420km of Interstates today! Megan's shoulder is fucked up, she can barely move her right arm to put on her jacket, let alone look over her shoulder properly to change lanes!
All happened by sleeping on it badly, but it's probably some sort of fatigue related problem as well. Megan hasn't had a good nights sleep the whole trip apparently, and our left over Russian Voltaren and a few Tylenol extra strength don't seem to help.
We left Harrisonburg late (9am) and arrived here at Allentown in Pennsylvania about 1pm. It was a straight shot with the customary fuel stop at the half mark, where I customarily have a diet coke and an Ice-cream sandwich, Megan has a full strength coke and a bite of my ice-cream!
It s still quite warm, but not nearly as hot or as muggy as it was further down south. I can't believe how far we have come in the last week or so. It just seems like yesterday we were at Rachel or Vegas in the Desert.
The trip seem to have lost a certain amount of luster (for me at least) since we decided to come home early. I just feel like we have missed out on so much, and now the riding is more a means to an end then rather than something I look forward to every day.
We didn't really have time to plan what we wanted to see on this leg of the trip, and I am kinda regretting not doing some more research on riding roads around here. There really is so much to see, and the US is a bikers paradise. Megan and I have already talked about what we would do if we had a chance to come back here one day and tour again, either on a motorbike or maybe.. just maybe.. A FUCKOFF HUGE F-350 FORD CREW CAB TRUCK WITH A 5TH WHEELER CARAVAN AND A TRAILER WITH QUADS ON IT AND SHIT!!!!! FUCK YEAH!!!! AND A GIANT COWBOY HAT AND FUCKING CAMO EVERYTHING!!!
(**deep breaths**)
man that was close... almost went full redneck...
Seriously though... the people down south have been so friendly, every time we stop at a service station, someone has had a chat to us, and they are so polite, even the kids say 'excuse me sir' etc and everyone holds the door for you. Its a real eyeopener, and makes you realise how utterly horrible the people back home are. Even people out on the street say good morning, reminds us of Switzerland where everyone said 'Morgen' or 'Grutzie' or whatever the local dialect was... such a shame people at home just don't do it.
Maybe there wouldn't be so much road rage if people where actually nice to each other. Back home if you hold the door for someone, they seem to look down on you, and barely say thank-you, as if you somehow weakened yourself by subjugating yourself to the role of a slave or something, as if you have assumed a servitude role, and thereby making the other person seem more important than you. Where as over here, the bigger person is the one who is humble and stands there patiently for you to go through in front of them. And everyone calls you sir. It just feels... weird.. and it makes me feel uncomfortable for some reason...
I have also been 'blessed' so many times I thought my skin would have caught on fire by now! While we're both massive Atheists - we still appreciate the sentiment in the way it's given.
We managed to cross through into Pennsylvania today, but we also managed to clip West Virginia and Maryland on the way.
Megan seems to notice way more of the scenery when were riding then I do. I seem to 'mong out' on the interstate, my mind drifts away, I have made so many plans of stuff I have seen here that I want to try out when I get home. Building a bigger Offset smoker has taken up a lot of 'brain bandwidth'.... I've also made mental recipes of a lot of the food I have eaten over here that I've liked.
There is still so much stuff over here I want to buy and take home with me. Problem is sourcing it and carrying it on the bike. A second hand compound bow for example... how the fuck do you source, buy on credit card, and then pack that on the bike?
We're off to Williamstown tomorrow, up near Vermont.... apparently all the rich people from New York go there to look at the leaves in Autumn.
All happened by sleeping on it badly, but it's probably some sort of fatigue related problem as well. Megan hasn't had a good nights sleep the whole trip apparently, and our left over Russian Voltaren and a few Tylenol extra strength don't seem to help.
We left Harrisonburg late (9am) and arrived here at Allentown in Pennsylvania about 1pm. It was a straight shot with the customary fuel stop at the half mark, where I customarily have a diet coke and an Ice-cream sandwich, Megan has a full strength coke and a bite of my ice-cream!
It s still quite warm, but not nearly as hot or as muggy as it was further down south. I can't believe how far we have come in the last week or so. It just seems like yesterday we were at Rachel or Vegas in the Desert.
The trip seem to have lost a certain amount of luster (for me at least) since we decided to come home early. I just feel like we have missed out on so much, and now the riding is more a means to an end then rather than something I look forward to every day.
