Wet! Wet! Wet! and Google WAZE

CT Polar Bear rain riders, arriving at O'Connor's, from left: Fonz, Anonymous Ed, Pogy and Captain.
Photo thanks to Bernie Walsh.

Motorcycle Polar Bear Blog, Polar Bear Grand Tour, ride to O'Connor's American Bar & Grill, Eastampton, NJ, February 11, 2018.

Pogy's version:

All I can say about today's ride is WET!WET!WET!

Departure time was 0845 from Stratford. Ed, Fonz and the Captain picked me up in Darien with Fonz in the lead. The ride down to O'Connor's was uneventful except for the RAIN - got there at 1100. 
Got a table, lunch and back on the road a little after high noon.  Three out of 4 of us got rockers today.


The ride back was much more fun because it was RAINING harder and we came back over the GWB - Holy Crap!!! Nothing like a lot of flooding on the left hand side of the road. When we got to the break off for 15 / 95, the Captain and I went 95. Fonz and Ed went 15 - 95. Was clear and I got home at about 1500.

Nothing like a little wet to sharpen ones skill set.

Till next time
Ride safe
Pog

Fonz's version:

(Editor's note: for those who do not know, WAZE referred to in Fonz's report is Google's traffic and maps app that uses real time traffic reports from other app users to help find the best route and avoid traffic delays.)

O'Connor's ride report by FONZ, or WET Willie

 We ALL earned the PolarBear water patch for this ride.

 I can comfortably report that riding in the wintery mix last week was more pleasurable than the consistent downpour we experienced this week. Pogy called me on Saturday and asked me to lead which I gratuitously accepted. I did mention to Pogy that I was planning on following WAZE, which would probably take us in a different direction depending on traffic. He did not have a problem with following as long as we were safe.

I arrived at the gas station across the street from our departure location 0841hrs and fueled up. I'm usually pretty good at timing myself to either be right on time or just past the meet time, which forces me to do catch up. Either way, I do this on purpose because I don't like getting dressed, then undressed, only to get dressed again in a hurry. I noticed Ed had set himself up in line and Captain was waiting for me. As I pulled up he asked if I'd like to sweep. I replied that I was prepared to lead because Pogy had asked me the day before. Captain informed me that I better talk to Ed because he was leading. Instead of talking to Ed, I just took the lead spot and took off. Ed just jumped into formation trusting I knew where I was going and Captain became the sweep by default...no worries.(As you can see in the pic that Bernie took, Ed keeps it tight). Instead of flying by Pogy and forcing him to do catch up at his pick-up location, I got off at the rest stop to pick him up and we were all able to safely merge back onto the highway as one.

Too tight and too loose, our CT Bears arrive at O'Connors.

 According to WAZE, I95 to the Cross Bronx then to the GWB was the way to go. Once over the bridge, WAZE also decided to reroute us towards the Lincoln tunnel and then back onto the Jersey Turnpike. We arrived at O'Connor's at 1100hrs.

There was a some conversation as to my choice of route and the fact that its been a LOOOONG time since Captain has even traveled on the Cross Bronx Expressway. Ed was surprised how well paved it was compared to his previous experience, which was a few years ago. Pogy enjoyed the reroute towards the Lincoln Tunnel that gave us about 9 1/2 miles of smooth sailing until we merged back onto the NJ Turnpike.

Once at O'Connor's, we changed tables 2 times before we finally settled on the romantic table near the fireplace. We all strategically placed our gear around the fire in the hopes to dry it off before our ride back. Lunch was good. The LALALALA soup was delicious...you had to be there. Bob came by to greet us and give the guys some lip that they abandoned me last week. It turns out that we all had separate conversations and miscommunicated. Captain stated he would have come with me if I had called...my bad!  Prior to our departure, I asked the group of they wanted me to follow WAZE or just take the Garden State Parkway. It was decided to allow me to navigate using WAZE. The rain got heavier at times and our speeds reduced significantly. The first reroute occurred as soon as we got onto the turnpike. Instead of the cars only side, WAZE said the truck/cars side. As we were traveling North, I immediately noticed the traffic on our side was significantly less. We were able to maintain speed for quite some time before traffic got heavier due to the weather. At one point, WAZE had us get off the normal route, onto RT 40 or 46 (I forget) then back onto I95 again.

