Frenchy's Rant RSS Feed
The Misadventures of MiniAbi – The Lighthouses
When MiniAbi first appeared, I have to admit, I was a little nervous. I’m a firm believer in first impressions and going with my gut feeling, and my first impression and my gut were both telling me there was something just a bit… odd about this little fellow.
But he seemed nice enough, and sometimes first impressions can be wrong. Besides, it was this guy or nobody. We parked our bikes in front of my house for the traditional “start-of-ride’ picture.
Me and Rain Cloud Follows – MiniAbi and his mini-fjrImmediately after snapping this photo, the first of countless disasters struck. Rosie, my neighbor’s dog ran over, grabbed MiniAbi’s mini-fjr in his mouth and proceeded to chew it to bits.
It was in the face of this incredible setback that I learned of MiniAbi’s resilience. Most people would be devastated by the tragic loss of their cherished motorcycle, but not this little guy. He just kept on smiling as he removed his turban and pulled on his riding helmet.
I suggested we salvage the ride and he ride ‘bitch’ in my tankbag, and he jumped right in.
MiniAbi gives the thumbs up from my tankbag – hard to do with no thumb!
Not only is putting a sticker on a street sign silly, juvenile and borderline vandalism, worst of all, it’s gimmick infringement! I made MiniAbi promise that he wouldn’t steal any more of my ideas on this trip. It was hard to convince him, as he is a very stubborn little piece of injection molded plastic, but in the end, he saw things my way.
I had a great coastal route planned, with stops at at least ten lighthouses on the way. Hopefully MiniAbi feels differently toward lighthouses than Abi does. Whenever I stop at a lighthouse for a photo op, Abi usually folds his arms across his chest and pouts until we leave. Sometimes he is such a joy, honestly.
Abi ‘enjoying’ the Wood Island Lighthouse on Prince Edward IslandOur first stop in Old Saybrook was a doubleheader, both the Lynde Point Light and the Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse could be seen, if we could get to them. Both of these historic landmarks are surrounded by the exclusive town of Fenwick, a very exclusive golf resort ringed by exclusive and very expensive houses. I knew this town was full of douchebags the instant I saw this sign, posted on the road to Lynde Point Light.
Honest to God, if I had a dual sport, I would have let my Devil horns pop up and screamed over to chase Muffy and Buffy and Biff and Chad all over their stupid golf course. But I didn’t have a dual sport, so I refrained from doing something that desperately needed to be done.
On the way to Lynde Point, another asinine sign was posted. ‘No Trespassing. Private Road. Get the Fuck Outta Here Unless You are an Exclusive Fenwick Douchebag.’ I knew these rich, exclusive people would exclude a biker from their exclusive lands, in fact as I was getting my camera out to take a picture a black Escalade pulled up and the driver demanded to know what business I had there. His wife, mistress, maid or whatever was dialing her cell phone, most likely to the police. Oh no! Someone on a motorcycle wants to take a picture of a lighthouse! Call the FBI!!
Rather than have a confrontation with this blowhard, I left and circled around to the only public place in Fenwick with a view of the lighthouses.
Lynde Point Lighthouse
Saybrook Breakwater LightWhile I snapped these less-than-compelling pictures, MiniAbi slept in the saddle of Rain Cloud Follows.
MiniAbi ‘enjoying’ the far off lighthouses.A guy in a golf cart pulled up and suggested a better viewpoint, away from the snooty people of Fenwick. I thanked him for the tip and headed over to the place he suggested.
The view of these two lights, uncluttered by golfers and golf carts, was better, if a little further away.
Much better! While I was fooling around with the camera, MiniAbi was fooling around in the ocean.
After shooting some pictures of this unfolding drama, I saved him. This guy has some serious bad luck!
Our second stop of the day was another double header, Southwest Ledge Light and Five Mile Point Lighthouse in New Haven. I paid the ridiculous entrance fee, and set off to add two more lighthouses to my collection.
Five Mile Point Lighthouse
Southwest Ledge LightOnce again, MiniAbi stayed behind, and once again misfortune befell him. I really think that if he’d only learn to appreciate lighthouses a little bit, or at least learn to pretend to appreciate them, these awful things would stop happening to him. This time, while I was away, some kids decided it would be funny to bury MiniAbi in the sand, covering his head with a snail shell.
Poor guy. But he took it all in stride; that manic grin never left his face, no matter what happened to him.
I had one more stop planned for the first day, then it was off to find a hotel. Stratford Point Lighthouse is at the end of a residential street, but without any Private Road signs. I was able to get right up to the structure for some decent pictures.
Stratford Point Lighthouse
MiniAbi actually got into the spirit of things, and posed in front of this place. Even still, something bad happened. But this time it was my fault. While repacking Rain Cloud Follows, I left MiniAbi behind. I was about two miles away when I realized my tankbag contained one less little plastic guy than before! I turned around and got him, but he was pretty pissed. He refused to ride bitch in the tankbag, opting instead to ride on the back of my big red bag.
We’d both had about enough lighthouses for the day; it was time to find accommodations. My hotel requirements are pretty simple. A bed, and a bar within walking distance. A small, Mom and Pop place is more desirable than a chain, but a walking distance watering hole is most important. That’s enough for me. The Fairfield Inn satisfied both requirements.
I walked across the street for a coffee, and when I returned, I swear that MiniAbi was channeling the real Abi. There was a Red Sox game on, and MiniAbi was settled in for the night.
Great. Looks like I’ll be going over to the Tavern on 7 by myself, as usual. I hate baseball. But I love Guinness, and fortunately the Tavern on 7 had plenty on tap. I spent a few hours enjoying myself, but I wasn’t enjoying myself nearly as much as MiniAbi was enjoying the mini bar in the hotel room. After last call, I returned to the room to find this:
Great. Tomorrow could be a long day for MiniAbi……
Author: frenchy
Leave a Reply
Tags
