Little red rooster was peckin' in the yard Said put the bike in the garage before it starts to snow hard
Well, I had to put in a picture of something...
I was hoping to finally find out why they call this boxer day but it just wasn't really a day for long ride. It's cold and the weatherman has been predicting a foot of snow starting in the middle of the day. Tim took a wait-and-see attitude via e-mail with the implied threat that he might not be in any condition to get up in time for an early start. Dave was iffy on identifying any firehouse breakfasts on the day after Christmas.
I got up early and checked e-mail for updates on plans. Unbeknownst to me, my cell phone had decided it could not find the Verizon network but spent the night trying with the result that the battery was dead and I missed the call and voice mail from Dave. Being fairly oblivious so early in the morning, I suited up and headed out towards Reading taking the long route up 662 through the Oley Valley where the temperature was around 26. Not too bad, but when I swung into the ATM in Oley for some Jacksons, I took the opportunity to crank the Gerbing up to full force. After a quick stop to top up gas at Redner's Quick Stop, I headed across the ridge on Pricetown Road towards Reading. The temperature dropped to 23 degrees.
Now one of the fundamental questions I have been looking for an answer to is "How low can you go?", meaning in temperature on the motorcycle with the current winter gear. Turns out the answer lies somewhere between 23 and 26 degrees. Over the past month and a half, I have ridden in 26-28 degree weather several times and made out fine with the electrics on, but even with the jacket and hand grips cranked up to high, 23 was just too damn cold. So now we know. Problem one was face protection. At 23 the point of my chin and my cheekbones were burning. Problem two, shoulders and upper arms were cold even though the electric jacket felt hot. Also, legs were getting chilly. Amazingly, when I got back to 26 going back through the Oley Valley, these problems eased up. So there is a very definite break point between basically comfortable and unbearable right in that temperature range. Looks like we will have to bulk up a little further (I am looking at the Aerostich face fleece this afternoon) to be able to ride reliably in the 20's. For now we are geared up for anything down to 30's with the occasional dip into the upper 20's. Not bad.
OK, no way around it, this day got whacked pretty hard with the ugly stick. The temperature has popped up to the mid-50's, it's pouring rain, and everything is just hung down gray and soggy.
I'm sure if we had to ride, the gear would be up to it. We're waterproof enough and plenty warm. But on the other hand, we don't have to ride and today looks like a pretty good opportunity to stoke up the wood stove and sit in the warm and catch up on stuff. We'll get back to it next week.
Up before the sun again for an early and chilly start. I checked on the internet and that beautiful, bright Morning Star in the eastern sky is Venus, not Jupiter as reported previously. It's still just as glorious. Still just as chilly out, too - around 28 leaving the house a few minutes after 7:00, dropping to 26 as I make my way across the Oley valley with the rising sun lighting the tips of the trees.
The leaves are down and the crops are in, so the landscape is a wintry mix of grays and browns with the occasional spot of green from a south facing bit of grass.
I'm suited up in what is now winter-standard wear: long LD Comfort base layer, thinsulate lined jeans, Gerbing electric jacket, Rev-It suit with liners, and Frogg-Toggs pajama top. Today, I put up the hood of the Frogg Toggs jacket under the helmet instead of the Balaclava. This provides a very effective seal at the bottom of the helmet without a lot of bulk under the helmet. With the jacket plugged in and turned up, I was toasty.
As we formed up to head over to Kutztown for fire house breakfast, Tim reported that the control unit for his electric vest was broken. He decided to try out his new layering system with the Gore Tex top layer without electrics. In the spirit of solidarity and experimentation, I headed out to Kutztown with my jacket unplugged, too. Well actually, I gotta be honest, that solidarity business is BS. It was more like stupidity; I forgot to plug in as we were heading out. The experiment was worth the trouble, though. Riding through 28 degrees relying on just layering was not too bad, except my finger tips and toes got cold. So it appears to be true, if you can keep your core warm with the electric jacket, the body pumps warm blood out to the extremities to keep them warm. If your core needs to conserve heat, the first thing to go is the toes.
Breakfast was crowded because the fire company was having its Christmas celebration, complete with grandchildren getting pictures taken sitting in Santa's lap. The local Brownie Troop was busing tables. I swear they must have been getting paid by the dish - little girls in brown vests with badges hovered around the table pouncing on each plate as soon as the last fork full of food was raised from it. Twice I had to actually wrestle my coffee cup back from an eager Brownie so I could get another cup of joe.
I was short on time and we were planning to go out to buy a Christmas tree, so I parted company with the others after breakfast and headed home. Not quite straight home, of course. I headed over the backbone of the county towards Frredricksville, then dropped down through Landis Store and Hill Church pausing long enough to take a gray winter photo of the Upper Perk Valley spread out below Franklin Hill. Short ride - long breakfast - great morning.
