Yearround, every Sunday — Meet in Guilford at the commuter parking lot at the intersection of Route 77 and Route 95. Meet at 9:00, go to breakfast, then decide on your ride for the day.
May
May 11-13 (Friday-Sunday) -- Charter Oak Campout. Hello, many know the Charter Oak Rally lost its site to the weather Gods last year. While the camp has been rebuilt, so has their rental policy. As of right now and believed to be the future standing with the camp, we can no longer afford to host a rally at the Hartford County 4-H.
The CRVBMWR wish is to continue with having rallies. We begin anew!
Location and food: The 2012 edition (#25) will be very low key. It is being held at DEVILS HOPYARD, a Connecticut state campground. We plan on having coffee available in the morning on Saturday and Sunday (perhaps all the time). I’ll provide a hot dog with fixens supper on Saturday evening.
Date: The new dates and name are: May 11-13, 2012, Charter Oak Campout.
Cost: The only cost for the rally is the CT camping fee at DEVIL'S HOPYARD. All sites are $14.00 for state residents, registration for out of state attendees is $24.00 per night per site. Also a 1-time fee of $9.00.
Reservations: You must make your registration online at Reserve America (http://www.reserveamerica.com/)
Also, I will not be able to have coffee and hot dogs for you if you do not e-mail (rider_06416@yahoo.com) to let me know that you are coming. Just like a pre- registration. If for some reason you don't feel like you need a site for yourself and would like to share you can e-mail me and I'll try to put people together.
The host site is #7 with fire and food. If you have a motor home that you plan to bring reg sites 1,2,3 19,20,21 as these are better for you, no hookups anywhere.
You will need you own eating/drinking utensils. There are no showers. Stores are within a few miles of the site in Colchester.
Please take the time to read the till the end as there is info that I have written about the campground.
DEVILS HOPYARD
Description
Devil's Hopyard's principle feature, Chapman Falls, drops more than sixty feet over a series of steps in a Scotland Schist stone formation. The water from the splash pool at the base of the falls, continuing as the Eight Mile River, flows through the park's hemlock-canopied picnic area, providing a tranquil setting for a family outing. Many myths surround the name of the park, including one about a man named Dibble, who grew hops for beer-brewing. Through usage, Dibble's Hopyard supposedly became Devil's Hopyard. Another tale says that the Devil passed by the falls and accidentally wet his tail. Furious, he burned holes in the stones with his hooves as he bounded away. Now, we know that the potholes near the falls, which are some of the finest examples of pothole stone formations in this section of the country, were formed by stones moved downstream by the current, trapped in an eddy where the stone was spun around, wearing a depression in the rock. When the rock wore itself down, another would catch in the same hole and enlarge it. Perfectly cylindrical, the potholes range from inches to several feet in diameter and depth.Recreation:
The park offers some of the finest birding in the state, and fishermen find the clear, cool stream water an excellent source of brook trout. Additional activities at the park include picnicking, camping, hiking, and mountain biking.Facilities:
Devil's Hopyard Campground offers 21 campsites, available from mid-April through Memorial Day Weekend. Pedestal cooking grills, picnic shelters, picnic tables, and outhouses are also available.Nearby Attractions:
Nearby state parks include Day Pond State Park, in Colchester, Gillette Castle State Park, in East Haddam, Haddam Meadows State Park, also in Haddam, and Rocky Neck State Park, in East Lyme.Services & Amenities:
Within Facility
• Biking - Road
• Bird Watching
• Fishing - Freshwater
• Hiking
• Horseshoe Pits
• Mountain Biking
• Parking
• Photography
• Pit Toilet
• Playing Fields
• Recycling Center
• Scenic Overlook
• Visitor Center
• Wildlife Viewing
Within 10 Miles
• Church
• Firewood
• Grocery Store
• Laundry
• Toilet, Flush
Greater Than 10 Miles
• HospitalAlerts and Important Information
No pets allowed in this campground. Rocky Neck, American Legion and Macedonia are alternate family camping opportunities.
