Randall Pugh Poker Run, Hosted by Red Knights #7

We don't often get to go on poker runs for different fundraisers unless they are on Sundays. This year we were in town for the 2nd Annual Randall S. Pugh Poker Run hosted by the Chapter 7 Red Knights motorcycle club. This is a fundraiser in Mr. Pugh's name that puts the funds raised into scholarships for people who want to train for emergency medical services (EMS) work including firefighters and EMTs. Boy, do we needs these kind of folks!

Who hasn't been in need of help or know someone who's life was saved because of the trained paramedics who were there during the emergency? We are lucky to live in a nation where such help is continuously available due to the people who make it their calling.

Tiny, Goldilocks, Meanie, and I rode over for the run, which started at the Lane Life Trans behind Lane Funeral Home on Mahoning Avenue in Austintown, Ohio. Lots of bikes were there, but I didn't get the final count. We signed up for the run which included a dinner later in the day. There were opportunities to buy tickets for raffles and the run t-shirts. I bought tickets and then forgot what they were for! That didn't really matter as the fundraiser was the main reason to be there. And we could not have asked for better weather.









Meanie got a t-shirt. Tiny bought gun raffle tickets, I think. Oh boy, it's humid in the house tonight, and my brain can't think too well to write!


At about 10:30-40 am, the bikes started up, rolled out in a roar, and turned west on Mahoning Avenue. The first leg of the route was nice and long, but not too long. We rode down some roads of names I have no idea. All I know is that we finally rolled in through downtown Warren and you know how it goes at intersections - we just keep going and the cars at the crossroads just have to accept the entertainment!

We all agreed that the leading and blocking for the group was done perfectly, and safely, and we'd like to thank the Red Knights and their help for putting it all together - never an easy task.

I believe the first stop was on the east side of the Mosquito Lake causeway at the Yellow Dog Saloon & Grill in Mecca, Ohio. You can see from the pictures below that the day was partly cloudy. I recognized a lot of folks from individuals to members of different clubs.

I was hungry when we got there. There was a pulled pork sandwich meal available for $7 with the proceeds going to the poker run fundraiser. This stop was also the 2nd card draw. I had started off with a 2 of spades back at the start site, so it was already looking bleak for me. Then I drew an 8 of clubs or something and I swallowed my loser sorrows with each bite of my pork sandwich and potato salad.

We were asked to follow some folks to the next stop, and when we went outside a whole bunch of bikes were started and ready to go. We got on our bikes and got in line so we could follow along. That leg of the journey was a good long one! Man, I think it was route 46 or something. I'm so terrible with roads if I'm not the road captain! Seriously.

Well, anyway, it was a beautiful ride through the countryside.

Flying like eagles, we landed at the Crow's Nest bar in Ashtabula, Ohio. That's a really nice place. We hadn't been to either Yellow Dog of Crow's Nest before, so the new experiences were appreciated.  Fast Freddie from 93.3 the Wolf was on the run too and took this sweet picture of us!

But the old experiences called out from the Lake Erie shore on the wind. Soon I could hear Tiny saying that Geneva-on-the-Lake was less than ten miles away; why not get chili dogs? Well, with it being so dang hot and humid, I said let's get going if we are going! We were quickly on our way to Eddie's Grill in GOTL.

I figured we wouldn't find parking, but we did. And ordering wasn't too bad and the food didn't take too long. Here's a tip: if you're going to order a footlong chili dog, order two, that way you won't have to live with regrets all day long like Hammer had too on our ride to Ohiopyle.

I had a dog with ketchup and relish, Goldilocks had something and the boys had chili dogs. All I know is that my hot fudge sundae from the DQ next door went down cool and easy while I was waiting on my dog. Remember too: dessert first. Meanie remarked on the signs that said: Do not carry children on your shoulders, but didn't specify that it's because there are low ceiling fans in the place! That's would be a bad day at the beach for sure.

We were able to follow the directions on our own to the third stop, Crossroads Bar & Grill in Southington, Ohio. Meanie took our photo there, then we went inside to draw our next cards. I don't even remember what it was, but I'm sure you could see my my my my poker face (ha!). We cooled off inside for a bit as did most everyone, had something to drink, and then we left to get gas in Meanie's bike as it ran out and he turned on the reserve a few miles from Crossroads. We like to run the gas out of our bikes as often as possible. 

We made our way to the last stop and ending point, the Ice House Inn in Austintown. The place was pretty cool, yet another we still had not been too. All the bikes were parked around back, and you can see a lovely sun shining through intermittent clouds. Who knew all hell was to break loose.

