Back in the Saddle & Surprise Visitor2

Connecticut -- and Virginia -- Polar Bears at Long Valley Pub, from left: Grumpy, Token2, Captain, Pogy and Mac.
Not shown, Fonz and Anonymous Ed.

Polar Bear Motorcycle Blog, Polar Bear Grand Tour, ride to Long Valley Pub, Long Valley, NJ, March 18, 2018.

By: Pogy

Today’s ride was to the Long Valley Pub in New Jersey – I called the Capt. at 0830 to see who had shown up at staging – Only Mac so far – earlier the Fonz had called and advised that he was going to ride down but leave later because he had heard from Anonymous  Ed who was on his way back from Florida and would show up a little later in the day.  So at 0850 I called the Capt. back and he indicated that Grumpy had showed up – so I asked him if Grumpy was leading and he said he was thinking about it – so I volunteered to lead if Grumpy didn’t – TBD once they got to my pick up point.  What I didn’t tell the Capt. was that T2 rode up from Virginia the day before and was going on the ride with us

At about 0920, the bikes rolled by the pickup point and Grumpy was in the lead – Was really pleased because this is the first ride for Grumpy since his back surgery

So T2 and I joined the group with the Capt. as tail gunner– The ride down to Jersey was blue skies, 28-34 degrees and no traffic to speak of with us arriving at just 1100 with Lots of hugs and kisses for T2 – Don’t know why anyone likes the guy !!! just saying

Made our way into the building to get a table only to find out that they no longer had the Buffet – told us that there were not enough people interested  so we had to order off the menu – (really did have a good buffet)  So right as we were finishing up our lunch, the Fonz showed up and shortly thereafter Anonymous Ed rolled in – 

Back in the parking lot we said our goodbyes to T2 – he was heading back to Virginia, and we got on the road by 1230 – The Fonz and Anonymous Ed Departed later

Ride back was again little traffic, clear skies and 34F – Mac and Grumpy broke off at 15 on 287, the Capt. and I continued on to 95 

Good day for a ride and as always the comradery

Ride safe and see you next week

Pog

Our photographer Grumpy caught Polar Bear Photographer Bernie Walsh at work.

Polar Bear Photographer Bernie Walsh caught our guys arriving.

Connecticut bears at lunch. Photo by Bernie Walsh.

A Pointless Day

Motorcycle Polar Bear Blog, Polar Bear Grand Tour, ride to Cape May, NJ, October 29, 2017

First ride of the 2017 - 2018 Polar Bear 40th Anniversary Season

By Token

Hello, Token 2 here reporting on the first ride of the 40^th sea

son of the Polar Bear Grand Tour. In keeping with tradition, the destination was the VFW in Cape May.

Over the summer I moved to Virginia, so I can no longer claim to be a fully-fledged CT bear. However, by prior arrangement I traveled north to join the CT Bears on the opening ride of this milestone season. Pogy had stored my ride at his Norwalk home and graciously hosted me for a couple of nights prior to Sunday’s departure. 

Distance precludes continuing to participate in the Polar Bear Grand Tour, consequently this was a pointless ride for your author, undertaken for the pure joy of once again traveling in the CT Bear echelon. 

It is five years since Superstorm Sandy caused the opening to be cancelled. Mother nature decided to celebrate the occasion by serving up a nor’easter that was projected to gather itself during Sunday. Bob, the Grand Old Bear, put out a note to settle everyone’s nervousness that had been pushed to fever pitch by hyperventilating weather forecasters. The ride was on, the PB management would be at the VFW, come on down and pick up your sweat shirts. Woo hoo, let’s go!

And so it was that my wheels rolled out of County Street, Norwalk at about 6.30am in a steady rain. It was an honor to be asked to lead the ride. I95 was busier than expected for the early hour and amid darkness and rain it was challenging to pick up the lights of the following riders. However, keeping a steady pace, I anticipated that my fellow bears would come into view as daylight broke. In the meantime, I was amused to watch two giant Dunkin Donut coffee cups pass to my left, permanently cemented into place in the back of a couple of passenger vehicles. Heading to some promotional event or other, or perhaps owned by very thirsty, caffeine crazed drivers?

Daylight emerged slowly, much like an energized CFL bulb. By 7.30am the morning light was good, the rain had stopped, now I should see the guys. Check the mirrors, nothing but empty space. Check again, nothing. And then I remembered the horror that I had tried to block out. I did not leave the CT Bears; they left me. 

Pogy, Captain and Ed begged off the ride in view of the gathering storm. Grumpy was nursing a bad back. Chris; working, working, working. Fonz and Mac, somewhere in the Connecticut weeds.  The decision not to ride was smart of course, with 3-5 inches of rain forecast in the NYC area in the afternoon. Thunderstorms and high winds to boot. 

