A ride to remember

[kneedrachen]

Today I had the urge to take a soothing ride from my home on the Jersey Shore to Philadelphia. I had no intention of doing anything in Philly, nor did I have any particular reason to go. I felt like just riding a straight ride to clear my head. I got on to 195 West, which for those that don't know, is a nearly perfectly straight highway for the most part. Most curves can be taken in the 80's, which is what most people including buses, do. I settled into a nice rhythm at about 75 or so. I was just muddling my mind when I noticed traffic on the opposite side was quite thick. There up ahead on the other side of the road was a rolled over SUV. I recognized some of the guys and despite all common sense pulled a wheelie in front of a trooper. He didn't chase which should have been the first indication today was no ordinary day. Now, please understand, I'm not a hooligan, just "waving" hello at some friends. Anyway a few more miles down the road a little white compact car pulls up next to me and inside is a female about my age (26) yelling into her phone, and carrying on with hand gestures so both her hands are off the wheel. The car starts swaying in her lane while she is releasing her pent up frustrations and I decide that I'd just as soon gun it and get away from her. I'm watching her in the mirror and the car starts violently jerking side to side in a 4-wheel version of a tank slapper, the car then starts skidding at a perpindicular angle to the highway...I crested a bend and lost sight of the carnage I'm sure followed. About 12 miles or so later, I'm whipping along the left lane when I notice a rather. . .pungent smell of feces. I can't pinpoint where it's coming from but as I'm riding I notice a tanker truck in front of me. I'm convinced that's where the smell is coming from so I pull up behind and it's a "Biodisposal Transport" truck. Hmmm. Let me think. Last I remember from my Hazardous Materials training, the only time these trucks smell is when either A) there is a leak or B) it's over pressurized and the relief valve has popped. Either way, I've decided to get away as quick as I can. No sooner did I pull up next to the truck that the rear drain/inlet cover let go and there was human excrement ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY and ALL OVER THE CARS behind. ugh. I sailed through the rest of my journey to philly, go off, stretched my legs and then decided my head was clear only because the methane gas from the truck probably melted my sinuses. I opted to take back roads home so I got on to route 537, a two lane rural road peppered on the western end of NJ with horse farms. Ahhh soothing. Sort of. About 12 miles into my trip what pulls in front of me? A pick up truck carting horse manure. . .I quickly chose another route!
And how did my ride end? Read my posting about installing the Suzook handguards!
NOTE: The truck that leaked all over 195? I noticed as I passed he was driving with his feet. Yes, folks his feet were both on the steering wheel!

[Qstech]

it's never boring here in nj 8)

[water warrior]

Have you considered moving some place a little saner ?

[zady]

Next time you need your head cleared, head over to Dusal's, off Route 9 at Union Hill Road, in Manalapan.

Get a few slices of sicilian. Eat, and all your problems will go away. I promise. And while you're there, appreciate it, knowing that living 3000 miles away, I don't get to take part in that bliss anymore. You're a lucky guy. :D

[kneedrachen]

LMAO i know Dusals all too well b/c i usually get stationed out there, LOL. my problems do go away, i just suffer that night, LMAO!

[zady]

LMAO i know Dusals all too well b/c i usually get stationed out there, LOL. my problems do go away, i just suffer that night, LMAO!

It's a small, small world. Incredible. Very funny. :lol:

[kneedrachen]

comng back to the land of real pizza or are you going to stay in the land of wonderful weather and twisties? :wink:

[zady]

comng back to the land of real pizza or are you going to stay in the land of wonderful weather and twisties? :wink:

Even though I will always be a Jersey Boy, regardless of where I live, I think the left coast will win. My parents and brothers migrated here as well, so now the whole family (we've all got kids, too) is here.

That being said, I take trips back to Marlboro each year just to keep grounded. It's very different out here. :?

I will forever miss the lively personalities of the people there, I will forever miss the incredible food that I grew up on, and I will forever miss the feeling of the changing seasons. My son will probably never know the magic of waking up in the morning, looking outside his window, and seeing snow on the ground, meaning...A SNOW DAY!!!! For that, I'm sad. :(

BUT, there's the flip side of the crappy weather, and that, I won't miss. I'll never forget all the days as a kid waiting for the schoolbus, freezing my ass off, getting in to school and standing by the heater just to thaw out. It's pretty amazing to live in a climate that is mild for 12 months, and for a motorcyclist? Yes, incredible. Tons of variety, and lots of open spaces once you're out of the city.

If I were a rich man...I'd be bi-coastal, for sure. But I'm not. Yet! :wink:

[kneedrachen]

well keep in touch when you come back! Marlboro. . .<shakes head> marlboro and manalapan and freehold, are booming with developments of mcmansions, no more farmland. . .

[zady]

well keep in touch when you come back! Marlboro. . .<shakes head> marlboro and manalapan and freehold, are booming with developments of mcmansions, no more farmland. . .

I know. When we moved there from New York in 1972, you can imagine what it was like. Farms everywhere. I guess that's what "progress" is, right?

Stay well.

[revel22]

Sounds like a normal day on the way to work for me.