Tilted Horizons

Haag's Ride-In Endangered?

This past Sunday at the Haag's Hotel "Second Sunday" ride-in/breakfast gathering in Shartlesville, PA I learned that the hotel will soon be leased to a third party for two years. The historic hotel has been owned and operated by the same family since 1915, and they're going to keep a close eye on the changes the new operators make during the lease period. According to my super-duper-top-secret sources, the family-style food service will go but no word yet on the monthly motorcycle gathering. I hope the new operators would appreciate the extra customers it brings-- between a dozen in winter to 40-50 in summer, which in either case it probably double the usual number of customers for that day, but one never knows others' prejudices against motorcyclists. Those like me who enjoy the Haag's gathering as a low-key (and better grubbed) supplement to the massive Ephrata and Lawn ride-ins are hoping the new operators are riders!

Update: The even was still going strong in August; there were about 30 bikes in the parking lot, including a Vespa ridden by Gerry, the former publisher of the Scoot Lancaster blog.

Labels: Ephrata, Haag's, Lawn, News, Ride-Ins

Lawn EMS Breakfast Ride-In

Last Sunday I attended the ride-to-eat event at the Lawn EMS grounds near, strangely enough, Lawn, PA. This event is growing by leaps and bounds. Some call it the "mini-Ephrata" and while that was formerly true, it's now more akin to the "nearly as big as Ephrata" (though with much better food and organization). Lawn EMS & fire company is on twisty, smooth (rare for PA) Route 241 between US 322 and Elizabethtown. The event is held the 3rd Sunday May - Sep, 0700 - 1100, rain or shine. $10 buffet ($5 for U-12). Line up early for food! Covered area for eating. Like Ephrata, motorcycles of every style will be there. Parking is directed and plywood squares are laid out in the grassy areas for sidestands. For addt'l info: http://www.lawnfire.com/events.php or call 717-964-2369. You can also search my website via the search bar at top left for my prior posts about the Lawn event. All in all, Sunday was a brilliant (and hot) 191-mile day in the ol' saddle.

OK, this rider came a tad farther than I did.

Vintage iron

A tiny portion of the parking area

A Victory group rode in

Before factory tourers DIY ruled

No sidestand plate required

Funny, I didn't see any cafes nearby

Chow is better than you'd expect

Vendor and charity tents

Labels: Lawn, Ride-Ins

Lawn EMS Breakfast Ride-In

Tomorrow begins the 2010 Lawn, Pennsylvania EMS "Third Sunday" breakfast ride-in season. "Lawn" has become one of my favorite ride-to-eat events, both for the quality of the roads in the area and for the well-organized, tasty event. It's become known as the "mini-Ephrata". Frankly, the Ephrata "First Sunday" event could take some cues from the Lawn EMS folks (and I say that as a member of the Ephrata event's host American Legion post). Read my prior posts for specifics on the Lawn event: Lawn EMS Third Sunday Ride-In; Lawn Fire Company Motorcycle Breakfasts for 2008; and Lawn PA Third Sunday Motorcycle Breakfast. Click on "Ephrata" under Post Topics at right for info on that event.

Labels: Lawn, Ride-Ins

Lawn, PA "Third Sunday" Ride-In

I attended the Lawn EMS "Third Sunday" breakfast ride-in yesterday in Lawn, PA near Hershey. Not only has the paved parking lot doubled since I was last there, the size of the crowd has increased by at least 100% as well. It wasn't unexpected by the organizers, as evidenced by the large tent erected next to the pavilion to accommodate the large throng of hungry riders. You can see in the photos (click 'em to enlarge!) that bikes overflowed into the grassy field adjacent to the fire hall. Kudos to Lawn EMS for providing plywood squares for kickstands! Cruisers were the majority, but there were also some nice sport-tourers, adventure-tourers and plain ol' tourer-tourers, too. I arrived at about 0830 and the food line was already about 20 minutes long; a wait made bearable by good company. I don't know how many attended, but a steady stream of motorcycles were still rolling in at 0930 and when I left at about 1100 there were just beginning to be a few empty spots in the front parking lot. It appears this event is taking off big time! It's in a nice location reached via back roads, it's very well organized and benefits a worthwhile cause, and has very good chow...what's not to like? Make plans to attend if you haven't yet!

Labels: Lawn, Ride-Ins

Lawn Fire Co. Motorcycle Breakfasts for 2008

One of my favorite recurring "Ride to Eat" events begins its 2008 "season" this Sunday the 18th. The event hosted by the Lawn Fire Co. is growing in popularity, and for good reason: excellent location reached via twisty roads, very good chow, an eating area that is both open and protected, and a very well organized event. And, judging from the photo at right that is posted on the F.C.'s website, the previously graveled portion of the parking lot has been paved. So chart your favorite course to the Lawn F.C. each third Sunday from May through September. More event details and photos in this old post (note that the FC's URL has changed; it's now www.lawnfire.com).

Labels: Lawn, Ride-Ins

Lawn, PA "Third Sunday" Motorcycle Breakfast

June 17th was a beautiful riding day -- sunny and temps in the 70s -- as I hit the road around 0630 for a nice 80 mile ride (click for my route sheet) thru the boonies to Lawn, Pennsylvania, a tiny burg not far from the chocolate heaven of Hershey. The Lawn EMS & Fire Co. hosts a ride-to-eat event for motorcyclists every 3rd Sunday from June thru September, beginning at 0700. (Click here for event details). You'll find the Fire Co. on twisty PA Rte. 241 between the towns of Gretna and Elizabethtown. From my observations, "Lawn" is quickly gaining popularity. Similar (though maybe 20% as large) to the Ephrata "First Sunday" event, all manner of riders and motorcycles show up, though Ephrata still brings out the rarest, wackiest and weirdest machines. Lawn EMS does a great job organizing the event and always has personnel directing the incoming bikes into the 2 fairly tight parking areas -- paved to the left (fills up early) and gravel to the right (bring a sidestand plate!). The food is much better and varied than at Ephrata and the covered pavilion is welcome protection from both rain and sun. If you're planning to eat, show up early to avoid waiting in long lines. The outdoor country setting overlooking the expansive grassy grounds is particularly conducive to long, relaxed consumption of mass quantities. After chowing down, the order of the day seems to be catching up with riding buddies, making new ones, and of course: oogling the bikes!

(Click on any photo to enlarge)