| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
U.S. Route 61 Revisited One of the roads I took on my way to Springfield from Omaha was US Rt. 61. I have long loved Bob Dylan’s album Highway 61 Revisited and riding down a portion of US Rt. 61 kept songs from that album running through my head. It’s one of my all time favorite albums. There are a few Dylan albums that fit into my favorites list. I’d have to say that my all time favorite Bob Dylan album is Blood On The Tracks. That album has nothing to do with riding down Highway 61, but it speaks to my soul more than any other album or piece of poetry, for that matter. Anyhow, I rode down part of Highway 61. I didn’t see Abraham, though. He must have been on a section of the road that I didn’t travel on  I enjoyed my laid back day yesterday. I bought a three month supply of vitamin D at Wally’s Chinese Emporium along with a book light, found a noon meeting, washed the bike and I even found a Barnes & Noble bookstore where I bought a book and a couple of magazines (I needed something to use the book light on). Then, I went back to the campground and read for a while, using a tree stump as a chair. I went to the Parkway Cafe for dinner. They had Prime Rib as a Daily Special, and I was in the mood to eat a real meal. I had a salad, Prime Rib, American Fries and green beans with coffee to drink. It wasn’t fancy, but it was good. With tax, it came to $15.60; a very reasonable price for a good meal. I’ve paid more for worse. After dinner, I was at a bit of a loss as to what to do, so I went to Mick Ds and got a coffee and read until nearly sunset. I rode back to the campground, took a long hot shower and retired to my tent to try out my new book light. It gives off light, but it sucks. It doesn’t give off enough light to fully illuminate the page, and I had to constantly adjust it as I was reading. I wound up using my flashlight until I got to the end of the chapter, then I put the book down and went to sleep. Cheap Chinese s**t. Oh, well; it was a five dollar lesson. It could have been worse. Once the sun dries off the heavy dew that was on the tent this morning, I’ll break camp and head east some more. (Message edited by Crusty on September 13, 2015) | ||
| Luftkoph |
Crusty those women are just afraid their man will see the freedom and leave them for adventure, misery loves company,and they would love to see you tied down and in your place. (freedoms just another word for nothin left to loose) On Nebraska I've worked a lot of western Nebraska years ago and it is a beautiful under appreciated land,to bad you didn't make it a little further to Scotttsbluff national monument | ||
| Crusty |
Maysville, Kentucky I’m sitting at a picnic table under a sheltering roof on the banks of the Ohio River, drinking my morning coffee. It’s foggy enough that everything not under the roof is soaking wet; at least on the outside. That includes my tent. I was warm and dry in it, but the rain fly is soaking wet. The funny part is that it’s drier on the outside of the fly than on the underside. Although it’s really thick; I’m hoping that the fog burns off soon. I’ve found another Gem of a city park here. It’s not free; it cost $10.00/night for a tent site, but it’s pretty quiet and it’s very peaceful. there’s a boat ramp and a playground for kids. and the grass is well manicured and the place is very enjoyable in a family kind of way.. Quite a few people brought their kids over to the playground yesterday afternoon and evening. I was set up on the other side of the parking area, and nobody bothered me. Last night, around 7:00 or so, a train came through town. It was the loudest train I’ve heard all summer long I think the tracks are right on the other side of the levee from the campground. I thought, “Oh, fine. Here we go; another night of broken sleep listening to train horns.” but I was wrong. That was the only train that came through all night. After nightfall, I was in my tent, and I heard the sound of big diesels. At first, I thought it was another train, but there were no horns blowing. it took a minute, but then I realized that I was hearing a passing Tow Boat going down the river. That brought back some memories. I worked on a Tow Boat as a deckhand back in 1979. That was the summer when I met David Kaelin. David never paid rent anywhere. He worked on a Tow Boat; when he was working, he lived on the boat. On his off time, he’d get on his bike and travel. He showed