Tales of Johnny the Wandering Gypsy

WV 5-O

2008-06-23T19:02:00.000-07:00

Well, it had to happen sooner or later... after 7 hours of rain, fog, and bad Burger King, I pulled my car into Morgantown. I was literally 2 minutes from my apartment when I saw the stoplight holding me back from sweet sweet sleep changing from green to yellow... Without thought I dropped the hammer and my 500 year old Volvo lumbered up 1 more mph and I hit the light just at it turned red.... that was when I noticed the cop car sitting at the now green light to my left... I quickly said a prayer to the god that kept me safe though 3 years of NYC bars with Matt, but I guess he wasn't listening as before I could maneuver the HMS Lusins onto a side-street I saw the flashing blue-red-white lights behind me... This being a country town with country roads, I had no clue where to pull over, so I crept to the right a smidge and kept rolling slower and slower thinking the sheer stupidity of this move would make Smokey forgive me... nope, he cranked up the speaker and said "Pull over into the KMS on your right"... Not knowing what this was, I crawled at 2 mph until I saw a gravel driveway and pulled in.... Young Smokey quickly saddled up to my window, dropped the obilgitory "far from home" comment, and then made fun of me for not knowing what the heck the "KMS" was.... he asked what I had accelerated through the light and I feigned the usual "whaaaaa? mmmmeeeee? nnnooooo" look and comment... This did nothing and I knew this young turk was amped up to fine this wicked New Yorker... but this time my friends, I had an Ace in my pocket... I waited for him to play his usual tune and like a moth to the flame his walked right into my trap.... "So, whatcha doing all the way over here?!"... "Well Officer, I'm starting a residency in Psychiatry at Ruby Memorial in 2 weeks".... "Oh"..... BAM! Right there I knew I had him... of course he knew it too, but had to take my license and reg and walk back to car just to make sure such a beautiful pairing of car and man weren't running illegal lead-threaded Cabbage Patch dolls through his backyard.... soon enough he walked back and handed me a "warning" slip, which is now protecting my side table from the rivelets of condensation off a Heinekein bottle... as a second parting gift he offered me this piece of "advice" (his words)... "Doc, you're in West Virginia and in a college town now...We stop everyone for just about everything... I'm letting you off because the Sheriff's department brings prisoners down to Ruby for their mental health work-up and I don't see how giving you a ticket tonight is going to help you or me in the future.... So do me a favor Doc... go home, get some sleep, and stop running yellow lights in Morgantown"...

My view

2007-07-31T14:14:00.001-07:00

This is the instrument panel on my bike. We will become good friends during the next week or so...
We leave tomorrow at 6 am. Hopefully I'll have coverage in the towns we stop in so I can send updates and pictures.
I picked up a gel seats from Brooklyn Butt Buffer (www.brooklynbuttbuffer.com) and it makes a huge difference in comfort.
Time to go pack and get some final items.

1 Day to go

2007-07-30T19:35:00.000-07:00

NYC to Nashville to NYC... We leave at 6 am Wednesday August 1st... this is going to be amazing

June 16 Ride

2007-06-18T18:18:00.000-07:00

NYC to CT Day Trip 7/15/07

http://www.motowhere.com/

Congrats Danno

2007-06-12T21:56:00.001-07:00

I have forgotten to mention this event.

My compadre Daniel, of the Upstate NY Klein Clan, has earned his Master Degree in History from SUNY Albany. This is a great achievement and we all are proud of our Oneonta brother. I used to watch Dan write his history papers, his genius proudly displayed by his ability to start his work at 3 a.m. for a 9 a.m. deadline. Do not make light of his interests... Daniel is the only man on earth with a poster of Abe Lincoln on his wall (minus red brick walled school houses in the Blue States).

Keep fightin' Danny, we love ya.

Summer Trip I

2007-06-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

My bro and I are planning a trip... one week or so, hitting Deals Gaps NC, Nashville, and who else knows where... This is the first draft of our trip...

Share your motorbike routes @ MotoWhere.com

New Bike- 2000 Triumph Sprint RS

2007-06-03T12:06:00.001-07:00

I bought a new motorcycle... I didn't want to replace the 1985 BMW K100RT, but I couldn't fix the fairing after it broke when the bike was knocked over during the windstorm.

So, direct from CT by way of eBay I found a 2000 Triumph Sprint RS. It looks like a crotch-rocket, but sits like a tourer. I've only ridden a bit around NYC, but soon will be bombing around the East Coast!

