A slow, relaxed evening at home. A big, heavy box on the front porch containing a hammock stand for a Hatteras Hammock went together quickly and I was finally able to test the hammock Hannah got us for Christmas. Last year. Maybe the year before. I’m not one to rush things. After sufficient testing Kim and I decided to get dinner from Duffy’s Tavern in Boalsburg. Nothing fancy — a couple take out cheeseburgers and fries.
A short ride to the tavern and I see these three Ducati’s parked out front in the motorcycle only parking area. With the Vespa watching over the motorcycles I talked briefly with three young riders waiting for a table at Duffy’s. Seems they will soon be trailering their bikes to the Jersey shore to ride along the ocean at sunrise. Sounds like a fine way to spend time with friends. A fine way to spend time on two wheels.
One more thing to add to my riding list…
I’m working on the next installment about my time on the road with the Triumph Bonneville. Look for it sometime on Thursday.
Steve, is Boalsburg a part of State College or its own distinct municipality? Wikipedia refers to it as a “census designated place.” Boalsburg’s own website calls it a village but is that in the technical sense or the “cozy little place” sense?
– Joe at Scootin’ da Valley
What? Are you getting sensitive to being labelled as a food photographer now? Your description of the mealy little cheeseburgers did them no justice, certainly not the justice a photo would have done them. Perhaps with a bite taken out.
Joe – I’m not sure what Steve or local government would call it, but I’d call Boalsburg one of the many small towns and boros in the valley here. Boalsburg has distinct boundaries (you have a short section of farms as you head into it from any direction), and has a main street, church, graveyard and all the other markers of a de facto town. It has a distinct identity, that’s for sure. They seem to refer to themselves on the web as the “Village of Boalsburg”.
On the other hand, I live in Ferguson township, which pretty much everybody just calls State College, as it abuts one side of State College (on the other side of the university), and has residences and businesses with no apparent break at the boundary. Every so often something like voting districts or which police to report something to comes up, but otherwise it’s pretty much “State College”.
I was at Duffy’s the other day, had the mushroom cheeseburger… good stuff! I have a friend from Texas who keeps trying to get us to try the nachos there.
Duffys is a great little place. There are lots of little towns around State College.
My father and I frequently trailer our Vespas to the beach and ride. Nicer in Jersey than Delaware because in Jersey you can take whatever little road is closest to the beach. In Delaware Rt 1 is a 4 lane behemoth of traffic and lights. Riding Rt 9 around the Delaware Bay is very nice though, as is riding south of Ocean City Md. Nice and flat, and the 1964 cruses right along about 50mph.
Thanks, Evan! It’s likely that the perceived “distinct identity” defines it regardless of what any official papers might say.
Oh, my heavens! The Blogger word identification just came up with the name of a local gynecologist!
Joe
the evening meal sounded good and simple…what else did you expect?
Joe: Others have beat me to it but I will add my two cents. Boalsburg is a village in Harris Township. It has no independent status. Think of it more as a neighborhood. What makes it unique is that back in the early 1800s it was a separate community. But now it has been absorbed into a township.
A fine township I might add!
HARRIS TOWNSHIP
Conchscooter: I’m a sensitive man. The description didn’t do them justice because I wolf them down too fast because they are so good. I’ll do better next time though!
Evan: You’re right. You are from State College and I am from Boalsburg. No one says they’re from Park Hills or College Heights.
So I guess Boalsburg is a real place afterall!
Mark: Jersey sounds like a great place to ride along the beach. Another ride to add to my burgeoning list…
Baron: Duffy’s has some fancy stuff if you want to sit down for dinner. What I have come to expect from Duffy’s aside from good food is characters. I always seem to meet characters there.