me how to travel for short money. He was truly enthralled with the lifestyle. I think he settled down eventually, but we lost touch. The last time I tried to get in touch with him, back in the ‘90s, I was told that he died in a mountain climbing accident. That ruined my day. Well, as much as I like this place, I’ve got to start breaking camp. While there’s electricity here,there’s no Internet access; so I’ll send this out once I find a Golden Starches. ************************************************** ************* I’m now just off I-64 heading east. From Maysville, I traveled South through some incredibly beautiful country. First, I was riding through Amish farms. Boy, do they build beautiful sheds for sale. I saw one that would be big enough for me to live in comfortably. After riding past numerous Amish farms (the barns had interesting designs painted on them), I rode into Horse country. All I can say is there must be some big money in horses. Everything was manicured to the last detail. And the mansions were both huge and impressive. After being lost all morning, I arrived at the junction of Interstates 64 and 75 (I was on US Rt. 68). I jumped on I 64 and rode until I saw a familiar big yellow M. I pulled off to get lunch and now, I’ll send this off; then, I’ll google where I’m at and plot a route toward Delmar, Delaware so I can be there for the 1/2 Mile this Saturday. | ||
| Crusty |
I’m Slowing Down I’m finding myself slowing down. It’s taking me longer to hit the road in the morning and my rest stops are getting longer. I’m starting to feel tired of traveling. I’m looking at people who are settled and I’m thinking that it would be nice to stay in one place and accumulate possessions again. I remember feeling this way back in the ‘70s when I worked for Rocky Mountain Helicopters and spent a year living in motel rooms. Plus, I’m considerably older now. It’s harder to live on the road than it was back in the Good Old Days. Then again, I’m seeing things I’ve never seen before, and while it might be tiring, this lifestyle sure as hell ain’t boring. Today, I’m going to ride over and through the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel on my motorcycle; which is something I’ve been wanting to do for decades. I called the track in Delmar yesterday. I’m going to get a Reserved Seat on the finish line, and when I asked the lady on the phone, she told me that they were allowing camping for free starting tonight through Saturday night. That means I won’t have to spend any money for camping, which is a good thing especially considering the state of my finances. The other night, I was going to camp in a state park in West Virginia. For a crappy tent site (and it looked pretty crappy), they wanted $28.00/night; the insult was that they stated on the rates page how it was a misdemeanor to not pay, and they would prosecute such criminal activity. I said, “Screw this” and left. One exit down the highway, there was a private R/V park that was nicely kept, and they only charged me $10.00 for a tent site. I’m finding that the State Parks are the highest priced places for tent camping and usually not nearly as nice as the private campgrounds. I had thought that the opposite would be true. I guess the various states don’t care for tenters. The part that rankles is that they don’t even offer any discount for Seniors. I’ve also noticed that the private campgrounds nearly always have cleaner bathrooms and showers. O.K., enough whining; it’s time to ride over a long bridge and through some tunnels! | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Hey John! Judy says HEY and thanks for the postcards. It puts a smile on her face every time she gets one and I can't thank you enough. | ||
| Tootal |
When on the Eastern Shore there's only one thing you have to remember...Crab Cakes!! | ||
| Hootowl |
"I’m finding that the State Parks are the highest priced places for tent camping and usually not nearly as nice as the private campgrounds" Private enterprise usually provides a better and more cost effective service than government. | ||
| Hootowl |
"I’ve also noticed that the private campgrounds nearly always have cleaner bathrooms and showers." I did my dry suit certification at a state park in Washington. The bathroom was a one room concrete box with a broken door knob, and raw sewage a half an inch deep on the floor. I changed outside. | ||
| 86129squids |
