Delaware Cruise Continues to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon

After our visit to camp we made our way to Fern Hall in Forest City where we had dinner and lodging reservations.  Fern Hall  a grand stone building, was once the summer estate of the Johnsons of Band Aids.  Our room was large, and decorated with antiques.  We had a small balcony and private bath.  We enjoyed cocktails in the ground floor bar followed by a delicious dinner.  It was  a perfect day and evening.

Breakfast was included at Fern Hall so we filled up on cooked to order eggs and bacon, in addition to a fine continental breakfast.  We were sated when we rolled out on the BMW K16, into a fine mist, which stayed with us most of the day, as we traveled route 6. Tall plumes of goldenrod and purple aster framed the country roads.   The weather did not hinder our view of corn and soy fields, huge silos, red barns, cows and horses grazing on the rolling pastures.      


drive  by under clear skies

 

 I was nice and toasty with my electric jacket and rain gear on. But when the Iron Skillet came into view and looked so welcoming and dry we stopped for a rest and some  hot cocoa.    We grabbed a window seat, and watched as the mist turn into a hard rain.  We slowly sipped our cocoa.  When we finished we could hardly believe that the rain stopped and by the time we arrived in Wellsboro the air was dry and sun bright as it descended into the west.We checked into the Penn Wells Hotel on Main Street, hung our rain gear to dry, peeled off a few  layers, and walked out into the quaint old town, founded in 1806, for dinner. 

 

In the cool of the morning we rode out under blue skies and puffy white clouds to Colton Point State Park  on the west rim of the Pine Creek Gorge.  Up the mountain to the highest view point where we found ourselves alone to see mountains blanketed with green trees and a meandering creek far below. 

We stood alone in awe knowing that a giant, icy, glacier cut the gorge.  We took full deep breaths of mountain fresh air.   Then we backtracked down the mountain, over the creek and back up the other side of the gorge to Leonard Harrison State Park, full of people, most likely due to the gift shop, and visitor center with a little museum.  The museum exhibited information about local wild life and how in the 1930s the parks and facilities were reforested and constructed by members of the Civilian Conservation Corp, under the leadership of Franklin D Roosevelt.     We pondered the power of men and the power and beauty of nature until it was time to ride back to the Penn Wells, enjoy a cocktail and dinner in the hotel lounge, and rest up for the day trip home.   

Delaware Issues Common Cents: Pack Light

We took off on another overnight adventure on the BMW K1600 GTL.  This time heading west to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon just outside of Wellsboro, PA. I wanted to share with you the best packing advice I ever received.  Before the days of withdrawing cash from almost any bank machine around the world, folks travelled with TRAVELERS CHECKS.  They were a real pain and I never liked them.  So I always travelled with cash.  It was my father who advised me so wisely.  "When you have finished packing and are all ready to go," he worded, "Take out half of what you packed and double your money".  I have heeded this advice successfully since then, knowing if I forgot something or found that I needed a sweat shirt or another pair of socks, I would always have enough money to make the purchase. With the availability of bank machines and credit card usage I don't worry much about my cash.  But I always pack light and this is how I do it.
I lay everything out that I think I might need the week before travel.  As travel time draws near I add and remove things until I have the very basic and minimal requirements for my travels.
Looks like this when I start.

 

Some of what you see I expect to wear out on riding day, otherwise: into the bag goes one pair of jeans, underwear, socks, bathing suit and tops in layers from tanks, to short sleeves to long sleeves about 2 or 3 each. I love my western style jean shirt for many reasons most of all that it can act as a light weight jacket. Of course there is special riding gear which includes boots (also a pair of sandals on the floor), dragon jeans that have armor and cool weather riding pants with armor...ill have to pick one of those and a small bag with toiletries.

 

Got rid of some stuff and added a dress ( you never know).

This soft flexible bag is custom for a side case and I get some space in the back that has already been packed with our rain gear. Just enough room for my purse which also serves as my camera bag.

When it is time to go, I dress in a few layers.  Shorts are underneath my  riding pants, although it never really gets warm enough for just shorts. I have the luxury of an electric jacket that goes over a

t-shirt and under my jean shirt and mesh jacket with armor protection so I know I will be warm if the layers are not enough.  Its amazing that no matter how I pack I always come home with something I did not wear.  Now it is time

 to roll on out to our destination, the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon just outside of Wellsboro, PA.

 

Delaware Cruise and Chews: Day 3 Hudson River Valley on the BMW K1600 GTL

Following the same basic route as we did on day 2 we left Haverstraw on another  beautiful blue sky and sunny warm day to venture up to Hyde Park and explore the Roosevelt Estate.  This time after crossing over the Bear mountain Bridge and following 9D north, we arrived in Beacon and hungry and willing to explore. Being a Monday and fairly early it was not that crowded and being lovers of bread, and attracted to the Aroma we decided on the Beacon Bread Company.

