Dudley and Jennifer's 10,000 Mile Journey Blog

[Smylinacha]

:agree::agree::agree::agree:

Hey you working tonight?

 

[Dudley]

Once again we have evaded (or it has evaded us) the rain. We left Bangor, ME about 11 AM after going to Walmart for some munches for our son in Iraq and the USPS to mail it. The day remained foggy overcast the whole time from Bangor to Fredericton, NB except for a couple of tease breaks of sunshine. Several miles out of Fredericton the fog really got moist...collected on the windshield...but this is not a complaint...it DID NOT rain! So tonight we are in Fredericton. The passage through the border checkpoint was smooth...we had our passport card and answered a few questions about the Spyder and we were on our way. The road from Bangor to here is one really loooooong, dreary, drab piece of slab! Saw a number of Moose signs, but, alas, no mooses (I know, moose)! Tomorrow will be Nova Scotia. I think we will forgo Newfoundland...would be a bit over $300 just to say we did it. That's a lot of gas for the Spyder so we can do many other things with that money.

 

[Smylinacha]

Sounds like you guys are doing just fine! Hope you get to see a moose!

 

[Kjen]

Jennifer's View July 17, 2009

This is Jennifer. Seems there is a problem distinguishing me from Dudley; come on, I have longer hair, geesh.
Speaking of hair, Dudley has a no-doo rag to protect his helmet, no hair needs a no-doo and I have a pink one and a black/white one in case someone sees us and can't tell us apart.

Woke up to overcast sky (Bangor, ME) and we had coffee and I had a mint in my pocket. This hotel had internet but no breakfast, so....no food. We went to Walmart then the post office to mail the stuff bought at Walmart to Iraq because poor Aaron is hungry (he must get that from me).

Finally on the road around 11 AM headed down/up I-95 toward the CA border. I know trees and such are precious things, but man, seems there is no end. As soon as there is a clearing on the sides to be able to look and see something else, wouldn't you know it, there are MORE trees! These look like different types of pine or spruce or some such. Misty in the hills and damp. No rain, just kind of moist; least I don't need to worry about my face drying out. A few moose signs, but no sighting although we were looking-would have been kind of cool to see at a distance.

Got to the New Brunswick border around 1:30 with no trouble. Real nice young man asked us the usual do you have.....questions then wished us well and sent us on our way. Stopped at the first rest/welcome area just a few miles from the border and I'll be darn if we didn't lose another hour, now it was 2:45 and we hadn't done much. Made it a few miles in the mist and gloom (honestly the sun did shine for a few seconds in a few spots) until we made it to Fredricton, NB. Mind you we were wearing our windstopper jackets plus our leather jackets and I saw people walking in shorts and tank tops-what's with them? Even saw swimmers in Maine, brrrr. Having been in the desert for the past 20 years I am very spoiled; could use a random hot flash now and again while riding to help warm up.

Took a walk after putting our stuff in the hotel (prices are funny here) so we could see what there was to eat. Dudley wasn't hungry; I guess the few mints and the handful of Nutter Butter bites worked for him. Saw lots of eating places but we settled on the grocery store and landed in the frozen foods. We go all the way to New Brunswick to eat TV dinners. Have to admit they were good. I have noticed when truly hungry everything taste good and these sure did. Sitting having coffee after shower and eating. Oh and talked to son Aaron again. Still no rain so tomorrow will be another adventure. Thanks for listening, this seems very disjointed tonight. Later.:dontknow:

 

[NancysToy]

This is Jennifer. Seems there is a problem distinguishing me from Dudley; come on, I have longer hair, geesh.......

First, how about an official welcome Hated to shame you into this, and yes, we were actually able to distinguish between the two of you, but you are one of us now, and deserved to be recognized. Your posts are delightful. BTW, anybody's hair is longer than Dudley's!

......I know trees and such are precious things, but man, seems there is no end. As soon as there is a clearing on the sides to be able to look and see something else, wouldn't you know it, there are MORE trees!.....

:roflblack: Don't have many of those there in the desert, do you? Got a kick out of this. I feel the same way when I drive through the plains or desert...somebody stole all the trees! I suppose they are boring, but they make for a tranquil view. BTW, we are a bit short on cacti up here, so it all evens out.

