Friday, August 12, 2022

Pilgrimage I

Scenic Overlook Buchanan State Forest

There was NOW WAY I could pass up the quintessential summer weekend. Sunny with highs in the low 80s and no rain in the forecast. For years I had promised myself I would make the trip to Shanksville PA to the Flight 93 Memorial. It would be the last overnight ride before my trip down through the Great Smoky Mountains next month.

From there, a smoother trip to the memorial. Spent an hour or so but it was too "peopley" for me and it distracted from the experience. You could tell the ones who were there for a specific reason and those that had it on some tourist bucket-list.**

Tired and emotionally drained from the entire day's experience, I made it safely to the hotel.

Saturday, August 13, 2022

Pilgrimage II

I committed to a return to the Flight 93 Memorial this morning.

Was hoping for a little breeze as I had skipped the Tower of Voices the previous day. I can't begin to do it justice with words here so I suggest checking it out at:

https://www.nps.gov/flni/planyourvisit/tower-of-voices.htm.

I routed the trip through Gettysburg and Mont Alto and traveled along Rt 30 west, The Lincoln Highway. Fantastic road! Plenty of curves and altitude changes.

I took a short side trip out to the scenic overlook at Buchanan State Forest (Bark Road off Rt30 at the Sideling Hill Summit sign).

A nice, easy unpaved road with loose gravel. After the overlook, Bark road continued for several miles in the OPPOSITE direction for my destination in Shanksville.

GMaps gave the siren-song of "similar ETA" and showed me Betsey Road. Seemed like a good decision. Google is AWESOME...... And then, reality kicked in.

There was a sign that said the road was open (1st clue) and that 4-wheel drive was recommended (2nd clue). I guess I need more clues. After about 25-30meters, the grassy, rutted "road" disappeared and things got steep and gnarly.

This was the most ridiculous, outta-my-league, off-grid, call-for-the-chopper, unintended, down-a-ravine ride I will ever do!

I'm sure the ADV and motocross/dual-sport boys would think it child's play but I'm not trained for that and my bike isn't nearly that off-roady. With no way to turn around, I was committed to the 1.5mile rocky, dangerous downhill extravaganza. Made it back to a paved road with no apparent damage and promptly pulled off to let some adrenalin wear off before continuing.

** This is a reflection of the day as it has stuck with me ever since the visit. I am, by no means, painting an entire genre with the same brush but, as they say, a few bad apples will ruin the bushel.

I had expected the memorial would be a place of reverence and quiet; allowing visitors to reflect on whatever drew them to an open field that epitomizes the world-altering events of that September day. For me, even more than Ground Zero in NYC or the Pentagon Memorial.

Unfortunately, I was in the minority of visitors who resonated with the sheer power and import of the venue. A group of loudmouths on loudbikes making the stop to, presumably, give credence to the American flags on their leathers and festooned on their rides. It tainted the experience and I am committed to returning on a cold, windy, miserable day to revisit. In those conditions, any other attendees will hopefully be there regardless of their own comfort or convenience as the place holds an importance not known to those around them.

From the Tower, I dipped down south past Cumberland toward PawPaw, WV and then the climb back north up to Catoctin Mountain Park and home.

A long day of riding but time to think about the experience at Shanksville and be grateful for the opportunity and freedom to travel where and when I wish.

The 40 ordinary people on that flight are as responsible for these freedoms as any warrior our country has ever produced.

I felt it was hallowed ground as had been the woods and fields of Gettysburg and Antietam that I passed through during this weekend of exploration and remembrance.