SUMMER SCRAM TRIP # 5

 ”…it’s about the journey, no the destination…”

A stop in Frederick MD, in the shade, to prepare for the heat.

        

        Curtis’ and my trips home were very different. For Curtis he hopped on I 81 north in Woodstock and then on I 66 east to Washington DC, about 1 1/2 hour drive. I opted to forgo Interstates on the way home. Instead I would follow a route I’ve developed over the years that would take me to the north around Baltimore on back roads, eventually getting on US 1 right near the Conowingo Dam and onto back roads from there to my house. Probably 4 1/2 hour drive. 

By lunch time I had arrived at The Delta Diner, one of my regular restaurants 

        I started out the ride with my rain jacket on as a windbreaker because it was chilly in a short sleve shirt. I left Woodstock on US 11 north to route 55 at Strasburg and then east towards Front Royal. Just before Front Royal route 55 meets US 340 which I took north towards Berryville and Charlestown. I stayed on US 340 from Charlestown to Fredrick MD. By the time I arrived at Frederick it had warmed up so I found a place to stop and take off my jacket and get ready for the heat. 

I always sit at the same table so I can see my bike out of the window.

        From Frederick I took route 26 east towards Eldersburg where I got on route 32 north to Gamber where I  got on route 91 east towards Fowblesburg. There I hit 30 north to Hampstead. From there I took route 88 east for a short distance, and then took 137 east to 138 east to Jarretttsville. There at the traffic light where the Dodge dealer is on the corner I made a left and then stayed on that road north over the MD/PA line to Delta PA and the Delta Family Restaurant ( known as the Delta Diner) by noon time. This is a restaurant where I often stop when I am out for a ride. 

Back home after a fun trip. The Scram did great, even if the motor is only 411 cc!

        After lunch I wound my way on back roads to US 1 just before the Conowingo Dam. Then north into PA and off US 1 at Nottingham PA ( home of Herr’s Potato Chips! ) and on more small roads to my front door. This had been a very nice ride along back roads in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware. I was home by 2 pm. Now I’m looking forward to a similar trip on my Royal Enfield Interceptor the second week of August. There are several more trips planned after that. It’s going to be a great riding season through the fall.

A beautiful view from Skyline drive.

SUMMER SCRAM TRIP #4

“…it’s about the journey, not the destination …”

On Skyline Drive just above Sperryville VA.

        The hope Friday morning was that we could get up of the Skyline Drive and ride south. We were hoping that maybe we could even ride the Blue Ridge Parkway for 30 miles or so, before heading back to Woodstock. We got on the bikes and headed south on route 11 towards US 211, through Luray VA up to the Drive. Curtis took a look at the map and found a small road that “cut the corner” over to Luray, route 650. This proved to be a fun ride, with many twists and turns and changes in elevation. Right into the town of Luray. 

The clouds ahead looked very ominous. 

        US 211 from Luray is also a nice ride, particularly as the road narrowed and started to climb up the mountains. There are some sweepers and some more challenging curves with speed limits of 35, 25, or even 15 mph. Once up to the top we went through the entry station ( as senior citizens we both have lifetime passes, which I think I bought mine for $65. Up on the Drive we headed south. 

As we rode south we began to run into raindrops within minutes of getting up on the Drive.

        As we rode south I began to be concerned at the amount of dark clouds hovering over the Drive. After a couple of miles we pulled into an overlook to discuss the weather. Within 5 minutes raindrops began to fall. It was clear that if we rode south we would be riding into rain, perhaps heavy rain. Having done this over the years a few times we decided that perhaps the rain was moving west to east, and if we rode north we could ride out of it. 

30 minutes later, riding north, the rain caught up with us.

        We rode north, past the spot where we got up on Skyline Drive, for about 30 minutes and pulled over at another overlook to assess the situation. We were there less than 5 minutes before rain started to fall on us again! Okay, we get the point! We rode back south again to the spot where we got up on the drive and headed back down US 211 towards Luray. In the process of this we rode into some mild rain, but by Luray we were out of it. We went back to Woodstock, had lunch, and kept ourselves amused by watching videos. At least we got to ride a few miles that day! The next day we would be heading home.