......Mind you we were wearing our windstopper jackets plus our leather jackets and I saw people walking in shorts and tank tops-what's with them? Even saw swimmers in Maine, brrrr. Having been in the desert for the past 20 years I am very spoiled; could use a random hot flash now and again while riding to help warm up.

:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack: I couldn't top that if I tried for a year. I'll quit while you're ahead.

Again, Welcome Jennifer. Looking forward to meeting you both in person real soon.
-Scotty

 

[Smylinacha]

Jennifer - you can have all my hot flashes! I get by on about 3 to 4 hours of sleep - night sweats - sick of them - you can have them!

And I'm growing my hair like yours!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

 

[ataDude]

Jennifer and Dudley... tell your son "Thanks" for me, would you!

Keep up the posts. This sounds like something I could do... no schedule... no long days... just ride and have fun!

Have fun. :thumbup:

 

[Big Arm]

:clap: :clap: :clap: :congrats: welcome :clap: :clap: :clap:

 

[Kjen]

Jennifer's View

Woke to fairly dense fog; least guessing since it's not something I am that familiar with; should burn off. Ate breakfast and thinking of packing up. Maybe once we clear the trees it will have burned off enough to see something different. Heard tell there is rain in the near future.:yikes: We have had a few spyder comments while eating breakfast. Breakfast was boiled egg, cinnamon scones and coffee. Will see what the day brings.

 

[Desert Spyder]

Don't get in too much of a hurry for that desert weather Jen. Yesterday it was 115 in Barstow. Spyder temp showed 120 in the shade. Nonetheless, Joy & I went with my motorcycle club (American Cruisers) to dinner in Apple Valley and met up with some other Spyder buds. I made sure I hydrated myself real good before leaving home. And here's a tip to my Spyderlover buds: DO NOT TRAVEL ACROSS THE DESERT IN SHORT SLEEVES. You will dehydrate yourself too quickly. Fortunately, I follow my own advise. I also bring a quart of ice water with me in the trunk. Needed to throw the dog out first though.

 

[DynamoBT]

Foggy here too.

Ron and I really enjoyed your visit with us.

As for moose, those things are huge! Yes, a sighting off the road might be nice. You do NOT want to get up close and personal on the road with one!!!

Safe traveling.

 

[Dudley]

Well, today was a sunless day. Our first since we left Jacumba, CA on Father's Day. It was a bit foggy when we left Fredericton, NB, but it got better (but never cleared). We traveled TransCan-2 until we reached Nova Scotia, where it changed to TransCan-4. When we reached Truro, NS we turned on Highway 102. Also....at Truro, the Frogg Toggs finally got tested. We had to put them on, and this time we needed them! About 30 miles south of Truro we turned west on Highway 14 to Windsor, NS and that is where we are tonight. Not too many miles, but we are just glad to have made it this far. Going over one of the wet bridges while it was raining, I encounterd a few patch bumps, which is OK, but with the patches the road took a right lean and that was almost a painful experience. Thankfully I was able to maintain it and we rolled on without any accident. At one of our gasoline stops a silver Spyder went by but I guess he didn't see us between the pumps. That would have been a real winner had we been able to have a Canadian ryder sign the banner!
Tomorrow we plan on following Highway 101 along the coast to Halifax, NS.

 

[tatt2r]

heck of a trip i know i speak for a lot of spyder lovers when i say we envy you two for your push to get to where you want to go .... :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

 

[Kjen]

Good thing I had no access to the computer after we started off this morning because I had only BLACK :banghead: thoughts........and if voiced would have made me appear to be an awful person, SIGH.

Drizzle and mist and trees and more trees and sometimes a meadow with a few buildings with trees in the background. I couldn't take any pictures (sure and we've all seen enough pics of trees maybe?) due to the moisture in the air so I tucked away the camera in my jacket pocket. Still was a 2 jacket day until 1 came off to enable wearing the Froggs since the sky looked so promising. Wouldn't want to get soaked and embarrassedly having to say "yeah, we have rain gear, it's in the bike". At times I wonder about our sanity, then we crossed a couple of BICYCLE riders!! :shocked:, now that's seriously demented-in the green hills full of mist, double yuck.

Didn't see any moose, aside from the one on the tee shirt at the welcome center, I refused to buy that.

