Poconos Fall 2018 Day 4

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




     When I woke up Sunday morning the temperature outside was 32 degrees. GREAT weather to be riding a scooter. But that comes with the territory. I had breakfast with the family, and then packed and loaded the bike for the ride home. I had planned to wait until 10 AM for it to warm up some, but the Weather Channel said the high temp for the day was only 39, so I decided to  leave around 9:30.




     As I was putting my riding gear on my son-in-law informed me that there were show showers in the area. Sounds like an adventure to me! I let the scooter warm up for a few minutes, and then set off. It was certainly cold, but I've ridden in colder weather. One addition I've added to several of my bikes are heated grips. When I bought my 2001 BMW R1150GS it came with heated grips. After riding that bike in some cold weather I was convinced.





     With the heated grips set on high I rode towards Hamlin PA. I was probably about 4 miles from the cabin in Hawley when I ran into the aforementioned snow showers. It wasn't snowing very hard but the road was wet, and with the temperature around freezing I was very careful as I rode. Once in Hamlin, south on PA 196, down to PA 423, then over to I 380. Great riding, normally......but back roads in that type of weather make me very cautious. As I rode I was listening to the Eagles' pregame show on Sirius on the headset in my helmet, and I was cheered by the news that the temperature was over 10 degrees warmer in Philly that where I was. My plan was to have a pleasent, somewhat chilly ride home. No rock and roll.





   The speed limit on I 380 is 70 mph, and I went that fast, but I was the slowest vehicle on the road. When you ride a bike you quickly become aware that the faster you go the greater the wind chill. Sounds fundamental, but I assure you that none of the people in the cars, pickups, and trucks that passed me were worrying about windchill!


     This ride is broken into 3 distinct parts. The backroads in the Poconos to I 380, the Interstates- I 380,  I 80, I 476, I 78 around Allentown just for a couple of miles. Then back roads down from Allentown- PA 100, PA 23, PA 345, PA 82, PA 841, PA 896 home. I generally don't like riding Interstates unless I have to, but the way this trip is broken up its no big deal.





     After lunch at the Pied Piper Diner, in Barto PA right on PA 100, I had a nice ride down to PA 23, and then it is pretty much back roads home. Just like on the way up you have to go through Coatesville, but that generally takes 10 minutes or so. The reward is a very enjoyable motorcycle ride through the Pennsylvania countryside down to Delaware. It was a pleasant way to end a terrific weekend in the Poconos.