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Thumpers & Twins Rally IX:

A Kinzua Kaper
September 5-7, 1997
Emporium, PA.
by Backroad Bob, FSSNOC #2371
Robert H. Miller

Emporium is located where the Driftwood Branch of the Sinnemahoning Creek meets the West Branch of the Susquehanna River in northwestern PA. To the east is one million acres of Pennsylvania State Forest. To the west is one million acres of Allegheny National Forest. It's surrounded by deserted two-laners in one of most remote parts of the state. You get the idea.

Emporium is a small town founded a century ago by loggers and miners.
So small, in fact, the restaurant next door to the motel was open only one night a week. Luckily, it was the night of everyone's arrival.
It was late Friday evening, 280 miles from home, and one offroad detour due to rock slides, when I arrived at the Buttonwood Motel.

The early arrivers waited for me as long as they could but, by the time I got there, they had gone to dinner. After the requisite machinery once over, and a few of the locally brewed Straub's, it was time to get rested for Saturday's ride.

Some late Friday and early Saturday arrivals rounded out the participants.
There was Jeff Cunard(PA) on a trick DR350 Suzuki,
Bill Estee(NY) on an XS650 Yamaha,
Dave George(PA) his trusty XS650 Yamaha,
"Doc" Tonkin(OH) on a very capable 650 Strada BMW,
Larry Loucka(OH) on another XS650 Yamaha,
Scott Ordiway(PA) who acted as tour guide on his beautiful R100RS BMW,
Neil & Wendy Ormand(NY) on 500 and 250 Hondas,
Roger (father) and Dave(son) Osterhouse(OH) on an SR500 Yamaha and XR650L Honda,
Colt Pepiot on an I don't remember(sorry, Colt),
Tom & Catrina Rebmann(NY) on XJ650 and 700 Radian Yamahas,
Tom & June Sheridan(PA) on GS1100G and XV800 Suzukis,
Larry Shull(OH) on a KLR650 Kawasaki,
Tim Stallsmith(PA) on an XS650 Yamaha,
Art Steed(OH) on a Yamaha Virago,
Linda Steegna(PA) on an XV800 Suzuki,
Tom Suter (NY) on a clean DR650 Suzuki,
Roy Timpe(PA) an XS650 Yamaha,
Bob Treat(NY) on an XS650 Yamaha,
Mike Williams(OH) on a Goldwing,
and yours truly on an XT350 Yamaha.

We motored north in single and double file(what else?) on PA155 to Keating Summit where we glimpsed a classic car show. Then it was on to PA 346 West and into Bradford whose claim to fame, other than having the coldest weather in Pennsylvania, is being home to the ZIPPO lighter company.

The newly- opened corporate museum was complete with historical video of the factory floor and movie clips featuring their famous "clicking" lighter, letters from WWII GIs and generals, and examples of their product spanning seven decades.
After an enlightening two hours, we rode to HOSS' steakhouse. Everyone found something on the menu, or went hungry, because it was the only place in town big enough to seat two dozen patrons at one time. We left fat(ter) and happy destined for the highlight of the ride - 115 year old Kinzua Bridge.

Originally constructed of wood, the 2053' span rises 301' above the valley floor. It was the highest, and one of the longest, railroad bridges in the world when it was built across a box canyon by the Pittsburgh-Bradford and Buffalo Railroad. It continues to carry passengers on sight-seeing excursions today.
At this point, a few of the more adventurous riders decided to travel farther west to see Kinzua Dam and Jake's Rocks. The rest of us circled back to Emporium via PA 59 and 46, completing a 130-mile journey in a record 9 hours with enough time to remove the road grime before dinner and get a headstart on the bsing. Doc was giving demo rides on his Strada and after experiencing its plush, but firm ride, responsive engine, and good handling and brakes, and it was promptly declared the best BMW made - if you can call this Rotax- engined/Aprilla-made gem a BMW.
At 6:30 p.m., we settled on the deck of the only restaurant in town with food and a liquor license. The Italian cuisine didn't hurt either.
After red and white pizza, pasta, strombolis and calzones, everyone found their way back to the Buttonwood and proceeded to take up the bsing where they had left off.
By midnight, we'd solved all the world's mechanical, social, and motorcycling problems. To avoid altercations, name brands were changed to protect the innocent.
Sunday morning saw most of us taking advantage of the $1.99 special at the motel's luncheonette. The low price was only one of the benefits when visiting the small towns of PA. The others are the roads and scenery.

After breakfast, everyone went their separate ways and I made tracks for nearby Benzette to look for the resident elk herd. I didn't find any elk, but I did discover more great two-laners. If you ever get out this way, be certain to ride PA 555 from Weedville to Driftwood and PA 120 from St. Marys to Lock Haven.
Otherwise, you'll have to be satisfied with looking at the pictures until next year.

See you then!