Washington DC ~~> Chesapeake ... and I'm STILL Sailing Along

Sunday evening, July-22

So I move on from New Jersey - the STOC Meeting in particular - and ride 245 miles (394 km) in a broad southwest direction to Washington DC, where at 5:00 pm in the NW District of the City I am greeted by French-Canadian Suzanne [Pelland], Amilie's mother. Amilie, of course, is the partner of Sven with whom I spent such an excellent two days in Canut, near Montreal, at the very beginning of July.

Funny how things turn out sometimes? You see, I also met Suzanne by pure chance: Our respective visits to Amilie and Sven place coincided briefly just before my departure from their Canadian home on the 4th of July.

I shall say more about 'chance meetings' in my next post.

Suzanne lives in Washington DC and works for the World Bank on Pennsylvania Avenue; she kindly made me offers at the time we momentarily met, which were always gonna be hard to refuse, such as (1) a place to stay near the centre of DC; together with (2) some local-knowledge guidance around the City, should I so desire it. And desirous of it I most certainly was ... Well after all, wouldn't you be too?

During the late warm summer evening of my arrival, around an almost deserted City Centre, I am shown some very eminent sights. For instance, Capitol Hill and ...

.. President George Dubya’s front door, even though it’s now purely so on a diminishing temporary tenanted basis*

Monday, July-23
The following morning, on yet another perfect bright summer's day, I take a self-guided tour around some of Washington DC’s famous sights. Here’s the Pres’ temporary front door again ...

.. and his back door, through which his personal effects will be spirited away at or shortly after (or maybe even shortly before) the next US Presidential Election*

[*Annotation: There's no political 'dig' going on here - it's just that US Presidents are only allowed to serve a maximum of two 4-year terms in office. The current President, therefore, will be forced to leave the White House within the not-too-distant future]

Not so far away from the rear of the White House stands the imposing George Washington Monument

What a guiding landmark this proves to be for my footslogging navigational efforts around DC.

Across and south down some well-trodden park grass one encounters the Lincoln Memorial at the other end of the Reflecting Pool

Looking back north from stone steps at the base of the Lincoln Memorial

Just a short distance away, to the west, I come across the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, whereupon are inscribed the names of all the serviceman that were lost during that war which lasted for 16 whole years (1959 - 1975)

I think to myself at the time, as I look over the 58,000+ names of the US dead and missing: 'Now I know what the current Gulf War is all about; there's no doubt about this - the motivation for going to war against the Iraqis and invading their sovereign nation was to unquestionably rid the area of WMD, that's for certain sure ...right?'

But I'm DAMNED if I know what this stupid war in South East Asia, which I grew up with throughout my entire childhood, adolescent and teenage years ... was really all about .. ??

What good did it all do .. huh?

[Annotation: There IS a political ‘dig’ going on here ..!!]

Tuesday, July-24
Well, who'd of thought that I would be out and about, sailing around Chesapeake Bay on a Hunter 38´ sloop named "Last Call".

Once upon a time, mainly throughout the 1980s, I was a mad-keen sailing enthusiast, but since moved on in 1991 to motorcycle touring.

But it was good to be at the helm again after such a long layoff; close-reaching into a full Force 4 wind .. and doing my very best to edge our speed up to 7 knots ...

.. and in good company too: Joel, the owner-skipper on the left; and Joe, the defence lawyer-litigator, my crewmate there on the wheel

Thank you Suzanne for organising this maritime indulgence, particularly at such short notice.

Wed & Thu, 25 & 26-July
Another 'farewell' [to Suzanne] - but another 'hello', but this time it's to my very longest-time friend, David, who grew up with me, along the very same stretch of road, in the very same village, a long long time ago back in Cornwall, England.

A career move brought David to the USA yonks ago, and this together with marriage and family commitments now means that America is his adopted new permanent home.

And what a great bricks-and-mortar home he has made for himself, and his young family, here at Chesapeake, in the southeast region of Virginia, 215 miles (346 km) south of Washington DC. Indeed, inside this place is absolutely cavernous.

A further two whole days of domestic bliss to wash-away and make even more distant the memories of motel woes. Moreover, besides seeing David again, who's still in pretty good shape - mind you, he always did end up with the best lookin’ birds around ... Grrrrrr .. ;o) - I make a new canine friend called "Riley", with whom I had great times, including going 'walkies' during David's daytime absence, due to his work commitments.

