I know that this day will be a mad rush through traffic. It doesn't disappoint me. I start out at 9:30 and traffic is light. Good advise by the desk staff last night. I follow 495 around the Boston area but stay out of the main traffic area. All I am trying to do is get through this mess in 1 piece. I get to 95 south and traffic starts to increase. I then get into RI and am immediately into Providence. I can't help but think about the guy that I did all that drinking with from Providence. We got discharged together and I gave him a ride home. This city sure is different from what I remember from Aug, 1967. I am trying to remember his name and all I can come up with is D'augustino. I remember the big welcome home that he got and that Sunday dinner with all the pasta and people. I wonder how he has done these last 40 ++ years.
The hwy through Providence seems to be 1 big bridge. The next thing I know is that I am in CN. It is getting toward noon. I check the temp and it is 100. The asphalt is scorching hot. The bike cooling fans are blowing hot. The wind coming off the enviroment is scorching hot. I just keep drinking water and some Dr Pepper. As I start to get close to NY the traffic starts to really increase. I stop for a rest break, get a map and figure my best path of travel. I will cross the Hudson at Terrytown NY. I keep thinking that I would have like to take some pictures of this area but traffic is happening way to fast for me to try and do that.
As I travel toward the bridge, I run into constrution and the road gets really ruff. I notice that my camper looks kinda crooked so I find a place to stop and check it out. The rough roads have caused a bolt to loosen and fall out. I need to knock the strut off the deck and get everything back in place. I don't have anything to really secure it on well so hope that the elastic on the top cover keeps it from coming apart. It did the job.
I get over the bridge with another rip-off toll. I head south on the Garden State Parkway, another ripoff toll. It is just a little before 3 PM and traffic is moderate as I head for I 95 and the Jersey Pike. I am starting to think that I will get through this mess without to much trouble when I run into on of those CA parking lots. 4 lanes wide and stopped. Sign says delays because of a traffic crash up ahead. I see a hwy and town that I recognize from reading the maps so get off the Parkway. By the time I figureout what is happening I realize that I am going the wrong direction. Off the hwy and I find a gas station to fuel up at. I get directions and it turns out I am on the right road to get on the Parkway below the accident scene and can continue my journey. I get to see some nice NJ neighborhood but couldn't tell you where I was at. I follow the directions and wa-la there is the Parkway and traffic is flowing nicely. New Jersey Turnpike, here I come.
I get headed south on the Jersey pike and even with heavy traffic we move at speed. I am doing 65 and trying to stay in the middle so that the fast ones can play on both sides of me. I check the temp and it is still 103. It stays at the level until I get to the Delaware River. The river has a cooling effect and the temp stars to drop. I get going on south into DE on US 13. I am now officially hot, tired and looking for a place to stay. I am also in rush hour traffic and on a hwy with many stop lights. So it is a lot of stop and go. The only plus is temp has dropped to under 90. That is a real blessing. I continue south on the DE Parkway to Dover when I find a nice hotel and am able to stop. I have put on 448 miles of heavy traffic riding. All I want to do is get clean, get something to eat and then sleep. I find a nice resturant that has softshell crab. It is a real delacacy in this area. I enjoy the meal. Before I call it a night, I check in with Gunny and findout if they will be home for this weekend. They will and I am for sure visiting them on Friday. I am really looking forward to that. Milo
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