Leaving the southern states behind I reached rural Pennsylvania and the home of Chris and Judy nicknamed the Bates Motel

it was a misty night as I pulled up




Inside the Bates Motel, things were pretty normal, Mum Judy was in her rocking chair, while her son Chris was lurking with the meat hook/sickle



The scary thing is...see that book in Judy's hands??



It looks like I'm probably related to them, especially when I looked inside the book and there was this picture



Charles is my Dad's name!

Actually, Chris and Judy proved to be fantastic hosts, Judy even made me some lovely food to prove it, although this was a very strange dish in my opinion



Beetroot in lime jelly (as a savoury dish)

Thelma and I had a bit of a clean up.

__________________
Tiffany
On the road from...I'm not sure any more
http://www.tiffanystravels.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAUhV1r-kUo

The house didn't look so scary in the daylight, Chris and Judy were great hosts - it' a typical Pennsylvanian farmhouse.



They let me out one evening and I headed to Hermy's which is a BMW dealership where I gave a talk. Everyone there was very friendly and I had a great audience with some interesting questions. Thelma was brought inside and was the centre of attention,
Hermy got me to look at one of the newer models from BMW!



A full evening was made of it with food and refreshments as well although they were serving up hotdogs, but I was in luck as one of the staff is a vegan and she provided me with a yummy selection of food.

__________________
Tiffany
On the road from...I'm not sure any more
http://www.tiffanystravels.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAUhV1r-kUo

All too soon, it was time to depart, as I headed out onto the road, aware that this was my final long ride of the trip



I paused to grab a couple of photo opportunities in the woods on my way.



It's easy enough to head east until you reach the coast, and it's easy enough to find New York City as most the roads seemed to head there.
I had no map, no directions (not even the scribbled down and sellotaped to my petrol tank kind).

I found myself on a bridge



It was all starting to look familiar, although I've never been to New York (probably the only one of the World's major cities I've not managed to pass through), but there are enough telly programmes that feature the city, that I could work out that I'd arrived, even without welcome to New York signs. I was busy keeping an eye on the erratic driving of the vehicles around me to look for signs, although to be honest, I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of congestion.




I took a random turning off the dual carriageway, finding myself in an area called Harlem...didn't they used to have a famous basketball team? I kept riding, and suddenly saw Lexington Avenue on a signpost- what luck, that's the street that my friend lives on, and here I was just stumbling upon it. However her address was a couple of thousand house numbers away- the American streets can be so unbelievably long
I rode and I rode

until finally I reached her building - she's a Brit who lives in a flat, with a good view (if you like looking at buildings)



I can't remember what they are, but one of them is the Chrysler building



I dumped my bags on the floor and relaxed with a glass of wine, I'd finally made it to the East Coast.

__________________
Tiffany
On the road from...I'm not sure any more
http://www.tiffanystravels.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAUhV1r-kUo

From leading a relatively solitary life, camping out in the wilds on my own I was thrust into the social side of life in Manhattan, touring round bars and pubs with my hostess, Sabs, and her Yank hubby in tow, I did my best to keep up with them but then, their Irish friends took us to a place that was serving all night until 10.00am
I took the easy way out and retired to bed a lot earlier than that, heading back to my cosy room, I have to say that it felt very safe walking around on my own late at night- a big plus about any large city in my book

Whilst I was out and about sampling gin, Thelma was parked outside the block of flats for a few days, illegally in a parking slot without a meter ticket as the 24 hour tickets were just so expensive. She was gaining some notoriety amongst the neighbours and curious passers by.




Actually I must confess, that bloke is a fellow Brit whom I'd last seen riding across the Salar De Uyuni on a KLR... 10 years ago - I have ways of tracking down people. It was good to met up with him again and relive the adventures we'd had down in South America.

A celebratory lunch, plus a glass or two of wine with the lovely Sabs (my host- think AB Fab's Joanna Lumley but 30 years younger)



I don't actually come from a motorcycling background, so Sabs, along with most of my friends has no concept about what is involved in bike travel, especially, my kind of travel where I'm wild camping most nights, something she finds frightening to even think about. But she's quick to suggest drinks and a toast to the successful completion of my journey.

That was before she saw the state of my room in her apartment...



In my defence I was having to sort out all my kit, as the day was rapidly approaching when I'd be taking Thelma to the shipping agent and so I had to decide which of my belongings went with Thelma and which I would be able to carry myself.

__________________
Tiffany
On the road from...I'm not sure any more
http://www.tiffanystravels.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAUhV1r-kUo

So where are you off to now?Noel

Hi Noel, glad you enjoy the stories of my riding exploits. At the moment I'm not making plans for any long term travel as my Dad is a bit poorly and so I'm spending time with him and my Mum - luckily they live not too far from me in Cornwall. Fingers crossed for his health. You'll be the first to know when I'm back on the road properly again Noel...errr, you and the several thousand others on HUBB!
On the plus side if I'm not away travelling, it should mean that I am around for the best travel event this side of the moon- yep, the HUBBUK in May/June.

__________________
Tiffany
On the road from...I'm not sure any more
http://www.tiffanystravels.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAUhV1r-kUo

I will be in Cornwall at the end of May for a few days. I have never been before and am really looking forward to it. I will not be on the bike but in a car with my parents.

head on down to Lands End for a visit, parents welcome as well!

