The Howe Caverns ride actually started the day before for same of us. Some of the riders came in from out of town on Friday night. My ride co-leader Steve and Sue Cerutti hosted Lorie and Norm Walton at their home. While I had dinner and beverages with Friday night guests that were overnight in the hotel. Dave Brown, Brian and Andrea Felice, My wife Cindy and myself went to Chili's. We had a great time there. Brian needed to unwind because he was stressed about the possibility of his KIPASS stranding him on the way. But once here, he felt a much needed relief with a glass of White Zinfandel. Unfortunately Marc Hering also came into town early. But he didn't call my cell phone, which is not like him, because we talk quite a bit. Marc had time to join us, but unfortunately missed us. Well Howe Caverns turned out to be a beautiful day. Of course it was 91 degrees and humid on the way back (Which is hot since it's been a very cool summer). I arrived early at the meeting spot which was the Pilot Travel Center in Newburgh, NY. I'm glad I did, because a lot of the people also showed up early. We were close to departure time when we picked up rider number 13. This was a surprise because it was a last minute decision for him to come. As of the night before (Paul Lindman) wasn't coming because he hadn't made lodging plans. So it was a nice surprise when he called my cell phone shortly before we left. He was close and made it on time. But he just rode a few hours to make it here. So we left a few minutes later than scheduled. It's easy to blame it on Paul, but it's easier to blame it on myself and others who have big mouths. Time flies when your talking! 
We had 13 riders. Andrea and Brian Felice rode in from Rhode Island. Lorie and Norm Walton rode in from Connecticut. Dave Brown, Paul Lindman and Marc Hering each rode in from New Jersey. Abbe and Ben Otunu, Fred Whitaker, Sue and Steve Cerutti, and myself were all from the Hudson Valley area (NY). We had a calm paced ride both up and back from the caverns. We rode a route to Howe Caverns that was pretty much all back roads. It consisted of hills, turns, wooded roads and some rolling hills and farms . Basically a diversified rural ride, with some towns in between. It was about 100 mile ride which took about 2 1/2 hours. We went straight through on the way there. When we arrived at Howe Caverns, it was already in the 80's with full sun. Howe Caverns was busy so there was no shaded parking for the bikes. Although Fred and myself tried to get in some shade. But we were in the sun before we left. It was an exercise in futility. We Bought our tickets as a group to tour the caverns. Then we had lunch in the Caverns cafe'. When we were ready to take the to tour, Sue collected our tickets and we were on the next tour down in the Caverns. The Caverns are about 150 feet under ground to start with. It's about 52 degrees year round so some of us wore jackets. We had a very nice tour guide named Kelsey. I'm terrible with names, but actually remembered hers because it being a different name. We toured the caverns for about an hour and a half . Which consisted of walking about a mile, up and down hill. Plus we got a boat ride. It was nice and cool as well as interesting to see and hear about. When we came up to the surface again. The nice and cool naturally air conditioned (from the caverns) lobby seemed much warmer now. So out side then seemed brutal. It was about 90 degrees outside and humid. I have 2 thermometers on my bike (why I don't know). The LCD thermometer was black from the heat of the sun. The Formotion thermometer was pegged all the way around at 130. We departed between 3:30 and 4 o'clock. Fred notice that his tire pressures went down once under way. I guess the tires heated up just from sitting in the hot sun. At this point Lorie and Norm Walton and Andrea and Brian Felice headed straight home towards Connecticut and Rhode Island respectively. It was the smart thing for them to do and I would have done the same if I were in their position. The rest of us stared back on route number 2 which was similar to the route there except I change the route after the first 50 miles to give other good roads. We stopped in Saugerties which is the half way mark. It's also where the ride begins to be different from the ride there. We fueled up and took a break. It was getting late so Dave and Marc decided to jump on the Thruway (I87) and slab it back to New Jersey. Paul was too tired to ride back to New Jersey, so he stayed riding with us. I want to thank Sue and Steve for taking Paul into their home for the night, so he could sleep before heading home Sunday. We continued on back towards home. Everyone basically peeled off down towards Newburgh to head toward their respective homes. I myself arrived home around 7:30 or so. I was too tired from a long day to down load pictures and write this report. So I began downloading the pictures and titling them at 3:30 his morning. So here's the result. I have to finish up here because I have to head out to meet the guys for my weekly Sunday morning ride. (90+ degrees again today) I would like to take this time to thank everyone for