Pennsylvania Trolley Museum & Bert's Hot Dogs

Yesterday, Sunday, May 20th, Bryon, our close friends, and I took a 200-plus mile ride (round trip) with the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum as our main destination. It's set outside of Washington, PA, southwest of Pittsburgh. I found it on Google Maps when I was planning the riding 2018 trips for our little group of riding friends.

We took PA Route 18 all the way. Sure some people like the Interstates, or maybe could make their way in a convoluted fashion on more obscure roads (I had one of those mapped out too), but Route 18 became the path of choice when low and behold, the vision of a hot dog shop appeared on the map when I zoomed in!!! If you know our friends, they are eaters. Burgers and dogs, dogs and burgers, throw in some french fries and go back for seconds and thirds.

We all know the saying, Ride To Eat, Eat To Ride.

After meeting for breakfast at 9:30, we headed out in the fine mist left behind after the morning rain. The more we rode, the better the weather got. Route 18 is a nice road that goes through countryside, small towns, big towns, crosses rivers like the Ohio with blue steel structured bridges, and watch out - some of the directional signs are faded or non-existent.

When I saw the sign for Burgettstown, I knew we were about to eat lunch. There it was on the right hand side, Bert's Hot Dog Shop. Been there 60 or so years slinging food literally beside the road.

We parked and made our way to the order window (if you're tall, you'll have to stoop). They only serve footlong hot dogs; I had a chili dog. There's also burgers, and all kinds of fried foods, plus ice cream and milk shakes. Hammer and Bones ordered twice, and I think Tiny did too. Growing boys.

It wasn't much longer until I got us lost for two minutes when I couldn't figure out which road was 18, but after some anger and turning around, we found ourselves turning off of N. Main Street and into the museum lot.

Once parked, we went through the entrance, paid the $10 admission fee, and perused the gift shop and found what every biker wants - patches! Yes, they had Trolley Museum patches, so we scarfed up some of those and pins, and exited toward the trolley ride that's included with admission. When you cross the tracks, there are giant banners explaining the history of trolleys, their growth and death, and their revival.

Two trolleys were running, an open sided yellow one, and a closed but with windows orange one. Well, the orange one had a whole load of kids on it bouncing from one seat to another and a screaming baby who's head got hit on a pole when the father tried lifting the mother onto the trolley. We exited that trolley stage right, and waited for the yellow one.

That was a breezy ride, rickety and rattley and nostalgic. So it took us up the rail path to the museum building where the majority of vintage trolleys are on display. They are HUGE!!! Wow, and made from wood or metal, and were geared toward workers or city visitors or the wealthy.


The museum has on the grounds several buildings that were on the paths of active trolleys and have been restored and filled with pictures of their history.

















We got lucky and had a volunteer historian take us around to tell us about the trolleys. Some they still use like the one with the lift boom and crane, and another that has three dump hoppers.

Everyone there was very nice, and you can find more info about the trolleys inside the main building. Before leaving, I went back and bought a commemorative mug to go with my patch and pin.

If you go, when leaving, exit left and after the tracks turn right onto Arden Mines Road, and left on Cross Roads Road; their a little bit of fun riding under the trees. Cross Roads exits at Rt. 18, so just turn right at the stop sign to go north. AND... stop again at Bert's like we did for round two of dogs and burgers. I had a cheeseburger and chocolate ice cream this time. That was tasty. The boys, well, they had more food that a human should, but they were VERY happy, and that's all that matters.

When the sun started setting the air chilled. There are plenty of gas stations along the way, too, and at the last stop we put our leathers back on and soon found ourselves facing a blue and pink cotton candy sunset. In New Wilmington, we stopped to say our parting words, hopped back on the bikes and headed for home. It was a super nice day with the best of friends, and we hope that everyone who reads this finds the same for themselves.

~ Holly

MIA's and Rolling Thunder in DC

Many bikers know about Rolling Thunder, the huge event in Washington, DC that takes place every Memorial Day. There are a lot of people from the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys that go every year to pay their respects to those who died during active military service. It's often confused as a general day for all veterans, but that's incorrect - it's a day to honor the dead.

Since this is a blog, I can express my opinion that there is nothing happy about it, and the phrase "Happy Memorial Day" is a bit irritating. Not that anyone has to be depressed about it either, but being a solemn day, a little peace, quiet, and remembrance of the individuals who left their loved ones too soon and at the behest of this great country, I can only hope that people will find a moment to be thoughtful of the losses.

