Punxsutawney is a fun, quirky place.
First time I visited was by accident. I was riding home, alone, from North Dakota on my first motorcycle trip. This was back in the day when GPS didn't exist and I wasn't using a map (1999). I was just heading east toward New York. Passing through western PA on rural roads I spotted a large statue of a strange creature. Then another. Then a sign signaling my arrival in the Groundhog Capitol of the World. Surprise!
I returned ten years ago on my BMW touring motorcycle. Intentionally. I now had GPS. You can see the bike in one of these photos.
What will Phil say today?
Six more weeks of winter. I hope Phil is wrong this year, can't take this weather any longer.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's rough. We have snow on the ground with no sign of going anywhere.
DeleteI heard 6 more weeks of winter but next week looks like spring for the South. At this point I'm just praying we avoid tornadoes because this winter weather has destroyed the city. At least Phil is a cutie
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the weather. Cold and snow are harsh.
DeleteI didn't realise it was a real thing!
ReplyDeleteOh yes it is! A century of tradition. The idea actually traces back to earlier times when humans realized animals are more sensitive and aware of their surroundings. They use that knowledge to survive.
DeleteAlly, What a charming story! I love how a spontaneous ride turned into discovering Punxsutawney, it’s those unplanned adventures that often leave the strongest memories. The contrast between your first trip without GPS and your return ten years later with one makes the story even more vivid. I can almost picture the excitement of spotting the statues and realising you’d stumbled on the “Groundhog Capital of the World.” That kind of serendipity is I suppose what makes motorcycle trips so special!
ReplyDeleteLotte x