First Trip Up To My Camp

Already been home for over a week now but haven't written about my great trip up to Northern New York yet.It all started with fixing up the little 1965 Valiant Station Wagon . Got her all ready to go and packed her up.Strapped my kayak to the roof and got the 6AM boat across the LI Sound on Saturday .The trip up was smooth with the car running great and good weather. Everything was as I left it back in October the last time I was up and I jumped right in setting the place up for my stay.The only work I had planned was to buy and cut new boards to cover the windows and doors . Last  Fall when I was there on the BMW K100 I had a real hard time hanging them when I was packing up to head home.They were all water logged from a few years of use and very mushy and heavy so new ones were needed. Aside from this small amount of work the rest of the trip was vacation time to be spent in my kayak .

My first river was just down the road from my camp about a 5 minute drive. The Santa Clara Flow . It's a section on the St Regis River that is nice flat water for a few miles back into a wilderness area.It was a great paddle that was about an hour and a half up river and then back with the flow. I figured I went about 3/4th way up to where the first rapids are.Next time I'll start earlier and go the distance.Here are a bunch of photos from this wonderful place

 What a great afternoon this was.I was out there all alone with nature and it was amazing.Heard some bull frogs croaking ,saw a great blue heron ,a couple hawks and some fish in the water that were good size.
 Spent the next day doing the chores like getting the plywood and going to the food co op .It was a rainy day so it was time well spent getting the chores finished.Things at my camp are good.I like being there all alone.Gives me time to think and get my bearings . Had plenty of music to listen too on my MP3 player that I run thru a car stereo into speakers.It's kinda cool living off the grid up there.The pump worked good so I had cold showers at will which came in real handy on the hot days.The generator worked good so I had electricity to charge the 12v car battery I run the stereo with and the water pump . Had to light the wood stove one morning  but only that one time this trip. It was really beautiful weather. The next river I did was the east branch of the St Regis River over by Everton Falls off the Red Tavern Rd. I like this place .Been here a few times and always enjoy it.It's flat water up stream for a good ways then I turn around and let the river take me back.Lots of twists and turns on this river and it's not wide like the other place so there is more current.Met a group traveling down stream from a few miles up stream from my turn around point.They walked the rapids and had cars waiting down where I put in.Nice people .After a brief chat I was on my way back into the woods

As I got upstream some I came across an old beaver lodge and just a little farther a dam they built to make a pond in the wet lands.

This was another good afternoon of paddling. It is so relaxing being out in nature like this. Quiet and peaceful , no people , no cars , and so much beauty my brain almost shorts out .

The next day I went to a lake over near Paul Smiths called Jones Pond.It was another very nice place.Lots of fish jumping and again,very private but public land there to be enjoyed.Met these two women just finishing up their time out on the water.They loved my old Valiant Station Wagon. Had a nice conversation with them and in the water I went.

The rest of my time was spent at my camp relaxing and just enjoying my little piece of paradise . It was a very restful and enjoyable time for me this time.The car never missed a beat,the weather was really good,and I was happy to be out in the woods again at my camp.

        

The Moto Guzzi Parts Bike

Well,the newest addition has arrived home. Here she is, a totally neglected but low mileage 1975 Moto Guzzi 850-T.

Yeah she's rough but for $100. dollars she's a real good deal. The instruments alone are worth $200. Then there is the other stuff like the transmission,the rear drive unit,the motor  will need a  top end rebuild but the bottom end is probably fine, a wire harness ,swing arm and drive shaft, the clutch pivot rod whivh I was looking to but on line costs $75. this bike has a good one so you see I'm way ahead spending this $100 . on what appears to be a boat anchor to most people.

The carbs are worth more than what I paid for this whole mess ! So now I'm going to spray penetrating oil all over this thing ,cover it with a plastic tarp ,and head up to my camp for a week or so. When I return I will start to take this thing all apart,clean up what is good and then scrap what is left. The wagon is all set to travel with now. Today I cut the grass,start to pack and gather tools,and on Saturday morning I hit the road  heading 400 miles to the north to my sanctuary in the Adirondacks . I like being an old retired guy !

Everything Comes If You Wait Long Enough

 My 850-T in my driveway up in the Adirondacks at my camp





I have been playing this waiting game trying to get a Moto Guzzi 850-T parts bike.A few years back I thought I had one but the guy just couldn't part with it.He almost sold it to me for 500 bucks but then started in with this if you sell it I want to have first crack at it stuff.I said sure.He was local to the town I live in and I figured he'd call one day and say come and get it.Well,it's been 3 years since that . My 850-T has served me well and has gone on many long distance rides all loaded up with gear since that day .This past April the clutch started acting up.It's been 10 years since I put this clutch in ,
right before my 3 month ride out west in 2010 to be exact so it doesn't owe me anything.I put at least 100,000 miles on the bike in that time.Today I was supposed to go up to Connecticut to ride in Dave Ropers tiddler tour .  https://daveroperracing.blogspot.com/2017/07/roper-tiddler-tour.html    I had plans to go with my friend Craig   but we had this bad weather forecast so I cancelled .Wouldn't you know it,it turned out to be sunny and hot ! Well,everything happens for a reason and as I was having my coffee this morning I went on Craigslist looking around at bikes.There it was ! An 850-T that has been under a tarp for 20 years outside for sale for 100 bucks  and it's close to home ! This was at 5:45 AM .I emailed the guy and 5 minutes later he got back.We exchanged phone numbers ,talked on the phone,and I bought it ! Got a hold of my friend Paul to help me get it home with his trailer and Tuesday she comes home .Now I have all the spare parts I need to keep my Moto Guzzi up and running for a long long time.See,if you wait long enough whatever it is that you are looking for finds it's way to you all on it's own and everything happens for a reason. I could have been riding with my friend with Roper racing around the back roads up in Connecticut ,me on my 1966 Yamaha him on a 1950's Moto Guzzi,and all these other people on all these beautiful antique machines but instead I found my Moto Guzzi parts bike. Life is good to me .