Day 10 - Boston MA to New York NY

Total miles:278

Route: all over the place - too much to list

By the numbers:
0 - motorcyclists on the road in MA and RI
1 - WTF are you talking about
moment
48 - temperature for most of the day

I slept in again this morning but got ready quickly. I hit the road and chatted with the bell hop about how best to get to Harvard Square. It was only a few miles away so I figured I didn't need to put all my cold weather gear on. I hit the road with the bell hops directions clear in my head. Three turns later I'm on the freeway headed south out of Boston. Damn it!

I figure I'd just suck it up and keep riding a bit but 10 miles later I'm freezing and staving. I start looking for a place to eat. I pull off and end up at another McDonald's. Oh well - at least I know what I want.

The two black ladies behind the counter are a riot! "Hey sugar - how you doing? Yes, I'm flirting with you." I order my usual with a few extra hashbowns (how I love them so) and try to warm up.

I'm almost done eating and I'm enjoying the live act from Lois and Kim when I notice a guy outside checking out my bike. Not the first time. He's probably never seen anything like it.

I get all my gear on and head out. To my right I hear a thick Boston accent, "Hey! Nice fucking bike!". I laugh at the comment and he gets out of his truck and we start chatting. I comment that its been a long ride and motion towards my license plate. "Holy shit I you rode all the way!?!? You got balls man!". I laugh and say, "Nope - just a sore ass."

I hit the road to Hyannis and appreciate every ray of sunshine that shines through. I'm glad I brought all my gear but I curse that heated vest for not working.

Hyannis was only an hour or so away and it was fairly uneventful. I expected to be in an area like Sausalito - Senatorshave vacation houses in Cape Cod right? It looked like a beach town with nicer beat up homes. Nothing like I expected - no tourist value, just a small town to get away to.

I punch in the GPS coordinates for my hotel in Union City NJ (North Bergen really) and realize I have 232 miles to go. I better ha ass if I want to beat traffic. I got a hold of a motorcycling buddy who lives in Manhattan and we were meeting at 6:30 near the Port Authority. Ok - time to show 95 south to a little 101 south driving.

First up on 95 S is Providence RI - I think I should check it out when I'm out here next. New Haven and Bridgeport CT fly by as I pass most everything in sight. I keep a close eye on my rearview for any Troopers.

I make it to the outskirts of NYC and 30 story buildings start popping up like weeds. I must be getting close. Sure enough ~15 miles out I can see the famous skyline...and I hit traffic. It's stop and go for 5 miles before opening up as I pass the usual turn off (George Washington Bridge). A few minutes later I'm at my crappy hotel in New Jersey.

I quickly check in and hit the shower hoping to not be late for drinks. At the front desk, I ask again where the bus stop is, what bus I should take, and how much it costs. Check, check, and check. I wait at the bus stop only a few moments before a suitable bus arrives.

Then I the bus waits in traffic getting to the Lincoln Tunnel. We wait. And wait. And wait some more 45 mintues to make it through the tunnel and into Port Authority. Fortunately, I snapped a few choice pics of the skyline as we slowly passed by.

I get off in Hells Kitchen which is not the slum it used to be. I quickly lose my orientation and head towards 7th Ave instead of 9th. Hmm - this could take some getting used to. I quickly make it past the mass of people and meet Hillary. She recommends the Irish Rogue as we pass up another crowded bar. We grab a drink and quickly catch up while realizing we needed some dinner. She suggests a sushi joint and I quickly agree.

We head to Haru and we have to go through times square. Wow - impressive but it looks bigger on TV. It reminds me of the Shibuya in Tokyo. I grab a few pics before we hit Haru.

We order and the sushi us great. Some of the best I've ever had. Even in the Tsukiji fish market. Impressive. We continue to catch up and I ask where I should go. She recommends Hogs 'N Heifers ro blocks away. I pay the $200 bill and we hug goodbye. I'm off to the famous bar. I grab a cab and I'm there.

I wander to the door and I'm greeted as expected - a blonde in a bra and tight jeans says, "what the fuck are you looking at?!?" Welcome to New York. As I get my I'd checked, the two bartenders start dancing on the bar. A nice sight, for sure.

I pull up a seat and have a black and tan. Erin and I start chatting and she drops the Dick's Last Resort act. Turns out she lived in the Oakland Hills for a year and we make small talk between her insults to the recent patrons. I have another beer and enjoy the free shows.

I turn around for a moment and survey the hundreds of bars of unique bar "art". I turn back and see a third black and tan... I may not be from NYC but I can tell when I'm being worked by scantilly clad women. I might as well have been at a strip club.

I push the beer to the side and head out the door. I head some commotion but I dont look back. I start walking up 9th Ave intending to hail a cab since it was 30 blocks to the Port Authority. I snap a few pics every couple blocks and take in the sights, sounds, and smells of New York.

I look up after one pic and I'm at the Port Authority. Cool - way less than a cab. Once out of the tunnel I walk the 6 blocks back to the hotel and call it a night. I'll be back in the morning NYC...