Anyway, the Polar Bear adventure, for me, started on Friday when I found out that the loan for my new bike is still "status pending" (ie, they haven't processed it yet at the central location) after a week. They put a rush on it. I then called my brother to see if he was going to use his bike or not. He gave me an evasive answer, so I figured that he was and didn't make too many plans. Finally, after still getting an evasive answer from him on Saturday, at 11pm EDT, he calls me to tell me that he won't be using it and I can have it. OK... now I have to go through a fast change in plans. I go to a hockey clinic on Sunday mornings at 4am in NYC (go ahead, call me nuts... everyone else does :-) ) and would've had a person riding in the car with me. After talking to PoPs to let him know what would be going on, I called the person who would be riding with me, and she said she could drive too, so it wouldn't be a problem. I would be able to go directly from the clinic to my parents' house and pick up the bike, which is what I did. I leave my house at 7:15 am EST, figuring to meet PoPs at his place, as planned, between 7:30 and 8:00 am.
I arrive at PoPs' house, see a couple of bikes parked in front of the house, park mine, get off, and go ring the doorbell. After hearing the dog bark for a bit and not getting a fast answer at the door, I notice that The Dutchess is not parked there. At this point, I'm hoping PoPs just disappeared to get gas. Well, after a little more of a wait, his wife answers the door, and tells me that he waited until 8:20 for me. At this point, she checks her watch and it says 8:38 am. So do the rest of the clocks in the kitchen. So we turn on the TV... commercials on the Weather Channel... TV guide-type channel... 7:38 am. "I thought he turned the clocks back last night." Oh well... No biggie... he'll realize sooner or later what happened.
So I leave to pick up my girlfriend. Her mom was probably more scared about the whole thing than she was. We finally meet up with PoPs at the Monmouth Service Area on the GSP.... sheepish grin on his face and all. After applying the 15 minute rule, PoPs, Rich Wurth (who met us there around 9am), Vicki and I head out.
Boring ride down the GSP, getting pelted with wind gusts. The only excitement was PoPs' little "hip-hip-hooray" when he saw the "End of Parkway 1 mile" sign. We arrive, PoPs and I sign in, grab some food, then head out for a nice, leisurely ride back. Famous last words? Nah... not this time... for the most part.
Up 626 to 47... get drizzled on a bit here and there, but nothing major. Get to 557, follow that to 563, and take the route back from there which we used last time. Turning onto 72 was quite interesting... instead of being hit with a few wind gusts here and there, we end up charging head-long into the wind. Get to 70, then instead of taking 539, we go to 547 and figure to take 547 all the way back into Monmouth County so I can get Vicki back home to prove to her mom that she's OK. Well, after a missed turn (hey, there wasn't any sign saying we needed to turn there, and it's only because I turned my head and saw the route marker that we figured it out) we stay with 547. Or so we thought. No more 547 signs... only 528... Junction US 9... no biggie... I can find my way from here... at the stop light before turning onto US 9, I ask PoPs if he saw where 547 took a turn... he said no... well, at the first stoplight on US 9, there's a sign saying we're also on 547... OK... so it took the turn right where we did. Continue north on US 9/MC 547... or so we thought... somewhere, 547 took a turn and we didn't catch it. So we continue up US 9... I tell them that I know where I'm going... and end up getting onto the tail end of Rich's "Mostly Monmouth" ride. :-) PoPs later says to me, "That's an interesting way to find 547."
We get back to Vicki's house (Rich broke off as PoPs and I turned onto Wayside Rd) and her mom is relieved. After a short stay, we head out, Vicki deciding she wants to ride with me up to my parents' place. After the whole adventure, I drive Vicki back home in my cage, we watch the tail end of the Giants game at her place... fitting end to a beautiful ride... The Giants beat the Redskins, 24-15. :-)
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