AMA museum via WV

[nevinfs327]

Despite being an AMA member for years and having attended AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days in central Ohio, I had never made it to the AMA Museum.  I changed that this past weekend, and squeezed in some excellent West Virginia and Ohio roads along the way with a couple friends of mine.  



Day 1: NYC (for me) to Savage River State Forest, MD

The other guys needed to pick up backpacker meals and a few other supplies so we set Cabela's in Hamburg PA as the meeting spot approximately when they opened at 8, so I knocked out 2 hours of slab to start the day.  Following Cabela's we took 895 to Gold Mine Rd then made our way to Millersburg, PA where the last ferry crossing the Susquehanna River operates.

Barreling down 209 on a gray day after the brief but fun run on Gold Mine Rd.



Waiting for the ferry



This thing is rickety and small, but the river is pretty calm



Across the Susquehanna we enjoyed some PA mountain passes on 74 before rerouting for lunch at Frontier BBQ outside of Gettysburg.  They've really changed the place around, mostly for the better, in the last couple of years.  Food was still excellent.  

After lunch we followed back roads in PA and MD, paralleling the Mason Dixon line then the Potomac River



Decided we'd take the Old Town Bridge into WV, which I hadn't crossed in years.  The road starts out paved near Oleans, but turns to gravel, then heavily rutted dirt.  I always find dirt on my rides so I wasn't concerned but my riding partners were less than enthused, so we bailed out and back tracked to Scenic 40 over to Cumberland, MD.

Old bridge on Old Town Rd.



I tried the "it's not an adventure until things stop going according to plan" line, but no takers.  It wasn't bad here, but it did get pretty rough for anyone with a lower fairing.  



With evening turning to night we made our way to the Savage River State Forest and found a riverside campsite.  We split tasks of gathering firewood, paying for the site and going on a beer run.  Went back to the small town of Westernport for a 6 pack and was chastised by the Subway girl when I inquired where I could get one about my heathen choices.  Hello Bible belt.  Fortunately after I left I spotted a guy carrying a case of beer who told me there was a store around the corner.  

[nevinfs327]

Day 2: Savage River State Forest, MD to Hocking Hill State Forest, OH

It was a pleasantly cool night in the forest, and we woke to another overcast morning and packed up and hit the road by 7.

Packing up in the morning



Intense fog heading out of Oakland, MD





Saw a little sun on 72 as we chased the Cheat River





50 towards Clarksburg provided a great combination of twisty roads and nice scenery with essentially no traffic



Under ominous skies we followed 20 towards New Martinsville and the Ohio River.





Old road to the water in New Martinsville looking across towards Ohio



The rain set in in earnest as we regrouped, and we decided to take reroute directly to Marietta along 7 to find lunch rather than take the twisties in the rain.  Enjoyed a good lunch at the local brewpub, which was the only place open on a Sunday in the mid-afternoon.  The beers sounded really good - I'll need to work that in for the end of the day in the future at some point.

Downtown Marietta



The rain was getting lighter and the radar looked clear to the west so we followed 7 down to Parkersburg and picked up one of Ohio's best roads: 555





There's a detour towards the northern end so we cut across to 345 through the Perry Forest, then over to 93 towards Logan.

OH345



Shawnee looked interesting from the intersection on 93 so we poked around.  It is well on its way to being a ghost town.  





More info on the town history can be found here: http://www.forgottenoh.com/Shawnee/shawnee.html

In Logan I pulled up beside a guy on an old looking bike to check it out - it was a '68 Sportster on its maiden voyage after 25 years in a garage.  He decided he'd lead us toward Hocking Hills State Park and the bike looked like it was running great.

At Hocking Hills State Park the campground was a packed and congested area, which was a surprise to me on a Sunday evening.  We decided to give the State Forest that surrounds the park a shot for a more rustic camping experience, and that's exactly what we got.  

Road in to the State Forest campsites



Set up before dark set in, got a fire going and then took turns riding 6 miles back to the State Park to get showers.  

[nevinfs327]

Day 3: AMA Museum, then Pickerington OH to Holly River State Park, WV

We quickly packed up camp in the morning and said goodbye to the VFR rider of the group who had to slab it back to NJ to get his car, then up to Albany.  At least the weather looked good.  

Our campsite, all packed up



345 towards 33 was a great way to start the day



Arrived at the AMA Museum shortly after it opened.  It was nice, but after Barber everything seems small and I'm at least as interested in history in general as I am in racing, which is the focus of this museum.  I did get to see the two Kawasakis I expect to win this summer through the AMA raffle  

Displays focus on racing


After the Museum we followed 33 back into the Hocking Hills for some twisties, then went to Athens for lunch before heading to Parkersburg to get back into West Virginia for an afternoon of excellent roads.

WV 5 on a perfect summer afternoon



Old bridge off of WV 5 - more rickety than the ferry from day 1, for sure



Picked up 15 in Sutton, WV - another great road





And finally 20 north to the state park



We arrived earlier than usual and weren't racing dark for a change.  Set up camp in what is one of the nicer state parks I've stayed in and then made a run back down 20 for supplies (dinner for the FZ1 rider and a 6er for the both of us).  I hope he opens an account here and posts the bounty we purchased that night.  Let's just say you don't exactly find salad and fresh fruit at a hole in the wall country store in WV.  

Home for the last night (apologize for the shaky shot...I blame the 10 year old camera  )



Took another shower (2 days in a row!) and called it a day around 10:30.

