My initial destination was Richmond, Virginia, where I was to meet my
girlfriend who was riding in a cage from Texas. I left downtown Detroit,
Michigan, about 5:30 Friday evening, April 25, 2003. I returned Tuesday,
April 29th, at 6:00 p.m. My "Green Hornet" had just had her first check up
and oil change and she was eager to hit the road! We bolted out of the city
and hit the Ohio border rather quickly, he said sheepishly). There we picked
up the Ohio Turnpike and headed eastward. I've read some rumors here and
there that soon these turnpikes will be charging less for motorcycles, but
that change has not taken effect yet. Seems only fair to me.

I'm sure most of you realize that Ohio is one of the few no-helmet states,
even though I rarely take advantage of this.

Anyway, with a keen eye out for the notorious Ohio State Troopers, the
Hornet and I whisked our way along the fine turnpike pavement and did not
hit rain till Cleveland. Nothing really heavy, just kind of a nuisance.
But the Green Menace never skipped a beat and tracked a bead through the
whole rainy evening. We finally got tuckered out about 50 miles east of
Pittsburg. There we stopped and settled in for some rest at a Red Roof Inn.

At about 6:00 a.m., after some sleep and a nice hot shower, it was time to
re-strap down the gear and return to the road. The temperature had dropped a
lot during the night and the air was wet and heavy. I was really concerned
that an icy drizzle was going to greet me soon.
I took the heavy-duty 50-gallon trash bag I always carry and covered my gear
bag and backpack and strapped and taped it to hold. Rain suit was deployed.
I picked my neoprene gloves; they're not as warm, but they dry quicker.
Off we go. On the road by 6:15 a.m.

I always use a lot of extra caution and take it real slow first thing in the
morning in an unfamiliar town. Triple head-checks at every little turn and
bend. And I try to make sure I'm reading all the signs correctly back to
turnpike or wherever. Nothing worse then getting down the road fifty miles
only to realize you're headed in the wrong direction! (Not that I would
ever do a thing like that... lol).

I rode the PA Turnpike east to Breezewood. There I picked up I-70 and rode
briefly through W. VA and Maryland till I hit I-81. Then south to I-64 east
into Richmond. The rain did not stop until just past Maryland, but the big
Kaw Z-Rex really impressed me with how well it stuck to the rode at speed in
the wet. It really handled it all with a lot of confidence.

I know this sounds like a lot of super-slab time, but, with the weather
conditions I was more in the mood to cover distance quickly. The scenery
along I-81 is excellent. Right through the heart of the Appalachian
Mountains. And I did get off the highway for a while to ride down the
Shenandoah Parkway. Roads were all in good condition. Nice sweeps and
twisties on the parkway. Cool small towns to stop in and visit.

Beware the city of Richmond!!! They could be this nation's worst drivers.
Almost died about five times in my first twenty minutes in that town.
Incredible! And this from a guy who lives in Detroit. So please, if you
are ever there, pray to whatever God you pray to and get out soon. Lol. At
least that's what I did. I met my girlfriend, did what you're supposed to
do when you haven't seen each other in four months, and then asked her if we
could please leave town! She must love me, because she said okay. So the
next morning she got in her cage and, after a little wash and polish and
chain lube, the Green Hornet and I headed for the Stroudsburg, PA, in the
Pocono Mountains.

This proved to be a bit longer of a trip than I anticipated, but enjoyable
nonetheless. We took I-64 back west to I-81 north up to
I-80 east and on into Stroudsburg. This was my bright idea to avoid the
traffic along the coast around Baltimore and Wash. D.C. This route did
this, but it also added about 80 miles to the trip, which did nothing to
please my partner, all stuck in her comfy cage with AC and CD players and
cushy leather seats. I can never figure these car people complaining about
their discomfort!

Anyway, the Poconos were beautiful and chock full of great fun roads to work
on your skills. Cheesecake and smooth mountain roads to ride, what more
could you ask for? The Delaware Water Gap is an awesome sight from a bike.
Really cool. Plus, it was off-season, so the rates on rooms were super
cheap.

But all too soon, Tuesday morning, it was time to say goodbye to the GF and
head for home. I was on the road by 8:30 and back in downtown Detroit by
6:00 p.m.! I think I might have been moving a tad fast here and there, but
the roads were uncluttered and smooth. The toughest riding on way the back
was in the pouring rain all through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Some great
scenery with several awesome very high bridges over some different rivers.
I just love going over those, taking it easy, smelling the air. Really
reminds me of what our sport is all about.

Well, I guess I could go on an on, and I will post some pictures in the
future. But that's my first spring ride story for 2003.

Safe riding everybody!

Rhino - US-MI-Detroit
(Jeff Randall)