The food was great as far as I'm concerned: fresh cut watermelon, brownies and cookies, buffalo chicken dip, butter parsley potatoes (on which I put my chicken dip), and well, there was other food, but I got hooked on those mentioned. The bar was open so you could buy drinks too. 

The place was packed! We bought Chinese auction tickets, and waited for the drawings.

I won the Spider Man backpack set for my niece, Josie!!! I had to wear it home. 

In the rain.

The torrential, storming, gusting, hateful rain and wind that was like living on the dark side of the rainbow! 

Yes, just about 7pm the storm was really there, and I had been saying we should go, but no, Meanie, living up to his name, said that Tiny had to stay to try to win one of the guns in the raffle. Ugh.

We stayed. He didn't win. And I made a B-line for my bike. The wind had picked up so heavily, and drops of rain were falling sideways. The black clouds suddenly blocked out the sun, and we were all on our bikes and pulling out when it hit hard. 

There was no turning back once we were on route 46, and the wind pushed our bikes sideways. We turned onto County Line Road, Meanie already ahead because he had the chance to take off before us. Branches and leaves were scattered all over, and the rain was pushing sideways with the wind blinding us. From that point all the way to the Dunkin Donuts on Salt Springs Road, we travelled in no more than 2nd gear. Even cars were pulled over, but for us on bikes, that would be more dangerous than plugging along. It was indeed, we all agreed, the worst rain we had ever ridden in. And we've gotten it pretty good in our travels, but this was unparalleled. 

We got inside the DD and water just poured off of us AND into our boots that were already boats. We all stood by the entrance doors just dripping and not moving so that we didn't make their entire floor slippery. And then we started feeling the air conditioning that made us feel like ice cubes! The kind woman working there offered us free cups of coffee which we accepted but did offer to pay for.

We waited out the storm. 

It left us a path home strewn with trees, leaves, power outages in Girard and Liberty (including a live wire down on Belmont that we rode over!). Oh my. Girard felt and looked like a post-apocalyptic world.

We all made it home.

After parking the bikes, we hung our leathers to dry, set the boots out and removed the insoles. Hung our gloves by the chimney with care - no, not really but a fire would have been rather nice.

All in all it was a really nice day, and well organized and run poker run for a great educational cause, and we put 170 miles on our bikes. Good luck, and thank you, to all the future people who answer the call to learn to help others and then answer the calls to their ambulances and fire trucks and emergency service places of work! We need you and appreciate you. 

To learn more about the world of EMS, click here. 

~ Holly

a.k.a. Stitchblade, Mama Stitch, Stitch

Day Ride to St. Marys, PA

It was another Sunday morning, with a ride planned to St. Marys, Pennsylvania. It was a destination I heard about from a club that rides there once a year.

Some unfortunate events kept Bones and Hammer from going: Bones was out riding his trike a couple days before when he experienced a problem with a wheel and had to get his bike hauled home; Hammer had a falling accident at a Sheetz on the previous ride to Ohiopyle, and he was experiencing several problems with his knee. So, it was four amigos, but we swapped out the guys for Goldilocks (who hasn't been on the trips this year).

Meanie and me, Tiny and Goldilocks, met in Hubbard and rode to Starbucks in Hermitage for a quick coffee. And we met later than planned (9am instead of 8:15), and didn't hit the road until 10-ish. We had two options to begin heading east - US-62 to Franklin, or PA-208 to Emlenton. We opted for US-62 as we hadn't been that way in quite a while. Off toward Mercer we went under perfect blue skies with happy floating clouds. It never did get too hot or humid.

The way Meanie likes to go to Franklin is by following 62 but taking the kind of shortcut on PA-965. This reconnects with 62 further east, just shy of Polk. We kept on 62 to the fun downhill slope into Franklin. My mother's father, Walt, was from Franklin; he lived on Front Street, I've learned this from reading letters from him to the woman who would be my mom's mom and my grandma, Ruth. They found and nurtured the ultimate love for a bit over ten years, and it was torn from them by the Korean War where Walt, an Air Force pilot, was killed.

From Franklin, we took US-322 east heading toward the town of Corsica. So far the ride had been really good. We then made a left turn north on PA-949. This road takes you to the town of Ridgeway via the countryside, and through the state game lands #44 at the southern edge of the Allegheny State Forest. It was beautiful!!! When I get to riding out amongst the trees and mountains, I get a little crazy for it and start singing songs to the trees and rocks, about the lacy sunlight patterns and pine smells and critters and fairies and Ryls and oh, about all of nature. I tell people that I could go feral at any moment, so don't be surprised when I do!