Your author had a booking on the Cape May – Lewes ferry to continue the journey to Virginia, punctuated by a stay in a Lewes hotel to avoid riding in the rain and dark. Not having to turn around and head back into the eye of the storm was my salvation.

The weather facts on the way south. Warm, unseasonably warm. Wet for the first 30 miles and then dry for the next 100 miles or so. The rain returned, intermittent and light at first. Sixty miles out from Cape May the rain became persistent and steady, thirty miles out it was just darned fugly rain. Torrential but no lightening.

Rivers of water surged between my toes with every step as I hauled myself into the Saltwater café about 10.30 for an early lunch (time to get new boots I guess). Dripping wet of course; puddles forming on the tile floor. I hope they let you back in the café come the spring.

It turned out to be the easiest lunch check to divvy up in my entire CT Bear career; heck, I didn’t even need a calculator. Attached is a picture of lunch, just so you haven’t completely forgotten about the quality of the food come April.

There were a few bikes at the VFW when I rolled up at 11.45am. No sign in for me but I made sure Bob, Jim and anyone else who would listen knew that the stories of CT Bear daring-do had this day been shattered into a thousand parts. ‘No Bob, I am not joking’.

Yes, yes, the near mythical invincibility of the Captain has been rendered asunder. Bernie, the Philly photographer, was floored, a hairs breadth from needing CPR when it dawned on him that his darkened basement wall of Captain pictures would have a yawning gap. 

Yes, an astonishing and entirely pointless day indeed.

So, gentlemen, gird your loins for your trip to Lewes next week. I think Bob will having something to say about it.

I picked up my anniversary sweat top; very nicely done.

A celebratory cake was on offer, to Bob’s delight as shown in the ‘Bob shot’. 

No group shot accompanies this report, because there wasn’t a group, it would have been a selfie. Unlike Princess I don’t do selfies… but substitute the view of Cape May from the ferry.

Enjoy our season. Ride safe. Ride often….and who knows when I will emerge from witness protection for you to take revenge!

 T2

Token's meal, puddle under the table not shown.

Polar Bear staff, including Bob, made it to Cape May.

This year's shirt.

Token headed home on the Cape May - Lewes ferry.

Despite what he said, we captured this photo of Token2 riding home from Cape May. He's not afraid of rain!

Chatterboxing

CT Bears in Augusta, from left, Mac, Token2, Pogy, Fonz and Captain.

Motorcycle Polar Bear Blog, Polar Bear Grand Tour, ride to Augusta, NJ, March 26, 2017.

By: Token2

Chatterboxing

The numbers bulked up from the prior week with five CT bears on the road. 

The ride began and finished wet, dank and generally miserable. The sorry state of the day was, as always, significantly improved by the bonhomie of the diverse group of souls (and soulless) blokes that make up the pool of CT Bears!

Pogy must have made an absolute flyer out of the Darien rest stop as he found himself in the unusual positon of being the lead bike. Everyone refused to pass him and so it was that he led the ride. Quite competently it has to be said. Meanwhile Fonz who was picked up from a ramp in Fairfield and who covets the sweep role must have been head faked by Mac who perhaps switched off his riding lights to avoid Fonz noticing he was there. Anyway,  by the time T2 (your reporter for the ride) was collected on I287 in White Plains a sense of calm had taken hold and he slipped into the cradle. Fiddling with his heating controls while getting in line (naughty lad) resulted in his speed dropping a tad inviting Mac to take a closer (and first) look at the apparition of the green machine (What the hell is that? Mac asked later.). Mac handled the rear with aplomb despite  an occasional  long awaited call from the front and impatient early departures from the middle (yes, guilty as charged your honor).

The ride out and back followed the TZB, I287, rte 23 and 15. After hitting Rt 23 a brief stop was requested by T2 to attend to his wardrobe malfunction. With toasty toes and fingers restored the group still managed to dismount at the Chatterbox right on time. Getting a table was easy; for a second week in a row attendance seemed light. Perhaps the forecast of freezing drizzle in the highlands of Sussex county had the more circumspect riders staying home. 

Lunch was typical Chatterbox fare and tasty it was too. Several matters of interest to note, Pogy and Capt.  cozied up in an effort to help elected officials better understand what unity looks like. The reader can be the judge of how helpful that might actually be. T2 got pummeled for bringing up healthcare. Mac and Fonz remained stoic through it all continuing to dip fries in ketchup, instilling much needed tranquility at the lunch table.

The more important matters to document are that Fonz collected his 30 point rocker and with a change in work patterns he is hoping to pick up enough points in the tail of the season to go Gold. Gold was the milestone that Mac achieved on this ride after a week or two attending to other commitments.  

