Ride to Pittsburgh Pa. for lunch!
HOG Region 2 Rep. Ben Week shared with the HOG club he was riding from Sturgis MI to the east coast, and invited the more adventurous among us to join him. I Immediately scheduled time off work so I could do just that!
Things got confusing and I decided to meet Ben and his group on the road. Figured out he'd have to stop for gas on I-90 about Amherst Serv. Plaza, so I got up early and rode to the Turnpike Serv. Plaza for breakfast! Got there about 8 am figuring they'd be stopping or flying by about 9 am. Ate, polished on the bike, got all the nasty bugs off the front and got bored. So about 9:03 am I hit the road, riding very casually at about 65 to 70 mph KNOWING that they'd be bearing down on me at a much higher speed!
I was NOT wrong! I stopped at another Plaza to lose some coffee and top off with a fresh cup, and just as I was throwing my leg over the bike to leave I heard this TREMENDOUS ROAR OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON V-TWIN'S rolling in behind me for fuel! I walked over to Ben and greeted him and the other 8 riders, and joined them for the rest of the ride to Washington Pa., Steel City H.D. for lunch!
We were joined by another 30-40 HOG members on Rt. 79 North of Washington and rode in as a group! The dealership had a great lunch ready for us, we arrived at precisely 12:10 PM and heard Ben ask the time, then state we'd (THEY'D) be kick stands up at 12:50 PM! Man! That's a tight schedule!
That's when I figured I was done riding with them. Below is Lisa, the Events Coordinator and Photographer for Steel City H.D., I could not get a single biker to look at me for a picture with her around! When in Rome ya know...
I shopped at Steel City HD, then asked for rural route directions over to West Mifflin HOT METAL H.D., and was given some very nice scenic routes to enjoy for the next 30 miles.
The HOT METAL Dealership was nice, the sales people very helpful at helping me find the shirt I wanted, seems they can't keep Large's in stock! I KNOWWWW! The shirt above was my WHOLE motivation for going to this dealership! Hard to pass up on a HOG on a HOG Logo!
So after dropping a bundle there (FYI: ALL gear at ALL H.D. shops in PA Costs LOTS more than any I have been to here in O-H-I-O!)I headed up 885 into the heart of Pittsburgh and endless miles of sights, sounds, smells, and frustration! Road signage Sucks in Pa.! Got lost numerous times, but on an adventure so just enjoyed my time and finally found Rt. 65 N. out of Pittsburgh and followed it for an endless ride to finally find myself in Beaver Creek and the Pa. Turnpike Rt. 76!
Got on 76 and it looked like rain ahead, and I knew I'd be riding hard, so I put on the ole' helmet and raing gear and hit the road about 4:30 PM, stopped at the next Plaza to top off the gas and pulled into my garage at home 7:05 PM with a total of 437 miles for Million Mile Monday!
Not the total I wanted, but about 300 more than last year and a fine day of riding!
P.S. Now I know why ALL Steeler's fans are crazy! Have you ever DRIVEN in Pittsburgh? You'd be insane too!
Trip Fuel Cost:
- Top off tank at Plaza: 1.33 Gal; $3.80
- Fill Tank Sunoco 84 Pa.:4.437 Gal; $13.13
- Last Fuel Stop: 3.87 Gal; $11.10
- Total Fuel cost:$28.03
Yea, I have to say it: Screw It, Lets Ride!
