AUGUST 21, 2010 - DAY 17 - ARLINGTON, VA TO NEW YORK CITY, NY
Angel and I had a plan. Rather than wait in the very long line in the lobby for the little Starbucks kiosk we would just ride over to the mall down the street where there is a store with very few patrons early on a Saturday morning. It was a good plan.
But as we headed there I half questioned the direction I was heading and Angel thought we needed to turn sooner. We had to turn back around. Then I pointed where I thought the Starbucks was but didn't see it and rode past while Angel parked, because it was there. I didn't go too far and just turned around and rode the very short distance in the wrong direction. If all that wasn't enough then Angel couldn't find her wallet so I went in to order. They had no water bottles so I got glasses of water to go along with the food and lattes. On a bike.
When I returned to the bikes Angel fit the four cups into a saddlebag, secure enough to not spill. I was holding the bag with the bananas and breakfast food when I came upon the perfect solution: I placed the handles over my flag post on the back. We then rode off to the staging area at the Pentagon with our Starbucks addiction proudly on display.
After the usual organization, announcements and prayer there is a bagpiper playing as we all pass by the firetruck with the raised flag as we head across the bridge and into Washington, D.C. and eventually up the Beltway. It is a beautiful morning and warm enough that we are wearing tank tops and no jackets at 7 a.m.
Now let me just take the time to clarify some things here. So far on our trip we have been very diligent about safety. We have worn our full gear - full-face helmets, jackets and chaps no matter the weather. But the 9/11 Ride is police escorted, meaning we are the only vehicles on the road. So we dress for the heat, take our chances and wear our shorter helmets, no chaps and no jackets. Dumb, I'd say yes. But definitely cooler and more comfortable.
Our first stop is at Maryland House. There we enjoy the no-line in the women's restroom while the men have to wait in a long line. We also walk around looking at some of the other bikes and figuring out some of the personalized plates. It never ceases to amaze me how many have painted tributes to the 9/11 victims, and how different so many of them are.
Once we saddle up again we are all off to Delaware. When we first exit we must gas up the bikes then ride into Mike's Famous Harley-Davidson for lunch, maybe some shopping, and definitely for a break. When we pull up we are parked right behind the Canadians we met in 2007, Lou and John. These great guys are riding with their favorite girls - their daughter's. The ladies are having a terrific time!
Each break is another opportunity to meet new people, get to know others better, and look around at all the bikes. I see a car with Gold Star plates and wind up meeting the mother. She is a Blue Star and Gold Star mom, both sons being Marines. She is amazing.
As we are all preparing to head out a woman walks up and asks if I really have any kids. I tell her I do, and that I have three. She laughs because she has read my license plate, "whatkdz", and says she feels the same when she's riding, and that hers are all back home while she is gone as well. We also get comments when people notice that we have California plates.
The next stop is in Linden, New Jersey. But the amazing part of the stop is that the City of Linden and the manager of Appleby's put on the stop for us. Citizens are there making food and ensuring there is plenty of water; we can use the facilities at the restaurant; and there are displays and performances put on by townspeople. And they do all of this for us.
While on this stop we run into more people we recognize from last year's ride, we meet new people who are just there to see all of the motorcycles, and little kids are getting their pictures taken with the bikes. And we are filled with anticipation because it's a short jaunt into New York City from here, though it takes a while to get through all the traffic.
Finally we head out and the excitement has us grinning from ear to ear. I am dancing and singing along to my music as we wind through the city streets. As we come upon the bridge and see the New York skyline for the first time I lift my camera and start shooting pictures. Back in 2007 when I was riding behind Lou I saw him with a camera on a lanyard just blindly taking pictures. Now I do it. I may have to delete a lot of asphalt and sky photos but somehow I often get plenty of good ones to suffice.
However, the first thing I think of after I see the skyline and before the first click of the camera is what it used to look like. There is that split second that everything flashes through my brain and then I focus on taking pictures of the Empire State Building.
I think the most difficult part of us entering Manhattan is getting into and through the Holland Tunnel and today is no exception. But it is a thrill. Cars are lined up at a long, dead stop to our right. Some people are outside their vehicles staring or even waving, while some lean out their windows. Still others are sitting in their cars on their phone, no doubt complaining about the horrific fact they are stuck in the worst of all traffic jams.
But once we get into the tunnel and keep a slow and steady pace it becomes fun. Just like little kids who hold their breath in a tunnel bikers like to play games too. I can't resist, and despite the heat from the pipes already trying to burn my legs, I rev up my engine repeatedly, letting the noise reverberate in the long, enclosed tube of concrete. Who says fun and games are just for children?
We finally leave the tunnel and swing out onto West, along the waterfront and past the Intrepid, then along the streets of New York heading toward Times Square. It seems that it is mostly the tourists who are enamored with us, taking pictures of us as we pass, so I take pictures of them. But there are also quite a few New Yorkers who are there specifically for us, holding signs or flags and cheering us on. Then there are those natives who are just annoyed that we are in their way, but we persevere.
Finally we turn onto 7th Avenue, looking down into Times Square. I am directed to a sidewalk and immediately drive up onto it for our own parking spots for the night. Even better is the fact that we are positioned right in front of the stage where the presentations and concert will take place. They park the bikes on the streets and sidewalks around our hotel and even block off an entire block for us. This is a big deal.
As Angel and I drag our bags across to the Sheraton we realize just how hot and tired we are, and that the activities are supposed to start up in only 15 minutes. I shower quickly and get back out on the sidewalk where Angel finally meets me.
We get a big laugh when they draw the raffle ticket for a new motorcycle because the wife answers the phone and hangs up, thinking it's a prank. Then we get to hear Mark Wills sing again, which was just as great the second time. And finally we decide to get food. I actually try something I have never eaten, sauerkraut. You would think that at some point in 50 years I would have tried it before but I hadn't. What's more amazing to me was that I liked it. See, you can teach an old dog new tricks.
And speaking of old, I don't know if it's because we are older or just because we've "been there, done that" when it comes to Manhattan, but it seems each year we do less and go to bed earlier. The first year we hit the fun places and got to bed at some horrible hour. Last year it was around 1 a.m. when we turned in. This year we are turning into pumpkins a little earlier. Or maybe we just got smarter and realized the early mornings feel better with sleep first.
Tomorrow morning we ride to Ground Zero and eventually head west.
Today's stats: 252 miles and 11 hours
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