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Vineland, NJ, January 8, 2012
Polar Bear Motorcycles Blog
By: Chris Loynd
Vineland is a pretty long way to go for a ride to nowhere.
And after a two week hiatus (the past two Sundays falling on
Christmas and New Years) my back was not used to doing such
miles. I was ready to get off the bike when I got home.
Fortunately the riding was easy. Anything not expressway was
through some scenic towns, the Pinelands and farms. By the
way, didn't it used to be called the Pine Barrens? I guess
the government switched to a nicer sounding name.
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Your blog author, Chris Loynd,
a.k.a. CT Blogger, arriving at Dunkin' at his usual time,
that is to say, just in time..
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We are back to North Carolina winter weather. Temperatures
climbed above 50 in South Jersey. They were a bit colder for
our ride start up in Connecticut, but not at all bearish. We
had a long distance to ride, so we started at 8 a.m. The sun
was just up. Still, it was in the high 40s for most of our
miles.
A note of caution sounds in my psyche. It is a deep,
far-off, disturbingly familiar tolling.
I hinted at it with my fellow Bears on Sunday. While I could
not clearly recollect the time or even season, I recall a
warm Polar Bear winter some time ago. I mocked Mother Nature
in the blog, suggesting she had forgotten winter. And the
very next week she slapped us hard with snow and subzero
temperatures.
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Mac suiting up for departure.
Note the early morning light. |
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There's no making that mistake again. Let me just say we are
respectfully grateful for the warm and dry weekends.
One of my Facebook friends who is also a rider, Art, took
credit for the warmth. He asserts that if he had not
winterized his Harley, tucking it into the back of the
garage, turning on the battery tender and turning off the
insurance, we all would be knee-deep in snow right now.
Connecticut experienced a 55 degree day Saturday. That
brought out droves of motorcycles and even a few convertible
cars. I was out front of my house doing a bit of “fall”
gardening when my neighbor came home. Seeing me there with
the leaf rake he called over, “Aren't you supposed to be
shoveling snow about now?”
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Captain, left, and Grumpy,
right, sweep and leader respectively, suiting up in Stratford.
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Grumpy led us over the interstates and parkways to the
turnpike. He graciously allowed for a bathroom break. The
others scoffed at me, but I grabbed the opportunity to top
off my gas tank despite their scorn. Fonz caved too, once I
took the hit, and stopped at the pumps while the other
riders waited patiently. I hate riding with that fuel light
winking at me.
And true to form, later in the day Grumpy ran
the other bikes down so close to empty that Mac broke
formation and came up to insist on a gas stop. I just smiled
and topped off again.
Fonz repaid the favor of me supporting his early gas fill
when we got to our destination.
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Grumpy, left, lead; Chris,
right, wing man.
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We arrived just after 11:30 and the parking lot was already
full. Grumpy pulled into a spot that would maybe fit just
one more bike, but where he'd have to back out on gravel.
His wing man, I decided the gravel lot was plenty wide for a
center row of bikes and so started one. Pogy and Token2 blew
right by me and ended up parked helter-skelter at the
driveway's mouth. Mac, well, I'm not sure what he was
thinking. He just sort of found a spot and nearly blocked in
some blockhead who was parked perpendicular to all the other
bikes. (Maybe Mac was making a statement.)
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NJ Turnpike break on the way
down. From left, Token2, Chris and Pogy.
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I was signaling to my fellow on-coming riders with a back
and forth swish of my arm. Fonz was first to pick up on it
and pulled in next to me. Captain came in too on the other
side of me. And behind him was another group of bikes and
soon our new row was firmly established. The line held. As
we came out of lunch it was stronger and thicker, with a
double-up row forming farther down where the parking lot
widened. Those of us on the line simply pulled out of the
gravel lot with no foot paddling.
Fonzie did not endear himself to all our riders this day.
On the way down he had what he himself described as a
“momentary lapse in concentration.”
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Fonz formed up on your blog
author to make a new row at 5 Points Inn destination parking
lot.
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| It was in an area where the DOT workers
had placed cautionary cones right on the edge of the highway
travel lane, right on the fog line. Fonz clipped one. He
quickly corrected. But Pogy following behind had fewer options.
