Monday, January 24, 2011

Welcome Ole-Man Winter....Snow in 49 States?


Scratch that...Ole-Man Winter? Get Lost!

I'm moving to Florida...the ONLY state in the country without snow!?  What the heck is going on?  Two feet of fresh snow in my backyard...on top of the foot that was already there...wtf.

Just returned from North Georgia, it's colder there than in Massachusetts. Bartender told us yesterday that this recent storm was worst the area has seen since the 70s...and it is only January. Ugh!

Record- breaking cold for this week and another storm on the way..running out of places to put the snow...

Riding season seems so far away...


I am a New Englander...we bitch about the weather...it's what we do..

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Northeast Motorcycle Expo - Motorcycles, Midgets and Mayhem Tour

More info - http://www.kevmarv.com/
In New England, the riding season is short. As soon as the salt and sand hit the road, bikers wipe the tears from their eyes and tuck their bikes in to storage.

To fill the void for those not fortunate enough to head to warmer weather, many head to bike shows. In the Northeast, Kev-Marv Productions is in its 15th year hosting shows.

With bikes, wrestlers, local celebrities, models and music, there is certainly something for everyone.

2011 schedule:

Providence, RI Jan 8 -9
Salem, NH  Jan 15 - 16
Boston, MA  Jan 29 - 30
Chantilly, VA  Feb 19 - 20
Hartford, CT  Feb 26 - 27
Wilmington, MA March 12 -13
Phil, PA  March 19 - 20 
Admission is $15 for adults/$7 for kids. $2off coupons can be found on their site:  http://www.kevmarv.com/

This past weekend we made it to the Providence show at the convention center. We went on a Sunday afternoon and things appeared to be winding down and I was a little disappointed. I think it would be really helpful if they posted a schedule of the events online so visitors can plan better. For example, Playboy Model Nicole Cormier was scheduled to be there. I'm sure the old man was a little disheartened to see he missed her....me? Not so much...

Mom's (Motorcycles of Manchester) was the sponsor for this show. They had a large selection of new and used bikes; Harley, Honda and sports bikes, with show sales.


Paint jobs above and below were awesome but I know nothing about them other than I liked 'em enough to take pictures. Should probably pay more attention to the details but I get caught up in the whole people thing...note to self...pay attention.



Of course there were several hot girls to get your picture taken with or who are willing to pose. I think the woman below was with NewEngland Biker, but again...those details...not so good at them.



Rythm Drivers provided the entertainment.  It was nice to sit and enjoy a beer while listening to some oldies and classic rock.  This convention center had food available, not sure if others will. There was a full bar and prices for beers were $5, I think? Probably varies by venue. 


K, so who doesn't love a Carnie? I know I do...so was very intrigued about the Finnegan 10-in-One Circus Sideshow act that was performing.


I really was expecting tattooed contortionists and flame throwers but instead...a man hammering and drilling stuff into his nose. Really....


The show is more along the lines of a JackAss-SteveO skit...eating glass, drinking windex and laying on nails. It was entertaining but I am a tad sqeamish and found it a bit disturbing...especially the claw hammer yanking a nail out of the guys nose. Why didn't it hit is brain? I don't know, maybe it has and that is why he drills shit into face. They sell old-school t-shirts for five bucks a piece...


I knew the Half-Pint Brawlers were there, and let's be honest, who isn't a tad curious of 'little people'...to be politically correct. As I said earlier, things seemed slow at the end of the day and I was afraid I missed them. While getting a beer I asked the bartender where the 'little people' were wrestling and he said 'ya mean the midgets?'. So much for political correctness...


Soon enough they came running through the large crowd. They have a show on Spike TV, will soon be appearing on MTV and have quite a following. The two wrestlers that got in the ring were Puppet and Kato.  There was more nose stuff to be seen...as in stapling a dollar bill to it, and to the tongue...my stomach could barely take it. I know a lot of wrestling is exaggerated but I was up front and saw it firsthand, and then it being ripped off...and then the blood. Ick. Gonna have to toughen up if I want to hang with the big boys, I guess. They put on a great show and were available after to meet people and sign autographs.


Plenty of merchants were there selling their wares. Helmets, parts, t-shirts, koozies, leather...I would love to have seen a jewelry vendor..difficult to find biker jewelry that doesn't have a Harley logo on it. Good business opportunity, right there.

Paint jobs on some of the bikes were amazing. I think these below were for sale...maybe not...I don't know...damn details.