"When on the Eastern Shore there's only one thing you have to remember...Crab Cakes!!" What about Lobster Rolls? I've only been to Baltimore once, but I stopped at a Phillip's Seafood restaurant on the harbor...  Lots of neat places- my giant fail was not seeing the aquarium there, but we toured Fell's Point, quite cool. Here's a neat story about a neat guy that hangs there: http://www.npr.org/2015/08/28/435189774/stargazing -from-the-street-corner-telescope-and-hat-in-hand Sounds like a guy you might appreciate, RoadCrust! | ||
| Crusty |
Squids; That's a neat article about somebody following his heart.Thanks for putting the link up. | ||
| 86129squids |
Crusty, happy to share it with ya. Be sure to eat your body weight in good seafood while you can! Chili and BBQ are always good, but top-notch fish is top of the list for me! | ||
| Crusty |
I'm afraid I won't take you up on that seafood advice; I'm allergic to seafood. The last time I had a meal of water breathing creatures, I spent the next 13 hours in the bathroom being violently ill. | ||
| Crusty |
The Bridge / Tunnel and The Roar On the Shore I crossed off another item on the Bucket List yesterday. I rode my motorcycle across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge / Tunnel. I really got a buzz doing it. I first crossed it back in 1971 or so; a couple of friends and I drove down to Fort Eustis, VA to visit Ernie when he was stationed there. I loved it then, and for all the years since, I’ve wanted to ride it. Terri and the girls and I drove over it back in 2003, and that only increased my itch to ride it on a motorcycle. After I paid my $13.00 toll and actually started riding on the first bridge, I was giddy. The weather was beautiful; temps in the mid to upper 70s, a slight haze, but not very cloudy. The smell of the ocean and the feel of the air just increased the sensory overload I was experiencing. The Bridge / Tunnel consists of long stretches of bridge and two tunnels about a mile long, or so (I didn’t check my odometer; I was having too much fun). I stopped at the island where the first tunnel entrance was and took some pictures. I didn’t go into the restaurant/gift shop. I was afraid that they might still be selling the poster of Edible Mollusks, Crustaceans, etc. that I’d bought back in 1971, and I’d have to buy another one. Sue and I had that poster on our walls for years. The islands at the entrances to the tunnels are man made, and the riprap keeping the ocean at bay (pun intended) consisted of huge pieces of rock; big jagged chunks that were eight feet or so on a side. The engineering and implementation that went into the whole project must have been both really intense and ground breaking ( another pun, but still true). I took a couple of pictures while stopped; one was of a guy who was fishing in a kayak. he had three poles, and I wondered what he’d do if he got bites on two of them at the same time. Then, I got back on the bike knowing that the pictures I took were inadequate, but not knowing what would be better. All in all, it’s a pretty impressive experience, riding a motorcycle out in the middle of Chesapeake Bay. If you ever get the chance, don’t pass it up. I’ve had a few people on the various forums I post on tell me that I shouldn’t miss the crab cakes, or that I should eat lots of seafood while I’m in the area. I have to say no way in hell to that. I’m allergic to seafood. The last time I ate a seafood dinner, (Fried Clams from Bill’s Fish Market in Waltham, MA), I spent the night in the bathroom being violently ill. My allergy wasn’t bad when I was young; there were certain things I could eat. I loved Swordfish and I especially loved Fried Clams. As time went on, however, my allergy got worse, and the list of items I could eat without getting ill became smaller and smaller. Finally, I realized that it was better to just stay away from seafood altogether. Maybe there are items I could eat; but if they’re items I’m allergic to, the consequences are bad enough that I don’t want to chance it. After the Bridge / Tunnel, it was a pleasant ride north through Virginia and Maryland. I stopped at a McDonalds in Maryland for lunch, and discovered the second Golden Arches that didn’t have WiFi on this trip. The first was in Burlington, Colorado; the second was in an unknown town along US Rt. 13 in Maryland. I’ve been in hundreds of McDonalds for breakfast in something like 39 states, all summer long, and I’ve only found two that didn’t offer free WiFi. That’s pretty good, I