The state of Rhode Island

[r11rs94]

QUICK FACTS: Rhode Island


Capital
Providence
Total Area
1,212 sq mi
3,140 sq km
Population
1,048,319 (2000 census)
Major Cities
Providence (152,558), Warwick (84,514), Cranston (74,324), Pawtucket (69,068), East Providence (48,389) (July 1996 est.)
Highest Point
Jerimoth Hill
812 feet
247 meters
Income per capita (US$)
$29,377
Industry
fishing, jewelry and silverware, fabricated metal products, electrical equipment, machinery, shipbuilding, tourism
Agriculture
greenhouse and nursery products, dairy products, eggs
Natural Resources
construction sand and gravel, crushed stone
(U.S. Government sources)

[free2ride]

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[PAULBACH]

Looks like a great place to live, especially in the summertime. But the Astors knew that.

[la10duh]

Largest industry is now healthcare followed by tourism/hospitality. That's sad.

[r11rs94]

???????????????????????

:dunno

[jshuck]

the big bug on I-95...

[PAULBACH]

Navy sent me to Newport a couple of times. Beautiful place. Have since been back for an open house at Twisted Throttle. Rhode Island does not get that much nasty snow in the winter or heat in the summer.

What's not to like?

[Vagabird]

Rhode Island is one of my favorite states. My best friends live there, so I visit as often as I can make it east. As small as it is, there are some nice back roads in the western part. Plus the beaches. And Providence is great. If you live close to the coast you can ride year round. Now, if it was just a little closer to Wyoming...

[r11rs94]

Rhode Island is one of my favorite states. My best friends live there, so I visit as often as I can make it east. As small as it is, there are some nice back roads in the western part. Plus the beaches. And Providence is great. If you live close to the coast you can ride year round. Now, if it was just a little closer to Wyoming...

?? I live on the coast. 12" of snow yesterday. High of 25 today with teens tonight and feel like 0 with wind. 2 to 4 inches of snow tomorrow and a high of 30. Sounds more like Wyoming to me :laugh Wheres that global warming when you need it. On the plus side, we start getting more sun starting tomorrow I believe.

[jobee58]

?? Sounds more like Wyoming to me :laugh Wheres that global warming when you need it.

Well... if memory serves, there is a Wyoming, RI!!:whistle

[PAULBACH]

?? I live on the coast. 12" of snow yesterday. High of 25 today with teens tonight and feel like 0 with wind. 2 to 4 inches of snow tomorrow and a high of 30. Sounds more like Wyoming to me :laugh Wheres that global warming when you need it. On the plus side, we start getting more sun starting tomorrow I believe.

12 inches of snow in Rhode Island? Who would have thought that? But I bet it melts in a week or so and does not stay around hiding in the shadows until the month of May.

[Vagabird]

?? I live on the coast. 12" of snow yesterday. High of 25 today with teens tonight and feel like 0 with wind. 2 to 4 inches of snow tomorrow and a high of 30. Sounds more like Wyoming to me :laugh Wheres that global warming when you need it. On the plus side, we start getting more sun starting tomorrow I believe.

I lived in the poorer section outside Watch Hill. Many a winter morning I would bravely set off on my R100RT for my commute to Groton on roads that were just a bit icy but hit snow by the time I got to Westerly. Tiverton isn't on the coast - that's way inland. No wonder you have so much snow. :bolt

[cayuse60]

Navy sent me to Newport a couple of times. Beautiful place. Have since been back for an open house at Twisted Throttle. Rhode Island does not get that much nasty snow in the winter or heat in the summer.

What's not to like?

Standing watch along the seaplane ramps at Quonsett point in mid-January with a 40 knot wind wipping in from across the bay. :usa
Summers were wonderful. :drink

[billp]

The nicest thing about RI is summers on at Misquamicut State Beach, drinking a COLD beer. I remember the waves can be big after a storm. Body surfing was fun. I also remember getting scraped up pretty good in those waves.

[Rob Nye]

Tiverton is inland. :scratch

Rhode Island Rocks!