Gypsy Stats: 225.8 Miles 9 Hr 37 Min Elapsed Time 5 Hr 56 Min Riding Time 38 MPH Ave
What a beautiful late autumn morning in SE Pennsylvania. I got up early to run hot water over my back before going out to ride motorcycles around in subfreezing weather (we do this because....?) and found Jupiter brilliant in the eastern sky as the morning star thru the bathroom window. Hello World. Does it get any better than this? Let's go RIDE!
I put on the LD Comfort long johns as base layer. The outdoor thermometer read 28 degrees but I figured it would warm up over the course of the day, so I didn't put on on the thinsulate lined jeans, just the sweat pants between the base layer and the riding suit. For top layer, I wore my $10,000 Tee shirt (not to worry, it came with a free motorcycle) over the LD long sleeves, then the Gerbing electric jacket, riding suit with liner, and light blue Frogg Toggs as an extra wind break. I always feel like I'm wearing my pajamas when I put on the Frogg Toggs. I don't know why, probably the color. I need to get a new set in black.
I mounted up, plugged in, and headed out around 7:00 am with the rising sun just lighting the tips of the trees. The thermometer said 28 and meant it. The electric jacket was toasty but the sweat pants were not enough. My legs were chilly. Next time, I figure the thinsulate and flannel lined jeans come out whenever the temp is below about 45.
We are into late November in PA so most of the leaves are on the ground, with just a few die hard yellow Norway maples holding out and the occasional decorative shrub providing a splash of bright red against the grays and browns of the landscape. The corn and beans are pretty much in, leaving stubble in the fields.
I stopped to gas up at the Redners Quick Stop. Usually, I go in for a quick cup of coffee at this point, but today I was so bundled with layers that I didn't think it was worth the trouble of getting out of the riding gear then bundling up again. I could have just gone in with my gear on but I was wearing the balaclava tucked in to all of the layers of jacket and didn't want to be mistaken for a terrorist by the counter clerk.
The temp was up to 35 as I cruised the ridge over to Reading to form up for the ride. I was looking at the map for ideas of where to go today thinking south and Elk Neck, MD when Tim came out and said, "How 'bout Elk Neck, Md today?" Very weird. But of course it being third Sunday of the month it was off to the Masonic Temple in Birdsboro for breakfast first - custom omelets and special today pumpkin pancakes. Plus, this is the only place I know where you can a get a piece of salt mackerel for breakfast without cooking it yourself.
We didn't dawdle over breakfast and were soon headed south into Chester County. When I found us turning off of US 322 onto Birdell Rd, I called for a quick diversion and lead us over to Chambers Lake on the edge of Hibernia Park. The boat launch parking lot provided the opportunity for a group photo with the site of our old house on Martins Corner Rd, now under water, in the background. By this time, the palatial portapotty at the edge of the lot was a welcome relief as well.
The sky was variable, dark gray overcast threatening as we came out from breakfast, blowing over to bright sun an hour later when we stopped by the lake.
On to Elk Neck State Park! Elk Neck, directly south of Elkton, MD, is a peninsula sticking out into the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay. It is known for its great birding, especially raptors including native bald eagles, high cliffs above the water, and its somewhat stubby, 33 ft high, stone light house. We took the 2 mile hike from the parking lot out to the light house and back. No raptors to be found today, but there was a flock of Eastern Bluebirds and a few desultory vultures circling overhead.
Back north across the Chester Co. horse country got us home just as the sun was setting. Well, that's how many daylight hours there are in a day this time of year.
Gypsy Stats: 5 Hr 56 Min elapsed time 2 Hr 43 Min Riding Time (long breakfast!) 105.7 miles 38.9 MPH Ave
Tim: ’96 BMW R1100RS Dave: ’99 Triumph Sprint ST 955 Triple (aka Smokin’ Red) Lindsey: '07 BWM R1200R (Grin!)
Just a short run today; Tim scored a ticket to the Eagles-Colts game at 4:00, so he needed to get home by noon. Dave pointed out that it was fall-back day. If we started at 8:00 EDT (7:00 EST) rather than 8:00 EST, we would hardly notice and could get in an extra hour of riding time. This worked for me for three reasons: (1) heading out to meet up at 7:00 (EDT) would be before the sun was up enough to raise the temp so I could really try out the electrics, (2) we get an extra hour of helmet time, and (3) if I could get through all of Sunday on EDT, then I could collect my extra hour on Monday morning when it had some real value.