Aside from the green stuff and the wet stuff it really wasn't a bad day; it didn't pour on us. Kind of cool on th country roads before we turned in for the day. Kind of strange to stop so early, but it kind of refuses to get dark and the body has had enough. Can see a stretch of the end of one of the channels or whatever the proper term is for the Bay of Fundy. There is some water of course but lots of exposed mud and river bank. Think tide rushes in around 10:30 tonight-not that we can see it but know its there, will check in the morning. Maybe a picture.

Had a TV dinner again. Forgot to mention it wasn't in English and Spanish like back in the states. This one was in English and French, kind of cool. Lots of that accent going on around here so I don't think I stick out like a sore thumb anymore. Time to go, by.

 

[Kjen]

Don't get in too much of a hurry for that desert weather Jen. Yesterday it was 115 in Barstow. Spyder temp showed 120 in the shade. Nonetheless, Joy & I went with my motorcycle club (American Cruisers) to dinner in Apple Valley and met up with some other Spyder buds. I made sure I hydrated myself real good before leaving home. And here's a tip to my Spyderlover buds: DO NOT TRAVEL ACROSS THE DESERT IN SHORT SLEEVES. You will dehydrate yourself too quickly. Fortunately, I follow my own advise. I also bring a quart of ice water with me in the trunk. Needed to throw the dog out first though.

Brian I hear you about the heat; have been listening to the weather on TV at night and it's such a huge gulf from here to there. I'd probably gripe no matter the weather. Sure to get my share of sun/heat once we head back west. One good thing about having to wear both our coats, we have room for stuff now. Course once the jackets come off we will once again have the problem of making everything fit back where it belongs.

 

[Kjen]

Jennifer - you can have all my hot flashes! I get by on about 3 to 4 hours of sleep - night sweats - sick of them - you can have them!

And I'm growing my hair like yours!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I hear you about the few hours of sleep Kim, I have that too on top of leg cramps. Must be from the hours with the legs in the same position. At night I constantly hop out of bed to walk around and groan. The muscles seem to lock up and not release; these are the muscles on the outsides of the calf and thigh. We both take potassium pills daily but not much else one can do. As to the hair, it's a bit much when the wind pulls it out of the braid and the helmet likes to yank it out. I've had it so long it wouldn't quite be me without it; maybe the only way some people know who I am.

 

[Roaddog2]

First, how about an official welcome Hated to shame you into this, and yes, we were actually able to distinguish between the two of you, but you are one of us now, and deserved to be recognized. Your posts are delightful. BTW, anybody's hair is longer than Dudley's!


:roflblack: Don't have many of those there in the desert, do you? Got a kick out of this. I feel the same way when I drive through the plains or desert...somebody stole all the trees! I suppose they are boring, but they make for a tranquil view. BTW, we are a bit short on cacti up here, so it all evens out.


:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack: I couldn't top that if I tried for a year. I'll quit while you're ahead.

Again, Welcome Jennifer. Looking forward to meeting you both in person real soon.
-Scotty

Swimmers in Main usaly are from Canada compared to the water in New Foundland it's like Miami :ani29:Welcome Kjen perfect name:2thumbs:

 

[retread]

I hear you about the few hours of sleep Kim, I have that too on top of leg cramps. Must be from the hours with the legs in the same position. At night I constantly hop out of bed to walk around and groan. The muscles seem to lock up and not release; these are the muscles on the outsides of the calf and thigh. We both take potassium pills daily but not much else one can do. As to the hair, it's a bit much when the wind pulls it out of the braid and the helmet likes to yank it out. I've had it so long it wouldn't quite be me without it; maybe the only way some people know who I am.

Try drinking some tonic (mixer) with quinine in it, for the leg cramps, most tonics have quinine, my quack suggested it, and it works!

john

 

[Dudley]

Today's weather promises to be better. We will travel Highway 101 from Windsor towards Port Royal, etc., hopefully making it to Halifax by tonight. The clouds are breaking as I post...I can see sky-blue for the first time in a couple of days. Nice! Well, got to pack it up and start rolling. See you all again tonight, from somewhere.

 

[Desert Spyder]

Didn't Dr. Gott suggest sleeping with a bar of soap under the sheets for leg cramps? Have no idea why it works. Must be like the Spirit Bell on the bikes.

Joy and I were in Halifax and Sydney last year on our cruise. Beautiful highways. Most of the ship passengers were bored with Sydney. We went to a lakefront town called Baddeck. Alexander Graham Bell is buried there. Absolutely stunning countryside.

What are you doing with the souvenirs?