guess; but it still disappoints me when I discover one. Then again, I buy some of the cheapest items on the menu, so they’re not making much money off me. When you add in the cost of providing WiFi and the electricity I use charging my computer and cell phone batteries, they’re probably taking a loss. I have no valid cause for complaint; especially when I compare the WiFi at McD’s to the WiFi at Blubber King. Blubber King’s WiFi flat sucks. To get it, you have to endure advertisements from their “partners”. Sometimes “free” ain’t worth the price. I eventually found the track. I purchased my ticket and I’m camped on the edge of a nice grassy field. I didn’t know it, but there’s a thing called “Roar on the Shore” going on. There are loud rock bands and there are supposed to be assorted events going on, besides the race tomorrow night. There’s supposed to be a motorcycle Rodeo, games for kids, there;s a draft beer stand ($5.00/16 oz. cup!) food stand, a few vendors and a few porta-potties. La-de-freakin’-da! All I care about is the race (well, maybe I’ll check out the wet T-shirt contest). I got a look at the track yesterday. It looks good to my untrained eye. There were a few riders out on it during the afternoon, but I don’t know if it was to make sure the track is up to Contemporary Professional Standards, or if they were out for publicity photos or tire testing or what. There was a guard at the gate, and he wouldn’t let me in. I just hope it’s a good race tomorrow night. Well, as Clint Eastwood says when he’s directing; “That’s enough of that sh*t!” | ||
| 86129squids |
Dangit Crusty, you had mentioned to me up at Mark's rally being allergic to seafood... sorry man! I wonder if farm-raised catfish would hurt ya? From what I've heard of having to deal with a reaction, no, it certainly isn't worth it...  my GF's best buddy is acutely allergic to shellfish, but she's OK with regular fish. She and her fiancée went fishing up in the Great Lakes a while back, brought home a couple of iced coolers full of lake trout! Yum! Glad to hear of your bridge ride... I'll certainly try to do that someday. | ||
| Tootal |
Sorry to hear of your allergy, that really sucks! Years ago my riding buddy and I rode the Blue Ridge Parkway from South to North and then continued up Skyline Drive to Big Meadows. During this ride we stayed at the State Campgrounds which don't have any showers. After three days of riding we made it to Big Meadows and pulled up at the campground and our first question was, "Do you have a shower?" They said it was one dollar for ten minutes. Well I'm sure Crusty can relate that it was the best two bucks I ever spent!! The next day we rode into Front Royal Virginia and found some breakfast. We got out our maps to figure out where we wanted to go next. During our discussion my friend looks at me and says, "Do you like crab cakes?" So we headed North of DC and came down the eastern shore where we found a campground under pine trees. The needles were so thick it was like a mattress! Right across the street was a sea food restaurant so after another shower we went for crab cakes and it was well worth the ride! The next day we went over and under the Chesapeake Bay and found out that the toll was much higher for me since I had a ONE wheel trailer and they charged me for another axle!!! I guess we were still close enough to Washington DC for stupidity to rule. So sorry Crusty that you couldn't enjoy the seafood but glad you enjoyed the ride! | ||
| Etennuly |
Chesapeake bridge/tunnels. Wife and I did that about six or seven years ago. We took my boat(GMC Denali ~ lol)  . It is beautiful out there for sure. We ate at the restaurant and bought some stuff at the gift shop, worthy of the trip. I can only imagine how much better the ride across would be on a bike. Back to the Crusty Show.....  | ||
| Crusty |