Heading out at 7:11 am EDT (6:11 EST) it was brisk, to put it lightly: 28 leaving the house, dropping to as low as 24.7 crossing the Oley Valley. I gotta tell you, on a motorcycle with no windscreen moving at 60 MPH, this a few degrees below cold. I suited up in the two piece, custom made, motorcycle long underwear as a base layer. For pants I wore Thinsulate and flannel lined jeans with the RevIt suit pants with liner. On top, I layered up with the Gerbing heated jacket, RevIt liner and riding jacket, topped with the Frogg Toggs jacket as an extra wind break. On my head, I wore a balaclava and the Shark Evoline helmet with the chin bar closed in the full face position. With the jacket plugged in and turned on and the heated hand grips turned on, this was amazingly warm and comfortable. The biggest problem was visibility as the balaclava tends to deflect the exhaled breath up onto glasses which fog up. I had to open the helmet face shield one notch to clear the fog and suffered the consequent cold breeze on the cheeks. All-in-all though, I think we demonstrated that sub-freezing riding is definitely in as long as the roads are dry.
When I got to Tim's his bike with gear was parked on the street. Hmm..... Something's up. Tim is usually getting the bike out of the garage and collecting the gear for the ride at this time. Turns out, he sprung forward instead of falling back, confused the time change and rolled out at 6:00 am wondering why it was so cold and dark and where everyone else was.
By this time the temp was holding between 30-32. After sub 25, this felt downright balmy (with the electrics still on!). Luckily, Giegertown FD opens their Sunday morning breakfast at 7:30, so we didn't have to go out a ride around in circles in the cold for an hour before getting a cup of joe. 'Pears to be a new guy on the grill today, so the pig was pretty abused before getting to table. But the GFD special eggs were OK and the SOS filled in the holes. We lingered for 2 1/2 hours over breakfast catching up on news, then headed out to ride around the county. Temps made it up into the low 40's and the ride was glorious. A bit breezy, so the air was full of swirling leaves. The colors are past their prime with maybe 50% of trees bare and the remainder mostly the yellows and brown mixed with the the deep russet of the pin oaks.
Well, I didn't take the camera along this morning, so no pics of the ride, but here is a pic of my new Kentucky KM900 mandolin, the stringed instrument sized to travel on a motorcycle. I went up to Steve Walker's after the ride today to pick it up . Sweet instrument. It looks great, but more importantly, it rings like a bell. And the action is incredibly close. Look for mando music at the next BWM rally.
GPS 832.03 miWhoops, lost the GPS Track for Sunday 10/24, so the map only shows the route home and I do not have the extended Gypsy stats.Oh well, next time.
Triumph Stats:
35.5 hrs
844 MI
17.5 Gal of Fuel..
48MPG.. What a Gas Guzzler..
Total Cost $133 or.16 cents per Mile
Rich:’00 Triumph Trophy 900 Triple
Tim: ’00 Triumph Sprint ST 955 Triple
Dave: ’04 Triumph Sprint ST 955 Triple
Lindsey: ’07 BWM R1200R (grin)
I know I’ll pay for taking Monday off work, but we managed to find time for two days to WVA before the snow flies.Tim almost did not make it.He was lined up for a seat at Game 7 of the NLCS in Philly on Sunday, but the Phillies managed to go down in Game 6, so no interference with the important things in life.Chilly temps starting out Sunday am at 7:00; electric jacket liner to the rescue!Rich showed up for the normal Sunday morning breakfast run, so he rode with us out to Lancaster where we had a diner breakfast, then headed back while the rest of us continued on to West Virginia.From the trouble we had finding a diner in Lancaster and the line of post-church-Sunday-morning breakfast eaters waiting to get in as we were leaving, it must have been the only diner in town.Maybe that explains the food which was unfortunately pretty mediocre.With thought of setting out to the South, I made the mistake of ordering chicken fried steak with gravy.This turned out to be breaded, pre-masticated, microwaved monstrosity featuring a preponderance of cereal products with atrocious gelatinous gravy which had been applied in the factory and managed to hold its “hand poured” shape throughout the subsequent processing steps prior to landing on my plate.I ate the whole thing, of course, and suffered the aftertaste all morning.Well that’s the thing about the diner experience:you never know what to expect and the distribution of what you wind up getting is pretty broad.On the other hand, if it weren’t for the occasional bad ones, how would you recognize the good ones?It’s all part of the charm.
Well, dang.As noted above, I managed to misplace the GPS track log from day 1 of the trip, so I can’t give you the blow-by-blow.We rode across quite a bit of south-central PA, mostly on the blue highways or smaller, then drifted down into the Maryland panhandle and west on US 40 following the old National Road.US 40 has been superceded by I 68 for part of its length.In some places both routes follow the same new pavement, so we were diverted up onto the concrete slab.This led us to pouring through the Sideling Hill cut at a fair rate of speed without a stop for pics and only a moment to marvel.I have to say, if you are ever within striking distance of this landmark, and you have even a passing interest in geology, it is worth a look.Stop at the visitor’s center and have an ogle.In building I 68, the DOT sliced right through Sideling Hill exposing a perfect end on view of a Valley-and-Ridge Province anticline (boy, I hope I remember this correctly and it’s not really a syncline – the curve is on the bottom and the legs stick up in the air).Next time, I will stop and take a picture.
