Monday 20th August 2012 West Greenwich RI - CT - MA - VT - Macedon NY 442 miles.

Monday 20^th August 2012    West Greenwich RI - CT - MA - VT - Macedon  NY 442 miles.

A fleece on morning again. I decided to use my sometimes wayward GPS to guide me to Bennington Vermont, having come to an agreement with the lady running it that I would no longer criticize her constant “recalibrating”. So we set off across Rhode Island heading in a  general north western direction, along many small roads with 25 and 30mph limits. It was really interesting, with evergreens, and the smell of fresh air and pine. It was like riding through Darrington at times without the mountains. I passed through many small villages and collections of houses, mostly very old and shiplap timber frames. Eventually I arrived in Connecticut again, picked up I395, into Massachusetts and I90 for 90 miles  (toll $1.75 – cheap for a change). So off I90 at the exit to head north through Pittsfield to pick up H7 to head to Bennington Vermont. Pittsfield was a really old New England looking type town,  as were other smaller ones en route, all seemingly established in 1700 and something. Even here some businesses were shuttered; obviously they rely on the tourist trade.

On reaching Bennington, a quick ride through town, then it was to head west, again using my now trusty (for to-day anyway) GPS, to pick up I90 to reach my eventual turn off for Macedon New York. I90 in this area of New York is now the New York Thruway, a toll road of course. Actually the 200 miles of highway I rode were in good condition, traffic was not too Heavy, so cruise  control could be used for short periods. I reached Macedon about 3PM, a shortish day. Overall the scenery was very absorbing, especially the morning stint across country, north through Pittsfield and into Vermont, and then again in the afternoon before hitting I90.

So a couple of days local rides, then I’ll head for Ontario on Thursday tp spend time with friends and family, then later I’ll hopefully head south to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway before heading west for home.

Some shots of Sodus Point and Lake Ontario near Macedon.

So far I have traveled through (in order):

Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada (new), Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas (new), Missouri (new), Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky (new), Western Virginia (new), Virginia, Maryland, Delaware (new), New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island (new),  Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont (new), New York.

I do have a few photos and will try to patch them in. Stay tuned.

Sunday 19th August 2012 Williamsburg VA – MD – DE – NJ – NY - CT - RI 572 miles.

Sunday 19^th August 2012   Williamsburg VA – MD – DE – NJ – NY - CT - RI  572 miles.

Today was bridges, tolls, and traffic jams day. For the latter, it was lucky the weather was overcast all day, so sitting in traffic was OK. It was definitely not a free-wheeling cruise control day. The wrists and feet got a good workout. So to expand the title, it was Williamsburg Virginia, to Maryland, to Delaware, to New Jersey, to New York (Manhattan) to Connecticut then West Greenwich Rhode Island. One aspect of the ride was that it was all at sea level. A change for this week. It was the weekend. The good news was that the construction sites were inactive. The bad news it was head for home time for weekenders, mostly it seemed from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. They must have had something on as they all drive at 15-20 mph above the posted limit.

So it was south to Norfolk, then across the Chesapeake Bridge/Tunnel complex to the peninsula. The last time I was in Norfolk was 1959, visiting when on H.M.S. Victorious. The bridge is something I have seen pictures of, and always wanted to cross it. Engineering wise it is quite a feat, architectural not so much. Concrete slabs riding on concrete pylons. It is bridge, tunnel, bridge, tunnel then bridge. One gets an eyeful of the Atlantic and all the cargo ships waiting for the tide to come into port. 

One doesn’t realize the size and scope of the Chesapeake Bay area. Toll cost  for the bridge is $12. It was then north on US13 for a few hundred miles. The south end is much like parts of Florida, maybe the Keys, plenty of boats and angling. The road passes through many small towns and communities, much like the Keys. Although interesting at first, the ride seemed to take awhile, mainly as although the road is four lanes, constant traffic lights, and speed reductions made it seem long. Three States lay claim to the land, even though Maryland is a small strip in the middle. I wonder what the tax implications are as to which part you live in. More than a few businesses were shuttered en route, even gas stations. Eventually you pop out at the top, and I headed for I95, crossing the Delaware River on the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Now that was impressive.

