What's up in Lebanon (hint - Woodstock Visit)

Hey guys and ladies. I've been a busy guy lately. Between my wife getting ready to retire, my daughter getting married this week-end and my never ending quest to put miles on the scooters, I haven't been around too much. Sorry about that.

But, from where I live there's this great little ride I take frequently north through Keene NH on Rt 12 which takes me on the VT/NH border following the Connecticut river up to Lebanon New Hampshire. Years before I found out about Woodstock I found the 4Aces Diner and some great riding roads. So, yesterday, June 4th was a perfect New England late Spring day. Upper 70s temps, a light breeze, sunshine. T-shirt weather for a little 200 miler on the Harley, which will be the last day of riding for until after the wedding.

So, I been thinking about going up to say Hi to all our friends as Woodstock.

Here's a view of just north of Keene. Lot's of nice farms along the Connecticut River.





I made a stop here and there to give you guys who haven't had the pleasure of New England to enjoy the beauty of New Hampshire. there is a Zen to motorcycle riding when you get to ride in such beautiful country. Makes me want to say "Thank you God."



My understanding is that this bridge which connects Cornish NH and Windsor VT is the longest spanning covered bridge in the world, and cross the Connecticut. it's pretty old too.



So it wasn't long before I end up here. Imagine that?!



Look what's in the showroom.


I have to say, this was my first In Person view of the Ideal Steel. This thing is iMPRESSIVE! Yikes, that thing could heat the whole town I live in! I like it, but I can't take advantage of something quite that size.

So I meet Charlie and she takes me out to see Jaime. Where is that dude? Yes, he actually gets his hands dirty.



I asked him the Million Dollar question. What's up with the next Ideal Steel V2? So we went to R&D. We had a long chat about the design process, and the learning process as they are progressing through the early stages of development. Where the IS is a 3.2cf stove, this stove is currently a 2.6cf (don't quote me on these numbers, I am remembering from yesterday, but I think that's right.)

This is an EARLY MULE! Expect lot's of changes, but this will POSSIBLY be available for field testing this coming winter. MAYBE.. A natural follow-on to the IS.



I know you guys will have a million questions. But I've got a wedding to go to. I will attach more pics in another post.

I left Jamie and went to the 4Aces and then Granite State Harley before I headed home. Another great day in the saddle.

 

Here's some more pics. The line up of the IS Field Test stoves is interesting. They are learning from the inspection and tear down of them.

 

Some beautiful country up there, thanks for sharing Steve!

 

Always nice to see you and chat Steve. In the future I reserve the right to edit any pictures you take of me !

 

Jamie, very sorry for the 2nd one, but the stove is what we're looking at! Many apologies.

 

When I visited Woodstock a month ago, Tom said the "Ben Franklin" version of the Gear Head stove should be ready for Beta testing this fall. He asked if I was game to test the next model. D'oh! (Now I gotta figure out where to store my production model IS while Beta testing this next model for the coming season. Can't wait to see what tricks they have up their sleeves with this unit! ;-)

 

You heard the man people, focus on the stove !

 

I could tell you, but then.......

 

Great pics. We had pancakes at the dairy farm about a month ago. Looks like you had great weather.

Nice stove pics, too. One of the Ideal Steels is a little bit different (at least three differences on the one stove) from what I've seen before.

 

What's the story with the Frog King? Where us Lemmiwinks?

 

Great weather for sure. I have never been to that pancake place, but I keep promising myself I will try it. It looks like a nice big place that could handle a busy day. The customization points of the IS are all over the place. The drying racks, the front door hinges, the andirons, the side decorations and the warming plates. Some of the designs are just striking and the color options just make it a very individualized build. Very "make it your own" oriented. Pretty cool on a reasonably priced stove.

Speaking of reasonably priced. Now that I see this stove in person, and the SIZE of it, the price is even more remarkable.

 

We'll have a whole new stove to buzz about all winter long! Oh boy!!

 

T

The science behind them is getting more and more precise. We talked a lot about the future government requirments, the need to design in functionality to meet those requirements even though they might not be here today. Airflow, combustion, clearances the list goes on and on.

 

I can't imagine they could really "outdo" the IS right now Brian. I could see the IS features installed into this smaller version of the IS and then call it a Franklin (style) stove. Has anyone heard of any features being different than the IS? Cat?, secondary burn tubes?, something new altogether??

 

You have a habit of that Dennis

 

Question of the day Dennis, will you be beta testing the Franklin?

 

I'm not sayin'