A MID WEEK RIDE @ SSRT & WHISKEY SPRINGS

SBR & I took a mid week jaunt over to North Central PA to do riding. Due to her work schedule we left Tuesday morning, dropped the dogs off at boarding kennel. Then it was east bound and down I80. Snacked on some amish cheese & crackers on the drive over and hit the Woodland exit about 3:00pm. On the way over we talked about hitting Gio’s BBQ and seeing what all the fuss was about. It’s a BBQ joint inside a gas station, also named Gio’s. Looked like it was newly renovated, 7 booths and 4 stools at a counter was the dine in seating. I ordered a ½ rack of ribs with slaw & haluski. Haluski is basically a cabbage and noodle dish of Polish origin. Ya I know 2 cabbage based sides. Well I figured I needed to balance out my diet with the cheese I ate on the ride over. SBR order pulled pork and beef brisket with slaw and fries. That was more food than I ordered! Oh yes and garlic bread comes with each entrée. Around $24 for everything with drinks. Good portions for the money.

After we ate we checked into the Kwik-Fill and got our things situated. Headed down to the Black Bear TH to do an evening ride, only one other rig in the lot when we arrived.


Ran about 22 miles, went down the “Laurel Trail” to see the Red Mo. It was low and it seemed to be a good place to view the deer. We seen a doe drinking water but she spooked up the shore line and into the woods. Later down trail we came to a good camp site spot and observed a buck in velvet up stream about 80-100 yards. I didn’t have any binos but judging from the antlers he had to be 6-8 pointer and had pretty good body mass. Best buck I’ve seen in these parts while riding for sure.
Low Mo


Velvet Buck


I NEED A STIHL

Next day we went back down to BB again as our starting point. Nobody there when we arrived, nobody there when we left. So we headed down the rail, over the trussel and down to the concrete bridge hung a right. Took morning break along the river again and headed west toward Grassflat. Burned up most of our morning playing around there. Did see a porky on the trail, best pic I could get as he lumbered off the trail when SBR came flying in like Ace Ventura.


Ya it’s gone into the underbrush Ace


After we played around there we headed back to the rail trail and proceeded to Newman’s for lunch.


I would say it’s basically the same as it was when it was Ludwigs. It’s good for trail lunch.
After lunch I was kinda low on gas since we didn’t fill back up after we rode the previous evening. I had one bar left and I told SBR we would head back and try to hit some of the trails between I80 and the rail trail. I didn’t get 2 miles from Clarence and my gas light started flashing. So we just went back the trailhead and loaded up. Still managed to get 60 miles in, at-least half of that was on the actual rail trail. Good day, was a little dusty, but that is in your control.


Grabbed a pizza at the shop next to the Pumkin House, cause they were closed. Turns out the pizza place is run my Mexicans, little odd, but the pizza was decent.
Next day it was time to move on.

Headed north up Rt144 to Renovo. Scenic drive.




We made it to the Kettle Creek Inn from Kylertown in about an hour and a half. Unloaded and headed up the road to the Whiskey Springs ATV trail.


First trail we headed up the mountain and seen 2 fearless does.




There were several overlooks and the terrain varied. It was a good mix, I enjoyed these trails better than Bloody Skillet.













This guy stuck out like sore thumb, even from 75 yards. Best I could do with a point & shoot camera.


We rode till about 2:30pm when I seen some dark clouds brewing to the west. We rode some more because they didn’t seem too bad at the time. A little bit after 3pm while playing around “the pit” it got darker and then we heard thunder. That’s it, time to head for home. We made it and loaded the quads back on the trailer before the wind and rain came but just barely. Later while at supper we heard from some of the locals that closer to Renovo there was hail and a much stronger portion of the storm.
“The Pit”








After cleaning up we ate at the KCI. Already reviewed my dinner in this thread

After dinner we decided to drive up the Kettle Creek State Park. Stopped and the Alvin R. Bush Dam.






Kettle Creek Res.


It was a nice drive, since there wasn’t much else do but sit in the room and watch TV.
Next morning it was time to head home. Took the scenic route thru Benezette but didn’t see any Elk, I NEVER see any up there! Ended up strangely in St. Mary’s. Not a bad pit stop 9:30 in the morning.


SBR ended up getting a 3 ft x 10ft Straub Banner at the store for free, see really knows how to sweet talk them guys at the store. We did go home after that and back to reality. Looking forward to the next adventure.

All pics CLICK ME

Nice pics and report, Ruger. I'd like to try whiskey springs some time.

Nice pictures and ride report. Good looking bear

Very cool. Nice wildlife pics!

Good ride report! We've been to WS 3 x but not fast enough with the camera to capture the bear!
Sounds like a fun trip!


Y & T

Thanks for the pictures and the great ride report.

Great report and pics Ruger! Looks like a fun trip.

Nice pictures.
Looks like you guys had a good time.

WHAT? No comment from the Wackmaster regarding the food? LOL

Thanks for sharing. I like the looks of that second place, Whiskey Springs. When is your next ATV WILDLIFE TOUR? Is it annual?? Every held on in WV? AWESOME!!!

Glad you all enjoyed it.

GeerHead wrote:

Very cool. Nice wildlife pics!

We seen quite an array of wildlife. Saw two Grouse but didn't get a picture. I got a good look at one as he flushed out and over the trail, wish it was hunting season and I had my 20ga. I wish for opportunities like that one come fall.

scooter wrote:

Nice pics and report, Ruger. I'd like to try whiskey springs some time.

You are probably closer than me, get up there!

Lee wrote:

WHAT? No comment from the Wackmaster regarding the food? LOL

Thanks for sharing. I like the looks of that second place, Whiskey Springs. When is your next ATV WILDLIFE TOUR? Is it annual?? Every held on in WV? AWESOME!!!

I don't think liver and onions are his thing. I'd like to get back down to WV, but it's cheaper and closer to go to PA. So far I have seen 2 bears in PA and have pics of both. Never seen a bear in WV.

We had a good time both times we've been to WS. Saw a bear on the trail there also but now pic.

Glad you all were able to get away and enjoy it. Thanks for the report.

Great pictures! Glad the two of you were able to get out and do some riding. Thanks for sharing.

Great trip report and pics.
Glad you were able to see explore new places and see so much wildlife.

Good report and pics Ruger. Nothing like seeing wildlife to make a trip just a little more enjoyable.

Gio's BBQ was packed the last time we tried stopping,
but everyone I hear talk about it says it's great.

I'm not a hug of of L&O but if I was starving to death, bring it on.

Really enjoyed reading the ride report and captions, pics are great.

Ace Ventura on the 550 Grizz won't need front BG's with that air time.

Glad you guy's got out for some mid-week riding fun.

wacker wrote:

Ace Ventura on the 550 Grizz won't need front BG's with that air time.

Should have seen her riding a wheelie across the tressel.

And with my eyes closed

Midget goes across it with his eyes closed...

wacker wrote:

Midget goes across it with his eyes closed...

Ya I think I have a pic of that somewhere..........