The Backroads Report May 3rd 2025 #368

Published: Sat, 05/03/25

Updated: Sat, 05/03/25

Shira Kamil's

Whatchathinkin'

Sights & Signs of Spring

There is a routine at Backroads Central. Once the coffee has perked (or dripped, as it were), the outdoor furry and feathered critters are fed and we sit, mug in hand, watching the actual pecking order and kerfuffle outside our window.

We begin putting out seed and nuts around November, as the late fall weather starts turning, the flowers and foliage fall to the ground, and our outdoor friends begin foraging for food. It is great entertainment as the foofaraw unfolds around the various boxes and feeders.

As spring approaches, the variety and number of visitors increase. The juncos, who weather the winter, must share their perch with the skullduggerous cowbirds and the robins and occasional red-winged blackbirds, harbingers of spring, share the ground with the timid mourning doves. The emergence of the chipmunks, with their over-stuffed cheeks, bring joy to Spenser T. Cat and the melting pond ice will hopefully bring the return of our resident frogs.

Whatchathinkin'

Welcome to the Jungle proudly brought to you by

Law Office of Paul Gargiulo, P.C.

Best Budget ADV Motorcycles

https://www.motorcyclistonline.com/reviews/best-affordable-adventure-motorcycles/

Because no one should have to sell a kidney just to go exploring.

Plain and simple, you don’t need a $30,000 motorcycle to go out and have yourself an adventure. Sure, the idea of owning the latest and greatest BMW R 1300 GS with all the fixings is a lovely thought, but for that same amount of money, you could have any one of the bikes below and enough cash left over to ride it around the world for a year straight.

That’s an easy enough decision to make from where we’re sitting, and it’s made even easier by how good budget-friendly ADVs have become these last few years. Features like lean-sensitive traction control, full-color TFT dashes, adjustable suspension, and multiple rider modes can all be had for well under $10,000, leaving more cash in your pocket to make that epic trip a reality.

Here are our favorite adventure candidates of the year that deliver maximum bang for your buck.

Motorcyclist

Star Trek Trike to be Auctioned

https://www.hotrod.com/features/star-trek-discovery-trike-west-coast-customs-mecum-indy-auction-2025

West Coast Customs is holding a Mecum Yard Sale, and it’s all for a good cause. Of course you’re familiar with the MotorTrend hit show Inside West Coast Customs, the reality show based out of Burbank, California, that for eight years documented the transformation of ordinary daily drivers into fantastic creations. In the show’s 68 episodes Ryan Friedlinghaus and the crew at West Coast Customs took seemingly ordinary cars (for the most part!) and made their owners’ fantasies—no matter how odd—a reality. No idea was too crazy or impractical.

We are having a Go Find Me Site to get the Star Trek Trike to NJ!

Star Trek Trike

Backroads Summer Solstice Rally

https://backroadsusa.com/backroads-events

June 19 - 22nd, 2025

You didn't think we'd NOT be doing some special things in celebration of our three decades exploring the backroads of the USA, did ya?!

The format might be a little different but the riding, the venues, and the things we will toss in during the ride will be pure vintage Backroads Motorcycle Magazine!

We promise a most excellent time, and you should book your rooms now... today - we mean now - as they are ARE ALMOST GONE.

Stay tuned for more news as it rolls around the twisties at us!

Ride Safe. Ride Smart. Ride the Backroads.

Backroads Summer Solstice Rally

From the Who Knew Files?

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/peculiar-short-lived-office-smithsonian-once-explored-reports-bizarre-natural-phenomena-180986242

The Center for Short-Lived Phenomena
Strange, sudden, and unexpected...

A Peculiar, Short-Lived Office at the Smithsonian Once Explored Reports of Bizarre Natural Phenomena
From surprising squirrel migrations to islands popping up out of nowhere to strange seas monsters, the organization’s scientists tracked strange events as they happened... who knew?

Our government at work.

Smithsonian

The Better Person Test?

https://dmnews.com/ain-9-traits-of-people-who-instinctively-return-shopping-carts/

Nine traits of people who instinctively return shopping carts

I remember the first time I noticed this phenomenon.

I’d just finished my grocery run, arms heavy with bags, and spotted a stranger crossing the parking lot to return their shopping cart to the designated area.

They didn’t look around for applause or do a big show of it. They simply pushed the cart back, then headed to their car with a quiet sense of completion.

Watching them, I thought: Why do some folks automatically walk that extra distance, even if it’s raining or their car is way on the other side?

It got me thinking about what drives these small acts of kindness.

I’ve come to believe that people who return shopping carts have specific mindsets and habits—little glimpses of values that make them who they are.

Follow the link to the nine traits I’ve noticed in people who take this simple, yet telling, action.

Daily Motivation

Skylands Stadium

Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival

TODAY!!

FUN FOR ALL AGES

It all happens right on the field! Enjoy a day of delicious food, desserts, drinks, and much more. Our festival has activities and entertainment for all ages, so bring the entire family!

Check out the full line up of vendors and get your tickets online.