Here in Bristol we have an industrial park with the following:

One of the world's finest high end yacht builders (Americas Cup stuff)
One of the world's finest mast builders (Americas Cup stuff)
One of the builders of the world's fastest powerboats
All sorts of support companies for high end marine stuff.

Lil Rhody is also home to the largest concentration of the best sailors in the U.S. if not the world and we're home to U.S. Sailing the governing body of the sport.

Also in RI we have NUSC where things like torpedos are developed. Quonset hut and the PT boat? Yup, born and bread here in RI.

We got your Quahogs and stuffies too.

And one of the best things about Rhode Island?

We are not Mass*oles!

[r11rs94]

Tiverton is inland. :scratch
Rhode Island Rocks!

And one of the best things about Rhode Island?

We are not Mass*oles!

Careful Rob or the YB's will revoke your membership. haha :laugh

[billp]

Tiverton is inland. :scratch



We are not Mass*oles!


Quiet or Mass will invade RI!

[AZgman]

And one of the best things about Rhode Island?

We are not Mass*oles!

:rofl Man, I thought only the people in CT thought that!

[yappo]

a hidden gem.

[TonyT607]

My daughter is a freshman at Salve Regina University in Newport. We love visiting and have really gotten to enjoy the area. Mrs T is already talking of taking a ride up there when things warm up a bit.

We usually stay at the Comfort Inn in Middletown. $66/night with the IBM corporate rate and it's 5 minutes from the center of Newport (and the SRU campus). One of our favorite restaurants is the Clarke Cooke House on Bannisters Wharf.

[GSfornow]

Lil Rhody is also home to the largest concentration of the best sailors in the U.S. if not the world and we're home to U.S. Sailing the governing body of the sport.


Oh yeah Rhode Island thats where the americas cup is... Oh wait it isn't.

[Rob Nye]

Oh yeah Rhode Island thats where the americas cup is... Oh wait it isn't.

I'm not sure I follow you.

The America's Cup never resided in Rhode Island, it spent 132 years on 44th Street in New York City.

Now if you are talking about a few weeks of sailboat racing out on the bay the AC races have long since been replaced by events that are more popular with the folks that live here.

[PGlaves]

Well, Rhode Island is the only state in which Voni and I have ever been refused accomodations at a commercial campground simply because we were riding motorcycles. Since it was about to rain and just getting dark, it didn't make me have very fond memories of Rhode Island. I won't tar the whole state with that bad brush, but ..... it left a sour taste nonetheless.

[soffiler]

Navy sent me to Newport a couple of times. Beautiful place. Have since been back for an open house at Twisted Throttle...

The open house this past summer, Paul? In the rain? If so, that was me on the yellow GS winning the slow race...

... Rhode Island does not get that much nasty snow in the winter or heat in the summer.

All-time record high snowfall is 105.2" (almost 9 feet) in 1994-5; and the all-time record low is a measly 4.6" in 1996-7. Average is 34.5" per season. It's not a whole lot of snow but the real kicker is the huge inconsistency from season to season. I've had whole seasons go by without ever putting the snowplow on the tractor; and I've had seasons where I plowed upwards of 15 times. Snow generally doesn't stay around all that long. During real cold snaps that would preserve snow, we usually don't get snow... the coldest weather tends to be dry and clear. When winter precip comes, the temperature tends to be closer to 32F and changeover between snow, rain, and sleet is fairly common. The greatest chance of snow lingering more than a few days comes for only a few weeks between mid-Jan thru mid-Feb, when average temperature bottoms out.

You CAN be a Rounder in RI. (I'm not)

Summertime can be inconsistent, as well. We've had summers with half a dozen "heat waves" (defined as three straight days over 90F) and we've had summers with none. When the heat comes, it's always accompanied by high humidity. When I started visiting the desert southwest, I learned the real meaning of the old cliche "It's not the heat, it's the humidity". Boy is that ever true. I'll take 105F in Moab over 90F in Providence ANY TIME.

