US66 Tour - Day 1 - London to Chicago

It’s 8pm as I sit and write this, my first blog from the land of the free. 2am UK time, so I have been up 20 hours. I don’t feel particularly tired but my shoulders are killing me, on account of carrying two heavy bags about all day.

Flight was delayed by about 25 mins (what BA had a delayed flight?) finally getting off the ground about 12:10. Stand to stand was about 7h 45m. Fairly quiet flight, especially as the people next to me were elderly Germans, so not exactly wanting to pass the time. Mind you, Hermina seemed the tactile type, that’s to say she spent most of the flight monopolising the armrest, nudging me and generally making a nuisance of herself. She managed to switch my reading light on/off with her elbow on more than one occasion!!

For those that have never been to the US before, you’ll know this is my first time, I can honestly say it is the most difficult place to get in to.   1 hour from landing to clearing passport control. I’ve had my fingerprints taken and my photo, however, mercifully I was spared any body search or having to empty the entire contents of my cases.

With a little help from friendly natives I made my way to the CTA station,. the train to the city. Me get a cab, you must be joking. $40 as opposed to $3. Mind you, by the time I had taken the wrong train and had to lug the cases up several flights of steps, I was half thinking I should have spent the money. Journey time by train to hotel about 75 mins, unless you go wrong, so about 90, by which time I was sweating buckets. Did the formalities, made myself known to our tour guide, Gary ‘the bear’ Fleshman and also met Simon & Vivien, a seemingly nice couple a little older than myself I would say.

I then got changed and went out to visit the Willis (Sears) Tower skydeck. That is one tall mofo building I can tell you. The lift takes you to the 103^rd floor in 60 seconds!!!  As the feet increment the audio tells you the structures around the world at that height. This is the tallest building in the western hemisphere. The views from 103 are spectacular to say the least. It wasn’t too clear but they say you can see for 50 miles when it is. Then there’s the ledge, or ledges to be exact. 4 glass boxes that hang out over the side of the building. An experience.

After leaving the tower I took a walk round the block to locate the start and end signs for R66.

And that my friends is my first day.

Tomorrow we have a welcome brekkie at 7am, then head off to pick up the Harleys. Forecast isn’t looking too promising, i.e. rain/thunder but it will be warm.

One thing I noticed on my trip around the block. These yanks sure like their Dunkin Donuts……..every other bleedin’ shop almost.

Check out some of my first day pics by clicking the shield. For those without blog access, here’s one for you.

Cheers

Neill

Ready for the off

This will be my last entry this side of the Atlantic. I’m just about ready for the off now, with all but a few things to throw (rather cram) into my case. I’m mindful of not getting too close to the weight limit, as I have an internal US flight in 2 weeks and they use pounds rather than kilos. They also charge $50 if you go over!! Course, if I weighed 20st like the average American, that’d be OK!!

 

I’ll be staying with my good lady tomorrow evening and then it’s just a short walk (10 mins) down to the station to catch the 7.01 high speeder into St Pancras. I should be checking in at Heathrow around 9.00. Scheduled take off is 11.45.

 

Watch out for my first US blog entry on Thursday evening (Friday morning for you) when I’ll hopefully have some tales to tell of the flight and trip up the Sears Tower. I know, I know, it’s not called that anymore (Willis Tower).

 

Cheerio

Dry(ish) Run

Took the advice of my good lady and had a bit of a dry run on the packing front. Most of what I intend to take, minus a weeks’ worth of pants and socks was fitted, fairly easily, into the big case I have. I’m also taking a smallish holdall for in the cabin. That will carry my helmet, my laptop, camera, etc. Although I’m taking my mesh jacket and the weather forecast is indicating temperatures no lower than about 75F, I’m still undecided about taking my leather jacket as well. It’s a bit bulky, so I’d have to wear that on the journey rather than try and cram it into the case. Decisions, decisions.

 

Despite the BAstewards best efforts, it looks like there will be no affects of the action on my scheduled flight. It has been running each day during the first strike, so I’m confident it’ll be OK. In any case, I fly the day after the strike finishes.

 

11 days to go and counting!

 

Neill

Back on the RK

Test ride completed without incident. My steed this time round was a Road King Classic. Soon got used to the riding position and weight again and of course the weather being fine helped the experience. My last time on a Harley was during last summer’s dismal July weather, when I got rained on every day of a 7 day tour.

Brother Paul also had a test ride on a Heritage Softail Classic. Must say, he looked quite at home on it. I can see him being tempted to buy if he ever wins the lottery ;-)

Just two more weekends to go before the off. Excitement starting to build!

The Countdown Begins

3 weeks today I fly out (BAstewards and Volcano willing) to Chicago. On touchdown I shall be 7 hours behind UK time. During the trip, I shall not only cover about 2500 miles East to West but I shall also move across 3 times zones. That means by the end of my trip on 23^rd June, I’ll be 9 hours behind UK time.

 

This Saturday I’m having a ‘refresher’ test ride on the Harley at Robinsons in Canterbury, to familiarise myself once again with the weight of the machine and the controls, which are slightly different from those on my Suzuki. My brother Paul is also going to try his hand at handling hog metal. Watch out for some pics either here or on flickr.

 

Neill

BAstewards!

As if the threat of volcanic ash disrupting flights isn’t enough, a very real threat to my making it to the US has emerged with the BA cabin crews planning to strike. As it stands, the last strike will finish the day before I’m due to fly out. Whether there will be an aircraft, is another matter. BOO!!

My second entry - 8th May

Received my tour pack today, so actually starting to feel quite real now. A little over a month to go before I fly out. I guess I would even go as far as to say I’m a little excited.

 

The pack tells me who will be on the tour with me, something I wasn’t expecting in advance.  I’ll be accompanied by 7 others. Two couples and 3 single guys. I’m assuming from the names, they’re mostly English;

 

Simon & Vivien

Patrick

David & Francoise

William

And another David.

 

If I don’t bump into these guys on the flight, then we have a welcome meeting when we get to the first hotel in Chicago.

 

Fingers crossed we don’t fall foul of any volcanic ash. I’ve waited a long time for this.

 

Cheers