Nice ride to the Camp. Some GC

[WitchCityGuzzi]

I took the Stelvio up to Vermont to the Deer Camp to do a little more scouting before the opening of archery season on Oct 3rd. Gorgeous day in the 50's- 70's. The 400 mile ride included a little bit of everything. Some interstate, some gorgeous single laner country roads, some beautiful Vermont dirt roads and even a few miles of fairly rough "snow mobile" trail to get to the camp. I left Salem, MA at about 6 a.m. and arrived at the camp in Vermont at about 9:45 a.m.

I averaged about 40.5 mpg for the whole day of mixed riding. The Stelvio now has over 62,000 miles on it, and still runs like a top. I look forward to the next 60,000 miles. God, I love that thing. I've never owned a bike that was so enjoyable in such varied riding conditions.

After getting to the camp, I spent about 4 hours in the woods scouting. Found some great new spots, so it was a very productive and enjoyable day.

A couple of pictures.

2 weekends ago, my hunting buddies and I spend the weekend cutting down the weeds around the camp, cutting some downed trees and getting it split and loaded into the woodshed, getting the generator commissioned for this year, and general cleaning.

The camp



At the camp this weekend with the Stelvio



The view from the camp. The camp is totally off grid basically smack dab in the middle of 80,000 acres of State land. No man made light visible in any direction. Just perfect.



And because the area the camp is in has a plethora of black bear and coyote, I brought a friend along if just for peace of mine 



I love riding this time of year. I got up to the camp and it was 51 degrees. The ride home was in the low 70's. Hope everyone got out and got a chance to enjoy their bikes this weekend.

Tomorrow, I pull the knobbies off and put some more suitable dual sport tires on. Love the knobbies on the Stelvio, they let you ride like a real hooligan in the dirt, but they are a bit loud on the tarmac. 

[mentalfloss]

Nice! I had just over 30k on my stelvio when I sold it and wonder who has the most miles on a stelvio now? I will have another stelvio......

[Chuck in Indiana]

Thanks for the tour, Witchy.  You are certainly using the Stelvio as it's meant to be used. Gotta agree, being in the middle of nowhere is one of my favorite places to be. I don't hunt any more, but still remember the days turkey hunting watching the woods come alive in the morning.
Oh, forgot to welcome you to WG.. 

[charlie b]

Wow.  I am used to deer camp being a tent  :)

Bear must be small in your area.  Around here all that would do is make them mad  ;)

[WitchCityGuzzi]

Anything that can't be stopped by a .45 Golden Saber, I don't want to be around. 


Yes, a big bear is 350 lbs or so. Definitely not of brown bear proportion. I still don't want one chewing on me however. The black bears tend to be pretty shy and in all honesty, coyotes (in packs) concern me more. The Eastern Coyotes have wolf blood so they're pretty healthy in size too.

[boatdetective]

Hey Doug-
Sounds like a perfect fall trip. I had to get out and so took the standard North Shore tour up to Newburyport and back through Essex on the 1200S. I'm thinking that a fall trek up to Grand Isle in VT would be epic.

Sounds like a perfect ride for the Stelvio. I must say, it's sounding like the Stelvio is becoming the modern heir to the Tonti touring throne. I certainly can see owning one at some point.  Did you rollerize yours?

RE the .45- what are the laws about carry out of state? I was never clear on that. The laws can be such a mess state by state, I don't think anyone is 100% up on them. Heard a great quote the other week: "Q: Why do you carry a  .45? A: Because they don't make a .46". Personally, I bought an H&K VP-9 not that long ago and it's very nice.

Welcome to the forum!

Jonathan

[WitchCityGuzzi]

Of all the bikes I've owned and own, the Stelvio is probably the most perfect motorcycle (for me) I've ever owned. It just does everything really well (for me).

The Stelvio was made for Vermont. It should be the official motorcycle of the State.

I have spent a fair amount of riding time in Vermont this year. It's just so nice riding for mile after mile and not seeing another car. This was a trip I took a month or so ago. Did a ride up to have breakfast with the Motorcyclists of Vermont folks (mostly BMW guys, but very nice folks to ride with, no attitudes at all towards a Guzzi guy. I joined the group this year and did the Bayley Hazen war road and Puppy Dog ride with them. Great time.) After breakfast in Bethel, rode down 107 along the river and then cut up 100 North. Had lunch in Montpelier with a buddy, and continued the loop and headed home. It was a gorgeous day and put about 400-450 miles on the Ambo.



Note the traffic. That's pretty much the most I had all day.   

With regards to out of state carry, it's fine in Vermont as Vermont has no gun laws. I kept it tirgger locked, unloaded in the saddle bag for the ride up so no real worries there either going through NH. My .45 is a Sig Target Nitron 1911. It's an absolute tack driver.

[BRIO]

Witch,

That looks like an awesome time

Of all the bikes I've owned and own, the Stelvio is probably the most perfect motorcycle (for me) I've ever owned. It just does everything really well (for me).

The Stelvio was made for Vermont. It should be the official motorcycle of the State.

I have spent a fair amount of riding time in Vermont this year. It's just so nice riding for mile after mile and not seeing another car. This was a trip I took a month or so ago. Did a ride up to have breakfast with the Motorcyclists of Vermont folks (mostly BMW guys, but very nice folks to ride with, no attitudes at all towards a Guzzi guy. I joined the group this year and did the Bayley Hazen war road and Puppy Dog ride with them. Great time.) After breakfast in Bethel, rode down 107 along the river and then cut up 100 North. Had lunch in Montpelier with a buddy, and continued the loop and headed home. It was a gorgeous day and put about 400-450 miles on the Ambo.



Note the traffic. That's pretty much the most I had all day.   

With regards to out of state carry, it's fine in Vermont as Vermont has no gun laws. I kept it tirgger locked, unloaded in the saddle bag for the ride up so no real worries there either going through NH. My .45 is a Sig Target Nitron 1911. It's an absolute tack driver.

Beautiful bike, beautiful scenery.

[john fish]

Bear must be small in your area.  Around here all that would do is make them mad  ;)

When I lived in MT, there was always one smartass who would say to anyone carrying a handgun in bear country:

"Better file the front sight off that thing."
"Why."
"'cause if you shoot a bear with it, it'll be a lot more comfortable to have the front sight filed off when the bear shoves it up your a**."

  

[john fish]

Oh, beautiful pictures, Witchy.

[Demar]

Beautiful Ambo Whichy, I'm jealous. My dream is to someday restore a '75 Eldo.

Did you change your user name?

[WitchCityGuzzi]

Yeah, sorta. When I used to only have a Ballabio, the name worked. The new user name reflects my diversity.

The Ballabio today. 70,000+ miles. Still runs like a top. Still an absolute howl to ride. Most reliable motorcycle I've ever owned. Only down once for a clutch replacement.

[radguzzi]

Nice Doug, the roads in Vermont are some of my favorite, getting there (for me) is a pain, no East to West roads but that is part of the charm. 

Good all around tires you have on the Stelvio, I bet you are not afraid to jump into a single track with those on, at least a dirt road...

Best,
Rob