 

So it was on to the New Jersey Turnpike (I95) and heading north. I cannot remember how long it actually is, over 100 miles, but traffic was heavy, and slowed a few times because of massive road works. It looked like new highways going in. Although there were slowdowns, it was nothing compared to southbound, traffic was backed up for miles. One point for the reader. If you travel the Turnpike, gas up before hand. The line ups for gas at the Service Areas are ridiculous because they have people pumping it, and they are not speedy. I hung on until the end, but had to get gas as I wasn’t sure where the end was. I waited 30 minutes in line. Unreal. The cost for the Turnpike was $13.75, end to end, and a long delay at the toll..

Next up was the George Washington Bridge into Manhattan. Toll cost $12. I kept asking for Senior rates, nothing doing. Again a long delay at the toll.

So it was onwards heading north past Yonkers, still on I95. Traffic was still very heavy, and continued into Connecticut. Thankfully tolls finished, as I was thinking of getting a line of credit. Total cost for the day was close to $50.

Traffic continued to slowdown at times, but once well into Connecticut, thinned out and I actually could use cruise control at times to ease the wrists. Southbound was really bad, many times there were huge backups, and a major accident at one point didn’t help.

I95 at times gives the rider a great view of the ocean and various bays. I did cross the Thames River at New London. Another great bridge is at New Haven over the Quinnipiac River.

View of Atlantic from I95 in Conneticut

So apart from the traffic and associated delays, to-day was a good ride with plenty to see en route.

Tomorrow it is a case of putting the tires into Vermont then heading to friends near Rochester NY for a couple of days.

Saturday 18th August 2012 Corydon – Louisville – Charleston – Williamsburg VA 653 miles.

Saturday 18^th August 2012   Corydon – Louisville – Charleston – Williamsburg VA 653  miles.

Another great riding day weather-wise. Clear and cool to start (fleece on) just before sun rise, then the sun appeared for a while as a bright red ball. A quick run across the Ohio River and into Kentucky at Louisville.  The city looked really cool with all the old style metal bridges. They have more character than the new concrete ones. I rode past the Louisville Slugger Field, home of the Louisville Bats. another piece of baseball trivia. It was then onto Lexington, and one could see the reason why Kentucky had the name for horses. Lots of lush looking grass. Washington has its wine tours and trails, Kentucky has the same for bourbon. The terrain started to climb into the Kentucky Mountains, and the scenery changed to that of thick forests covering everything. I guess one has a different criteria as to what constitutes a mountain if you live out west. Let us call those in Kentucky, and also West Virginia (they were to come) low mountains, and not just large hills. I wonder how many times I saw the name “bluegrass” riding through the State.  It was quite scenic, and the names were known, such as Daniel Boone Forest. Stopping for gas outside Lexington, I passed a few minutes with Daniel B, who informed me he was going to pay his respects to a couple of ‘brothers’ who had recently passed away from cancer at a young age. I offered my condolences, and passed on attending. So continuing east I crossed in West Virginia, and even more mountains. It was quite impressive, just many mountains completely covered with forests, in all over 250 miles I reckon as they continue into Virginia. I elected to ride the I64 into West Virginia, and it is quite a good ride, with very little traffic, climbing one minute, then swooping down and around the next. Not tight bends, but easy curves. The road crossed enumerable massive ravines, so the number of bridges is quite something. I would imagine building the highway was quite a feat.

One arrives in Charleston, crossing the Kanawha River, then riding alongside it. Charleston is a really good looking town, with its gold roof on the Government building. I continued on I64, and it suddenly becomes a ‘Turnpike’. Hmmm. It looks like I64 to me. I guess another one of the Interstates, built by taxpayer money, then the State slaps in a few toll booths and calls it a ‘Turnpike’. For me, the only true “Turnpike’ I have ridden or driven on is the Florida Turnpike. At least the road was in good condition, and the scenery truly great as I mentioned earlier. 

