Guy Boutin's Motorcycle Touring and Travel Pages

Adventures in Sport Touring with the Honda ST 1100, 1300 and the BMW 1200RT

Exploring North America...One Road at a Time

Day 9
August 9th, 2003
West Chester, Pennsylvania

I said my good byes around 10am and took to the road.  Unlike last year, this one is short.

"so when will you be back?"

"dunno Aunt Connie, perhaps in the fall, but you never know when I might wander in, just keep the key under the mat"

I jockeyed down to I-95, and rolled south.  Traffic was typical I-95.  The worst road in America.  It is dirty and ugly.  But the only way to get to DC.  Back roads in this part of the country are mainly urban sprawl.  You don't want to try it.

It was cloudy and rainy looking- AGAIN.  So long since I've seen a blue sky.

The four lanes of I-95 are slammed tight, and I jostle for position.  How I hate this highway.

I remember the Chesapeake service area from last year, and I went to it when it appeared.  The sign said it had a Popeye's Chicken inside and that sounded good.  I KNOW they know how to do fried chicken and biscuits.

I was standing next to a black family from Houston in the queue line.  The father wore jeans and a cowboy hat, and I knew he was from Texas before he even told me.  We spoke at length, he said he was ready to get back south after visiting family in New Jersey.  

The red beans and rice were perfect. and the chicken up to the usual Popeye standards.  I knew home was not much farther.

I was charging along I-95 when 2 charter busses passed me on the right.  I was doing over 80mph.  They were clipping along, changing lanes, and blowing cars away.  They were dangerous.  Don't they know how long it takes to stop a bus at 90mph?  I felt sorry for their passengers, in what surely must be the ride of their life.

Baltimore came into view, and I swung around to the outside loop, picking up I-95 on the other side.  I came through without incident, in what I would call heavy traffic.

This is not a good ride.  I feel closed in and rushed.  My mind can't wander aimlessly.  I have to stay alert, too many cars, going too fast to relax. And wouldn't you know it- rain was on the radar.  I was zeroing in dark clouds ahead, and I pulled the collar on the Roadcrafter.

Not far from the beltway, I hit rain.  Not as hard as in the past, but steady.  The beltway takes me south around DC, where I pick up 95 again and take the Lorton exit.  At highway speed most rain is swept over and around a ST rider.  Surprisingly, I had no construction zone encounters, and made it to Lorton around 1pm, with no difficulties.

I took the Lorton exit, and stopped at a Shell station to top off the tank.  I also picked up a couple of Mountain Dews for later.

I knew how to get to David's house.  It's pretty easy, just make a right turn at the light, go all the way to end, come back the opposite way, and its the first street on the right.

The carefully manicured yards and colonial style houses of the neighborhood greeted me.  These houses were only a few years old, no telling what they cost, but once again, a total brick home was not to be found, but I did manage to spot a few that were half bricked. 

A steady drizzle was coming down when I pulled in the driveway.  Grey clouds hung low, but a few white clouds could be seen in the distance.

Everyone was glad to see me when I knocked on the door.  They didn't hear the quiet ST when I pulled in.  David has the good fortune of living halfway between Alabama and Maine.  Because of that, he is subject to be crashed on most all east coast rides.

The kids were excited to see me, and I played games and colored with them.  Then we went outside and passed the football.

          Michael and Megan.  Nothing like family.

Supper were some excellent steaks and baby back ribs.  Seared to perfection on the grill.  Thought I was at the fire station.

After supper we watched the Redskins get creamed on David's new home theatre system, complete with big screen and sound system.

I called home, then borrowed David's Gateway to check email for the first time since leaving Canada.  I answered the musts, then went back to the tv.

I explained this will be a short visit, I was leaving out early in the morning.  I was anxious to get in the mountains.  I went to bed around 11 and slept well.

Next- Va and Tenn mountains.  Great riding, and lots of leaning.