Twisties to the Lake

Miles today: 196

Soundtrack: Fast & Furious, Sireena

Today we dried out our tent and gear as much as possible and, in Jaron's words, accepted a level of wet.

Our plan was to camp for a 2nd night somewhere else in PA, but last night's experience was reducing enthusiasm. Additionally, Julie sacrificed a Butler map to the road gods. We needed data.

We figured we would get cell service in State College, PA so Julie navigated us to a Sheetz where we would have somewhere to sit down while figuring our lives out. We got to drive right past Penn State and it kind of reminded us of College Station, TX. Well, the Sheetz was a complete lie. I was feeling suspicious that it was supposedly so close to campus and downtown, There was no other gas station or any other business named Sheetz pizza or anything. Fine, we found another one.

After deciding not to camp, we researched a new itinerary so we wouldn't be stuck with a long highway day. By then it was noon, so we got sandwiches. Now we were all fueled up and ready for some Adventure Level 3 riding to the finger lakes. (Which finger, you might ask?)

Our next stretch of riding was over 2 hours! Damn, it was some great twisties. Totally in the zone. In one town or another, a cyber truck got in front of us, booo. Not for long though, bc it turned in to go to the Econo Lodge. That payment on a $100k travesty, amiright? Or maybe they were the owner. <shrug>

Julie had forgotten to reset her tripometer/gas gauge and by the time we saw another gas station, it had been 95 miles according to Jaron's. We found a place to stop and Jaron led the rest of the way to Seneca Lake on more great roads. He found this great motel with a view and a restaurant onsite. Fucking winner!

Today was purple day.

The front desk receptionist said that the restaurant was open until 9. When he stood up he was wearing a server's apron. I asked what was good here and he said everything, as he was also the chef. Ooohkay. The menu looked fine and it was convenient, so why not.

Our private chef was just the right level of chatty. I think he really was a real chef bc the food came quickly, the pasta was cooked perfectly, sauce was from real tomatoes and contained a respectable amount of garlic (he did warn me that the chicken Cacciatore was their spiciest dish). This motel got a $1.8M remodel 3 years ago. There were a couple of signs that the buildings were a bit older, so Jaron asked when it was built. Julie guessed 40's, and it was 1948. This was an original barstool.

The restaurant was not going to be open for bkst during the week, so Jaron asked if we could order bkst now and keep it in our fridge. Our private chef said sure, but that someone was usually here by 8 and we could ask him. Julie said well we don't have a deal with him, we have a deal with you. Our private chef obliged and we have microwave-ready bkst sandwiches.

After a chill night in the room and on our balcony rotating things hanging to dry, we both slept pretty solid and woke up with sunlight streaming in to our picture window.