Well, we got to Ridgeway, and with Meanie leading and me with the directions, we got off course in town, so we stopped for fuel - at a full-service gas station! Who does that anymore? Our next road goal was to get on PA-120 east which goes right into St. Marys. We were planning on eating lunch at the St. Marys Corner Restaurant. PA-120 was also a nice road and it didn't take very long from Ridgeway.

This is in front of the post office.
St. Marys Restaurant is on the left at the corner. 

So at the T with S. St. Marys Road, we turned left, then an immediate right on E. Mill, and a left on Chestnut (the restaurant's road). We scored with free meter parking in front of the Post Office, only to walk across to the restaurant and find that it had closed at 1, and it was now 1:30. Bummer. St. Marys seemed so much smaller and with the buildings more closely bound that I thought it would be. And nothing about it seemed interesting. That's my opinion. Maybe there was something there to take note of, but nothing stood out. We didn't even take pictures, with the exception of this historical board that I can't even read!

We were standing on the corner across from a Sheetz looking all lost and like obvious tourists when a woman started towards us from Sheetz. She must have been a local and saw that we wanted food and didn't know where to go. Her suggestion was only a short distance south of there to the First Chance Inn & Restaurant in the town of Kersey. 

We got back on St. Marys street (PA-255) and headed south. From there, we took the road to the right which is PA-948, and shortly there on the left was the First Chance, our second choice, but we took a chance and it ended up being a GREAT choice! 

Your dining area options include the restaurant side, the bar side, or the outside deck. We opted for a nice high table on the bar side. The menu had all kinds of good stuff on it, from classic burgers and fried appetizers, to steak dinners and seafood. Meanie and Goldilocks got cheeseburgers with fries, Tiny got the sirloin tips with gravy and pasta (I think), and I got the super delicious bowl of the buffalo chicken mac-n-cheese with a salad. All was so good! We'd go back, both for the roads and the food. 

I texted this pic to my mom :)

They use random coffee mugs!

Buffalo Chicken Mac-n-Cheese

Fuel stop

Big 'Ol Meanie

From First Chance, we turned toward home. Our route back was pretty simple. We turned left from the restaurant and left onto Dagus Mines Road, then right onto Toby Road. This connected us with US-219 and we headed south there. At PA-28, we turned right and headed west toward Brockville and caught US-322 west from there. We went through Clarion, and at the town of Shippenville, we took PA-208 all the way back through Grove City and Volant.

When we got to the intersection of 208 and 18, Meanie made a turn into the Ryder's Restaurant lot to get some frozen custard at Abes. I had the peanut butter, Meanie had vanilla, Goldilocks had pineapple cream, and Tiny had the cheesecake. Yummo!!!

We rested a little while longer and I took two photos of some nature things. While the sun was still above the horizon, we mounted the bikes and headed for home on route 18, heading west again out of West Middlesex for Hubbard. The total miles were about 270, that's a good ride, and like I said earlier, the weather was perfect. August is the new July, so hopefully September will still be grand for road trips.

What we learned on the ride too was to make plans to go back because just a little further east is the Elk Country Visitors Center and viewing areas where America's largest herds of elk roam and make a living. We all agreed that would be something to see, unh?

So back to the hills we'll roam too in all directions from home. Oh, my heart yearns for a trip to the Presidential Range in New Hampshire again, only this time on my motorcycle. But I also want to see the Rockies from the ground not just from a plane, and wait, what about the Colossi in Unger, West Virginia, or the Devil's Whip road in North Carolina?

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all have the money and time to follow our freedom wherever the wind takes it?

- Holly

4th Annual Sunrise Ride - Ohiopyle, PA

On Sunday, July 28th, we took our annual sunrise ride! The first year we rode to Apollo, PA, second year to Punxsutawney, PA, third year to Ohio's Tail of the Dragon (Rt. 536), and this year we rode to Ohiopyle, PA.

It was the four amigos again: Tiny, Meanie, Hammer, and me. The history of the Sunrise Ride started with Tiny who had suggested we ride during a sunrise sometime because we always ride during sunsets. The ball was set in motion, and here we are! You must be willing to get up early, and it's not as bad as you think.

The alarm went off at 3:10AM as planned. Ten minutes passed. The second alarm went off at 3:20AM. We got up slowly, and were supposed to be at the Middlesex Diner for breakfast at 4:00AM. I ran around feeding the cats and cleaning the litter boxes. Usually we are gone all morning and back home before 4:00PM. I finally got dressed, Meanie was ready and out at the bikes getting his gear. I had packed mine the night before. It was 63 degrees; hoodies and vests would do. We started the bikes and rolled out, going around our asshole neighbors house slow so the rumble of Meanie's pipes would wake them up with the birds!

