Days 1 - 3

I doubt everyone wants the gory details, but here's my (not so) brief account of my cross county adventure.

I should preface this report by stating that this whole thing came together in about 2 weeks time, and with much help from my awesome girlfriend, Karisha. On little more than a whim, I agreed to purchase my buddy Marc's VFR, and purchased a ticket to Newark airport, arriving Friday May 8th.

Of course, I threw my back out the Wednesday prior to leaving, and as of the day before, it wasn't much better; I was barely able to stand up straight, let alone walk very well. ...but what the hell, I had a ticket, so it was one-last-shot at the chiropractor Friday on the way to LAX (ahhh, that felt good). Amazingly, the flight did nothing to further aggravate my back.

Friday night, after a full day of traveling and layovers, I arrived, and was whisked away by Marc in the family-mobile. A short stop for a bar burger and a couple tasty beers, and I was done for the night.

...off to Marc's for a shower and a good night's sleep.

In the am, after a quick breakfast, it was out to the bike. Tearing off the seat and side panel, I began to wire in the heated grips I had brought along.

...ignore the goofy face.

I also installed a new power lead for my GPS, and gave the bike a quick once-over. Then it was time to get cleaned up, and go for a shakedown run into the city for some pizza and to see the new Star

Trek movie. I can't tell you what great hosts the Sirys are, but not only did Marc treat me to a great night out on the town,, but his wife, despite being due at any minute (ok, a couple weeks) let him go. The pizza was very good (not comparable to Chicago pizza, too different, but delicious all the same), then off to the movie.

Afterwords we made a quick stop at Times Square so Marc could snap an i Phone pic of me to kick off my trip:

Then back to Casa Siry for another shower and some sleep.

In the morning, I got a bit of a late start getting packed up, but Marc offered me up some delicious French toast, and then we set off for a bimble around the local area. Marc saddled up the VFR for one last time, and gave me the keys to his 148 mile old Triumph. He showed me around the beautiful areas near his house (I wish we would have stopped, at one particular overlook, for photos). Then he led me to my launching point for the big ride, complete with handwritten directions on how to get to, and follow, the Delaware River.

I stopped before getting to the river to make some Mother's Day calls, including one to my Mom telling her to keep an eye out for a delivery I had sent. Since it was a Sunday, I said, it would most likely arrive Monday.

Then it was up to the river on State Route 97, which was a beautiful route.

I just had to stop for a few photos of Roebling's Bridge and Aqueduct.

Along the way, there was a stunning waterfall, about 80' high, which flowed under the road, and into the Delaware.

New York, as it turns out, is full of picturesque scenery, and I found I just had to stop again just north of Amish country for a scenic photo:

After picking my way north through the countryside, I found myself at the 90 freeway and jumping on to make some time to Niagara Falls. I arrived after dark, but the park was still open (it closed while I was there). I tried getting a few photos, but the lower observation platform was closed, and the falls face away from the US. ...not to mention it was in the 30s, and very wet with spray from the falls.

...does it look cold?

...it was!!!

From Niagara I got back on the freeway (after riding around the, now closed, gate) and made my way into Pennsylvania. By the time I stopped for the night, it was already 1am, and I was spent. Luckily, to keep me on schedule, the hotel put me in a room where there would be construction at 7am, so after a whopping 5 hours of sleep, I awoke to the sound of pounding on the walls of my room from the outside. ...lovely! I gave the front desk a piece of my mind I was back on the bike, and back on the freeway. ...I've seen Ohio, Indiana, and Chicago ...there's not much of a scenic route until you get into the city, and Chicago at 4pm (which is when I crossed the Skyway) is no time for sightseeing. I was stuck in traffic for about an hour before I hit clear freeway out to Rockford, IL; then south to Byron where my folks live.

I rode around the block so as not to get the dogs barking (they always bark at vehicles turning up the street) and killed the bike, rolling in quietly. I took off my helmet, got out my camera, and called my Mom. When she answered I asked if she'd had a delivery. She says "Nope, nothing came today." so I replies that I had just gotten a delivery confirmation, and she should go check ...I'd wait on the phone. After looking on the front porch, and not noticing my standing in the driveway, she tells me she'll go check out by the garage. So I'm standing there with a camera to my face, and my phone on my shoulder when I hear her say "Now who the hell is standing in our driv... OH!"

...priceless!!!

My Dad was out fishing with his buddy, Ron, so I got to surprise him separately when they showed up about an hour later. The look on his face will put a smile on my face for years to come.

Once my folks and Ron had a chance to get cleaned up, I took them all out for a dinner of BBQ and drinks. A spendy night, but totally worth it.

Day 3 was spent visiting with my folks, and seeing my Brother, Dan, and his 3yo son Aaron, and 5 month old Jake:

We enjoyed some Giordano's pizza and caught up while watching the Cubs destroy San Diego, before I said goodbye, and headed back to the folks for my last night at home.