Friday, September 21, 2007

Road Trip: The Long Voyage Home



I decided to leave before Labor Day, wanting very badly to get back home to the things and people I love, despite having a great time with friends and family on the trip. The last time I went home on the bike, I rode straight back from Victor, NY, to St. Louis, MO, in a single day, and swore I would never do it again. However, common sense once again was thrown out the window, and I decided to do it again.

Starting out in Penn Yan was interesting. I froze during the first 100 miles, as it was in the lower 40’s when I left at 6:30am. Later that day, in Ohio, I was roasted under a sweltering 95 degrees of sunshine. By the time I made it back into central Illinois, it was once again dipping into the 50's. Not bad, except that I had my jacket strapped to the bike and didn't feel like taking the time to stop somewhere to put it on. So, I just shivered.

Not a whole lot of scenic photos on this ride. I just wanted to get back home. I made the obligatory stops at the state lines. No pics of arrival. I was too tired to think at that point. I was pleased to note that Ohio was the only state kind enough to thank you when you were leaving. How very thoughtful!

One other thing... the strange-looking package strapped to the back of the Tour-Pak is a 3/4-size acoustic travel guitar that I acquired while up in NY. The thought of being gone two weeks or more without a guitar was more than I could bear, so I replaced my long-lost Baby Taylor with a cute little cedar-topped Alvarez.

Click here to see the pictures!

Useless GPS Stats:
Miles today: 868 (ouch)
Top Speed: 92.7
Moving Time: 12:43
Moving Average Speed: 68.1
Overall Average Speed: 56.1

Cumulative Useless GPS Stats:
Miles total: 2026
Moving Time: 31 hours, 36 minutes

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Road Trip: Keuka Lake


My last full day in New York found me at the family lake house at Keuka Lake, which is one of the Finger Lakes. We took the boat to a bar for my first whiskey sour. I got a chance to get on the Hobie 16’ Cat with my Uncle Terry, as well as take out the kayak for a little paddling. The weather was perfect at around 75 deg F. Being Labor Day Weekend, there were more fireworks late that evening, but only after I went to bed the second night. I had a long ride ahead, and needed the rest. Click here for the photos!