PR15 Photo/RR by TS1 (other tag-on's welcomed!)
So being a short weekend and utilizing the Holiday Monday as our ride-home day, kinda makes the schedule a bit different. Nothing we all couldn't deal with, but, a few decided to come a day early (Friday) and make this a full Monte long Weekend. Next year... I will make this an option in the lodging within the website, and I just may have to follow suite cuz like who doesn't want 1 more day of fun!.
Coming in Sat (for me and most anyways) I greeted most in the covered entrance way to the Hotel. Here Steve (pista) is showing his wife the difference between the assorted models coming in.
I did say assorted didn't I? a 16,12 and a Suzuki 550 ridden proudly by Derrick, son of Scott (SCB)
Rick (Pura Vida) decides it's time to get nekkid!
Sunday was (split up into groups) and Ride Day. Everyone took advantage of the Hotels free breakfast, the French Toast and Sausage did the fix for me and well, I was looking forward to "the Hanger-9" for our lunch stop anyways.
Groups moving out, what a beautiful day it was!....
I was to lead a little more spirited group. Dean (deang) decided he wanted in w me...
So trying to keep groups at or around 4-5 bikes, my group was at 4 (but we later will have a tag-along to make it 5)...
KJ (not pic'd) | Rick | Dean | Jon & Melanie <also our day long riding order>
I chose the CCW 186mi loop for my group, shorter than last years but running these roads many of times, I knew they were really nice M/C roads. In chosing; my reasoning was simple.... Rte 6 is smooth, slow(er) w rolling easy seeps, and the most boring part of the loop. Why not get that over with in the morning segment ...like .when we were all still waking up.
Hyner-View was our 1st pre-planned stop on the loop, where we met another one of our groups ...getting some love from the peeps
Roads were just getting warmed up!
We managed-in some brief leg stretchers
Walking up to the view ledge, I love the look of the newbies faces. If you don't hear at least 10 "Wows!" something is wrong, but, I did hear them... love the Newbs!
Catching the thermo-clines bouncing of the mountain walls, these guys literally "climb" and gain altitude. On a right day, an all day ride is easily obtained. Yes, we chatted with some of them.
Here we have a guy wheeling in his rig and starting to unpack. They have a campsite on the bottom of the mountain where they stay the weekend. They use SUV's to transport them up the mountain btw. This guy here told me he was in for a 2 hr ride, then back down for Beer-30. Hmmm?, that all sounded all to familiar!
Dan (DUSAK) who was there with another group, along with my 3 Newb's
in awe... Rick splashing some humor on Jon & Melanie
Lunchtime I had wanted to revisit a place me and my good bud Robert visited when scouting this area. We had wings then, I had wings again. Awesome. The Hanger-9 Restaurant/Bar in Lock Haven PA.
Upon walking in, I hear this "Hey! KJ!, over here!". It was John & Michelle (aka Mick) from Hershey PA. They couldn't make it this year (did last year) but decided to ad-lib and intercept us on my pre-planned lunch stop (see... being a big mouth and telling your plans on the Internet does have it's advantages! Yahooooie, I love these guys! Awesome and they join us on lunch and want to ride the SE portion of the loop with us.
Our group has grown to 5 bikes. Perfect, still not too big
After re-joining PA44 for the most exciting fast paced part, we then said goodbye to John and Mick, and then got ready for the adventure part of the loop (AKA 414). Here Melanie is snapping one of the sausage crew...
Jon & Melanie saying "wow, I never knew there was this good a stuff in neighboring PA!"
And then we get the party rafters... we gave them some hoots n hollars, they returned it 10X louder. Hmmm?, I wonder if that was booze in those containers?
Being one of the first groups back (and on purpose, after hearing it in SEO on how I was always the last to the party!)... my group grabbed quick showers and quickly whipped up happy hour... FJR-K16 Style!
Still waiting for the other groups to come back..... man! now I know why I was bitched at during SEO!
Jeff (JDPalmer) from NJ (and yes Dan, one of the NJ A-holes from last year!) brought an assortment of exotic meats/jerky like Kangaroo, Pheasant, Alligator (and another 1 or 2 that i forgot) for our Sun Nite parking lot appetizer. Kinda kewl and interesting sampling all that good stchuff washed down with some exotic beers! Thanks Jeff!
Having learned from last nights dinner at the Steak House (and seeing/hearing that 50 Harley guys had a reservation)... I had called earlier that day for reservations from 25 at the Italian rest. in town. The nice lady said no problem, we'll give you a room to yourselves! Some of our groups tables, and/incl the newly transitioned "Martini Group"
Waking up that morning (no hangovers), what another glorious day! I must personally thank the weather Gods this year... more than kind enough!
...packing up is always the sad part... Some guys like Jeff (FJRPittsburgh) and Trevor, Scott (SCB) and Derrick so I missed saying goodbye to them
they had to bolt out early AM.
My overall observations....
-People. People. Wonderful and colorful (some say mostly me on the color part lol) but, to all who made this event so great. TY!
-Weather. Who could ask for anything better!?
-Riding. If you know what to pick, roads are excellent down here. The one's who snub it?, just don't really know and are amateurs at best (only cuz of closed minds!)
-Location. THE BEST! Second to none. And I know I talked about moving our Memorial Day Wknd ride?... well we'll see, it's tough to beat this area.
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I want to put out a appreciation to the other Group leaders. Thank you for taking and leading your groups. I heard all positives upon return so that's a very good thang!
Also want to thank Scott (SCB) for picking up my dinner tab at the Steak House Sat nite. Very kind and generous of you
TY!
...Plus Mike the Wine Guy, he bought lunch on the return trip home up in Mt. Morris NY before we split our ways for home.
Overall, I could not have asked for a better or more friendlier group. At many of these gatherings, you get "clicks" or remote groups within the group... not here! No way!, this was just one big happy family and that alone was pretty gratifying for myself. Now throw in the mix that half were FJR riders, the other half as K16 riders... even that much more impressive. I will look forward to next years Memorial Day Wknd Run... where ever it may be, and Wellsboro will be VERY hard to beat!
-KJ
PS -If you had half as much fun as everyone said they did.... reserve your 2016 Memorial Day Weekend for this! ...at least on your calendar and I promise you it will be well worth your time
and, since I feel Wellsboro (itself) is such a fine piece to this puzzle... it gets some recognition and love!
