It took awhile to get the bike out ya know how stubborn them iron heads can be! I head towards route 30 or the White Horse Pike to jump on 295 north. Its not my favorite ride but it get up to Trenton faster than any other route. Once ya reach the state capitol its near where the river gets sallower, narrower but then again leads to far more interest roads for riding. I don't think no matter what side of the Delaware River your on its a good ride. The State Capitol Golden Dome was glittering into the sun off in the distance to the right as I took the trun off for 29. Now, 29 will take ya right up to the Delaware River Gap but I didn't want to go there on the Jersey side this day. As I slowed down to the single lanes of 29 I passed to bikers in a gas station, I noticed that as I passed they seemed hot to get back on the road again, I wonder if something of interest was going on around here. The road kind of winds its way up to Washington's Crossing, after you pass all the big Stately Manor's of the earlier settlers of New Jersey.
Washington's Crossing is the place where George Washington lead the continental army across the river to defeat the King's army on a cold Christmas Day. Now in this area there's a lovely park on the hill up above on the right, and the George Washington Inn is right before the Park. Across the Park is parking, and to the left is this resturant, I always wondered about this place cause some of the parking lot just seems like its sitting right out in the middle of the street or apart of the street there. All along this stretch of road there are views of the Delaware River, this is were it during the summer months can see some of the rocky bottom that creates little rapids perfect for fly fishing.
However if you come here and visit Christmas Morning George Washington and his Continental Army make their annual river crossing.I made a left at that strange little bar resturant there and went across the Washington's Crossing Bridge. Now most of the briges in this area are grated so if ya don't want to do grated don't come this way. I cross the bridge and there are only two choices once on the other side. Go straight or make a left. I could here bikes rumbling between the buildings right before the bridge heading in the same direction as myself.
I made the decision to make the right. On the left of the bridge is a little river walk with small stores and a few cabins and out building that were apart of The Revolutionary War. The right is 29 and passes through the National Park Serives's Washington's Crossing Information Center and Cultural and Historical Educational Center and Museum. In that Building there is lots of information on troop movements of both British and Continental Armies, Battle history life as a solider, life in the colonial time period. I continued passed the NPS buildings and went north on 29. Not far too far North from this Area is Bowman's Tower.
The Hill that Bowman't Tower stood on offered great advantage as it offers some long distance views of the area. When I saw the sign for this historical site I decided to swing right on in after all it was end of May and the days were longer and its was just a bit around noon I Think. I love this road is so reminds of the road that leads to the Water Falls and Castle in the Clouds in New Hampshire. But well this is a little twistie road with I don't know kind tight turns that get stepper the closer ya get to the parking area. I think the most shocking part of the road up is at one point your on the road and it appears to be just heading straight up and ya see nothing really but sky then there's a quick little right and ya kind of pop up to the enternce of the parking area. Now the area for parking isn't that big here, so if there is a lot of folks forget it you will never get a place to park. I wasn't really thinking that it was very close to Memorial Day so the history buffs would be out in full force. Dam, if I couldn't here them same two bikes coming up Bowman's Hill Drive. At this point it never occured to me that they might be following me. I wedged myself in a spot, meaning I creatively created single bike parking just for me. I got off the bike and climbed the tower after reading some of the history on the tower and its importance in American History. 
After spending few minutes at the top of the tower and reading more his of the tower and surrounding areas I decended the steps and headed out towards that parking area. I really want to get tot he twisties of 32 and 611 along the Delaware there. I do hope the folks of the area can appreaceate the beauty of the area as much as I did and still do in my memories. I know it's hard to believe from all the things folks here about this area of New Jersey and Pennsylvania but it really is beautiful. Ido hope to get back there atleast one more time. At this moment I didn't realize that this would be the last time I would visit this tower before I moved south. I got on my bike and had to snake it out of its parking spot and noticed that the same bikes in the gas station are here in the parking lot. There really wasn't too many other bikes out here yet as the "everyone has got to have a harley in the garage syndrome hadn't hit yet'. I left the parking lot and head north on 32 towards New Hope.
