Thursday, 11 August 2011
On a clear and cool morning, Ontario II left Ottawa with 11 bikes and 16 riders for New York City to attend the 29th Annual Suicide Run. It is a Blue Knights charity event sponsored by New York Chapter II (Da Bronx). I was a three day event with escorted rides into Manhattan on Friday and Saturday evening. Sunday was the major event with an expected 500 bikes to be fueled escorted throughout the five boroughs of New York City by New York's finest. The NYPD motorcycle unit would lead and block the route with the assistance of patrol cars and foot patrols on ever intersection of the route. There would be lots of noise from the bikes, and sirens, especially in the tunnels. Crowds of residents and tourists would Line the streets with cameras and waves.
The Sunday Suicide Run would begin in Allan Chandler Park In the Bronx with breakfast and end there for dinner, music, vendors and draws to raise funds for the various charities that were sponsored.
We crossed the border at Cornwall Ontario into New York state traveling through the Adirondacs via Saranac Lake, Lake Placid, the Keene Valley and onward to Lake George, Saratoga Springs for dinner and overnight in Albany.
Along the way, we stopped for lunch at a picnic site in Saranac Lake. The weather was a bit cool at that altitude.
Once we exited the mountains, the weather warmed up so it was time for an ice cream stop in the resort town of Lake George also famous for the bike rally "Americade".
A short ride south took us to the town of Saratoga Springs of horse racing fame, for dinner at the Circus Restaurant.
Cotton candy was served after the meal and as you can see, it was put to use as food and entertainment.
Another short drive south ended in the capital of New York state, Albany for the night. It was about a 430K leisurely ride.
Friday, 12 August
We departed for a 200 K ride into White Plains, NY to check into the Crown Plaza Hotel for our three day stay. It is just north of the Bronx. The route was via the Taconic Parkway which was a very pleasant and relaxing ride. The TPW is a divided highway which only allows cars, motorcycles and other light vehicles. It has a 55 MPH speed limit and passes through total wilderness until you approach the New York suburbs.
After checking into the hotel we headed to the White Plains Diner for a group meal. I have never seen so much food served as individual plates. Most people could not eat all their food.
It was then back to the hotel to form up for an unofficial escorted ride into Manhattan. Over one hundred bikes departed around 4:00 PM with the final destination of 33rd Street and Time Square.
A stop along the way was to a Police Supply store in the Bronx where you could purchase Blue Knights and NYPD articles.
David pins Jeff. Does that indicate they are going steady?
We disrupted traffic throughout Manhattan with our unofficial police escort.
Now the first time riders understood the name Suicide Run.
The sky line appears.
The Empire State Building.
Eventually we arrived at 33rd Street where parking was reserved. It just happened to be in front of a Police friendly bar called "Stout" where the first round was free.
The refreshments were appreciated since it was very hot ride, in fact some bikes overheated along the way.
After the refreshment most walked to Time Square to take in the sites. It was the first time there for many of the riders.
The famous "Naked Cowboy" entertainer.
Who knew there is now the "Naked Cowgirl" as well?
We knew Tim Hortons had arrived in NYC but this is the smallest one I have ever seen. However location, location is everything.
We returned to the hotel about 11:00PM. Some went to bed while others relived the day over a cool one at the hotel bar.
Saturday 13 August
Saturday morning was a leisurely time and most took breakfast/lunch according to when they awoke. Today was a sanctioned escorted ride into Manhattan for a meal and sightseeing in Little Italy and Chinatown. We formed up and departed around 4:00PM. Since more bikes were arriving for the bike event on Sunday, there were now closer to 200 bikes.
Passing through Chinatown.
Arrival at Mulberry Street, Little Italy for dinner.
Reserved parking in downtown NYC is a luxury.
Viewing the sights along pedestrian streets in Little Italy.
A new Blue Knight.
Italian dining at Giovanna's on Mulberry Street.
After a meal, shopping and some gelato we departed prior to 10:00 PM for the escorted return. It was a spirited ride to say the least. The red light cameras were lighting up the night as we were able to turn a three hour ride on a Saturday evening from Manhattan to White Plains into about a hour ride.
We had watched the weather forecast closely for the prior several days. It was not promising for the big ride on Sunday. Just after were returned to the hotel, the rain came and didn't stop.
Sunday 14 August
The rain woke me up in the early morning hours. The ride captain and I conferred as planned at 7:00 AM after analyzing all weather sources. We came to the same conclusion, we would not ride today. The original plan was to depart NYC on Monday the 14th and make a one day return to the Ottawa area.
We contacted all members of Ontario II for a meeting in the hotel lobby at 7:30 AM. The meeting came to an easy consensus that we would not ride in the Suicide Run and we would depart that day for a two day ride with an over night stop in Lake George, NY. The forecast was for two more days of rain.
We departed around. 11:30AM. The rain was heavy at first and then it became lighter. We took the Taconic Parkway again since it would be less hectic than sharing the Interstate with 18 wheelers.
A rest stop on the Taconic Parkway during a rain break
We arrived in Lake George around 4:00 PM. After settling into the hotel, we all meet at the Log Jam Restaurant for a group meal.
Ron N. breaks his diet in a big way.
Monday, 15 August
The next morning, the rain was still coming down but not heavy. We departed around 9:00AM and rode through light rain and rain breaks arriving in the Ottawa area around 4:00 PM. The ride wasn't that bad as we rode through the western Adirondacs via Tupper Lake. It appears we made a good decision to leave NYC. The weather channel reported flash flooding in NYC after we departed.
The total trip was about 1650 K.
Overall it was a safe trip which is the most important factor. People are already discussing next year for a return.
