Vintage Bike Meet and Ride
We spent all day Sunday (8/23/2015) with some of our 2 Scoop CycleTherapy group motorcycle riding friends. 2 Scoop CycleTherapy is a group of friends who meet at 6:00 pm Tuesday evenings and choose a motorcycle ride destination for an ice cream cone and return back before dark when possible. We look for scenic paved back roads, ride as a group and rarely ride faster than 50MPH. The group goes on longer rides, occasionally, as well.
For Sunday’s ride we gathered at Slagle’s Speed and Sport bike shop on State Street in North Warren, PA for a ride to Jim Challingsworth’s vintage bike meet and ride. The bike meet and ride is an annual event. This was the 13th annual meet and ride. It was the first year that Bob and I attended this event. We left Slagle’s Speed and Sport at 10:30 am and rode about 50 miles to Ridgway, PA. I counted 12 motorcycles in our group, some vintage bikes and some newer bikes, and one car. The car pulled a trailer, which held a vintage bike.
We arrived at the meet location (13374 Boot Jack Rd in Ridgway, PA) around 11:30 am. We walked around the property looking at the vintage bikes on display, chatting with our friends and other attendees who had arrived from other locations and enjoying the coffee and donuts provided by the Challingworth’s. The dozen photographs that follow were taken while walking around the property.
This is the vintage Honda that traveled by trailer with our group from Warren.
One day I believe this young boy will ride this bike.
Checking out the vintage bikes on display
I like the paint job on that second bike!
Here is a closer view of the bike with the nice paint job.
A young boy accompanied us on our ride.
The newer bikes were parked out back.
At approximately 12:45 pm we left on a scenic 90-mile round trip ride of the area.
Our ride leader
You may view a detailed map of our ride at Google maps by clicking here.
We followed U.S. Route 219 North for a short distance and turned right onto PA Route 948, which we followed through Kersey, PA to PA Route 255.
Turning right onto PA Route 948 South
Riding through the small community of Kersey, PA
Leaving Kersey, we turned right onto PA Route 255 East, which we followed past Rose’s Hilltop Diner on the left (great place to eat!), to Caledonia Road.
Passing by Rose’s Hilltop Diner
We are on Caledonia Road.
This picture shows some of the riders behind us.
Caledonia Road is a narrow, two-lane twisty road.
We followed Calendonia Road to the end, where it intersected with PA Route 555.
Caledonia Road and PA Route 555 intersection
We turned left onto PA Route 555 East and followed it for 23 miles to Driftwood, PA.
En route Driftwood, we passed through Medix Run, PA and Benezette, PA.
Medix Run
We made a fuel stop at the Benezette Store. Bob and I have visited Benezette many times. Benezette is known for being the best location to catch a glimpse of Pennsylvania’s elk herd, the largest free-roaming elk herd east of the Mississippi River. We have seen elk during past visits. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any elk during this trip.
Fuel Stop at Benezette Store
Leaving the Benezette Store, we turned right on PA Route 555 and continued our ride to Driftwood.
The scenery along PA Route 555 is beautiful.
Another scenic vista, while on PA Route 555.
the borough of Driftwood
Crossing over the Driftwood Branch of the Sinnemahoning Creek
Picturesque view of creek, railroad bridge and hills beyond
the borough of Driftwood
nearing the end of PA Route 555
the borough of Driftwood
PA Route 555 ends here; PA Route 120 begins here.
We followed PA Route 120 East to the village of Sinnemahoning, PA.
This is the Sinnemahoning Creek Bridge.
We crossed over the Sinnemahoning Creek Bridge and
followed Wycoff Run Road (PA Route 2001) to the Hoover Farm Wildlife Viewing Area.
Crossing the Sinnemahoning Creek Bridge
I am happy that it was a sunny, dry day.
I do not like crossing this type of bridge on a rainy day!
PA Route 2001, from Sinnemahoning to the Quehanna Highway, is a nice road
with lots of sweepers and beautiful scenery.
After an approximate 10-mile ride on PA Route 2001 we reached Quehanna Highway (PA Route 2004), which we crossed over to enter the Hoover Farm Wildlife Viewing Area.
We made a rest stop at the Hoover Farm Wildlife Viewing Area.
We didn’t walk into the woods to look for any wildlife.
Some of our friends at the Hoover Farm Wildlife Viewing Area
“The King” joined us on our ride. 🙂
I noticed this gentleman, while at the bike show before leaving on our ride. I did a double take then, amazed by his resemblance to Elvis Presley. I saw him again during our fuel stop in Benezette. I even pointed him out to friends and asked if they thought he resembled Elvis Presley (they thought so too). Well, during our stop at the Hoover Farm Wildlife Viewing Area, I could no longer contain my curiosity. I walked up to this man and said: “I have to ask you a question. Has anyone ever told you that you look like Elvis Presley?” He chuckled, pulled out his wallet and handed me a business card.
Leaving Hoover Farm we turned left onto Quehanna Highway (PA Route 2004). Several miles later we, once again, crossed over the Sinnemahoning Creek at Medix Run and turned left onto PA Route 555.
Riding Quehanna Highway
Quehanna Highway ends in Medix Run, PA.
We turned left onto PA Route 555 in Medix Run.
The approach to PA Route 555 was a bit challenging, due to the steep incline!
We returned from the approximate 90-mile ride around 4:00 pm and enjoyed a meal of hot dogs, baked beans and pasta salad provided by the Challingsworth’s.
We left for our ride back home about an hour later.
We made a fuel stop at Sheetz in Ridgway, PA.
Leaving Sheetz, we picked up U.S. Route 219, which we followed through Johnsonburg, PA. In Wilcox, PA we picked up PA Route 321, which we followed to Longhouse Drive. We followed Longhouse National Scenic Drive to Pennsylvania Route 59. We turned left onto Route 59 and made a rest stop at Kinzua Point.
Johnsonburg Paper Mill
Approaching PA Route 59 from Longhouse Drive
We made a rest stop at Kinzua Point.
Are you wondering what Paul (on the left) is pointing to?
Notice, too, that Scott and Donna are looking in the direction to which Paul points.
Wait until you see what we saw VERY SOON after our stop ….
This is not something one sees everyday at the Allegheny Reservoir!
We didn’t see only one C-130 airplane pass over either!
A second C-130 airplane!
We returned home around 7:00 pm. We had a very good time. I am happy that Bob and I decided to attend Jim Challingworth’s vintage bike meet and ride. We enjoyed the round-trip ride from Warren, PA to Ridgway, PA with our friends. The bike meet was well attended, with lots of very nice and well cared for vintage bikes on display. I especially enjoyed the 90-mile scenic ride. Many of the places we passed through on the ride were places I had heard of only from wildlife and nature photographer friends. I am already planning a return trip to explore the area in a more leisurely fashion, which means lots more stops to enjoy the wildlife and beauty of the area!
The Beauty Around Us 
2 Responses to “Vintage Bike Meet and Ride”
Hi Linda, looks like a fun ride. I would like to visit the place with the elk herd. Cool shots of the plane! Great post, enjoy your day!
Great series of photos Linda! I love traveling with you through them.