Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Riding out Irene in Pine Creek Gorge

Paisan and I seem to have hit it off. So much so that we planned a weekend riding in a place I love and he'd never been, PA's "Grand Canyon", the Pine Creek Gorge and its rail trail on the gorge floor. Watching the news about the upcoming storm, we saw it was going to pass to the east of the gorge, and so Saturday morning we started the drive north. Paisan built up a new bike for the occasion:

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We parked at Waterville, in the shadows of the mountains, and headed south towards Jersey Shore, PA. Paisan was fist-pumping as we went south....

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As I described in another thread, before we reached the town my rear hub broke. Paisan rode back the nine some miles to get the truck to pick me up.

We decided it was too long to drive back home today, the weather was still nice, and we could still camp. Also, Paisan hadn't seen the gorge or canyon. So we drove through the valley north on Rt. 414 and 287 to Wellsboro, and then to Ansonia and the canyon's west rim for camping. At one point the road had been closed due to a rockslide so PennDOT detoured all auto traffic onto the rail-trail for a mile or two. My friend seem impressed with the canyon:

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Shortly after we retired to our tents in Colton Point State Park.....

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... the rain began. What was billed as "scattered showers" turned into a continuous band of rain for about 12 hours. Our plans to rent a bike for me from Pine Creek Outfitters and ride the canyon were washed away. Instead when the rain broke at 10 AM we packed up.

As we headed East on Rt. 6 I explained to Paisan about Pennsylvania's system of statewide bike routes. "This is Bike Route Y, running from NY to Ohio across the north of the state." Less than five minutes after I mentioned it we passed two very wet cyclists, one pulling a trailer. Paisan sensed there was something wrong, and turned the truck around to help them. We saw them on the outskirts of Wellsboro, one of them walking his bike. After a minute convincing them we weren't ax murderers or worse, they relaxed enough that we could help them. Paisan took out his workstand and began to fix the flat and patch the tube....

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... and I offered suggestions for tackling Route 6, based on my driving it in 2010 and planning to ride it in 2011.

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Lowell and Ishaer started their trip sixteen days before, and due to the weather were going to try to get a motel room just outside of town. We wished them success; "I want to read about the two of you at the Pacific" I said before we saw them pedal off west. There was a lump in my throat as they disappeared down the rainy road, for I've wanted to ride cross country for years.

Ishaer, Lowell, and Paisan:

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And then we drove back home, a ruined day redeemed by doing a good deed for another cyclist. Paisan wants to come back to Pine Creek Gorge, and I always want to go. Next time I'll try not to break the bike and choose better weather.....

I so get the moment of watching them ride off to continue their journey.

I am, however, a bit puzzled that one would head across country with the means and knowledge of dealing with simple corrective maintenance...

Two cross country cyclists that are unprepared to fix a flat tire?
I wish them luck.
How nice that you and Paisan were able to help them out.

I can't remember the last time I got caught in a 12 hour "shower". If I read your thread correctly, you were lucky it rained overnight.

Nice trip report. It shows me that a biking weekend is much more than just biking.

I am, however, a bit puzzled that one would head across country with the means and knowledge of dealing with simple corrective maintenance...

I was wondering this as well, if they can't fix a flat...what are they going to do when (not if) something a bit more serious goes wrong? Maybe they had run out of spare tubes and patches.

Nice of you guys to help them out.

I was wondering this as well, if they can't fix a flat...what are they going to do when (not if) something a bit more serious goes wrong? Maybe they had run out of spare tubes and patches.

Nice of you guys to help them out.

Yeah, have to agree... good on you two for helping them out!

I am curious to know their planned route. It took them sixteen days to get from Maine to eastern PA. It's the end of August. Where are they going to be in 6 weeks, which will be in about the middle of October?

I so get the moment of watching them ride off to continue their journey.

I am, however, a bit puzzled that one would head across country with the means and knowledge of dealing with simple corrective maintenance...

I think they knew how to, but since the motel they were aiming for was just up the road, they didn't want to pull over on the shoulder and take apart the bike there. Ishaer had just flatted when we passed them the first time. Also, Paisan and I can be a bit much to folks from New England. They may be both young men, but as Robert Frost said, "good fences make good neighbors" and they weren't prepared for how outgoing strangers can be. What would you think if a chatterbox with a New Yawk accent pulled up in a truck and wanted to take your bike apart?

I've friended one of the riders on Facebook, and posted that I'd be happy to help them if they need it.

Where they heading across to Ohio to pick up the northern tier or were they taking the rail trail south? I agree with Indy, this doesn't seem like a good time to start a cross country tour unless they are planning on heading along a southern passage

I am curious to know their planned route. It took them sixteen days to get from Maine to eastern PA. It's the end of August. Where are they going to be in 6 weeks, which will be in about the middle of October?