I like to come across the Washington's Crossing Bridge cause its not nearly as crazy as coming across the New Hope Bridge, Right there at the Stockton Inn. I always wanted to dine there so if any one has reading this please tell me how it is. Now, going through the traffic in New Hope can be God aweful stupid. Narrow streets and really cool old buildings and gardens, outdoor cafes that make ya just want to look at them as ya pass. If ya want to fly your freak flag folks this is the place to come and do it. Its filled with little shops, hippies, history buff's, nature lovers, artists, Mr. and Mrs prim and proper, Bikers and anything or anyone else ya can imagine. Once passed New Hope the road tends to narrow, hillie twistie and a motorcyclist and sportcar drivers Idea of a home town road. This stretch of road is dotted with homes that date any where from pre Revolutionary War to modern day. I really do love the PA style of home building from the years gone by. Even though the building have me captivated no matter how many times I've seen them I really do have to pay attention. After all some the turns can be rather tight and sudden and often homes are only a few feet away from the road. At this point I had forgotten all about the bikes that were behind me.
Off to the right there were glimpses of the Delaware River, inbetween the little homes and estates. there are a number of business along this stretch one is Point pleasent tubing company. On a really Hot day the river would be filled with tubers and the roads filled with the tubing busses. Theres on little general store not that far from the tubing place that services up a pretty good sandwich. its a good spot to get something to drink, and seek comfort while ya watch the parde of cars, trucks, bicyclists and the few motorcyclist go on by. I really didn't want to sit for too long cause I sort of wanted to keep moving. I was trying to get out of my head and leave myself alone. Though a good joint would be awesome it just not always the answer ya know. Sometimes, ya just gotta go to make it right. I continued winding my way north on 32 finding the further from New Hope there was less traffic, there are a number of single lane little bridges here that sometimes ya just can't see what is coming at ya cause of the hills and turns of the road. The river is on side of the road an the other is grante walls of the mountains. In some areas ya can see how high the flood waters rose as it makes its way south to the Atlantic Ocean. I passed SandCastle Winery. If ya haven't been there please do stop there. The owner well he gives a great taste testing class its a good tour too. The wine isn't that yuckie either. Up furter just south of Easton proper is the Crayola Cranyon Factor. Ya can tour here too but man if ya want to color them kidds are tough they won't really let ya.
Anyway I went through Easton which is just and old river cit town. This is where ya can pick up 611 and ya can turn on the speed and really get to it. I love this area its such a great area and has so much to offer. the sun was just warm enough that I was able to get away with out a coat beautiful spring flowers were blooming in the red dirt gardens, I was heading towards Stanton PA. I wasn't sure I wanted t go that far north. But wait aminute dame them bikes sound so familiar behind me. I know I've heard them before, so I pulled into this little bar I don't know name nor do I reall care at this point. I was thinking gee are they following me? ad why? who'd want to follow me? Well I di a U-Turn in the bar parking lot as it was filled with the jacked up antler wearing Old doge ram wagons, rusted out of ford pick ups and waited to see if I knew them or not. Well the dudes pulled in pulled up one on one side the other on the other side. LOL! I said you following me? They said they were. They had a bet each other on who was riding that old sportster. The young one said it was a a young kid the older dude said it was a gal. The older gent won the beat. They had been chasing me down for like 2 hours or so to see If I was male or female. LOL!
The younger of the two said he was sorry for making such a mistake cause up close he knew there'd be no way any one could ever confuse me with a guy. I said well thanks that's good to know. and "shit" THUMP, BUMB happened. Next think I knew I was standing there holding up my sporster in the gravel which y'all know I love so much anyway holding up the older gents DuoGlide and him. LOL! He slide in the gravel and him and his bike slammed right on top of me, all I could think is oh, well I know how that feels and I hope I don't slip in the gravel too cause its really going to hurt. The young dude got off his bike and raced over to help the gent get him and his bike off of me. "Wow, Unc I know ya wanted to meet some nice biker lady but man that ain't no way to do it." to this day I still fun this memory extreamlly funny. We went to a late lunch which they paid for cause they felt so bad for freaking me out by following me and two droping in on me as they did. I got and invite to Philadelphia for the following weekend to ride with some of their friends. Being young and no worrying about impending death I went. I don't know why I remember this at this moment but well it was kind of funny so I thought I'd share with you all. And ya know if I had a picture of him and his bike sitting me I would have shared it. have a great day! "T"
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