Chapter 2: Mountains In Stereo As I rode along rt. 74, the engine would hiccup occasionally. Higher engine speeds seemed to exacerbate the problem, so I tried my best to keep the engine in the mid-rpm range. The roads werent as considerate though; the occasional climbs up moderate grades beckoned higher engine speeds and with that came plenty of sputtering. The issue seemed to be fuel-related; I reasoned that higher engine speeds required higher fuel flow and if there were any clogs, the engine would be starved of fuel. So, while stopped at a red light, I glanced down at my fuel filter and its transparent housing was clouded. It became evident that the fuel filter needed to be replaced and it was compelling enough for me to deem this the source of of the problem. It was an issue that certainly needed to be addressed, but it wasnt a dire emergency. For the route I was taking, a little spitting and sputtering was something that could be dealt with later. I reached Mechanicsburg and stopped at a gas station to buy some fuel system cleaner. I thought Maybe this will help as poured half of the bottle into the gas tank. I continued on my way, eventually reaching rt. 34 and continuing north. The riding conditions were perfect - a few passing clouds, 70°F temperatures, no stop signs, and cruising through the twists and turns of country roads with scenic views. The fuel treatment I had added seemed to help the sputtering issue, but not fully resolve it. Rt. 34 ended when I reached rt. 15, and with that ended the country roads. I continued north on rt. 15, covering miles of flat, 4-lane freeway. I could see mountains in the distance as I rode along the Susquehanna River, making the highway grind a little less monotonous. I eventually reached rt. 44, the route that leads all the up to Cherry Springs. This marked the hafway point. The scenic roads I travelled on through rt. 34 were childs play compared to what laid ahead on rt. 44. The route introduced itself with a fresh slab of tarmac as it wound through farmland flanked by mountains. To the left: mountains. To the right: mountains. Straight ahead: mountains. I smiled like an idiot as I took the view in. I passed a few Amish folks in buggies and one teenage boy on a kick scooter. I honked my ahooga horn at him as I passed and his face lit up with a big smile, waving at me as I passed. They may not live a modern life, but they arent afraid to appreciate the little things like that. I came up over a small hill and as I rolled over the top of it, my jaw dropped. A 360° panoramic view of mountains lay before me and the road I was on disappeared up into the mountains. I had to stop, not just to take some photos, but to just let it all sink in. I felt like a kid in a candy store. After I regained my composure, I rode on up into the mountain ahead of me, cruising and just feeling the fresh air cooled from the forest canopy, smelling the sweet earthy aroma, and seeing the abundance of green surrounding me. I reached the summit and began coasting down towards the town of Jersey Shore.
Posted on: Mon, 02 Jun 2014 21:46:21 +0000
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