Sunday, September 02, 2001
I guess it was worth it?
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| Toms army base | Niagara Falls map | Horseshoe Falls American side | Horseshoe Falls Canadian side | American and Horseshoe Canadian |
...first pic is of the abandoned WWII army base where Tom lives. Looked like a really fun place to play as a kid, wish I'd'a had one! Tom said there's all kinds of interesting stuff you happen upon out in the woods around his house so I figured I'd get a picture of what was left of the base proper.
Then I headed off toward Niagra Falls. I swear, ALL the roads out here are excellent motorcycle riding, didn't even bother to take a picture, they're starting to look the same. Cold day today and stopped after about an hour to put on warmer clothes and eat some and tank up. Next tank was just inside NY and asked a biker there about the helmet laws and he said better have a lid on or they'll take your bike! That'd kinda suck, after all this! He said the one I have with me would pass, so long as it was a lid.
I dunno about NY yet, getting kinda bad vibes from it: Hilliary country here, ya know.
Made it to Buffalo in pretty good time but then the map kinda failed me and boy could I make it to Niagra Falls a lot quicker now that I've scoped it out. Finally got to the American side around 7p and found a good picture spot for a $5 parking fee. Sorta impressive. Everyone told me I really needed to see it from the Canadian side so I headed there next, too bad I didn't look at the freaking map I took a picture of: I'd'a been there at least 1/2 hour sooner and still had daylight to take the pics. Oh well. My first response to finally seeing the falls from that side was AWESOME! Instead of looking over the edge watching it fall from the American side, the Canadian side gives a full monte of the whole deal. Awesome. Too bad I could only get the after dark pics, they really don't do it justice. Interesting that it doesn't take much of a change in the wind direction to have a nice shower happening from all the mist. Triksie liked it because then I could wipe off 2 days accumulation of bugs and road dirt!
Had tried to get in touch with a couple of friends from (my old!) work that live around Toronto on Friday by e-mail but no response although did manage to track one down and get hold of him at my last gas stop but by the time I farted around trying to figure out where I was going and getting the pics I wanted it was so late it didn't make sense to go on to Toronto for a visit. Shucks, that'd'a been another good time!
Not such a bright time to go see Niagra Falls on Labor Day weekend - I think I almost finished off Triksie's clutch trying to get back into the US, worse than the freaking traffic jam I ran into coming into Columbus the night before the high school reunion. Finally got back to Buffalo around midnight and no motels to be found so just kept going east and stopped at the first one I found (Hampton Inn, you just know it ain't gonna be cheap). Getting off Triksie I watched at least 2 different cars stop, go in, then leave. Not a good sign for room availability. Saw a lady come out to burn a cigarette so I went over to finish mine and get the scoop and turned out she was the one running the desk this night and said it was full. Shit. Told her I was about beat, went to the Falls for having come this far east to go to the high school reunion and she offered that there were a couple of rooms reserved for some airline people but they were supposed to show up long ago and never did so she was willing to take a chance on them not showing and gave me a room (for only $93?)! I'm tellin' ya, it really pays to be a smoker! (Almost as much as being a biker!) After I unloaded Triksie and was bringing my load in she gave me an ashtray and said it was a non-smoking room. I'll be discreet...
Tuesday, September 04, 2001
didn't make it to NYC
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| NY 63 east | Triksie at Olyphant, PA Mid-Valley Motel | room at motel | bathroom at motel | b-room door off the hinges at motel |
...woke up before 7a and decided I deserved a snooze and it ended up being a long one so guess I needed it and finally got up at 830a. Made good time getting ready and checked out not long after noon. My keyboard took a hike on me just after I sent off the Niagra Falls pics this morning and I'm thinking maybe the computer is a girl and gets too excited riding in my clothes bag on the passenger seat? The girls who've ridden on the passenger seat will know what I mean. Put it in the trunk and when I got it out tonight it worked for awhile then spazed so took it apart and reseated the ribbon cable for the keyboard and seems to be working fine now. Computer is gonna ride in the trunk from now on!
Fiddled around cleaning the Falls off Triksie and figuring out why one of her front running lights quit working (burnt bulb, although it did come on as I rode through PA tonight!) and retarded the timing a little more for she's still making funny noises (the carb job I did at Tom's made her happier but still the same engine noise at cruise). She's running better than ever, maybe this trip will be like a dyno tune-up, using the US as a dyno?
Finally got on the road around 2p and rode the tank out. They've got freaking toll roads out here you need to have change for and all my motorcycle buddies will know what a hassle that is, fishing for change when you're all suited up. Got off that and got gas and took secondary roads the rest of the day. Ended up being a straighter route toward NYC and a lot more fun but still didn't make it like I had wanted to. Pooped out in Scranton, PA (actually Olyphant, on Rte 6, the Carbondale Hwy according to the motel receipt). Gotta figure out exactly where in the hell I am tomorrow so I can get to see the Statue of Liberty before too late. Got some good directions from my NYC friend Dan so at least once I get there I'll sorta know where I'm going. Might have to write directions on my hand so I can remember the directions!
Went through two Wyoming Counties today, one in NY and one in PA; wonder where that name came from?
First pic is NY 63 as I remember, headed east, toward the Atlantic!
Great gas stop, kinda got scared 'cause I had forgotten to turn it off reserve after the last fill up but ended up at a station within rolling distance of a drugstore (ran outta supplies, hadn't planned on being out on this excursion so long!), a McDonald's (double quarter pounder, please!) and a bank with a drive through ATM (drove trhe wheelchair through!). Also retarded Triksie's timing some more, got it twisted as far as it'll go and *still* not sounding right. Guess she'll let me know what's going on sooner or later, be interesting to see how she runs back west.
This motel is my kinda place, although a little overpriced at $40. Had to take the hinge off the bathroom door to get in but it's plenty big after that! Tried hooking up to the internet but you can only dial 800 numbers, not 877 like I need to; should'a brought the cable for my cell phone with me! The proprietor looks like an Indian guy, had a plexiglass cage all around the desk you had to talk to him through; probably from NY.
The cows in NY seem to stink worse than other states. Maybe it's just me. The only motorcyclists that wave at each other are from out of state and nobody even looks at you, much less talks to you. I look forward to getting back to GW country. Stopped just inside PA and was sitting outside a convenience store burning a cig and looking at a map to make sure I didn't miss my turn and a lady came out and asked if I was just taking a break or if I needed directions! Wouldn't'a happened in NY...