This time I thought I'd try something different. Instead of riding the usual roads north through Promised Land State Park toward Honesdale, I thought I'd try to head south and west. In the back of my mind I also wanted to find a Greek restaurant that I had read about in a guide book earlier in the year. I knew what town it was in and what road it was on, but didn't bother to check out the specifics, I just figured I'd find it.
The route starts at the lodge parking lot at the Camelback Ski area. To get there the fast way, follow I-80 West into Pennsylvania and get off at the Tannersville Exit (PA 715). Turn right at the end of the ramp and follow the signs to the ski area and Mount Pocono State Park. If you'd like a more interesting way out there, check out my web site for the ride to Mt. Pocono. Once you're off this mountain the route wanders through some of the farming plateau that is just to the south of Mt. Pocono. T hen, you'll start running over the ridges that run from east to west. After a run across the ridge, you'll twist around a reservoir that you'll find via a wonderful back road. After the reservoir, you'll head up a hill and into Trachsville. That's where the Greek restaurant was supposed to be. Supposed to be, because when I went looking for it, all I found was what remained of a long closed diner. At that point I was hungry so I just grabbed something quick to eat, not one of my favorite options. You won't find what remained of the Greek place on the route. It was out of the way and it didn't matter much. There are a number of good places to eat along the route. The pasta place at the light at PA 946 looked especially promising.
As I was heading back to the rally site after crossing back across Blue Mountain, I caught sight of an interesting looking sign for the Cherry Valley Winery. I had heard about it before, but had never gone looking for it. Since it was just off the route , I decided to swing in for a look. Inside the store I was greeted by a gentleman dressed in a monk's cassock who introduced himself as William. It was nearly closing time, but he took a few minutes to introduce me to some of his products. He explained that had I arrived a bit earlier I'd have been able to get the tour of his Champaign making facilities complete with a sample from a new bottle of Champaign. I know that I don't have to go into the lecture about drinking and riding, so just taste, don' t drink while you're there. You can always bring a bottle of their surprisingly wide variety of wines home with you.
Pocono Loop Ride Mileage Total Leg 0.0 0.0 Exit Right Out of Camelback Lodge Parking area 2.1 2.1 RIGHT STOP - T - SR 4004 3.1 1.0 RIGHT PA 715 South - STOP - T 4.7 1.6 RIGHT Possinger Rd. - "Streamside" 6.0 1.3 RIGHT 2ND STOP SIGN 7.9 1.9 BEAR LEFT Y 9.9 2.0 RIGHT STOP - T - PA 715 South 11.6 1.7 BEAR RIGHT Y - TO: Effort 13.4 1.8 BEAR RIGHT Y - TO: Merwinsburg 14.6 1.2 RIGHT STOP - PA 115 North 23.2 8.6 LEFT PA 903 South 34.6 11.4 LEFT Reserviour Road 38.7 4.1 BEAR RIGHT Follow Reserviour Rd. 42.4 3.7 BEAR RIGHT Follow Reserviour Rd. 43.6 1.2 LEFT STOP - Pohopco Dr. 44.0 0.4 RIGHT TO: US 209 - Trachsville Hill Rd. 45.3 1.3 STRAIGHT STOP - Cross US 209 45.4 0.1 STRAIGHT STOP - TO: Little Gap 49.2 3.8 LEFT STOP - T TO: Little Gap 49.9 0.7 STRAIGHT STOP - Covered Bridge Rd. 50.5 0.6 LEFT STOP - Y - TO: Blue Mt. 50.6 0.1 RIGHT Blue Mt. Road 54.2 3.6 LEFT PA 946 - LIGHT 60.7 6.5 LEFT TO: Point Phillip 62.6 1.9 BEAR RIGHT Y - Follow the bigger road 65.1 2.5 LEFT T - SR 4019 66.0 0.9 LEFT STOP - T - TO: Katellen 69.8 3.8 LEFT PA 512 North - Follow PA 512 72.5 2.7 STRAIGHT LIGHT - 512 goes right - Turkey Hill Station 75.8 3.3 RIGHT Cherry Valley Rd. 76.0 0.2 RIGHT Cherry Valley Winery 76.0 0.0 LEFT Out of Cherry Valley Winery 76.2 0.2 RIGHT STOP - T 80.3 4.1 RIGHT LIGHT - US 209 North 82.6 2.3 EXIT RIGHT Business 209 82.9 0.3 LEFT End of Ramp - Business 209 83.6 0.7 LEFT Neola Rd. 89.3 5.7 RIGHT STOP - T - PA 715 North 93.7 4.4 LEFT TO: Big Pocono St. Park 94.8 1.1 LEFT TO: Big Pocono St. Park 97.0 2.2 LEFT Into Camelback Ski area