What can we say about West Virginia?Everything is named for Robert C. Byrd.I have heard that this is because he made a life-long career of bringing Washington money to the state to keep his constituents employed.Not a bad feature in a politician, I guess.In any event, one of the things the West Virginians appear to have done to keep busy was build roads up and down the mountains of the Mountain State.I don’t think there are enough of them (the West Virginians) to use the roads very hard, so they (the roads) tend to be in really great shape.And they (the roads, again) come in every form - twisties, sweepers, swoopers, 180’s that go on forever, straight stretches with passing lanes – everything you need to have a great day riding a Beemer going nowhere.(Well, I hear it’s pretty nice on a Triumph, too.Seem to remember from past experience that it was at least half as much fun on a Suzuki, but that memory is fading fast.)(As another aside, they [the West Virginians this time] seem to come in every form, too.They got some scary looking women at some of the convenience store stops.)In any event, Rt 50, Rt 219 – awesome.And the end of day run down the sweepers on Rt 19 into Sutton as the light faded and night came on was cosmic.
OK, I am sorry to report that the food did not get any better on this trip.The Waffle Hut had the advantage of being right in front of the motel and so within walking distance, but the only thing special about the $4.95 hot roast beef and mashed potato special was the word “special” on the menu.If I hadn’t been so hungry, I probably wouldn’t have eaten the whole thing.
I was thinking that based on my limited sample size of two, I could conclude that it always rains on Monday morning in Sutton WVA in the Fall.But I was reminded that this was my third visit to Sutton, so I have to conclude that based on my limited sample size of three, the probability of rain is 67% on Monday mornings in Sutton WVA in the Fall.At least it was not a hard rain, and the temperature was around 50, not 39 like the last time (a miserable story for another telling).
Rain may sound like misery on a motorcycle, but as we had remembered our gear and put it on before we set out, and the rain was not too hard, it was really a pretty pleasant ride.Nice thing about overcast skies is there is no sun in your eyes and no glare.We had had some stretches the day before where the contrast between shadow and bright sun made it impossible to see the lines through the curves.Monday morning, visibility was pretty even, barring the rain drops on the face shield.We headed East based on the TV weather radar which showed the rain traveling up the back bone of the Appalachians and were soon traveling in Portland sunshine, i.e. overcast skies, constantly sweeping moisture out of the air into droplets on the face shield, but road surface ranging from dry to damp with no standing water, riding through a tunnel of southern hardwood forest in the brilliance of its autumn peak..Traction was good and we made good time getting to breakfast.As I sit here, I forget exactly what I ordered, but I remember that it did not change my overall impression that this trip was just a loser food-wise.
By heading East, we managed to pretty much stay out of any heavy rain.There was off and on moisture all day, but nothing serious, and our gear was up to the challenge.The scenery was autumn peak.Colors were amazingly vibrant and deep this year.The landscape showed signs of greening up after recent rains though the streams were extremely low.Heading home we crossed the North Branch of the Potomac between Green Spring, WVA and Oldtown, MD.As the sign says, low water only.The bridge is two planks about 5 ft above the surface of the river with no guard rails.At the troll booth on the north bank a cup is extended out the window taped to a stick and the gruff voice says “Give me a quarter”.We heard it’s a buck for cars, but can’t verify through personal experience.
We roamed around northeastern WVA and the Maryland panhandle until time started running out, then onto the concrete slab for a fast run home up I 81 to the PA Pike at Carlisle.We stopped for a quick bite of hot food at a diner along the short strip of Rt 11 connecting the highways in Carlisle and found that the homemade meatloaf lived up to the expectation established by the trip up to that point.The day ended with the sky clearing as we made the run across the state on the turnpike, one my favorite roads for getting from point A to point B when time is of the essence.All in all, a great two day jaunt.
Beemer Stats: 43 MPH Average speed 48 MPG Ave fuel consumption 182 Miles
Dave:’04 Triumph Sprint ST 955 Triple
Lindsey:’07 BWM R1200R (grin)
Well, Tim emailed that he was sick and couldn't ride, so it was just Lindsey and Dave on this crisp October morning. Temperature was 38 - 41 setting out at 7:30. The Gerbing liner was definitely plugged in and doing its job. Last weekend, I felt some cold spots using just the Gerbing electric liner and Revit suit over the LD Comfort long sleeve underwear, so I added the Frogg Toggs jacket over top of all as an additional windbreak for the sub-40 start. It really made an appreciable difference. So much so that after gassing up and getting organized at Redners, I took it off. I was actually a little too warm even in the 38 degree weather.
