2021 Canton, PA Lions Club "Tour Armenia Mountain" Ride

     Another beautiful jaunt into central Pennsylvania. This time for the 2021 Canton, PA Lions Club's 2021 Tour Armenia Mountain of Pennsylvania Fall Foliage Ride.

Many people, when they think of Pennsylvania think of Philadelphia to the east and Pittsburgh to the west. It is important to remember that almost all of Pennsylvania, in between, looks like this:

I woke up early, around 6 in order to meet Ken for breakfast at 8. The ride to Elmira, NY was cold and foggy; therefore slow. After warming up with coffee, we headed south from Elmira, PA to Canton, PA. Fifteen minutes out from Canton, the fog finally burned off and we continued the rest of the day under bright sunshine and clear blue skies.

    Arriving in Canton, we knew we were in the right place as we pulled up in time to see about 50 adventure bikes of all sorts pull out to begin the ride. We registered and got our swag. The Lions Club and the other volunteers did a tremendous job organizing the ride.

    The majority of the first part of the ride was through the Loyalsock State Forest. A beautiful forest with a plethora of bubbling streams, cascades and waterfalls. The unpaved roads were mildly challenging but very enjoyable. That is, of course, until our first side bar conversation with the forest; a detour to Band Rock Vista in the appropriately named, McIntyre Wild Area. "Most of the timber is over 100 years old; say no more. Beautiful.

The road to the Band Rock Vista, and 'road' is a strong, perhaps inappropriate word to use here, presented, over it's short 3-mile course, a sample of every type of off-road, adventure motorcycling: dirt, loose gravel, downed tree branches, ruts, washboard, gullies, mud, and mud puddles, most, of course, with a sharp drop into the woods to one side. But, the vista when you get there is worth every moment of death defying panic:

We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful place.

    From there, we continued back through Loyalsock. We were overtaken by the sweep riders and organizers of the ride acknowledging our position at the tail of the pack.

     The price you pay when you stop to smell the fir and lavender and appreciate the vistas.

    From there, we continued on to the Sharp Top Vista.

And, of course, what vista in the middle of the forest is complete without a wedding party taking pictures? On top of that, we heard the groom had come out the day before to mow the grass for his bride to have perfect pictures! Ah, young love.

It was then an easy, very enjoyable ride with the occasional gravel glissade through the Forest to the High Knob Overlook. First, though, we must cue the obligatory 'secret' waterfall and swimming hole.

 High Knob Overlook is not to be missed. Seven counties of central PA spread out like a green blanket of trees before your eyes.

By now, late afternoon, we rolled into Shunk, PA (yes, there is a town named Shunk in PA). There, The Canton Fire Department had a luncheon spread for the riders. From there, a beautiful, late afternoon saunter through familiar back roads to home. A perfect day of adventure riding in our backyard.