Enroute to Vermont - Day Two

After spending a restful night in Dillon, SC, we ate breakfast, loaded up, and started out for our next destination...Newark, Delaware. This leg is a bit shorter than the last with a total of 479 miles, door to door. The first day was 540 and we made great time. This would be even better!!!

During m morning safety check, I discovered that the left turn signal/running light was out. So was the PIAA lights mounted to the forks. The driving lights are nice but can be put on the back burner for repair once back in Florida. Not so for the turn signal. I will be riding through some of the most highly populated areas of the U.S. I need the "blinker. More on that later.

First thing to come into view as we headed north on I-95... South of the Border. A light show was in full swing at 7:00am. We decided to skip the festivities and took one final glance before we left them behind us. Not much traffic as we entered North Carolina. I had done a search of Honda shops and there was one in Wilson, NC. Arrival time would be slightly after 9:00am. Perfect. In and out and back on the road.

What are the odds that the dealer will not have a standard light bulb. They didn't. The local auto parts store had a 1157 bulb and they were but a half mile away. So much for a quick turnaround but all in all, it would still be quick. Murphy was still at work. First I dropped the screw and it took 15 minutes to find it. The silver color blended perfectly with the pavement. Once I found it old age set in. I could not see well enough to align the holes (Vanity has got to go and I have to bring my glasses). I finally got it in but not tight. Duct tape to the rescue. On our way after an hour. Ughh.

The next couple of stops went without incident. The GPS had routed me through DC. Trying to avoid the traffic at rush hour, I chose to take the longer but somewhat faster 495 East loop. Not the best of calls. Construction on the Virginia side kept traffic to 20mph most of the time (at least to the drawbridge). James got a great long distance view of the Capital and Washington Monument. In fact, about 10 minutes of viewing as we came to a halt! As I approached I-95, the GPS had me getting off 2 miles early to take the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (295) to the Harbor Tunnel (I-895) and then to I-95. Cool. About 10 miles shorter. I'll make up for lost time.

Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. I was on 295 for but two minutes when I realized just how bad a mistake I had made. It was 20 miles to the exit for the tunnel. I made it there in 85 minutes. Traffic was backed up and at most 15 mph was top speed.

We finally reached the exit for the tunnel and that went smoothly. Traffic was steady but moving along at a nice pace...in Baltimore that means 70+ through the tunnel. :-) We made our turn on to I-95 and the delay demons were back at it. Construction for the first 10 miles or so and snail's pace was the order of the day.

Finally I was able to distance myself from the traffic and construction and the last 90 miles went by quickly. Goal was to arrive at the hotel at 4:00pm. Oops. 6:30pm was the best that I could do.

Tomorrow we head out on the final part of this first leg of our travels. Destination is Vermont. I'd predict an arrival time but based on today's experience...nah. I'll get there when I get there!!

More to come...