My darling Sophia with fire in the background

2007-05-24T17:29:00.001-07:00

I'm not any good at taking pics, so please realize I'm just trying to capture where we are...

Mobile blogging

2007-05-21T20:00:00.001-07:00

"I'm going to try something new here..."

I posted that from my phone... I'm going to try to post more crap on here using my phone to capture it all. Will I actually do it? Not sure...
Keep watching my few friends.

Sophia and some drunk Latvian

2007-04-17T04:15:00.001-07:00

Sophia and some drunk Latvian
Originally uploaded by Johnny the Wandering Gypsy.

Sophia, Matt, and I went up to Albany this past weekend for a wine dinner. It had been about 5 years since we attended an offical Albany chapter dinner and I would rate our return a 10.
Sure, the picture looks like I'm brown-baggin' some swill, but in reality the bag was only on to test our ability to name the wines. Out of the 6 we covered, we named 0 correctly.
It was one of the best dinners I've been too. If you'd like to see the rest of the photos, shoot me an email and I'll give ya permission to access my flickr photos.

Scott nails a huge one

2007-02-28T08:56:00.000-08:00

Ok, that title earlier in our lives would mean something completely different than how this latest story goes...
I recently heard from Scott who claimed "Pride" in seeing his acclaimed adventures as posts on this chronicle of mine. I couldn't be more proud to count this SOB as a friend. So, if any of you other readers have an adventure/tall tale you'd like recorded for the years to come, send it on to me and we'll all revel in your lack of creativity.

19 February 2007
Had a few hours to kill in the afternoon while Drew and Sam and Sarah napped after a trip to the Norwalk Aquarium. Wanted to stay local and debated whether to go to Beseck or try Dooley Pond in Middletown. After reading the book, Dooley was the choice as it was reported there were abundant perch, both yellows and whites, and it was highly eutrophic. I always pass it driving and wondered if there were any perch there. Anyway, got there for 2:30. Windy and cold. One guy was set up off the boat ramp. Fished off the point from the ramp toward the dam, where it slopes off to 15 feet. Set out the 5 tilts from 8-15 feet and jigged around. No flags and no action. Then at 3:30, bumped the jig and there was something there. It ran, hard. Loosened the drag and flipped the anti-reverse and it went. I thought I had a world record largemouth. I knew it was not a pickerel, because when it ran, it ran with POWER. After 10 minutes, I realized it was too big to be a largemouth and it had to be a BIG catfish. In this time, the other guy had packed up all 5 tilts and was off the ice. I got to my knees as the fish started to near the hole. It ran again hard. Backed off it and let it go. Got it to the hole after 15 minutes and all I could see was a big carp mouth, whiskers and all, hooked under the chin. No way it was fitting through the 6” hole. Opened the bail and set my jiggerstick on the ice and bored another hole adjacent to that one. The bail kept closing and I nearly lost the jiggerstick twice. Learned my lesson and stood on the handle. The second hole skipped off down below, but thought it would suffice. Fought it back up and again, it did not fit. Went through this charade a third time, and bored the hole at a 45 degree angle, and this time, I got it opened up. Another 5 minute fight back up to the hole and iced it. It was 8 inches past the 2 foot long tilts putting it at at least 32” and it must have weighed 15 pounds. Unreal. Walked around the ice wondering what to do with it and looking for a witness. No witnesses except for cars flying by on 17 and no camera. After the half hour endeavor, decided to release it. Fished till dark. Nothing. Biggest fish I have ever caught through the ice. Unbelievable. Chris said I should have used it to fertilize the garden.

