"...its about the journey, not the destination..."

The rolling countryside in East Marlborough Pennsylvania.    

     One of my favorite motorcycles in the Honda GL500 Silverwing. Mine is a 1981 model that has just over 31,000 miles on it. I bought it about 12 years ago. It had less than 6,000 miles on it. The reason I bought it was that my wife and oldest daughter had gotten their motorcycle licenses, and I wanted them to have a safe, reliable bike to ride. Ultimately they felt it was too big so it became my bike. It is a great bike. It is water cooled, shaft drive, electronic ignition, gets over 50 mpg, and it has a wonderful exhaust note. The kicker is that I paid $1,500 for it!

One of the beautiful homes along PA 82 on the way to Coatesville.

     When I looked at it on E-Bay I enlarged the pictures and looked closely at the motor, wheels, and those areas on the bike where rust might be. From the pictures it was clear the bike had been well cared for. Now, 12 years later, it has a few blemishes but still looks good from a distance.

A well preserved covered bridge in Rural Pennsylvania.

     From my house it is a short ride up to PA 841. A right turn and I am on curvy rural Pennsylvania roads that lead through West Grove PA up to PA 82. A left turn there and I am on my way north to Coatesville PA. There are many side roads along the route, one of which leads to the rustic covered bridge pictured above.

Parked near the picnic area in French Creek Park.

     The exhaust system of the Silverwing features long mufflers which give the bike a throaty exhaust note. The power band of the motor allows you to stay in 5th gear down to 30 mph, and accelerate up to the top speed of the motorcycle. As you roll the throttle on the exhaust note gets deeper, really adding to the enjoyment of the ride.

Colorful canoes by the lake in French Creek State Park.

     I ride through Coatesville, continuing on PA 82, across US 322 by Brandywine Manor, until I hit PA 345. Up PA 345, across PA 23 until I reach the entrance to French Creek State Park. An hour or so sitting at a picnic table, reading a good book on the I Pad, then I retrace my route back home. Another  very nice ride on a very nice motorcycle through scenic Pennsylvania. Now, which bike should I ride next time?

At a town called Bayport on the west coast of Florida last year. Doesn't look bad from 10 feet away!

"...its about the journey, not the destination..."

"Mail box" just outside of Massey Maryland. Look closely at the photo to see where the bills go!

    Where I live in Delaware offers some great day rides. From this location I can visit Newark, where the University of Delaware is located; Philadelphia is an hour away, Baltimore an hour away, Washington D. C. two hours away, the rural roads and farmland of Maryland is 5 minutes from my house, the Amish country is literally minutes away. A GREAT location. I've lived here over 34 years and know most of the many back roads around here. I can still occasionally get lost or find a new road that I've passed many times over the years; that's the fun of riding!

Route 213 out of Elkton Maryland.

     Riding south out of Elkton Maryland on MD 213 you pass over several bridges going down to Cecilton and Galena. Then MD 290 out of Galena across US 301 to Massey. Left on MD 313, then on to Millington. In Sudlersville there is a small park in the middle of town, so out of curiosity I stopped and went into the park to see what it was about.

Park in Sudlersville MD with a memorial to Jimmy Foxx.

     The park was a memorial to baseball great Jimmy Foxx. Baseball Hall of Fame member he must have been from the town of Sudlersville MD. Today Sudlersville is just a sleepy rural Maryland town.

Is that a real dog sitting in front of that house?     

     As I continued south I came to the town of Goldsboro Maryland. I remember the first time I rode into this town with my good friend Jimmy. As we approached this house he was momentarily startled by the dog sitting by the front door. It quickly became clear that it wasn't a real dog. Thank goodness! 

Along the road on the way out to St. Michaels.

     On the way out to St. Michaels I passed very near to the water in several places. Beautiful. I continued on into St. Michaels to a small park right on the water. A very nice place to sit in the shade and read for awhile. 

Parked in the shade near the small park in St. Michaels.

     After sitting here for about an hour, reading a book on my I Pad, it became time to head back home. The trip home would feature US 50 north to US 301 to MD 290, back through Galena, Cecilton, Elkton and then home. Another great ride on a great day.

The best view from the park, with the table I sat at in the foreground.  Just look at the number of pleasure boats there!

"...its about the journey, not the destination..."

My buddy Jimmy used to call this the Delta Diner. For me the name stuck, and I often call it that.

     One of my favorite places to go to lunch on the motorcycle is the Delta Family Restaurant in Delta Pennsylvania. The food is basic but good. The real attraction of it is the ride there. Through the Maryland countryside to US 1. Then down US 1, across the Conowingo Hydroelectric Dam, then right on Castleton Road, by the Chesapeake Harley Davidson. Then a winding route that takes you into Pennsylvania and PA 74 and the Delta Family Restaurant. Nice ride.

