April 14, 2013

Gypsy Stats:
6 hours 40 minutes elapsed time
3 hours 45 minutes riding time
162.3 mile
43 mph

Beemer Stats:
167.9 miles
43 mph
44 mpg

A bright, sunny spring morning in southeastern PA this morning.  Daffodils and forsythia are blooming all over and the grass is greening up, so spring is really here.  Starting temps were in the high 30's, so full gear, plugged in, turned on, and toastin' heading out to Form Up.  Dave had whittled the 40 pending tax returns down to just 3, making a half day off before tax-day tomorrow feasible, and Corey and his friend, Kevin, joined us, so a total of 5 today.  We headed up-county to try out the all-you-can-eat at the Shoey Fire Company (Shoemakersville, that is).

Shoey (2nd Sunday of the month) is a definite come-backer.  All of the food was good from the blueberry pancakes to the country ham, but I think their creamed chipped beef might be top-of-the-list, beating out Haycock Fire, the former fave.

Fed up and talked out after 1 1/2 hours we headed out for a jaunt over the mountain.  Nothing too far today; Dave still has to be back in time to finish those last three before tomorrow and the rest of us have obligations, too.  We headed west across the northern edge of the county, then up over Swatara Gap on Rt 625. A further jog to the west on Rt 443 took us to Gold Mine Road.  If you are following on the route map above, that's the squiggly line crossing the next two ridge lines at the upper left of the route.  It's a great example of what happens to a road when it goes up and over the Valley and Ridge Province, a lovely thing to have right here in our back yard.  From Tower City we jogged over Rt 209 to Joiliet, then down Mollystown Road to Rt 125 in Ravine.  From there is was just a wander back home, crossing back across the mountain on Rt 183.  Corey and Kevin, heading for the western end of the Reading area, peeled off onto Rt 419 at the junction coming down the mountain, while the rest of us continued down Rt 183 and eventually made our way to Pricetown Rd and the Redner's Quick Mart for a wrap up and finalization of plans for the 3-day to West Virginia next weekend.  Most of the ride, the temp was around 50, rising up to 55-56 as we got south of the mountain and the day progressed.  Had to look sharp and take care to avoid the occasional patch of grit, but the roads were basically in good shape.  Home again by 1:30 with a solid 160 miles on the tires.