Morning Has Broken… Crash, Clatter, Tinkle Today is Race Day. Tonight, I’ll be at the last race I’ll be able to see this season. I’m looking forward to it. The “Roar On The Shore” turned out to be a pretty dull roar. Whoever organized it, dropped the ball big time. There was no rodeo (or any other events, for that matter) and the bands playing were mediocre, at best. That’s OK, though because almost nobody showed up. Somebody lost their shirt. I hope that there’s a decent crowd for the Race; but, to be honest, I expect the crowd size to match everything else I’ve seen here. Ppppbbbbttt! (Bronx Cheer) Tomorrow morning, I’m going to decide whether it’s better to get a late start or pack a wet tent. The humidity here is very high, and the dew is really heavy. I guess I could pack up a soaking wet tent, then set it up on Monday and let it dry out. That’s probably what I’ll do. I’m not looking forward to negotiating my way around New York City. I looked at the toll schedules for the George Washington Bridge, and those buttholes want $14.00 for a motorcycle! They can kiss the darkest part of my lily white a**! I’ll go around it, even though it will take me longer. Freakin’ thieves. Yesterday, I got an e mail from a friend who asked if I reviewed the day I’d just had, or if I looked forward to the next day when I was about to go to sleep in my tent. That started me thinking about everything I’ve seen and all the places I traveled to these past few months. The highs, the lows and the unexpected. I now have material for several Snippets, even when I’m not on the move. Where I’d like to settle down is one of the major questions that’s been dominating my thoughts. Montrose, CO, Cincinnati, OH and Fitchburg, MA are the three leading contenders for very different reasons. Montrose has what I consider to be the closest to an ideal climate. The humidity is low there and I like that a lot. I don’t know what the winter is like, but I suspect it’s similar to the way winter was when I lived in Colorado Springs. Also, it’s a city; but not a big city. It’s big enough to provide the services I like from a city without being so big that I feel crushed. Cincinnati is a pretty neat place, even though it’s much bigger than I usually care for. Housing is cheap; most of the houses that I saw were brick houses, and looked pretty nice. Also, I met quite a few friendly people. Fitchburg is a place I know. I have quite a few friends in the area. I like the city and I like my friends. However; all three contenders have negative aspects, as well. I know almost nobody in Montrose. I know Sue, and I met the guys in the band she’s in (Thin Air), but that’s pretty much it. Plus, I’m not real sure of the price of housing. While I’m pretty sure it’ll be cheaper than housing in Massachusetts, I’m also pretty sure that it won’t be nearly as cheap as Cincinnati. I met a few very nice folks in Cincinnati, and the housing is very affordable, but there are quite a few, um, undesirable people there, as well. I stopped into a McDonalds to use their restroom, and there was a used syringe laying in the urinal. Crime will probably be pretty high. Fitchburg is cold in the winter and the rents are climbing toward being unaffordable. Winter in Fitchburg was one of the motivating reasons I set out on this course of wandering. I’ll keep kicking around the pros and cons for a while before I make any decision. Besides, I still have to get over to Australia. Who knows, I might figure out a way to stay there and not come back! (I doubt that. The Australian government has done what this country should do and closed its borders to immigration) Tuesday is my Birthday! I think I’ll celebrate by going to see my Primary Care Physician and getting my annual physical! Then, I’m going to treat myself to a good meal and a cup of fresh ground Kenya coffee and maybe a nice piece of cheesecake. | ||
| Strokizator |
If I were single I'd full-time in an RV with a trailer behind it for the bike. Drive somewhere interesting, set up camp and spend several days riding in different directions. Plus you can leave all that heavy gear behind on each day's ride, taking only an extra jacket and some snacks. Having a "home" instead of camping each night is easier on the old bones. Also easier to prepare meals, take a shower, etc, and the weather is always perfect. Spend the winter in the desert,camp in any location free for 14 days, then just pull up stakes and move a few miles down the road. Same for summer in the Utah mountains or four months in Alaska; the possibilities are endless. You can pick up a 10 year old, barely used Class "C" for between $10K & $15K. | ||
| Crusty |