The real beauty, of course, is the spring and the fall. The transition between the seasonal extremes described above is pretty gentle, and although it can sometimes be wet (with an average of about 3.5" of precip in each month of the year), it can be gorgeous too. Fall foliage in the hilly northwestern part of the state (which is where I live; yeah I know it says "Sterling CT") is stunning.

[moshaffer]

Are you sure RI is actualy a state??

[soffiler]

Are you sure RI is actualy a state??

Hmmm, let's see... it's had a star on the flag ever since the original 13, so, yeah, I'm pretty sure. You're not?

[AZgman]

Are you sure RI is actualy a state??

Size doesn't matter! :)

[Jimusma]

Tiverton is inland. :scratch

Rhode Island Rocks!

Here in Bristol we have an industrial park with the following:

One of the world's finest high end yacht builders (Americas Cup stuff)
One of the world's finest mast builders (Americas Cup stuff)
One of the builders of the world's fastest powerboats
All sorts of support companies for high end marine stuff.

Lil Rhody is also home to the largest concentration of the best sailors in the U.S. if not the world and we're home to U.S. Sailing the governing body of the sport.

Also in RI we have NUSC where things like torpedos are developed. Quonset hut and the PT boat? Yup, born and bread here in RI.

We got your Quahogs and stuffies too.

And one of the best things about Rhode Island?

We are not Mass*oles!

Rhode Island also has "Coffee Syrup":blah Delicious!!!!

[r11rs94]

Rhode Island also has "Coffee Syrup":blah Delicious!!!!

And don't forget stuffed quohaug's,:eat and Del's Lemonade,:drink

[razman10]

I call it God's country...

Though I would love to live in a warmer climate that provides year-round riding, we in Rhode Island:


generally don't get the BITTER cold as the upper mid-west and northern New England
generally don't experience the outrageous heat as the southwest
are not prone to earthquakes as much as the west
don't experience STRONG hurricanes as the southeast
have hills that make the area NON-conducive to tornadoes as the mid-west


Add to this the fact that we generally do not get too much snow annually, and it's a great place to live/work/play.

If you haven't been here, be sure to visit!!!:wave :buds

Just don't leave without having some coffee milk, and Del's frozen lemonade (the real stuff, not the powdered stuff)

[r11rs94]

Hi Razman10, We have a meetingt coming up in 2 weeks. Stop on by. Location is in the web sight located in my signature. Later :thumb

[r11rs94]

Rhode Island also has "Coffee Syrup":blah Delicious!!!!

And don't forget the "Family Guy" which is filmed live in Rhode Island..:wow

[razman10]

Hi Razman10, We have a meetingt coming up in 2 weeks. Stop on by. Location is in the web sight located in my signature. Later :thumb

Thanks for the invite... I actually mailed my application to the group in December. I was waiting for confirmation before attending any meetings. I just confirmed a day or two ago that my info was received, so I SHOULD be there on the 9th.

The only GOTCHA is that a networking group I belong to has a GREAT topic that same night. I'm trying to get someone to record that meeting for me. That way I'll get both!:brow

[r11rs94]

Thanks for the invite... I actually mailed my application to the group in December. I was waiting for confirmation before attending any meetings. I just confirmed a day or two ago that my info was received, so I SHOULD be there on the 9th.

The only GOTCHA is that a networking group I belong to has a GREAT topic that same night. I'm trying to get someone to record that meeting for me. That way I'll get both!:brow

Thats great. I'll be the guy sellng the club stuff. introduce your self when you get there and welcome aboard..

[BLAST54]

Ray, and I am the secretary so show up early and say hello. The next meeting is awards night.

[Rob Nye]

I call it God's country...

Though I would love to live in a warmer climate that provides year-round riding, we in Rhode Island:


generally don't get the BITTER cold as the upper mid-west and northern New England
generally don't experience the outrageous heat as the southwest
are not prone to earthquakes as much as the west
don't experience STRONG hurricanes as the southeast
have hills that make the area NON-conducive to tornadoes as the mid-west


Add to this the fact that we generally do not get too much snow annually, and it's a great place to live/work/play.

