ack Moshannon State Park
A map of Centre County shows some of the little-known backroads cyclists are advised to explore.
Besides the timber wolves, bicycling great in Centre County
By 808 FRICK
Collegian Staff Writer
! Many University students, especially
freshmen, seem to have little or no idea
what's south of Playland or north of the
Intramural Fields in Centre County.
Some say it's all wolf-laden virgin
timberland ; some virgins say it's tim
berland laden with wolves, some timber
, wolves complain there aren't enough
virgins or timber, and some believe if
you trek far enough you'll reach either
Pittsburgh or Canada.
That's really a shame, because this
entire area is laced with roads that wind
through countryside and interesting
little towns, and are perfect for
bicycling.
Before the main highways were built
:that connect State College with the
outside world, villages like Centennial,
Oak Hall and Lemont were linked by
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Fri. Julyl Bpm
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"a stitch in time"
Yarn Shop
139 S. Fraser St.
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lsburg
to College Boa
Grove Mills
tone Valley
hippies Dam
two-lane roads that are now free from
any heavy traffic.
All of them are in good repair and are
populated-just enough so you're never
far from a house in case of emergency
and never too far from a gas station or
general store in case of thirst.
Before actual instructions are given to
reach these highways, here are a few tips
that might make your trip through the
hinterlands more pleasant:
First and foremost: make sure you
have a full rage of gears. Parts of this
area get rather hilly, and unless you stay
in the heart of the valley, the first few
gears of a ten-speed bike are almost
mandatory.
Beware of pot holes, crumbling
shoulders and falling arches. In general,
these by-ways are in very good condition
but they aren't superhighways.
A water bottle is a good accessory
especially on the hot, humid days com
Bellefonte
Pleasant Gap
mon in central Pennsylvania. I person
ally prefer a soda can carried in the little
wire water bottle. carrier for the follow
ing reason:
Beware of dogs. Most dogs a're
chained and can only scare you
(sometimes into a precipitous drop)
there are the few, however, that can give
you a good chase.
While only one dog has actually caught
me, I still like that conveniently placed
soda can for use as a projectile. S.P.C.A.
members need not be shocked. A well
placed can at the foot of a charging dog
scares it away effectively, and it beats
mace.
Leave frills at home. A pump and a
spare tube might be worthwhile if you're
handy with tools, but anything else is
useless baggage especially a bell. The
impulse to use a bell can be distracting
when heading into a situation where you
en re
M arine
159 Pine Grove Road
PINE GROVE MILLS
on the way to Stone Valley
Phone: 238-5328
Open Monday 8 Friday 10:30 to 8
Tues., Weds., Thurs., 10:30 to 5
sat. 9:30 to 3
Come to our big
SAI L-A-BRATION
Large selection of new and used sailboats, boards,
dinghys, racers, daysailers, cruisers and catamar
ans on display.
Canoes, paddles, lifesaving equipment.
Savings throughout the store
Now through July 2
Register to win a
FREE SAILBOAT
and daily prizes! •
Ask about free sailing lessons al
Centre Hall
MEI
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0
STRAW
PURSES
Photo by Bpb Frick
This cyclist, Lucy, pauses for a quick smile along Route 550. She and her friend Gina (not shown) were heading for Rhode
Island from Bethesda, Md., when they, were photographed last Monday.
should be slamming on the breaks and
screaming.
Never play chicken with
automobiles, trucks or motorcycles
you'll lose. Keep well off the road,
especially with trucks.
Don't be afraid to ask directions.
Centre Countians are very friendly
people on the average.
Now for the roads:
The best by far is Route 550, which
stretches some 15 miles from Bellefonte
to Centennial. It's well paved, little used,
and runs through some of the nicest
countryside in the area. Access to 550 is
a simple trip from campus to the
Mountainview Unit of Centre Com
munity Hospital, through to Houserville,
then turn left and follow the creek and
the road to 550.
You should arrive at 550 near a
cemetery and a church. Turn right and
it's four miles to beautiful and scenic
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A weekly look at life
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Bellefonte, turn left and two miles later
there's beautiful, scenic Filmore.
Past Filmore is Waddle, Buffalo Run
and Centennial, in that order and all
scenic and beautiful.
There are two routes which lead back
into State College from 550. The first is at
Filmore and the second is just past
Buffalo Run.
Another good route starts at Whitehall
Road (just past Briarwood at the
southern end of State College), continues
past Route 26 (College Ave.), and passes
through Fairbrook and Baileyville.
A short stint on Route 45 will take you
from Baileyville to a small road that
passes through scenic, beautiful Penn
sylvania Furnace, Marengo, and
eventually to Centennial.
A quick glance at the map will show
you're back on Route 550.
From the scenic, beautiful town of
Lemont a cyclist can peddle to Oak Hall,
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turn left onto Brush Valley road, and
travel along Mt. Nittany to Centre Hall.
Over the mountain from Centre Hall is
Pleasant Gap arid Bellefonte.
Once in Bellefonte, Route 550 can be
picked up and taken back to State
College. •
More ambitious cyclists might try
traveling to Pine Grove Mills, turning
left at the light, and traveling up the
mountain to Whipples Dam or Stone
Valley lake (about 10 to 20 miles from
State College).
Black Moshanon State Park is a long
trip over Bald Eagle ridge, up a stretch
of Route 220, left at Julian, then up a
grueling seven mile stretch to the lake
(about 30 miles). ,
These are just a few suggested routes.
Try getting a detailed map, a good
bicycle, a friend, and exploring Centre
County on its backroads.
It'll be Worth the trip.