Friday, January 27, 2017

The Adventure Begins


On the spur of the moment today, I planned my first motorcycle trip of the year. I'm leaving tomorrow morning and riding 200 miles south to Cape May, New Jersey for the weekend. It'll take about four hours to get there.

Cape May is one of the oldest beach resorts in the country. It's on the southern tip of New Jersey, right on the Atlantic Ocean. I've never been there and want to scout it out now when nobody's around. I plan to return in Summer when it'll be crowded. I enjoy beaches in Winter; they have a cosmic vibe.

The trip will be arduous due to the weather. It'll be at or around freezing the whole weekend. I know from experience that cold weather on a motorcycle can be rough. Even with layers of clothing, the core temperature of your body lowers and at a certain point it becomes dangerous. Last year on my first trip in February (to Potsdam which is next to Canada), I foolishly disregarded the cold and almost died. Literally. My body started shaking violently and I couldn't stop it. Of course, you don't want to be operating a motorcycle in that condition. Lesson learned.

The problem with the trip to Potsdam was the rural country I was travelling through -- there was no place to stop and warm up. I rode hours before finding even a gas station. That won't be a problem travelling through Jersey; its shore is populated with vacation towns. If I stop often enough, I'll stay warm enough. Anyway, that's the plan.  :-)

I hope you have a great weekend!

9 comments:

  1. Enjoy the trip Ally, stay safe and have a good journey. I look forward to reading all about it upon your return.

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  2. Enjoy every minute and please be safe. Can't wait to read your blog post when you get home!!!

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  3. Ok, sounds great, but not too alarming, jersey has lots of places to stop and drink cocoa.. enjoy! Have a great journey Ally!
    xx, Elle
    http://www.theellediaries.com/blog/

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  4. I only got as far south as US40 in NJ on my 2014 circumnavigation of the US.
    However, between Mays Landing and Atlantic City was a very curious roadside attraction with lots of plaster elephants and dinosaurs on a wall. I haven't been able to find any intel on it. Here a photo of it from my Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/annembray/15549201849/in/album-72157646850546884/

    Ride safe, my friend!

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  5. Have a safe trip Ally! it's the most important!

    Lyosha
    Inside and Outside Blog

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  6. You are nuts. A good kind of nuts, and that's why I love you, but still nuts :) hope you had a safe trip, my friend!

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  7. Potsdam. To get there you have to first get to the middle of no where and then keep on going. You could have hooked up with my son in Plattsburgh. You were on your cruiser but he would have been on his rice burner.

    The Jersey shore is wonderful and every town has its own character and personality but each carries the wonder of the ocean, the sandy beaches and the ionized air. I have not been to the Cape in years but it was wonderful with wonderful old houses and great architecture.

    On your next trip to the shore try to hit Asbury. It has come a long way from the destruction that was caused by the Great Society Programs of the late 60s. It is a wonderful, fun and totally open town with great boutiques and restaurants and some of the best live music anywhere.
    Pat

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