Trekking the continent - PA, Day 1
Ready to Launch - May 2017
For the first time in my life, I woke up on a Sunday morning ready to begin a motorcycle journey across the country.
I launched the ride from Monroe Township, NJ, home of a good friend and trusted keeper of my 2013 BMW R1200R. In order to sustain the distance, saddle time, and varying May weather conditions, I broke the trip down into 11 bite-size pieces, each approximately 350 miles from the next. I allowed 17 days to complete the journey in case I wanted to stay somewhere for an extra day, deal with mechanical issues, or address any unforeseen events. After all, this ride is a marathon, not a sprint. And even upon reaching my first major destination (San Francisco), I intend to continue traveling throughout the US and Canada for at least four months.
Day 1 - Western NJ, Central PA
Avoiding interstates for the entire day, I sought out off-the-beaten-path places to rest, take pictures and experience the world. Based on content included in RoadTrippers app, I stopped at:
- High Rock Vista, Ralph Stover State Park - this tranquil little park sits in the middle of the hill on a quiet road. With the Delaware Canal running through it, there are hiking paths, picnic tables, and rocks along the water. In my 10-minute stay, I took some pictures and tested taking selfies with my Apple Watch.
- Hawk Mountain Sanctuary - With miles of hiking trails, this park is a true hidden gem. I walked up to the South Vista, took in the panoramic landscape (despite the overcast and intermittent rain), and got crafty with the camera. This place deserves a full day of appreciation.
- Final destination for the day: Punxsutawney, PA - home of the annual groundhog tradition. Frankly, the town was less than I expected. Its quintessential middle PA look and feel was not inspiring and felt pretty drab, Regardless, I'm glad I scratched it off my list.
Chilly rain consumed the day. Not until the last hour of the ride did the clouds clear up and sun appear. With temperatures as low as 45, I was stopped to power up the heated gear and add weather-proof layers.
It's thumbs up before heading out on my first cross-country motorcycle trip.
Crossing the bridge from Milford, NJ to PA over the Delaware River.
Rte 32 in PA is a motorcyclist's delight.
Here's a selfie created with the help of the Apple Watch's camera app, in Ralph Stover State Park.
Eastern PA is peppered with wooden bridges that provide great locations for photos.
The day's ride was wet and chilly, but fortunately sparsely traveled.
The PA countryside is filled with red barns that add color and contrast to the landscape.
In this part of the country, be prepared to the share the roads with Amish residence. However, horse excretions are slippery and dangerous to riders.
Beautiful views throughout the Hawk Mountain State Park, even on a cloudy day.
The view from the South Vista requires a few minutes to enjoy and absorb.
Making good use of the "portrait" setting on the iPhone 7 Plus camera.
With the weather finally clearing up, the break in the clouds was permanent for the remainder of the day.
Waking up to a new day in Punxsutawney, PA, breakfast at Punxy Phil's was delicious and stomach filling. During the night, I picked up some new "friends" (Lizzie and Froggie) to commemorate my deceased younger sister and brother.
Celebrating the sunset at the end of the day's ride.