This is one of a series of posts about riding the Mid Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route with a couple of my old motorcycle friends.
After finishing the challenges of Stage 3, the next several days of riding were a lot easier. Stage 4 was primarily paved roads, but it took us past one of the highlights of the MABDR – the Horn Camp one-room school house. Betty (along with her husband) own the land the old school is located on. Betty was absolutely charming, as were her two dogs who have learned that ADV bikers stopping by to say ‘Hi’ are fun to visit with. (Because the bikers sometimes have hands that smell like sausage biscuits!) Only ten miles of unpaved roads today, but still a really fun day.
The Horn Camp school is clearly a welcoming stop for MABDR riders (6/24/22)
Betty, who was featured prominently in the MABDR documentary, was as charming in person as she was in the film. (6/24/22)
Visitors to the Horn Camp one-room school can sign in on the chalkboard. These desks were actually used when the school was still in session. (6/24/22)
Stage 5 had us riding through West Virginia, Maryland and up into Pennsylvania. One of the most notable things from this section is that no matter how remote a road seems here, there is always a steady stream of houses. Each of these roads is still a neighborhood. And it is vital that MABDR motorcyclists remember that they are riding through people’s neighborhoods at almost all times this day. Remember – these are public roads where people live. We need to be good ambassadors for our passion and have locals feel good about our presence.
One of the things I really like about motorcycling in rural areas are the wonderful locally owned restaurants we get to stop at along the way. Though I will never apologize for my love of Waffle House, it’s always fun to stop at the funky small places on the road. Rocky’s Pizza and Italian Subs was a great example of this. They served up great sandwiches, bigger portions than I could even think of eating, and an equal serving of sass. What a great place to stop near the Maryland-Pennsylvania border.
We had a great lunch at Rocky’s. I could only eat half of my cheesesteak, it was so big. Highly recommend as a meal stop. (6/25/22)
Rocky’s is not a place to stop if you are in a hurry. But you’re having a fun day motorcycling. Why should you be in a hurry? (6/25/22)
OK, so maybe the service wasn’t particularly fast… But I love the attitude here. (6/25/22)
After a morning of riding mostly paved roads in WV and Maryland, this afternoon was devoted to lots of excellent unpaved roads in Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests.
The compacted gravel roads in Pennsylvania were often better/faster than many of the paved roads we had been on the past several days. (6/25/22)
Taking a short break in a Pennsylvania state park. (6/25/22)
We spent a lot of time along the Appalachian Trail today as well, with the trail crossing and recrossing our path.
Just one of several places where the Appalachian Trail crossed our path. Throughout our trip we would see hikers on the trail. (6/25/22)
On the paved roads we saw lots of people out on cruisers and touring bikes, and we saw a fair number of locals out on the unpaved roads. All in all, our Stage 5 ride from Martinsburg, WV to Mt. Holly Springs, PA was a great day of adventure touring on the Mid Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route
Stage 6 for us started out with breakfast at a Waffle House (of course), followed by some tasty, twisty roads. Then it was up into the Pennsylvania hills going in and out of the hollers on good-quality gravel/state forest service roads. There was a bridge out on one road – There’s an official detour around it, along with an informal one or two that can be found on the backroads.
Sometimes there’s a good reason why it’s the “road less travelled…” (6/26/22)
There were a number of gorgeous overlooks along the way. We stopped at one and talked with a gentleman on a KTM 790 who reported having a great time.
Conversations with fellow travelers along the side of the road are among the highlights of riding a BDR. (6/26/22)
By the time we reached the pavement at the end of the stage at McVeytown, the promised rain looked like it was rapidly approaching. So Howard and I pulled over, closed up the vents on our jackets, and rode on through the wet to the Huntingdon Motor Inn. It’s about 20 miles north and east of McVeytown, but it’s a lovely, affordable old-school family owned motel. And likely one of the closest to the end of Stage 6.
The Huntingdon Motor Inn is an old-school family owned motel about 20 miles off the north end of Stage 6. There’s a family run restaurant within walking distance down the hill from it, and some covered picnic tables where you can relax with a beverage, even if the rain is threatening again. I’m also reliably informed there’s a good breakfast joint named Donna’s nearby for tomorrow’s needs. (6/26/22)
You can find the whole story of our trip here, once all the sections have been posted.