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?