The Shadow

The Shadow

On the Road to Key West.  Notice the downturned bar end mirrors.  Lot os comments from the Harley guys.  They like 'em.

Lost and Found

Volunteers for Leukemia

Lost in Miami.  Not the best.  Trying to get to Key West, stayed on Rt. 1 a little too long.  I pulled up to a stoplight and "legs" (not pictured), says, "Hey, you need a car wash, pull in here."  Well, being who I am, I followed her instructions.  I pulled in and met these lovely ladies washing cars for Leukemia.  They agreed to let the creep in the picture if I donated $20.

The result is what you see.

Ferry

Ferry from Hatteras to Oacracoke Island.  Forty minute free ride.

I missed the 8:00 AM ferry due to the fog between Nags Head and Hatteras.  My plan had been to ctch the 8:00 AM giving me and hour and one-half to ride the length of Oacracoke and catch the 10:00 AM Ferry to Cedar Island.  The Ferry to Cedar Island takes almost 2 hours, and if you miss it, it is four hours to the next ferry

Hatteras, NC

Dawn on Hatteras

Frost and Fog

Not sure why, but my early morning start was slow going because of visibility the temp was below freezing, and my windscreen and helmet shield wouldn't clear.  The temp made going bare eyed impossible.  In any case, I missed the 8:00 ferry, but had a nice ride regardless.

Day 1: Richmond VA to Nags Head, NC

February 27, 2010

Woke up early at friend Laura Wright's house for an early start on my adventure south to Florida on my trusty Triumph Bonneville T-100.  However, "but what to my wondering eyes should appear," but 2 inches of snow and no tiny reindeer.  This bit of empirical data gave me just the excuse I needed to roll over and go back to sleep.

10:00 AM seemed like a good time to go downstairs, brew some coffee, and suit up for the ride.

11:00 AM found me, suited, loaded and on the road.  My ride began on the west end of the road headed east leading to the State Capital at the road's terminus at the east end.  Monument Avenue in Richmond is a truly remarkable road, especially for a Northerner with little appreciation for Southern history.  Monument Avenue was laid out in 1887 and most of the buildings in the historic area were built between the turn of the century and about 1930. The road is an old style four lane boulevard with a lush green (white on this day) median with beautiful mature trees.  The well maintained Southern mansions line each side of the beautiful street.  Every few blocks have massive monuments to Richmond's heros.  The Lee Monument is easily the largest and grandest of the statues on Monument Avenue.  Bronze tablets attached to the sides of the base say simply, "LEE." The horse and rider was unveiled in 1890. 

General Lee

Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA

(behind a beauty of a ride)

On the West end on Monument Avenue is a monument honoring Richmond native Arthur Ashe.

Arthur Ashe

Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA

From Monument Avenue I found Rt. 60 and headed uneventfully toward Norfolk, VA.  The temperature this day never reached 40 degrees, so I was happy to have my new heated gloves.

The ride was uneventful, and I arrived in Nags Head around 5:00 PM and found a room in the Quality Inn.

In total the first day was 177 miles.  Not many miles, but a start on the road.

Day 1

Jersey or "Joursay"

At NJ rest area. Fella comes up and says, "Hey Bud, like whad ya did with demm ammo boxes. Pretty decent, Guy."

I said, "Hey Fella, thanks. Means a lot.".

I'm sure he thought I was from Asbury Park....

Drive to Rochmond 3 Hours Longer Than Expected...

Off at 6:00 AM as planned...

Head South with the Rig on Tuesday

Leaving early Tuesday morning for Richmond. A bit of service on Wednesday morning at Colonial, then on the road. Probably take it real easy and stay in Norfolk giving me all day Thursday to cruise Cape Hatteriss. Should be a blast.

A Drink With Something In It

A poem by Ogden Nash sums up last weekend's celebration with my twins

A Drink With Something In It

There is something about a Martini,
A tingle remarkably pleasant;
A yellow, a mellow Martini;
I wish I had one at present.
There is something about a Martini,
Ere the dining and dancing begin,
And to tell you the truth,
It is not the vermouth--
I think that perhaps it's the gin.

Ogden Nash

Cold Heart From Maine

There was a creature called lumpy
He hailed from grey Maine with narry a brain
And awoke each day feeling grumpy

His inclinations were mean
He was never called lean
In fact kids laughed at his rumpy

Early his mornings are started
With a passion so retched, as lead though the "fethid"
Now hell awaits his departed

It's not a sad story
For this nasty Tory
Not a soul will miss his cold hearted

Equipment

Equipment arriving daily for my trip South. 50 mm Ammo Boxes (wide) should make great cases.

Why Not to Upset a Member of a Club

Lumpy from Downeast

Travelled to the Eastern Shore
Where there appeared Ducks Galore

The sky was cold
And the wind was fierce

There was no match for the aim of the beast
They named that day Lumpy of Downeast

He hails from that place
Where no man would race

Known best for smelly crustaceans and plants
That live right at home so deep in his pants

And, as we departed, wise Leroy turned with a grin
Crying that he hoped and he prayed never to see it again.

Why Triumph?

Planning for Richmond, VA to Ussepa Island, FL

Leaving Hanover, NH on January 25 for ride to Ussepa Island, Fl and back.

First stage: a drive to Richmond, VA with the Bonneville in the back of my truck.  With some luck, the weather south will be better than the weather here in New Hampshire.  It won't take much luck, the weather anywhere is better than the weather in New Hampshire.

I'm scheduled to have a British Customs Air Box Elimination kit and a 19 tooth front sprocket installed by Colonial Cyclesports in Richmond on the 26th.  The guy on the phone was amazing.  Very nice.   If their mechanical abilities match their customer service, I'll be their biggest supporter.