...man alive it was a hot one today! Scooby's temperature gauge indicated 90 degrees most of the way up US 322 from Harrisburg to State College this afternoon between 12 and 1:30 PM. So naturally, I thought it was a good idea to once again* don the mostly black helmet, black jacket, black pants, and black boots and climb on the back of the Concours for an afternoon ride with Chris.
We set out at exactly 2 PM and the temperature was 84 degrees. I didn't snap this first picture until we got out of the neighborhood. Our starting mileage was 11,380. (BTW, the Connie is just over 10 months old...loving that average monthly mileage!)
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| Off we go! 84 degrees and sunny. |
We headed north on PA 550 to the Julian Pike, crossed US 220, and headed out Beaver Road to Black Moshannon State Park. We were briefly on PA 504 west (very briefly) before hanging a right on Casanova Road, which led us past the Campground at Black Mo and north toward Winburne (Casanova to Casanova Spur to Winburne Road). Casanova Road was not my favorite road; it was quite bumpy and I was getting bounced around in the saddle...a lot.
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| Heading north on PA 550 just past Waddle. |
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| Julian Pike |
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| Swimmers on the beach at Black Moshannon State Park |
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| Casanova Road |
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| Blue skies and sunshine = WINNING! |
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| Sign indicating we're approaching an ATV crossing |
We turned right on Kylertown Drifting Highway (oh, the irony of the picture) and headed north on PA 53 to Moshannon, where we picked up PA 144 south through Snow Shoe and down to Wingate. We continued on PA 144 south through Milesburg, Bellefonte, and Axemann to Rishel Hill Road, which brought us behind the Centre County Correctional Facility and over toward Fisherman's Paradise on Spring Creek Road. This where we encountered a douchbag in a minivan who insisted on going 15 MPH in a 35. We didn't last too long behind him. It was also on this road where we were forced to skirt around a minivan who had to slam on his brakes to avoid rear-ending the jerk in front of him who stopped in the middle of the road while executing the worst right-hand turn EVER. Here's where I think, "I'm so glad I ride with a proficient motorcyclist." I put my life in his hands and I trust him to take good care of me.
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| Love the irony! |
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| Hey Yogi! |
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| Farm Crossing Ahead |
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| Wink, wink! |
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| Heading south on PA 144 toward Wingate |
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| Spring Creek in Bellefonte |
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| Tallyrand Park in Bellefonte |
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| Village of Axemann |
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| Jimmy Carter came (still comes?) to Spring Creek to go fishing. |
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| Their house has a bridge...does yours?!? |
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| Spring Creek - world famous fishing right in Centre County |
Accident avoided, it was a short jaunt south on PA 550 to Rock Road, through Houserville and Lemont (via Houserville Road, Pike Street, and East Branch Road) until we reached our destination - Meyer Dairy! Any good, hot, summer afternoon ride has to include ice cream - "to be cooled down" is a basic physiological need! :) Chris went with his traditional small hot fudge sundae with mint flake ice cream; I tried a new flavor - orange pineapple. It did not disappoint!
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| Yay! |
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| Ever the traditionalist - hot fudge sundae w/mint flake. |
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| Trying something new - orange pineapple ice cream. YUMMO! |
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| Trying to be artsy with the helmets. |
From Meyer Dairy, we headed south on Business US 322 to PA 45 and proceeded west on PA 45 to Pennsylvania Furnace, where we turned right onto...
drum roll, please...Marengo Road! If you've read any of my other local ride reports, you know this is a sweet road that is practically in our backyard and we try to take it coming or going whenever possible.
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| My proficient motorcyclist |
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| Oh, hey! How's tricks? |
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| Looking over Chris' right shoulder... |
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| ...and then his left. |
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Do you need any livestock evaluated? If so, bring them here.
(USDA Livestock Evaluation Center) |
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| I hear a chorus of angels...we must be on Marengo Road! |
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| Oh Marengo...you're such twisty fun! |
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| A shady patch along Marengo Road |
We returned home at 5 PM with three hours of saddle time and just under 100 miles.
*I did a very brief ride with my friend, Chris Hornberger, on the back of his Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive this morning. I negotiated this ride as part of what he owed me for doing him a favor last week. That Burgman is a hoot! I was a little hesitant to ride with someone else, but once I hopped on the back and we took off, I knew I didn't have anything to be afraid of. We did a quick little loop out from the Starbucks in Shrewsbury that was approximately 11 miles and took about 25 minutes that sent me back to Happy Valley...well, happy! Thanks, Bubbles!!! Now don't lose any more keys! ;)
Glad you had fun. I felt nervous, like I was going to be evaluated what with the hubby actually being a riding instructor and all :)
ReplyDeletePS... I LOVE PA Rt. 144.
ReplyDeleteYou left out the part about me murdering a bunny on 45. I thought he was going to zig but he froze up and paid the ultimate price. Major bummer.
ReplyDeleteLook, I can tell you two apart now...yay! :)
ReplyDeleteChris - I got over my nervousness very quickly and I hope you did, too! It was fun riding with you. PA 144 is pretty awesome! If/when you get up this way, give us a shout.
Clark - yeah, I sorta left the bunny murder out on purpose...beings that it was a huge downer and all. The weird thing is, it felt like nothing more than a little bump in the road. Poor stupid bunny.
Ground hogs don't sound or feel any different, surprisingly, given their size. DHMHIK. :\
ReplyDelete