NY, PA, MD, DC, VA, WV Ride
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 8:06 pm
MLW & I took our first ever 'just the two of us' vacation in 13 years of wedded bliss. Two years ago, out of the blue, she said "We should have a motorcycle." After 30 - 60 seconds of thoughtful deliberation on my part I said "Why yes, we should." A little over a year later we were the proud owners of a blue '02 R1150R.
This tire was new in the spring, I thought it might be OK but then I had it replaced the day before we left.
This is us just prior to leaving home;
[/img]
This is us as we set out on our first long trip together on the bike.
We were in no hurry to get to our first hotel. Our first stop was in Ithaca NY to get some AAA maps to aid the Garmin Quest. We had a late lunch at Chili's.
I discovered that there are some great roads in NY south of Ithaca, and some pretty good ones in PA as well. Our first night was in Williamsport PA and the route selected was based on how curvy the road looked on the map and how sparsely populated it looked. I don't remember this town, but it was our first 'sore-ass' stop. The Ben & Jerry's was so hard it took a long time to eat, but it was good.
Our second 'SA' stop was seemingly in the middle of nowhere. I noticed few non-H-D bikes in front of a shop and figured whoever was there would be friendly. Turned out to be the most amazing motorcyclist and collection of MC that I have ever seen. Anybody recognize the marquee we're standing behind?
Ever heard of Rollie Free? My jaw dropped when I realized what it was. The man said "Go ahead and touch it, it's still warm. I just got back from a ride."
His collection of MC was fascinating. If I had found one of these prior to the R for not too much $ I would have been very interested.
He said it was only 800cc displacement, but perfect to get him back and forth the the west coast a few times.
My Navy Recruiters boss (Master Chief so & so) gave me a ride home once and told me about a bike he bought in England with a square four cylinder engine. I'd never heard much more about them but for some reason I never forgot his story. This is the only one that I've ever seen.
He had a wide collection of other stuff as well.
Lots of Triumphs and several Hondas & Yamahas.
The end of this month he is taking this to race in a vintage event at Barber Motorsports. His wife was quick to point out that it is a vintage bike race, not vintage biker race. But he is racing it himself.
This sign spoke highly and accurately of the 82 yr old man who's shop it was hanging in.
He was truly one of the nicest, most interesting strangers that I have ever met. Meeting him was one of the highlights of the trip.
I didn't get a picture of it, but he had a Japanese knock-off of an early boxer. I'd never heard of it before, but there it was (really, I saw it).
Our next stop was for a photo op of the fall colors and local flavor.
.
The next stop was as PO as well for a covered bridge.
It takes a while to upload to Photobucket as I have not yet learned how to group select a bunch of pics, but I'm working on it. The next installment will include Centralia PA, home of the burning coal mine (since the 60's) and our first night out, Williamsport style.
Regards,
DLS
This tire was new in the spring, I thought it might be OK but then I had it replaced the day before we left.
This is us just prior to leaving home;
[/img]This is us as we set out on our first long trip together on the bike.
We were in no hurry to get to our first hotel. Our first stop was in Ithaca NY to get some AAA maps to aid the Garmin Quest. We had a late lunch at Chili's.
I discovered that there are some great roads in NY south of Ithaca, and some pretty good ones in PA as well. Our first night was in Williamsport PA and the route selected was based on how curvy the road looked on the map and how sparsely populated it looked. I don't remember this town, but it was our first 'sore-ass' stop. The Ben & Jerry's was so hard it took a long time to eat, but it was good.
Our second 'SA' stop was seemingly in the middle of nowhere. I noticed few non-H-D bikes in front of a shop and figured whoever was there would be friendly. Turned out to be the most amazing motorcyclist and collection of MC that I have ever seen. Anybody recognize the marquee we're standing behind?
Ever heard of Rollie Free? My jaw dropped when I realized what it was. The man said "Go ahead and touch it, it's still warm. I just got back from a ride."
His collection of MC was fascinating. If I had found one of these prior to the R for not too much $ I would have been very interested.
He said it was only 800cc displacement, but perfect to get him back and forth the the west coast a few times.
My Navy Recruiters boss (Master Chief so & so) gave me a ride home once and told me about a bike he bought in England with a square four cylinder engine. I'd never heard much more about them but for some reason I never forgot his story. This is the only one that I've ever seen.
He had a wide collection of other stuff as well.
Lots of Triumphs and several Hondas & Yamahas.
The end of this month he is taking this to race in a vintage event at Barber Motorsports. His wife was quick to point out that it is a vintage bike race, not vintage biker race. But he is racing it himself.
This sign spoke highly and accurately of the 82 yr old man who's shop it was hanging in.
He was truly one of the nicest, most interesting strangers that I have ever met. Meeting him was one of the highlights of the trip.
I didn't get a picture of it, but he had a Japanese knock-off of an early boxer. I'd never heard of it before, but there it was (really, I saw it).
Our next stop was for a photo op of the fall colors and local flavor.
.The next stop was as PO as well for a covered bridge.
It takes a while to upload to Photobucket as I have not yet learned how to group select a bunch of pics, but I'm working on it. The next installment will include Centralia PA, home of the burning coal mine (since the 60's) and our first night out, Williamsport style.
Regards,
DLS
