Hell Ride 2003

Day 1.
We departed Easton under beautiful skies and started our trek northward. In the interest of time, it was decided we cross the Tappan Zee Bridge thus bypassing New York City and then picking up I-95 into Connecticut. This strategy worked well until we entered Connecticut. It seems drivers in Connecticut have mistrust in the Interstate Highway system and brake to almost a stop every time they crest a knoll. Also, Connecticut's Department of Transportation works on Saturday. Which caused a 10-mile backup because they were fixing an expansion joint in the center lane. Needless to say sitting in the sun for 3 hrs was not the highlight of the trip.
We arrived at the Lighthouse Inn at 5:00 p.m. and checked into our rooms. Of course in typical Hell Ride fashion check-in did not go smooth. It seems that there was a slight mix-up in our reservation but after a few tense minutes the problem was straightened out and we had lodging. After unloading the Yukon and settling into our rooms we toasted our arrival and took the traditional group photo.
As we reminiscenced the days events we noticed something unexpected. Fog! And lots of it was rolling in from the ocean. It quickly blanketed the motel parking lot and cut visibility to about 100 yards. Knowing we were done riding for the day this didn't douse our sprits but rather added a mysterious element to our walking tour of the pier and beach.

Day 2.
Our plans for day 2 included riding the coastline checking out the lighthouses and other offerings of the region, however the weather had other plans. We awoke to fog thicker then the night before; visibility was down to about 50 yards. I decided that breakfast was in order and the fog would burn off in a short time so we could go in search of lighthouses. As usual I was wrong, the fog didn't burn off and by 11:30 it didn't look like this was going to be a very rider friendly day. Terry & MA mentioned that a high-speed ferry docked across the street from the motel, and suggested we take the ferry to
Block Island, which is located 12 miles off shore. Since the weather wasn't cooperating and Block Island has over two dozen bars we decided to go.
The High-speed ferry cruises at 40 mph and only takes half an hour to reach Block Island. Most of the half hour is spent leaving and entering the harbors where there is a no wake zone. As the ferry was slowing to enter New Harbor at Block Island the fog that blanketed the ocean suddenly broke and opened to a beautiful sunny day. Again the luck of Hell Ride our bikes were 12 miles across the ocean at the motel. Not to be disheartened we quickly improvised and rented mopeds to tour the island. Now they weren't the 1500 & 1800cc monsters that we normally ride, but they did get us around the island.
While we explored on our two wheeled weed whackers Terry & MA decided to take a more conservative route and chartered a taxi tour of the island.
Block Island was not a disappointment. The island has a lighthouse at both the north and south ends of the island and in between you find the Settler's Rock, Sacred Labyrinth, The Great Salt Pond and many more interesting places. One place that we wanted to visit but was closed was Captain Nick's. (wanted the t-shirt).
After a day on Block Island we boarded the ferry again for our return trip to Galilee. As we headed out of the harbor and into the open sea there it was again. The fog lies waiting for us as if it knew we were returning. One distressing point about traveling in the fog is the foghorn. Not so much as the one or your vessel but the ones answering the eerie moaning of the horn. It's bad enough that you can't see anything, but to know there is another ship that close is just a little unsettling.

Day 3.
The fog is still here but to add insult to injury it is also raining. We decide to travel to Newport and tour the Gilded Age mansions. Because of the weather we again decide to leave the bikes parked and we all climb into the Yukon.
In Newport we toured The Elms, which owned by the coal millionaire Edward Berwind and The Breakers a 70-room mansion built by Cornelius Vanberbilt II, president and chairman of the New York Central Railroad.
These mansions are breath taking to say the least. And what is more incredible is they were used as summer cottages. Unfortunately photographs were not allowed inside any of the mansions. After touring the mansions we made our way to Brick Alley where we dined at the Brick Ally Pub and enjoyed an excellent meal.

The evening of day 3 took us from Newport to Mashantucket, CT. or more precisely to Foxwoods Casino. Foxwoods is the world's largest casino with more than just 5,500 slot machines, hundreds of table games, Keno, Bingo, poker and horseracing. We arrived at Foxwoods at 9:00 p.m. and because we had to depart Rhode Island in the morning we set a time limit of 2 hours in the casino. Not being very experienced gamblers Karen and I decided to stick to the slots while our more adventurous companions headed to the gaming tables. After losing our allotted gambling money in a relatively short period of time Karen and I decided to do a little exploring. What we found is that this place is huge. When we first entered the resort and got off the elevator on the casino floor I thought they were exaggerating with the claim of the world's largest. I found that Foxwoods not only has three hotels, 30 dining options, the 1,450-seat Fox Theatre, The B.B. King Dance & Nite Club, it is also home of the Mashantucket Pequot Museum. Needless to say 2 hours is not enough time to spend here and we hope to return in the future. And if you were wondering, yes everyone else left winners.

Day 4.
Departure day. The fog finally broke and you could see further then the tip of your nose. The sky looked threatening but it's not raining and we start for home. About 30 miles from Galilee we stopped for gas and decide to put on the rain gear because the skies darkening. We decide to avoid the brake pedal happy commuters on I-95 and we headed north on Rt. 9 towards New Britain and I-84. Over the last 100 miles of the journey we encountered a few light sprinkles but no heavy rain. When we stopped in Southbury Ct. for fuel the sky was still cloudy but patches of blue were starting to break through. Nick decided he was ditching his rain gear because "it's clearing up" and like against my better judgment I followed his lead because I was hot. Well as things go on Hell Ride not 15 minutes later we were traveling in the rain. At first the light rain was refreshing and cool. Then someone decide to turn on the fire hose and within seconds we were drenched. No longer refreshing and to late to stop for rain gear we continued on. As we crossed the Hudson River it was pouring so hard the rain hurt and visibility had diminished to the point that we were following taillights.
Eighty-six miles from Southbury and now on the New York Thruway I decided it was time to stop. We had a quick bite to eat and put on dry shirts, and the rain gear went back on. The rain had slowed to a tolerable monsoon and we continued homeward.
Again Hell Ride shows it's ugly side. This time in the form of an accident that backs up traffic for miles on the Thruway. Wet, hot, and sitting in traffic is not my idea of fun but it is all part of the adventure. We finally get by the accident but the delay has put us just in time for rush hour traffic leaving New York City as we get on I-80. Traffic is moving but it's very congested and the wet pavement isn't making it very pleasant.
As we cross the Delaware River into Pennsylvania the sun finally makes it way through the gray clouds and the rain stops as if we were being welcomed back home. Thirty short minutes later we our sitting in my front yard enjoying a cold beverage and planning next years HELL RIDE.