We decided to go short today, so after breakfast at the Strausstown Fire Company, it was just a loop north over the mountain on 183, west to Ft. Indiantown Gap, south the Mt. Gretna, then home across the county, finishing up with the run across Rt 568 into Gilbraltar. It's hard to describe how great it was, you pretty much had to be there. Temperatures rose from the chilly start through the mid-50's for much of the ride, ending up at the predicted 71 in the early afternoon. Skies were a bright blue the whole way. Everything has been perked up and cleaned by the recent much needed rain and colors are starting to appear in the trees. Not many bikes out in the early morning, but by noon it looked like a quite a few were taking their last-of-the-season ride. We both forgot cameras, so no pics today. Just close your eyes and imagine a perfect October day in Pennsylvania and you'll have the picture.
Gypsy Stats: 9 hr 19 min elapsed time 5 hr 0 min riding time 186 Miles 37.2 Ave MPH
Beemer Stats: 193.3 miles 38 ave MPH 45 MPG
Tim:’00 Triumph Sprint ST 955 Triple
Dave:’99 Triumph Sprint ST 955 Triple (aka Smokin’ Red)
Lindsey:’07 BWM R1200R (grin)
What a day for a motorcycle ride! Early October in SE Pennsylvania at its best! The day started out crisp(ly) as the sun was rising with temperatures in the mid-40's and a clear blue sky. I put on the Gerbing liner: think Dylan, Newport, '64 - plugged in - it's electric! With winter gloves and hand grips on half heat, the long sleeve, two piece, custom made, motorcycle underwear from LD and some sweat pants under the RevIt suit, I was toasty. Grabbed some $$ at the ATM in Oley, some gas at Redners Quick Stop, and ready to ride. First Sunday, so we set out for Kutztown Fire Company. Last time we tried this, we found the parking lot empty and had to move on to Letterman's Silk City Diner, but today the parking lot was full of cars - fire house buffet breakfast - $8 all you can eat. I had to check what county I was in when I found the cake was served in little triangles instead big Berks County sized squares.
We decide to go see is the recent rains following our end-of-summer drought had filled the river, so we headed east towards the Delaware. Temperatures were running right around 60 degrees so the Gerbing liner was welcome for its thinsulate but did not need to be plugged in. Summer gloves were comfortable with the grip heaters on half power. The rains had left gravel patches in the road, often in the middle of curves, so riding care was in order. Excessive slowing in curves lead to excessive accel on the out-turn. Smoklin' Red was living up to its name on the hard accels. The recent rains really greened up the country side bar the corn and early beans which were dried brown and being made, but not much color yet.
We headed east across the north end of Berks County into Montgomery and the Bucks, coming to the river at New Hope. What a place! These people wanted $10 just for the privilege of getting off of the bike and looking around! I don't think so. We went once around the block looking at the circus, then headed North up the river. We made a quick stop to look at one of the old canal locks. Repairs to the canal continue in-progress but no serious filling with water yet. The river, however, was brown and above average level. Looks like a lot of the 12" of rain is running off, but it's good to see the streams full.
We stopped in at Van Sant airport. This place is a happening on the weekends. There is usually a line of motorcycles, sport and classic cars and folks hanging around for no apparent reason. The attraction is the classic biplanes and gliders which call Van Sant home field.
From there it was just a quick run around Lake Nockamixon, up Old Bethlehem Pike to Pleasant Valley, and across the counties to Boyertown. By this time the temp had risen to the mid-60's - perfect biking weather. Home around 3:00 o'clock with not quite 200 miles on the tires and plans for two days to the south and west next weekend.
Gypsy Stats: 6 hr 5 min elapsed time 3 hr 38 min riding time 1 hr 40 min eating fire house breakfast and swapping lies 128 miles total distance 35.2 MPH average speed
Beemer Stats: 38 MPH average speed 48 MPG average fuel consumption 133 miles total distance
Tim: Ducati Desmo 907 EI Dave: ’03 BWM F650GS Bob: '03 BMW R1150RT Lindsey: '07 BMW R1200R (grin) We actually got accused of being a mini BMW club as we pulled into the firehouse parking lot.
Last Sunday of the month and we gotta go short today and get back for 1:00 pm obligations. Nesquahoning is a little far, so off to the Haycock Fire Co for the $6.00, all-you-can-eat, Sunday morning, fire house breakfast. They had the big garage doors open and the tables set up in the main Fire Engine garage - a kinda European, dining-al-fresco, feeling. Really not too much to report today except that Bob was able to join us on his RT for the first time in a long time. Well, except for Dave basically stopping in the middle of a corner when his chain fell off (boy, do I love shaft drive!). Haycock does a pretty good SOS and I was in the mood, so by the time we hit the road again, I was feeling good.
The temperature was in the mid-50's starting out, with a glorious, red sunrise. As the morning progressed we got up as high as 67 before clouds rolled in and the temperature dropped back down to around 64. Probably just as well that we are going short as rain is predicted for later in the day. Overall, great riding conditions with the right gear. This morning, that means two piece, long sleeve, custom made (well, OK, not really custom made, but specifically designed to the purpose) motorcycle underwear, the Gerbing electric jacket liner (not plugged in, just acoustic today), and the ES riding suit with liners. I was wearing the light weight summer gloves but turned the hand grip heaters on low. I really appreciated the "jet fighter" sun shield in the Shark helmet as we headed out going primarily east into the rising sun before the clouds rolled in.