His daughter, Juliet, is a real cutie too.

All my online stuff dealt with, including all outstanding UK-based bills paid ... more Grrrrrr .. :o(

The only regret I have about this long overdue reunion is that I could not get to meet David's wife, Nancy, or his son Andrew, as she was away in Chicago (with Andrew) on business.

Lock, STOC and Two Smokin' Mufflers

Weekend commencing Friday, July-20

Gettysburg was indeed a worthwhile experience, and afforded me a much greater understanding of the American Civil War (1861–1865) between the United States (the "Union") and the eleven "Confederate" Southern states. I'm glad I went.

However, I have signed-up to attend the annual NJSTOC (New Jersey Sports-Touring Owners Club) meeting that runs from Friday, 20 -to- Sunday, 22 of July. So the time has arrived to 'put-up or shut-up' and make the return 175 mile (282 km) north-easterly journey back to New Jersey ... precisely in the opposite direction of my intended overall tour route!

At 9:30am I'm at the pre-arranged rendezvous point - The Port Jervis Diner where the 'Friday-Riders' muster-up before the 10:00am kick-off

I'll confess that I've been a little nervous about the prospect of meeting 'friends' that hitherto I have only ever known and seen by viewing my computer's monitor - through the media of a couple of motorcycling discussion forums, which exist only on the hard-drives of [normally to me] overseas servers .. all out there, somewhere, in cyberspace

The one tangible that we all indisputably have in common though is the passion for our motorcycles. Call 'em "ST1300s" or "Pan-Europeans" - it doesn't really matter at the end of the day; there's very little difference between the two. One thing's for sure is we all know and appreciate that no other motorcycle in the world looks, sounds or rides quite like them ...

.. they are indeed a unique example of motorcycling design and engineering brilliance

After a 170-mile (274-km) ride around the varied terrain and roads of New Jersey and Pennsylvania we eventually return to our pre-reserved motel lodge-rooms located back in New Jersey, just north of the township of Andover. I am flattered that the main forum's meeting banner is conspicuously displayed outside my room and over my trustworthy silver pan-machine

Saturday, July-21
Today's 210-mile (338-km) ride was conducted in perfect riding conditions; the temperature never dropping below 20ºC (68ºF), or rising above 25ºF (77ºF) throughout the whole 8-hour riding day; hardly a breath of wind either in dry, very low humidity air (for the time of year) ... just a purrfeckt riding environment. But the road route, however, was even more varied and demanding than yesterday's; the route designers had excelled themselves and even thought of throwing in a half-decent stretch of loose gravel, just for good measure ... thanks-a-bunch fellas! .. :o(

Saturday evening/night
Plenty of good food at the end of the day in the Italian Bar-Restaurant next to the motel - all washed down with even more alcoholic beverages. A good quality and relaxing time was had ...

.. by all

There's my room-mate, on the far left of the pic .. Tom Regan [aka: 'TRNewton' & .. er 'Tom Regan' on the my-mc.com site], who kindly, and without question, shared equally the cost of my pre-booked double-bedded double-room tariff for two whole nights, thus easing my thinly-spread tour exchequer .. just a useful bit. Thanks Tom .. You're a pal, despite the hog-like snoring! Thanks again too for the well thought-through prezzy of a brand new pair of earplugs .. ;o)

Sunday morning, July 22

I've had this idea, knocking around in my head, for a while now. I wanna make another short movie - prolly no more than 3½ minutes long in duration - the contents and composition of which will be dedicated to this NJSTOC weekend. To fulfil my ideas I set-up my camcorder and ...

.. I need four willing actors to take part in the opening title sequence. Thankfully, there is no lack of volunteers - AND they even know what I have in mind .. and precisely what they're letting themselves in for ...


.. BUT I had no idea that a covert cameraman was filming me .. filming them!

[click twice on the forward play arrow above]

After 'TAKE TWO' we hastily review the 'rushes' - and I get the BIGGEST smile and ...

THE BIGGEST laugh that I've had on this trip so far .. by far!

The last round-up, and it's time for a last cuppa summin' at the last Diner I'm likely to patronise in New Jersey for a long, long time.

There's Steve [aka: 'SteveST1300'] on the LH side, who is one, probably the main, organiser of this event.