After lunch riding north on PA 74 toward Red Lion Pennsylvania.

     After lunch it is north on PA 74 to PA 372. Right onto PA 372 and then a nice ride over to PA 272 in Buck Pennsylvania. Right on PA 272. Stay on PA 272 all the way to Nottingham Pennsylvania.

The Drumore Diner along PA 272 on the way to Nottingham Pennsylvania.

     From Nottingham there are several routes I can take to get home. My favorite features Stricklersville Road, which winds through the countryside to PA 896. Down PA 896, briefly into Maryland, then into Delaware and my street. A very nice afternoon or morning ride, lots of curves, and wonderful farmland of Pennsylvania.

Stricklersville Road, which runs from Lewisville PA to Stricklersville PA.  

"...its about the journey, not the destination..."

Right by the lake at French Creek State Park.

     OK... I've been back almost a week... over 10,000 miles in 4 1/2 weeks...I needed to go out for a ride on the GS1150!!!  One of my favorite rides from here is up to French Creek State Park in Pennsylvania. It's about 26 miles east of Lancaster PA on PA 23. From my house up PA 896 to PA 841 to PA 82. Then north on 82 through Coatesville to PA 345, which takes you up to the entrance to the park. This is a really nice ride with lots of twisty roads. The reward is a picnic table in the park with a view of the lake...and of the bike.

The bike as I sat at a picnic table in the park. I spent 2 hours cleaning it yesterday. It looks pretty good!

     After reading for a while I decided to navigate over to the Brass Eagle Restaurant near Gap PA for lunch.

Riding down PA 897 towards White Horse.

     Back to PA 23, over to New Holland PA where I took PA 897. A very nice road over the mountains and through farm land to PA 340. Rich, green fields, curvy roads, very nice scenic views. PA 897 meets PA 340 in White Horse PA where the White Horse Luncheonette is located.

The White Horse Luncheonette in White Horse PA.

     Make a right on PA 897 down to US 30 in Gap PA. Left on US 30, then up the hill. At the top of the hill the Brass Eagle is on the left hand side. Really good Caesar salad with grilled chicken. From there back down the hill to Gap. Left on PA 41 to PA 796. Down 796 to 896, and then south into Delaware and home. A beautiful day, and a great ride!

The fertile Pennsylvania farm land just minutes up the road. 

"...its about the journey, not the destination..."

Old bridge on the road from Millington to Chestertown.

     The Alaska trip is over. I'm still having trouble processing all that I saw, and all the people that I met. I guess this will take some time. MEANWHILE... riding the BMW has become second nature, almost like it is a part of me. BUT... I was "hungry" to take the Honda ST1100 out for a ride, so...up at 6:15 this morning, in the garage by 6:40, on the road by 6:45. I have developed a habit of going to Twinny's in Galena Maryland for breakfast on Saturday mornings, so that is where I went. There are several back roads to Elkton Maryland from here. Once in Elkton I rode down MD 213 past Cecilton, to Galena. GREAT breakfast (3 egg ham and cheese omelette, two local sausage patties, one piece of rye toast).

                                 

                          This is Woodland Beach on the Delaware River. The land you see across the river is New Jersey

     After breakfast I took a nice ride down route 9 in Delaware, which goes through the wetlands along the Delaware river.

"Downtown" Millington on a sleepy Saturday morning.

     Then I decided to ride over to Chestertown Maryland, which has a big farmers market on Saturday's. My route took me through the sleepy town of Millington Maryland. Then across US 301 to Chestertown.

     Chestertown was hoppin'! I rode through town to the water, took some pictures there (including some Geese!), then back past the farmer's market for some pictures.

Busy downtown Chestertown during a Saturday farmer's market.

     From there a nice ride through Maryland farmland to Galena, then up to Elkton and then home. A really nice ride for a Saturday morning, home by 12:30!

Farmer's market in Chestertown MD, which takes place around the fountain in the city park.

“…its about the journey, not the destination…”

     LAST DAY OF THE TRIP!!! Up at 5am, and I got on the road by 6am. The fire alarm had been going off since 5:15, and because of this no breakfast at the motel. The good part of that was that by 6:30 I was past Akron Ohio. I stopped at a McDonald's for a breakfast sandwich and chocolate milk, then on the road in earnest. 

At a McDonald's in Ohio at 6:15 am for a quick breakfast sandwich.

     By 9:00 I needed to get gas having ridden 170 miles. I stopped in New Stanton Pennsylvania, then back on the road. Doing interstate miles is a different type of riding. You get into a rhythm, cruising along 5mph over the limit, pretty much moving with traffic. I think this was the most difficult day of the trip. The heat, radiating off of the highway, along with high temperatures, and no shade made for a challenging ride. 

Lunch at the Brass Eagle outside of Gap Pennsylvania. Good food, good people.

