Mountain Tour held in 1996.  We headed out of Thurmont under slightly overcast skies with the temperature in the 70’s. 

We superslabbed it to Harrisburg where we picked up Route 443 along Fishing Creek and thru Fort Indiantown Gap.  At it’s end, we stopped for lunch at Buddy’s Log Cabin restaurant in Pine Grove (fantastic milkshakes!).

Back on the road, we headed out on Route 125, the highlight motorcycling road of the day.  It takes you up and over 4 mountain ranges.  The road is loaded with scenic views, hairpin turns, and twisting blacktop. What a great road!

We were really enjoying the roads and scenery when we noticed dark clouds in the distance.  It looked like we were heading into a storm but good fortune was with us.  We arrived at our hotel in Mifflinville, checked in, unloaded our bikes (even parking them under the second floor balcony overhang) before it began raining. 

The rain was short and the sun was able to dry the roads before we headed to Bandits Restaurant for dinner — a great place to eat and biker friendly.  It rained again while we enjoyed our meal.  But again, the sun came out, and dried the highway for the ride back to the hotel. 

On Saturday we woke to Sunny skies and comfortable temperatures.  After enjoying our continental breakfast, our group headed west for our next destination.  We enjoyed River Road in Nescopeck, Route 29, back roads around Harvey’s Lake, and Route 92 on our morning ride to Nicholson to see the Tunkhannock Viaduct (photo above).  This railroad bridge was built in 1913 and was considered the 8th Wonder of the World and the largest concrete structure ever built.  It rises 240 feet above the town of Nicholson and is 2375 feet long.

From there we headed north to Susquehanna for lunch, then to the next attraction, the Starrucca Viaduct in Lanesboro.  This viaduct was built in 1848 and is the oldest stone railroad bridge in use today.  It is 1040 feet long and 100 feet high.

From there we headed out of town via back roads.  Rain began to come down and we quickly located a safe pull-off.  We no sooner got on our rain gear when the rain stopped, the sun came out and in just a few short miles we were on dry highways and were able to enjoy some great sweepers as we made our way to our hotel.

The Inn at Lackawaxen was our hotel for both Saturday and Sunday nights.  The Inn is located adjacent to the Roebling Bridge (see photo at the left) linking PA and NY over the Delaware River.  The Roebling Bridge is the oldest wire suspension bridge in the USA.  It was built in 1847.  It’s designer, John Roebling, went on to design and build the Brooklyn Bridge 20 years later. 

The Inn at Lackawaxen is a 160 year old building with a recent facelift.  It has a full service restaurant with food to suit the most selective taste buds; a newly renovated pub that has the feel of a classic Irish bar; and a large deck overlooking the Roebling Bridge.  We occupied 7 of the 8 rooms.  We all agreed that the Inn deserved a return visit.

After a relaxing night, we gathered in the morning ready to ride.  We spent the morning on a slow ride through some of the most scenic, winding roads in the Poconos.  Along the way we saw  deer, rabbits, and a turtle crossing the roads.  After our morning ride we headed into the Catskills and to Bethel to enjoy the revamped site of the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival.  What an amazing transition!  It’s now a center for the performing arts and a Woodstock museum.  It took us by surprise.  We planned an hour tour but really needed 2-3 hours to really take in all it has to offer.  The original field remains pretty much untouched (see group photo below).

We had an enjoyable dinner on the deck of the Inn to celebrate the end of a great Endless Mountain Tour. 

In the morning we awoke to a mix of clouds and sun which would soon turn to all sunny skies as we made our way back to our homes in the Washington, D. C. area.  We had 4 days of great riding, wonderful sights, good food and great people.  It was a tour worth repeating sometime in the future.