The Pennsylvania Anti-Turnpike Part 2: US Route 30 from Gettysburg to York

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Note: This is a follow-up to the post on May 3, 2009.

US Route 30 between Gettysburg and York is not a particularly enjoyable ride, but it might be preferable to the Turnpike if you are looking for lots of places to stop for a break. If you are in hurry, opt for the traffic, trucks and rough road on the Turnpike. It is only a 29 mile ride from Gettysburg to York on US 30, but it will take every bit of an hour. The traffic moves slow. There are traffic lights and several towns to go through. Better not be in a hurry.

I always enjoy riding through small towns, imagining what life is like living there, how people make their living, and what they do in the town for recreation. Stopping the bike for a bottle of water and a restroom break always gives the chance to talk to people. If you are on a motorcycle with out of state tags, they are sometimes just as curious about you as you are about them.

You can start in Gettysburg, soaking up the history. Park the bike and walk around town. There are many shops and cafes to enjoy along the streets of Gettysburg.

Along this stretch of US 30 you will find Battlefield Harley-Davidson. This dealer on the east side of Gettysburg. This Harley dealer is well known as one of the nicest facilities in the area.

If you didn't stop in Gettysburg, the town of New Oxford is worth a stop. This is a very typical Pennsylvania town, with Victorian architecture, a busy town square and down-to-earth people.

The rest of the ride is pretty unremarkable, but once you move east of York, there is Amish Country in Lancaster, PA. Look for the Part 3 post coming soon covering York to Philadelphia.

Riding Destination: Solomons Island, MD

Going Crabbing, originally uploaded by bikerphoto.

One Saturday recently I decided to take the bike to Solomons Island for some sunrise photography. Taking photos at sunrise by the water is a beautiful way to relax, but rising early enough to get there before the sun comes up is kinda hard for me. I had intended to get up at 3:30, hop on the bike and ride the 80 miles to be there and set up by 5:30. The alarm went off at 3:30 and I thought, "Geesh, what a stupid idea." Then I had a hard time going back to sleep, so I finally hit the road at 5 AM.

I knew I would get there well after sunrise, so I would use the trip to scout around for the best places to set up the next time. It was not a great sunrise to shoot anyway. The sky was perfectly clear, as a cold front had just moved through. Sunrise is always more interesting if there are some clouds to make it look dramatic.

When I arrived at Solomons it was about 6:30. People were out walking along the waterfront. I parked the bike and walked around some, taking in the scenery. I found some men working on loading crab pots on a boat. Making a living on the water as a professional crabber is a rough life. In Maryland it is the Blue Crab they go after. The television show, Deadliest Catch shows the extreme conditions professional crab fishermen have to endure in the Arctic. In Maryland on this day, the conditions were not so extreme. In fact, it even looks peaceful seeing these guys head out to work, but there are nor'easters, tropical storms and even hurricanes that these guys have to deal with at times.

Before they shoved off, I talked to them a while. Working watermen are men of few words.

"How is the crabbing this year?"

"Not bad."

"Just now heading out for today?"

"Yep."

"Mind if I take a few picutures while you are working?"

"As long as you are not with America's Most Wanted."

Hmmm....Made me wonder if I should look on the AMW website to see if I recognize these guys.

Solomons is a nice day trip from the Richmond area or the Shanandoah Valley of Virginia. When you ride your bike here you will see primo sailboats as well as working crab boats like this one. There are many waterfront restaurants to satisfy your appetitie for seafood after a long ride. Take some time to look around and relax. Bed and breakfast inns offer a quaint place to spend the night. Just off the island there is a Comfort Inn and a Holiday Inn express.

Park your bike, get off and look around. You can walk the island to enjoy the waterfront views, or just sit and relax on the benches at the waterfront. The Calvert Marine Museum is a must-see where you can learn the history of Southern Maryland. Other things to see are Solomons Island Winery and Drum Point Lighthouse.

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