Two Wheeling

I have to start out by saying that I always have a great time at Americade. The area, the people and the atmosphere always leave me with memories that I won't soon forget. There was an additional element this year that made the memories unforgettable. In addition to the usual cast that I travel to Lake George with, we had my family along. I have for quite a while wanted my brother Bill to join us and to include our wives in the mix. My wife Linda and Bill's wife Toni get along famously and were tasked with finding good eateries for evening meals. They succeeded with ease and we spent each night dining deliciously. The Ladies shopped, saw the sights and enjoyed hours of chatting.
As always, the trip began at a gas station in New Paltz. The sun was blazing, and after I bought gas, I decided to cool things off by removing the cold weather liner in my fairly new leather jacket. The good thing, besides her presence on this trip, was that Linda was her Honda HR-V carrying the luggage items I usually strap on the bike. Her car gave me a place to toss the liner as we waited for my friend Marc and his son Jeffrey to show up from Long Island. At exactly the time we thought they would appear, they rode in with the usual comments about the traffic involved with their escape from Metro NYC. In short order after gas and rest room stops, we were off. 
The trip on both the New York State Thruway and Northway out of Albany both have one thing in common. Flat, featureless and, in only small amounts, a scenic view. We covered the ground between New Paltz and our first stop in Clifton Park, NY in what seemed like a short amount of time. The rest area there is modern, very clean and has outdoor picnic tables under some trees. Just the place for a quick lunch and a rest room break. It allowed us to catch up on the latest happenings and stretch our legs. After we pulled out of there, we reached Lake George in a little over a half hour.
When Linda and I pulled into our hotel we found Bill and Toni had not arrived yet, so we emptied the car and settled into our room. Marc and Jeffrey had gone to registration while I waited for Bill so I could take him with me to register. He arrived shortly after we did and took his bike off his trailer.
That evening the four of us, me, Linda, Bill and Toni, ate a fine meal at Texas Roadhouse in Queensbury, NY. I checked in with Marc and his sons. His other son Michael had arrived from North Carolina, to see what the ride schedule was for the next day. From there it was off to bed to get ready for three days of intense riding through the Adirondack countryside.
It would be lengthy to write about each day and the adventures involved so let me summarize. On the first ride we traveled around Lake Sacandaga for over one hundred miles. On the second ride we traveled east and north to Ticonderoga. Along the route Bill's 1984 Honda Sabre started shutting off and stalling. After a lengthy stop after lunch, he affected a roadside repair of a faulty wiring connection by the side of the road with help from Marc's two sons. Michael bought wire and tape, Bill created a jumper around the problem, and we returned safely after the delay. On the third day we rode to Speculator, NY for lunch while a brief shower fell. Bill's bike behaved, we had another good lunch and rode for one hundred and twenty-three miles to finish our time there. That night the heavens opened up and spilled heavy rains and wind canceling fireworks, cruises and any outdoor activities.
Marc, Jeffrey and Michael took off early on Saturday to return home while Linda and I waited for some improvement in the weather. At 10:45 AM we set off for home with damp roads and light rain falling. I only had to endure it for about fifty miles when things cleared up outside Albany. Bill and his truck passed us about twenty miles away from Lake George and waved. The wind was blowing fairly well, and the Kawasaki took it all in bravely as we crossed the Hudson on the Rip van Winkle bridge. After a gas stop in Germantown, NY we rolled home in no time to bright sun and warmer temperatures at 2:45 PM. We both enjoyed the time spent in Lake George and the time we had with family and friends. 
I have heard all sorts of complaints about Americade in social media lately. My opinion is that the event is what you make of it. I go to ride, see bikes at the demo are and wander through the exposition seeing all sorts of products and food. I spoke to other riders and ate heartily. In addition to three days adding three hundred miles to my odometer. In short, I'll be back next year ready to ride, eat and enjoy the event with family and friends.