They plan to continue on PA Bike Route Y, and then head south. That's all I got from them. Had we an hour or two in a dry coffeeshop, we'd have ironed out their route and goals. I advised them on the Y route and discouraged them from tackling the northern tier - I specifically mentioned some mountain passes closing before they got there.

Here is what they face today - Denton Hill!

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/48233748

Where they heading across to Ohio to pick up the northern tier or were they taking the rail trail south? I agree with Indy, this doesn't seem like a good time to start a cross country tour unless they are planning on heading along a southern passage

They planned west and possibly south in Western PA. Again, we didn't want to overload them with information on a soggy morning. You know me, Bau, and how I talk.

You know me, Bau, and how I talk.

What? Nooooo! Always a good idea helping out others though. +100 karma points for you guys!

I can't remember the last time I got caught in a 12 hour "shower". If I read your thread correctly, you were lucky it rained overnight.

Nice trip report. It shows me that a biking weekend is much more than just biking.

The forecast as of 5 AM that morning showed 80 degree, sunny weather for Waterville, and when we arrived we found just that. Had my bike remained intact (or we could get a rental to fit me) and the showers been 'scattered' as predicted we'd have ridden Sunday morning. It would have been a 36 mile day.

Paisan and I are very different men, but we seemed to hit it off. We hung out at the campsite Saturday night and had a good time. Had my knees been in better shape and the woods not been so soggy we might have hiked some of the West Rim Trail. The cold and the wet reminded me I'm arthritic and told Paisan he's not living in Florida anymore.

What? Nooooo! Always a good idea helping out others though. +100 karma points for you guys!

Points to Paisan, who realized something was wrong.

Here is what they face today - Denton Hill!

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/48233748

Bump in the road.

More photos of the tourists:

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They spent the previous night halfway between Wellsboro and Mansfield. We'd passed them at a farmer's market on Rt. 6 on the edge of downtown Wellsboro. The day before they had been in Towanda. They were 'stealth' camping where they could. (I didn't want to get into the ethics of it with them, and I don't want to here either.) They alternate hauling the trailer, which contains their tent and other gear. Since Ishaer (I hope I'm spelling his name correctly) was hauling it today, that means Lowell gets to take it over Denton Hill today. Lucky him!

They aren't journaling their trip, unfortunately.

Great Pics Neil. Yes we did pass them when they were standing at that fruit stand/farmers market. As we went by something didn't look right but I wasn't quite sure what it was. I knew something wasn't right so I thought we should turn around. Neil sensing an opportunity to both do a good deed and talk to some bike tourers didn't need any arm twisting to turn around. Turns out they did need help. When we first pulled up they said they were trying to make it to the hotel but it was a little while before any of us turned around and saw the hotel a couple of hundred feet away.

As for the weekend I had a good time even if the riding didn't work out the way we planned. I at least got an 18 mile day in with a 9 mile slightly uphill time trial back to the truck to break in the new bike. Things I learned this weekend:
1- Cyclocross bikes are ALOT of fun to ride.:thumb:
2- I remember that I don't like wearing bike gloves.
3- My tent is obviously a case of me compensating for something:innocent:
4- I must put aqua seal into my camping container
5- A pedal wrench must go into the travel mechanic kit
6- A broken hub flange sounds alot like a broken spoke when it occurs:mad:
7- The version of the lead up to the battle of Gettysburg I was taught in school is not quite how it happened
8- Neil doesn't mind bad singing but does not like to snuggle:eek:

8- Neil doesn't mind bad singing but does not like to snuggle:eek:

Funny, I always imagined him as a snuggler. :)

Hmmm that trail is only about two hours from My house in NY. I just may have to check in out sometime.

Funny, I always imagined him as a snuggler. :)

I admit I was surprised Paisan suggested I share his tent with him. My friend spent years in the Navy, and so he's used to close quarters. I'm not. Since we are going to be camping together in the future, I think I'll have to get used to sharing a tent. Saves space in the truck. :-)

Hmmm that trail is only about two hours from My house in NY. I just may have to check in out sometime.

Do it! And take me with you. :-)

Do it! And take me with you. :-)

How far a trip is it for you?

I admit I was surprised Paisan suggested I share his tent with him. My friend spent years in the Navy, and so he's used to close quarters. I'm not. Since we are going to be camping together in the future, I think I'll have to get used to sharing a tent. Saves space in the truck. :-)

His tent looked plenty big for sharing without snuggling.

How far a trip is it for you?

Five hours drive to Wellsboro from the Philly suburbs. :-)

Update on Lowell and Ashir, the two 20 year olds riding from Maine to Sacramento. They rode to Kane, PA, on the Bike Route Y, and then headed south to Butler. They reached Sparta, OH.