Northeast Ride #2 – Day Six

It’s another chilly start today but the sky is clear and the sun is shining. I’m a bit lazy getting packed up but I eventually get Libby loaded up and hit the road before 9:00am. I’ve remembered the toll roads up here from the last trip a few years ago. You either stop at an attendant and pay cash or throw exact change into a coin receptacle. Both can be a pain on a bike, especially if you happen to have an extra layer of rain gear on. There’s no pay by mail options up here, at least not that I’ve encountered.

I’ve set Libby’s GPS to avoid toll roads. So far this has gone pretty well and taken me on some pretty good two lane rides but this morning is not so great. We’re just 200 miles from our target, the Rhode Island/Connecticut border on I-95. According to my Google research this is a good spot to get both signs.

We leave out of Portland and are immediately on two lane roads again. This time it’s very slow going. Top speed is 50mph in most places and we’re traveling through several small towns. Traffic is heavy and passing opportunities are rare. Libby has six gears but I rarely get her out of fourth.

Fog sets in within the first fifty miles and the sun disappears. This only lasts about 20 miles but eventually clears and the sun begins shine again. We eventually make it back into New Hampshire and continue meandering our way south. I’ve got no idea where but at some point we cross into Massachusetts, no sign that I noticed. The first hundred miles takes us all morning to get past, it’s afternoon by the time we get on some actual highways.

Traffic is still heavy for most of the day. It moves at speed most of the time with just a few slow downs and only one stop for just a few minutes. Sitting on a bike in standstill traffic sucks so I’m glad I mostly avoid that today.

Finally make it into Rhode Island. Again I don’t know when as there is no sign. I was hoping I’d cross into the state and get an extra opportunity for a photo but that didn’t happen. Rhode Island is small, even with traffic it doesn’t take long to run through it and we finally make it to our first destination.

The sign for Connecticut is at an exit so I bypass it for now, take the exit and head back in the opposite direction to go get the Rhode Island sign. There’s another car already here so I wait for them to get out, walk down to the sign and take their pictures. Once they finish and leave I pull up to snap my photo. Halfway there now and number four is literally in sight.

Back on the road and headed for the first exit, it’s just quarter mile away so not far to go. A quick jump off and back on the highway and we’re heading back to Connecticut. Another pull off for a photo and I’m now down to only two missing signs, New Jersey and Delaware.

It’s already after 2:00pm at this point. We’ve been at it for over five hours and have only gone 200 miles. I’m a bit stressed about not making good time today but not much I can do about it. I head down the road for a few more exits and pull off to find something to eat. First place I come to is Mystic Pizza II. Pizza isn’t really something I want but neither is spending any extra time searching for something else. It’s a neat little joint with both a general dining area and a bar area. Nothing fancy and only a couple of TVs. They offer a full menu of food but I opted for a simple pizza, and of course a couple of cold ones. The waitress and I share a short conversation about my adventures and her one experience in Texas.

It’s just after 3:00pm when I finish lunch and head out. I’ve turned off the toll road bypass on the GPS and set my sights on a campground in New York. I’ve had enough of the two lane back roads today and will deal with any tolls just so long as I’m on highway. The campground is another 150 miles away and is pretty much due west of me so I’ll be able to stay out of any of the New York City area, I want nothing to do with it. I’m still unsure if I want to visit the city at all, I certainly don’t want to on a bike.

I’m going to save Jersey and Delaware for tomorrow. I think my research is good but I’d like as much time in the day as possible to be able to back track and find better crossings if need be. The trek back into New York is all highway and I still avoid any tolls but traffic is still heavy, a lot of people out on the roads today. I finally make it to camp just before the office closes at 6:00pm.

The campsite is off in the middle of nowhere. Town isn’t far away but I got lost just getting here. There’s not a lot of food options and I don’t feel like riding around trying to find something. The office sells beer and ice so grab a 12-pack and head to my site to setup for the night. I’m greeted by one of my neighbors almost instantly, a very chatty three year old. He tells me how cool Libby is and all about his car collection, all without leaving his campsite.

The camp is riddled with trees and the sound of crickets and cicadas can be heard even before the sun sets. As I’m setting up my tent another neighbor makes his way over. He’s a fellow biker in from Pennsylvania. He loads his bike into a toy hauler and he and his wife spend time riding around whatever area they decide on. They’ve been here since Saturday and haven’t been able to ride much due to the rain. It only just stopped today apparently. We chat for just a few minutes and go our separate ways. I never catch his name but he commended my dedication to riding.

I’m not terribly hungry at this point but I know I’ve got to eat something. The camp booklet has an ad for a local pizzeria restaurant that delivers to the campsite so I check out their menu which is pretty extensive. A quick call and a short hour later and my dinner is delivered to my “door”. Veal with pasta, a salad and some bread. Way more food than I’ll be able to eat but it’s good. I don’t eat much of it but force feed myself as much as I can. Maybe I can save the salad and bread for breakfast. A little unconventional but food is food, right?

Tomorrow we’ll head south into New Jersey and then into Delaware. We’re technically head home already but once that final photo is taken we’ll officially head home. Still have another four days after tomorrow so should be able to take my time getting there. Might take the long way and hit up the Carolinas. I’ll map it out later. Hopefully the rain continues to stay away too. Staying dry the last couple of days has been nice, I’d like to continue that. For now though, I’m going to enjoy a fire for a bit as it’s a little chilly out, for me at least. Enjoy your Friday!