountains while they visited I was mentally ready to go!! I got in touch with a fellow inmate and long time friend AWM. He and my brother Jeffie would be joining us for the first couple days of our little tour. We would leave Albany on Friday at high noon and ride to Paradox Lake, NY. It is about 30 miles north of Lake George in the beautiful Adirondack State Park (the largest State Park in the freakin country and we are damn proud to say it) We had plans to make the Adirondack Mud Parade with about 15 other inmates, it would prove to be a great time and an interesting ride to say the least.....two up on the Wee with 200 plus miles of Adirondack Forest roads.....yes....interesting indeed..... AWM was all set and ready to go the last week for this run, he doesn't believe in being unprepared. He was literally packed and the bike all set 5 days prior to the run. A nice luxury to have when you have 5 other bikes to choose from while your Dual Sport rig is all packed up.....insert jealous icon....I went over his house on Thursday afternoon for a little shake out run, like I really needed to shake out the Wee....I jjust rode over 500 miles the day prior, but it was an excuse to ride with an old friend and I was definately up for it. Just riding around the roads surrounding the NY capitol district were a treat compared to the flat, straight roads of VA Beach!! It was a blast!! I could tell AWM had been practicing some too, he is downright fast on the DR650 with some worn out knobs....:huh :huh AWM and his better half, she rides a big bore, fast as fuck Sporty 1200 and she is down right scary on it.....:eek1 and of course the AWM Pups..... It was a great little ride and of course we had to stop for a smoke break and some Go Go Juice... After about an hour of tearing up the side roads and hills outside of Albany, the phone was buzzing....Mrs. UpST8 was already down at her favorite hang out in Albany. SukhoThai!! Good food!!! Great folks own it and they always treat as right! My wife even gets her hair cut after hours by the head cook here... The wife enjoys her favorite dish... Som Tom, a spicy shredded papaya salad..it's flippin good stuff!! Just as hot later on if you know what I mean..??? After our meals we made our way back to homeplate, we still have to pack!! We kinda like the last minute, panic packing!! Procastination, it pays off right away....
Like a kid on Christmas I found it hard to sleep the night before.....I wanted to tear into this gift right away!! My mind drifted to the mountains I finally dozed off for 5 hours of restless sleep.......BANG!:eek1 6 am and I am wide awake......pacing like a caged animal I get the bike loaded in about 15 minutes.....Call AWM at 0730, he's been awake since 6....just like me.....too bad my brother had to work until 1030 or we would be on the road right now, but no biggie we would wait for him...... The obligatory preride packed bike pic The time was set for Noon at AWM's place. We got over there early. The Mrs. was having a blast on this little ACL destroyer!!! We smoke, drink joe, eat some fat pills and we wait.....come on Jeffie!! Let's go! AWM's rig is all set and ready... and Just like AWM called it, Jeffie showed up right at noon.... Jeffies XR, he went with the tamer and more legal one this run...The XRR is just a wee bit sicker then this, but he didn't problems with Johnnie Law and we all knew they would be out in full force with the Americade Rally just 30 miles south of where we would be setting camp..... So now we are all ready!! Let's ride!!!!!! ......to the gas station.... Don't tell Mama...she thinks this stands for Find Your Youth Find Freedom :huh More to follow, it is only now getting good....
Hey,,,,did we,,,well you or mamason get any pics of you rip'n the XR250R thru the hood? The only pics of that bike i got are of it sit'n in the garage. Atleast i got before pics of the DR.oser Oh,,,and Jeffies XRL,,,he said he poped it today,mid wheelie.From what i can get out of him,,,i'm think'n he jumped the time'n chain. Keep it come'n,your run'n out of time!
Part 4 ..........and away we go!!!!! Felt so good to be riding, the roads are great up here! Twisty, hilly, roughed up here and there, great views and traffic ain't too bad. I can't remember the last time AWM, Jeffie and I rode together.....well there was the ice riding last January, but this may be the first we rode together on the street...we rode alot of dirt bikes and three wheelers growing up together, but never on the street....at least never legally on the street....:huh :huh Somebody forgot their turn signal was on for about 30 miles.....god that stuff drives me nuts..... Jeffie gettin it on the XR..... Went about 50 miles and we were ready or at least AWM and I were ready for a smoke break. We chose a back route to Paradox, which was fine with me. I had enough Super Highways to last me awhile on the way up. I think it slowed us down alot, but I wasn't in any big rush....well I guess I am always in a little rush...I just wanted to get there and get out of the city.. Always a Saluter that AWM.... I think we are coming down into Ticonderoga in this pic, but could be wrong....anyway nice work by Mama!! Highway pegs courtesy of Givi...provides a good hamstring stretch.... For those about to rock!!! Fire!! We Salute You!!!
