The Road To Alice's Restaurant - Day 4, The Baptist and Scottish Wedding

We just got back to the Quality Inn after a wonderful and to say the least, eclectic afternoon reception for Tony's cousin and her new husband. The weather absolutely perfect all day -- no humidity, sunshine, and 80. The ride back at sunset along sleepy Pennsylvania farm country roads, in sleeveless shirts, and crisp air in what is known as the "Endless Mountains" region of PA, was one we didn't want to end.

We even started the day with some riding around the local area before the wedding, and stopped into the local Harley dealer for the mandatory t-shirt for the collection, as well as an appropriate HD Wedding card. And yes, we did ride to the wedding in the kilts. The church was only 2 miles from the hotel, but it was still an exercise in caution (riding sans helmet), with bare legs and billowing fabric. Tony's aunts were waiting at the church door, cameras in hand when we rode up to a round of applause. Being a Saturday morning, there were lots and lots of bikes out, and we passed or waited for more than a few as we rode the two miles to the church -- no doubt there will be people talking about this tonite -- those odd chaps in formal kilts riding Harley's through the town of Mansfield, PA.

The wedding was in the First Baptist Church -- and the retired pastor was the groom's father. The groom was on the church committee to pick the new pastor, and the bride (Tony's cousin Sarah) was even baptized a few days before the wedding having been raised non-denominational. We felt like Daniel walking into the lions den. As you know, it was a Scottish themed wedding - the groom (Ben) in his family kilt, the groomsmen in their clan kilts, and the bride wearing a sash of her new family tartan, with a crown of ivy. Bill wore a traditional "great" kilt, which is a one piece affair that wraps up over the shoulder that his wife Mary made herself with an "ancient" McLachlan tartan. Now this was a true "church" wedding, with prayers and hymns, along with a bagpiper and an Irish tin-whistle. But we were glad to see this wasn't a fire and brimstone Baptist wedding, and after the ceremony everyone went to the hall for cake and punch (no alcohol, and the lady serving seemed rather put off that I'd even ask if there was any in it -- though I was asking because I don't drink and Tony is allergic.) After the wedding we got back on the bikes and went to the hotel to change for, as Bill called it, the "real" reception.And how does one get on a Harley in a kilt you ask? Very very carefully, especially if the seat has been sitting out in the sun for some time. First you straddle the bike, then standing up, reach between your legs and grab the back of the kilt and bring it forward between your legs, and then sit down, tucking the kilt underneath your thighs. This way it doesn't fill with wind when riding and billow up. In theory only, because one has to put one's legs down at stop signs, which releases the fabric into the wind when one takes off. This is not for the faint hearted, and although Paul Sr. on American Choppers did it..and now so did Tony and I, it's not something I'd recommend for any great distance.

We repacked the kilts and dropped them off with Aunt Mary to ship back home for us and rode out to the second reception, up in the hills at "Bucky's House". The directions were not exactly accurate, and we rode past the turn we were supposed to take -- and we were not alone, for we rode 4 additional miles with three other cars, including the groom's retired pastor father and his wife in a proper Baptist minivan, and we all made u-turns and headed back. We finally found the correct turn and drove a mile up a gravel road (not an easy task in a 900 pound motorcycle), to what can only be described as a miniature modern day version of a NE Pennsylvania "Woodstock" campground on Bucky's Mountain. Bucky himself, a friend to everyone, wood carver, musician, and motorcycle rider, along with his wife, greeted us and welcomed us to his home-made compound of workshop, huge out-door kitchen, campground, tent, reception area, cabin, hammock area and whatnot, and proceeded to make us, and everyone else feel right at home. There was live bluegrass and celtic music, TONS of food, people camping in tents, a fire pit, and Bucky's dog Harley (what else!). The complex is up in the mountains, deep in a forest of maples and oaks, and the buildings made of old barn wood and found things. Bucky makes his living carving things and selling them at art fairs, and we bought a wonderful carved pine tree for our mantle back home in Seattle. Bucky and his wife were ready to jump on their bike and join us riding to Massachusetts tomorrow, especially after they learned we'd be seeing Arlo Guthrie in concert, and we'd have loved the company. This one-of-a-kind character would be someone to take on a bike trip to make it even more memorable. He's been friends with the groom and Bill for some time, and he hosts 600 people at his complex every Memorial day for "Acorn Fest". If he and his wife were not at Woodstock in the 60s they should have been.

Tony spent most of the evening chatting with his new found family. Bill's two other sisters came, and Tony spent many hours chatting with his aunts Nancy and Susan, along with his Grandfather's brother. Like Tony's side of the family being unaware of Tony's grandfather's other family, they really were never told about Tony's side, and although they lived for a few years and grew up 20 miles apart, no one ever knew, and no one ever spoke about it. Even Dick, Tony's grandfather's brother didn't know why William and Helen divorced. Tony's aunts looked like Gilkinsons as well, and Aunt Nancy even had a daughter that named Debbie who at the same age, looks remarkably like Tony's sister Debbie. Everyone was very glad to meet and get to know Tony and I'm sure that this branch of Gilkinsons, despite the family history, will remain close. I know Tony took great pleasure in meeting them, as I'm sure they did, and the fact that he has brought the two sides of this family together is something wonderful to see. Everyone was happy, and at the same time, sad over all the years they went not knowing that each other existed. Indeed the only shame in all of this is the loss of years of another brother or sister or aunt or uncle in one's life.
It took a long time to say good bye to all these new family and friends, but Tony and I needed to head back to the motel to pack and wanted to get off the hills and down the dirt roads while it was still light. The final group hug was with Bucky and his wife and Tony's cousin Sarah and her new husband Ben. We'll very much miss our new family in this part of the country and someday hope to return for another visit -- and likewise, hope they'll come visit us out west.

So while I've been writing this, Tony has been packing and is just about done. Tomorrow we'll load up the bikes and head East on US 6 for a ways before turning north into New York and over into Connecticut and Massachusetts. The bikes are already gassed up, and although we've thoroughly enjoyed this part of PA, we are itching to get on the road again.

One last night in Mansfield PA at the Quality Inn..
Tony and Gary