December 23, 2012

Gypsy Stats:
6 hrs 15 min Elapsed Time
2 hrs 34 min Riding Time
102 Total miles
40 mph average speed


Beemer Stats:
108.6 miles
41 mph average
43 mpg

One of the best parts about having survived the Mayan Apocalypse and End Of The World on Solstice Day 2012 is that we got to go riding two days later.  The day dawned clear and chilly, but not bone-chilling cold.  The thermometer read 33 and fluctuated as low as 31 heading out to Form Up.  I put on everything:  long LD base layer, Thinsulate and flannel lined jeans, 'Stiche Jersey, extra sweatshirt, Gerbing jacket, suit liners, 'Stiche chin fleece, winter gloves, etc.  Plugged in, turned on, heated up and off to Form Up.

Fourth Sunday:  not much firehouse breakfast action and the VFW was closed 'cause of Christmas.  We were looking for something not too far so that while we were sitting and jawing the sun could be rising and warming:  Marvel Ranch in downtown Reading - perfect - don't leave the tank bag or helmet on the bike, remember to take the key and carry the Gypsy in with you, and as long as you're packing the heat (Gerbing, that is), don't mind the other customers who are packing the heat (not Gerbing, that is).  The coffee was excellent, better than any firehouse.  Tim and Dave ordered the house special, the Marvel Mess - scrambled eggs with some of nearly everything you might imagine to put in eggs.  I got two, over-medium, with pork chops, home fries, and dry rye toast.  It was awesome!  And the coffee kept flowing, and we kept BS'ing, and there were still some open tables so they didn't need to kick us out, and the waitress was nice, and the bill came to $22 for the three of us.  What's not to like?  Oh, yeah, did I mention how polite they were?  The sign in back read "No Getting High in the Rest Room, Please" (emphasis mine).

I believe the Gypsy is reporting over 2 hours of breakfast-and-in-depth-analysis-of-the-modern-human-condition before we headed out for a quick run around the northwest corner of the county.  Temps ran pretty constant around 35 with bright sun.  With the gear and heat turned on it was very comfortable (maybe not so nice if the sun had not been out).  Roads were basically clear of ice and grit.  We ran north and west, out of the Blue Hills into the Great Valley - far enough west for the signs to reference the Lebanon Valley - but never went over the Mountain.  We didn't push but just had a comfortable ride for the first time out this winter.  Topped 100 miles by the end and got home in time for an afternoon activity.

December 16, 2012

Gypsy Stats:
5 hrs 25 minutes elapsed time
2 hrs 58 minutes riding time
115.3 miles total distance
38.9 MPH average

Beemer Stats:
120.8 miles total distance
40 MPH average speed
44 MPG

Dave e-mailed on Friday that the weather forecast for Sunday was pretty dodgy, so maybe a third Sunday breakfast at the Masonic Temple by car might be in order.  Lindsey suggested we wait until Sunday morning to see what the real weather was going to be before decided.  Sunday dawned gray and overcast, but the temperature was above 40 and the weather report had changed to 10% chance of precipitation in the morning.  Dave called to report wet roads, but the HD Radar showed a small shower had just past our area and that there was no more rain to be seen in Pennsylvania, so into the LD long base layer, Aerostich "StarTrek" jersey, Gerbing electrics, etc. etc. and off.  Gray was the color of the day, but the ceiling was fairly high, so no fog and a nice even light.

Breakfast at the Masonic Temple seemed better than usual; maybe it was just my mood.  The special cranberry pancakes really did not live up to expectations but the scrambbled eggs, sausage, and scrapple were excellent, supplemented by the salt mackerel.  This is the only place I know to get salt mackerel for breakfast.
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We didn't dawdle over much over breakfast and got out for a short ride around the southwest corner of the county, straying over into Chester for part of the ride.  The light was even and except for the occasional overly optimistic squirrel the roads were relatively free of extraneous junk and grit.  Temps were in the low 40's rising to 50 by mid-day.  We ended up with 120 +/- on the clock and home by 1:00 for other adventures on the day.  Not bad for a week before the solstice.

December 2, 2012 - Winter's Comin' On

Gypsy Stats:

Elapsed Time:  7 hours 25 minutes
Riding Time:   2 hours 57 minutes
Total Distance:  115.1 miles
Ave MPH:  39

Beemer Stats:
Total Distance:  119.8 miles
Ave MPH:  39
Ave MPG:  44

Fog Over Kutztown

November was kind of a bust, motorcycle-wise; there was probably a lot of missed opportunity but what with Lindsey spending the week before Thanksgiving in California and Tim heading to Detroit for TG, not to mention the rest of us focusing on family affairs that weekend, we really haven't been out since early last month.

New Camera at Work

The day dawned in a fog but with promise of burn-off by mid-morning, so out early in full winter gear, plugged in, and turned on.  The fog was no joke.  Heading to form-up, visibility was limited and the visor was sweeping moisture from the air and needed constant wiping.  The thermometer read 39 and the heated jacket was welcome.  Roads were wet and I wiggled on at least one tar snake in a turn.  We decided on Kutztown FD for breakfast.  Mercifully, Tim stuck to the numbered highways getting to K'town as the fog thickened to nearly impenetrable several times and the temperature dropped a few degrees heading across the ridge; the twisty back roads would have been more challenge than fun under the circumstances and we hadn't had coffee yet.

Cruising up Rt 737

KFD lays on a nice breakfast every first Sunday.  In December, Santa comes so the hall is full of grandparents bringing the grandkids to see the old man - sets a holiday spirit to the day.  Did we really sit and jaw for over 3 hours???  Well we got there fairly early and they were sweeping us out with brooms at the end; the GPS record doesn't lie!  I wish I could record the momentous import of our conversation but I'm afraid it was mostly BS and another cuppa joe.  Oh, well, a typical Sunday morning.

Camera Lens Sweeping Moisture from the Fog

No going long today and we kinda whiled away the hours in the fire hall so a quick run north up into the V&R, over first ridge on Hawk Mountain Road, then up past Heisler's going over second ridge, returning over second ridge on Mountain Road/New Philadelphia Road out of New Philadelphia.  We proceeded thru Schuylkill Gap and Port Clinton to re-cross first ridge, then along the hill to Hamburg and back roads through Windsor Castle to cross the valley to home.  Temperatures were in the low 40's with the fog never really clearing, so the heat was welcome.  Roads were wet, often with grit, all a uniform gray color,  in the center of the lane, so lines were often limited and tricky.  No need to kill ourselves on a foggy day; we took it easy and stayed safe.

Fog Thickens Crossing the Ridge

New farkle today:  if you've been following, you know I've been trying to protect the handlebar camera from weather, bugs, high speed grit, etc. using a plastic bag with mixed result; the camera survives but the pictures are degraded by the sun glare from the plastic.  Tim picked up an all-weather camera for a reasonable price at BJ's - water proof to 16 ft, dust proof, etc - so I mounted it on the handlebar RAM mount to give it a try.  Photos appear shaky - I need to read the manual and see if there a blur reduction function which I will go do right now.

By the way, did I mention how much I love my bike and how much I love our all-weather riding gear?