Part 5.....setting camp and meeting the neighbors.. We made it into Paradox Lake State Campground around 4ish and set camp. This place was better then I had pictured, I love when my expectations are wrong. The sites were nice, with firepits, fresh water about every other site, free hot showers, beautiful lake and plenty of privacy...great place. I highly recommend it.... I look like a dweeb in this pic, but whatever I will post it anyway.... My better half.... Our site...took us about 10 minutes to set up, I think we have it down to a science now... We were lucky to have a couple fellow inmates camped out the next site down. Wreckster and the Come Back Kid (or CBK, since I am not typing all that again) They rode up from Kingston,I think, they were cool and we were kindred spirits..... CBK!! Wreckster!! We made introductions and then rode for some Vittles down in Schroon...I was as hungry as a hostage, so this was a good thing...:huh <object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/q_m98_F2608&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/q_m98_F2608&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object> Let's eat!! After chow, what else to do, but ride!!! We took a short gravel / seasonal road ride to Crane Pond....there is quite the water crossing there and I just had to see if anyone would dare try to cross it..... It is really a great thing to have an on board videographer....Mrs. UpST8! From 58 seconds to 110 is my favorite part of the video, cool to see Old Glory flying from the tree in the middle of nowhere!! The wheely is nice too.... <OBJECT height=405 width=500>     <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6Hl48p82buw&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></OBJECT> The water crossing....more like the shallow end of the pond, it was 3-4 foot in sections last time I crossed it. That was in my truck though and it was hairy, didn't want to swamp the Wee on the first day and nobody did either.. Holy shit!! It's a Wolf!!! :eek1 Nahhhhh...somebody either left this guy to guard the car while they hiked or he ran to the car after getting away from them...he was friendly and not underfed, so let him be....real nice dog. Mama wanted to go back the next day and see if he was still there, if he was she was going to carry him on the Wee home.....
Nice RR! I'm sure you could have made it across the water, like this...... <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/usKFoZ244sk&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/usKFoZ244sk&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Part 6 After our nice little dirt / street ride we made our way back to camp. The off roading two up on the little Wee was interesting, I tried my best to keep up with the DR,XRs and KLR, but I was way out gunned. The Wee just doesn't have clearance or suspension to handle the rough stuff, evidence can be found on my dented bash plate and bent center stand, the dreadful noise that center stand makes when it comes in contact with a large rock at speed is enough to make your hair stand up...:eek1 :eek1 Back at camp, we made a wood run and settled down for a nice fire side chat with our new neighbors. AWM scared everyone with his horrible tails of youth gone wrong....:huh :huh The Mrs. and I took a little walk down to the lake to catch the last rays of light... Looks like a forest angel The next morning it was up and at em with the chirp of the birds..and off for some breakfast!!
Part 7 After we finished breakfast it was 30 super miles to meet up with the rest of the bunch for the 2009 Adirondack Mud Parade!!! It was organized by Rode to Nowhere of Team Ghetto Fame... It was promised to be an interesting ride with 200 plus miles of high speed twistys, forest service roads and seasonal use roads...I was totally fired up for it!! The weather was perfect and the bugs were minimal.....of course the scenery is outstanding in the Adirondacks, like I had to mention that.... Mama is ready for the ride.......talk to her in 200 miles.... Milling about smartly This bike here caught my eye!! She was built by Tony Morr and she is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle!!! :eek1 :eek1 Fuckin Nice Job Tony!!! The Ninja Turtle caught Mama's eye too... Just had to try it on for size... OK,OK,OK nuff if this shit...let's ride!! <object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GF6s6qJlgd4&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GF6s6qJlgd4&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object> Slab quickly turned to roughed up crete which then turned to dirt which was made to dust......18 bikes in all, 3 of them 2 up!! We are not alone in our insanity anymore..... We hung in the back of the pack for happy snaps and not hold anyone up, the Ninja Turtle played sweep up rider....the dust was killing us by mile post 100.....we had to get closer to the front....
