True to form things don’t go smoothly and I pick the only taxi driver in Newark who doesn’t know where he’s going and who‘s forgotten his Sat Nav. After suggesting on a number of occasions that he’s going the wrong way he admits defeat and I navigate for him and eventually find the office. I don’t get charged for the sightseeing trip so I don’t mind too much.
US Customs is a painless experience. Harry goes through my papers and identifies that I’m missing the bike’s arrival notice from 2wGlobal and as such can’t sign off the necessary importation forms. The look of horror and sheer disbelief works its magic and after a quick call the port office faxes through the paperwork which Harry is happy to sign off on. After a handshake I’m in and out in 10 minutes flat.
I was very naughty and got away with it this time due in the main to Harry. I knew I should have gone to the port office first but skipped it and hoped I‘d get away with it which I did. America does not have bureaucratic red tape, it‘s all coloured crimson. There is no flexibility in any process. You do it right and to the letter or not at all....I was very fortunate.
Another taxi ride and I’m at 2wGlobal in Doremus Avenue where they remove the princely sum of $95 from my back pocket. After sign off again it only takes 10 minutes and the bike is back in my possession. There is not a mark on it and it fires up first time. It takes about 15 minutes to get back to the hotel after working out the somewhat confusing road system around the airport however I’m packed and ready to go by 1 p.m.
By now its very humid and getting worse by the minute with the morning sun being replaced by a threatening sky. I know I have to be out of New York soon as I-95 will be gridlocked in another hour. Time to go……..
Well are you ready?
Well are you ready?At the toll I pick the only booth that’s run out of tickets so its off the bike and a quick visit to the office where I get one. From here it’s I-95 North along the turnpike towards the George Washington bridge.
I move along at a reasonable pace with good traffic. The weather is closing in and New York City to my right glimmers in what is left of a pocket of sunshine with the Empire State rising majestically to the skies.
As I approach the ’GW’ the sun has gone and it’s starting to rain. It is however boiling hot and the increased volume of traffic perpetuates the ever rising humidity.
New York is now clouded in mist and fog. I was going to take a detour into the city for you and take a few snaps but with things as they are I will leave that until my return journey. Promise…
The ‘GW’ is a two tiered bridge and is meant to be an expressway. I think they fibbed. According to the truck driver across from me its been like this since 7 this morning and there is now an accident on the span. Never mind. Here are a few pics that I managed to snap. The rain doesn’t help but c’est la vie…
When at a standstill the movement of the bridge can be most unnerving. It doesn’t so much sway or undulate but the span moves violently underneath you. It’s like a choppy sea crossing. With a fully laden bike plus fat boy slim riding it requires both feet on the tarmac. Sitting here also gives me the opportunity to see the bridge up close. I’m no engineer but it’s a hell of a structure.
It takes about 15 minutes to cross the bridge and by this time I’m so hot my underwear is in danger of spontaneous combustion. Fortunately the traffic eases and I get a little more air.
I’ve ridden this route before however I can’t recall the surface ever being this bad. It is quite honestly atrocious. This is the good bit and even this has no top surface. It’s like riding on the layer that they uncover before they re-tarmac the roads back home. They’ve just never come back to finish it. It just gets worse. By the time I hit the New York State toll it ceases to be a highway as such and resembles the surface of the moon. It‘s also hammering down with rain and the spray coupled with the surface does not make a happy combo. The flash flooding makes it difficult to read the surface due to the spatial voids that litter this road now being full of water.
The highway deteriorates further. They even have huge metal plates attached to the surface to cover up the holes Those of you who don’t ride bikes just imagine an ice rink and you’ll get an idea of the grip levels available.
By the time I cross into Connecticut I take a detour into Greenwich.. The camera is on a handlebar mount and is getting soaked (not waterproof) and I need to get the rain cover on the tank bag before it soaks the contents including my laptop.
Yes they did forecast a chance of a shower however I don’t believe they meant this. Hard to tell with the picture but trust me the rain is coming down in buckets...and no I don't know why its all being underlined either...ggrrrrrr
Greenwich is a bit posh. You can tell because in the centre of town there is not a chain restaurant in sight, only a Starbucks. Far too well heeled for that. The Rolls Royce, Maybach and Bentley dealers aren‘t the usual high street affair either. It is a pretty place though even when it’s half submerged.
Purdy ain' t it....
Purdy ain' t it....
Greenwich town hall. This is just the entrance. I ride a few of the residential streets for a bit of a nose. The houses are fantastic. It is a beautiful place. I’m told later that Greenwich is one of the richest towns, not only in the state, but in America.
I eventually find a Maccy D’s out on the outskirts where I decide to sit out the rain for an hour and dry out my kit. Good job as the camera is soaked and water has already started to leak into the battery compartment so it gets a good clean and wipe down. Ordering coffee is an experience. The young girl can‘t understand a word. I have to speak reallllllly sllllooowwwlllyyyyyyyy so she can work out what I want. After a fit of giggles from the rest of the crew I get my coffee.
I catch up with home whilst I sit there where they take pleasure in telling me it’s been 24C and 10 hours of unbroken sunshine. I can hear the laughter in the backgound. They offer to send me a brolly. I won‘t tell you what my reply was.
By 4 pm there is a break in the weather and I decide to go for it. I pack everything away including the camera so no more pics I’m afraid. I-95 is now gridlocked and it’s a slow crawl on and off for the next 30 miles. Despite the black, menacing skies I only get hit with light rain showers for the rest of the journey so the decision to stop earlier was undoubtedly the right one.
I get through Bridgeport, Milford, Yale and the outskirts of New Haven where a lot of traffic runs into I-81 and for the next 20 minutes I’m able to catch up a little lost time. Speeding…moi…nooooooooooooooooo
I arrive at Bri and Dee’s home around 7pm. I’m greeted like a long lost friend. After 10 minutes it’s like I’ve never been away. They even have tea for me! Unfortunately it’s all that flavoured stuff but the lemon ginger wasn’t half bad.
After a shower they go for Pizza as it’s kinda late by now to go out. Dee comes back with two Pizzas the size of dustbin lids. They bought me some Old Speckled Hen tinnies too and she’s been to the store and bought me some old English tea to carry with me on my trip. Friends like these are hard to find.
By 10.30 I’m bushed and I'm off to bed. It is so quiet here and with all the woodland that abounds here I half expect bigfoot to come waltzing up the drive. Today wasn’t too bad. I knew the weather had been poor here before I arrived and the forecast is much the same for the next few days. To be honest I don’t really care. It’s all part of the adventure right…….Journey today 262 Miles
See you tomorrow
PS Don't forget you can click on any of the photos to enlarge them.
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