About to roll out – ignore that puddle of ethanol-free high-test, I mean unknown substance that we definitely didn’t spill…

The official ride started on October 14, but the real kickoff was the night before. After meeting in Wytheville and loading bikes into Brian’s trailer, we hauled north to Lock Haven and checked in for the night. Spirits were high, the gear was sorted, and Brian — several months bourbon-free — decided this was the right moment to break the streak. Spoiler: it wasn’t.

Colton Point: The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania

We rolled out of Lock Haven late (Was it the weather, a hangover, or Matt’s loose steering damper? Opinions vary), layered up against the cold and pointed toward the first big payoff: Colton Point State Park. The overlook delivered — wide-angle views of the PA Grand Canyon, fall colors peaking, and that quiet moment where everyone stops talking and just soaks it in. We hydrated (and dehydrated), took a few photos, and rolled on.

Slate Run & Wolfes General Store

By midday, we were in Slate Run, fueling up at Wolfes General Store. The food was solid, the coffee was hot (I’m told), and nobody asked why we looked like we’d slept in a ditch. A+ stop. From there, the route dipped into Sproul State Forest — and that’s where things got interesting.

Sproul State Forest: The Gravel Autobahn… and a Surprise

The main route through Sproul is gloriously wide and fast — what we started calling the Sproul Autobahn. But because I can’t leave well enough alone, I’d plotted a detour to bypass Renovo (just in case we needed to make up some time) that looked promising on satellite. On the ground? Not so much.

What should’ve been a mellow connector turned into a soupy, rutted mess – deep mud, standing water, and slippery two-track. No crashes, but plenty of close calls and some “where the hell is the traction?” moments.

Buttonwood and the Bleeding Honda

We wrapped up the day in Emporium at the Buttonwood Motel, which was exactly what we needed — hot food, warm rooms, and parking right outside the door. That’s when we spotted the oil puddle under Guy’s bike. Our late start meant that the auto parts store was closed when we arrived in Emporium, so we decided to address the issue in the morning. No bourbon, to ensure we’d all be sharp the next day.

Day 1 Tally:

• Miles: ~225
• Terrain: Leaf-lined gravel highways, surprise mud bog
• Mishaps: Bourbon flashback, Honda hemorrhaging oil
• Highlights: Colton Point overlook, the Sproul mudfest
• Group Quote: “Without Terry, who’s taking pee pics? Oh—Guy is. Of course.”