Home Pennsylvania Lancaster, PA: ABC's - Amish, Buggies and Corn

Lancaster, PA: ABC's - Amish, Buggies and Corn

Arriving at my Uncle's home in Lincoln University, PA was a welcome relief after riding so many hours through the steamy state of Delaware. As we hit the state border in the early evening, I knew we were in Pennsylvania, not by a sign, but by the immediate change in the roads and landscape.

Over the next few days, through a few short jaunts around the intersection of Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania I had come to realize that each state had very different topography, even though closely situated together. The roads in Pennsylvania are not just two lanes rolling through green hills and valleys near the border, but throughout the entire southeastern section of the state. After we got a good night's sleep, Uncle Reggie pulled his Harley Davidson Road King out of the garage with a huge grin, excited to ride with us.

"I got some places that I think y'all will enjoy. You up for some riding?"

Uncle Reggie sticks out just a bit with his drawl and larger-than-life swagger, having lived in Texas most of his life. After relocating here to the Keystone State just 4 years ago he has committed to grasping the lay of the land. A fan of open wide spaces, Reggie has ridden many of these roads with his neighbor who motorcycles as well.

With street signs barely visible behind the ever-present green thickets, I followed Reggie in amazement, with Highway right behind me, from one road to another seemingly identical road. With all roads just two lanes wide, winding smoothly among farms, homes, bracken and open fields, over bridges one-lane-wide, some being covered, these roads seemed to be created for motorcycles. Road kill, gravel, horse crap, and grass cuttings popped up periodically behind turns, becoming pleasing challenges for a novice rider like myself. Forced to keep my eyes on the road ahead, focused on the ride, these byways in the State of Independence greeted me with awe-inspiring views over and over again.

After miles of passing Amish buggies and their ensuing road apples along the scenic farmland, we rolled into Bullfrog Food & Spirits in Christiana, PA. The restaurant was built in the early 1930s, and has seen all the historical movements over the last eight decades. Beautifully updated with a well-rounded menu, we were able to fill up on Habanero Burgers and a Steak Salad topped with french fries for lunch. Washing down those burgers for the fellas was easy with an Edmund Fitzgerald Porter from Great Lakes Brewing and a Yuengling Premium Pale Ale. For me, of course, iced tea was my drink of choice.

Back on the trail we spent hours seeing towns such as Lancaster, Strasburg, Intercourse, Bird-in-Hand and Paradise. The country roads lined with hundreds of corn fields smelled fresh and clean. The only sight more beautiful were the smiles of the young Amish girls, pretty in their Sunday Best, gathering at the volleyball games for the communities youth. Road after road of seeing the same sights may sound boring to some, but the breathtaking beauty of the landscape coupled with the continuous gulps of farm-fresh air made for a heavenly ride that I wished would never end.

We noticed countless motorcycles on the roads throughout the ride. Although I've been part of the riding community for only a few short years I have never heard of Pennsylvania being a great place for riding. I may be giving away one of the best kept secrets in American motorcycling by telling you this, but if you're not riding here, you're missing one helluva ride.