Our waitress, although as you can see is a little self-conscious, is typically polite and very helpful. She typifies the standards of service that I encounter everyday here in the USA. Workers in the British and the wider European service industry, have a lot to learn from their American counterparts!

I have indeed had a great time at the NJSTOC Meeting.

Made some great friends too. Like Dennis [aka: 'pretbek'] the Dutchman, who besides being a BIG burger fan, is also a real gentleman and a terrific ambassador for the European People ...

.. and Todd [aka: 'Kempo-STer'] with his young daughter Emily .. THE absolute life and sole of any party

Yes indeed, I have met some great folks and cultivated some great friendships. I'm glad I went here too.

What's more?! I go away with some useful souvenirs that will remind me of 2007 NJSTOC Meeting.

Besides a commemorative badge, I am gifted:

- A baseball cap. Now I really DID want and have been looking for one of these - especially to wear on my 'bad hair' days! .. ;o)

- Exclusive key rings that have been immediately put into service; thus replacing my STealers complimentary ones that I used to growl at every time I remembered how those buggers ripped-me-off more than once over routine servicing charges .. grrrrr!

- And a unique - but not-very-practical-for-its-intended-purpose-for-a-Brit-type-person - motorcycle registration plate surround-holder. I shall use this to frame a print of the image above the one above.

------------------------

And finally, A BIG THANKS to everone at NJSTOC 2007 ... for taking me in .. and making me feel sooooo welcome.

See y'all soon chaps [and chapesses].. ;o)

------------------------

Now it's time to go see Washington DC. The Nerve Centre - the absolute Pinwheel of ... 'THE LAND OF THE FREE'

Gettysburg - The Horror of it All

Tuesday & Wednesday, July-17 & 18

When first starting to dream and start planning this US tour, way back in December 2005, I was encouraged to include Gettysburg on my list of places to visit. This endorsement was from a retired Alabama firefighter who I regard as one of the greatest STers in the world; so I felt that I just had to go there.

And with three whole spares days available before my next planned event I take the opportunity to ride 240 miles westwards from Queens NYC to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; scene of one of the greatest battles; with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War and frequently cited as the war's turning point.

I decide to take a guided tour around the battlegrounds, which proved to be excellent value for the twenty-five dollar cost.

The two armies - Union and Confederate - began to collide on July the 1st 1863. Confederate corps assaulted from right here at this very place, collapsing the hastily developed Union lines.

General Lee (Confederate) launched a heavy assault on the Union left flank, and fierce fighting raged here at Little Round Top. This is the view that the defending Brigadier General Gouverneur Kemble Warren would have had, looking down from his vitally strategic position onto Plum Run Valley, the "Valley of Death" .

The General, himself

The very informative tour ends in the old town of Gettysburg, so I take a look around the Visitors Centre.

Uncle Phil must love it here ... look, all these guns!

Yep, he must really love it

Yes sir-ree - I bet he has a great time in this place .. ;o)

Between 46,000 and 51,000 Americans were casualties in the three-day battle

The Unknown - 411 Bodies ...

.. just numbers on a stone

There are 914 separate monuments, markers, or commemorative stones. This figure does not include the 428 flank markers; thus ...

.. the current total is 1,342.

There are commemoratives everywhere here

And here is one [of two] of my Americans heroes; a real 'conviction' politician - There's not too many of these around nowadays!

The other is Benjamin Franklin.

These are the only two Americans whose biographies I have studied in any degree of depth

But the real heroes of this depressing war are these men - and young boys alike. It is easy for us to say that, 'Well, 1863 was a long time ago, wasn't it' - but for these guys it was real, and it was 'now'

A Long Weekend In The BIG APPLE ...

.. New York, just like I pictured it

Enthusiastic to see New York and spend at least 2-3 days there, we leave Cape Cod and head west across the Sakonnet River towards the maritime city of Newport, Rhode Island, which nestles in the southern part of Narragansett Bay. I specifically wanted to take a look around Newport because it is well known as the sailing capital of the United States.

Sadly the mid-afternoon street traffic in the City was, however, an absolute nightmare - a veritable parking lot, and my still healing shoulder and wrist starts to play-up again for the first time in several days.

But we did manage to take-in a brief tour of Newport's harbours that teem with commercial fishing boats, power and sailing craft - and grab some lunch.