The cone caught his highway peg and snapped it off like a twig.
Highway pegs on a Goldwing stick out pretty far. And they appear
to be made of some sort of cast metal; it looks like aluminum
but breaks like porcelain.
Pogy was fine. And as he lamented, you can't buy just one peg.
So I guess he'll replace the broken one and then have a spare.
If he's like me, he'll put that spare in a special place. And
when he finally, years from now, breaks another highway peg, he
will have no idea where that replacement peg might reside. But
then again, Pogy is likely more organized than I.
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Pogy's highway peg post
traffic cone collision.
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The Japanese continued to have troubles this ride. Captain
had replaced his one Goldwing antenna after it broke off on
an earlier run. Over this week's ride the new antenna
drooped like it was made of play dough. He's headed back to
the dealership too. Maybe Captain and Pogy – both now
retired – can make a day of it!
Token 2 even had trouble with his ST. Something not right in
the harness for his electrics left him adding layers and
stuffing chemical heat packs into his gloves and boots. Pogy
even lent him a sweatshirt.
At sign-in I offered my thanks to Rich and Dave. They do so
much as our Flight B leaders. Dave even came all the way up
to Connecticut one year to attend our winter dinner.
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Token2 checking out
electrical connections on his ST.
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With more Polar Bear rockers and pins on their vests than
you can count, they have decided it would be fair to have
someone else pick up the paperwork going forward. Thank
you both for all you do and your perpetual good humor. These
are some big shoes to fill.
Five Points Inn proffered a fine brunch buffet for a very
fair $10. Pogy picked up the tab for us all. He retired this
week and I guess he was feeling generous. Thanks!
Pogy has plenty of life left in him, by the way. His
retirement was one of those take the early package or else
deals.
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Motorcycle Polar Bear Grand
Tour Flight B Leaders Dave and Rich. Thanks guys! |
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So if any blog readers know of a position open for a
technically adept senior customer service or sales director
with international experience and a work ethic that will
scare the bejesus out of his fellow workers, send me an
e-mail and I'll pass it along.
It's true that like Forrest Gump's chocolates, you never do
know what you're going to get. As John Lennon said, “Life is
what happens when you're busy making other plans.”
I don't know where this economy will take us. It's hard for
guys like Mac and Pogy to give a whole life to a company
only to be offered an “early retirement package” backed by a
layoff threat.
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Motorcycle Polar Bear Pogy,
recently retired . . . but for how long? |
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I don't know if the Polar Bear Club will survive a change of
leadership. Bob is asking for a replacement, now Rich and
Dave too.
Ah, but what future is ever certain? This is the year the
Mayans say it all ends, 12/26/2012. So be sure to get out
and ride as much as you can. Me, I still plan to go on a
Polar Bear ride 12/30/2012, if the Grand Tour folks will
have me.
Happy New Year!
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Polar Bear
Grand Tour Chairman Bob Hartpence, also seeking retirement (from
club duties) with an unidentified Motorcycle Polar Bear.
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This week's ride leader Grumpy
taking a break on the NJ Turnpike
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Captain at the rest stop,
loading warmer packs into his glove.
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Grumpy waits while Token2
checks fuses on his electric clothing harness.
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Mac, Pogy and Fonz wait out
the electrical connection stop.
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Other mechanical issue of the
ride, Pogy, left, checks damage to muffler on his Honda Gold
Wing.
When his highway peg clipped a cone behind Fonz, the peg bounced
back and dented his muffler.
Also in picture with backs to us, Fonz, center and Mac right.
Background Captain, left and Token2, right.
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CT Blogger Chris Loynd,
center, starts a new row in center of the gravel lot with Fonz,
left, and Captain, right.
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Honda Connecticut Motorcycle
Polar Bears off on their own on the grass. Token2
left, Pogy right.
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We had some fun at the closed
ice cream store next door. CT Blogger Chris Loynd astride his
white steed!
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Fonz squeezes himself onto the
carousel.
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Token2 tried for
the race car, but I don't think he fit. Those British sports
cars are tiny.