As we approached the GWB, I went lower level and lost sight of Captain and Pogy. Ed stuck with me the rest of the way. It turns out they decided to continue I95 the rest of the way, which added time to their overall ride. Our route was 87 to the Saw Mill to the Hutch. Pogy reported getting home at 1500hrs. It turns out that the WAZE route we took was faster. I live about 19 miles North of Pogy and I got home at 1453hrs. I later found out that I95 was shut down in Fairfield casing heaver traffic than usual. I usually don't know why this navigation is rerouting me but I usually follow. Today it worked to my advantage because it got me out the rain about a 1/2 hour early.

Pogy picked up his rocker on this ride.

Captain got his season rocker and his gold . . . of course.

As the biker tee shirt says, "If I have to explain it, you won't understand."

Why, Oh Why?

Connecticut Bears in Freehold, NJ. We decided to take the group picture inside because it was raining outside.
From left: Captain, Grumpy and CT Blogger.

Motorcycle Polar Bear Blog, Polar Bear Grand Tour, ride to Freehold, NJ, December 18, 2016.

By: Chris Loynd, a.k.a. CT Blogger

Rain was forecast, and came. The day before we had almost six inches of snow in Connecticut. Our two hour ride, one way, was 90 percent interstate highway. Even though the temperature would warm to 50 degrees or more, at 60 mph that's still cold enough to require winter riding layers. On top of my gear I still need to wear my rain suit to stay dry. I was Michelin Man and then some. And as I was putting all that crap on Sunday morning I had one thought. "Why?"

Well it was a chance to spend a day on my motorcycle with my friends.

Yeah, it's maybe better on a sunny and warm day on some winding back roads. But Sunday offered none of those opportunities. Sunday offered highway riding in the rain . . . with my friends . . . on my motorcycle.

Like the tee-shirt says, "If I Have to Explain It, You Wouldn't Understand."

When I first started handling marketing for a local motorcycle dealership, Bridgeport Harley-Davidson, I had a reporter visiting and he kept asking the same question of everyone in the dealership. He kept getting the same answer from everyone, me, the owner, the general manager, the sales director, but was not satisfied. His questions was, "What's so special about riding a motorcycle?" Our answer was, "You just have to ride to know."

There's the responsiveness. You feel much closer to your machine than in a car. There's the camaraderie. A connection with others found in most every sport. There's the heritage. Harley-Davidson takes that to legendary levels. It is a feeling. It gets inside you.

We got lucky on the ride down to The Cabin in Freehold, N.J. No rain! Not even drizzle. Roads were even dry here and there.

In Connecticut we started out in fog due to our snow cover and unseasonably warm air. It's a phenomenon called an advection ground fog.

My first experience with advection fog is a pretty funny story. Many years ago, I was part of a traveling road show for soybean farmers. Our NYC ad agency created informative seminars for the American Soybean Association. We assembled a panel of experts of interest to soybean farmers: a commodities trader, a business finance guy and Dr. James Newman, eminent professor of meteorology from Purdue University.

It was an intense couple of weeks, town-to-town-to-town, different hotel every night, handholding the presenters, working the audience, handling logistics. We had just finished. It was Friday night, in a little Midwestern airport, and we were all anxious to be heading home.

We decided to have a celebratory drink as we waited for our plane. There was a little bar where you sat overlooking the runway through an enormous plate glass window. My more cosmopolitan compatriots were especially eager to get out of the sticks. They were not as comfortable in farm country as I was.

Here's an example. As we sat down MaryAnne ordered a Stolichnaya. The bartender said, "Huh?" I said, "MaryAnne, ask for a vodka rocks and hope they have Gilbey's." I settled for a Gordon's gin instead of my usual Tanqueray.

We sipped our drinks. We watched the planes come and go.  It was winter. Soybean farmers are too busy for seminars in the summer. There was a lot of snow pack. The runways were clear and dry though. And it was a freakishly warm day.

As we debated ordering a second round, Dr. Jim Newman joined us. "Go ahead and order another," he said, "You're not going anywhere tonight."

That was devastating news to my metropolitan companions. "Wha?"

Now this was before the internet and readily available forecasts on smart phones. We looked blankly at Dr. Jim and, being a professor, he was all too happy to explain, "You see, what we have here is an advective ground fog. As soon as the sun goes a little lower the snow will super cool the warm moist air above it and when it reaches dew point, a dense fog will start to form, hugging the ground."

