Asbury Park to Sandy Hook to Atlantic Highlands (9/11 Memorial)

Now that the weather has been clearing out a bit I want to share with you a nice jersey Shore ride. This is a ride John and me did last season.

On a beautiful August day we took a trip down the shore. We took the Garden state parkway South to the Asbury Park Exit. Headed east to Asbury Park. Passed the Stone Pony (a N.J. landmark where Springsteen, Southside Johnny among others started out), and road along the ocean North, through Long Branch, Sea Bright, up to Sandy Hook. In Sea Bright we stopped at Donavan’s Reef. Donavan’s has a Tiki Bar right on the beach. If you didn’t know better you would think you were at an island bar in the Caribbean. In Sandy Hook we had lunch out on the water at Bahr’s. Bahr’s has been there a long time and is famous for their lobster bisque. From Sandy Hook you follow highway 36 North over Highlands Bridge to Navesink Ave/Scenic Road, Stay right and follow signs for Mount Mitchill Scenic Overlook. This is the highest natural elevation on the Atlantic coastal plain. It has incredible views of Sandy Hook, Raritan Bay and the New York City skyline. This park is awesome home to the very moving Monmouth County 9/11 Memorial. On 9/11 many people came to this spot to see what was happening in N.Y.C. It is an Eagle sculpture clutching a beam from one of the fallen towers. The memorial honors both the lives lost and the fearless display of heroism by rescue teams and citizens who responded to the tragedy.

On the road from Asbury to Sea Bright.

On the deck at Bahr's and over bridge to Atlantic Highlands.

Mount Mitchill.

The 9/11 Memorial.

Happy 4th Of July!

God Bless America!!!

Let's remember all of those who fought and are fighting for our freedom.

Adirondacks, Whiteface Mountain 6/09

After checking out the Americade tents in Lake George we headed up to Inlet, N.Y.

The next day after breakfast we headed for Whiteface Mountain.

Whiteface Mountain is where the downhill skiing was held at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics. Whiteface is 4,867 feet high. You can take the bikes up most of the way on Veterans Memorial Highway.

Once on top you can go through a tunnel that is carved into solid rock and runs over 400 feet long into the mountain and take and elevator to the summit.. Or you can hike it. I hiked it but the pictures below are in the tunnel.

You can see Lake Champlain, Lake Placid, Vermont and into Canada on a clear day. For more information on Whiteface you can click on this link http://www.whiteface.com/newsite/summer/highway.php

Lake Placid

BBQ time.

Americade 2009, Lake George, N.Y.

This month was the annual Americade motorcycle rally in Lake George, N.Y. The show was arranged a little different then usual. More vendors by the lake in the tent section and less in town.

A very cool product at the show was from a company called "Rocker Boards." They are making a line of what I would call scooters, seen above. They are made to look like very early bikes. The scooters are automatic and look like they will be a fun novelty bike. They will be available on the market soon.

For more on Americade click here, http://www.tourexpo.com/data/

The weather kept some people away this year. (For those of you from northern New Jersey I don't have to tell you that we have had about 30 straight days of rain). When we left Jersey for Lake George it was pouring rain but it started to clear up around Albany. Then we had good riding weather for the rest of the trip. Check out the next post for a continuation of this trip and a ride to the top of Whiteface Mountain.

Greenwood Lake, West Milford, New Foundland area.

I've blogged about this area before. You can ride to this area right from the N.J. Botanical Garden in Ringwood. (The previous post). This is the N.J., N.Y. border, Greenwood Lake, West Milford, Newfoundland, Green Pound, etc...

It's a great area with unlimited options on where to ride and things to do.

Some of the best days are unplanned. We rode up to the Greenwood lake Airport. As luck would have it they were having an air show.

We got to check out WW 2 bombers and fighters as well as stunt planes.

We got to meet some of the pilots and watch the highly skilled stunt flying.

In the area there are many local places along the road to grab some food and get a drink.

New Jersey Botanical Garden, Ringwood

A semi well kept secret is the New Jersey Botanical Garden in Ringwood. It's only about a 30 minute ride from Bergen County, N.J. and a nice ride at that. It's a great day trip and there are a lot of other places to ride in the area if you leave early enough to get it all in. Be prepared to do alot of walking at the garden. Other rides in the area will be on a later post.

The New Jersey State Botanical Garden is a part of Ringwood State Park. For more information go to their website at; http://www.njbg.org/

Take I-87 N (NY Throughway)

Exit on NY-17 toward Sloatsburg, N.Y. Turn left at NY-17/Orange Turnpike.

Slight right at County Rte-72/Sterling Mine Rd

Continue to follow Sterling Mine Rd. entering New Jersey

Continue on Sterling Mine Rd. as it turns into Sloatsburg Rd.

Look for signs for the Botanical Garden and make a left on Morris Rd. Take Morris road all the way to the Garden.

Memorial Day

I’d like to remind all Americans that the freedom they enjoy each and every day is because of the brave men and women who have served this country in our nations military. On this Memorial Day let’s all remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Show your support. Go out to the parades, go to the VFW, the American Legion, etc... and let's all remember to thank our active military and our veterans today!