Yesterday when we hunted for tyres, Bryan bought a new battery as his sounds a little slow when starting the bike. Now we have the battery and the spare tyres, everything seems to be working fine. Bryans bike seems to start perfectly every time and the tyres appear to have stopped or at least slowed down their rate of disintegration.
Leaving Carlisle we had a discussion at breakfast regarding the noisy neighbours in the motel who according to Keith were loudly discussing whatever, outside at midnight. Keith claims to have gone out and remonstrated with them even though none of us heard a thing. The suggestion has been made we need motels with a separate psych unit for Keith – preferably sound proof.
Setting off, we had to travel 15 miles or so to the route. Once on the route proper, we were travelling through rural Pennsylvania on sealed country roads between cropping fields. We saw quite a few Amish people we assume on their way to Sabbath service. They dont have churches but meet in houses for a religious service. The women and girls were riding bikes dressed in plain dresses and bonnets,
young men were either cycling (mainly on recumbent bikes) or in open top carts with a horse pulling them along and family groups were in a Black Carriage being pulled by one horse. The carriages were noticeably immaculate, and the horses were wearing very fancy livery and very well groomed.
Soon, as usual we were back into forests on great gravel roads. During the day we passed 2 sets of BDR riders and 1 set who were out for a weekend ride using the BDR maps. We were in and out of different forest parks. One was the Tuscarora and another the Penn Roosevelt State Park. All of these appear to be part of the Appalachians which we have been in, out, over and around since leaving Georgia. The Appalachians run from Georgia all the way North to Maine.
Around 1pm we were out of the forests and came across a diner called the Lost in the 50s Diner. We stopped here for lunch and it certainly was lost in the 50s. I had a John Wayne Burger for lunch, resisting the temptation of a Big Bopper when I saw the size of it!
trail, we saw Mennonites walking to or from Church (they have dedicated churches) wearing similar garb to the Amish, but men with a straw hat. Travelling up one country lane we passed an Amish carriage, so I stopped and took the opportunity to get a photo. Travelling onward through these forests and occasional farming areas, we often saw deer sometimes at very close quarters as they darted across the road.
Towards the end of todays route, we did two expert sections. The first was a normal gravel road until nearing the end there was a choice of up a gnarly rocky track, onto a single track and down a steep bank back onto the road. At this point we met a couple. He was on a KLR650 and his very large was riding a KTM390. They were in a quandary as to which way to go (we have no idea why they had chosen an expert loop at all??) and, he had ridden up the gnarly slope but was unable to find the single track. When we arrived, he was back down the rocky track. His Lady friend remained at the bottom of the slope
looking less than happy with the whole situation. I proceeded down the trail, (didnt want to get involved in a family dispute) this trail was normal width but steep, gnarly, rocky and definitely an expert section. Meantime Bryan Ian & Keith decided to take the high road and Bryan told the couple to go the way I had it would be fine. They took the high road, found the single track, descended the bank and met me at the bottom of the road. We didnt see the over ambitious couple again!!
We proceeded to the end of the section and found the motel that we had booked earlier called All Suites and they were. The rooms were large with a lounge area and very good value.