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On most every ride Grumpy
takes our group photo, and generally takes a lot of s**t for his
efforts.
Fortunately, Grumpy is impervious to such heckling.
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Timer set, Grumpy dashes to
find his place in the group. This week CT Blogger made him run
around a gazebo.
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Some Connecticut Motorcycle
Polar Bear Portraits by Grumpy:
Fonz, the self-acclaimed Polarican.
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Captain, points leader
supreme.
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CT Blogger Chris Loynd, always
just-in-time for the ride departure, not so much on blog
postings.
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Mac, rides farthest of all the
Connecticut Polar Bears.
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Token-squared, so named for
his not one, but two, foreign motorcycles.
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This way to the next ride . .
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Back to top.
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Week 10 Bears, from left:
Chris Loynd, your author aka CT Blogger, Fonz, Token2, John J.,
Captain and Pogy.
This week it was all about the layers, burrr!
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Lake Hopatcong, NJ, January 15, 2012
Polar Bear Motorcycle Blog
By: Chris Loynd
We finally got some polar bearish weather for our winter
motorcycle rides. Sunday the temperature was 17 when I started
out. By the end of our ride temperatures had not climbed even 10
degrees. I finished at a still frigid 24.
As I pulled up to the Dunkin' Donuts launching point, just in
time, maybe even too close to just in time (had some trouble
finding my really cold weather gear), Captain was holding court
to determine who would lead.
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Fonz shot this picture of his
TV just before he left the house Sunday. |
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Since I was so close to the start time, and it was so cold, I
left my bike running and my helmet on. So shouting back and
forth, Captain and I had very poor communications.
We tried to goad Fonz into taking the lead. "I can get us to New
Jersey," he offered. We then suggested he could sweep instead.
Actually Fonz is a good sweep. He's responsive, proactive and
cars move over for those funky lights of his.
I was trying to suggest that whoever was leading would take the
more scenic route that I had suggested earlier in the week in my
e-mail setting the time. Captain answered that Pogy and Token2
were picking us up en route. So I shouted back I would take the
lead and pulled out to start our line.
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Fonz at the start. He opted to
sweep. |
Captain pulled up next to me and I wanted to confirm where we
were catching Token2. My plan was to stick to I-287,
crossing on the Tappan Zee bridge. Captain said yes, that was
where Token2 would be waiting. As John J. pulled into
the group of bikes, I took off. Only at lunch when
communications were again established, and this time without
helmets in our way, I found out Captain felt I stole the lead
from him. He was gracious in conceding it all the same.
Looking at Google Maps the week before our ride, I had spotted a
nice rural route alternative that added only a few minutes more
to our ride. Instead of riding I-287 to I-80, expressway all the
way, Route 23 took us up through some New Jersey woodlands.
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John J. at the start.
Everybody wore extra face and head gear. |
As cold as it was Sunday, I probably should have checked the
topographic or satellite view of my proposed "scenic" route. At
the very least, the section riding on "Oak Ridge Road" should
have tipped me.
As I led my motorcycle buddies off the Interstate, we started
climbing into the New Jersey mountains, well, if not mountains,
at least foothills. My GPS said we topped out near 800 feet in
elevation, not all that much. Then again, we started at sea
level.
Oak Ridge Road really does run on a ridge, or up on the western
side of a ridge. It was scenic, but as we passed a bank, it
informed us we were back down to 17 degrees. Another one warned
of minus nine degrees, but that was Celsius; that's15.8
degrees Fahrenheit.
Scenery did not disappoint. We rode past some beautiful lakes
and reservoirs, along steep rock falls and even had some twisty
roads for one little bit. It was a nice break from the
Interstates.
Another reason I should have taken a closer look is that maniac
turn from Route 15 onto Route 181. You no sooner exit then cut
back, almost like you're getting back onto 15. The GPS shows
this curly-que which is technically accurate by mind boggling.
More than a few times, we've missed or nearly missed this turn.
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Fortunately Captain was on his p's and q's and made the tight
right flawlessly. Me, I was trying to signal and wave with one
hand, push the bars out with the other, coordinate brake and
throttle. I went way wide, but I made her all the same. It musta'
looked ugly in the back of our pack, but I received no
disparaging comments.