[nevinfs327]

Day 4: Holly River State Park to NYC

During the night some really intense thunderstorms passed through and really boomed through the hollow where the camping area is located, with bright lighting and the kind of heavy rain that you know you're tent can't handle.  Other than a few drips on my leg near the door zippers it wasn't too bad, and it was hot and humid so a little dampness wasn't of great concern.  Had two of these storm systems pass over during the night.  In the morning I laid in the tent and listened as the rain slowed to a drizzle before finally crawling out just after 7.  

WV 20 northbound in a light rain



The skies started to clear on 33 heading into the Monongahela National Forest





Made our way north from Seneca Rocks



In Petersburg we decided to make up for lost twisties in Ohio and take 42 over Mt. Storm to one the nicer sections of 50.

55 just outside of Petersburg



Heading up Mt. Storm



Good views while we wait for the trucks we'd caught up with to get ahead of us since there was no safe passing on the hill



More curves and views once on 50





In Romney we decided to give the Old Town Bridge another shot, and headed north to Springfield then on County Route 1



Success from the paved side



We had lunch in Berkeley Springs then took back roads through a sweltering Hagerstown then danced along the Mason Dixon line once again before getting to Gettysburg, where I used my parachord to tie a trunk closed on an overstuff Dodge Challenger with a newly broken latch.  

Farmland along the MD/PA border



It was in the 90s, sunny and really humid.  Riding on fresh asphalt felt similar to walking over a steam vent in NYC with the heat rushing up from below.  Even the wind was hot.  Since it was late afternoon and any speeds less than 60 were really hot we decided to slab it the rest of the way back, successfully dodging storms.  By the time I got to central NJ the sun had mostly set and the riding was finally comfortable again making for a relaxing last hour on the road.  

[Orson]

wow  

those are some fantastic looking roads  

I'd love to see a route map if possible  

[Rincewind]

Thanks for another enjoyable ride report, Nevin.  I bet that Street Triple was right at home in all those curves.    

I'd love to see a route map as well.  

[slayman]

Thanks for a great write up. Ditto on the route map. I may be headed that direction in August and I'm looking for a good "no slab" route to Weston WV.

[sammyseaman]

With evening turning to night we made our way to the Savage River State Forest and found a riverside campsite.  We split tasks of gathering firewood, paying for the site and going on a beer run.  Went back to the small town of Westernport for a 6 pack and was chastised by the Subway girl when I inquired where I could get one about my heathen choices.  Hello Bible belt.  Fortunately after I left I spotted a guy carrying a case of beer who told me there was a store around the corner.  

Ooffff... The price you have to pay for beautiful roads. Every time I'm in the Bible Belt I'm surprised it's still like that.
Nice report Nevin   I love that area.

[garry]

Very nice report. Gotta love riding in that part of the country...

[nevinfs327]

Thanks for the comments all.  The riding is fantastic in that area and I highly recommend making a trip.  

For the routes, I loosely look at Google Maps for my planning, print out a shortlist for my tank bag and go for it.  Here are roughly the routes we planned, and kinda followed:

Day 1: http://tinyurl.com/3dudzw9
Day 2: http://tinyurl.com/3clsn9h
Day 3: http://tinyurl.com/3uogwtg
Day 4: http://tinyurl.com/3gvf8rz

[Mastros2]

Great report!  Thanks for sharing the routes as well.  

[BlueRidgeKat]

Thanks for the pics and link on Shawnee. I love stuff like that. A somewhat similar story near my area is the town of Pocahontas WV.

What is the rack you have on the back of the Triple??

[aricwentz]

Firstly, please excuse my ineptitude for posting pics.  Hopefully the link to my wife's facebook page below works.

The hot dogs were made to order.  However, my favorites were the Big Beef Steak (smothered in hot sauce) and the Blueberry Ugly.  For your continued interest:

http://www.trailsbest.com

http://www.bnrglobal.com/uglies-1/blueberry-ugly

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1436843096453&set=a.1436843016451.43424.1694275836&type=1&theater

[Blunder]

Mmmmmm, meat snacks.  

Facebook pics no workee unless you sign up to facefuck. No thank you.

Beautiful pics of a part of the country I haven't been to since I was a wee lad.

[Castaway]

Nice report, Nevin. Nice bikes, too - I'd take any one 'em for a nice long ride.  

I went to college down in Athens. I was a newbie on his first bike back then, and though I got out for some backroad riding, I sure missed a lot. It would be great to ride that area once again. Who knows, maybe I'll make a WV/OH loop one of these days.

[Rincewind]

Thanks for the comments all.  The riding is fantastic in that area and I highly recommend making a trip. 

For the routes, I loosely look at Google Maps for my planning, print out a shortlist for my tank bag and go for it.  Here are roughly the routes we planned, and kinda followed:

Day 1: http://tinyurl.com/3dudzw9
Day 2: http://tinyurl.com/3clsn9h
Day 3: http://tinyurl.com/3uogwtg
Day 4: http://tinyurl.com/3gvf8rz

Thanks Nevin!  My folks are leading a group out that way soon.  I'm going to send my dad your fun-looking maps.  

[Yankee Dog]

Great report. I was thinking of taking 555 when I pass through Ohio in August. Thanks confirming my choice.

Yankee Dog

[nevinfs327]

For those who are holding out on Facebook similar to how I held out on a mobile phone, here is the photo of the the fine dining we had one evening.  I get a stomach ache just looking at the picture.

[Mastros2]

For those who are holding out on Facebook similar to how I held out on a mobile phone, here is the photo of the the fine dining we had one evening.  I get a stomach ache just looking at the picture.

That looks harsh!  

[Yankee Dog]

For those who are holding out on Facebook similar to how I held out on a mobile phone, here is the photo of the the fine dining we had one evening.  I get a stomach ache just looking at the picture.

Bush is one of the few beers that tastes better out of a can than a bottle.