Scott's latest

2007-02-01T10:36:00.000-08:00

Friends, here is Scott's latest fishing adventure. When he wrote that he had the "ice fishing bug" he truly meant it.
"31 January 2007
Had to go to UConn to measure the barberry plot today.
After talking to Brian Monday (while he was out on Coventry Lake) I decided to drive myself up and make a couple hours of fishing out of the trip before my Inland Wetland meeting back in Guilford. Hit Brian’s house to relieve him of his leftover shiners and said hello to Lainie and the boys as they departed and to the 75+ roosted turkey vultures in the vicinity, sunning themselves high on the Willimantic hill, waiting for the thermals to form.
We finished up what we had to do at UConn and I was at the lake by 2:15 (after putting in a full day’s work (less the commute home), by state standards anyway). There were three tip-up spreads as I headed out. One guy had a few perch and a pickerel, the other guys paid me no attention until I pointed out one of their flags.
Set up in the channel by the island where Brian, Aaron, Jerry, and Brian’s brother had set up two years ago. Set out the tip-ups and had a run off before they were all out. Waited a while, and then a few flags popped here and there. All perch. Iced 3 or 4 by 3:30 and then I was the only one out there. Then a lull. A couple more perch on shiners. Then iced a 15” walleye. Then had a flurry of flags resulting in a couple more perch and a 16” walleye. Another lull. Wind picked up and shiner bucket iced over. A bump jiggering. Then it was 4:30 and the shit hit the fan. Flags all over. At one point, 3 at once. Perch and walleyes left and right, mostly walleyes at this point. Had planned to leave at 5:00 to get to my meeting on time, but the flags kept going. Come 5:30, I had iced 10 perch (all dead on the ice) and 8 walleyes, ranging from 14 – 17” with one dinker. I had broke down everything and the last remaining flag popped as I was heading for it. It was the final walleye that I iced only because I plunged my hand over it as it came off at the hole.
Headed to the truck, changed my boots, and drove off. Heard a funny sound as I pulled out. Five minutes out, searched for my sunglasses and could not find them. Headed back to the parking lot and found them pinned on to the CB aerial wire on the roof. Made it to the meeting a couple minutes late. Channel 8 news was there covering this controversial public hearing. Left there at 10:40 and saw they were still there, tripod set up in the parking lot. Caught the 11:00 broadcast at home to see what they had to say on the issue. And saw that 3 seconds of the 20 second coverage of the hearing was a full on shot of me, in all my glory, still in my Carhartts, hair awry, stinking of perch, shiners, and walleye. Cleaned the perch and now headed for a shower and then to bed. What a day."

I love that he caught in a few hours about 1/2 the fish we caught the whole last Saturday.