 

I had to try the French Toast and although an advertised choice included CHALLAH, which I was of course excited to try, it turns out the challah was all gone and I had my delicious breakfast with Brioche.  Furm had a breakfast sandwich and we were both sated when we finished.  The orange juice was fresh squeezed and perfect.  We were informed by our waitress that everything served was made in house including LOX.  Yup, she told us she did not know how it was done but the in house chef makes everything right on the premises. 

After breakfast we made our way up to Hyde Park only to find that the FDR house and Eleanor's estate where separated by a short drive and incurred wto separate entrance fees.  Since we learned this at the visitor center at the FDR Home and Library of Franklin D Roosevelt we got started there.

 

The tour of the home was fine but limited with most of the rooms roped off so your view was from the hall.  The fascination was in the Library as it was not really a library at all but a full interactive museum that took us several hours to make our way through.  I would highly recommend it.  A final stroll around the property informed us that in a lovely rose garden Franklin and Eleanor were buried together...That left us with a lot of interesting questions to be answered but not enough time to visit Eleanor's Estate. I think I might have to research Eleanor quite a bit more and make time to go visit her home....maybe in the fall???

 

Buried together

 

 

 

 

Delaware Cruise: Day 2 of the Hudson River Valley on the BMW K1600

A few folks told us to ride into Cold Springs for the river ambience and cool stores.  It was not far from our home away from home so off we went.  From Haverstraw we just headed north on 9W I believe it was, and over the very cool bridge at Bear Mountain.  We passed Boscobel, which was also recommended to us.  When we arrived at Cold Springs, it was crowded.  We drove around and around and around looking for parking and finally it dawned on me that we were not hungry as we had breakfast in Haverstraw, didn't want to shop,  had seen towns like this all up and down the Delaware and it was not really worth the search.  We have the coolest communication system in our helmets so I suggested we backtrack to Boscobel and I am so glad we did.  We arrived just 10 minutes or so before the next house tour giving us time to view the informative panels in the visitor center.


What a view....

 

 

What a house...

 

 

The Tour of the house was about an hour and the guide was very well informed and able to answer all the questions posed by the small group.  

Delaware Hues of Red at the Space Farm Museum

Should I or shouldn't I?  Push on with the blog...Delaware Hues?  Perhaps go back and get down to the Corner of RED and FINE? 

More from the farm, since RED will do for now.

Amongst all the cool things about riding on the K1600 is frequent front row parking.

 

 

 

With the collection so wide and vast, attending to detail was not always easy.

 

The tricycle brought back memories...oh how fast little legs could go.

 

Peddle, peddle, peddle.... glide and fly.

 

 

 

Delaware Cruise on the BMW K1600 to the Hudson Valley Day 1

Gotta rethink this blog.  Been doing it long enough to have more than 41 followers and 700 hits a month.

It's Friday and I figure I'll tell you a little about our motorcycle ride and give you a little doggie love and foodie too.

Left the crossing at about 10 am last Saturday, knowing MaraBella was walked and fed, and would be in good hands with dog sitters.  Aaron has been giving her flying lessons.

 

It was a cool morning and beautiful day for a ride.  I found myself peeling off layers at each stop we made.  519 is a favorite route of ours and I have been wanting to stop at Space Farms which is on this route so it was easy to pick out the first leg.  We picked it up north of Stockton, but you can also pick it up just outside of Milford if you want to ride the river a bit longer.  If you decide to follow this route, I strongly urge you to look very carefully at a map before you go.  You can be driving along checking out the scenery and not notice that 519 might require a left turn, or right at a fork in the road.  We ate breakfast at home, but if you get an early start, I can recommend the Alpha Family Restaurant in Alpha, NJ, or Thissoldous Eatery in Belvidere, two places we have enjoyed before, serving good food at reasonable prices.  Meanwhile, if you do what we did and need a place to make a pit stop there is a Quick Check at the Route 80 intersection, that is clean.  519 gets particularly hairy around Newton, so keep your eyes on the signs.

 

Although we had no intention of visiting the Zoo at Space Farm, as it turned out we arrived just in time for feeding and were strongly encouraged to walk the grounds since all the animals would be in full view to eat.  I'm not a big fan of zoos although I love animals so we took the advice and did see some beautiful fox, huge bears, amazing wild cats, the black leopard was stunning, and a bunch of other critters.  The double fence cages were difficult to photograph through so I did not take a lot of animal photos.  The museum was a real treat with the car collection, a spectacular attraction if you are into those kind of things.   Buicks, Fords, Lincoln, a Jewett, wagons and some real one of a kinds.

 

There was also a nice motorcycle collection, toys, lots and lots of farm equipment, a gem collection, doll collection, taxidermy area, and more.  A real place to get a peak into American History.

