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Yearly trip to Pennsylvania

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    Yearly trip to Pennsylvania

    Its planned ! Next Saturday - Monday.

    13 years ago, Amidst tears and hugs on the night that my father died, 4 of us- my brother, uncle ( my fathers brother), Frank - a long time family friend, and me, made a pact to take a ride every year in memory of him. Not a cry in your beer and long for the past gig, but a reason to remember, spend time with a few friends, and have fun on motorbikes. It was, for several years a day ride in the nice parts of NJ, and occasionally into PA. At some point it evolved into a 3 day weekend with the destination being Cedar Run PA, where my aunt and uncle run a small inn. My cousin lives up there, rides, and is familiar with the good riding areas( they're hard not to find..) and joins us. My fathers ashes are also scattered there, so a dirt road ride to the spot is also on the list...Fun on a big GS.

    In the ensuing years, Frank and me have made a conscious effort to keep it going. Life has gotten in the way a few times, but we've generally managed to eek out the time.. Its generally its been the two of us, my uncle on occasion, (poor health) and for the last 4 or 5 years, one of Frank's longtime friends and riding buddy has come along for the fun - great addition to our duo. Sadly my uncle passed 2 years ago doing what he loved - Riding..... We now toast him as well.

    I wasn't able to make it last year, and Frank's report that it rained all weekend did little to ease the pain, making me even more excited to go this year. My soul needs some motorcycle induced soothing..

    With mounting excitement for next weekend, i got some heavy news this evening. Franks friend, who just a few weeks ago, was intending to join us again this year, was diagnosed with lung cancer.....

    Plans are still on, but with obviously subdued joy.

    This year i actually have a phone with a good camera, and will also be bringing our better digital camera, ( the one i brought last time kept dying), so i hope to get some decent pics.
    Last edited by dorkburger; 09-11-2015, 11:52 PM.
    sigpic
    When consulting the magic 8 ball for advice, one must first ask it "will your answers be accurate?"

    Glen
    -85 1150 es - Plus size supermodel.
    -Rusty old scooter.
    Other things I like to photograph.....instagram.com/gs_junkie
    https://www.instagram.com/glen_brenner/
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/152267...7713345317771/

    #2


    http://pavisnet.com/cedarruninn/features.html


    The destination...
    sigpic
    When consulting the magic 8 ball for advice, one must first ask it "will your answers be accurate?"

    Glen
    -85 1150 es - Plus size supermodel.
    -Rusty old scooter.
    Other things I like to photograph.....instagram.com/gs_junkie
    https://www.instagram.com/glen_brenner/
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/152267...7713345317771/

    Comment


      #3
      Great that you are continuing this tradition.
      I wish I were in Eastern PA.. not Western Pa.

      Comment


        #4
        Well, as selfless as it may seem, its also the highlight of my riding season. It seems that all (still) involved consider it a special ride.

        Im also thrilled at the fact that my bike is running the best it has since buying it 16 years ago - this past winter I did carb o rings, intake boots, and a synch, plus I found some clutch problems that I never knew existed - po hackery it turns out. These 2 items have the bike running and shifting beautifully. Im interested to see if I pick up any gas mileage. While I have no baseline, I do know that at about 150 miles, I need some....
        sigpic
        When consulting the magic 8 ball for advice, one must first ask it "will your answers be accurate?"

        Glen
        -85 1150 es - Plus size supermodel.
        -Rusty old scooter.
        Other things I like to photograph.....instagram.com/gs_junkie
        https://www.instagram.com/glen_brenner/
        https://www.flickr.com/photos/152267...7713345317771/

        Comment


          #5
          Holy crap man that is awful. I am sorry for your pain.

          Comment


            #6
            Thanks Jeep, the sentiment is appreciated. This wasn't intended to be a downer thread, just a brief history on how the ride came to be.

            My dad has been gone so long that just the good memories remain, but thats not to say that he isn't missed. Whether one believes in genes, reincarnation, or whatever, I see signs of him in my younger son. Side by side pictures of them at the same ages are eerily, in a good way, similar and my son has same good spirited, inquisitive, and humorous nature of my father.

            My uncle is gone now for 2 plus years. He lived a hard life, and for many years didnt take particularly good care of himself. He survived his motorcycle crash, but not the resulting injuries. A person in good health would have likely been fine, but then again, I belive that when It's your time, you go.... He definitely wasn't the type to go quietly in a home, after waisting away, and there is comfort in that fact...

            Frank's friend has been on my mind since hearing the news, and i hope and pray that things turn out good. He told Frank to go, and said that hopefully he will join us next year.
            sigpic
            When consulting the magic 8 ball for advice, one must first ask it "will your answers be accurate?"

            Glen
            -85 1150 es - Plus size supermodel.
            -Rusty old scooter.
            Other things I like to photograph.....instagram.com/gs_junkie
            https://www.instagram.com/glen_brenner/
            https://www.flickr.com/photos/152267...7713345317771/

            Comment


              #7
              I hunted there years ago, my BIL had a cabin nearby. Pretty country.
              1981 GS650G , all the bike you need
              1980 GS1000G Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely

              Comment


                #8
                The hunting club my father was a member of had a cabin in the next town down- Slate Run. That is where we went for family vacations when i was growing up. Heck, ive been going there since I was in utero. A beautiful place for sure...
                sigpic
                When consulting the magic 8 ball for advice, one must first ask it "will your answers be accurate?"