If you haven't been here, be sure to visit!!!:wave :buds

Just don't leave without having some coffee milk, and Del's frozen lemonade (the real stuff, not the powdered stuff)

Toss in some Gray's ice cream too!

[cheesewhiz]

And don't forget the "Family Guy" which is filmed live in Rhode Island..:wow

And the film "Me Myself and Irene" was set there too! (AND featured some great motorcycle footage)

[soffiler]

Providence has three universities that are renowned internationally: Brown, Rhode Island School of Design, and Johnson&Wales. I don't mean to slight Providence College or Rhode Island College, also in Providence; I'm just not sure they have the same international stature. Moving outside Providence, but still in Rhode Island, you've got Bryant University, Salve Regina, and the University of Rhode Island (a "state" school but with international acclaim in some programs, oceanography for example)

Brown brings Ivy-League intellect, RISD brings a wealth of creativity, and J&W brings... FOOD! Their culinary program is among the very best. Not coincidentally, Providence has an abundance of fantasic restaurants.

[AZgman]

Let's not forget the Speidel building in downtown Providence... it's the one George Reeves jumped over in the original Superman series!

[Fritzc]

RI is one of four continental United states in which I have never been. I plan to visit in between the RA and MOA rallies. My Great Great Grandmother was a Rathbun who was one of the original families that settled Block Island. My plan was to go out onto Long Island, NY and take the ferry across to New London, CT. From there ride around in RI then back across CT and on to WV for the RA rally.
I'd like to take ferry for a day or partial day to Block Island but concerned about security of bike in the meantime. Any ideas? Advice?:dunno :type

[soffiler]

RI is one of four continental United states in which I have never been. I plan to visit in between the RA and MOA rallies. My Great Great Grandmother was a Rathbun who was one of the original families that settled Block Island. My plan was to go out onto Long Island, NY and take the ferry across to New London, CT. From there ride around in RI then back across CT and on to WV for the RA rally.
I'd like to take ferry for a day or partial day to Block Island but concerned about security of bike in the meantime. Any ideas? Advice?:dunno :type

Hi Fritzc:

I am not quite following you. Are you taking the bike to BI, and concerned with its security over there? Or, are you parking the bike on the mainland?

[Rob Nye]

RI is one of four continental United states in which I have never been. I plan to visit in between the RA and MOA rallies. My Great Great Grandmother was a Rathbun who was one of the original families that settled Block Island. My plan was to go out onto Long Island, NY and take the ferry across to New London, CT. From there ride around in RI then back across CT and on to WV for the RA rally.
I'd like to take ferry for a day or partial day to Block Island but concerned about security of bike in the meantime. Any ideas? Advice?:dunno :type

Unless there is something specific on Long Island you want to see I'd say don't bother with the ferry. If you are coming up from Johnson City to go to Long Island you would go over the Verazanno Narrows Bridge, then out to Orient Point. By the time you get to New London you've taken most of the day to cover what would only take 3hrs (tops) to do if you stay on I95.

If you are leaving Johnson City on Sunday morning I'd take back roads north to the PA /WV/MD boarder area (day one), then a big slab day to RI, spend the night, go out to BI on Tuesday and start south Wednesday.

If you take the boat from Pt. Judith you can easily bring your bike with you. If you take the boat from Newport you can leave your bike there for the day with no issues but I'd lock up the tempting stuff.

You can also leave the bike at Pt. Judith with no issues.

If you time is flexibe I'd suggest / invite you to come out here and tour BI on Friday the 11 of July and join us on our rolling tour (http://www.sleddogs.org/YBBJ.html)to the MOA Rally. We are leaving New England on Saturday the 12.

[falcon415]

A) Rt.1A from Watch Hill to Wickford, (a very quaint historic seaside town).