Overall, a nice, short day for the first ride of autumn. Hey, Tim, what year is that Duck?
Gas Pump:$32.74 for the R1200R burning 93 Octane (R+M/2)
47.3 MPG
$2.89/gal ave for 93 Octane
6.10 cents/mile for gas
Cost Stats:Campsite $30
Dinner for three $12.81
Breakfast $27
Breakfast $30
Firewood $3
Total $105. or about $35 apiece. Pretty reasonable
Tim:’00 Triumph Sprint ST 955 Triple
Dave:’04 Triumph Sprint ST 955 Triple
Lindsey:’07 BWM R1200R (grin)
A Triumphant blue preponderance once again.
We got thinking about motorcycle camping and realized that is we didn’t get to it soon we were going to miss our chance for this year, so we picked the one free weekend in September and headed off.I focused on trying to put together the right gear for (1) riding in any weather and (2) camping comfortably as a cheap overnight accommodation.The problem is, there is a very limited amount of storage capacity on a motorcycle, so you need to limit the number of items and get them as compact as possible.We accommodate temperature change by regulating the number of layers, but you can carry only so many layers.Usually it’s not a problem but when you want to add in a bed (sleeping bag and pad), house (tent), and camp kitchen, room gets limited.The electric jacket liner is a great addition.We ride ATGATT, so the outer layer is always the safety suit, but I usually have the suit liner in as well, at least until it goes up to 80.The liner also serves as the primary defense against rain for anything up to a massive continuing downpour.I have been finding the LD Comfort base layer to be extremely comfortable in long or short version depending upon temperature.By itself, the electric jacket is all the internal layer you need down to about 60 degrees (if you’re a temperature wimp like Lindsey) or somewhat lower.Below that, plug it in and just turn up the thermostat as the temperature drops.I also am comfortably down to 60 with just the long LD tights and suit with liner on my legs.The next internal layer needs to be whatever you carry for off-cycle pants, a pair of jeans so far, but still under development.We pretty much proved that you also need a waterproof outer layer for the really serious downpour, but this can also add about 5 degrees of temperature tolerance as well, I found this weekend with the new Frogg Toggs.
Trying to get everything in the right place is important also.This weekend, I tried packing the camp kitchen in one saddlebag.Not a disaster, but really not a good solution.The kitchen parts do not fit in the hard bag as well as soft goods, are difficult to pack, and make inefficient use of space.When we got home this afternoon, I washed up all of the cooking gear then tried repacking it in the new Wolfman tail bag.Much better solution, so we’ll try that next time out.BTW, I bought a new tank bag and then tail bag from Wolfman.Both are excellent – heavy duty, well made, well designed, and American made in Colorado.A definite winner.
Back to camping gear, I just bought a Kermit Chair which packs up compactly but sets up to be a very comfortable camp chair.Expensive, but a good product meeting a tough set of requirements.Tim carried his also on this trip.
So what about the trip.Lindsey’s start was much like last week:out a little after 7 with the temp at a brisk 50 degrees and the sun coming up to light up a clear bright day.Heading over Levengood Road towards 662 I saw a bald eagle.It was down at about treetop level, having trouble trying to gain altitude and being harassed by two or three crows.Lindsey got to the Redner’s Quick Stop with enough extra time to grab a cup of joe and a piece of shoofly pie.Not that I would ever doubt that Navigator Tim will get us to breakfast eventually, it’s just nice to be fortified against the vagaries of how long that might sometimes take and a piece of shoofly pie with coffee is always a treat.
Tim had heard that Cabella’s restaurant does an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet for $6.99, so we decided to give it a try.It was OK, but I wouldn’t go out of my way for it.Also, the coffee was extra, so by the time we were done, breakfast was about 9 bucks.While there, we got concerned that our lightweight (and space conserving, compression sack stored) sleeping bags might leave us a tad cool if the temperature dropped as much as was threatened by the weather report, so we supplemented our sleeping gear with a couple of polar fleece watch caps (not bad at $9.99 each).Tim heard that in cold weather you lose as much as 30% of your body heat while sleeping through the scalp, so a cap is very important sleep gear when the temperature drops.
After breakfast, the temp was comfortably in the 60’s as we went up through Pine Grove and over Rt 125, one of our favorite rides. Eventually it got up to 70, time to shed a layer and switch to lighter gloves.Navigator Tim had a route all planned but when we got to Stony Run Road we found that they had forgotten to pave it and we had forgotten to bring the off road bikes.I guess we found the stony in Stony Run.A brief navigation meeting ensued.By mid-afternoon, we were passing through Williamsport.Last time we did that, it turned out the Little League World Series was in full swing, making it nearly impossible to get through town.This time, we found folks setting up chairs and sitting along side of the road.This went on all the way down the highway to Montgomery where the fire police tried to direct us into the midst of what turned out to be a massive, 23 mile long, 9/11 motorcycle ride, whatever that is.Thankfully Tim deeked down a side street and out of harm's way before we were captured.We backtracked the highway before the festivities were quite started and gave the whole area wide berth.
