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Signs of spring from the seat of a motorcycle

© Brian Salisbury

Signs of spring, for most people, include sighting the first robin, daytime temperatures climbing above 60 degrees, bright blue crocuses pushing up through last year's layer of dried leaves, the days growing longer and the smell of damp earth as the snow melts.

Where we once waited for the leaves to turn red orange and yellow as the fall rolled down from the north like a wave of bright colors, we now wait for the wave of green to flow up from the south and coax the trees, grass and flowers back to life.

For motorcycle riders, in addition to the traditional signs of spring, we look forward to suiting up for a cruise without first pulling on extra layers of clothing; roads free of ice, sand and salt; switching back to 50-weight engine oil and hearing the increasingly frequent sound of motorcycles accelerating in the distance -- especially on weekends.

At this time of the year, more and more bikers bring their machines out of mechanical hibernation to ride and congregate at familiar haunts -- state parks, scenic overlooks, diners, Dairy Queens and other roadside eateries.

Now we can start taking long jaunts that really satisfy our pent-up craving for two-wheeled travel.

True, snow still covers many areas of the country. Late last week a storm dumped 18 inches of the white stuff on Charlotte, North Carolina. And I remember digging out on Easter weekend a few years ago. The good thing then and now is that in the East at this time of the year, snow melts fast.

Where I live in the New York metropolitan area, I pushed the envelope and rode all winter whenever the roads were free of ice and snow. I went on some great trips and my riding equipment kept me warm. I had the roads virtually to myself.

During each ride, I was curious to see who else was out in the cold. I wanted to see the type of clothes and equipment they were using and the motorcycles they were riding.

One of the best places around here to go for a ride and see how other riders outfit themselves is at the top of Perkins Drive in Bear Mountain State Park in Rockland County.

I drove through the park a bunch of times throughout the winter. But each time, a closed gate prevented me and other riders from entering Perkins Drive and winding our way to the top. It would have been nice to see the snow covered Hudson River valley and surrounding mountains below.

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