A detour to Montvale for refreshments was agreed as was a prior stop for gas. Pogy and Capt’s unity over lunch started to fray early when the allegedly agreed upon gas stop was by pulled in favor of a different plan. T2 stepped up to accept the blame even though he was far away from the action and tried to heal the wounds by supplying gaily colored pink frosted donuts *with sprinkles* in addition to the beverages. Peace and friendship was restored. Life needs more donut moments.

Fonz missed out on the donut treat, favoring a quick return to CT.

We shall gather again to keep the CT Bear fires burning next week.

Where da CT Bears?

CT Bears in Long Valley, in the back Token2 and Captain and down front Pogy.

Motorcycle Polar Bear Blog, Polar Bear Grand Tour, ride to Long Valley, NJ., March 19, 2017.

By: Token2

Hi Chris:

Missing the support of a fellow realist, slightly left of center rider (aka fake news communist biker hooligan) these past couple of weeks…need reinforcements to do battle with the Trumpanistas.  So come back when you can!

Where da CT Bears?

A second week of a low turnout for the CT Bears with a complement of three. Where did the rest go?

The forecast for the day had oscillated from half decent to dire predictions of another good wallop of snow. In the end a day that started dull and chilly quickly evolved to be bright, sunny and cloudless with temperatures in the mid 40’s. Sooooooooweeet! The Capt, the resurgent Pogy and T2 (guest reporter) made the trip to Long Valley, NJ. T2 led the way on his new Kermit colored Kawasaki while Capt and Pogy followed at a suitable multi-bike distance to avoid any hint of association with the gaily colored leader. The ride was uneventful, if slightly lonely at the front.

It seemed that not only had the CT Bears hunkered down in fear of the worst but so too had the population at large. Traffic was uniformly light throughout the day and attendance seemed on the low side. The normal challenge to get seated at the customarily popular destination was a breeze. Of course it was made easier by arriving at 11am, but even when we departed the normal  line was absent. The communications director who set the crushingly early departure time was notably absent, allegedly giving up his quest for perfect attendance due to work commitments. He was later spotted on his doorstep at 3.30pm still in his jim-jams. This confirmed suspicions that he wanted a lie-in, still recovering from the change to daylight savings earlier in the month.

Perhaps the low number of Bears staying to eat had to do with a new and blatant segregationist policy to corral the Bears in a small part of the restaurant with a dedicated Bear like fried food menu (cheaper admittedly than the buffet). The Capt. decided freedom was needed to caucus wherever we choose and despite a failed negotiation with the maître d’ grabbed a suitable table upstairs, ably waited on by Bonnie, that gave unfettered access to the customarily lavish (if slightly expensive) buffet.

Pogy’s first plate was piled high with food and was truly a joy to see. After putting the hurt on by lifting 5 gallon drums of honey the plate gave a lie to the suggestion that he is still unable to carry heavy things. As with any good work out it is important to go through repetitions, which Pogy (and we) did. Pogy even went for a couple of the foo-foo desserts. Anyway, stuffed to the gills we better appreciated why the owner of the pub was trying to direct us to the Bear menu. Sorry, dude we are people too and our money is green just like the other customers. I think Bonnie would like us to return as we tipped her well.

T2 who has developed a penchant for collecting brightly colored things showed off another T-shirt, a gift from a friend (now former friend) celebrating his two-wheel purchase. 

A stop at the top finished off the day. Refreshments provided by Pogy. As the picture from the parking lots show the initial shock and embarrassment effected by T2’s new ride was overcome, the Wings cozied up to froggie in the end.

Until next time.

T2

Notable or Notorious Connecticut Bears?

Montgomeryville Bears, from left: CT Blogger (your's truly), Token2, Captain, Mac, Fonz, Princess and down front of his own volition the Pogster.

Motorcycle Polar Bear Blog, ride to Montgomeryville Cycle Center, Hatfield, Penn., December 6, 2015.

By: Chris Loynd

There's a line in the movie "The Natural" where Robert Redford's lead character baseball great Roy Hobbs asks sportswriter Max Mercy (played by Robert Duvall), if he ever played the game. "No," Mercy answers, "Never did. But I make it more interesting to watch."

Perhaps this blog makes some small contribution to making the Polar Bear Grand Tour a bit more interesting. And for the record, I do ride with the Polar Bears, and from Connecticut.

We knew early on that more than our Connecticut contingent read this blog. It started with the Captain and his hat. Pretty soon random strangers came up to him at Polar Bear meets addressing him by his blog promulgated moniker. It happens still. It happened just today.

Last week we created a new character in the Connecticut Bear's Pantheon. I had christened her Long Distance Diva. But Captain crowned her a Princess last week. And that's the name that stuck.