I swear I saw fog forming as he spoke. It got thicker and thicker. It grew up from the ground. Our airport terminal bar was second story high and you could easily see over this rapidly forming fog blanket. I think you could have cleared the fog layer standing on a stepladder. From our second floor perch you could see for miles. But the runway itself was totally obscured.

No sooner did our second round of drinks arrive than the announcement came over the intercom, "All airport operations are suspended." The city girls' eyes bored into Professor Jim like it was his fault. He blithely babbled on about supersaturation.

Next thing we know an airline pilot joins us at the bar. "Why can't you take off?" MaryAnn scolded, "Heck the cockpit of the jet is sticking up above the fog. Once you're off the ground you have unrestricted visibility." The pilot explained a plane cannot take off unless it is able to turn around and land at the very same airport it just departed should anything go wrong. "You can't land if you can't see the runway," he said. Just then a FedEx plane landed, whump, right down into the fog, right in front of us. We all glared at the pilot. He read our minds. "Different rules for freight versus passenger planes," he said, "The freight pilot is allowed to risk his own life."

We spent yet another night eating hotel food and the next morning the sun's rays dissipated the fog in plenty of time for our Saturday morning flight to New York.

Last Sunday, our fog was thick on local roads but pretty thin up on the interstate. As the day went on, it disappeared completely. New Jersey did not have the snowpack Connecticut enjoyed.

Just three of us rode this Sunday. I took the lead, Captain was in the rocking chair and Grumpy swept. I teased Captain about me taking lead to ensure our speeds remained reasonable. Then at lunch Grumpy informed me I was just as guilty of "heading back to the barn" speed syndrome as anyone else. Well it is easier to criticize others in this blog than to face the man in the mirror. Fortunately I have my riding pals to keep me grounded. Cognitive dissonance being what it is, I was sure he was exaggerating all the same.

As we exited the restaurant our luck had run out. It was raining, not real hard, but steady. How's the saying go? "There's no bad weather, only poorly dressed adventurers." We were well-dressed for rain and rode in and out of it the rest of the way home. We never faced a downpour. So what is there really to complain about?

Well there were those times wet tar snakes tried to pull our bikes. It's a disconcerting feeling when the bike unexpectedly takes a quick skitter to one side or the other. One long snake tried to edge trap my front tire. The New Jersey Oranges were worst for rain and traffic.

I kept Grumpy's admonition in mind and kept a weather eye on my speedometer on our ride back up the Garden State Parkway. By golly, he's right. Here I am complaining about others when they have the lead, yet I could see that darn speed needle creeping up all on its own. Human nature is a powerful thing.

Starting out in the fog.

Arrival in Freehold, still mostly dry.

This was the toy run Sunday before Christmas to benefit a local New Jersey children's hospital.

Fortunately lots of bears came in cars despite the rain and there was plenty for the kiddies.

Uncharacteristically empty.

Festive Flight A.

Bob photo of the week.

Captain peruses the bill of fare . . .

. . . so does Chris.

Our friendly waitress.

Wet departure.

Join us after New Year's; it's fun!

Aquacise

Lake Hoptacong riders, from left: Princess, Captain, Pogy, Token2.

Motorcycle Polar Bear Blog, ride to Upstream Grill, Lake Hoptacong, NJ, January 17, 2016.

Editor's Note:  Battling a heavy-duty cold, and thinking riding in the rain would make it worse, I skipped the ride to Lago in North Brunswick. Token2 offered the summary below. Chris Loynd.

By: John Howard, a.k.a. Token2

The ride out to Lake Hopatcong is only around 100 miles but with EDP in full effect departure was set for 9am. Of course the ying to the yang of early departure is early arrival and as I left home to meet the group the GPS predicted an arrival of 10.48 am. EDP certainly relieves the pressure to roll on the throttle which was truly beneficial today. Conditions were appalling, heavy rain, water ponding on road surfaces  with blankets of mist and fog descending at times. The silver lining, temperatures started at 50°F and topped out at 60°F.

We were few in number; Capt rode solo to Norwalk picking up Pogy and then T2 in Westchester, where Token 2 took up the lead. CT Blogger unexpectedly bailed out on this ride. At lunch vicious rumors began to circulate that the founding CT Bear had  contracted hydrophobia. They were quickly squashed by The Captain, who confirmed a different medical affliction was the cause of Mr. Loynd’s absence.

