Exhausted. I kicked down the side-stand, and slowly climbed off the scrambler. I looked down to examine the oil spattered all over the back half of the frame and saturating the transmission case. Standing in the parking lot of the filling station, I thought to myself, “…over 320 days in the saddle. I hope this isn’t the deal-breaker…”

60 hours earlier… Friday, June 8th

03:45 AM

Alarm goes off, I grab my gear strewn about the couch, turn on my SPOT tracker; mount up on the Scrambler.

05:10 AM

Blasting east down US-35 under the cover of darkness… bored to death.

05:45 AM

Grab gas in Chillicothe, along with a sandwich and some cold coffee.

05:47 AM

Drop cold coffee in parking lot… glass shatters next to Scrambler…

06:06 AM

Head east on US-50 toward WV; Rosie uses her super power…

06:57 AM

Ride through rain off and on; finally arrive in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

09:33 AM

Find the glorious West Virginia mountain twisties on US-50. Man I love it here…

 

10:49 AM

Stop off US-219 near the Maryland border. Hike up to Hoye Crest (Backbone Mountain), the highest point in Maryland; first time I’ve ever walked into a new state.

 

10:58 AM

Hiked about a half mile up the trail, starting to sweat. Regret wearing my jacket up the hill. Pass a hiker, ask if I’m about halfway there.

11:48 AM

Cross into Maryland on the Scrambler; another new state I’ve ridden to this year; check that off the bucket list.

 

11:58 AM

Finally drop off the US routes for some of the Maryland backroads.

12:16 PM

Wow, Maryland has beautiful rolling hills and gorgeous sweepers.

12:25 PM

“Holy shit a county lawn tractor…” as the rear tire is skidding…

12:58 PM

Finally reach Pennsylvania.

1:18 PM

Stop at Mount Davis, the highest point in the keystone state. Find it interesting that Maryland’s highest point is actually taller than the tallest peak in Pennsylvania.

1:25 PM

Notice someone familiar starting up the stairs as I’m climbing down the fire tower. Apparently that hiker from Maryland had the same idea I did. (Strange coincidence… it won’t be the last this weekend)

2:07 PM

US-219 aint so bad, these Pennsylvania mountains remind me of Tennessee.

3:15 PM

I-99 is also surprisingly scenic, not quite I-40, but again, reminiscent of US-25E jammed into I-77.

4:30 PM

Pennsylvania Amish country is gorgeous, I could get used to this.

4:51 PM

Finally arrive at Woodward Campground after 12 hours and 538 miles on the road.

To be continued…