Yearly trip to Pennsylvania

[dorkburger]

https://flic.kr/p/Myr6oS

[Charlie G]

Untitled by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

Nice shot!

[dorkburger]

Hey Charlie, thanks for the photo blowup. Still working from my phone only.
Heading home tomorrow.

[dorkburger]

Back at home safe and sound. 871 miles for the week (the ride up and home and one day of riding while up there) plus great and needed family time. Pic is from a rest area...... I literally poured water out of my boots. The turn signal was repaired a few years ago. It broke on Rt 80. Probably when doing 90 or so out running the first deluge of rain before lunch. The black stripe lost some more black. Rain and speed seems to kill them. The black near the headlight was pelted of a years ago and touched up. Maybe its a Skunk in training....
The bike is a filthy mess...... even by my low standards.
More to follow.
http://GS1150 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

[dorkburger]

Finally have some time to sit and write.....

The alarm woke us at 5am. It was still dark and we set about packing the last few items into the car and I loaded the bicycles onto the bike rack and secured them. It was still crazy humid and the roads were wet from overnight rain. About 6 15 we hit the road.

The now dawning sky showed a full range of emotion. Solid dark clouds to the west where we were heading, but with wispy clearing low clouds. Behind me the sun was up, illuminating and casting shadows on broken clouds. There was an occasional blue glimmer of hope in the otherwise cloudy sky, but in truth, a glimmer of hope was a non event- none was needed. I was riding, going on a trip, and rain wouldn't have spoiled a thing. I hit a few sprinkles, but that was it. After breakfast we split up. Wife and kids went directly to the interstate, while I needed to get fuel, and tried to avoid one toll, by getting on in a different location. I still ended up paying a toll, but at least avoided the getting the toll ticket part.

Years ago when I was new to street riding, I avoided the interstate like the plague. Too dangerous I told myself. These days I don't mind them as much, and at times feel safer on a lightly traveled intersrate with its limited access then a local highway with lots of cars entering / exiting stores, etc. Admittedly, I also use the excuse of personal safety to speed a bit on the interstate to keep moving ahead. Not in "hero" stunter style though.

As I rode the Pa Turnpike, I was quickly reminded of the joy of riding a literbike. 80 MPH puts the 1150 in the fat part of the torque, and with the 1/4 turn throttle mod, I used that torque to easily dispatch a few tailgaters and cars that I suspected were going to pull out from the middle lane into the fast lane in front of me. This of course was in the busy Philadelphia suburbs area, where I also hit a bit of traffic. We then took the Northeast Extension. After that traffic slowly thinned out, and while not an open highway, there was now breathing room. The weather was slowly improving and brightening as well. For the first time ever, I rode thru the Lehigh Tunnel on a bike. Naturally, being that the kid in me isn't fully dead yet, I felt compelled to drop it into fourth, goose it a few times, and hear some Yoshimura provided music.....

Our first meet up was at the Hickory Run service area. The family arrived first - I had already stopped once to get rid of some used coffee and stretch.
We all had a snack, took care of buisness then hit the road. Then things got a bit sideways.

It turns out that the rest area has a north side and south side, with NB and SB entrance / exits. Somehow my wife ended up on the south side and when following the rest area exit, got on the highway heading south instead of north as the. This would be the first of two GPS goofs, despite the printed out direcctions being in the car.... She called me while I was getting fuel. The GPS recalculated a crazy route that I told her to ignore and simply take the next exit, and get back on heading north. I awaited confirmation that they were sorted and moved on.

Awaiting the call....
http://GS1150 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

Once back on the road I took it easy for a bit figuring that I was ahead, and was poking along around 70 or so. No sign of them in the mirror...... next thing I know a Honda Pilot loaded with bicycles blazes past in the fast lane. I laughed in my helmet for probably a full minute. I was proud. Apparently her nervousness of traveling unfamiliar roads was fading.

Shortly after, I hit Rt 80 west. Things were pretty wide open, the weather was pleasant, and I just rode a fairly steady 80-85 MPH. I crossed the Susquehanna river which was as high as I've ever seen it and also thought of my friend who recently escaped NJ and moved to Berwick Pa. No time to visit though.
We met up again at a Sheetz gas station / convenience store outside of Williamsport and fueled up the car and bike, then headed to Jersey Shore Pa. and found a spot for lunch.

After lunch we headed to Rt 44 and headed up the Pine Creek Valley. The recent flooding had receded. We were told later that even in the morning, there were still some flooded roads, but we hit none, just occasional spots where water was cascading off of the mountains. The road up is a fun, fairly well maintained one to ride on, and it being Thursday, was empty and free from weekend tourists. My wife later said she was happy to have me in front when we came upon a one lane area of road repair. No flag man spinning a stop / slow sign, just a stop on either end, go when clear, be courteous..... Shortly later we arrived at Cedar Run and settled in.

It was the quickest I've ever made it there on a bike, but not due to speeding, but instead, by taking the direct route.... It was still enjoyable.