You may have noticed in our store the photo of my grandfather, Walter E. Pittman. He was an Army pilot in WWII, and then by choice went to the war in Korea - that's where he went Missing In Action when his plane took a hit over North Korea in 1951. He was never seen again. He is one of those we'll honor on May 28th.

The Rolling Thunder people are vigilant in keeping track of those who never returned. Their vests are loaded with patches that question the pursuit of every service person alive or dead. I had the honor of sewing these patches onto a vest for Mr. Orr, and happened to notice that the patch for each annual ride says something different across the bottom that relates to the above mentioned pursuit. 

MAY THEY ALL COME HOME

~ Holly

Poker Runs and Benefits

Hi all! It's that time of year when lot of motorcycle clubs and associations are putting together their annual poker runs, benefit runs, and memorial runs. Many in our area start on May 19th, and if you need info, we post the flyers in two places: at our store with paper flyers in our popular flyer rack, and on our Facebook page. 

Who are they raising money for? It varies from veteran organizations, to volunteer fire departments, to political groups like A.B.A.T.E., to family missions that clothe and feed people, to helping out a person who needs help with medical bills. You name it, and there is always someone or some place that could use a boost to get through the day, provide services to the community, or put out a good heart via a helping hand.

So if you want to go on a ride and do something to help your local communities, go on a run!

Photos from the 2017 memorial run for Youngstown's fallen police officers,

hosted by LAMA (Latin American Motorcycle Association)

Let The Good Times Roll

If you're reading this, and you ride a motorcycle, then you are probably like us thinking "FINALLY, IT'S SPRING!". That was a long winter, and parts of the states are still getting snow. But I think we are done with it, and I've already mowed the lawn once while noticing it already needs it again. That's fine, you know why?

Because I got to go for a great ride with my friends Bones and Hammerhead today! We met shortly after 10am in Hermitage, PA at Dunkin Donuts, then Bones lead us out Rt. 62.

It didn't take too long before we were heading on Rt. 58, nor too long before the road turned to shit! If you ride staggered like we do, those in the right side of the lane get screwed, and that was me. I had to keep going to the center and even to the yellow lines to avoid the most holes and bumps this side of a riverbed!

But Bones got us stopped and we took a detour onto Rt. 208, going out past Foxburg. Our first big stop was at The Korner Restaurant in Sligo, PA. I had a yummy hamball (AKA, ham loaf in the shape of a ball), with slaw and corn, Bones had the reuben dog with fries, and Hammer had a double cheeseburger (duh!). They're desserts are all homemade, but we forgot to leave room in our bellies for any. Next time.

When Bones was younger, he spent a lot of time in East Brady, PA, and would often watch the people at the lookout set sail on gliders jumping from the top and flying like eagles over the Clarion River horseshoe. He has taken us there before, and again today, but today was different. He made it clear that after he dies, all any of us need to do is go to this place, walk out on the outlook deck, and there he will be - in the hills, the sky, the river, the trees, the hawks, the eagles, the sunshine, the air. All around, in everything. If that doesn't sound like the perfect eternal life, I don't know what does.

See the curve of the river? There is a road that is on the inside of the curve with houses and camps. I asked Bones how you get down there, and then he asked if we should go - uh, yes! So we left the lookout, drove down into town, and onto the hemispherical road. What a pretty river up close, with sweeping banks and budding trees. I don't know why I didn't stop to take pics from below. It's left to the imagination until you go there.

Not far from there, Bones showed us the place where he met the love of his life (and vice versa), Nancy. She had been a bartender, and apparently served up the ride "medicine" for old Bones. About 40 years now they've been sharing an abundant life of family and friends.

From there, we stopped for gas and drinks in Emlenton (Hammer loves to wave!).

And from THERE, we continued back westward watching the backed up traffic on I-80 Eastbound. We had seen fire and rescue heading there, not sure what was going on. The sun shown all the way home, on Rt. 208 to Rt. 18 back to West Middlesex, then we wiggled around the 318 detour until we crossed the line into Ohio and made it home to Hubbard. The guys followed me all the way, and then soon departed after greeting Bryon (who had to work all day, haha!). Don't cry for him, he has had four days off with these guys already, plus I'm a nice gal, and hope he get's another day to go riding in the sun. 

That's is all for today. Now, go do some riding if you can, when you can. 

Ride to Eat, Eat to Ride - Holly