» 2003 » June

This took me almost 2 months to get around to finishing, but considering it took me almost a year to get around to writing up my Americade 2002 trip, I think I’m doing okay. Instead of a full detailed write-up or chronological account of our trip, I decided to make this one more of a pictorial, with just a few notes to let everyone know what’s going on in the pics. It’s still set up chronologically, but with more pictures than words this time. Just click any thumbnail to load the full-size photo.

Los Banditos

I think the rest of the pictures will make more sense if I introduce the riders and their mounts first. I met all these guys from the Maximum-Suzuki.com forums. I still have yet to meet a Bandit rider that I wouldn’t want as a friend - these guys are some of the best people around.

First there was me on my silver 2001 Bandit1200S. Oh, and I brought my little riding buddy, whom I’ve come to refer to as “Roadkill”. After a nice leisurely ride up to Diamond Point and checking into the hotel, DJGoody showed up, as if on cue, on his blue Bandit. After dropping the luggage, we headed into town to check things out and eventually met up with BlueMax and MWT, both of whom I met in Lake George during Americade 2002. Just to show we don’t discriminate, BlueMax and MWT brought along FJoe on his Kawasaki ZRX, and Sinops on his CBR600. After a few minutes of “talking bikes” in the parking lot, it was off to the Lobster Pot for dinner!

Out on the Town

Canada Street in Lake George was already hopping, and there was plenty to see. Everything from cruisers, to customs, to full-on touring rigs, to stuff we’ve never seen before! Americade had just officially opened that day, and things were already getting good. We parked the bikes in the hotel lot, and walked down to Duffy’s Tavern, checking out all the bikes along the way. The outside deck at Duffy’s provides one of the best places to relax and watch the action. We made sure not to stay out too late, as we had made big plans for Day 2.

We had been planning this trip for a few months. Many Americaders are planning this trip by the time they leave Americade the year before. Last year, Paul and I had planned on lots of riding; not riding for distance, but riding all frikken day. This time around, the group made some simple goals and we pretty much fulfilled them all.

Day Two - Five Motorcycles, One Mission: Lap the Lake

Our main goal for Tuesday was the simplest one: to head north and ride all the way around Lake George. Not a long distance, really, but it was a solid goal. The secondary goal was to get back to town early enough to visit the dealerexpo before they closed. Both of these goals were attained, despite my subconscious attempt to thwart them from the beginning.

Maybe it’s because I usually don’t wake up before noon, but pulling out of the hotel parking lot, I was watching approaching traffic more than the guys in front of me. I thought MWT was pulling out, I looked left and went - when I looked ahead, he was still right there. DOH! I collided with him and down I went. In my defense, I was cresting a speed bump on a steep driveway when we hit, which threw me even more off-balance, resulting in the right side of my Bandit hitting the ground. Luckily, MWT stayed upright. Total damage: my front right turn signal, my Zero Gravity windshield lost a corner (the mirror folded back and whacked it), and a broken brake lever, along with a few new scratches. MWT suffered a broken rear turn signal and some scratches. Luckily, I had a spare brake lever (you what…?! That’s right!) and it wasn’t long before we were on the road again, just like it was supposed to happen.

I always keep a spare for just such an emergency

BlueMax led us over a small winding road that passed over what seemed to be a small mountain, and dropped us in a little village on the lake called Hewlett Landing. I thought the locals would be a little disenchanted by our motors rumbling through their little retreat. Instead, the few we saw waved and smiled as if we were relatives come home to visit. We waved back, then stopped at the dock where the road ends, for a short break - and lotsa pics.

Well, a few hours and some pizza slices later, we hit town again for the dealerexpo. There’s nothing like parking in a field of thousands of motorcycles of all types, and going shopping for stuff that will make your own bike stand out from the crowd even more. While I searched for a new windshield, MWT took DJGoody on the ride up to the top of Mt Prospect - a view you can’t pass up when visiting Lake George. I found a replacement shield at the Givi stand, and easily installed it in the parking area.

The Lonely Road Home

With another Americade week getting crowded, my friends already gone home, and I having to work the next day, it was time to pack up anb head home. Rolling south on I-87, I missed my exit that would put me on 209 South. I took the next exit and headed west, figuring I’d pick up 209 eventually. As it turns out, I couldn’t have planned a better route - I ended up on 55 going west through some great mountain roads - wide open 60mph sweepers, the kind heavy bikes like the Bandit just love. And the scenery was nice, too.