Driving in Rain to Hillbilly Hall

CT Bears in Hopewell, from left: Grumpy, Captain and Pogy.

Polar Bear Motorcycle Blog, Polar Bear Grand Tour, ride drive to Hillbilly Hall, Hopewell, NJ, Nov. 24, 2019

By: Chris Loynd
Photos by: Grumpy

A few of our guys braved some solid and steady rain – in their car to have some lunch and sign-in. I did not join them, it was my wife Cynthia's birthday. I don't have anything more from my guys than the photos below.

Cynthia celebrated with a 5-mile run in Waterbury and then lunch at a nearby winery joined by her children and their significant others, Annie's husband Sean and Trever's finance Kenzie.

Lost and Found Polar Bear Vest

CT Bears in Vineland, after breakfast, from left, Marco, Fonz, Grumpy, Pogy, Captain, Anonymous Ed and CT Blogger.

Polar Bear Motorcycle Blog, Polar Bear Grand Tour, ride to 5 Points Inn, Vineland, NJ, Nov. 17, 2019.

By: Chris Loynd
Photos By: Grumpy, CT Blogger, Bernie Walsh, Gary Rosen

Our guys left for Vineland with an Early Departure Protocol (EDP). The idea, especially on these longer rides, is to get there early, eat and then sign in at 11:30. Fortunately DeThomassi's was on point with a beautiful buffet breakfast. Our guys made really good time, so by the time I showed up they were already done with breakfast and waiting for sign in.

I say "our guys" because I went down the day before to spend a bit of time with my folks in nearby Wilmington, Del. I did not at all mind that when I showed up at 11:15 everyone was done with their meal. Mom had already treated me to a delicious scrapple breakfast before I set off on the just-over-an-hour ride to Vineland.

At sign-in, Grumpy told our Flight B Leaders Joan and Amy the amazing story of his disappearing – reappearing polar bear vest. He'd lost it on his drive to Daytona last March. He was packing his truck and loading his bike and accidentally left his vest on the truck then drove off. He recreated his vest by ordering a new embroidered vest and then working with our Flight B leaders to get replacements for every patch and pin. Polar Bear Chairman Bob Hartpence even had to find a couple from his archives at home.

Then this summer I saw a Facebook post in a Connecticut motorcycle group. It was Grumpy's vest, found along the walkway on an expressway bridge near Grumpy's home. It must have flown off when he accelerated down the on ramp. As soon as I saw the post I drove out to retrieve the vest and gave Grumpy a call. It was dirty and a bit worse for wear. But it was his original. He cleaned it up as best he could, moved over some of his replacement pins for ones lost from the original and is wearing it again today.

After hearing this amazing story, Amy said, "Well then, give me my s**t back!" I laughed until I cried.

Our Flight B Leaders. Amy, left, "Give me my s**t back!" Grumpy, center, and his recovered vest. Joan, right.

I made it in time for a cup of coffee before sign in. All our other CT Bears were breakfasted and done.

Left Turns an Anathema to New Jersians

CT Bears in Bridgewater, from left: Grumpy, CT Blogger, John J., Captain, Marco and down front Pogy.
Fonz had to leave early and missed the group photo.

Polar Bear Motorcycle Blog, Polar Bear Grand Tour, ride to The Eagles, Bridgewater, NJ, Nov. 10, 2019

By: Chris Loynd
Photos by: Grumpy

Due to a nor'easter our opening week, this Sunday's ride was our second of the season. I offered to lead, for fun, perhaps, for a sense of tradition, certainly. My first Polar Bear ride was 2002. I rode alone to the Poconos and back. Over the years I invited others from Connecticut to join me. Some took to winter riding. Others dropped out after a season or two. Some made most of the rides, others only occasionally.

I remember being so uncertain. After all, I'd started riding motorcycles just 6 months earlier. I had only a pair of electric gloves on that first ride. Lots of layers got me through the first few rides. Eventually I added an electric jacket liner. I rode that way for years. Nowadays, I use a full electric suit, socks, pants liner, jacket liner and gloves. Just because it's winter doesn't mean I like to be cold.

Marco is a new Polar Bear and I guess he liked his first ride. He was riding with electric jacket and gloves borrowed from Pogy. Captain, who eschews electrics, complained Marco was too soon indoctrinated.

Marco signed up for the Grand Tour on this, his first ride. Bob Hartpence, Polar Bear Chieftain, joked he wouldn't have let Marco had he known he was with the Connecticut clan.