1.) And/Or, about 8 miles before Wickford, break East on Rt.138, crossing the two bridges to Newport.
A stop after the first bridge brings you to the Island commonly called Jamestown. A stop here in the local village and a ride to Beavertail Point is worthwhile. (The road is bumpy)
The views from the bridges may take your breath away.
Over the next bridge, in Newport, you must ride Ocean Drive, and walk the Cliff Walk.

In Newport:
Have a great meal at 'Salas's', on Thames street, at a reasonable price and rub elbows with the locals. 'Yesterdays' Restaurant near the old courthouse is another good local place.
Have a great meal at 'The Clark Cooke House' and rub elbows with International Yacht racers. The Black Pearl is another very cool, internationally visited restaurant and outdoor bar.
All three places have excellent bars.

Summer weekends are traffic hell. Go early or late summer, and/or during the week.

Eastern RI and Western CT.:
B.) Rt. 102, West from Wickford to Rt.44. Go west on Rt.44 until you get to Pomfret, CT, at the intersection of Rt.169 and Rt.44. Stop, drink coffee and have a nice sandwich at "The Vanilla Bean", a restaurant that is very popular with bikers.
Go south on Rt.169 for one of the more scenic rides in New England.
You can find your way to Rt.95 near the end of Rt.169.

Some parts of RI roads can be rough with potholes.

Ride Safe,
R.P. Falcon
BMW 07 K12GT
97 HD Sportster 1200
Cannondale road and mountain bicycles.

[knary]

Providence has three universities that are renowned internationally: Brown, Rhode Island School of Design, and Johnson&Wales. I don't mean to slight Providence College or Rhode Island College, also in Providence; I'm just not sure they have the same international stature. Moving outside Providence, but still in Rhode Island, you've got Bryant University, Salve Regina, and the University of Rhode Island (a "state" school but with international acclaim in some programs, oceanography for example)

Brown brings Ivy-League intellect, RISD brings a wealth of creativity, and J&W brings... FOOD! Their culinary program is among the very best. Not coincidentally, Providence has an abundance of fantasic restaurants.

Providence has become quite the town since I was at RISD in the late 80's/early 90's. I have fond memories of Mayor Cianci getting booed when he spoke at our graduation. :ha

[soffiler]

Eastern RI and Western CT.:
B.) Rt. 102, West from Wickford to Rt.44. Go west on Rt.44 until you get to Pomfret, CT, at the intersection of Rt.169 and Rt.44. Stop, drink coffee and have a nice sandwich at "The Vanilla Bean", a restaurant that is very popular with bikers.
Go south on Rt.169 for one of the more scenic rides in New England.
You can find your way to Rt.95 near the end of Rt.169.

While this might be a nitpick, falcon, the above should say "Western RI and Eastern CT"

And on a more subjective note, a route I would suggest from Wickford to Pomfret is 102N (it heads west out of Wickford but is considered a N-S route) to 94N to 44W. This area of northwestern RI and northeastern CT has some of the best riding in New England south of Vermont (although the Berkshires might take issue with that statement).

Happily, the Bean is popular with motorcyclists too.

[soffiler]

Providence has become quite the town since I was at RISD in the late 80's/early 90's. I have fond memories of Mayor Cianci getting booed when he spoke at our graduation. :ha

Buddy is like a rock star now.

[jnrugg]

I just noticed your location as Sterling, Ct.
I live in Danielson, Ct. and joined the CRVBMW chapter but all the members live out west. I didn't think there were any members around me.
I see Beemers on Rt. 6 and such but it's always when I am going somewhere and can't track them down.
It sure would be nice to have others to ride with.

Going out Rt6 to Foster Center and down 94 and back through Plainfield or down to Jamestown are my favorite local rides.

[knary]

Buddy is like a rock star now.

:eek

Did he find someone else to beat with a baseball bat?

[soffiler]

I just noticed your location as Sterling, Ct.
I live in Danielson, Ct. and joined the CRVBMW chapter but all the members live out west. I didn't think there were any members around me.
I see Beemers on Rt. 6 and such but it's always when I am going somewhere and can't track them down.
It sure would be nice to have others to ride with.

