Top Gun
11-05-2005, 23:02
Wow! Who woulda thunk we'd be riding in 70 plus degree weather on the 4th and 5th of November????
As I pondered a trip to NYC for a retirement party for a good friend, I was a bit disheartened as I looked at the weather forecast for my return trip today and had pretty much resigned myself to traveling in a "cage." Bummer! But wait, let's take a look at that forecast. A chance of a shower later in the day? That hardly matches the perception one draws from the graphic. With forecasted temperatures in the mid 60's I thought, "what the heck, I've ridden in the rain before."
So my next dilemma was, if I ride, how do I get a business suit there? I used a fabric/flexible single suit garment bag I just bought at WalMart and took the Kuryakyn Full Dresser more for the back support than anything else and wrapped the garment bag around the back of it and secured it with a bungee.
A couple of hours and I was on my way, with Richie following behind as my own personal "chase vehicle." The ride was great, for the most part. The only down side was a couple of big delays for accidents and road work.
I got to the party and enjoyed it, along with the other 500 plus people there!
The next morning, I was ready to ride back, with Richie going as far as Roscoe, the home of none other than Roscoe Don and his lovely wife Bunni. We only had to do one chore before we left. It seems that when I picked him up in Brooklyn, he had to get a 500 lb. cast iron tub up a narrow flight of stairs. Although none of us admitted it, I think we all had blood in our shorts after that. None of us were skinny people and you should have seen the contortions and heard the grunts and groans and hollers! There were more than a couple of oaths uttered! That was not an easy feat with a big head after a party!
We figured we needed breakfast after that and stopped around the corner for a hearty breakfast, before striking out for the Palisades Pkway. Unfortunately, they were working on a lane at the GWB and it had been closed earlier for the NYC marathon so, we had a 3 or 4 mile stop and go backup to the bridge, easily a 45-1 hour delay right there. It was all worth it though, when we hit the Palisades. The colors were fabulous and the road is in great shape. Not a lot of traffic and it moves along well. We had a spectacular ride up to the Bear Mountain area and the road was very scenic on the way over to 17.
17 was moving quickly in most parts and after an hour of heavy cruising, I asked Betty for some help and she was quick to oblige with a great route over country roads through Liberty and into Roscoe and the Fairway Inn. The road dipped and wound through the mountains as the Delaware River and the east and west branches played tag with the road and then moved quickly back into the woods. The temperature was 75!!
Don and Bunni gave us the real Trout Town USA welcome and we made contact with the Syracuse boys heading down to the southerntier. Unfortunately, it was just by phone bit glad they were able to enjoy this great day!
As 4 PM neared, I said we should say our goodbyes and get back on the road, as Richie was heading back to the apple and I had a good 2-2.5 hour ride ahead! I took 206 all the way into Whitney Point and it was one of the nicest roads I've ever been on! We have to make a ride down there!
I got back home about 1915 and as I write this at 2145, my eyes are sagging and I'll close with the usual "Ride safely!"
Bill
As I pondered a trip to NYC for a retirement party for a good friend, I was a bit disheartened as I looked at the weather forecast for my return trip today and had pretty much resigned myself to traveling in a "cage." Bummer! But wait, let's take a look at that forecast. A chance of a shower later in the day? That hardly matches the perception one draws from the graphic. With forecasted temperatures in the mid 60's I thought, "what the heck, I've ridden in the rain before."
So my next dilemma was, if I ride, how do I get a business suit there? I used a fabric/flexible single suit garment bag I just bought at WalMart and took the Kuryakyn Full Dresser more for the back support than anything else and wrapped the garment bag around the back of it and secured it with a bungee.
A couple of hours and I was on my way, with Richie following behind as my own personal "chase vehicle." The ride was great, for the most part. The only down side was a couple of big delays for accidents and road work.
I got to the party and enjoyed it, along with the other 500 plus people there!
The next morning, I was ready to ride back, with Richie going as far as Roscoe, the home of none other than Roscoe Don and his lovely wife Bunni. We only had to do one chore before we left. It seems that when I picked him up in Brooklyn, he had to get a 500 lb. cast iron tub up a narrow flight of stairs. Although none of us admitted it, I think we all had blood in our shorts after that. None of us were skinny people and you should have seen the contortions and heard the grunts and groans and hollers! There were more than a couple of oaths uttered! That was not an easy feat with a big head after a party!
We figured we needed breakfast after that and stopped around the corner for a hearty breakfast, before striking out for the Palisades Pkway. Unfortunately, they were working on a lane at the GWB and it had been closed earlier for the NYC marathon so, we had a 3 or 4 mile stop and go backup to the bridge, easily a 45-1 hour delay right there. It was all worth it though, when we hit the Palisades. The colors were fabulous and the road is in great shape. Not a lot of traffic and it moves along well. We had a spectacular ride up to the Bear Mountain area and the road was very scenic on the way over to 17.
17 was moving quickly in most parts and after an hour of heavy cruising, I asked Betty for some help and she was quick to oblige with a great route over country roads through Liberty and into Roscoe and the Fairway Inn. The road dipped and wound through the mountains as the Delaware River and the east and west branches played tag with the road and then moved quickly back into the woods. The temperature was 75!!
Don and Bunni gave us the real Trout Town USA welcome and we made contact with the Syracuse boys heading down to the southerntier. Unfortunately, it was just by phone bit glad they were able to enjoy this great day!
As 4 PM neared, I said we should say our goodbyes and get back on the road, as Richie was heading back to the apple and I had a good 2-2.5 hour ride ahead! I took 206 all the way into Whitney Point and it was one of the nicest roads I've ever been on! We have to make a ride down there!
I got back home about 1915 and as I write this at 2145, my eyes are sagging and I'll close with the usual "Ride safely!"
Bill