GOLD CLASSIC XXI
Written by Owen & Gail Toomey
Reprinted from TN Chapter “F” Newsletter
(Editor’s note: The Toomey’s live in Ohio)
Gail and I were honored that Don & Marion Oller visited us and stayed the night before we departed for Rutland, Vermont at about 7:30 A.M., Saturday morning. Don had to wait while I took care of Gail’s head set plug, which was under the seat. Everything went well and we spent the first night in Liverpool, New York, a suburb of Syracuse, New York. The motel was a bit pricey for a tight wad.
Sunday was an exceptionally scenic day with several views of the Erie Canal. We crossed the Mohawk, which brought thoughts of James Fenimore Cooper’s novel Drums Along the Mohawk. Thousands of acres of vineyards shrouded the landscape with a delightful green covering. We concluded the ride with our arrival in Rutland about 12:30 P.M. The remainder of the day was spent renewing friendships.
Monday was started early with a ride to Woodstock, Vermont. We passed over the Quechee Gorge, which is one hundred and sixty one feet deep. Our next stop was Woodstock, a small town dressed in splendid Victorian design and beautiful colors. The ride was worth just seeing the community. We returned to Rutland just in time to line up for the departure of the guided group ride to the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory. There was some disorganization at the beginning, but soon everything was going well. The total group of motorcycles was broken up into smaller groups to reduce the number of bikes in one location on the road and the number of motorcycles arriving at the ice cream factory at one time. The leaders had to purchase the tickets for their group. Charlie Trombatore (Illinois) led our group. He was a good leader with informative radio communication along the way. We had a good ride, although the road was rough in some locations. Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory is a small operation with a big reputation. They produce two flavors of ice cream over a sixteen-hour period, with eight hours to clean up. The tour through the factory was great and the free samples were even better. After eating the ice cream samples you wanted to purchase one of their good tasting ice cream choices.
Tuesday began with a trip to Lake George, New York. Most of the individuals on the ride took a lunch cruise on Lake George. Paul and Linda Tennyson, Gail and I did not take the cruise, but took a ride around the lake. Paul is a good guide. He made a quick stop at a cafe where the food was good and the price was even better. Paul’s next stop was a ferry boat that crossed Lake George at Fort Ticonderoga, New York to Lambees Point, Vermont.
Tuesday evening, an ice cream social was held in the dining room. Most of the group was in attendance. The ice cream was good and so was the fellowship. Gail had ten scoops, but who was counting. Don Oller took care of his share also.
Wednesday brought overcast skies and the temperatures in the mid 60’s. Don Oller was judging the bikes in the bike show. Gail and I departed Rutland for a ride around Lake Champlain. What a beautiful ride, the lake was at its splendor. We crossed several bridges that connect some islands together and stopped on one of the islands at a state park to visit the summer quarters of the Lipizzan Stallions. They are beautiful horses. The stables were clean and they had four young ladies caring for them. There were eighteen horses total. We continued into New York and headed south crossing Ausable Chasm Gorge in the Adirondack Mountains. Out trip concluded by taking a bridge back into Vermont. Wednesday night was party night in the dining room. Karaoke and music entertained us. Barbara and Joe Lopez had a great skit, with the help of our president as a police officer. There were several individuals that sang. George Ramsey did a great job of singing several Willie Nelson numbers. A young lady from Pennsylvania named Amy sang a Patsy Cline song, which was a realistic as being with Pasty. All of the people singing did a great job. Between the singing and the dancing it put a good cap on the day.
Thursday started off a bit ugly with RAIN. Thursday was game day. Barbara Lopez had a bag full of games to replace the bike games. They used the lounge area and had a good time. After lunch the rain stopped and people started to uncover their bikes and leave the parking lot. Gail and I started out for the country store. At the higher elevations the clouds were full of moisture. We arrived at the country store and found several other people from our group doing the same. Barbara Lopez had a bag of goodies big enough to need a trike to haul it back to the motel.
Gail and I rode back to the motel to find we had a screw in our new rear tire. It is now 5:20 P.M. and we were going to depart the motel at 6:00 A.M. the next morning for home. Don Oller gave me directions to the Honda dealer, to find that they did not have a tire to fit a Goldwing. The Honda dealer’s parts person made five phone calls before he located a tire. As luck would have it the tire was at a service garage about two miles from the motel. I rode to the garage and left my bike. The garage loaned me a Honda Scooter for transportation until my bike was repaired. After leaving the service garage I returned to the motel in time to attend the banquet. The food was good. The Prime Rib needed a bit more heat.
Friday was go home day and we had to wait until 9:30 for the return of the bike. What a wonderful group of people at the service garage. The service people kept their word and had me going home by 10:00 A.M.
Don and Marion had left earlier and traveled through Pennsylvania with Roger and Lorraine Dale. Gail and I rode with George Graham and Charlie Trombatore and their families through New York.
A Special Thank You to Joe and Barbara Lopez. Their warm welcome was appreciated by everyone. They were the hosts of the Rutland Rally and their planning and organization showed throughout the week’s activities.