Going out Rt6 to Foster Center and down 94 and back through Plainfield or down to Jamestown are my favorite local rides.

Yep, I am towards the northern part of Sterling. About halfway between Rt 6 and Rt 14/14A, with the Foster RI border 200' east of my driveway. I was born and raised in RI and work there so despite my CT address I am still a RI boy.

I ride a yellow '05 GS (see avatar) so if you see me around give a wave. What do you ride?

One thing, though, is that I don't do a whole lot of that typical Sunday-morning pleasure riding. I am probably not the guy you want if you're looking for riding buddies. I do about 6K miles per year and a lot of it is errands and commuting to work, with occasional short GS blasts on local dirt roads and trails when the stars are in alignment. Always one big trip every summer which puts 1/3-1/2 of my total annual mileage into one week. Not your typical riding patterns, I'm afraid.

But tell you what... I hear GREAT things about the Ocean State BMW Riders club. Check them out!

[soffiler]

:eek

Did he find someone else to beat with a baseball bat?

Well, since he completed his five-year stint in a federal prision on racketeering charges, he's a somewhat more subdued man. I don't think he's wielding the baseball bat at his ex-wife's boyfriends anymore. He's doing radio and TV now. Google him - he's got a Wikipedia page.

[Jimusma]

When I was in High School, I learned not to try to sleep on the beach in Westerly, RI.

The local police pointed out the error of my ways.

Good beaches!!!!!:p

[jnrugg]

I ride a 2002 red RT.
Most of my riding is what I can squeeze in after work or weekends.
This year I planned out the rallys for the year otherwise I would not get to any.

I will check out the RI club and maybe sneak in on one of their rides.
Don't forget the Charter Oak Rally on Memorial Day weekend.
Hope to see you there!


If anyone is going to Johnson City from this area I am looking for someone to ride with.
I won't be leaving until that Thursday however.

[r11rs94]

I ride a 2002 red RT.
Most of my riding is what I can squeeze in after work or weekends.
This year I planned out the rallys for the year otherwise I would not get to any.

I will check out the RI club and maybe sneak in on one of their rides.
Don't forget the Charter Oak Rally on Memorial Day weekend.
Hope to see you there!


If anyone is going to Johnson City from this area I am looking for someone to ride with.
I won't be leaving until that Thursday however.

There are quite a few riders from the Ocean State club going to the rally. Come by a meeting or a ride and you may find someone going at the same time.

[keybuster324]

there is a couple in danielson that both ride BMWs . His name is John and he has a small BMW airhead repair shop out of his garage. His name for this site is bikpaintr, I think they both ride quite a lot. It could be them you see.

[soffiler]

there is a couple in danielson that both ride BMWs . His name is John and he has a small BMW airhead repair shop out of his garage. His name for this site is bikpaintr, I think they both ride quite a lot. It could be them you see.

That would be John and Andrea Borella. I've met John a few times; he's hosted Yankee Beemer rides from his home/shop (which is quite a bit more than a garage!). Great guy. I've not had the pleasure of meeting Andrea yet.

[AZgman]

I ride a 2002 red RT.
Most of my riding is what I can squeeze in after work or weekends.
This year I planned out the rallys for the year otherwise I would not get to any.

I will check out the RI club and maybe sneak in on one of their rides.
Don't forget the Charter Oak Rally on Memorial Day weekend.
Hope to see you there!


If anyone is going to Johnson City from this area I am looking for someone to ride with.
I won't be leaving until that Thursday however.

I am in Putnam, CT and will be going to both national rallies. I'll be leaving Weds morning with a good friend for the MOA . Have you been to the Vanilla Bean on a weekend? Lots of riders there!

[r11rs94]

60 degrees and sunny today. Club ride today and I'm stuck at work. :doh, Oh well at least I can ride to work, so its not a total loss. I did get out last Wednesday for a short ride to Ocean Drive Newport. As for the state of Rhode Island, same as last year but deeper in dept.