[ST] Ride report Part 2 of 2 (Long)

[Steve Lawler <slawler@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The next morning I looked out the window to a see a heavy fog and rain. 
After breakfast I put on the rain gear and checked out. It wasn't 
raining as I walked out the door but by time I saddled up it started again.

Back at Branchville they gave us a pre-ride briefing. One of the things 
that was pointed out was watching for vehicles that want to enter or 
exit the highway. We were told to not block them, let them do their 
thing and then regroup. Sounded reasonable to me. I've seen the 
aftermath of what happens when 2500 pounds of steel meets 500 pounds of 
aluminum and plastic. The other issue was the vague directions. We were 
to exit at SH-312 (CT, NY, or PA? North, south, east, or west?) Connect 
with US-6 then SH-17 (Which state?) back to I-84. Gas up at exit 1 
(Which state?) Then I-84 to I-81 to SH-61 to Port Clinton.

A light drizzle was falling. We secured our helmets, saddled up and 
headed out. Mike Vaughn led the "parade." I was sixth in line. As we 
wound our way north on US-7 I thought that it was so cool to be a part 
of history. Then we approached I-84W.

Being quite familiar with the idiosyncrasies of that interchange I was 
wondering, "When the heck is he going to change lanes?" The suspense was 
killing me so I made the first move and then the riders ahead made 
theirs. OK. Not to bad for a bunch of bikes at the first interchange.

A short time later near the NY-CT border a pick-up truck came down an 
entrance ramp ahead of us. The front end of the parade was in the left 
lane and truck easily made its entrance. The first five bikes passed the 
pick-up and moved into the right lane in front of him. Following the 
advice at the briefing and my own common sense I held back so that the 
fellow could easily move into the left lane in front of me and pass us. 
  Suddenly the number 5 rider started braking. The pick-up truck hits 
his brakes and then number 5 waves the group to move ahead. I'm 
thinking, "How freakin' stupid is that maneuver?" Not only did he almost 
get himself hit, but in one application of the brakes he managed to 
irritate the heck out of the pick-up driver, me and who knows how many 
others riders that witness his foolishness.

We soon come upon NY-312 and head for US-6. A few riders head off on 
their own way. As we travel along 6 the rain gets heavy at times. By the 
time we cross the Hudson, the rain has stopped and the roads are drying 
up. A few twisties along the way then onto NY-17 (a slab) to I-84. At 
one point a gentleman on an older Meriden Triumph overshoots the head of 
the parade and the exit ramp forcing him to cut through some gravel to 
rejoin us. As I witness this I'm happy to know what fantastic brakes the 
Hinckley's have.

At the last exit in NY we stop to gas up. By now the sun is shining and 
the roads are dry. My rain suit, that I bought for $20 at EMS ten years 
ago, has kept me bone dry (except for the sweat. The next day I rip it 
on my way to work.) Everyone starts to pack up their rain gear.

A few of the riders invited me to take back roads to Port Clinton. Part 
of me wants to be piece of history but the older and wiser part of me 
has seen enough nonsense for one day. There would be only six in our 
group. A good number. There is not always safety in numbers. In our 
group is Steve Kreckman and his BRG Trophy, the fellow from Chicago on 
his blue Trophy, Cindy(?) from NH on her orange RS, the black beret 
wearing, classic riding guy from Mystic, CT (British flag flying from 
his back rest), and Adam Zuckerman on his 'guzzi,

Our planned route is to head south on US-209. Not having a map or being 
familiar with the area I was completely at the whim of the other riders, 
which was fine with me. We ended up taking US-209 to Lehighton to PA-443 
to some great little back road to PA-845 to PA-61 to Hermy's. What a 
great route. We stopped for gas near Lehighton but the Blue Devil and 
its 5 gallon tank were averaging 54 mpg. I didn't need to top off. We 
got hit with a little bit of rain but not enough to make us stop and don 
our rain gear.

After we got to Hermy's we discover that we arrived only five minutes 
behind the parade. We were told that that they had to stop to put on 
their rain gear and the support truck got lost.

Hermy's was great. By my estimate about 200 people had turned out. Not 
just riders making the journey but several locals too! They had a 
bluegrass band playing in the parking lot. I popped in to check out the 
food and to my surprise they had pirogis, potato salad, and macaroni 
salad! They had a bunch of meat dishes too, but I didn't bother to 
notice what they were.

I met a few good people including Dean Martin from the Philly area. He 
made me feel like a long lost friend. Andy Kay introduced me to Floyd 
who lives in the Port Clinton area and is thinking about getting an ST.

I had to be at work Monday morning so I decided to head home soon. I 
made sure I said good-bye to all that I had met. I just wanted to get 
home quick so I decided to slab it home. I-78 to I-80 to I-280 to home. 
Adam Zuckerman was heading toward Philly and rode with me until I-476. 
There were lots of trucks plodding along on the interstate until I got 
past Bethlehem. From there I was able to fly home.

What a great weekend. Too bad I had to be at work on Monday. I wore my 
new TAA t-shirt with pride.

Monday night I went out for drinks with a friend after work. I left the 
Blue Devil in the shop and took the bus home. As I'm stepping off the 
bus about a hundred yards from my door I hear this voice. "Hey. You ride 
a Triumph?" It turns out to be a guy that lives four houses away from me 
and rides a new Bonny. I had seen the bike but we had never met.

Pictures are posted at:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/slawler/TAA/TAA.html

- -- 
Steve Lawler

2001 Sprint ST "Blue Devil"

"The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."
             -- Walter Bagehot


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