On to the Diner, we got there at 4:15AM. It is SO nice riding in the early hours when it's quiet and peaceful, and almost no traffic. I enjoy riding in the dark. We ordered breakfast, drank coffee, and then went out to the bikes. It was 5:00AM when we rolled out heading south on PA-18, turning right on PA-551 south. While that was a good idea, the deer were out too. Three of them in a little parade jumped out of the woods on the right and crossed right in front of Meanie who was leading. It was close. That kept us on our toes as the lowest point of the horizon turned grey-blue.

The Sun Rising

I kept a watch on the changing sky colors. Out of the dark sky, little by little, appeared the whitening edges of blue-grey clouds. The edges after more miles started turning peachy. Then pinkish. I like watching the world happen.

From PA-551, we turned south on PA-168. Our first stop was at Jack's Diner for a break and gas, located in Georgetown, PA. There where rain clouds were headed our way, but it wasn't supposed to rain. Sprinkles fell anyway. On the opposite corner was Beall & Nairn motorcycles. None of us had ever heard of it, but from the looks of the stuff inside, they have bikes for sale and parts for bikes. 

Jack's Diner

Jack's Diner, just before 8am

Beall & Nairn Cycles

Well, from Jack's and B&N, it was about a 20 minute ride to - Bert's Hot Dogs!!! Oh yes, nothing like a footlong chili cheese dog, or the Tiny's favorite with all the topping. We continued on PA-168 which takes you right to PA-18 - but that is a surprise ending where you go into this really nice sweeping turn and then WHOA, there's a stop sign. So, caution please. 

We turned right on to 18 south. Bert's is south of Burgettstown, which is about 75 miles south of Hermitage. Almost missing it because there is no sign to see on the southbound side, we turned in to the south gravel parking lot, and rolled around to the north side, parked facing the newly risen sun. To order at Bert's you step up to the window on what seems like the front side of a shack. And you are pretty much standing beside the busy road. Nothing like a little road dust on your weiner! 

Meanie and I each ordered a footlong with chili, and I added the cheese as you can see in the photo. Tiny ate two footlongs with everything on them, and Hammer ordered one footlong. Why Hammer didn't just get two of them from the start, we can't guess, but he lamented the fact all day, "I shoulda had another.". The first time we went to Bert's  (twice in one day) was on our ride to the PA Trolley Museum. We all fell in love! They have burgers too, and all the regular fried food sides. I surprised myself by eating the whole thing, but it was SO good! We sat at one of the picnic tables out under the trees. There are some by the building too. 

It was already getting warm at 9AM when we left Bert's. I was now in the lead. 

Plans are meant to be changed, and that seems to happen on every ride we take. Thus when we turned south on PA-18 from Bert's, it was all kinds of hell and roads were good and bad. Our next destination was the Kentuck Knob House near Ohiopyle, a structure designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. 

To get there, I had planned a route of side roads, no highways. From 18, we needed to catch PA-136 East. We did. Not a bad road, so onward to the next change - south on PA-51. We did that too. From 51 we turned east on PA-201 south, which ended up being wrong, so we did our usual riding trip u-turn, and went north on 201. 

We were doing good, but time was flying!

We found Lessening Vanderbilt Road. We had to turn right on this road, and lucky for us, it was accessible as route 201 was shut down due to an auto accident. All I could glean from the gas station attendant was that first responders got everyone out of a car without problems. From there, I don't know what had happened. We went along our way looking to make a left at some point on Crawford Avenue. That also happened. But then everything changed: I was supposed to turn right on Arch Bridge Road in Connersville. We crossed a bridge which happened to have a road on the other side named Arch. Made sense to me - Arch Bridge - so I turned right. That was wrong.

There were still six more roads in my directions to Kentucky Knob and eventually, Ohiopyle Park, and we never saw one of them. And we never saw the Kentucky Knob house either. I got on my Google maps app and saw that PA-711 went east from where we were, and connected with PA-381 south going right into Ohiopyle State Park. Done!

PA-711 was a nice road, and it wasn't too long before we intersected with 381. Taking 381 south, we cruised by Brenda's Restaurant and I knew the place, having had a late lunch there a year ago with my best friend Marcia when we visited Falling Water, another Frank Lloyd Wright designed home. Had I known then that we were only 6 miles from Ohiopyle, we would have gone there that day.