Perhaps I will move from the backseat to the side someday...nahh, doubt it...I find these frightening...not sure what difference is, but it looks like a much more vulnerable position to be in.Cool ride, though...


Now, I don't know a lot about Motorcycle Clubs, other than what I have learned on Sons of Anarchy. What I do know is...I find them a bit scary. No reasoning behind this...have seen too many movies probably. Anyway, I don't think the Hells Angels were sponsors but they had several booths and there were many in attendance. I was able to point out a prospect...thanks to SOA...no patch...see, I do pay attention occasionally.


Let's move on before I get myself in to trouble...Dinah Deville was there posing for pics. She is a pin-up model and burlesque queen and is shown below on NewEnglandBiker.com's ride the 'Midnight Crisis'. Reminded me of Betty Page...with lots of tattoos...pretty.



A couple of hours at the show is enough...we walked around several times, listened to the band for a bit and watched two shows.  It was fun.  After, we went to Mohegan Sun to see Josh Thompson...not relevant, I know...but it wrapped up a great day!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Ode to 2010...It Was a Good Year For Riding

I suffer from severe wanderlust...if there was a support group, I would have to join...but, only if it were a traveling support group, held in various locations.

These itchy feet of mine are already plotting and planning my next adventures as soon as the weather warms up, though I'm actually more likely to seek some warmer air before the spring thaw in New England. And today, my softer side has reminded to slow down and look back on the adventures and appreciate all the fun I have had. So let's reminisce, shall we?

Oh, and one of these days, so you will understand where my gypsy blood comes from, I will have to introduce you to my mom who has moved at least ten times in the past fifteen years...bought houses each time, not rented...seriously...Mass to Florida to Maine to Nevada back to Florida to Mississippi to Mass to NC back to Maine back to Nevada and now planning a move back to Florida...pretty sure I have missed a move or two...god love her.

Anyway, 2010 was reported as the second warmest summer on record in Massachusetts.  It is not the heat that stood out for me but the sunny, dry weekends that allowed us to get in a lot of riding.

Okay so scratch that comment about the heat...our first weekend trip was up to Vermont, early summer and GOD LORD it was hot...in the 90s with 100% humidity but thankfully we did not get that weather until the day we were riding home.  We took backroads from Mass up to Vermont and landed in Killington.





Lots of traffic in Vermont...look closely and you can see the tractor coming thru....



And then it was our turn, more traffic...I was afraid he wasn't going to see us and we'd both go crashing thru to the river below...he waited his turn...



Interesting little food shop, don't ya think? Smokin' Bowls? Not sure exactly what it is they are serving up...unfortunately, they were not open...


Made a few trips to Laconia - for bike week, a vacation on the Lake and a few concerts at Meadowbrook (great place to see a show, btw)...Warm weather and sunshine brought pretty large crowds to Laconia Bike Week...


Look...blue skies...at Bike Week...who'da thunk it?


Okay so I lied, we did get some rain...this was at MeadowBrook Pavillion, Zac Brown concert...cleared up just in time for him to come on, thankfully....and, proof below that lawn seats suck..



Another warm, sunny weekend in New England and we found ourselves in Southern Maine.  We have a few new favorite places now. Bentley's was awesome...lots of bikes, a band playing and a pig roasting...


Hope to stay here this year - motel & campground attached to the bar


Went on a road trip south..trailer-ed the bike because, well sometimes you have to...this is not the trailer, this is actually my friends truck with his bike, just giving you a visual. Imagine a blue Dodge RAM with a trailer and a Road King on the back and there ya have it...


How can anyone drive down/up 95 through the Carolinas and NOT stop to see Pedro..seedy, tacky, trashy wonder of the south. Pedro's marketing budget must have been cut because there weren't nearly as many billboards as I remember. Kinda missed them...


I have a previous blog about my trip on the Dragon...it was F-U-N and I can't wait to go back. We spent some time in Blue Ridge, GA riding through the Smokies, in Chattonooga looking for some biker bars and then went further south...


Landed in Daytona and made the usual rounds, Iron Horse, Broken Spoke, Main Street, beach, AIA, and my uncle's house ;-)


Saw some boobs at this place, bartender flashes people as they walk in...kind of awkward for me...not really sure why women/girls do it? And, what is my reaction supposed to be? I understand why the guys like it, but I don't know...maybe if I was 20 and had a rack like she did, I would understand.



WOW, 2010 was great, filled with great riding, good times and goods friends..I am a lucky lady.  Now, where to next??