Scott's Ice-Fishing report

2007-01-30T18:44:00.000-08:00

My good buddy (and teacher on more than one occasional) Scott always writes up his adventures. Here is his latest:
26 January 2007With the truck all packed up, headed to Union Station to pick up John, Matt, and Phil for the 6-month-in-the-making ice fishing trip, first opportunity of the year for me as the winter has been so mild. In fact, I was not sure that there would be ice at the Big Lake, but winter finally arrived and laid out 8 solid inches of ice over the whole lake. The ride up was cramped and raucous as forewarned. Multiple piss stops and packie hunting and groceries got us up there for 8:45 and 3 degrees with a dusting of snow. The camp was cold. Got the fire going, heat on, unpacked, turned on the water and huddled around the fire, toxifying our livers the best way we knew how. Carl arrived from Oneonta 45 minutes later. Made a dinner of pasta, sausage, and sauce. Stories, laughter, hooch, Little Black Sambo, and 60% Lusins provided for glorious entertainment. The mind of a Lusins is an enigma to many. Wool blankets passed around and to bed at 2:00 to a COLD bedroom. 27 January 2007Up at 7:45 sweating and my head hurt for some reason. Got the coffee going and made sure the boys were settled in. Then headed out for shiners. Back to some eggs and bacon ready for me. Ate and geared up and hit the ice for 11:00. 12 degrees, snowing, and windy out there. Started at Pickerel Rock and set up 5 tip ups and we all jiggered all around. I got one perch on a tip up and that was it. John made the call to go to the Narrows after an hour. Broke stuff down and packed the trucks and drove to David Schnieder’s. Parked and walked out. Drilled a few holes in my spot in First Perch Cove and got a couple almost immediately. Matt pulled out a decent pickerel (20”) that we released. John and Carl managed a few perch too. That died and we continued onto the Narrows. Set up a safe distance from the springs and immediately started getting perch. All of us started pulling them out of holes. I was very impressed with the sharing of the wealth. No jiggerman in his right mind gives up a hole to a friend or even a brother. Most remain hole whores, but these guys will learn in time. Phil remained cold for a little while, then started hitting them too. A couple pickerel came up too. I set out 4 tip-ups and tended them. At about 2:00, the boys headed in for lunch and I stayed out. Had a flurry of perch and flags for a half hour after they left. Managed a couple pickerel and a small largemouth. Things were slow, but a flag would pop or a perch would hit at the right time to keep things interesting. Lost a tip-up hook setting on a pickerel and broke off a Sweedish Pimple on a hook set. Saw them coming back around the corner sans Matt and a flag went. Hauled in a 16” largemouth as a couple guys on quads went by, watching me the whole time. Then we managed about 10 more perch between us and John iced a bluegill too. Carl put on a bare hook and shiner and let it swim around. He got a pickerel the same size as Matt’s. John was hitting the perch pretty well. I think he is getting the knack for it after 3 jiggering trips. We packed up and headed back at 5:00. I was dogging it and wind blown and cold. Grabbed something to eat, poured myself a Beam and Coke, and cleaned the perch, 28 in all. Phil cooked them up right as I prepped the venison loin. The perch went quick and the addition of Parmesan cheese in the bread crumbs was novel and fantastic. Someone suggested putting garlic cloves in the loin. What an idea. I put olive oil, hot rosemary, and sea salt on them and then Carl cooked them over the fire. What a delight. The perfect team effort and a long day made it that much better. Despite that, it was still the best venison I have ever had. Did dishes and then we bullshitted around the fire until 1:00, watching the Mattie and John show. The highlight of which was John’s “Would You Rather” be scared shitless by a ghost once a month, or have a Gremlin flick you in the balls or move something important daily. I opted for the Gremlin. That nearly topped Matt’s description and demonstration of “Live Fish Ice Hockey” from last night. Slept well. 28 January 2007Up at 8:30. Got coffee going and picked up a little. We geared up and headed out to the English Muffin in Carl’s truck. Someone had locked the gate so back to camp we went for the key. Ate way too much at breakfast. Back to camp, we cleaned up and packed. I walked out and gave the remaining shiners to 4 old boys who had set up their spread at Pickerel Rock. They had 4 nice rainbows on the ice on small shiners. Back in camp, put dishes away, heat off, water off, the whole run around to make sure that things were up to Ted’s specs when he arrived in the spring or for a jiggering trip. The place looked better when we left than it did when we arrived. We saw Carl off and then I saw him again, as once again, the gate was locked, this time by me. Gave him the key and told him to leave it in the lock. Got out of there and had a cramped and quiet trip back to reality. Dropped them at the train station and got home for 4:45 to a happy family and dog. Had a great weekend and glad to have gotten out on the ice and be successful. Got the bug now. Will have to go to northern CT where there may be safe ice. The weekend was kind of rushed, a lot of work for a standard weekend. If we are to do it again, we should stay an extra night to make it worth it. Then we could get out and explore the Island and hit some different spots on the ice. Well worth it though.

Ice Fishing 2007

2007-01-30T03:06:00.000-08:00

Well folks, our annual fishing trip came and went again. On Saturday night, Scott and I got to drinking and talking about the past years of ice-fishing. We realized that no matter how much everything was the same, every year had its own distinct flavor. This year was no different.
Since some of these lines couldn't have been created without the whole group there, I won't give original references... you know who you are anyways.

Don't you wish your fish was hot like me?
In This state!
Grey Chicken
Lets all walk onto the ice and surround those guys snapping our fingers like the Sharks and the Jets
Gulp, Sign here, sir... X.... Thank you
Whatcha listenin' to these days... Alice in Chains? You're alright kid
Anything you put on the bottom rack is free
I refuse to pay for expensive spices
In how many parsecs can the Falcon make the Kettle Run?
I didn't know you guys wanted to really fish... I thought you just wanted to dick around out here!
You stole my hole, you hole-whore!
That was the absolute best venison I've ever had
3 degrees
I'm just so depressed I lost my Beam and Coke
I'm not snoring, it's all in your head!
Thunderbolts and scared townsfolk
What?!! How the hell could you smack yourself if you were just a big blob beneath your head?!
No way for a $15 one-day... Maybe a 3-day, but it never happened for a 1-day!
A ghost that randomly scared the bejesus out of you once a month or a gremlin/gnome that either moved something or sneaked up and flicked you in the balls once a day?
Fireballs or Electricity out of your hand? Fireballs!
This would be better with some shaved truffles on it
Ok, just once....

I'm sure I'm forgetting some... this 6:30 am coffee isn't stirring my brain all that much... Maybe some of you other gypsies in the know can help out and post what you remember.

In the end we nabbed 28 Lake Perch, 3-4 pickerels, and at least 2 Bass. Not a record, but a damn good meal.