Yet another view from Papermill Road
Cliffs on Back Branch Road. Interestingly, if you crop out the greenery, it's difficult to tell if the cliffs are 10 feet high or 1000.
Some greenery
A picture of Whites Church Road
Very green pond
As I was climbing up Peacock Corners Road, I kept getting the feeling that I had been there before, though I can't remember when. Maybe it was last year? After a while, it came out of the woods and went past vast cornfields and a few farms. Then it connected with Millertown Road. I hear that people allegedly "drive like madmen" there, but the scenery is legendary. My course would take me along Millertown Road for about two miles.
Peacock Corners Road
Looking south towards Catawissa Mountain
Farmland
The omnipresent Knob Mountain, apparently the most topographically prominent mountain in Columbia County.
The scenery on Millertown Road wasn't as spectacular as I had remembered, but there were some nice spots. I also rode along a few familiar parts of the road. After a couple of miles, I came to an unmarked road and took a chance that it was the right one. It turned out to be.
Looking west
Millertown Road (going on Commons)
The unmarked road began with a downhill past farms and hedges. After a few tenths of a mile, I turned onto Ikeler Hill Road, whose name was definitely accurate. It began with a hideously steep hill that rose over a hundred feet in a short time before leveling out near a church and a cemetery.
Ikeler Hill Drive, eh?
Looking south from the top
Ikeler United Methodist Church
As I passed by the cemetery, I noticed a lot of names that I see on roads around here, including--big surprise--Ikeler. After that, the road went curving around and headed downhill to a quadrant route (they're everywhere!), which continued heading downhill through the woods. At the bottom of the hill, I came out into farmland. A few more rolling hills took me to the end of the road. Millville was close, but it involved a short stretch on the highly busy Pennsylvania Route 42. At the first opportunity, I veered across the street and into an alleyway. A few more alleyways took me to Pennsylvania Route 254, which crossed Little Fishing Creek and left Millville behind.
Christmas tree farm
Nearing Millville
Little Fishing Creek
Shortly after leaving Millville, I turned onto a side road that rose gently through woods, but not deeply in the wilderness. A dog came out to charge at me, but was restrained by an electric fence. Interestingly, it kept twirling bizarrely and chasing me before eventually growing bored as I was about to take a picture. I continued onwards and reached the end of the road and the top of the hill. I turned onto Legion Road, which would take me into the state game lands. I reached the game lands after several tenths of a mile.
Crazy dog
Crazy tree
Entering State Game Lands Number 226
State Game Lands Number 226 are unlike any other state game lands I've been through. For one thing, there were a lot of open fields and meadows in addition to dense forest. For another thing, there were paved roads, which seems to be a relative rarity in game lands, except on the fringes. Finally, there were even a few houses scattered deep inside the game lands. I did see a few interesting-looking gravel roads that merit further exploration. I will come back early next year if I don't find the time this year.
View from the border of the game lands
Meadow in the state game lands
Paved road
A fascinating-looking offshoot, despite the ominous warning signs
A private meadow
One of the last meadows. The game lands are starting to get wilder.
Eventually, the game lands became more like typical game lands, as the road headed into the woods. By this point, I knew from looking at satellite maps that I was about halfway through. Some time later, I even came to a fork in the road, where the pavement ended. I proceeded to the right on Gillapsy Road. Gradually the hill began to get steeper, which, coupled with the slippery gravel road, made the going slow. After several tenths of a mile, I left the game lands, and several tenths of a mile after that, I reached the end of the road.
In the woods
Ascending on gravel
Hill. I know someone who would be griping.
I then turned onto Ridge Road/Teaberry Road, which would take me into Lycoming County. It was unpaved and in the woods, but there were a few houses and other signs of civilization. After a few tenths of a mile, I reached the Lycoming County line, which was unmarked except for a sign saying "Franklin Township". I paused for a few moments at the sign before riding into Lycoming County for the first time.
Approaching the county line
First glimpse of Lycoming County
Closeup of the above view
There were a few sharp turns on the hill, but I handled them with reasonable ease. At the bottom of the hill, I came to a crossroads in some fields. There were some interesting-looking roads going to the north and west, but it was already after 5:00 P.M. I began heading up the hideously steep hill and eventually returned to Columbia County, having spent less than a mile in Lycoming County.
Road work in the middle of nowhere
Looking west
Heading up
Those merit further exploration.
After getting back into the woods, I turned on Engle Road, which ran along a ridgeline at over 1300 feet. I rode into Pine Township for the first time and reached the ride's high point, at 1376 feet. At the end of the road, I came upon some great vistas in many directions.
Clearing in Pine Township
Bike/road shot
Near the high point
Vista
Another vista
Yet another vista!
I then turned onto Maple Ridge Road, which continued heading along the ridgeline. I then turned onto Rod and Gun Club Road and began a 3-mile-long, 700-foot descent. I briefly passed through State Game Lands Number 226, but other than that, the road was just in ordinary woods. At times the road was gravel; at times it was paved and curved crazily. I maintained speeds of close to 30 miles per hour for a time, and it was also fun to navigate around the curves.
Abandoned cars in the forest
Gravel
Pavement and a bend in the road.
At the end of Rod and Gun Club Road, I continued descending to Pennsylvania Route 254 and then headed into Millville to get some more supplies. After some wandering through alleyways and a short stint on Pennsylvania Route 42, I returned to Hill Road. Soon after that, a hideous climb through the woods began. It brought me to Ikeler Hill Road and I descended before ascending once more.
Entering Millville again
Church
Field and hill
Looking back
Looking forward
Goldenrod
View from Ikeler Hill Road
My shadow
Barn
Another view
The last few miles were pretty quiet, along Millertown Road and downhill to Lightstreet, then along Papermill Road and home.
Abandoned house
Getting a bit darker on Papermill Road
My time was 2:59:34 and my pace was 4:43/mile.
6551 feet of elevation change, the 2nd highest of any ride this year. High point was 1376 feet on Maple Ridge; low point was 515 feet at Fishing Creek.
