Now that the organized ride season is over I thought I would write expanded versions of my thoughts on each event. When I totaled up the events I attended this past season I was surprised to note they numbered nine. I'll start with the events I rode on my side of the Hudson River (East) and in a pair of future installments relate the events on the west side of the river. 

The first event of the year, as always, was the Suicide Prevention Ride out of Poughkeepsie. In years past the ride went to Pine Plains where people relaxed and ate at the local establishments. The first two times I did the event I used the 250 Honda, rode to the halfway point and left on my own to the finish. Since I was riding by myself, instead of with the group, and didn't need to keep up I used my 200cc scooter last year. This year I dragged out the 250 scooter expecting the same trip and was quite surprised to see everything changed. We rode as a group throughout Dutchess County to a stop at a restaurant in Rhinebeck. Under usual circumstances the scooter keeps up just fine but this year it was very windy, the route was hilly and the scooter had a new, unbroken-in drive belt that had trouble with wind and hill loads. I rode with the group to the halfway point and then left to go home. It was fun but I decided that hilly rides were not in its wheelhouse and that hills should be left to the motorcycles in the future.

Two months later the Scoot and Shoot ride out of Hyde Park began at the local Knights of Columbus Hall a scant four miles from home. I like this ride for two reasons, The first is that it's a self directed ride with a route sheet telling you where to go. The second is that the games you play are fun and you can ride at your own pace. For this I took the 250 Honda which easily goes as fast as the speed limits let you and is a hoot to ride on the roads around here. The short version of the story is that I went through it very quickly, didn't do so good at the game scores and was back to the start/finish about an hour or more before I was expected. I chatted with the people running the event and went home smiling from ear to ear.

Two months after that was the annual Gabe Hayes Ride in Wappingers Falls. I have done this event every year since it was organized but one. It rained that day and I passed. I took the 250 scooter again and it did fine in the beginning of the ride. The roads were flat and relatively straight. The scooter kept up easily at that. What I did forget was that near the end there was a very steep climb that the scooter struggled with. We were done quickly and the food and music at the finish was well done and pleasing to everyone. It was a great way to finish the east of Hudson season.

Next will be the Catskill rides. Stay tuned.