 

Our visit lasted way longer than we had anticipated. Lucky for us they had a small little restaurant so we split a piece of pizza to hold us over until our next stop for a decent meal at Emerald Point.  BTW you are not far from High Point NJ, so if your only out for the day you can eat more than half a slice and head over to the highest point in NJ, before returning on the same route home.  Since we were planning a few nights out we put Emerald Point Restaurant & Marina into the GPS and were on our way, heading off 519 and into NY.

  What a fantastic setting on a beautiful lake.  Furman had a crab cake sandwich and I went with the home made vegie burger. Both plates came with fries and pickles and we were both stuffed when we finished.  Service was friendly.  I would definitely want to visit this place again.

 

 

From the restaurant it was a short ride to our Airb&b residence in the town of Haverstraw.  We were greeted by our most delightful host, unpacked, and took a stroll down the main drag to see the moon rise over the Hudson. 

 

 

Delaware Issues Common Sense

I tend to be a planner.  Like to know what is coming at me and have something to look forward to.  I can be spontaneous too.  Sometimes that has benefitted me and sometimes not so much, when spontaneous leans more toward impulsiveness.  We have fallen into a nice pattern of Sunday breakfast runs on the BMW K1600 GTL.  We had planned to go Belvidere but the detours due to damaged bridges started to confuse us.  We ended up having our breakfast in Riegelsville.  What I am trying to say is, even when you make plans, you have to be prepared for the detours.  It is good to have the attitude that you can always cross that bridge when you get there.

 

Foodie Friday: Delaware Chews at the Frenchtown Cafe

Early morning rides on the BMW K16 GTL out for breakfast are one of my favorite activities when the temps rise above 55 degrees.  The ride out is cool and crisp.  The light makes everything look so gorgeously green, this time of year.  The river shimmers and sometimes you can even smell it.  I love it. Then you arrive at your destination and often for us that is the Frenchtown Café.  Just shy of an hour if we go directly up river, we are pretty hungry upon arrival.  We are never disappointed there.  I cant help but order the very same thing each time I go.  French toast with ham and brie.  It is just so yummy.  Even though I look at the menu and try to encourage myself to try something new, I find myself at the last minute reverting to what I know will be absolutely delicious.  On our last visit, I  thought I saw a cappuccino go by.  I searched the menu and didn't see it so I asked the waitress if indeed that was what I saw.   "Yes"! Rather than my typical cup of coffee I went for it.  HAHAHAH a real break out of habit.

Delaware Views Hues of Red

 

Took BMW Motorcycle ride to Sky Manor for breakfast on Sunday and saw this in the lot....there must have been some sort of gathering because there were quite a few old cars there.  When I first got my drivers license I remember wanting either a Mustang convertible or an MG.  Someone gave this car a lotta loven.

 

 

But the real reason to go to Sky Manor besides breakfast of course is to watch the planes.

Or in this case, Helicopters

 

Some folks think RED is hard to shoot.  I'm thinking my black dog is even harder.

 

Foodie Friday: Delaware Chews at the Riegelsville Tavern

Went for a Sunday ride on the BMW K1600 considering a late breakfast or brunch. Be warned this place does not serve breakfast, in fact they don't open until 11am. Being that is about the time we got there lunch was a fine option. We shared an Onion Soup which was acceptable, nothing special and Hubby was satisfied with a Turkey Wrap. I could not resist trying something new that via the menu sounded delicious and it was. I ordered the Not So Simple Grilled Cheese which was a mix of cheeses and sautéed onions. It was a perfect combination of cheeses and the onions were sautéed golden.  The grilled bread was salted adding a special and yummy touch.   It was served with French Fries and an Au jus that just might have been the onion soup broth. Our Server was friendly and attentive.  The Riegelsville Tavern is likely to be a return to place when the weather is a little warmer then it was on the day we went since we did notice outside seating and there were a few more unique things I thought I might like to try on the menu.

 

 

Sunday Fun Day Delaware Cruise on The BMW K1600

Truth be told, Furman is on the K1600 in VIRGINIA right now...but last Sunday was a fun day on the bike.  First leg of our journey was a hilarious mile.  That's right!  The 21st Annual Gathering of the Nortons was held at Washington Crossing Park, PA and we took the short ride to ogle the bikes.  There was no discrimination at this event so along with the Nortons, there were shiny, Harleys, Beamers, Yamahas, Ducatis, Moto Guzzis, and all kinds of vintage bikes too. 

 

 

After filling our eyes with the sweet motorcycle candy, we hopped back on and the bike and cruised another 30 miles to the Riegelsville Tavern to fill our bellies.  Watch for my restaurant review on Foodie Friday.  If you head out that way take notice of the Roebling suspension bridge that crosses the river from Riegelsville, PA, to NJ.