View of Virginian valley – not sure which one.

Into Virginia, around Richmond, and then heading south towards Newport News and Norfolk. The  traffic was quite heavy after Richmond, so as it was a weekend, and I had no idea how busy the motels were in that area, I cut off at Williamsburg for the night. No problem there.

Tomorrow I’ll head across to Delaware, then north towards Rhode Island. That may be a pain as I have to travel around a few cities to get there.

Friday 17th August 2012 Salina - Kansas City - St. Louis - Corydon Indiana 676 miles.

Friday 17^th August 2012 Salina - Kansas City - St. Louis MO - Corydon Indiana  676  miles.

A great day for riding weather-wise. Cool, clear, and crisp when leaving, cool enough for a fleece under my jacket. The sun rose as a huge red ball, the remaining haze causing the color. After a few hours it became a nice day, in the 80s, with a clear blue sky all the way. Not the high heat of late, one could still wear a jacket with the vents open.

 Heading east towards Kansas City, traffic was light until Topeka, where my freewheeling using cruise control on the roads of the west started to come to an end. Traffic picked up approaching Kansas City, and was thick until east of St. Louis. Once well into Illinois and then Indiana I could freewheel for long spells. One good thing to-day was the absence of major road works. The scenery was pretty much the same all day. Agriculture with a lot of corn, but other crops and vegetables as well. Even the occasional vineyard could be seen. The landscape was pretty flat, apart from the two major cities pretty uninspiring. I don’t understand the corn thing in the media. Obviously Indiana has no problem as the corn looked good, but in the other states it was odd. Although the growth alongside the road was quite green, some fields of corn were obviously burnt, but next to them you would see a field of good corn, and no sign of irrigation machinery. This was happening in Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. Very odd. 

Kansas City looked very modern with a seemingly new great road system. Traffic although heavy at times, flowed really smoothly, and this was in rush hour. One passed right by the Kansas ball park. Impressive. Stopping for gas on the east side, I had a few conversations with friendly people. It seemed a great place to live. On the way to Kansas City I did get to cross the Missouri river a couple of times, and it looked low. One also gets to view all the signs for the University of Kansas, complete with basketball trivia. And so into Missouri (check).

Heading to St. Louis traffic was quite heavy, and more so through the city. The roads there looked and felt old. Passing through one of the suburbs of the city, one sees large and fairly new corporate estates, complete with manicured bright green grass all around. I did get to pass right alongside Busch Stadium. If one gets bored with the scenery in some of the more southern states, there is always the huge bill boards to keep ones interest. Anything and everything is advertised. Cries for Jesus stacked amongst the sex shops. There must be something about fireworks in the state as well. Loads of firework supermarkets were along the highway. Crossing the Mississippi is always a thrill, and so into Illinois.  

It is always interesting to see the different way States handle the driving public, regarding rest areas, services and the price of gas. Wyoming has mainly truck pull-ins, complete with honey buckets. Other states have good rest areas, and plenty of services. Illinois has expensive gas, few services, and little information regarding them. It does have a few rest areas. I was getting a bit concerned about gas, and saw a junction advertising it. As soon as I turned off I knew I had been had. No gas signs. So I hit a tiny town after a couple of miles, and an open USPS office. It was a classic tiny town post office (most likely soon to disappear). In it was an old lady, and when I asked about gas, she answered “we haven’t had gas here for 16 years”.  However there was gas back on the highway about 10 miles away. I did have loads of gas as it turns out (I was running at over 45 to the gallon at that point and had enough for 80 miles or so, amazing). The machine definitely likes 100% gas (no ethanol) or higher octane. I had filled with 93 BP gas earlier and it seems to produce better mileage.

So into Indiana, overnight at Corydon (about 40 miles west of Louisville), and then Kentucky (check) tomorrow. I will then head towards Virginia and Delaware. As it is the weekend, it could become crowded around there, although city traffic may be lighter.