Princess decided  to go solo to shorten her ride, which was sensible given the dismal conditions, aiming to meet up at the Upstream Grill. Without the protection of her customary honor guard of outriders it seems she decided to ride in cognito, donning everyday rain gear and yet another new helmet, this one unadorned with bling. It would of course be wrong for Royalty to knowingly mix with commoners, so on reflection her actions were prudent.

Given the conditions the riders originating from CT held a modest pace of around 55mph travelling I287, I80 to Rt 15N. Traffic was mercifully light. The only slow down occurred about 2 miles north of the I80 exit due to a pickup truck that had rolled over. NJ Troopers were in attendance leaving only the inside lane open. Fortunately, it looked like the driver was unharmed from the accident as he was standing next to the vehicle. Truth be told he didn’t look like the sharpest knife in the drawer and was probably approaching brain death before he got behind the wheel.

It was remarkable how many cars were driving at speed with no {expletive deleted} lights on. Good grief what are these people thinking? Silly me, they aren’t thinking. They probably say the same about guys and gals on motorcycles.

We arrived at the destination around 11 am and were the #4,5 &6 bikes on the lot. Let it be known that Joanne was bike #3 and was on the only Harley present at the time. There we not many bikes in the lot at Noon, though attendance by car was decent.

Evidently Captain’s Wing really liked the riding conditions, on arrival it decided take an unauthorized stroll  by starting to roll off the side stand. Capt’s cries for assistance were matched by quick action from T2 (self-preservation so as not to be pinned between Capt’s and Pogy’s Wings) and Pogy (preservation of his Wing,  so the only scratch on it remains the one delivered by Mac a year or two ago).  It is a relief to report that the grubby white Wing stayed upright.  Pogy gave Capt a stiff MSF lecture about ‘always, always, ALWAYS put your bike in gear when parking’; only when the rained started to pour again did Pogy’s harangue subside.

We were so early the staff at the Grill wiped the sleep from their eyes  before advising us that this year there was a $10 buffet for the Bears that would open at 11.30 am. It was a good spread. Princess liked it. Don’t be fooled by the salad camouflage artfully placed over the mound of penne vodka; chili; sausage, pepper and onions. I think there was a chicken wing or two hiding under there as well. Joanne picked up the lunch tab (thank you!) but I advised her that buying lunch would have no bearing on documenting her plated lunch in the ride report.

While lunching Pogy had a wardrobe question (as one often does at lunch) relating to the purpose of the rear zipper on his riding pants. It was clear quick resolution was warranted before he went to the bathroom in order to avoid a potentially life changing misunderstanding. Demonstration of the ability to zip it to the corresponding zip in a riding jacket brought relief to all. Suggestions that my jacket be zipped to his pants, with us in them,  to create a kind of grotesque CTPB Siamese Twin were deftly side stepped. It was the second wardrobe revelation of the day for Pogy; prior to riding he was delighted to find a riding hood sewn into his FirstGear Jacket. A good find on this wettest of days.

Not to be left out of the wardrobe discussion Princess declared she was not wearing pants. Overcoming the effects of nearly choking on a bite of burger it seemed to all assembled that she did in fact have pants on. This is a family blog so the details Joanne added in explanation cannot be reproduced here. We also learned she is a massage therapist. Hmm, Joanne, the weekend Princess….definitely a CTPB keeper…anyone care to second that?

With lighter rain forecast for the return ride the CTPB’s once again had the pleasure of royal company. The sun even came out for a fleeting ‘hello’ before being quickly pushed aside by dark clouds and more rain. The ride north was uneventful, though we witnessed another couple of cars spun out.

We pulled in for an early stop at the top of the GSP. Over coffee and chocolate it was astonishing to listen to Princess and Captain converse. What became apparent is that Princess really is from Venus and clearly a Martian cannot understand a word of Venetian. A single, seemingly simple question and equally straight forward answer evolved into a 5 minute back and forth. I must remember to bring a Babel Fish on next week’s ride, it should be helpful to those in the group who are not multilingual.

Still no sign of ‘Old Glory’ on the cranes at the Tappan Zee II bridge construction. Can it be that Pogy is losing his pull? At least we could see the top of the cranes on the way home.