__________________
Tiffany
On the road from...I'm not sure any more
http://www.tiffanystravels.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAUhV1r-kUo

I loaded Thelma up and we headed out into the traffic once more, looking to get over or under a river, I managed to find this tunnel...



(another in the occasional series of don't tell my Mum I was taking photos as I rode along!)

In search of the shipping agents - James Cargo, I ended up in New Jersey somewhere , it's the usual locations, seedy looking warehouses and almost no people in sight. Success when I saw the sign over the door and I handed over Thelma to a very nice man called Arpad, the paperwork took us very little time, then he did a visual check of Thelma, as she is so battered after the 15 years of travel that I've put her through, it didn't take long to note on his sheet that almost every panel is damaged! And before I knew it, Arpad was wheeling Thelma away into the warehouse.



I always find it hard saying goodbye to Thelma and leaving her in someone else's hands. Picking up my bag, I headed back into NYC on the train, clutching bike helmet and seat as a reminder that I'm usually a bike traveller



It was my final night in America, Sabs had a drinks party to wish me farewell

__________________
Tiffany
On the road from...I'm not sure any more
http://www.tiffanystravels.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAUhV1r-kUo

Thelma was last seen being wheeled into the shipping agents' warehouse somewhere in deepest, darkest New Jersey, whilst I was then partying in New York for my final night before flying home.
I always have mixed emotions when I'm heading back to England after a journey. Even more so if I'm not actually riding Thelma, and thus having to once more navigate through a busy airport with a load of bike gear.
I feel a sense of accomplishment at having achieved something, a sense of loss that the journey is over and anticipation about going home- I love where I live and have a close network of family and friends whom I'm always looking forward to seeing again.
JFK Airport, incidentally had the most unpleasant jobs worth person I have ever encountered at any airport...and Yes, I did tell her that

But they let me out and I made it back to England, shortly after, Thelma arrived...


The Aylward Brothers, friends of mine from London had come alongg to assist collecting Thelma from the docks.



It was a bit of a struggle because I'm a bit short to be of much use once Thelma is on a ramp and neither of these guys rides motorbikes...at all!
We eventually got Thelma into the back of the van



Proof that I was back in England



We unloaded Thelma onto the street in Deptford, South London and I waved my Union Jack




Clouds were gathering and I had to move quickly



As Thelma's seat was still on its way back from America, I had to create a substitute



I rode across London and found a Knight in Shining Armour...Steptoe



He happened to have a GS from a similar era which he's in the process of doing up in his workshop- he's a genius with BMW GS bikes.
And he was happy to lend me the seat, which sort of fitted and was definitely a big improvement on my gaffer tape and foam creation.
Huge thanks to Steptoe AKA Neil a veritable hero in English GS circles.

__________________
Tiffany
On the road from...I'm not sure any more
http://www.tiffanystravels.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAUhV1r-kUo

So, I'm safely home, what next??
Thelma's new saddle arrived from Bill Mayer
BILLMAYERSADDLES, aftermarket motorcycle seats, custom motorcycle seats, the Original Mayer Saddle

And she looks great with it on.



I'm ready for more adventures. As many of you know, I was due to head overseas this Autumn, but I had to put that plan on hold. My lovely father was diagnosed with cancer - Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, just before I left America and flew home. I've cancelled all long trips away while we wait and see; he's coping well with the chemo and has an incredible attitude and fighting spirit so we hope for the best. We'll know more in the New Year when they do the next batch of tests and I'll maybe make plans then. All those exotic faraway places that lure me away from home will be there next year and the year after, but my Dad, maybe not. I'm spending a lot of time with him and my Mum and feeling lucky that I live relatively close to them, which makes it easier to pop in and see him. He's the best Dad in the world and I don't want to lose him. All positive thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Now that I've made myself cry, I'd better put up another "Tiff and her weird bike habits" picture.



With Thelma's new bike seat here, I had to send the borrowed one back to Steptoe in London, I don't have a car and so I attached the rather large parcel on the back of Thelma and off we went to the post office, where they're quite used to me and my postal habits. And although it's sunny, it's pretty cold here in England and so I am back to my multiple layers under my bike gear, leading to my Michelin Man appearance.

__________________
Tiffany
On the road from...I'm not sure any more
http://www.tiffanystravels.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAUhV1r-kUo

Hi Tiffany,

I enjoyed reading your stories and seeing your pictures of your trip to the US.
Sorry to hear about your dad and I hope he gets better soon.

Best wishes for you and your dad.

__________________
Jan Krijtenburg

My bikes are a Honda GoldWing GL1200 and a Harley-Davidson FXD Dyna Super Glide

My personal homepage with trip reports: https://www.krijtenburg.nl/
YouTube channel (that I do together with one of my sons): motormobilist.nl

I wish your dad every success with his battle,hope this can be a special time for the two of you to share.Noel

Hi Tiff,

well there's no better reason to postpone your riding plans, as family always comes first.

Good luck to your dad with his treatment.

Regards

Reggie

Thank you for your kind thoughts and comments.

Merry Christmas to you all and thank you for taking the time to follow my ride tale here on the HUBB. To all my friends and supporters around the world I hope 2013 brings you everything you could wish for.

__________________
Tiffany
On the road from...I'm not sure any more
http://www.tiffanystravels.co.uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAUhV1r-kUo