One last look at the scenery from up on Skyline Drive before we would “run for shelter!”

SUMMER SCRAM TRIP #3

 ”…it’s about the journey, not the destination …”

Stopping at a scenic overlook in West Virginia

        We made the decision that today we would go west into West Virginia and then on Friday east to get on the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway. We got off by 8:30 north to Strasburg where we picked up route 55 and headed west across the Shenandoah Valley. Generally these roads are not well traveled meaning we could enjoy the curves. The plan evolved into riding on route 55 until it crossed US 33. Then ride US 33 east to Harrisonburg where we would pick up route 42 back north to Woodstock. 

After a cloudy morning the sun started to come out .

        As we rode out of Strasburg the clouds hid the tops of the mountains we were riding towards. The benefit was that it was pleasantly cool to the extent I put on a  long sleve shirt, and wore my rain jacket as a windbreaker. The roads were great. There was little traffic but we did get behind the occasional truck. The roads twisted and turned, rose and fell, and the temperature slowly rose.

The route 11 diner where we had dinner.

        We found a very interesting place for lunch in Seneca Rocks in West Virginia ( I didn’t do my job and take any pictures !😖). Yokum’s General Store had a “grill” where the locals came to have lunch. We had a nice lunch, enjoying the people who came and went. I simply had a feeling that real, basic Americans came in this place for lunch, and to shop. As is the case with many of these general stores they have an amazing variety of things to buy

A map of the general area we rode today. Note route 55 west out of Strasburg, US 33 east into
Harrisonburg, and US 42 north from Harrisonburg to Woodstock.

        Once again the threat of thunder storms intruded on our day. It was supposed to storm in Harrisonburg by 2pm. We hustle along US 33 east towards Harrisonburg, trying to get there before 2pm. We made it by 10 minutes and then hit route 42 towards Woodstock. We arrived there by 3pm, and never got wet. We hung out in our room until 6:30 and then went to the Route 11 Diner. After a good meal we went back to out room and watched the last two episodes of Long Way Home. Tomorrow into the mountains!

        

SUMMER SCRAM TRIP #2

 ”…it’s about the journey, not the destination …”

…rest stop on the trip to Woodstock VA…

        The plan for this week is to stay at one motel for 3 nights and ride across the Shenandoah Valley on 1 day, and perhaps ride Skyline Drive for a while on the second day. The ride from Curtis’ house to Woodstock VA could take as little as 1 1/2 hours, or longer if you took back roads. An additional complication was the threat of heavy thunder showers beginning as early as 2pm. We wanted to ride as long as we could but be able to quickly ride to Woodstock to avoid the storms. 

We have been carrying small foldable camping chairs to use at rest stops. 

        We decided to ride west from Chantilly on US 50 until it crossed US 340. Then ride almost to Front Royal where we will take route 55 west towards Strasburg VA where we can continue west or shoot down US 11 directly to Woodstock. On the way along 11I saw a sign for Fishers Hill Civil War battlefield park. We decided to see what was there and take a little rest in the shade. 

A little rest in the shade on hot and steamy summer day.

        We sat in our chairs in the shade and discussed what we should do next. We decided to  go the the  motel, check in, and then get lunch. The sky was getting dark to the west and we really felt the threat of storms. Once we arrived at the motel by 12:15 only to find out we could’t check in until 2:30. There was an Italian restaurant within view of the  motel so we went there for lunch. After a VERY liesurly lunch I got a call that our room was ready. We checked in and settled in to watch Long Way Home on Apple  + tv. As we relaxed in our room we noticed that the storms had arrived. Dry and comfortable in our room we relaxed while the storm did its thing. Based on the forecast tomorrow should be a better day with less chance of rain. It all worked out.

While we relaxed in the room I colored some of the small pictures I’d brought with me. 

SUMMER TRIP ON THE SCRAM TO THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY JULY 2025

 “…it’s about the journey, not the destination …”

A park on the Susquehanna that I often stop at.