Briefly… The Race was a good one, even though the track was slick and pretty much a one line track. I ate the outright best Race Track food I’ve ever had. It was Roast Beef that was cooked in a smoker (I don’t know for how long), then covered in a molasses glaze and cooked over charcoal. Thin sliced and piled high on a roll; it was heavenly! People who’ve gone with me to the Springfield Mile know how much I enjoy the Rib Eye sandwiches there. The “Pit Beef” sandwiches at Delmar makes them look like junk food. Not only are they a true delight to eat, they’re very reasonably priced at $5.00. All the food and beverages at the Speedway were reasonably priced; a large Pepsi was two bucks, crispy chicken was three bucks and fries were $1.75 and thick and fresh cut. The food alone is reason to hope that there’s a return next year. If the race does return, I’m going to try to get a group together to ride down. Well; the sun has risen; I’m going back to the track, break camp and head north. (Message edited by Crusty on September 20, 2015) | ||
| Crusty |
Intermission I’m back in Massachusetts. I rode up from Delaware yesterday; in heavy traffic nearly all the way. I stopped for a coffee and rest break at the truck stop in Connecticut, and I was exhausted. Riding at speed with crazy New Joisey and New Yawk drivahs requires a higher level of concentration than I’ve gotten used to over the summer, and the stress wore me out. But the best was yet to come. When I got on the Mass. Turnpike, the traffic was crawling along at about 7 MPH. Speeds gradually increased to something like 35 MPH, then it was hard on the brakes and down to a stop. Then all the way back up to 7 MPH and so on; complete with the idiots who will suddenly change lanes because they think the lane to their left or right is going .05% faster than the lane they’re in. I put up with it for exactly one exit, then I got off in Worcester and took a back route to Tammy’s house. I forced myself to stay awake until around 10:00 or so because I figured that if I went to bed any earlier, I’d be awake at 4:00 AM. It’s about 10 degrees cooler here than it was in Delaware. The forecast highs for Delmar for this week are all around 80, while here they’re around 70. It’s starting to cool down. Today, I’m going over to The Shop (GP Motorcycle Supply). I need to replace that broken front brake light switch and get a new rear tire and change my oil. It’ll be fun seeing everybody and trading insults with Jimmy. Guido will point out how fat I am and the “kids” will treat me like an eccentric old fart (which I am). I might even get to see some of the other “Characters” who frequent the Shop, like Vinnie or Sal or Doctor Joe or Chucky or one of the many whose names I forget. I’ve been doing business with The Shop since 1972, and there’s no place I’d trust more to work on my bike. They’ve gone through a name change (It used to be called Mack’s Motors) and they’ve moved from Everett to Chelsea to Malden, but it’s still the place for me to get quality work done. It’s an “Old Time” kind of bike shop, and they’re few and far between. I also want to swing by a Whole Foods market and pick up some Kenya coffee beans. I haven’t had Kenya coffee all summer long, and I want to have a cup or six tomorrow for my birthday. I think I’ll also pick up a small Alden Merrill cheesecake for the same reason. That’s it for now. | ||
| Tootal |
Have a Happy Birthday Crusty!  | ||
| 46champ |
Crusty how many miles have you ridden this year must be plenty with your 2 trips out west. | ||
| Zac4mac |
John - Happy B'Day!!!! Cheated the Reaper another year!!!! Still have your wristband on my 1125key from 2008!!!! Stop by on your world trip if you're in COLO. We are in Berthoud, CO. See ya Z | ||
| Cyclonedon |
Happy Birthday John! I enjoy reading of your riding adventures! Keep on riding! | ||
| Chauly |
Happy Birthday, John! This aging thing is not for wimps, but it's a wicked cool ride... :-) | ||
| Ulywife |
Happy Birthday Crusty! Hope you have a wonderful day. Enjoy reading your BWB blog! Safe travels and enjoy life! | ||
| Crusty |
And a Happy Birthday to you too, Kristi! I hope your day is magical! | ||
| 86129squids |
Happy Bday, RoadCrust! Keep on rolling, hoping to hear about some future down-under adventures! Plus, I've always wondered, but never gotten clear proof, whether the toilets flush backwards (oops, opposite rotation compared to here, backwards would be WRONG)... | ||
| Two_seasons |
Happy birthday Crusty. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Hey John If you're still in Mass, make sure and have 2-3 Quahogs and a good craft beer for dinner. "Koh-Hogs" are minced clam and dressing baked in the shells - add a pat or two of butter and it's Heaven in your mouth. I spent a year and a half in New Bedford and that was my favorite dinner after a long day. Not a lot of seafood in Colorado. Z |