Part 7 <OBJECT height=405 width=500> &ampampnbsp &ampampnbsp <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rFPFY_0hn3s&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></OBJECT> The dust...I mean Mud Parade continues!! We rode on and on through the great Forest Roads of the Adirondack State Park, we started by the Southern end of Lake George and made it as far North as Ticonderoga and then some....I will try and upload the track here shortly....until then enjoy some more pics.... Here we are smokin my brother Jeffie in a deathrace.....and he's on an XR650!!!....He had no idea we were racing, but we were...... Dancolin was nice enough to pull over ahead of the pack for some action drive by pics, thanks man!! Of course there were the unavoidable pit stops and that is happy snap time for us.... I took this oppurtunity to "tag" the local stop sign....Thanks again for the stickers TWKLR We rode some more and some more, great roads!! Lots of fun and a little challenge for the little Wee. Not a bad way to start our minimoto tour of New England!!! Wreckster got a little loose in one of the turns and earned his handle.....he was quite lucky for the trees being on the side of the road....if they weren't there it was anice drop down to the raging river below... Took some man handling to get the Great Green Beast settled back onto the gravel.... No injuries....just some embarresment and laughs....
8 post...many to go Another pit stop pic at the local Stewart's for some roller dogs and liquids... I don't think the HOG guys knew what to think of us.....:huh I wanted to try and sell some of them the shirt I made up for the ride, but something told me they wouldn't buy it..... TRAILERS R 4 BOATS!!! Another rest stop, this would be about our last besides getting some Go Go Juice....sorry but I am about out of action pics from the Mud Parade.... Mama enjoying the pond and wishing she brought her Frog Gigger... Had a great, dusty time!!!! Thanks!!! It was a great, great ride and we felt blessed to be part of it!!! Thanks to all the FF's in Upstate for making us feel right at home....again...... The Motley Crue!!
Part 9.....the shitty part Well we made our way back towards camp and split off from the main group to get down the road to Paradox Lake. It was AWM up front, CBK, Jeffie then Mama and I...Wreckster was trailing behind somewhere down the road....AWM being the gentleman he is waved a little old lady through a stop sign and she was in front of us....uneventful couple miles....nice mountain road with a 45mph limit......coming to an X intersection the little old lady puts her left blinker on.....we slow and AWM goes around her on the right......well, you may have guessed it....she went right!!! and not left!!! She drove him right off the road into a grassy little hill...he bounced off her once, but she just kept coming....eventually she ran right over his front tire.....sending him airborne and on to the pavement!! :eek1 :eek1 :huh It sucked!! It fuckin sucked bad....I was in disbelieve as I watched it unfold in front of me....if it were a young man driving that car, I do believe he would be sipping soup right now..... I don't want to dwell on this event too much and I don't want to converse about it....it is AWM Face Plant Tale and direct all questions to him.....The only thing that ever makes me feel better about situations like this is the fact that everyone is still alive and still riding today... God does favor drunks, fools and sailors...I think you can add Inmates to that list as well..... I didn't snap too many pics, I felt it in bad taste....but of course I took a couple... The goatee wearing fella is AWM, one tough mofo.... The shirt does not lie..... Nor does the sticker....
YA,like i told CBK at the seen,,,,,"I've been in tougher bar fights". When i get taken out,it ain't gonna be a little lady,and i'm sure it'll be because of my mouth and not my ride'n!oser
10 Well, The DR was questionable to ride the 100 plus miles home...AWM's cousin came up and helped us out with a truck....it was a shitty way to end the weekend, but it happens.... On to happier thoughts....We made one last campfire at Paradox Lake...chatted with my Brother and CBK around it and said our goodnights Wreckster decided to get underway that night to be to work the next day.. The Come Back Kid left us in the morning with fully loaded wheel stand out of the campground....Nice!!! Mama and I finished are packing and off we went to breakfast in Ticonderoga, NY Not before her morning Noodles and Seaweed....and I definately need my coffee... Found a great little hole in the wall local eatery for some home cookin... Then it was off for a quick stop in Ticonderoga at the Waterfall and Covered Bridge A short trip north brought us to the Essex Ferry across Lake Champlain, really cool transit across!! I gotta give the bikers behind us respect..they were from PA and the lady riding on the back was on crutches with a broken ankle....notice them strapped to the bike? Hardcore still lives... I enjoyed walking the decks and loosing myself in the views....Mama lost herself to dream world for the better part of the 30 minute transit....