Hop to Hooters

Connecticut Polar Bears upon arrival in Wayne, N.J., from left: Amber, CT Blogger, Grumpy, Thumper and Captain. Not shown, Anonymous Ed. Photo by Bernie Walsh.

Polar Bear Motorcycle Blog, Polar Bear Grand Tour, ride to Hooters, Wayne, NJ, February 10, 2019.

By: Chris Loynd
Photos by: Grumpy and Bernie Walsh

Wayne, N.J., is one of our closest destinations. For me it's 80-some miles. So we were able to set a reasonable, for me comfortable, departure time. In deference to my fellow Connecticut Bears, I even evoked our EDP (Early Departure Protocol). In so doing we arrived five minutes after the place opened.

Despite being one of the first tables to be seated, it still took an hour to get our food. I'm not sure why. The place was not packed full, even in an hour when our food arrived.

Grumpy led a smooth, speed-controlled ride. We stayed up and out of traffic, taking the Tappan Zee to the Garden State Parkway and then Route 80 west.

I was the sweep rider only by default of my late arrival. Usually I try to arrive just a little bit before the departure time. I just can't see taking off all those layers to hang out at the departure Dunkin' for half and hour and then put them all back on again.

Captain, he shows up an hour early, has coffee, sometimes breakfast, holds court with the Connecticut Bears as they arrive.

Sometimes I cut the timing a bit too close. Somehow, even after 16 years of riding Polar Bears, I forget just how long it takes to suit up. In these cases I have a fall-back trick. Instead of riding the back roads to our departure point, I jump onto the expressway, ride one exit, and get off again. From this vantage point I can generally see if our guys have left or not. They greatly value punctuality.

If they're not in sight, I approach the Dunkin' departure headed toward our riders on the route they have to travel. This Sunday, they were just pulling out. I made a U-turn and dropped in at the back, i.e., defacto sweep.

At Hooters they made fun of me. I said something about being surprised about the riders and route. They made some quip about me missing the pre-ride meeting.

I was delighted to see Thumper lined up with our riders. His moniker comes from the single-cylinder motorcycle he rides. He was one of my motorcycle students in the Connecticut Rider Education Program. I always tell the students about Polar Bears. Most look at me like I'm nuts. An occasional brave soul shows up.

Token2 also came from the CT motorcycle program, although I was not one of his Rider Coaches. He's currently in Ecuador on a motorcycle adventure trip by himself. You can follow his adventures on his blog: Going South on El Burro.

Thumper was especially dedicated. He now lives in New Jersey, about 10 minutes from this Sunday's destination. He got up early and rode to Connecticut so he could group ride with us back to his home. It was great catching up with him.

We had a second visitor on her first Polar Bear ride. Anonymous Ed was waiting for us at the Darien Rest Stop with his friend Amber on back. She said she had a good time, and the CT boys were on their best behavior. (Amazing how a female does that.) We hope to see her again. Amber is interested in learning to ride her own bike. So we may see her next season riding her own bike along with us.

Our ride back was without incident. Captain lobbied for a trip over the GW Bridge. I was in no hurry and more than happy to retrace our steps over the Tappan Zee. The overall vote was for the Zee and we went back that way.

Grumpy and I split off to take the Merritt home. Captain, Ed and Amber took I-95.

This week's destination is just some 25 miles beyond Wayne, also just off of Route 80 west. For me it tips the odometer just over 100 miles each way, so I'll pick up that extra Polar Bear point. I earned my red rocker on this run. I hope for gold.

One of Polar Bear Chairman Bob's favorite destinations. That's our waitress Lala on the far right.

Bob and Amber.

Heading home. In the foreground Amber and Anonymous Ed. I the background left, Chris, and right, Paul.

Thirsty Motorcycles

Connecticut Bears in Schaefferstown, from left, Mac, Pogy, Grumpy.

Polar Bear Motorcycle Blog, Polar Bear Grand Tour, ride to Franklin House Tavern, Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania, February 3, 2019.

Report by: Pogy
Photos by: Grumpy and Grand Tour Photographers Gary Rosen and Bernie Walsh (as indicated).

Today was a long one – 200 plus miles one way. Between being sick, pinched nerves and motorcycle accidents, there were only three of us today, Grumpy, Mac and myself. Grumpy and Mac left Stratford at 0715 picking me up at about 0740. Grumpy in the lead, Mac was tail gunner. The temp was 27 degrees with ground fog which created a sheen to the road surface. I was a little concerned but once on 95, we had no handling  issue. The fog stayed with us until we got over the TZ bridge.

The ride down to the Franklin was without and traffic to speak of except for one fender bender which slowed us down for about 10 minutes. Interesting that there was no visible snow on the ground on 287 – once we got on 78 it was like a winter wonderland. We arrived at 1040. They let us in and we were the first ones seated and the first to order. That being said, we still didn’t get our burgers until 1125.

After eating and signing in, we were back on the road a tad after high noon. The ride back was without traffic.

