Southeast MA to Fishkill NY
Wednesday March 14, 2018
(~191 miles)

I’d been hearing what a good time the annual IBA Jacksonville (FL) “pizza party” gathering is from my pal Ken, and the winter had been very unkind to us riders in New England – so I was ready to kick off 2018 with a trip of some substance. I took a chance on the weather and booked my banquet/hotel spot in January and hoped for clear skies and roads when March rolled around. To minimize time away from work, I also signed up for a ride-in Saddlesore 1000 ride to help motivate me to get down there in a single day.

As February wore into March, we began to get pummeled with nor’easters and heavy snowfalls with no significantly warmer weather in sight for March. I watched the weather websites anxiously, running scenarios and identifying go/no-go decision points. When they forecast our third storm in as many weeks – for the day prior to my planned departure – I was almost resigned to pulling the plug on the trip and waiting another week or two to finally get some riding in. Ken and I messaged each other regarding updates in the forecast and he encouraged me to stay positive until the last minute.

On Tuesday March 13, the nor’easter arrived and dumped 17″ of snow on my town, over the course of an entire day. I worked from home that day and shoveled and snowblowed multiple times to keep up with it all – my vision of sunny southern skies dwindling under the swirling snow drifts. To top things off – another nor’easter was already being predicted for early the FOLLOWING week! So winter is clearly not done with us yet.

The following day was forecast to be above freezing and up to the low 40’s so I hoped it would be enough to melt the crud and ice off the local roads. All day Wednesday, I watched the ice melt from the driveway and our street, finally showing mostly bare dry pavement.

I took a ride out to the interstate a few miles away around midday to confirm whether I’d be able to make it safely – I-95 was completely fine by then. Though the local roads were still slushy, the sun was out and melting things quickly. I decided to continue counting on my evening departure and rushed about completing my packing and prep.

My planned departure time of 16:00 came and went, but I finally got on the road around 16:45. There were still snow showers along the Mass Pike to I-84 so I skirted south around Providence rush hour on I-295 and rode west across CT on I-95 with temps in the mid-high 30’s. I planned to start my Saddlesore ride from Fishkill NY early the next morning, so as to get a headstart out of New England, and to time avoidance of NYC corridor rush hour traffic.

I cut northwest from New Haven on CT-34 to I-84 and pulled in to my Fishkill hotel just after 20:00. Walked next door to have some hot tea, soup and sandwich at the I-84 Diner, which hit the spot. Snagged a piece of coconut custard pie to eat back in the room, being as it was national Pi Day after all (3/14)!

Fishkill NY to Jacksonville FL
Thursday March 15, 2018
(~1091 miles)

I awoke on time, and was a just a few minutes late getting out the hotel door for my planned 03:00 departure. It was hovering around 30-32F but clear out and the weather maps showed clear sailing for my entire route. I had re-routed more southerly through Allentown to avoid the higher elevations near Scranton (tip from Ken). I secured my start receipt from the gas station up the road, cranked my heated liner and gloves, and hit the highways.

I knew I was in for a pretty cold ride for this trip, with temperatures likely to remain around freezing for at least the first six hours. Ken had ridden down the previous day and mentioned several times how it was still below or around freezing as far south as South Carolina and Georgia. I decided to allow myself more frequent breaks to warm up as needed. I stopped around 06:00 for a hot tea and Egg McMuffin in Hamburg PA along I-78, before finishing out the remaining miles to my first planned fuel stop by Harrisburg.

I joined I-81 and stopped for another warm-up just over the VA line, halfway into my second leg, and it then began warming up enough to ride fuel stop to fuel stop (~200 miles). It broke 40 degrees for the first time around the North Carolina border, and I started seeing spring blossoms and green buds on trees, along with some daffodils planted by the roadway. I was able to check South Carolina off my “ridden states” list at last and enjoyed a nice quick ride through the state on I-77 and I-26 as temperatures rose into the 50s, before finally re-joining I-95 for the last stretch through Georgia and into Florida (another state to check off).

As I approached Jacksonville closing in on 21:00, I realized I’d neglected to pre-select a gas station to end my certified ride, having simply punched in the hotel coordinates as my destination. Being pretty low on fuel and not knowing my way around this new city, I exited at downtown and located a BP station right next to the interstate. As I pulled up I could immediately tell this was a questionable choice, with some sketchy-looking folks hanging about on the nearby street corners and sidewalks looking like they had no particular place to go at that moment. I was tired, out of gas, and I had reached Jacksonville, so damned if I wasn’t going to collect my receipt before making the last few miles to the hotel.

As I removed my tank bag to access the cover, a local walked over to me asking for my shoe size (?!). Focused on my task, I told him 13 and he immediately enjoined in a sales pitch: “Hey man, I got some really nice size 13 sneaker just over across the street. I’ll give you a really good deal, lowest price…” etc etc. I politely said “No thanks, man, all set.” and proceeded with the task at hand. At this point a car full of loud young individuals pulled up to another pump and distracted him, while I attempted to run my credit card at the pump. First card: “Please see cashier”. Second card: “Please see cashier”. Oh man you’ve got to be kidding me!

I reluctantly walked over to the heavily barricaded convenience store, stealing backward glances at my bike as I went in and waited to speak with the clerk. When my turn came, there was a language barrier, but I finally understood that I needed to pre-pay. OK fine, whatever. The card worked and I scooted back out to my bike, which was miraculously unmolested. I was able to get the pump working this time and quickly pumped in the pre-paid amount and stored my receipt.

As I began prepping to go, the “shoe salesman” tried his pitch on another hapless looking gentleman of ragged appearance, who had wandered into the parking lot with a large backpack. This guy began yelling out “I don’t know this person! I don’t know this person!” over and over as his shoe needs were queried. The store clerk came out to watch. I felt like I’d entered another dimension and couldn’t believe my bike actually started and carried me out of there without further incident. Unfortunately, no pics to document this bizarre encounter, I’ll need to work on my spy tradecraft.

The remaining miles to the Ramada passed without incident, and I was grateful to be welcomed by a few familiar faces when I pulled up to the door and got checked in. On recommendation from hotel staff, I ordered a pizza and some amazing garlic knots delivered from Five Star Pizza and enjoyed a late meal in my room before hitting the hay. After all, more riding awaits tomorrow!