Anyway, we passed the entrance to Falling Water, and road through the forest into Ohiopyle. Parking is a total bitch there on Sundays! If you can, go during the week. There was no room in the main parking lot, by the river, but I had spotted street parking on the way through, so we were lucky that it was still open when we got turned around. 

I'd have to look through the check-ins on Facebook to see what time we arrived. All I know is that it was later than I expected, and we had already been riding since 5am. We walked down the street toward the steel bridge and checked out the restaurants and the store where they sell patches and souvenirs. We then crossed the street to the river where there was apparently a swim beach. People were everywhere laying in the sand, swimming in the rushing water, holding onto rocks. Don't ask me why, but I haven't been swimming in a long time and the sight of people in bathing suits, if that, repulsed me and I couldn't wait to get a move on to see the falls.

The Youghiogheny River is wide and wonderful of a dark green and moving swiftly. The swim area is marked off by lines where you cannot cross due to the danger of being swept away and over the falls. The falls are not that deep, but deep enough to get hurt. If you are into outdoors stuff, you can go on canoe and kayaking tours, and there are hiking trails as well. 

In the town are some small restaurants and shops on top of the hill, a bakery, pizza place, hot dog place called Bite My Weiner, and a General Store with ice cream. There is even a really good coffee shop on top of the hill called Bittersweet Cafe. We were never more glad to have iced coffee. It was so hot and we were feeling deprived of our caffeine addictions. While we were drinking our coffee, I ran across the street to this big building called a marketplace. A sign outside said handcrafted items, so I went looking for a mug. Sure as shit, I walked in and asked if they had any, and right there was this gem!

Here are some more photos from Ohiopyle.

Ohiopyle Falls

Tiny got photobombed

We need to go back to bite one!

Tried getting a shot of Hammer with the woman in the bikini

Meanie & Switchblade

General Store with the ice cream

Tiny & Hammer walking uphill!

Poor Tiny, uphill sucks!

It was getting to be 3:30PM or so, and we were way out there, but still happy! We were having a good time, so it didn't really matter about the time. With Meanie being frustrated with such a busy place, and all of us dreaming of air conditioning, I said we'd leave Ohiopyle and go back up 381 to Brenda's for dinner. Smart choice!

If you've never been out to that area, make sure you stop at Brenda's if you do because all of the food is homemade. They bake all of there fine desserts on-site and make meatloaf and burgers and soups and sandwiches, and all. Hammer had the meatloaf dinner all smothered in gravy, Meanie had a cheeseburger, I had the Hawaiian chicken sandwich with a side of mac n cheese, and Tiny had the stuffed pepper with mashed potatoes. Just look at how happy I am with my belly full of good food and chocolate chip cookies!!!

It was about time we got our asses home, or headed that way. It was still so freaking hot out. On one stop I noticed the sweat box marks on Tiny and Hammer's shirts from there back rests - salty and wet!

We left Brenda's heading north on 381, took PA-711 back to Connersville, and from there took US-119 north. I had planned on going through Apollo, PA, but man, the ride had us all worn out. So I bypassed Apollo when we were on PA-66, and took PA-356 to Butler. From there we caught US-422 west. But there was one more stop.

I needed a break as well as the guys. We stopped at the McDonalds' near the intersection of I-79. 

Two things happened:

1. We verified yet again that I am a dirt and bug magnet. Jeez, my face was so gross, and the poor chick working the register probably thought I was so nasty. The guys never get dirty, just me. I could have a hundred names; how about Mama Crud? LOL

2. Then there was this guy: We noticed him, and his stuff sitting on the table beside us. The guy had been outside talking or smoking, then we watched him walk up the hill into the woods bypassing the no entrance gate. He came back inside, sat in his booth, started playing a video on his phone and than passed out just as pictured, bobbing his head, never waking. We're thinking heroin or something. I mean, he didn't have to go into the woods to pee, he was in a truck stop with bathrooms. When we left, Tiny even hammered his tray on the trash can and the guy didn't budge. He. Was. Out.

It was already getting dark. One more time we hit the road, saying our goodbyes and giving hugs so we could split off as we approached our homes. Back on 422, we rode back to OH-616 and rolled into Hubbard. We all had been up since at least 3:10, had been on the road since 5:00AM, and got home at 9:00PM! That was the longest Sunrise Ride ever, and technically became our first Sunrise/Sunset ride! Sixteen hours on the road, with plenty of stops of course, and at least 320 miles. Long, hot miles. We'll take 'em hot or any way we can. 

It's only August, so go get your rides on!

~ Holly

a.k.a., Stitchblade, Mama Stitch, Mama Crud