The highlight of the ride was by the time we stopped for gas at the top, we all had our low fuel lights burning. That is the first time for me in the many years that I have owned this bike that I saw the light. We rode approximately 230 miles without a fill-up!!!!!!!!!!! After whining to Grumpy he assured me that he had everything under control.

We left the top, no traffic over the TZ and into Connecticut.

Tks for leading Grumpy.

See you next week and ride safe

Pog

Polar Bear Grand Tour Photographer Bernie Walsh caught a great photo of the Pennsylvania winter countryside approaching this week's destination.

Four hundred miles round trip earned all of the Connecticut Bears riding this Sunday into Gold Rockers.

These three photos by Polar Bear Grand Tour Quartermaster and Photographer Gary Rosen.

Perhaps anticipating Pogy's report, Grumpy also sent these photos of his GPS.

Patches and Badges Ready

CT Polar Bears at The Exchange, from left: Scott, Fonz, Anonymous Ed, Captain, Mac, Grumpy.

Polar Bear Motorcycle Blog, Polar Bear Grand Tour, ride to The Exchange, Rockaway, NJ, January 27, 2019.

Report by: Chris & Grumpy
Photos by: Grumpy, Fonz and The Grand Tour

Note: 2 addendum on this post, look past the photos for info on Fonz's crash and Token2's South American Adventure.

When my daughter Annie became a Girl Scout she asked me what was the difference between Girl Scouts and Motorcycle Riders. Her answer, scouts wear green, bikers wear black, we both love earning our badges.

With our extraordinary distances coming from Connecticut, our bears typically earn patches and rockers faster than most of our New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware brothers and sisters. Usually we are ready for our rockers before the Grand Tour has them in stock. It's become a running joke for Captain to ask each week, starting after about four or five rides when he's already qualified, when the patches will be arriving.

For this Sunday's ride to the Exchange, the patches and rockers arrived. As you can see by Captain and his s**t eating grin, he's already earned his red and gold rockers. I'm sure his 60-point pin can't be far behind.

Proudly displaying his red and gold rockers, our own Connecticut Polar Bear Captain Kammerer, standing behind Polar Bear Grand Tour Flight Leaders, Pat Bachota, Flight A, and Joan Roselli, Flight B. Captain's a Flight B. Photo by Grand Tour Photographer Gary Rosen.

I don't have an official report, so going only by photos I see Grumpy with his red rocker picked up this Sunday.

Grumpy picked up his red rocker.

The other remarkable item worth mentioning about this Sunday's ride was how it sandwiched between winter storms. The previous Sunday's ride to Eastampton Township, NJ was canceled for a big winter storm. Monday after the Exchange ride Connecticut was slammed with a polar vortex winter storm. And after temperatures at or below zero with daytime highs barely breaking the teens, this coming Sunday's ride looks to be a very comfortable 40 + degrees.

Unfortunately, I can't make this Sunday's long -- and major point generating -- ride. I was down last Sunday, and will be this one, with a really bad cold that settled into bronchitis. Hopefully the Sunday after this one . . . weather permitting, I'll be back on the bike.

Here's Grumpy report from the ride:

The ride Sunday was a quick trip. When I got to Dunkin donut Pogy was there is his car visiting. We left at 09: 32  Me in the lead with Capt. , Fonz, ED and Mac. We picked up Scott in Darian. We got to the Exchange about 11:03.  Had lunch, signed in and out by 13:05. Ride home was different  The Fons and ED left right after the group photo, so were down to four. Scott needed gas so we stoped and  he got gas as John, Mac and I waited.

I asked the guys about the Merrett for the ride home.

I see Scott finishing  so I pull up next to him, but he's not ready. The Captain pulled through then got on his way. Mac and I waited for Scott. So It was now three for the quick ride home, with no problems.

Hope you  feel better soon.

John B

Each week we record our attendance and roundtrip mileage to earn our badges, rockers and pins.

Grumpy setting up the weekly group photo.

Grand Tour photographer Bernie Walsh caught our guys arriving.

Polar Bear Gand Tour Chairman Bob Hartpence with Captain.

Fonz is happy to be here.

Yes, Captain, we know, we know.

Grand Tour volunteers.

Can Happen to the Best of Us

Fonz is a careful rider, longtime MSF and ConnREP rider coach and if this can happen to him it can happen to any of us. We wish him well and hope he feels better soon. Here's his report:

Hi everyone.  

I was riding West on Rt 53 and had the green light.  I was crossing the intersection of Rt 33 when a car traveling East decided to turn left in front of me.  I was able to do a controlled break, then had to make a decision.  I had a split second to either swerve right and have her hit my leg...swerve left into oncoming traffic or crash head on.  I chose head on.

My MC is probably totalled due to age and miles.  I'm very sore but in good spirits.  I'm taking some time ho heal and will hopefully see you all sooner than later.

Fonz

Token2 CT Polar Bear's Latest Report

Fellow CT Bear Token2 is living a lifelong dream with an adventure ride through South America. As of this week he has his bike and is motoring south. Here's the link to his blog if you wish to follow along: Going South on El Burro.