Only after settling into Route 181 did I remember, "Oh yeah.
That #$@*& turn gets us every time." I believe on past rides it
has engendered a few U-turns.
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Slower speeds of scenic secondary roads did little to alleviate
my tingling-cold fingers. My Gerbing gloves are fine, up to a
point. But for my long, skinny fingers, they just don't make it
at these temperatures, even inside hippo hands. I should have
known better. So for the ride back I switched to my down
mountaineering mittens from NorthFace with a chemical heat pack
in the end of each. Those are almost too hot. Almost.
Our Grand Tour hosts received their new shipment of this year's
rockers. All of us on this ride have already earned the red
rocker. Captain, of course, received red and gold. He is
eligible for his 60-point pin too, but our flight leaders did
not have them yet.
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No, John J. did receive just
one red rocker. The rest of us goofed on him!
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Wearhouse Grill had a special Polar Bear menu that included
onion soup in a crock and chicken noodle. At first John J.
ordered the chicken. But when most all the rest of us ordered
onion, he caved to the peer pressure. Captain stood fast,
however, when his turn to order came and resolutely ordered the
chicken noodle. Maybe he knew something we did not.
As it turned out, they brought his chicken noodle right away.
For the rest of us our soup came after our entrees. The soup hit
the spot on such a cold day.
We missed Grumpy. He is back on night shift at his job keeping
all our cables full of television shows. Fonz took over most of
the photo duties.
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Immune to peer pressure, the
Captain enjoyed his Chicken Soup before the meal.
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Anticipating Grumpy's absence, I packed my tripod and took the
group shot.
Pogy surprised me by saying that the Blogspot blog was the only
one he knew. He got a new computer and I e-mailed him links to
save to favorites on his new browser. Guess he'll have to do
some back reading. Several seasons of motorcycle polar bear
blogs are posted on this other site.
Generally I post on Blogspot first because it is easier to
access from anywhere. I am also experimenting with SEO for both
my blogs.
This blog site is on my former company web site. Here I have
more control, and room for all the photos I wish to post.
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Pogy suiting up for the ride
home. I guess when you shave your head you need super knit caps.
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I generally also use Photoshop to size and sometimes crop or
adjust the photos. And that program is only on my home computer.
Blogspot I can use from my small laptop or tablet.
My Blogspot blog also allows comments, but my readers rarely do.
Eventually, I will have to upgrade my company web site. New web
management tools will offer much of the same functionality. All
I have to do is learn a whole new program. But hey, we all know
what that is like. This technology treadmill never ends. |
Bikes parked neatly in a row
this time. Captain still went his own way. John J. picked the
spot next to me.
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Bikes lined
up at Warehouse Grill. Chris Loynd's Springer, lead bike, is
first. Next is John J., then Pogy, Captain and Token2.
Fonz's bike you can't see.
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Captain, red and gold.
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Token2
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Pogy
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Fonz. Sorry buddy, Chris is
responsible for the shake using Fonz's camera.
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Chris Loynd, your author.
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Suiting up to head home. Pogy
is a MSF Rider Coach teaching motorcycle riding, as are Fonz and
Chris.
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It was all about the layers on
this trip!
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Gas stop on the way back.
Chris Loynd in front, John J in back.
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Short ride to coffee at Chez
GSP.
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Chris Loynd, Motorcycle Polar
Bear. See you next week!
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Back to top . . .
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Week 11 Bear, Captain with
Polar Bear Chairman Bob.
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Captain drove his car
down to save perfect attendance. Here's his story:
New Brunswick, NJ, January 22, 2012
Polar Bear Motorcycle Blog
By: John Kammerer
It was the worst of times, it was the best of times. The
local roads were a mess when I departed the house at 9:15
AM, the main roads of course were clear. I know that Grumpy
would have made the trip if he was not working. I assume
that the others in the group are intimated by the presence
of a big points guy. I arrived at Sir John's at 11:00 AM the
lot was empty save a few cars. Inside I spent time catching
up with Richie, Dave, Nancy and Bob, had some photos taken
and received my 60 point pin. After the check in I departed
at about 11:30AM and found a few bikes in the lot. I arrived
home about 1:00 PM and took Sue to lunch.
