(Due to some complaints about length I haven’t added all pictures to this ride. I did include the good ones but there are still some great photos in my Photobucket)
So I decided that since I got my camera fixed, is that cheers I hear that were shouted out at not having to squint at the phone pictures, yes I think it was… So since I have it back I want to finish the ride that was interrupted! Yes we are going back to PA folks! With a sad ending! Find out the good times…
This time around we left out Gettysburg and headed straight for the beginning of the ride we missed. The tour of Bedford covered bridges, Gravity Hill, and Grandview Point, here we come!
The day started out like all the others. I woke up a little later than normal but figured I could still make it. I got Tyke out and everything was going our way! No problems starting, no arguments with Zumo, lets go!
This ride was a lot more freeway intensive than I prefer but it was the quickest way to get where I need be going so we went. There are still some interesting things to see on the freeways, like cars… Road… more cars… Oh and did I mention Color?
Tyke, M’dear, where are we going?
There? Those mountains? Sure! Why not!
Smile, the sign says so!
I get all kinds of emails. All telling me this or that but sometimes I get an email that makes me go Wow…Don’t worry this tangent has a reason…One of those emails sent along a picture of a mountain side. I think the title of the email was “God’s Paintbrush” or something like that. You seen it? Regardless. This picture of the mountainside I think was taken in this area. Why? Because I found that palate too!
Fall Colors anyone?
I stuck to Zumo’s instructions and heading off this way and that, u-turns and all..
I don’t know if this is an actual listed covered bridge as it was just sitting on the side of the road there and so I thought I would stop and take a picture, just to see if I could find details on it later. Just a little distracted.
(On a side note that is kind of fun… I was looking over a board I visit and it has photo tips and it gave directions/hints for things to do… So I did)
Recreation of the one above
Neat huh!? Kind of looks like an old school picture. I thought it was neat anyway… Moving on!
Nothing but open roads and plenty to see!
First actual stop: Snooks Bridge
Dr. Knisley Bridge
Ryot Covered Bridge
Cuppett’s Covered Bridge
I was turning around to head back to Tyke when I almost STEPPED on this guy and I was like Nooo! Because he is so pretty!
More Fall Colors
The next stop on the itinerary is Gravity Hill, now this is rather hard to depict in pictures or words. Sadly it was hard to get on video as well. So I will try…
Tyke on Gravity Hill
The guinea pig…er ball… Don’t laugh it was the cheapest ball at Toys-r-us.
Now Ball… I hear you are to roll up.. this hill
Ignore the cars and people and do your best! I know you can do it!
Though apparently for my first few efforts I was going the wrong way! Haha!! Never said I was the brightest crayon in the box did I? Haha well we got straightened out and it was soo cool!
I was still standing in one spot, guess you’ll just have to take my word on that…
There were a few ladies there testing out the water theory where it goes up hill and let me take a picture
It was time to test out the vehicle theory. So far the ball and the water have gone up hill. So I pulled Tyke around and put her in neutral. The hardest part was staying up but we did go up! Up the hill! O.O!! Weeeeee! Haha! It was so fun!
Going on! There were several people I came across at each of the bridges and as I was leaving Gravity Hill I saw another Moto Couple coming in and recognized them from the other bridges. I just thought that was kind of neat!
Colvin Covered Bridge
I remembered seeing this in Weird PA but I didn’t bookmark it…
Next on the list… Grandview Point! (I would include a link but the information is kind of sketchy) Right along Lincoln Highway. It is hard to miss! The neatest thing about this place is not only can you see into 7 counties but 3 states too!! That is a sight!
Pans
Now from what I understand the owners of the land there refuse to let anyone build any memorials there about the Ship Hotel that used to be there. They would if they wanted to pay rent. Luckily there is an Antique store down the way that let them put up a little bit of remembrance there.
On to the next bridge! There are still a lot of things left to see! A heads up. If you do request this ride from me, though you can easily follow the path on your own, the road to this next bridge is gravel. Bigger chunks not pebbles or anything. Certainly not a friendly path to go down but certainly not the worst it is all pretty flat and you can easily navigate around the potholes…
Picture of the road so you can get a good idea of it
Turners’ Covered bridge
Herline Covered Bridge
Hewitt Covered Bridge
So after Hewitt’s that was the last one on the list I decided to head on home. It was starting to get dark now anyway so I figured it was a good time to start on home. We just hopped on 68 to head to I-70 then we were going to hit I-695 to get the rest of the way home.
Interestingly there were a few spots I want to go back and look at… But that would be for another time.
A motorcyclist going on dark
Sunset with the moon
And then with the sun setting went the easy happily ever after…
Tyke and I are going to be down for a while…
It is hard to put into words... No we didn't crash... It is still sad though. I of course will have a ride report but at the moment I am a bit depressed to write it, that and I am at work. By time I got home last night all I wanted was eat, shower, and to go to bed. I kept telling myself that things could be worse and they could have but I don't see much room.
As you may, or many not have guessed, Tyke is like my best friend. Our adventures range from near and far. Whenever we are together we have fun (with the exception of the PA Fates Against Us Ride, I should have taken the hint.)
Sadly my Travelin Twofiddy failed to bring me home. We were in fact on our way home from our days adventures. Going along I-70. She starts to feel very slug-ish. So much so that going 70 (sorry was that not the speed limit?) was feeling like she was just starting to go! That is not right so we pull over and I look things over. I am not on a flat surface so I can't see the oil levels. So I call Phil (my bf), from the side of the interstate. He says it sounds like something is wrong (ya think?) and to get to the next exit and pull over. Aka get off the side of the interstate. Alright I see the logic in this. Put the phone away, put helmet on and start off... putt putt putt... I can't get her to go past forty and so I certainly don't want to hop on a interstate going less than 50 on a motorcycle so I cruz the shoulder, blinker on because I don't have flashers (Btw who's brilliant idea was that? This is supposed to be the BEST Beginner bike and it doesn't have flashers!? Who is the genius who thought that up? Sorry that was a vent) Moving along, slowly and she is still sluggish.... O.o CLANK! O.O! Not good! Pull over again and call Phil thinking all the while "No Tyke don't do this!" But she did. She wouldn’t even turn over! Phil! My Tyke! She! She! Ahhhhhh! Crying he lets me know he will come get me.
Even more frightening as now I am stranded on the side of the road and Phil is more than an hour and a half away (70 miles from home if that helps at all), and it's getting dark!
This is scary yet I thought it also a good thing. While no one stopped at a distressed motorcycle at the side of the road I felt kind of glad for. Good part was that now that it was dark, Tyke was far enough over on the road that many people couldn't see her (Which may explain why people didn't stop) and I was even higher off the road, on the side of the hill, because I have seen to many tv shows that have people get into accidents because they stand near their disabled vehicle, (Target fixation hello!)... Anyway. So while no one stopped it saved me the fear of being alone with a stranger. I wouldn't know if they were there to help or hurt (who said watching the news is good for you??). There was a tow truck that stopped about a mile away. I kept thinking he/she would walk over to find out if I was okay but they never did either.
Phil got there and rescued the two of us so we are safe if not sound. Tyke is tucked away in storage awaiting a diagnosis but what ever it may be I haven't the money to get her fixed anytime soon. Phil and I both deduced that it is a problem in the engine, something broke.. Ya think?
I am more upset that it is something I cannot fix than I am that it happened. Does that make sense? Knowing it is an engine problem and that she may need a new one means a lot of money. Money I don't have, and so it will be some time before Tyke and I are back on the roads again...