Mt. Davis, April 29 - May 1, 2011

April 29, 2011
Gypsy Stats:
10 hr 19 min elapsed time
7 hr 34 min riding time
347 miles
45.9 MPH
Beemer Stats:
357 miles
48 MPH
44 MPG

April 30, 2011
Gypsy Stats:
8 hr 34 min elapsed time
5 hr 52 min riding time
351 miles
59.8 MPH
Beemer Stats:
357 miles
60 MPH
45 MPG

The plan was to take Friday off work, make a three day weekend of it and bag a couple of high points we should have hit long ago. I was a bit cramped for time, however, so I planned to ride out for a day and half then slab home on Saturday afternoon while Tim and Dave went on with the adventure.

Friday started out with a beautiful Pennsylvania spring morning full of bright sunshine and a cloudless blue sky. Heading out at 7:00 the temperature was in the mid 40's, rising to the low 50's by the gas stop at the Redner's Quick Shoppe at 7:30. The landscape was full of the bright yellow of wild mustard. Redbud and azaleas were at the peak of the season. Dogwoods were blooming and lilacs were opening, but neither were having a prime season this year.

I was wearing the usual outfit except with regular jeans in place of the flannel lined. Even at these relatively mild temps the Aerostich neck kerchief and heated jacket were welcome on the long haul.

We decided to slab it out of the normal Sunday morning range and hit I78 west to Harrisburg at a lively pace. We got off the highway up US 11 to Marysville and hit the Marysville Diner for a great breakfast (dang, that's a long stone arch railroad bridge). We would have headed up over the first ridge of the mountain, but the i-Pad showed the access along River Road which appeared to be some mighty wet wheelin' as the Susquehanna was up over its banks, so after breakfast we headed west thru Perry County and on.

Our circuitous route seemed to take us north to go south, constantly zigging to zag. But that's the best way to cross the Valley and Ridge Province on a motorcycle and we hit some really excellent roads. Rt 641 from Letterkenny Arsenal west was a particularly nice stretch of unencumbered twisties as it crossed the ridges. We tried to take a short cut down Locke Valley Road but soon found ourselves in the woods full of redbud with diminishing pavement and the ominous strains of banjo music coming from the underdeveloped real estate. A return to civilization and the blue highways (as opposed to the dotted grey back roads) soon had us on Rt 475, another really prime run, a definite come-backer.

This started as a beautiful spring day with the promise of warming weather but with clouds in the sky and rain spitting, we had to stop by an old covered bridge for shelter as we geared up for the wet. As we crossed Baldy Knob (Elev. 2906) on the Lincoln Highway it was cloudy and the temperature dropped to 45 degrees. I was glad for the heated jacket liner and electric hand grips.

Following Tim's excellent internet guided navigation, we managed to find Mt. Davis, the highest point in Pennsylvania. There is a State Park with an observation tower at the peak giving an excellent view of the surrounding countryside, including the wind farm on the opposite ridge. By this time is was definitely overcast and the temperature had dropped to 40 degrees. We were back in full winter gear mode with the electrics turned up.

We motored on to Oakland, MD where we put up for the night. Dinner was Mexican at the restaurant attached to the motel. A couple of Dos Equis and a plate of re-fried beans lead to an early turn in on a full stomach.

Next morning woke to bright sun and 37 degrees with ice on the bikes. We walked 100 yards up the road to Denny's for eggs and grits while the sun warmed things up. Back at the motel, all packed up and ready to go, I had trouble starting the Beemer!!!!! Hans, Klaus, What's up? This bike is supposed to be perfect! With the bike running rough we toddled 300 yards down the road to the local gas station where I put 4.75 gal in the 4.8 gal tank. Oh, I see. It doesn't run if you forget to put fuel in it. Good thing we hadn't tried to go another ten miles last night. So now we know the answer: 206 miles. Don't try to go any farther.

On to Hoye Crest, Md., again guided by Tim's internet directions. To reach Hoye Crest, the highest point in Maryland, you have drive into West Virginia, park along Rt 219, and walk up a mile long trail with 700 ft climb, crossing back into Maryland about 100 yards before reaching Hoye Crest. We managed the hike in our very comfortable BMW motorcycle boots, shedding layers as we went. We finally reached the crest, certain that we had hiked at least 2 miles and climbed 1000+ feet. Thrilled to find a small concrete obelisk we set down our jackets, took pictures of each other and congratulated ourselves on reaching our goal. As it turned out, the obelisk marked the Md/W VA boarder and the sign marking Hoye Crest was 100 yards further along and maybe 1 or 2 feet higher in elevation but we never saw it. Well, we hiked up that mountain and as far as I am concerned we are going to put a check mark in the "highest point in Maryland" box. I really don't think the extra 2 feet or the other plaque means much; we were close enough for a high point with no direct motorcycle access.

Following this adventure we motored on to the Sheetz in Morgantown, WVA around noon, where we had to split up. After gas and a snack, I said goodby and jumped on I68 to slab home. Much as I prefer blue highway twisties, I have to admit that the Interstate Highway is a great way to get from A to B when you need to be somewhere else. Cranked up on the R1200 it's makes for a pretty smooth glide home in a hurry. For some reason, the visitor's center at the Sideling Hill road cut on I68 is closed, so it really is not possible to stop for a decent photo. I finished up running down the Pa Turnpike from Carlisle, then over the new Rt 322 to Reading and on home by 5:15.

Meanwhile, the other half finished up Saturday with a great ride:

You missed some good roads today. Went west on rt 7 toward New Martinsville turned back south/east on rt 20. Check out rt 20 expanded on the ipad. So many twists and turns. Then turned south on 19 to Clarksburg and blasted back west on rt 50. Turned north on rt 23 til we found rt 18 back south and east to Troy. Jogged onto 47 to get to 33 east to get to Weston. Then we grabbed your favorite rt 19 into Sutton. All said and done checked into our favorite hotel at 7:20 with 348 miles on the clock. Tires are not squared off and we expanded the chicken strips. We dined on salisbury steak and chopped sirloin. Couldn't tell the difference.
Intense riding with no time to look around but honed our high speed line through the corners.

Next day was not so smooth as steel cords started showing through the tread (or lack thereof) on Tim's rear tire in Greencastle, resulting in a two-up run home for a new tire and a very long day:

Made it back and forth from Greencastle by 11:30 P.M. Seats in the car
felt marvelous and there was no precip on the return trip. All told
Dave calculates it at about 650 miles of saddle distance. Long day,
but Dave didn't complain about the Pontiac Vibe's absense of heated
grips. Thanks to Dave who had a spare tire mounted up on a spare
Triumph wheel. When we arrived back in Greencastle it looked like a
NASCAR pit stop. Triumph rear wheel stand inserted, pipe removed, wheel
replaced and back on the ground in less than 20 minutes. Sure wished I
could have nursed it closer to Reading but.... I really owe Dave a debt
of gratitude for him making the trip back with me and serving as chief
on the pit crew. I have learned my lesson and will now get an extra set
of wheels that will be swapped in just for trips and a complete
accounting of total miles logged. This situation cured me.