(rte 8). We jumped off on 109 and took that between the Wigwam and Morris Reservoirs to route 63. 63 took us through Litchfield, past the Durham Fairgrounds to route 4. A left at the rotary onto 4 and about 500 feet to the left brought us to Lunch in Goshen at AJ's Steak and Pizza.
Lunch as really good, the salads are still bigger than they need to be, there are plenty of peanuts to make a mess with, and the Garlic bread with cheese feeds...everyone. Bison burgers, Chicken sandwiches, onion rings, all good. And Tom threw me some bacon, (here boy).
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| That's Guinness, not brown Coors light |
When we finished we headed to the bikes, Tom was thinking of heading west to 7 then south, but figured we would be pressing our luck. As we pulled out of the parking lot Tom pointed out the thunderstorm to our northwest. He turned right and we headed back to 63 for a stop to get fuel at 109 and 63. As we ran through Litchfield Tom came over the speakers, "If you look to your one o'clock position you will notice a thunderstorm approaching from the west, if you look to your 6 o'clock position you will notice a thunderstorm moving in behind us, we are going the only way left open, thank you and make sure your tray tables and seat-backs are in their upright position". This would be that last time on the ride we were dry. It started raining before we got to 109, it rained during refueling but stopped before we left. Craig donned his rain gear. The rest of us decided we were already wet why bother. I can honestly say Craig was probably the driest of us all.
Tom's plan was to get back to the highway and get south below the storm line. We ran down and picked up route 8, Tom said, "We will be dry by the time we get to Guidas". . . it rained on route 8, it rained again on 84, it rained again on 691 and 66. . .we stopped at Guidas for Ice Cream...it rained.
Ol' Red has a starter relay issue, so you either park it on a hill and roll start it, (AJ's) or...you use a screwdriver and jump the terminals.
From Guidas the group broke up, Craig and Ginny didn't stop, they went straight through, Chris and Joe took off right away. Gerry and Linda took of on their own, after they waited for the rain to let up...in the rain.
Tom went straight when we left Guidas, and I believe Bunny and John.
Paul, Dan, Doug, Linda, Me and Natalie took a left on 66, a few lightning bolts ahead of us, and lots of rain, we cruised into Middletown. As we were climbing the hill on 66 by the school a car passed Doug, it ran through a BIG puddle and sent a wave over Linda.
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| Looking at Dan in his see through shirt, Nat said, "I'm glad I'm not wearing white today". |
In downtown Paul and Dan opted for 66 and 16, Doug, Linda and Nat and I took 9 south. Route 9 in Middletown was under water, I slowed for it and started through slow, Doug and Linda being on the higher side of the lane went for it putting a wave of water over the two of us, it was warm, Nat said it felt like someone just pee'd on her.
South of Middletown the clouds parted and I opened the throttle. It was just comfortable cruising from then on, Doug and Linda stayed on 9 to 95, Nat and I opted for 82, across the River then Mount Parnassus to Alexander to Salem rd, then Witch meadow to Rattlesnake to 354 and Old Colchester to 163 and back to Dunkin for her car.
I have to say, today's ride was a blast!!! It could have been a normal ride, which would have been enjoyable, but the rain added adversity, adversity adds fun and comaraderie. In all the rides I have been on I have not seen so many smiles in my life.
Natalie has not been on a bike in years, and for her first ride after so long she had a great time. Sure she could have sat there grumbling, but she didn't, like she said, "It is what you make it"
It was downright....Fun.
klay
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