Skylands Stadium, 94 Championship Place, Augusta, NJ

Skylands Food Truck Festival

MotoGP Vs F1

https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/motogp-bikes-are-faster-than-f1-cars-mostly/10716636/?utm_source=MS%20Global%20Engaged%20120%20Days&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=US_MS_20250425_F_DailyNewsletter%20%2801JSPS8ZPNXNRQVCXN2KYH6WWY%29&_kx=IkC9R0i04ZlgJ3rv-T0eT6euSzEXTHkzeqjVtv5fYCI.WA7V6T

MotoGP bikes are faster than F1 cars, mostly
At certain tracks that both utilize, MotoGP motorcycles achieve faster top speeds than Formula 1 cars

Formula 1 is the pinnacle of racing, or so the FIA, the teams, drivers, and fans all around the world love to say. The series has the technology, the gravitas, the charisma, and the speed that enthralls you at every stop on the calendar. And it’s present in the highlight reels from along the racetrack that just ooze this sense of speed.

Too bad MotoGP’s motorcycles are going faster than Formula 1 at most of the tracks they both use…

MotoGP vs F1

Red Knights Battalion 6 Run

Saturday June 7th

Moroney's Harley-Davidson

To Benefit Arthur C. Luv Children's Burn Camp

A truly great event for a very serious cause - to help young burn victims heal and move on.
This ride will benefit the Arthur C. Luv Children's Burn Camp.
Although we have always felt our firefighters are brave amazing... at the Arthur C. Luv Children's Burn Camp the Kids are the real Superheroes!

The Arthur C. Luf Children’s Burn Camp is a safe, natural outdoor environment for kids ages 8 to 17 from around the world who have survived life-altering burn injuries.

We urge you to read about this camp on their site:
https://www.ctburnsfoundation.org/childrens-burn-camp/

Red Knights

Deep in the Heart of Jersey!

https://www.coasttocoastam.com/article/video-unidentified-falling-object-crashes-through-ceiling-of-new-jersey-body-shop/

Unidentified Falling Object Pierces Ceiling of New Jersey Body Shop:

The owner of a New Jersey body shop found himself with a strange mystery on his hands after his business was struck by an unidentified falling object that left a massive hole in the ceiling of the building. The odd incident reportedly occurred last Wednesday morning in the community of Magnolia when S & L Automotive was suddenly shaken by the impact of something that had seemingly plummeted from the sky. When workers noticed a hole in the ceiling the following day, owner Sebastian Leonardo checked their security footage and was left scratching his head. Check out video of the mysterious event and find out more on this story...

Coast to Coast

Bluebird of Bitterness

Pitch Meeting!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0nSFVT-hs0

Snow White

So many of you have asked for more Pitch meetings, and we can get that done. It's super easy, barely an inconvenience.

Snow White... What a mess.

This meeting is fast paced, so listen carefully....

Hi Ho!

Snow WHite

$https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/trackclk/N4492.3492528BACKROADS/B25215450.384955996;dc_trk_aid=549863339;dc_trk_cid=186346052;dc_lat=;dc_rdid=;tag_for_child_directed_treatment=;tfua=;gdpr=${GDPR};gdpr_consent=${GDPR_CONSENT_755};ltd=;dc_tdv=1$

Progressive

https://www.imtbike.com/tours/morocco/morocco-adventure/

Ride to Work Day

Tuesday, June 10th

Show the world that motorcycles and scooters are great for everyday transportation! On Ride to Work Day, ride your motorcycle or scooter to commute, shop/run errands, or simply to enjoy the experience.

Ride to Work Day

The Escape of the Week

Paulinskill Viaduct

Blairstown, New Jersey

Of all the abandoned places that Weird NJ has explored over the years, none match the awe inspiring architectural majesty of the Paulinskill Viaduct. The Viaduct, which is sometimes referred to as the Hainesburg Trestle, is a long-abandoned railroad bridge over the Paulinskill River near Blairstown. The most thrilling feature of the Viaduct is that on top of the soaring arches, beneath the rail bed, are a series of step ladders which allow the explorer to actually travel through the inside of the structure. Each of the towers between the arches are hollow, with cavernous graffiti scrawled rooms inside.

Crazy Graffiti... this was the largest concrete structure on the planet when built... well worth the visit.

Weird NJ

BethelWoods Center for the Arts

Presents

Song of the Week

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSowQCnApIQ

Riders on the Storm

Foggy Mountain Spaceship

One of the first songs the band started playing after the arrival of the BanjoSynth was Riders On The Storm by The Doors. The hypnotic bass line, the baritone vocal, the Fender Rhodes tones, exploratory guitar solos, and dorian vamps are all right up our alley. Enjoy!

Chris Elliott - 5-String Electric Banjo and Vocals
Chris Sheldon - Banjotron Acoustikit 2000™
Kyle Ussery - BS-1 BanjoSynth

T-shirts, merch, band schedule and more on their website:
https://foggymountainspaceship.com

Foggy Mountain Spaceship[

Now at Shops...

May's Edition of Backroads

Let's all get our Spring Focus together with this edition that will travel through ancient Georgian history with the Allman Brothers, dive deep into the Chesapeake Canal, scoot along the Catskill looking for Road Kill, and take in the Modern Classics to!

All in one great Spring edition of Backroads!

Ride far, Ride smart...Ride the Backroads!

Backroads