        I had planned to take a trip to Winnipeg Canada to see some friends there this summer but, due to my back surgery, I simply couldn’t take a long trip like that. Instead I decided to take several short trips, including one on my Royal Enfield Scram to the Shenandoah Valley. My friend Curtis agreed to come on the trip with me, so off we go.

The Delta “Diner”…one of my favorite little place I go for lunch.,

        Because of the threat of heavy thunder storms in the afternoon I wanted to leave early for Curtis’ house. I got on the road by 8:30 with the Delta “Diner” as my breakfast stop. I put Diner in quotes because this is a name given to the restaurant by my friend Jimmy (its name on the sign is the Delta Family Restaurant!). I got her by 9:45 and ended up with brunch rather than breakfast. Back on the road I road on a series of back roads around Baltimore to Fredrick MD where I got on US 15. Took 15 to Leesburg VA, and from there route 7 east to route 28 south to US 50 east to Chantilly VA. I stopped to gas up the bike and from there to my Curtis’ house. I got 183 miles on a tank, averaging 66.6 mpg. Once I got to Curtis’ house we hung out for a while then went out to dinner with several of his work friends.  Back at his house Curtis started packing and checking over his bike. Our plan was to leave early in the morning because of the threat of thunder showers in the afternoon. 

I arrived at Curtis’ house in time to miss the bad weather. The bike had to sit
out in the weather while I enjoyed the hospitality of Curtis’ house!

Epherta Motorcycle Breakfast 7/6/25

 “…it’s about the journey, not the destination…”

There are several Can Am Spyders by my Scram…nice guys

        On the first Sunday of every month, April to October, there is a motorcycle breakfast at the American Legion in Epherta PA. From several hundred to a thousand or more show up during the day, and generally many different brands of bikes, mostly Harley’s! There are often many unusual brands, and many diverse motorcyclists. 

The mist rising from Pennsylvania farm land on the ride to Epherta.

        I like to get to Epherta by 7am or so, and that means getting up at 5am. Generally I leave by 6am and it is about an hour there. The route I take is through the Pennsylvania country side on back roads. It is a very good ride there on roads with many turns. 

It is so beautiful early in the morning riding through the Pennsylvania farm land.  

            I arrived at the American Legion by 7:15 which allowed me to pick my favorite parking spot. It is right in the middle things and lets me enjoy seeing many of the unique bikes that show up. I usually stay until 10am, and then ride to one of my favorite restaurants for lunch. Most of the guys that park where I do are members of a Christian Motorcycle group. All of them are motorcyclists who have ridden for years. 

In this picture there are several Honda Gold Wings, a Kawasaki Voyager XII, several Harley’s,
a Honda GL500 Silverwing, and an early 1970’s Honda 350 4, a pretty rare bike.

        There were Moto Guzzi’s, Triumphs, many different Honda bikes, as well as Yamaha’s and Suzukis. Generally what I do is talk with other motorcyclists about their bikes, rides and trips we’ve taken and different bikes we’ve had over the years. I was there on my Royal Enfield Scram 411, which drew comments and conversation from several attendees. One fellow, Dan, came up and told me he had a Royal Enfield Classic 350. After talking for a while he asked if he could bring his bike over and park it next to mine. I said yes, and he road his BEAUTIFUL chrome and red bike over and parked it. It is truly a work of art and a number of people stopped to talk and admire his bike. We sat together for about 45 minutes and then I got ready to leave to get lunch. Before leaving I promised to bring my red and chrome Interceptor in August if he brought his 350 back. After checking his calendar he agreed so we will both be showing off our Royal Enfield red and chrome bikes. I’m really going have to get polishing my bike so that I won’t be too embarrassed.

Dan with his GORGEOUS red and chrome Classic 350.

        With that I set off for the Brass Eagle in Gap PA for lunch. After a very good Caesar Salad with grilled chicken I rode home. It had been a fun day  with lots of motorcycle talk, meeting several interesting people. Looking forward to next month when I’ll have my Interceptor parked next to his Classic 350. It should be fun!