By the end of the day, we rode into Ives Run recreation area on HammondLake just north of Mansfield.This is a top notch camp group run by the Army Corp of Engineers (they built the dam that made the lake).Luckily, Dave had made a reservation because the camp ground was full.We set up tents and got dinner started.Tim went out to buy firewood, Dave went for a walk to look at the lake, and Lindsey stayed at the campsite and got busted by Ranger Tammy for having three tents (two tents max).Luckily, Tim’s bike was not there (2 vehicles max also, it turns out).It was looking dire until Ranger Tammy decided since there were only three of us and the tents were small and there was nowhere else for us to go and we were only staying one night, it would be OK and she would let it go.It was either good luck, good sense, or the fact that I am pure of heart, but the problem resolved itself with little fuss.
Dinner was Katherine’s one pot chicken and rice recipe, canned green beans, and spice wafers for dessert.Dave brought along his one burner propane stave to supplement Lindsey’s one burner white gas stove, which was good for getting both the chicken and rice and the green beans hot at the same time.The one burner propane stove was uber simple and worked really well.I think there may be one of those in my future.
A little time around a welcome campfire (we could see our breath by this time) and then off to bed, not forgetting the new cap.
Some time in the middle of the night, a new front blew in bringing clouds, a little light rain, and warmer air, so we had no problem staying warm. There really wasn’t much rain, just enough that it would have been a problem without a tent, so gear was basically dry by morning.As it happened, that didn’t last.We set off in the dry but were soon looking at 60 degrees and a definite case of Portland sunshine, i.e. not enough moisture to call it rain, but enough in the air to leave droplets on the face shield as we swept through the moist air.By the time breakfast at the Wellsboro Diner was over, it was 60 degrees and definite intermittent rain.We suited up, Lindsey in the new never before tried Frogg Toggs, and set a path to home.The rain never became extreme.Some of the time we were on dry pavement, but would then run into fog going over a ridge.So we plotted a straight (and shorter) path home, arriving here by 2:30 with plenty of time to put the travel gear away.
Labor day weekend with incredible early September Pennsylvania weather, Zoe wanted the day to go to the Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show without interference, no other real obligations for the day – what to do?Go long!
Back at the end of July we had set out on a long day intending to have a look at the Tunkhannock Viaduct.We were thwarted not so much by an overwhelming rain storm as by our underwhelming attention to proper rain gear and wound up turning tail and running home like the pack of wet dogs we were.Today was the chance to make up for it.
Setting out to form-up point a few minutes after 7, the temperature was a mere 50 degrees.Sun was just up on a beautiful, clear day but it was might chilly.The LD long underwear with a second layer under the RevIt suit with liners turned out to be just the ticket.I was using the Gerbing electric jacket liner for the intermediate layer without needing to plug it in yet.Turns out it’s a pretty warm jacket in its own right.It was as cold at 47 in the low dips down by creek where the cold air settles, so I was glad for the warm gear.
We were jonesing for firehouse breakfast at Kutztown, it being the first Sunday of the month, but no luck.The parking lot was plumb empty, so we moved along to Letterman’s on Main Street in Kutztown.Letterman’s is an original Silk City Diner where the meals are large, the room is small and crowded, and waitresses are friendly, so we found we could make do.
After breakfast, we headed north with temperatures now in the low 60’s.It was about as nice an end-of-summer day as Pennsylvania can dish up.As usual we made the most of crossing the valley and ridge province, finally getting to Nicholson, PA around 1 pm, just in time for a soft ice cream cone in the shadow of the Tunkhannock Viaduct.
The Tunkhannock Viaduct was built in 1915 to carry the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad across the Tunkhannock Creek.It is nearly half a mile long, crossing the valley 240 feet in the air.At the time it was the largest reinforced concrete structure of its kind ever built.We couldn’t just look from below, of course, so we found our way up to the railroad bed at one end of the structure.Seems the Canadian Pacific Railroad is still using the roadbed and takes a dim view of track walkers.We had to ignore 3 or 4 signs walking over to the tracks from the road where we parked the bikes.The view was worth the effort.
A preponderance if not an actual plethora of Blue Triumph Sprint Triples
The original plan was to ride up to Mt Greylock in North Adams, MA, (highest point in Massachusetts) to spend the night in Bascom Lodge and see what the two year make-over of the lodge and park facilities looked like. We had stayed in bunk room of the lodge a couple of times before and wanted to be sure they hadn’t wrecked the charm with renovation. But it was not to be due to a weekend reservation for a wedding party booking the entire facility. We wound up making our way to the Econo Lodge on Rt 4 outside of Killington, VT. Well it never really matters where you wind up as long as there are good roads on the way.
