Ephrata, PA "First Sunday" Ride-In cranking up again?

[Doug Just Doug]

I believe tomorrow is the season opener for the Ephrata gathering and RTE event.  At least I think it is -- I'm heading up that way in any case.  The worst that could happen is I find an empty parking lot, and then spend more time riding.    I did a short write-up on the Ephrata thing on my blog recently for anyone interested:  http://tiltedhorizons.blogspot.com/2007/02/first-sunday-ride-in-ephrata-pa.html.

[SuperHans]

I drove to work early this morning and there was a lot of ice patches on the ground. Be careful tomorrow.

[airborneXX]

Looks like I'll miss today's ride, but I'll be there for April. I made it 2 or 3 times last year and it was an awesome event. It's about a 2 hour ride for me, which makes it even better

[Cablebandit]

Well Doug was anyone there?  I'd have tried to get over there but all the melting snow here in central PA has left lot's of black ice in the mornings, and more importantly, my back yard (where the bike resides) is a swamp.  I don't think I could even get the bike to the driveway without mounting some knobbies.  

[Doug Just Doug]

Well, it hit the 60s on Saturday, so of course it was about 34F when I left Newark, DE at about 0700 Sunday morning headed for Ephrata.   The temp went down the further north I went and there was progressively more ice on the road (I also noticed the farm ponds were getting more frozen as well).  I had a bit of a "moment" on a tight downhill left on a hilly, twisty stretch of PA 10 when I rode thru a patch of ice completely covering the width of the road and maybe 20 feet long.  When I got to Ephrata at 0830 I found 5 or 6 bikes in the parking lot but no riders in sight, no vendors, and the Am. Legion hall was shut.  Worse, under the conditions, was that the coffee ladies who are always in the parking lot were a no show.  

I wasn't keen to hit Rte. 10 again so I headed west out of town on 322 and took 501 to 772 to Lititz to US30 to Gap, where after 2.5 hrs. in the saddle at mostly sub-freezing temps I was due a warm-up so I stopped at the Gap Diner.  As I was leaving the diner, a couple rode in on a dresser Harley, the only other bike I saw on the road during my 125 mile jaunt.  Saw plenty of deer, though, and maybe a dozen Amish buggies...they're about the only folks besides motorcyclists loony enough to be out on the road in sub-freezing temps without heat.  

[Doug Just Doug]

You've got balls, Doug - that, or you're a little crazy in the head.    

No doubt -- crazy in the head.  

[airborneXX]

Well the real first Sunday is coming up

Who's going?

I'm planning on rolling out of here around 7:30 and be there about 10. If it's warm and sunny I'll be on the CB900C, cold and wet and I'll be on the XX with the heat on  

[DosEquis00]

As of now weather.com is calling for showers so it should be clear and sunny.

[airborneXX]

As of now weather.com is calling for showers so it should be clear and sunny.

 

Exactly! Unless it's raining cats and dogs I'll be there. I've been trying to search for more info, such as is this really happening this year, but no luck so far.

[Doug Just Doug]

I may venture up...unless the weather's too nice.  

[SuperHans]

I'd like to go but it's up in the air if I have to work or not.

[Scratch33]

Keeping an eye on the weather; I think I'd like to attend this.

[kendenton]

Weather permitting (no major rain) I'm heading out that way.  Meeting up along the way with another Multi owner I met on multistrada.net.

[airborneXX]

Weather permitting (no major rain) I'm heading out that way.  Meeting up along the way with another Multi owner I met on multistrada.net.

What time are you heading out?

[kendenton]

7-ish?  Meeting him near 896 and 1 at around 8.  Wanna ride?

[DosEquis00]

Weather permitting (no major rain) I'm heading out that way.  Meeting up along the way with another Multi owner I met on multistrada.net.

If you both show up at Ephrata there is no one left to post up on multistrada.net.

As of right now the weather on Sunday in Ephrata is a high of 47 with showers. Hopefully that will change as the weekend draws near.

[airborneXX]

7-ish?  Meeting him near 896 and 1 at around 8.  Wanna ride?

We're leaving here around 7:30, So you go on ahead and we'll see you up there. Saturday night is drink night

[airborneXX]

If you both show up at Ephrata there is no one left to post up on multistrada.net.

As of right now the weather on Sunday in Ephrata is a high of 47 with showers. Hopefully that will change as the weekend draws near.

Looks like I'll be on the XX.

[sloth911]

Anyone in the Bucks/Mont County area going to this?

[kendenton]

Well, the weather gods were kind today, glad I made my first trip to 1st Sunday.  I would guess there were  a couple hundred bikes there, the main lot was maybe 1/3 full.  I hear the warmer months get TONS more bikes, but there was still plenty of cool iron to check out.  A couple of booths (Buell, Arai), and for $20 you could do wheelies on a tethered Buell.  Fun to watch.

The Multistrada.net crew made a decent showing, 3 bikes.




That's probably 50% of the Multis in the tri-state area!

I'm definitely putting 1st Sundays on my calender.