Hope we have better luck next week.
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Fairly messy drive this week.
Captain was the only one to brave the trip. |
No line for sign-in.
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Week 12
Bears, from left: Token2 (this week's blog author), Mac, Russ,
John J., Captain, Jim and Fonz (this week's photographer). |
Rockaway, NJ;
The Exchange January 29th 2012, Polar Bear Motorcycle Blog
By: Token2
Token2 here, standing in for CTBlogger who took his
bride of 31 years to a closely guarded secret (but the word is
out, and yes, exotic) location to celebrate their wedding
anniversary. Congratulations to Chris and Cynthia!
Based on prior reports penned by yours truly CTBlogger will roll
his eyes due to my use of crushingly long sentences, no or
inappropriate use of punctuation and the general unfamiliarity
with the English language with which I am blessed, even though
we Brits invented it. To which y'all Americans have added such
helpful non-words as, 'de-plane', or new applications for words,
for example 'sack', originally applied solely to a cloth
container used for coffee or grain or such like but now adopted
to mean laying the wood to a quarterback.
(I thought the Brits used that word for being fired from your
job. Editor.) Hopefully, I still sound smarter when I
speak because of the toffee nosed accent.
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Cynthia and Chris on their
31st Wedding Anniversary,
with the soon-to-be movie star Lorax in Springfield, Mass.
Sorry for the open layout
on the photo side.
One reason for the sentence and paragraph breaks
mentioned by our guest blogger's narrative at left,
is to allow for a balance between photos and words.
The egregious result of no
opportunity to break the
copy column is aptly demonstrated here. |
Regarding today’s ride there were no events of
significance so I will turn my attention to the insignificant.
Your author rode down to the Stratford start point to take the
lead spot for the day. Capt. K., John J., Mac and Russ were all
present and sipping coffee on my arrival. Capt. made a short
lived offer to sweep, rescinded when the Fonz rolled up; Capt.
K. values his hearing and preferred to leave Fonz and his pipes
at the rear. We were joined, unannounced, by Jim at junction 2
on I-95. For punishment he got to listen to 'da Norwalk pipe
ensemble' for the rest of the day. To be scrupulously fair Jim
did supply the refreshments at the Montvale stop, many thanks.
The ride down was uneventful and mostly within the law, speed
wise things were perfect but there was a minor deviation to
execute a marginally illegal right turn at a light having missed
a slip road in NJ. Bugger!
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This week's ride leader and
blog author, Token2, shown at the end of the line of
bikes
hunched over the motorcycle with the ice cream cases on the
sides.
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A short ride coupled with a generously early
start time put us at the destination at about 11 a.m. It was a
beautiful day, sunny with temperatures in the high 30's and low
40's and pleasingly light traffic.
We settled in for lunch ahead of sign in. Orders were placed,
the ham and cheese omelet garnering support from three bears.
Evidently our arrival preceded the cook having a morning cup of
‘Joe’ as all three omelets arrived sans ham. Let the moaning
begin! As it turned out the cheese omelets did the job, moans
turned to silence as the meal progressed.
With sign in accomplished we headed north via a back road route
before picking up rte 23 to rejoin I-287 north. The journey home
was punctuated by the customary stop at Montvale where we
'de-biked' for refreshments. We struck out nor’ easterly at
about 2 p.m.
Another ride successfully completed. See y'all next week.
T2
Editorial comment by Jim:
I believe the term de-plane was added to our lexicon by the
French - namely, Herve Villechaize.
And Token's response:
hmmmmm . . . from a script written by Americans, no?
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Connecticut Polar Bears at
lunch, from left, Mac, Token2 and Captain. |
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Bob Picture of the week. Fonz,
what did you say to him?
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Fonz is now an Iron Butt Polar
Bear.
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Fonz must have come straight
from work. He usually does not use that authoritative face with
us!
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Back to top.
or
On to next ride . . . |