coming and hope you had a good time. I would especially like to thank my co leader Steve Cerutti and his wife Sue for all their help. As well as Connecticut AAD Norm and Lorie Walton for their input. Now we have to start planning another before the years out. P.S. here are the photo's that I took. They will be nowhere near as good as Dave's photo's. But here they are anyway!!!! http://rides.webshots.com/album/574139138INuhQB P.S. I forgot to add that I had bought a get well card for Dave (Wes) Hays, from Ohio. Wes had a bad crash on his C14 and is in the hospital in pretty bad shape. I brought it on the ride to afford all the ride participants a chance to sign the card. I put it out in the mail Sunday, for Monday pick up. Get well soon Wes! Bob Bionic Bob COG & AMA member First C14 CDA member #0220 2008 C14 & 2003 Mean Streak
We had 13 riders. Andrea and Brian Felice rode in from Rhode Island. Lorie and Norm Walton rode in from Connecticut. Dave Brown, Paul Lindman and Marc Hering each rode in from New Jersey. Abbe and Ben Otunu, Fred Whitaker, Sue and Steve Cerutti, and myself were all from the Hudson Valley area (NY). We had a calm paced ride both up and back from the caverns. We rode a route to Howe Caverns that was pretty much all back roads. It consisted of hills, turns, wooded roads and some rolling hills and farms . Basically a diversified rural ride, with some towns in between. It was about 100 mile ride which took about 2 1/2 hours. We went straight through on the way there. When we arrived at Howe Caverns, it was already in the 80's with full sun. Howe Caverns was busy so there was no shaded parking for the bikes. Although Fred and myself tried to get in some shade. But we were in the sun before we left. It was an exercise in futility. We Bought our tickets as a group to tour the caverns. Then we had lunch in the Caverns cafe'. When we were ready to take the to tour, Sue collected our tickets and we were on the next tour down in the Caverns. The Caverns are about 150 feet under ground to start with. It's about 52 degrees year round so some of us wore jackets. We had a very nice tour guide named Kelsey. I'm terrible with names, but actually remembered hers because it being a different name. We toured the caverns for about an hour and a half . Which consisted of walking about a mile, up and down hill. Plus we got a boat ride. It was nice and cool as well as interesting to see and hear about. When we came up to the surface again. The nice and cool naturally air conditioned (from the caverns) lobby seemed much warmer now. So out side then seemed brutal. It was about 90 degrees outside and humid. I have 2 thermometers on my bike (why I don't know). The LCD thermometer was black from the heat of the sun. The Formotion thermometer was pegged all the way around at 130. We departed between 3:30 and 4 o'clock. Fred notice that his tire pressures went down once under way. I guess the tires heated up just from sitting in the hot sun. At this point Lorie and Norm Walton and Andrea and Brian Felice headed straight home towards Connecticut and Rhode Island respectively. It was the smart thing for them to do and I would have done the same if I were in their position. The rest of us stared back on route number 2 which was similar to the route there except I change the route after the first 50 miles to give other good roads. We stopped in Saugerties which is the half way mark. It's also where the ride begins to be different from the ride there. We fueled up and took a break. It was getting late so Dave and Marc decided to jump on the Thruway (I87) and slab it back to New Jersey. Paul was too tired to ride back to New Jersey, so he stayed riding with us. I want to thank Sue and Steve for taking Paul into their home for the night, so he could sleep before heading home Sunday. We continued on back towards home. Everyone basically peeled off down towards Newburgh to head toward their respective homes. I myself arrived home around 7:30 or so. I was too tired from a long day to down load pictures and write this report. So I began downloading the pictures and titling them at 3:30 his morning. So here's the result. I have to finish up here because I have to head out to meet the guys for my weekly Sunday morning ride. (90+ degrees again today) I would like to take this time to thank everyone for coming and hope you had a good time. I would especially like to thank my co leader Steve Cerutti and his wife Sue for all their help. As well as Connecticut AAD Norm and Lorie Walton for their input. Now we have to start planning another before the years out. P.S. here are the photo's that I took. They will be nowhere near as good as Dave's photo's. But here they are anyway!!!! http://rides.webshots.com/album/574139138INuhQB P.S. I forgot to add that I had bought a get well card for Dave (Wes) Hays, from Ohio. Wes had a bad crash on his C14 and is in the hospital in pretty bad shape. I brought it on the ride to afford all the ride participants a chance to sign the card. I put it out in the mail Sunday, for Monday pick up. Get well soon Wes! Bob Bionic Bob COG & AMA member First C14 CDA member #0220 2008 C14 & 2003 Mean Streak