We didn't really have time to plan what we wanted to see on this leg of the trip, and I am kinda regretting not doing some more research on riding roads around here. There really is so much to see, and the US is a bikers paradise. Megan and I have already talked about what we would do if we had a chance to come back here one day and tour again, either on a motorbike or maybe.. just maybe.. A FUCKOFF HUGE F-350 FORD CREW CAB TRUCK WITH A 5TH WHEELER CARAVAN AND A TRAILER WITH QUADS ON IT AND SHIT!!!!! FUCK YEAH!!!! AND A GIANT COWBOY HAT AND FUCKING CAMO EVERYTHING!!!
(**deep breaths**)
man that was close... almost went full redneck...
Seriously though... the people down south have been so friendly, every time we stop at a service station, someone has had a chat to us, and they are so polite, even the kids say 'excuse me sir' etc and everyone holds the door for you. Its a real eyeopener, and makes you realise how utterly horrible the people back home are. Even people out on the street say good morning, reminds us of Switzerland where everyone said 'Morgen' or 'Grutzie' or whatever the local dialect was... such a shame people at home just don't do it.
Maybe there wouldn't be so much road rage if people where actually nice to each other. Back home if you hold the door for someone, they seem to look down on you, and barely say thank-you, as if you somehow weakened yourself by subjugating yourself to the role of a slave or something, as if you have assumed a servitude role, and thereby making the other person seem more important than you. Where as over here, the bigger person is the one who is humble and stands there patiently for you to go through in front of them. And everyone calls you sir. It just feels... weird.. and it makes me feel uncomfortable for some reason...
I have also been 'blessed' so many times I thought my skin would have caught on fire by now! While we're both massive Atheists - we still appreciate the sentiment in the way it's given.
We managed to cross through into Pennsylvania today, but we also managed to clip West Virginia and Maryland on the way.
Megan seems to notice way more of the scenery when were riding then I do. I seem to 'mong out' on the interstate, my mind drifts away, I have made so many plans of stuff I have seen here that I want to try out when I get home. Building a bigger Offset smoker has taken up a lot of 'brain bandwidth'.... I've also made mental recipes of a lot of the food I have eaten over here that I've liked.
There is still so much stuff over here I want to buy and take home with me. Problem is sourcing it and carrying it on the bike. A second hand compound bow for example... how the fuck do you source, buy on credit card, and then pack that on the bike?
We're off to Williamstown tomorrow, up near Vermont.... apparently all the rich people from New York go there to look at the leaves in Autumn.
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| Current track log from the GPS |
Offset smoker for the win!
ReplyDeleteWe felt the same on our trip - it was only 3 weeks, but the best time of it for me was the driving portion of the trip; just taking the time to pull over and check shit out, just because you can. ;)
That's the thing - you have to make yourself pull over - so many times I have just ridden past stuff and thought - I really should have stopped and checked that out :)
DeleteShame you weren't able to hook down to New Orleans...would love to see that place.
ReplyDeleteOriginally planned to go all the way down to Port Fourchon... bloody dog...
DeleteThanks for the Map Brosious - you both have been doing some serious riding. If you drop by a Walmart & go to the pharmacy, just ask what is best to take for Megs shoulder pain & they will recommend stuff on the shelf that would be Chemist only stock here. Should help her out. Try to make it to the Canadian side of Niagra - fewer people and better view. if not, Stephen Kings house is in Main & there should be some native american stops worth checking out for an hour or two close to the main roads above New York/Buffalo area. Crap that you didn't get to see all you want. Maybe you'll have to Road trip it with the Bennett clan in a Suburban with a trailer. A bit slower but you get to stay in a way cleaner bed you have in tow. Would get to see more & my bro would let you shoot his guns.
ReplyDeleteBangor had been on the list since we started planning, Mr King is Megan's favourite Author since she was a teenager, hiding under the covers from the clown in the storm water drain :)
DeleteThanks for the tip about Walmart - didn't think of that. we have already stocked up on antibiotic cream, and pain killers with sedatives in them :) a few of those and a Jack Daniels should make the flight home a bit quicker :P
OMG. Tackle that bastard and bring him home in a backpack or something. We can keep him at the farm "Misery" style while he pumps out novels for our reading (and financial) pleasure ;) Did you hear that the Dark Tower movies are happening - release is Jan 2017!!
ReplyDeleteDeep Heat (or US equivalent) for Meg's shoulder? (works for my back sometimes...)
BTW - is your bike the BMW R1200 GS? (I can never remember)
ReplyDeleteyep its a R1200GS, but not the adventure model.
DeleteFriggin google stuffing up my communts on this thing. Funny that this comment thread should be all about King. I headed in to say you were almost in king country. And the interweb pics of williamstown look just like it. I guess you get it the whole way up through there though
ReplyDelete