I was born and raised in suburban Pittsburgh. I grew up there and in a lot of ways it will always be home. It is over 1600 miles from me now and a lifetime away.
As I drove the back country roads of
Butler and
Mercer county, where my parents are "snowbirds" and my girlfriend's family still lives year round, I looked for bikes. Only one Burgie sighting the entire time there. Other bikes seemed scarce, probably due to the rain and the promise of cold weather - the temperature was in the low 60's and high 50's while I was there; typical for the time of year. Most but the most serious motorcyclists had put away their rides for another year and the promise of spring.
In another week or two and the leaves would be in full glorious color and as I drove down some of the twisty roads that make up this part of Pennsylvania all I could think was how much I wished I brought the bike. There is always next year of course.
A simple trip to nearby
McConnells Mill State Park brought back memories of college and what first sparked my interest in hiking and other "outdoor activities."
At times I do miss home and all the memories and friends that I had there. Florida, despite it's own natural beauty and interesting people is just a different place. In some ways my home here in West Central Florida is home but my heart belongs somewhere else. Sometimes I think it belongs in Charlotte, NC. Other times in Charleston, SC. Two very different cities where I have fond and loving memories. You never know where the road takes you, and the heart has it's own GPS.
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| It just calls to you don't it. |
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| Natural springs outside of Slippery Rock, PA |
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| The New River Gorge Bridge in W Va |
3 comments:
Nice pictures. Surprised you saw so few bikes. Temperatures in the 50's and 60's can be great riding conditions, especially at this time of the year when the trees are in full colour and the sky is that particular deep shade of blue that only seems to come in the fall.
I, too, am surprised you didn't see more bikes. There are many here that won't venture out if rain is even hinted at, but boy those temperatures certainly seem yummy.
I can identify with having pieces of my heart here and there. Michigan is home, but in many ways I grew up in Oklahoma even though I didn't move there until I was nearly thirty. And, now I've been here in St. Louis for over twenty-five years. It's starting feel like home :^)
~k
What a great looking area. I have never been up that way, but it sure looks pretty.
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