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

The Delta Diner. Great place for lunch or breakfast.

     Its a Beemer day. Up PA 896 from my house to Strickersville Road. Left onto Strickersville Road and away into the Pennsylvania countryside. The destination is the Delta Family Restaurant in Delta PA. My route takes me down US 1, over the Conowingo Dam to Castleton Road, a right turn near Chesapeake Harley-Davidson.

Historical marker on Castleton Road near Darlington Maryland and the banks of the Susquehanna  River.

      At the first stop sign on the winding road there is a historical marker. How often do people pass these markers without even giving them a glance? This little intersection in rural Maryland was once Berkley Crossroads, "...A hamlet settled in the late eighteenth century by free blacks and whites." This sleepy little area was once "...Part of the principal route between Baltimore and Philadelphia." Read the marker. Its interesting what you can discover if you simply take the time to look.

     As I rode up to the Delta "Diner" I noticed a guy standing by a bike in the parking lot. By the time I parked my bike he had walked over and introduced himself as John. We stood out in front of the restaurant talking about bikes and trips we had taken on bikes for over half an hour. We then moved inside to have breakfast together and continue our conversation. After breakfast, many tales of motorcycling from Alaska, to Canada, to Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Labrador, Quebec, Germany, Italy, and Spain we moved back outside continuing our conversation. While standing there a Moto Guzzi California pulled up with a man and a woman on it. Ray and Wendy Disney soon joined in and a lively discussion ensued. John excused himself as he had to go to a friend's house, but Ray, Wendy and I continued to talk for another 45 minutes or so. Finally they went inside to have lunch, and I got on my bike to get back to my ride. I ended up spending several hours talking bikes and motorcycle touring with three complete strangers. This is a part of motorcycling that people who don't ride miss. A very old Honda motorcycle commercial stated "...you meet the nicest people on a Honda..." I've found that to be true of most motorcyclists.

A park along River Road south of Columbia Pennsylvania.

     I rode up PA 74 to PA 425 and took a right. This brought me down to the banks of the Susquehanna River. The winding up and down route took me right along the river, and then up into farmland, and then back down to the water. At Craley PA I made a right turn onto PA 624, once again down along the river until finally riding into Wrightsville PA. A right turn onto PA 462, then over the Veterans Memorial Bridge to Columbia PA. Right after the bridge a sign to the right directs you to PA 441, which then takes you along the river south down the eastern bank of the Susquehanna.

Markers like this offer a glimpse of what life had been like here in the past.

     Just before the Conestoga River bridge there is a historical marker about the Conestoga Indians who "...live in scattered settlements along (the river)...They were the last of the once mighty Susquehannocks...The remnants of this tribe were massacred by the Paxton boys in December 1763. "  

Wonderful curvy road on the way from the banks of the Susquehanna  to home.

     I rode up away from the river and back into the rolling farmland of Pennsylvania. I decided that since it had become a very warm day I should get some ice cream to cool off. Using my phone as a GPS I navigated to a Dairy Queen near my home.

Marvin posing with his Honda CTX outside the Dairy Queen near Jennersville Pennsylvania.

     As I pulled in I noticed a man standing by his motorcycle. Marvin introduced himself and we began talking about bikes. I have been riding for over 50 years, but Marvin put me in my place! He is approaching his 87th birthday, and is not going to stop riding motorcycles any time soon! He and I adjourned inside the Dairy Queen where we continued our conversation over some tasty ice cream. Over half an hour later we moved back outside and bid each other adieu. His enthusiasm for riding is as strong as I have ever seen. He is my hero!