Directions:
DEVILS HOPYARD 366 HOPYARD ROAD EAST HADDAM CT 06423 From CT Route 9: Take Exit 7, then turn left at the end of the exit ramp onto CT Route 154 north. Take a right at the first traffic light, and follow the signs. From Interstate 395: Take Exit 80 west. Take a right onto CT Route 82 west. Take a right onto Hopyard Road, and follow the signs. From I-91S: Take Exit 22. Take Route 9S, Exit 10. Take Route 9AS to Tylerville. Take Route 82E over the CT River for about 3 miles. At the stop sign, take a right, and then take an immediate left. Follow that road for approximately 8 miles, then follow the signs to the park.May 12 (Saturday) -- Road Captain Ride to Mt. Greylock. I'm planning a ride for May 12th to Mt Greylock. We will meet at Patty's, in Litchfield, for breakfast starting at 8 am (weather permitting), leaving for the museum at 9 am. At 9, please be ready for the ride with the appropiate PPE (Personnal Protective Equipment) Helmet, Coat, Pants, Boots &Gloves appropiate for the weather. A full tank of gas and an empty bladder.
I am NOT planning on stopping for lunch on the return trip.
Our route will be mostly back roads or city streets, at a pace that should be comfortable for those riding two-up. We will return to Winstead, in the late afternoon.
If you are planning on participating, please let me know in advance so we can accomidate everyone who wants to join us. I look forward to seeing all of you on the 12th .
Thank You,
Mark Altschwager
Co-Road Captain, CRVBMW
(860) 693-6460
maltschwager@comcast.net
May 16 (Wednesday) -- Road Captain Ride for Lunch to Manchester VT. The Wednesday ride will be on the second Wednesday of each month. 5/16, 6/13, 7/11, 8/8, 9/12, 10/10, and 11/14 (if).
I was going to do a Manchester, CT to Manchester, VT run, but there is no reason to deal with the morning traffic around Hartford. Overall review for "up for breakfast" is good, but not great. However, I like the name.When: on Wednesday, 5/9, Meet at 8 am, kickstands up by 8:15 am
Starting: McDonalds' at Granby, 5 Bank St, Granby CT
Lunch at: Up for Breakfast, 4935 Main St, Manchester Center, VT 05255
Who: Anyone.
Dress code: Helmet, jacket, gloves, jeans, minimum.
For everyone: Ride length and pace will be depended on attendances.
Contact: Ching at chiang6600@hotmail.com or 860-634-0248
Weather permitted and come gassed up
May 19 (Saturday) -- May CRVBMW Breakfast Meeting. On Saturday, May 19, beginning at 9 am we will have our May CRVBMW breakfast meeting
We have reserved the back dining room at the Log House Restaurant on Rt. 44 in Barkhampstead for a breakfast meeting at 9 am..
Following breakfast we will ride a few miles west to see the new Redline Powersports shop that is owned by our good friend Shannon Raymond Fry.
It is at the location of the Former Canton Cycles shop in Winsted. Park in the back and walk around to the street entrance.
There will be opportunities to go for small group rides from Redline Powersports.June
June 14-17 (Thursday-Sunday) -- BMW RA Grand National Rally. Greetings all. Can't believe the Colorado Grand National is right around the corner. If you could, please post the following dates and any information you have room for in your Club Newsletter. We would really appreciate it.
The BMW RA Colorado Grand National
June 14-17, 2012
Copper Mountain, Colorado
Celebrate 40 years with us. Included in your rally fee is fabulous riding and camping. We have great music Friday and Saturday night, a special celebration dinner Friday night and Vendors. Meet new friends and see old. This is certainly an "all about you" rally. Great lodging rates available onsite. Go to bmwra.org. for information.
Save some money while you're at it. RA members receive a great magazine; On The Level and save money on their rally fee. Also, volunteer sign up is online. Take a look and volunteer.