I decided to try a ride report again, after countless times with the "old" forum, I was discouraged about trying, there was a lot of typing and pasting pictures, and it never worked.

Trail riding in "the mini-state of RI" is difficult. I live in a very urban area, with some of the worst idiot drivers anywhere, well, maybe next to New Joy-Zee.

Most areas in this congested state are private property or state parks. Dirt road dual sporting is ok, but if you want off road action, you have to hunt carefully. The state parks here allow NO dirt bikes, or 4 wheelers, so my quad hasnt been getting as much use as before.

This is coastal New England for sure, rocks, ruts, and roots are what we ride in off road, some trails are 300 year old cow paths, some are recent snowmobile trail cuts, as well as older Power line right of ways, and older land tracts in the north and west of the state.
Its all within 30 miles, but tough to take off after work, and get any quality riding time in before dark. 60 mile RT is an hour of riding roads, which is what I try to avoid on after work rides, that and turning around. I rather fall over then turn back, what really is over the next hill?

So I found cool little spot right in my backyard that I was totally unaware of, there is some state land where the Highway was to continue West with a major cloverleaf interchange.
They gave up the idea of the highway 20 years ago, so the land is just kind of " forgotten"
Or so I thought.
I went poking around the other afternoon, and saw a little escape road on a dead end street.

Off I went



Let me see if I am still in the mirror?
OK, were getting somewhere



Of course, power lines, This looks fun





Gotta remember to stop, and look around a bit, lots of different terrain, plenty to enjoy
It never looks as steep in the pictures



All of a sudden I was in the abandoned interchange area, and there was all kinds of stuff to ride on,
Yup, more rocks, ruts and roots, plus some sand, some hard pack clay, some ledge to climb.
ALRIGHT, this is what I needed



Hey, I kinda like it up here !!





Lets see what else is around here, aint got a lot of time before its back to reality.



Thats where we saw me last, up on the right, nice little ride down, plenty more of the same
rocks, ruts and roots



Up the hill behind the shopping center, I knew the road ended, didnt really know where it went, but looks like its the other side of the abandoned highway interchange,



The hills never look right in pictures



Oh yea, a quad trail !! Bets there lots of the same, rocks, ruts and roots !!



And look, its another power line, I didnt even know was there.



They are not as easy as they look, lots of loose gravel, wash outs, plenty of gullys, and yup
more of the R&R&R



All of a sudden I am at a road, don't look easy to cross to the next side, its getting dark, time to be home in 9 minutes, and start scouting the satellite maps for more places to play

And thats Just why I bought this bike !!

Dave

 

Nice. I wish the off-road trails were like that around my area. There is dirt course, but I don't like to travel 20miles in a 1 square mile area. I like to travel, get out, explore, adventure the uknown, and conquer the terrain. All while leaving the land like it was when I got there.

 

Very cool! It's amazing what you can find in your own backyard when you have a dual sport bike.

Thanks for posting the report. I enjoy ALL the ride reports here. That's really what keeps me coming back. The tech knowledge on here is good too, but the S/N ratio is not so good.

 

Cool report, 42. I like the exploration of your back yard. Keep it coming.

 

Yeah man. Very nice . Thanks for the write up and photos. Looks way different to our local spots.

 

Glad all y'all like my mini report. I tried so many times on the old forum, but got some lessons in frustration.
Riding is difficult around here to say the least. I live in the suburbs of Providence, and its difficult to find any decent place to play. This state has no tolerance for off road activitys, in fact they demand you pay sales tax and register a 4 wheeler, then provide NO place to ride them, good ole' politicians at there best.

I do ride the state parks, and enjoy dirt roads and all, but when you want a challenge, you have to dig around. I have driven by this place for 30 years, never realized what was back there, till I went looking the other day. Its 7 miles from my house, but seems like its light years away. I found a trail network back there, looks like the local 4 wheelers ride in here, which is great, except the 2 track trails are loaded with more of the same
Rocks, Ruts, and Roots.
I have a ton of pictures from my local riding, if y'all want, I will keep posting stuff.

Dave