Our ride down was uneventful. As lead bike, your wingman is most important. If your second rider doesn't stay with you, he, not the lead bike, becomes the defect lead. That makes it difficult to time passes and lane changes.

I had Captain beside me, at least for most of the ride. A few times he dropped back, far back. Usually he rides so tight you can feel him. When I asked him at The Eagles, he said, "I know. I only dozed off a time or two." He stayed closer on the ride home.

We reached the destination needing gas There's a station just as we made the final turn. But Grumpy told me from experience that it was a disaster. Once entered the only departure option was a right turn and a long distance until we could come about. New Jersey has an unnatural fear of left turns. Often they employ the "jug handle" where you make a right turn, loop around to a traffic light where you can finally go left.

Grumpy assured me if I simply went back the way we came, using the traffic light where we entered to make a left and then staying straight on that road, we would encounter a gas station on the proper side of the road and soon thereafter I-287. But I blew the first turn.

Following my GPS, I went a road farther south before turning. We did find gas. Then I rode past the I-287 entrance. Again, I was fooled by my GPS. No excuse for it.

We'd actually had a discussion at lunch about how your GPS will always try to put you across the George Washington Bridge and onto the dreaded Cross Bronx Expressway. To our minds that's never a good option on the return trip. Having missed Grumpy's direction, I kinda knew where I was, but my GPS egged me on by pointing to the dang GW Bridge. When I realized its evil deception, it was too late, especially with a line of bikes behind me.

Now completely off course, I used only my innate sense of direction to ride through some local suburbs, looping back to get yet another bite at the I-287 entrance ramp.

Once sorted, the rest of the ride home went pretty well. Maybe I'll ask Grumpy to lead this one next year.

Even with electric undergarments, I still bundle up. Here I am delayering for lunch.

John J., left, looks on as this week's ride leader Chris, middle, checks on his wingman's, Captain, right, well being.

Pogy, left and Fonz, center with new Polar Bear Marco, right.

Pogy and CT Blogger at the back of the line.

Sign in.

Chris and Pogy and lunch.

Bob pic of the week.

Long Ride for Old Guys

Connecticut Polar Bears in Lewes, Del,, from left: CT Blogger, Grumpy, John J. and Mac.

EDP Connecticut Bears in Lewes, Del., from left, Fonz and Anonymous Ed.

Polar Bear Motorcycle Blog, Polar Bear Grand Tour, ride to Irish Eyes Pub, Lewes, Del., November 3, 2019.

By: Chris Loynd
Photos by: Grumpy and Chris

Welcome to Polar Bear Season, 2019 – 2020. Our season always starts with two long rides, Cape May, N.J. and Lewes, Del. We had a nasty Nor'easter for Cape May and none of the Connecticut crowd was up to the long ride in the rain. Years ago we made our bones in the rain, riding a ridiculous Cape May run in the rain all the way. We saw DOT snowplow trucks on the Merritt Parkway clearing water off the roadway.

The Lewes weather was better, much better. I rode down on Saturday for a visit with my folks in Wilmington. It also lets me ride one-quarter the distance the day before. Lewes is 570 miles round trip for us. That's a good touring day, in the summer.

By the time we took our stop-at-the-top, the last rest stop on the Garden State Parkway, we were all feeling more than a bit sore. Many of the New Jersey bears take this ride in two days, staying at a hotel in Lewes Saturday night. We may be getting there too.

John J. seemed to be doing the best aboard his Beemer. (Or he just complained the least.) Mac was sore. That's double-tough because he comes farthest, with almost an hour of riding to our Stratford jumping off point.

Grumpy was feeling sore and had some back issues earlier in the year that didn't help.

I was on the Harley Springer. When I had the restoration done I let my builder talk me into beach bars. They look cool, yes. But I was getting a pain underneath my shoulder blade, I think in part from the spread of the bars. Great for looks, maybe not so much for touring.

Pogy decided it was just too far for his back and sat this one out.

Captain was ready to ride and showed up at the Dunkin' on his Honda Goldwing. But when it was time to leave, his voltage indicator showed the system wasn't charging. Despite his long standing reputation of having no fear of tow trucks, John decided to head home instead of risking it.

Fonz and Anonymous Ed applied EDP (Early Departure Protocol), leaving before 6 a.m. They ate at the diner in Lewes and then somehow talked the Grand Tour Flight B leaders into letting them sign in early. I caught them leaving just as I arrived around 11:10 a.m. The rest of our Connecticut crew showed up right on time.

We enjoyed a good lunch and caught up with each other and all decided we are happy to start the season.