July 31, 2003 - Erie, PA

Forecast: 75 degrees

Road Condition: Good 88 West to 90 West through NY into Pennsylvania with on going overpass repairs

Fuel: Super Unleaded $1.70

Miles Traveled: Schoharie, New York to Erie, Pennsylvania: 450 (Total 7,992)

Bike Update: Running good

Road Trip Log Update: The morning began with no signs of the storm but we knew it was coming. On Highway 90 there was an ongoing overpass repair for about 25 miles. There were no delays just a reduction in speed and minimal gravel. The New York countryside was full of rolling hills farms with crops of corn and hay. There were a lot of wineries and of course every motorcyclist’s nightmare: a dairy farm about every 30 miles. Riding through the country Tim felt something in his jacket and tried to “smash it out” for about 10 miles. When the intruder began fighting back Tim pulled over to find a horse fly that looked like a cross between a bumblebee and a pit bull. Tim got 11 bites that began to swell immediately. The horse fly seemed to be in shock after his adventure on Ironman’s Harley. As we crossed New York, our trip entered the Seneca Nation, where we saw wild turkeys, deer, rabbit, ravens, nutria, skunk, and coyote. Along the Allegheny River Tim spotted a massive nest on a telephone pole. The skies began to change rapidly and the wind began to pick up, then the temperature dropped dramatically. We knew the storm had arrived. Out came the rain gear as we road the last hundred miles into Erie. The Rain-X that Eric put on the windshields in Long Island was put to good use. The lightening strikes started getting closer and the rain was constant. We were glad to be in for the night.

A Horsefly in Tim's jacket
Horsefly leaves his mark
Nest in Seneca Nation
New York countryside
Click to see July 30, 2003	Click to see Aug 1, 2003