
If you have been following this story you know that a small band of First State Chapter members traveled west from Newark, DE to Hagerstown, MD skirting the Mason-Dixon line using only backroads through rolling farm country. We arrived in Hagerstown in time to have a fun dinner at Barefoot Bernies and a few drinks at the Cancun Cantina West before returning to our rooms at the Clarion. On Sunday we woke up eager to get back on the road and continue with the Smell The Flowers II trip. We grabbed breakfast at the hotel which was a big disappointment. Ithought the Clarion would have a nice spread but I have had much better at Best Westerns, Days Inn and Super 8. After checking out Diana lead us on a 8 mile backway from Hagerstown to Williamsport. Still no highways for us!
We pulled into the back lot of Williamsport Harley-Davidson, parked and registered for the Williamsport HOG Chapter River Rat Poker Run. I think we were the only HOG Chapter to participate. That is a shame because the roads out here are great! A rider from Williamsport HOG Chapter lead us through their poker run route running through historic areas along the Potomac River such as Antietam and Harpers Ferry. They switched the direction of the route from last year making it much safer. Last year every card stop was a left turn across the oncoming lane. Right turns are better! We enjoyed the ride, the scenery and were happy to take home awards for both furthest distance traveled and organization with most particpants! Diana won a t-shirt and Erin tied for 3rd best hand in the poker run! We were the first bikes out and it seemed like we waited forever for the last bikes out to come in so we could claim our prizes, but it was worth it! For the record I would like to mention First State Chapter won Most Particpants last year and Furthest Distance the year before. We rock!




Click here to see all the pictures from this trip.
After claiming our prizes it was time to saddle up and head home. For the trip home we would hit I70 and do some highway riding. We got off in Sykesville and Diana took us to lunch at E.W. Beck’s not far from the exit we got off at. Beck’s is a great tavern! Diana took me there on a date once before we were hitched.
The rest of the way home was backroads and we finally arrived at our final gas stop. It was such a great weekend and we all enjoyed riding together that as is sometimes the case we felt a saddend to say goodbye. It was another 50 miles to Newark, DE and as we got closer home different members of our party peeled off and honked and waved as they separated from the group. Everyone arrived home safely and another successful trip is now in the history books of First State Chapter. Diana did a kick ass job of planning the trip and leading the ride. My wife is awesome!
From Clarion in Hagerstown to Williamsport H-D – 8 miles
Right onto Rt 40 .2 miles
Right on Eastern Blvd .5 miles
Right on memorial Blvd 1.2 miles
Roundabout 4th exit Virginia Ave 4.3 miles
Left Governor LaneBlvd 1.3 miles
Right into back entrance Williamsport H-D
From Williamsport H-D to E.W. Beck’s – 63 miles
From back lot take a right on Governor Lane Blvd .7 miles
Left on lappens rd Rt 68 2 miles
Left on Downsville Pike Rt 632 1.4 miles
Right on Rench Rd 2 miles
Left on Sharpsburg Pike Rt 65 .5 miles
Gas Stop If Needed
Sharpsburg Pike Toward I70 .2 miles
Left Ramp to I70 East 50 miles
Exit 80 Rt 32 towards Sykesville
Left at bottom of ramp on Sykesville Rd Rt 32 4.7 miles
Left on Sandosky Rd .4 miles
Right into the back parking lot of E.W. Beck’s
From Sykesville to Belair
From back lot left on Sandosky Rd
Gas Stop If Needed
Left on Sykesville Rd Rt 32
Right on gamber Rd Rt 91
Right on Baltimore Blvd Rt 140
Left on Butler Rd/Worthington Ave Rt 128
Left on Tufton Rd/Shawan Rd
Right on York Rd Rt 45
Left Ashland Rd Rt 145
Left on Green Rd
Left on Baldwin Mill Rd Rt 165
Right on East West Highway Rt 23
Right on Hoagie Dr
Left in back of Wawa parking lot
This is the “Goodbye” Stop
Belair, MD to Newark, DE – 50 miles
Get on Rt 1 East and merge with Rt 273 East
The End
Tags: Trips & Places To Go by Jay Green
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