As usual, we formed up at the Redners Quick Stop to gas up and get moving. Navigator Tim took us slabbing up Rt 33 across the Lehigh Valley to make a little time, with a stop at the Waffle Diner in Stroudsburg for breakfast (very important!), then up over the Pocono plateau to cross the Delaware into NY at Narrowsburg. The Beemer turned 10 just minutes before our first gas stop outside of Narrowsburg, then off across the Catskills.
From the department of ironic signage, we rode past the Neversink Reservoir with its sign advertising the former site of the town of Neversink. Maybe they should have renamed it “Well, Hardly Ever Sink”, or possibly “Mighta Sunk Once” since it’s now at the bottom of 200 ft of water waiting to make the trip to NYC.
A short slab up the NY Thruway took us to Albany and our crossing of the Hudson, then off on Rt 2 across the Taconics and Berkshires thru Petersburg, teeing into Rt 7 just south of Williamstown, MA. This is a great stretch of road with one of my favorite signs, “Warning! STOP 4 mi Ahead”, on the downside swing heading into the tee at Rt 7.
Rt 7 took us thru the north end of the Housatonic valley into Vermont at Pownal, thru Bennington, up the Otter Creek Valley to Rutland, then just five miles east of Rutland on Rt 4 to the Econo Lodge Killington where we put up for the night. A quick run into Rutland left us full of dead cow with a quick late evening run home up the hill on a full stomach. A short relax and recap of the day’s events by the pool put a wrap on the day: the guy who tried to pump gas from the 87 octane hose while Dave was filling up with the 93 octane hose from the same pump – “Well, they have three hoses…” “Sure, buddy. Here’s your sign,”; and the chick on the pink Harley in Rutland complete with pink leathers, pink helmet, and a pink stuffed bear on the luggage rack – How much Mary Kay do you have sell (and to whom???) to get one of those?).
Sunday morning we got up early and on the road before 8 for a brisk hour riding across Rt 4 to Killington, then south on Rt 100 for breakfast at Dot’s of Dover where the Big Breakfast really is big and the Little Breakfast is half of the Big Breakfast (one egg, one pancake, one bacon, one sausage… you get the picture).
About 11:30, we rolled up to the top of Mt.Greylock, the high point of Massachusetts. Aside from fixing the roads up and down the mountain and posting a ranger to collect $2 apiece parking fee, the place didn’t look much different. We grabbed a cup of joe in the dining hall and took the time to climb up to the top of the obelisk on the summit to see the view. Bascom Lodge looked about the same as before (except they refinished to floor in the main room and seem to be sensitive about shoes with cleats). Another time when it’s not so crowded, it will probably be worth the $35 per night for a space in the bunkroom with family style breakfast in the morning.
We crossed the Hudson at Kingston and stopped to gear up. It had been spitting light rain off and on for a while, but was starting to get serious. This time, we remembered to bring the gear and we took the time to put it on right. I added the impervious one piece Triumph rain suit over my normal Revit riding suit with liners in. The temperature had dropped to about 68 degrees, so it wasn’t too warm when moving. By this time, it was about 3:00 in the afternoon with 200+ miles still to go to get home. The rain was coming down like it meant it and the weather was turning dark gray. We decided to beat it home the fast way and jumped on the thruway meaning to slab it all the way to Emaus via I 87 to I 287 to I 78 – just a fast run around the corner in NJ to get home. Ha! It was a Sunday afternoon in August and that road connects the Catskills and points North with NYC. The road barely moved. Crawling in stop-and-go traffic in rain with falling light is definitely a low point in motorcycling. At least it wasn’t cold. We deeked off onto I 84 at Newburgh and headed west towards Scranton. The traffic was light, the rain came and went, the new tires held steady and we made good time. Heading south on I 380 is supposed to be a 20 minute jaunt from I 84 to I 80. Once again, I 80 goes into NYC and it was still an August Sunday afternoon, so traffic was backed up several miles onto I 380. We jumped off onto 611 and slowly made our way to the north end of Rt 33, from which it was a quick ride, now with failing light and limited visibility, down to I 78 at Easton. Traffic was backed up on I 78 East – NYC again, but we, luckily, were heading west. In 20 minutes we were sitting in Yacco’s in Emaus with a couple of dogs recapping the ride.
So here is a learning: I had tried sticking the new EZpass on the Beemer windshield before we went and it didn’t make it to the end of the driveway. But it was very happy to reside in the top pocket of the new tank bag from where it worked perfectly every time we hit the thruway. Even of you plan to never slab a mile, get one of these. As far as I am concerned, just one pass through a toll booth while wearing a rain suit makes it worthwhile.
Little red rooster was peckin' in the yard
