WHATCHATHINKIN'

It was a wonderful weekend. Friday’s ride to Williamsport, despite the Sunday Drivers on Friday and various construction delays, was done under gorgeous blue skies and near-perfect riding temperature. Our cadre of riders was made up of five who we don’t ride with enough. Brian’s route had us out to the City Grand Hotel, our eclectic digs for the weekend, by late afternoon, just about when all the others attending our Fall Fiesta 2026 were arriving as well. With the sun shining and the outdoor patio full, we enjoyed some adult beverages while catching up on summer news and listening to the resident minstrel blasting out some tunes.

Starting earlier in the week, there was a bit of grumbling about the upcoming forecast. Apparently an early Nor’easter was barreling our way with threats of making this weekend a washout. Hmmm, rain on a Backroads’ event? Why does that not surprise me. I monitored the less-than-accurate and always changing weather apps and radar and determined (to myself) that our soiree taking place inland in Pennsylvania should not be affected by this approaching storm. Unfortunately for our friends heading to Millville, NJ, to watch the last round of Moto America, that would not be the case, but you rolls the dice and takes your chances, as the saying goes.

The Twain, our room at the City Grand, was full of windows and, while Saturday wasn’t the bright blue skies of the previous day, to me it was an almost perfect riding day, partly cloudy and autumnal temperatures. Our ride would bring us east to Bill’s Bike Barn, Bill Morris’ 55,000 square foot building filled with some of the most extraordinary collections of Americana and motorcycles you will find anywhere. The route that Brian put together was equally enjoyable as the visit to Bill’s. Unfortunately, Bill’s was in the easterly direction and the rain was moving west so there was a path collision. Making lemonade out of lemons, we extended our visit to Bill’s, chatting with the man himself and finding even more nooks and crannies chock full of interesting items. 

For those who chose to go west, young man (or lady), their ride was clear and twisty, whether making it out to the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania or simply enjoying the roads of this part of the state. Mother Nature can be a fickle bitch, and her weather patterns as random as a Jackson Pollock painting.

As we headed back towards Williamsport, the skies dried and the rest of the night was very pleasant, watching a gorgeous sunset, gorging on some excellent Thai food and hanging with the rest of the rally peeps in the parking lot admiring bikes and contemplating the next day’s ride home.

And contemplate we did, staring at the radar screen, pondering the precipitation percentages and debating whether to extend our stay another day. Images were brought up of the flooding along the Jersey coast and Long Island, as well as the boat races that had taken place on pit lane at New Jersey Motorsports Park’s Moto America. Some were heading back towards the eye of the storm while other simply didn’t want to deal with wet weather. At 10:30pm, with a mild night on deck, I jokingly offered up the notion to don the gear and head out then, but there were a few who actually cocked a head, looking up.

Brian and I made the call to not make a call until tomorrow. With the sky barely lightening, I heard the rumbling of engines and looked out to see Chris and Cindy pulling out of the parking lot. A little while later, a few more bikes made their departure while the roads were still dry.

I quietly went out to pour a cup of coffee and see what the day had in store for us. There looked to be a window, a gap in the greens and purples, that might get us home relatively unscathed. When I got back to the room, Brian was stirring and, after his morning coffee, we packed our things and, with the company of Tony Lisanti, hit the highway heading north and east under drizzly conditions. As my mother would say, ‘You’re not made of sugar’. I’ve ridden through much better and much worse, but sometimes you have to throw caution to the wind and hope for the best. Today it worked out.