                Glen
                -85 1150 es - Plus size supermodel.
                -Rusty old scooter.
                Other things I like to photograph.....instagram.com/gs_junkie
                https://www.instagram.com/glen_brenner/
                https://www.flickr.com/photos/152267...7713345317771/

                Comment


                  #9
                  Did some minor prep work tonight. I checked the chain intending to tighten it, but it was not in need. Then in a sure sign of approaching end times, I washed it......for the second time this year, which is double the normal amount... I also spent some time polishing the Yoshi exhaust can which is the only part of the bike I feel bad about when its dirty.

                  Ive been going over maps trying to plot out a route. Ive made this trip so many times, by car and bike that little is truly new, but we always seem to find something. The chosen route usually ends up as merely a suggestion as the ride progresses with wrong turns made, intersting roads spotted, etc. Typically the goal is to arrive around dinner time and preferably before dark.
                  sigpic
                  When consulting the magic 8 ball for advice, one must first ask it "will your answers be accurate?"

                  Glen
                  -85 1150 es - Plus size supermodel.
                  -Rusty old scooter.
                  Other things I like to photograph.....instagram.com/gs_junkie
                  https://www.instagram.com/glen_brenner/
                  https://www.flickr.com/photos/152267...7713345317771/

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Im going thru things little by little so im not running around like a ding dong on Friday night.
                    I took a look at my saddle bags tonight. They are in tough shape. I bought them last minute before a trip from a local shop at a heavy discount about 20 years ago. I think I got my moneys worth.... I added the cardboard several years ago so they would keep some semblance of their original shape. My trip to Maryland last year put the hurt on one of the zippers. It was a 6 day trip, the longest ive been away on the bike, and the bags were stuffed. I had to do some searching around the garage to replace 2 of the broken mounting clips. All good.

                    As always, before a trip i turn into a weather geek. So far the forecast looks good.
                    I still need to locate my tattered PA road atlas. Franks Wing has GPS, but i still like to have the atlas handy. For some reason ive always liked going over and plotting out routes on a paper map.
                    Attached Files
                    sigpic
                    When consulting the magic 8 ball for advice, one must first ask it "will your answers be accurate?"

                    Glen
                    -85 1150 es - Plus size supermodel.
                    -Rusty old scooter.
                    Other things I like to photograph.....instagram.com/gs_junkie
                    https://www.instagram.com/glen_brenner/
                    https://www.flickr.com/photos/152267...7713345317771/

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Hey Glen (DB),

                      Thanks for sharing your story; really puts things into perspective about life/family/riding. I felt a closeness with you reading how you felt about such an endeavor. Thanks...sometimes I need to look at others to reflect on my life. I can never feel as though I take things for granted.

                      Agreed on the beautiful sights outside the big city of PHL. My family and I ventured towards King of Prussia Mall out there and saw some wonderful hillside homes along the way.

                      Enjoy your weekend...I hope it all turns out well with weather and everyone able to join in the ride.


                      Ed
                      GS750TZ V&H/4-1, Progressive Shocks, Rebuilt MC/braided line, Tarozzi Stabilizer[Seq#2312]
                      GS750TZ Parts Bike [Seq#6036]
                      GSX-R750Y (Sold)

                      my opinion shouldn't be taken as gospel or in any way that would lead you to believe otherwise (30Sep2021)

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Thanks Ed,
                        We'll be a loooong way from the King Of Prussia area....

                        Picture from the same trip a few years ago.
                        http://
                        sigpic
                        When consulting the magic 8 ball for advice, one must first ask it "will your answers be accurate?"

                        Glen
                        -85 1150 es - Plus size supermodel.
                        -Rusty old scooter.
                        Other things I like to photograph.....instagram.com/gs_junkie
                        https://www.instagram.com/glen_brenner/
                        https://www.flickr.com/photos/152267...7713345317771/

                        Comment


                          #13
                          If you don't mind, I would like to offer a suggestion for replacing the cardboard in your saddlebags. I did this to some soft luggage several years ago and really liked the way the shape was improved.
                          Maybe too late for this trip but for future use, if you like. I used the thinnest Plexiglas I could find and installed it with some small beads of adhesive. I thought it made a large improvement.

                          Have a great trip into Pa. That is a beautiful state to travel through.
                          Larry

                          '79 GS 1000E
                          '93 Honda ST 1100 SOLD-- now residing in Arizona.
                          '18 Triumph Tiger 800 (gone too soon)
                          '19 Triumph Tiger 800 Christmas 2018 to me from me.
                          '01 BMW R1100RL project purchased from a friend, now for sale.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Alke, thats sounds like a great idea, but my zippers are beat also, which I was reminded of tonight as I packed. Hopefully I dont leave behind a yardsale....

                            Look, its late...... typical pre trip status for me.. we attended a high school football game tonight that our neighbors son played in (we won ), and got home late. Packed up the bike, and gave it a quick check and found the brake light was erratic when the front brake was applied. A quick check and cleanup of the contact cured it.

                            20150919_001744.jpgPacked up, aimed at the door, ready to go.....
                            sigpic
                            When consulting the magic 8 ball for advice, one must first ask it "will your answers be accurate?"

                            Glen
                            -85 1150 es - Plus size supermodel.
                            -Rusty old scooter.
                            Other things I like to photograph.....instagram.com/gs_junkie
                            https://www.instagram.com/glen_brenner/
                            https://www.flickr.com/photos/152267...7713345317771/

                            Comment


                              #15
                              20150919_095759.jpg first fail...
                              Well I thought I had a loose fairing bolt.....it's still tight....
                              sigpic
                              When consulting the magic 8 ball for advice, one must first ask it "will your answers be accurate?"

                              Glen
                              -85 1150 es - Plus size supermodel.
                              -Rusty old scooter.
                              Other things I like to photograph.....instagram.com/gs_junkie
                              https://www.instagram.com/glen_brenner/
                              https://www.flickr.com/photos/152267...7713345317771/

                              Comment

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