Then we move onwards, across the city's western main entrance/exit, the Claiborne Pell (Newport) Bridge. The main span of this bridge is 1,601 feet (488 m), making it the largest suspension bridge in New England; its main towers reach 400 feet (122 m) above the water surface.

Saturday, July-14

Not wanting to ride into the centre of New York, last night we settled for an 'out-of-town' stopover on the outskirts of Stamford City - still in Connecticut - close by the more upmarket township of Greenwich, specifically because the annexed town of Old Greenwich has a railway station that takes passengers the 35 miles commuter-type distance directly into 'Grand Central' Manhattan, NYC.

This morning the 11:33am westbound train is bang-on time

Precisely an hour later we're delivered right into the heart of the Big Apple - Grand Central Terminal, which is located at the intersection between Park Avenue and 42nd Street.

The Main Concourse is the centre; the space is cavernous and filled with bustling crowds. It reminds me of being inside a Cathedral.

This is where we start our self-guided, mostly walking, tour interspersed with some fun-and-games on the Subway system [the 'Underground Tube' network, in UK-speak], around this vibrant City

Time Square



Into the Hard Rock Café, but sadly the queue was just too long to grab a bite to eat at this venue .. :o( :o(

Instead, we got a great lunch in a streetside 'Diner' just on the right of this location

The Empire State Building

"Ground Zero" which is now just a cordoned-off building site ...

.. of the new 'Freedom Tower', which will stand 1,776 feet (541 m) tall on this site of the former World Trade Centre

No matter where we went, every perspective, we just couldn't get a good view of this now most legendary place

The classic 'Art Deco' Chrysler Building, which is still the tallest brick building in the world - and considered by many to be the finest building in New York City

Modern-day, shiny glass skyscrapers .. an' everythang

Sunday, July-15

Yet another change of motels! This second NYC base is right alongside JFK Int'l Airport, and therefore very conveniently located for Ellen's departure back to Blighty tomorrow evening, Monday the 16th.

As we're making our way along the 35-mile short journey, down through the eastern side of the Bronx - towards the Queens district on Long Island - we encounter a couple of motorcyclists over from Spain. The leader is clearly riding a Honda GL Goldwing, but the Spanish chap following appeared to me, at first view at least, to be riding an earlier ST1300 Pan-European ... hmmm?

But on second view, this is clearly a Honda NT700V Deauville.

So Mister Jones, perhaps I'm still the only rider over here with an imported genuine Honda ST1300 Pan-European! ...

.. unless anyone knows different, perhaps?

After a few more minutes, the road splits; these guys take the left, whilst we must bear right.

'Good-bye and good luck fellow Europeans' .. or should I say .. "Adiós y buen compañero europeos de la suerte" ...

..or summin' like that?!

Instead of traipsing along yet more concrete sidewalks, we decide to spend the afternoon exploring the southern shores of Long Island. We end up here at Rockaway Beach and take a long - maybe for me, the last, for a while - look at the Atlantic Ocean

'tis a hot, hot day, with a viciously strong sea breeze that's whipping-up the beach sand and creating fiery thirsts for most ...

.. including my new, and very p#ssed-off, friend 'Gripper' the Boxer Dog

I get the evil eye when I take a peek down at his very own bottle of water. A look can say it all sometimes!

Monday, July-16

Ellen's return-home day. I shall miss her.

But as we don't need to get to the airport until around 6:00pm in the evening [her flight takes-off at 20:20] we take one more look at some of the sights of NYC ... and 'run-the-gauntlet' by taking our chances on the Subway system once again.

Ellen's last burning desire is to go see the Statue of Liberty, right up close and personal. So we take a short boat ride across the harbour to Liberty Island

The Brooklyn Bridge

And finally - somewhere that I just HAD to re-visit; South Street Seaport, on lower eastside Manhattan, East River. You see ...

.. as this [poor reproduction] 1989 photo confirms, South Street Seaport was my destination back in April 1989, when I sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in an 80ft Maxi yacht ('sailboat' in US-speak) from Gibraltar to New York City. 4,200 nautical miles and 23 days at sea all told, when I was a much, much younger man.

There's my means of transport, right there, the good ship "Creightons Naturally" tied-up alongside Pier 16 - gawd bless her.

This time, 18¼ years later, I arrive by motorcycle.

One day, maybe, who knows? I might even try to get here again ... in an aeroplane!