      By 11:15 I was getting off of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and onto 283 to Lancaster Pennsylvania. Once by Lancaster I took PA 340 to White Horse Pennsylvania. There PA 897 took me to US 30 in Gap PA. US 30 east to the Brass Eagle Restaurant up the hill from Gap for lunch.

Home. Put the bike in the garage, unload it, and get out of the heat!

     After lunch it was a hot, but easy, ride home. It feels like I've been gone for a year. It is GREAT to pull into my drive safe and sound from a trip that was over a month, and over 10,000 miles. Tonight my daughter asked what was my favorite part of the trip. I couldn't answer her. I need to think about this....

“…its about the journey, not the destination…”

The sun trying to break through the clouds just east of Logansport Indiana.

     I am keeping in front of the rain so far. As I left Logansport Indiana I rode away from some angry clouds. When I crossed into Ohio looking back the sky looked ominous. Heavy thunderstorms were forcasted for the day. 

I rode out of Logansport on US 24 to Huntington. There I took US 224 to US 30. A really nice home in Huntington IN.  

  Today is going to be kind of a nostalgic ride. My wife is from the small town of Galion Ohio. Galion is right on the routed I’m taking to Canton Ohio. I pulled into Galion around 10:30 am and found a park with picnic tables to take a break in. My in-laws passed this spring and I rode by their house, which is up for sale. Then I decided to go to one of the restaurants they frequented. When I arrived at the restaurant, located in Ashland Ohio, it was closed for repairs until July 5th. “The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray…” or something. Instead, lunch at Denny’s!

At the Ohio border.

     From Ashland I only had about 60 miles to go to the motel. My tormentor, the heat, had returned with a vengeance. Toss in construction where you get to sit in the July sun with a helmet on and an air cooled motorcycle running between your legs and it gets uncomfortable very quickly. 

The square downtown Galion Ohio,

     SPOKE TOO SOON!!!…..I got within 20 miles of Canton and than started running in and out of rain. After about 5 minutes I was out of the rain so I pulled over and took off my jacket…. AND THEN the road started going STRAIGHT into the darkest clouds of the day…with an added bonus….LOTS of lightning! I made it to the motel in one piece just in time to be told my room wasn’t ready yet. That’s OK. I sat in the small breakfast area and worked on my blog. Nice and air conditioned... oh, and DRY!!! 

Chris, former Army Ranger and all around great guy.

     So....since this is the last night of the trip I looked for a good steak house to go for dinner here in Canton, and the Longhorn Steakhouse was highly recommended. I was less than two miles from here so why not? I had a great porterhouse steak dinner, along with a couple of Yuengling draft beers. A fella was sitting at the bar and we started a conversation. It turns he is an army veteran, served in Afghanistan, and now has his own business driving truck. Chris has a Harley that he likes to ride on weekends, and so our conversation covered motorcycles, our time in the military, and several other topics. AGAIN  what makes the trip really special are the people you meet. Thank you for your service Chris, and for a great evening of conversation. 

"...its about the journey, not the destination..."

Riding along US 34 heading out of Mount Pleasant Iowa. The clouds looked ominous. 

     Today's ride was around 315 miles. I left Mount Pleasant Iowa around 8:15am. It is remarkable how the land has changed in just a few days. Just a few days ago where there were fields of corn or other crops that were only possible with a lot of irrigation. As I rode through corn fields and other crops in the fields I didn't see any such systems. Just massive fields of crops. The towns were bigger, more complex. Many had very nice public parks right along the highway through town. It all seemed much more developed.

A stop in eastern Iowa just before the border with Illinois.

     Along with that came more traffic. Although there were times where there were very few cars on the road with me, there were other times where I was in traffic with 10 or even 20 cars. Another factor was the weather. It seems I had ridden far enough east to escape the rain, for the moment. As I sit here in Logansport Indiana it is supposed to storm overnight. Who cares? If it wants to rain while I am watching a movie in my room, or while I am sleeping that is OK by me. Hopefully the rain will pass overnight and I will be behind it.

No visible irrigation system in these fields in Illinois.

     The heat today didn't seem quite as bad as yesterday. I stopped both in the morning and in the afternoon for a break and maybe that is why it didn't feel as bad as yesterday. Watseka Illinois was quite a sizable town with a nice downtown. I stopped in the afternoon in the town of Goodland to take a break at the town park. A picnic table, under a tree, with a nice breeze. Even though it was in the 90s it didn't seem that bad.

Downtown Watseka Illinois. STOP LIGHTS!

     I didn't get on the road until about 8:15am. I crossed into the eastern time zone somewhere along the road, so I didn't get into Logansport until 5:30 or so. Dinner at Bob Evan's which was right next door to the motel. Back to my room to work in the blog.

Afternoon break at the city park in Goodland Indiana.