Frosty Nuts (4/28/24 Sun)

My first motorcycle camping trip of the year, with the YankeeBeemers BMW club of Massachusetts. I was already on the road and missed this event in 2023. But have fond memories of my first Frosty Nuts in 2022. At that time I was working out how to outfit the new 2020 DL1050xt for touring and how to pack my new luggage. My 2022 season began with 700 miles on the bike. My 2024 season begins with 53,000 on the odometer.

The two hour ride to Wilgus State Park in Weathersfield, VT began around 2130. I had attended a retirement party that evening. I chose to ride Friday night because my buddy Rob had gone earlier in the evening and claimed a tent spot for me.

Earlier that morning we heard from Anne's brother that the Nearfest (HAM Radio) swap meet was occurring at the Dearfield, NH Fairgrounds. Since I was already packed, and the roads there are nice I took a mid-day trip. I pulled off my side cases for that trip and reattached them before heading to the retirement party. Unfortunately I unhooked one side of my bungee net during re-attachment, and failed to re-hook it. That error went unnoticed until I dismounted in Vermont at 2330 to find my rain gear had flown the coop.

Aside from loosing the raingear the cold ride over went smoothly. I had installed my recent auction purchsed Oxford Dry Hands ("hippo hands" like) grip sleeves. I had my heated liner and finally used the warm insert on my Scorpion riding pants. So I stayed warm as the mercury dipped to 36F during my two hour non-stop night ride. A major portion of it on the interstate highway Route 89.

Rob had texted enought information for me to ride to the campsite where I found his bike. I didn't recognize his new tent, so I called out to the tents either side of his bike, no replies from either. By midnight I had setup my own tent and was tucked in for the cold night. The event had more than 92 attendees, one of which noted a 28F overnight temp. My 0C Pyria Quilt and ExPed matress served me well. I threw a space blanker over me in the wee morning hours. Saturday night offered perfect sleeping weather near the 40F mark.

On Saturday Rob and I rode up VT Rt5, with a pause for breakfast at 4 Aces in West Lebanon NH. Jim called to say he would be joining us at Wilgus tonight, on his new 1994 BMW R100GS, a purchase he made earlier in the week. We passed a Siera Trading Post on our ride, where I found a North Face rain jacket in XXL (to go over my riding jacket). Rob and I also stopped for steak tips, a pasta side and a bottle of wine. I campfire feast fit for a king.

After Jim arrived and setup his palace, we went looking for a campfire to cook our steaks. The main gathering fire had just been stoked large, so they suggested we invade a nearby site. The occupants of that site welcomed us, as they finished up their feast. They might have regretted that welcome as we didn't leave until near 2300. We did very much enjoy their company and talks. Their opinion of us really is none of my business, and I'm fine with that. At least a good time was had by some, if not all!

Sunday offered a leasure start. We cooked a random breakfast in a vacated waterfront site. I took pictures of Jim and his new bike, while Rob spent a long time craming all this crap back into all his storage. While mubling about needing to pack better, and buy smaller gear. Eventually we left Wilgus, near the 1100 checkout time, and once again carved through the wonderful roads of VT. We stopped a few times for goodies and fuel. The fuel stop had mistakenly left a hose near where we parked. Jim took that as an invitation to spray down one side of my bike. Which left a lot of muddy puddles on their pavement. Now my bike has a "good side".

We split up in Concord NH. Rob just before the ice cream stop. My day ended near 1700 in my garage unpacking my camping gear to air out and taking the cooking and laundry upstairs to be cleaned. Looking forward to the Downeast Rally in Poland ME in three weeks. It sure was nice to be camping again.