Spring colors ride

Seems only yesterday I was shoveling snow off the driveway; thankfully spring has put in an appearance here. Lots of flora starting to bloom and great riding weather. Took a ride up around Indian Springs WMA yesterday and got on a few roads up around McConnellsburg, PA, but ran into a fair amount of fine gravel on the secondary roads (state roads were fine). The western edge of Indian Springs, looking west:



Lots of forsythia growing wild:



Weather forecast is calling for rain later today, so I decided on a short trip to Gettysburg; the battlefield parks around here are kept in beautiful shape. There is a lot of redbud around Big Round Top and Little Round Top just starting to come out:



There's still some snow left on the ski runs at Whitetail, don't think it will last long with the temps we've been having (from the top of Little Round Top):



You can almost smell the pear trees in bloom before you see them:



Anyone planning to visit in the next few weeks will see Gettysburg at its best, some great spring colors and the tourist rush hasn't gotten bad yet. Sorry, no food porn, just too nice a ride to stop for more than gas.

Looks great, and sure beats our flat roads and 90's here.

LKLD said:

Looks great, and sure beats our flat roads and 90's here.

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Thanks, there is some pretty scenery and good roads around here - once you get away from the crowds.

damn. green stuff. i'm brown in the hood now.. no green to be seen.

lonerider said:

Seems only yesterday I was shoveling snow off the driveway; thankfully spring has put in an appearance here. Lots of flora starting to bloom and great riding weather. Took a ride up around Indian Springs WMA yesterday and got on a few roads up around McConnellsburg, PA, but ran into a fair amount of fine gravel on the secondary roads (state roads were fine). The western edge of Indian Springs, looking west:

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My favorite, nothing better than a nice looking farmstead. Great pictures, Thanks!

Bugnatr said:

My favorite, nothing better than a nice looking farmstead. Great pictures, Thanks!

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+1 Great Picture!

Tanker said:

Bugnatr said:

My favorite, nothing better than a nice looking farmstead. Great pictures, Thanks!

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+1 Great Picture!

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Bugnatr said:

lonerider said:

Seems only yesterday I was shoveling snow off the driveway; thankfully spring has put in an appearance here. Lots of flora starting to bloom and great riding weather. Took a ride up around Indian Springs WMA yesterday and got on a few roads up around McConnellsburg, PA, but ran into a fair amount of fine gravel on the secondary roads (state roads were fine). The western edge of Indian Springs, looking west:

Click to expand...

My favorite, nothing better than a nice looking farmstead. Great pictures, Thanks!

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Thanks, it's only gonna get better as more stuff blooms.

The red bud trees and dogwoods have been finished here for nearly a month. What a diverse climate we live in.

Enjoyed your report, and especially the bike picture. Couldn't quite make it out - V30 or V45?

hppants said:

The red bud trees and dogwoods have been finished here for nearly a month. What a diverse climate we live in.
Enjoyed your report, and especially the bike picture. Couldn't quite make it out - V30 or V45?

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Glad to hear you enjoyed it, in retrospect, I wish I'd taken time for more pictures but, after being sidelined for so long, it felt so good to be back riding, I had difficulty stopping for anything but gas. The redbuds here should be in full bloom in another week or two; the dogwood in my yard has just gotten buds on it.

The bike is a bit of an oddball, an '85 Suzuki Madura 700 (Suzuki's answer to the Honda V series and yamaha's V Max), 83 degree V4 700 cc. I've had it 15 years and added a lot of farkles. It's the smallest, lightest bike I currently have and easier to handle for back roading and picture taking (day trips).

Nice pics and RR, looks like it's greening up nicely back 'thar!

Thanks for taking us along.

--G

Some from yesterday's ride, Tuscarora Summit on PA Rt. 30 between Ft. Loudon and McConnellsburg. Behind where I was standing is a pirate hangout; don't know if it was the cool weather or early hour, but I was the only one there:



Jackson's Mill and covered bridge, southwest of Breezewood, PA, dating from 1839. Bridge was just re opened after the approach planking was replaced and road blacktopped. Talked with the owner; he told me some of the water powered equipment is still inside. I'll have to return sometime when they have it open and get some pictures:







Miller's Corner Rd., between Chaneysville, PA and PA Rt. 26:



Town Hill overlook pavilion on MD Scenic 40, north of Little Orleans:



View looking east from the overlook:



The cut through Sideling Hill for I 68, from Town Hill:



MD Scenic 40, east side of Sideling Hill (the old road);



Again, no food porn, too nice a day for anything but burning gas.

Damn! I'm in the roadway bidness, and that is one big cut through Sideling Hill! Too bad for the crews that clean up fallen rock and dirt under those slopes.

Today's "context sensitive design" would have placed the highway on a long transverse climb, perhaps with a curve at the summit to put it back onto the original alignment as it descended the other side. Slower for trucks, but less destructive. Would have produced lovely "viewsheds", too.

Oh yeah, that doesn't look like a 2007 FJR. <--- I'm late. Again.

lonerider said:

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THAT is a gorgeous scene and shot.Bravo!

Old Michael said:

lonerider said:

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THAT is a gorgeous scene and shot.Bravo!

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Thanks, that is my favorite spot to stop and enjoy the view along that road. Pretty country this time of the year; pictures don't really do it justice.