To most people, the sky is the limit. To those who love aviation, the sky is home.*

Fresh off last Saturday's Aviation Awareness Day at University Park Airport, Chris and I decided to visit the Piper Aviation Museum in Lock Haven, PA today.  In fact, it was last Saturday that Chris said to me, "You know...we still haven't been to the Piper Museum...we should do that!"  This past week, we checked the museum's website for hours and admission information and decided that we would ride there today.  During the week, there was talk of afternoon rain, so we decided to go earlier in the day, rather than later.  We left the house shortly after 10 AM this morning on the Concours.  It was 68 degrees and very, VERY overcast.  

Overcast and cool along PA 150 toward Lock Haven.

Coming into Beech Creek, PA.

The STN Soccer Institute - this was spot for the PA tag game over on ST.N!

We arrived at the museum just after 11 AM.  Saturday hours are 10 AM - 4 PM; admission is $6 for adults.  We were greeted by a nice older lady who welcomed us, took our admission, and gave us the layout of the museum.  She told us when we were done, that we could return and she'd show us the 16-minute video in the theather.  As luck would have it, as she said that, she heard it ending.  The couple that was in the theater departed, she restarted the DVD for us, and left us to watch the video.  When it was over, she returned to the theater to walk us out to the display area, where she proceeded to give us the layout of the museum all over again!  Verbatim!  Neither of us had the heart to say anything, so we got the schpeel twice!  :)

The museum is housed in the old Piper engineering building.

The gardens outside of the museum.

I didn't realize the Cub factory was originally in Bradford, PA!

A look inside the wing from the picture above.

After we were done touring the first part of the museum - which is on the second floor of the building - we went down to the hangar to check out the planes and antique cars on display.

We're going to have a car like this someday...we've talked about it for years!

I got creative with the mirror-like nose of the Comanche!  :)

 

In the dark, dungeon-esque, possibly-off-limits part of the hangar, we look like people from TRON when the flash goes off on our cameras!

Back in the bowels of the hangar...dust and airplane parts abound!

When we were in the hangar, we could feel the heat coming in from outside underneath the hangar doors.  It was a welcome relief to reenter the museum.  We made a quick souvenir purchase (a Piper Cub sticker for Chris' tool chest) and went outside to suit up and find a good spot for lunch.

William T. Piper Memorial Airport

It was hazy, hot, and humid by the time we were done touring the museum.

On our way out of the parking lot, we passed these old fuselages.

We decided to stop at Aungst Family Restaurant in Mill Hall, PA on our way back.  We had a tasty lunch!  Chris ordered a chicken cheesesteak sub.  I got the hot turkey sandwich, which came with fries and a side.  I chose pickled eggs...yum!!!

Chris and I barely put a dent in my fries; we had our eyes on pies!

Loves me some pickled eggs!!!

Earlier in the morning, I told Chris about a poll over on ST.N asking what motorcycling meant to the members.  Chris asked, "was 'pie' one of the options?  Because I ride for pie!"  So when Chris saw pies on the dessert menu at Aungst, he was a happy camper!

Chris' coconut cream pie - quite possibly the best he's ever had, so he says!

Make mine cherry pie!

Here...have a taste...it's so rich!

We took the same, direct route home on PA 150.  It was nearly 25 degrees warmer and we were both happy to get on the bike and get moving!  

Ooof!  It's a scorcher!

Hey, look...a barn...there had to be ONE in this post, at the very least!

Sayers Lake at Bald Eagle State Park

We arrived back home around 3:15 PM, having been gone approximately 5 hours.  We spent two hours in the museum, an hour at lunch, and two hours (95 miles) on the road.  I learned a ton about William T. Piper Sr. and Jr. today, and about Piper airplanes.  We had a great time and are, once again, inspired to someday own a plane of our own.  Chris has informed me that the Tri-Pacer plane we both liked at the museum today sells for about $25 - 30,000.  We'd better start saving!!!

To see all of our pictures from today's visit, visit my Picasa photo album.

* The title of the is post is an anonymous quote about flying...and pretty apropos for Chris and me!

Thanks, Easter Bunny!

So...my Gear Keeper works...

What's a Gear Keeper, you ask?  It's only the best present the Easter Bunny ever brought me!  I got it this year for my camera.  A Gear Keeper is a retractable gear attachment system designed to protect all sorts of gear like CBs, flashlights, keys, and tools.  The Easter Bunny brought me a Gear Keeper for my camera so I could take pictures from the back of the Concours without being afraid of dropping it.  It is weighted for my camera and attaches to my jacket.  The idea behind it is, if I were to drop my camera while we're riding, it would fall and be immediately retracted to my side.  

And, so yeah...tonight I found out that it works.

Thank goodness. 

We went for a 160-mile ride this evening, including stops for dinner and dessert.  The evening started with a run down Marengo Road.  (I'll pause while you act shocked.)  I haven't been on the bike in nearly four weeks, so when we headed into one of the turns on Marengo, I went to stash the camera in my jacket pocket (standard procedure) and reach back to hold on.  Except I felt something hit my knee, hit my hip, and then stop at my side.  I thought to myself, "Nooo...that wasn't...oh snap, that was my camera!"  I quickly clicked over to Chris on our Senas and told him what happened.  He said, "That sounds like a blog post to me!"

So here we are!

Except that can't be the whole blog post, right?!?  Right!  I mean, the camera still works just fine.  And here's proof!  Enjoy some highlights from tonight's ride...

Oh, Marengo...you asphalt vixen...your siren call gets us every time!

PA 305

More of PA 305

Just outside of Greenwood Furnace State Park

Plowing the fields

Grr...a telephone pole ruined this picture...a barn and a tractor?  Classic!

It was SUCH a lovely evening for a ride!

Hello!!!

Peachey's in Belleville is rebuilding...hooray!!!

We hopped on US 322 East for a spell since the road on the other side of the river was recently tar-n-chipped.

There were tons of barns on our ride tonight...only a select few are making it into this post.

The views/scenery in Central PA never cease to amaze me!

Coming out of one turn, heading into another...

Curse you, telephone poles!!!

Potential new subject matter...small, rural churches

As Chris was flipping through my pictures when we stopped for dinner, he said this one was one of his favorites.  So it's here...just for him! 

Same caption as Facebook...this is what love looks like on two wheels!

The mural on the side of Elk Creek Cafe in Millheim.

It looked like it was on Chris' head...so we pretended it was!

So very, very happy to be back on the bike after nearly four weeks!

Hawaiian pizza for me

Buffalo chicken stromboli for Chris

The sky was gorgeous between Centre Hall and State College.

This is coming up South Atherton Street from PA 45 toward Meyer Dairy.  Stunning!!!

Dessert!  Hot fudge with mint chip for Chris, marshmallow with chocolate chip brownie dough for me.

It really was a lovely evening for a ride...low 70s and sunny.  Heck, toward the end of the evening, it dipped into the upper 60s and in the shade, I was chilly!  Me thinks I'll be wearing my jacket liner more and more in the coming weeks.  

Up next?  I believe we're headed to the Piper Museum this weekend for more aviation goodies!  Stay tuned!

And yes, I know I owe you more from San Francisco.  I should have time this weekend to hammer out an entry or two.  There's just SO much to write about!!!