The Berkshire Big Adventure is a two day ride in the Berkshires, aka the Berks. Hosted by the Berkshire Trail Riders; the BBA has a well earned reputation as a fantastic ride with plenty of challenges.
Unlike clubs that include street riding the Berkshire Trail Riders is essentially a club for riders who like to ride and compete exclusively off road; using pavement for transits to the next trail. Their mission is to advocate for responsible off-road motorcycling, competition and philanthropy.
They maintain the trails they ride and promotes their preservation through trail work parties several times a year, while working alongside various local, state and federal agencies. Other than those on private lands, the trails are open to the public for other uses. Clubs like this don’t accept virtual members; to join you must attend a meeting and commit to a minimum level of participation in trail maintenance, charitable giving, event help and on occasion riding the hell out of your dirt bike with like minded individuals. Clubs like this are full of great riders because of the commitment just to be a member means members are all in. When they describe a trail as Hero 4 you best have your big pants on.
Once a year they invite big bike goons like me to come play with them in one of the best dual sport regions of New England. I’ve answered the call more times than I can remember; which could be as few as five. Or six. But I think it might be as many as 8.
One of the things I love about the BBA is the navigation is old school. As in a paper roll chart. That’s the moto equivalent of being handed a sextant and being told to find Bermuda in a hurricane. To make it even more fun your “roll chart” was presented on 8.5×11 paper. They did provide a table, scissors and some tape; riders new to the concept were lucky if there was a grizzled old timer to tell them to run a line of tape all they way down the back of their roll lest it tear halfway through the ride. There was also a gentleman who sold the world’s best roll chart holder. It has a convex cover so it magnifies which for these old eyes is a blessing. It’s still mounted with a route sheet from a last time I rode the HP2 in the BBA. It says “SLOW PAST HOUSES LOOSE HORSES POSSIBLE”. I may never remove it. 
New for this year was a .GPX file which was a work of art.
This year was also the first year for a new Trail Boss. The Trail Boss is responsible for everything regarding the ride and most of the stuff that happens at the start / finish too, which this year turned into a rally. Trail Boss Dave Boiano announced that the route would be provided as a .GPX file. No longer would I be playing rock, paper and scissors 45 minutes before the start. I was mildly disappointed if for no other reason that this ride is my only chance to ride a roll chart but when it comes to having a great ride it’s just impossible to beat a good GPS with a pre-loaded track file to follow. I could write volumes about the quality of the .GPX files and the obvious care, attention and countless hours of effort with a keyboard involved but I will keep it short. In addition to a track to follow they had coded hero sections of varying difficulty, warnings, gas stops, recommendations for food and things that were not on the route but great to know about. The gold standard for a .GPX file has been set by Mr. Boiano. It almost makes me want to learn Basecamp. 
A thing of beauty. Can you find where my friend Drew’s bike broke?
My initial exposure to the BBA was via Adventure Rider. Advrider.com was the first social platform dedicated to adventure riding to gain traction; some might say it helped the segment take off. Back in the day conversation was very free-wheeling and participants (known as inmates) often became good friends who would get together for rides. Once such user was a rider named Vince who was highly entertaining, thoughtful and led a life many would envy. He was also a member of the Berkshire Trail Riders, and served as Trail Boss for multiple editions of this ride before succumbing to illness. He and his friends in the Trail Riders made me want to give this a go and I’ve had a ball with them many times since.
When I lived in Rhode Island I’d be up early, and ride about 140 miles to the start in Tolland. I’d have a nice ride and then an egg sandwich from the local Boy Scouts at the start, do the Adventure, and come home. Fast and light although sometimes the ride home requires a stop at a pharmacy.
If only the landing went as well as the launch.
Now I live about 40 minutes from the start, yet this year I brought the Sprinter, Casita and three motorcycles.
End part one Part Two
