AWSHIDT and Presidential Tour Photos

Saturday, September 22, 2001

After a leisurely breakfast, Cathy and I prepared to leave Atlantic City and head towards Washington, D.C.  We were in no particular hurry and, after cramming all our gear in the Concours hard bags, left the Ocean Club parking garage about 11:30 AM.   We traveled south along Atlantic Ave, RT 609 following the coast. Traffic was heavy and slow but south of Ocean City on 656 and 619 it was light. The weather was beautiful for this late in September. Most beach homes had already been closed up for the season, but there were a few folks out enjoying the last of warm weather. Just north of Wildwood we made our way to the Garden State Pkwy for the last few miles into Cape May. There we caught the ferry to Lewes, Delaware. A nice one hour ride across Delaware Bay gave us a chance to get a bite to eat, relax, and plan our route once we got to shore.
After arriving in Lewes we gassed up and headed south on RT1, again following the coast through Delaware Seashore State Park. A mile or two after leaving the park Cathy tapped me on the shoulder and brought my attention to a couple pushing a large Japanese cruiser along the road in the opposite direction. We turned around and asked if they needed assistance. "Out of gas" was the reply. Cathy offered to wait with the stranded bike and passenger while I took the pilot the five miles or so south to Bethany Beach where he purchased a gas can and fuel. We headed back and got him going in no time. I wondered why a large motorcycle had such a small tank, maybe three gallons. With the seven and one half gallon capacity and three hundred mile range, not to mention a gas gage to keep track of it, the Concours is a sure winner in my eyes. I'd really hate to have to push it anywhere!
We followed route 1 south to the Delaware/Maryland state line where we turned west onto 20/54.  It was around 4:00 PM when a woman out for a stroll asked us if we wanted her to take the picture.   I don't get many photos of both Cathy and I together so we gladly accepted.  

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Rt 54,  Fenwick Island, DE
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Johnson Delaware

 A few miles west of Fenwick Island RT20 splits toward the north from RT54.  According to the maps, that's where I would find Johnson Delaware.  It took a bit of searching, but we managed to find this sign hiding in the trees.
Following Route 20 to Roxana we picked up Route 17.  

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Rt 17,  Roxana Delaware
 

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Rt 26,  Gumboro Delaware

 From Roxana we hustled south on 17 to Selbyville, picked up 54 west to Gumboro where Cathy posed for this photo of route 26.  Having never been to southern Delaware before, I was amazed just how flat the countryside is here.  Not much to see but fields and chicken coops.
Traveling north and east on 26 brings us to Route 24 in Mission.  By now the sun is below the trees and daylight is fading.  We still have a long way to go.  

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Rt 24,  Mission Delaware
 

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US 13,  Laurel Delaware

 Route 24 west takes us to US 13 in Laurel where we paused briefly for this shot.  Again, as has happened so many times before, a rider stops and asks if we need assistance.  Its nice to know that most motorcyclists, regardless of brand, stop to help each other out.
Moving along north on US 13 we get to the intersection of Route 18 in Bridgeville at dusk.  This would be the last photo of the day.  We then picked up 404 west toward the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and US 50/301.  Hoping to find a place for supper and a room for the night.  

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Rt 18,  Bridgeville Delaware
In the dark, the trip from Bridgeville west was uneventful.  The land here is mostly flat and the road fairly straight.  We took the bypass around Denton and followed 404 until we came to US50.  We didn't find a place to eat until we were near Grasonville.  After a nice leisurely dinner, we started looking for a bed for the evening.  We couldn't find a room available between Grasonville and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.  We crossed the bay and pulled off several exits, each time to find no vacancy.  It was about 11:00 PM, and I was getting very tired, when we came to the Capital Beltway, I-95/495.   We turned to the north, then exited onto US1 a few miles later.  Just off the exit there was a Holiday Inn with plenty of rooms available, just in time, I don't think I could have ridden another mile.
====> More fun on Sunday ===>

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