The day has finally arrived! all the planning, the spending, the anticipation would be brought to fruition. I would go to Cherry hill! I would buy this Mean Machine and I would pilot it all the way back to San Diego!
While contemplating my route back home on the back of a Soutwest airlines cocktail napkin complete with highly detailed map of the U.S., I felt a sickness deep in my stomach like I had made a hasty descision coming here.
My feeling was confirmed by My new Single serving friend (temporary friends you make on the airplane) Svetlana from central Russia, a striking young girl with Auburn red hair and pale blue eyes, she said in very broken english "I think that you are a craze"! I didn't take offense.
After landing I had a very helpul cabbie from Philly explain the ins and outs of where to go and what to do, mostly what not to do. The advice I remembered most was to stay away from Camden!
I must have looked like a tourist who took a very wrong turn dragging my luggage through the front door of Cycle World New Jersey. One employee quipped "are you moving in there big guy"?
The employees all turned out to be more than helpful and were excited by the adventure I was about to partake in.
A Surley mechanic named Bo, while sucking on a Marlboro Red, gave me the super abridged version of which button and what lever did what on my new Honda. I didn't dare have him repeat anything so I just nodded like I knew exactly what he was talking about.
Donned with a decoratively painted helmet, an armored jacket, tank bag, tail bag, backpack and my sweaty, shaky grip on the handlebars I couldn't get the picture from my head of that monkey the Russians shot into space in the 60's to see if he could function in his new enviroment and more importantly come back alive.
While wheeling down the main New Jersey drag I quickly learned Jersey motorists are not the most laid back in the coutry and u-turns are punishable by death! so as I saw my hotel dissapear over my left shoulder I had to continue straight another 5 miles to turn back.
Tonight, In the safety of my hotel room I think that the worst might be over, even though the day was entertaining, the learning curve will straighten out and I will break this machine and make her mine.
Tomorrow I head straight to Virginia Beach
While contemplating my route back home on the back of a Soutwest airlines cocktail napkin complete with highly detailed map of the U.S., I felt a sickness deep in my stomach like I had made a hasty descision coming here.
My feeling was confirmed by My new Single serving friend (temporary friends you make on the airplane) Svetlana from central Russia, a striking young girl with Auburn red hair and pale blue eyes, she said in very broken english "I think that you are a craze"! I didn't take offense.
After landing I had a very helpul cabbie from Philly explain the ins and outs of where to go and what to do, mostly what not to do. The advice I remembered most was to stay away from Camden!
I must have looked like a tourist who took a very wrong turn dragging my luggage through the front door of Cycle World New Jersey. One employee quipped "are you moving in there big guy"?
The employees all turned out to be more than helpful and were excited by the adventure I was about to partake in.
A Surley mechanic named Bo, while sucking on a Marlboro Red, gave me the super abridged version of which button and what lever did what on my new Honda. I didn't dare have him repeat anything so I just nodded like I knew exactly what he was talking about.
Donned with a decoratively painted helmet, an armored jacket, tank bag, tail bag, backpack and my sweaty, shaky grip on the handlebars I couldn't get the picture from my head of that monkey the Russians shot into space in the 60's to see if he could function in his new enviroment and more importantly come back alive.
While wheeling down the main New Jersey drag I quickly learned Jersey motorists are not the most laid back in the coutry and u-turns are punishable by death! so as I saw my hotel dissapear over my left shoulder I had to continue straight another 5 miles to turn back.
Tonight, In the safety of my hotel room I think that the worst might be over, even though the day was entertaining, the learning curve will straighten out and I will break this machine and make her mine.
Tomorrow I head straight to Virginia Beach
7 comments:
Hey Kevin, sweet ride! I can't wait to check this space for updates on your adventure. Keep that mean baby toit between your legs! Aii, Dean
Kev,
Glad you made it! Drive safe. Looking forward to the summary of your adventure tomorrow.
Scott
Great idea for an adventure. That machine looks scary fast by the way. Keep those updates coming so I'll have something to distract me while I'm sitting at my computer at work (like I don't find enough of those already).
Z
Do you have raingear?!?!! And maybe some heated gear too!?!!? And eat your vegetables, because I said so!.....glad you made it! Be sure to get t-shirts wherever you go.....and those strange gas stations and truck stops along the way are killer for the journey..enjoy the ride!
Good morning Babe!!!! You look like a natural on your new beautiful bike! Post pics of different angles if you can! Were you hot in all your gear? HAve a blast today and GO SEE CAMDEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love me
Go get 'em Kevin. Let me know when you get back we'll go riding. I have a triumph thruxton - be fun to hit the hills. Cheers - Warner
Hi Baby bro, I'm really proud of you!I'm really impressed by your writing skills.Scott and I are having a blast, wish you were here! To bad your hand is brocken and you can't use your phone!!!!! Scott would really like to say hello. And he wants you to stop by and see him through Texas. Love you, and take good care of yourself!!
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