So much so that when I signed in this Sunday, Flight B Leader Jim barely said hello before he blurted out something about his girlfriend, or was it my girlfriend, did we bring her? Is she here? I had no idea what he was asking and mumbled a confused, "Huh?" "The Princess," he said emphatically, "Did she come this week?" "Oh. Yes," I replied. "She's out in the parking lot yapping, I mean, holding court."

Joanna was surprised, and I think secretly delighted, to see her sign-in sheet decorated, presumably by our Flight B Leaders, in a fashion befitting her station.

So whether you see us as notable, or notorious, we are happy to have you share our adventures.

Token2, back from his European travails, was pressured into leading this week's ride. He made the mistake, I guess, of riding up to the Stratford Dunkin' Donuts where our rides begin. (Usually we pick him up en route because he lives farther west in Connecticut; in fact, about as far west as one can live in our tiny state.)

Like Fonz last week, Token did a stellar job of leading . . .. right up to the point where we actually had to find our destination. Like Fonz, he exited too early. Either that, or he wanted us to tour the lovely holiday decorations of Chalfonte.

It is amazing how Pennsylvanian everything looks as soon as you cross over the Delaware River. Maybe it's because we come ashore at New Hope. Houses and businesses are lovely field stone with big wooden doors and wooden window shutters. They line narrow streets. Everything turns colonial. At lunch Joanna commented on seeing a sign for the Cock and Bull restaurant. She's heard of cock fighting and bull riding, but was shocked at such a name for an eatery.

(By the way, Token2 ditched the scenery on the ride home. He insisted on sticking to the Interstates, striking out for I-78 east, which led us through miles of retail that looked like every endless American strip mall. One notable exception was the fake silos on the truck weigh station buildings on I-78. Nice touch PennDOT, nice touch.)

We always have a bit of trouble with Montgomeryville. For one thing, our leaders -- me included -- never seem to be sure if we are approaching it from north or south and therefore are looking for it on the left or right. One year I famously missed catching it on the right because I was expecting it on the left and rode right past. It's not like there's a giant building and a big sign and a parking lot filled with motorcycles. All but my wing man, ever-faithful Russ, jumped ship and exited for the dealership. Russ is the world's best motorcycle wing man. He'll follow you up a tree, if that's where you're headed. Then there's the infamous story of Captain leading a ride all the way here to Montgomeryville Cycle Center on a day the Grand Tour destination was elsewhere. He led on, and on, ignoring boisterous protestations by his followers. As Captain says, "The minute I crested the hill, I knew I was in trouble." Hey, anyone can push the wrong button on a GPS, right?

At at stop light, somewhat close to our destination, Token shouted to me asking on which side he should expect the dealership. I just shrugged my shoulders. For the record, it was on the left, well actually on the right if you were to continue down the highway, but you have to exit to the right on that little spur which means the dealership is now on your left. If you've been here you know what I mean!

The folks at Montgomeryville Cycle Center always treat us very well. It took them a few years to get the Polar Bear thing down pat. Their first year hosting they went all out with a pig roast. And it snowed. Now they offer a hearty chili with fixin's, including corn bread, and a brownie. It is tasty, piping hot and served fast, as was the coffee. We all had seconds. Thank you!

The dealership also offers good deals on their stuff for us Bears. They were selling Warm and Safe jacket liners for half price this year. I was tempted to buy a second one as a backup to the liner I bought just before the season started.

One year, Fonz brought one of his buddies and the guy ended up buying a motorcycle . . . well you can't actually buy a motorcycle on Sunday in Pennsylvania. He fell in love with a motorcycle and then went back the next week to buy it. He hasn't ridden with us since. I don't think that's any reflection on his motorcycle or the dealership. The cold weather thing just did not resonate for him.

Montgomeryville has often been a weather-challenged destination. But this season we've not yet earned our "Polar Bear" status. The weather has been unseasonably warm; not that I'm complaining. Joanna was grousing about seeing frost this morning. Wait until we're riding the whole day with sub-freezing temperatures.

Our plight was summed up by a guy in his shirtsleeves just coming back to his car in the rest stop parking lot at the top of the Garden State Parkway. We were just dismounting and pulling off helmets and gloves. He asked Pogy, "When was the last time you guys were riding on the first weekend of December?" "Last year," Pogy answered back. And that, my friends, is the essence of the Polar Bear Grand Tour.

Fonz checks in at Flight B. Where's the Princess?

Thank you Montgomeryville Cycle for a great feed!

Delicious and perfect for even warm Polar Bears.

The ride home was in temperatures near 50.

Even with the stop at the top we made it home with a bit of pink left in the sky.