Success....

.http://GS1150 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

[dorkburger]

The next two days were spent doing family stuff.
Sunday we rode. It ended up just my cousin and me.

The ride started out very similarly to last time. We headed out of the valley and up to Rt 15 heading up to Watkins Glen NY again, but with a slightly different route to avoid a few stretches of lumped up road. On Rt 15 there was a Bald Eagle circling, gliding, overhead. Not that rare of a sight anymore, but still rare enough to take note and appreciate. We moved pretty quickly. Frank, who didn't make the trip this year has a CDL license to consider. We don't. We got off at Elmira, rode thru town, passed the Corning Glass museum, and continued on. NY rt 414 if I recall....

The few times I've been to Watkins Glen, it has always struck me as a busy tourist town, albeit a cool one. For our ride's purpose, it was just a jumping off point.
We stopped for gas and snacks, and shot the breeze for a while taking in the lovely view of Seneca Lake.

Gassing up. I always enjoy photographing the GS next to the Duc. Different machines from different eras...
http://996 & 1150 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

Seneca Lake and two cool bikes....
http://996 & 1150 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

After our break we picked up 414 again which travels up the right side of the lake heading north. Absolutely beautiful views of the lake and many vineyards. The roads were wide open, and not necessarily technical. Great for just relaxing and taking in views. We ended up heading toward Cayuga Lake and the sights continued.
We took another brief pause at Taughannock Falls Park and oooh aaahed at the falls along with 50 or so others.

The falls. There are likely 10 million pics that look the same on Google. Still pretty cool though.
http://Untitled by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

By now the day was moving on and I needed to be back for family dinner. We made our way to Ithaca, fueled up, had coffee and a snack, then hit the road with intent.
We retraced some of the route we took on our way out, but also a few different roads. Things were more entertaining on the way back. Bent up, smooth roads, no traffic, and good times. There were indications of the recent flooding all around, and at nearly every creek but the roads were ok. The last Stretch down Pa 414 from Liberty to Morris was a blast. We pushed it a bit. Last winters fork mods were put to good use and appreciated.
It was a good day of riding and the best weather day of the trip. Didn't get many pictures of the day though.

[Eli69]

so many cool places in the finger lakes area. a lot of people think of new york as just a city. they're wrong. glad you had a good trip.

[dorkburger]

Thanks Eli.
NYS is definitely a beautiful area. Years ago, I made several trips to Rochester, usually avoiding the interstates. I always loved the drive / ride thru the country and small towns.
I don't think I would want to be there in the Winter though. I dislike the cold more and more these days.

[Charlie G]

I pulled up a map and followed you on your journeys. Looks like a wonderful time. I went through this area many years ago when I was in my teens on my way to a wedding in Rochester, NY. It was at night and I missed so much. Thanks for taking the time to post up.

[dorkburger]

Thanks Chrlie. I generally enjoy writing these. I've been crazy busy since getting home this time....

[dorkburger]

Besides the main event, I also got in a few quick rides and grabbed some pics of the Cedar Run and Slate Run (the next town south) areas.

This was taken the same time and nearly the same location as the earlier fog shot.
http://Gs1150 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

The green bridge. Up until several years ago, it was green. I've called it that all of my life and will continue to do so. I remember as a kid looking at the builders plaque on top and marveling at the fact that if it stood until 1990 it would be 100 years old. 28 years beyond that and its still there. I love these old steel bridges.
http://Green bridge by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

Tomb Flats south of Slate Run. The creek was unusually high, especially for the summer. This is an interesting spot - the creek bed here is one huge relatively smooth bed of rock. Years ago we took pictures of our much younger kids on the rock. This was a campground until about ten years ago, when floods floated several campers (trailers, not people) down the creek to their doom. Now its an access / boat launch area. I was thinking of Dave (Redman) when I took this.....

http://Tomb flats by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

[Rich82GS750TZ]

The green bridge. Up until several years ago, it was green. I've called it that all of my life and will continue to do so. I remember as a kid looking at the builders plaque on top and marveling at the fact that if it stood until 1990 it would be 100 years old. 28 years beyond that and its still there. I love these old steel bridges.
http://Green bridge by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

Those bridges are beautiful, but they sure are no fun to drive across on a motorcycle.

[RichDesmond]

Great write-ups, thanks for sharing.

[dorkburger]

Thanks Rich. Your springs and the cartridge emulators definitely made for a better ride.

As far as crossing steel grate bridges, it stopped bothering me once I realized that the wiggling of the bike wasn't a sign of impending doom. Oddly, different grate patterns seem to affect the bike differently. This particular bridge has rectangular openings that have little effect. The diamond shape ones do. I like how the bike suddenly gets quiet when theres no road below to bounce the noise off of.

[dorkburger]

More pics....
http://Spook Hollow looking north by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

http://Spook Hollow looking south by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

http://Slate Run by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

"Downtown" Cedar Run.
http://Cedar Run by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

http://GS1150 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr