Funerals, Mortality, Life: With a heavy heart I Ride From NJ to SE Ohio

[tankhead]

So the bike is almost packed.  The plans are set, well really not set at all, just the routes.  Last minute changes to the spring break vacation my wife and I were to have. Originally, I had made arrangements to stay in Myrtle Beach in my buddy's condo.  We had been there for a long weekend when we were dating in 08 and wanted to go back. We haven't been away traveling since last easter where we spent 12 days in southern Spain. As time pressed on I decided to scratch the Myrtle Beach idea and surprise my wife with a 2 night stay at a couple's resort.  A week before the scheduled departure we got some bad news.  My wife's best friend's sister took a turn for the worse and her deteriorating health from battling cancer for the last ten years was nearing the end and hospice was brought in and well, they told the family to prepare for her passing.  Saturday evening my wife got a text while we were in bed.  We both looked at each other and knew.  We just knew.  Easter morning we got on the Buell and made the rounds.  We visited with her best friend, I bought a asiatic lily and my wife baked two loaves of bread, packed them in the panniers and presented them with love to our friends.  Through the tears and silence, just our presence was well received, for her and her fiance. From there, we visited with more friends in Woodbine and then my family in Vineland.  Sunday evening while sitting around the fire, my wife told me that she hopes I still take advantage of my time and go on a motorcycle trip that I have been itching for, while she spends time with Mary. My wife had taken three work days off and I felt bad about that.  I told her that it would be hard for me to miss the viewing and funeral and I would not want to offend her friend.  She said that she would understand. So I decided to visit an area I have yet to ride: South Eastern Ohio. Many years I have sat looking at Gary's website www.motoroads.net in wonderment. And after SWriverstone's recent ride report that sealed the deal.  I contacted a fellow ADV rider for tent space in Morgantown area for the first night.  After that, depending on the weather, I plan on camping in or around the south eastern part of Ohio.  I haven't been on a solo trip for a long time.  Pegs down for Lynne.  You will be missed by all.  I ride with you in my mind and in my heart. More to come.

[tankhead]

Ah Life!  You know the saying, It's not an adventure 'till shit goes bad...."  Well let the adventures begin.

Left the house before the sun popped above the Atlantic completely. Had a bad night sleep. My wife briefly mentioned snow in western PA today, but I quickly dissmissed it thinking that that should not effect me due to the route planned was farther south.  So with that, I kissed the girls and my wife and was off.  Had the heated jacket on full blast along with the grips.  Winter hat and neck gaitor also. Quilted liner in the Cortech mesh pants and the Cortech winter riding gloves.  I thought it was overkill, actually I was going to forego the quilted liner in the pants due to the fact that I had the Nike winter tights on, but better safe than sorry, I thought, because of past experiences.  

The bike that I ride is a 2009 Buell Ulysses.  I love that bike but not as much as I loved my 2006 Buell City-x.  The Uly, in the beginning of my ownership, had intermittant battery problems.  The bike sometimes would just not start.  I have had to have it jumped more than once.  I have the garmin wired directly and the power cord too, so I thought I was taxing the battery.  The dealer told me that everything was fine.  Then the fuel pumpe fuse starting blowing, causing me to have the bike towed twice to the dealer.  First at my cost, the second time, they came and picked up the steed.  Fuel pump was toast and they warrantied it even though it was a couple days past the date (really it was because they never succesfully fixed the on going problem.

[tankhead]

Anyway, I travelled west , through the Univerity of DE, Conowingo Hydroelectric plant bridge, skirted route 1 on the most wonderful undulating twisty bits of broken back roads.  I was really enjoying myself.  I was excited to ride a part of MD that I had been on before 138-137.

Here are some of pics of the day:
Packing the day before


This morning


I love these old school Md structures near Fair Hill:



Lovely one  lane bridge on the back roads to route one:


Twisty back roads are worth the somewhat out of the way direct route west, if not slower than taking 95,



but then I would not be able to meet some new friends:



Or be so close to the bursting of spring colors:

[tankhead]

Death:

I had our friend Mary on my mind during today's ride.  Her sister dying, me not being there, my wife going alone to the viewing and funeral.  As I rode through Ken Denton's neck of the woods in Salem County NJ, I swiftly rode by this:


I turned the Buell around, stopped, and stared.  



The carcass is that of a very large, and very dead, snapping turtle.  A powerful animal, whose bite could easily snap a finger or toe clean off.  I thought about the turtle, it's power, it's strength.  I was humbled in thinking that no matter how strong, or how powerful we are, we will never be strong enough to survive forever.  We will all meet our fate someday and as I get older I seem to dwell on this fear of this inevitable end.  The desire to get IT all in before I am too old, too fearful, or too sick to travel by motorcycle has, well, become a problem.


A recent thread by SWriverstone had me thinking of the feeling of fear before I travel by bike.  I can empathize with this and today more than usual.  It seems odd to me that the fear often fades by the time I am a couple yards from my house, with my full attention to the surrounding traffic, pedestrians, pot holes, etc. Today that fear would become very real and unfortunately cause me to cut my travels for the day a little short.  Stay tuned.....

[Mastros2]

Awesome already.  

[hovmaven]

 

[tankhead]

Snow in April.  I stopped in Hereford Md for a HOT cup of Joe.  I hopped off 138 and just before making the turn onto 137 I stopped at the shopping center with a 7/11.  I was surprised how cold I was.  After my purchase I stood at the front of the store for a bit trying to warm up.  I finished the cup of warm blackness and loaded up with the helmet, ipod on the Sena, connect the heated geat, go to start up the bike.....iddidididiiddidididididi. nothing.  Try again dididididididididididiididi,n nothing.

Dead Battery. Dead.

Called Frederick Harley asked if they have a battery for the Uly.  They had four.  COOLIO.

Pizza guy next door said he had some jumper cables and that he would be right back after putting in an order.  A few minutes later he came out, pulled his jeep around, and quickly set things up.  I on the other hand could not find my keys.  I checked each and every one of the one hundred and one pockets on textile jacket. Then I remembered......They are in the seat latch release.  In one second the bike fired right up.  We sat for a bit and then I asked him to take the cables off while I shut the bike down.  Sure enough the bike fired up, now all I needed to do was keep the bike running for the sixty miles to Frederick MD.  With that the fuel light popped on...... and then it started hailing..........Stay tuned

[kendenton]

 

[BwanaDik]

 

+1

I'm gripped  

[tankhead]

Hail has an interestng way of making one think while riding a two wheeled machine, "wow that hurts and damn I cant see!  In the distance as I rolled out on to route 137 that the worst was yet to come," but as I looked at my GPS I saw that I might be able to out run ithe squall.  I pushed the turns while I wiped my visor with my left glove that has a wiper on the thumb (ingenious Cortech).  I rest the the GPS to Frederick and successfully out ran the squall.  Sun on my face, the bike pointed south and got to the Harley dealer while the cloud was left behind panting trying to catch me.  

I shut the bike off and started it back up in the parking lot.  I then shut it off again and walked in.  Went to the service desk, and the lady said can I help you.  I said yeah I called earlier about the battery for my Uly.  Oh, she said, see the man at the other desk, this is for rentals.  

Walked to the next desk.  Hi I called about the battery for my Uly. Yep we have one, said the tatted up, bald headed pirate service provider.  I said before I purchase the battery I was wondering if we could check real fast and see if the battery has a charge at all, because I have stopped to get gas and then in your parking lot.  Both times I started the bike up without a problem.  He said he would have to charge me a half hour service fee of forty dollars.  Thanks but non thanks and walked out to the brawney looking Uly, turned the key and got back on 70 to 68.

[tankhead]

About five miles from Gransville MD it started snowing, and then it started really snowing, so much so that the 40' trailers that I was passing were spraying mist from the road and my vision became severly impaired.  Using the trusty thumb wiper on my glove, it just couldn't compete with the amount of shit that was getting on the visor.  Pulled of at the next exit and found a Comfort Inn.  Here are a couple pics:





Here are some of the blooms before the blizzard:




They were everywhere.

[tankhead]

CCCCCChhhheckeeeeedddddd iiiiiinnnnnttttttto my freakin room.  Even with the heated jacket on high, winter skull cap, neck gaitor, gloves, heated grips, doing 70 mph for about an hour in 30 mph winds in your face along with 38 degree weather in the wet snow for five miles, I WAS COLD.  Got warm, ordered food for the room, typed up some of the report, reset my trip for tomorrow, talked to my wife, ate, brushed my teeth, and went to bed.  While trying to sleep I kept having visions of my back wheel cutting it to close to the edge of the road and continually physically moved my body in bed trying to avoid the pretend drop offs.  

All a primer for the next days ride.......

[R Doug]

 

[tankhead]

Before we begin today's ride, let us review my geographic home location.  In a word: FLAT!  Another word: straight.  Another few words: lame, uninspiring,  suckthebigone.  
I have not been on any twisty roads since the incredible twisties in Spain this time last year.  

With that said I waited untill 11 to hit the road, just to let any ice melt on the back roads.  Took 68 to 42.  I wrote down instruction the night before and stuck them in the tank bag map pocket.  I was too tired the night before to beat my head against the wall with my netbook that constantly freezes up and sucks.  So after 42 I was looking for a road named Blooming Rose Road.  Well as soon as I pulled on to it this what I saw......


What does that sign up ahead say.....

Oh hell yeah


Well the road was everything I had hoped along with undulations which I didn't think I would experience untill Ohio. From there CR11 to Mountaindale Rd., Brandonville Pike to Woolen Mile Rd.  Think pocked mark goat trails with twists, turns, and elevation.  Woolen mile road reminded me of Wycoff Road.  Here is the documentation:

[tankhead]

The second half of my day was great.  I leave you with this.   6 inch deep gravel, a biting dog, and fear.

[tankhead]

I just got back earlier.  460 miles today.  I 'm beat catch up in the morning.

[sagerat]

 

Well-written, sir.  Great pics, too.  

A +1 for you.  And yes hail on two wheels is hell.

[tankhead]

I eventually found myself on RT250 which I knew from the trip planning would eventually lead me to Wheeling, where the Ohio twisty roads were calling.  Some of the early sections of 250 were BORING but once I got away from the small towns the road led to some serpentine goodness that exemplifies riding in the Mountain State.  Then, out of a right hand turn, what is that, a truck approaching flashing his high beams.  Cop scouting it's prey.  Slow down.  Wait that's not a cop, that is a road block.  People turning around.  I pulled up to the yellow and orange vested man in charge.  He said a truck is across the road in a ditch and he doubted that I would fit through.  If I go back before the bridge and make a right and then make another right that would take me to 250, of course that meant that I would miss the tastiest of turns, because that was where the truck lay dormant. Clouson Wv is where the twisty bit was.  Check your maps for Crimney crom, trust me it was a goodun (as they say out here).  So I double backed, made the right, and what was that?  Not a paved road, not a dirt road, nope, not at all, it was a road made of crushed fist sized rock.  Now when it crushes up in a few years it probably is not that bad, but the construction signs proved that the WV road crew spent the week laying down a fresh blanket of rocky slag that left me plowing my front tire deep into the six inch layer.  Another right hand and what's that I see, oh, it is a line of cars coming at me on the wonderfully moon crested "road" filled with the slaggy scree.  A dude in a Pathfinder stopped as I prepared to take a photo of the road before my predicted fall, gracefully accepting my surely expected dumpage of bikeage.  "Hey man, I would not take this hill up on your bike.  I ride also and I would not take your bike up that hill, all fresh rock." If you can, turn the bike around and go to the next right and then a right after that.  Still rock, he said, but not as bad, one more after that and then it joins 250."  OK thanks man.  Turned the loaded 550lb bike around (fuck that was hard) and made the turn.  Here is the documentation:

[tankhead]

So this road, as he said was much better.  I stood on the pegs and comfortably set the speed at about 15-25 mph.  If you notice in the last pic, a faint view of a orange road sign and underneath that a fresh section of rock, well as I drove around and past that the new rock become more and the old road rock less and less.  Plowing the front end through the shit I found myself at the second right hand that he told me to take.  A quick right to take the left hand switchback, at a 10-15 degree rise with what do you guess......... wait for it.................. why sure a construction sign and a mother humping shit load of fresh rock.  Now I figured it out.  They were filling in eroded sections, duh, and picked this week to do such wonderful work.  A brief second I thought about turning around and then said f#uck it, go for it.  And that is just what I did, as the the canine from hell waited in the shadows for me................

[tankhead]

Wheeew, standing on the pegs leaning forward with a steady hand on the throttle, I tractored my Uly up that hill with the brilliance of the finest noob on the planet.  Front wheel digging, moving my body around the bike as needed, keep on the throttle, speed is your friend, slowing down will flop you like a waffle. There is the top, a little farther, stay steady on the throttle.  Around another blind right hander I crested the hill, and without a second to celebrate in my mind, on my right, I saw a bouncing ball with a boy running after it, and then on my left, a white flash of hell approaching me with teeth and a bark that was from the bowels of Satan himself.  My ankles, he is nipping at my ankles, barking, if not, laughing at the noob plowing the front tire, back wheel sliding in the opposite direction from the initial instinct to throttle down upon being threatened by the demon dog. I kicked once, twice, beeping my horn that had the impact of an infant farting. Screaming at the dog and throttling all while, the demon stopped his torment upon me and I continued for a couple miles through the slag encrusted road to the top of another hill where the broken asphalt of that road accepted me and my bike with great pleasure.  I stopped the bike in the parking lot of a cemetery and screamed at the top of my lungs in my helmet MOTHER FUCKER>!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here is the fucking road....


The last hill to the top where my bike was parked.


Here is the road and how it was laid out on the side of the ridge.

The grey house is where the boy was and demon dog

The end of the road is the end of the hill on the other side of the trees.

My bike laughing at me. With the reminder of death in the background

[tankhead]

Teaser Pics from Ohio

[tankhead]

So I rolled into Wheeling with no place to stay and it was to get a bit chilly and quite frankly, as much as I wanted to camp, my sleeping bag is not really rated for 30 degree weather.  So I hurried and found a nice hotel, drove out to a golf course area and had a burger and a pint of beer, rolled back down the hill to the hotel and mentally prepared for the Wheeling-Marietta ride of about two hundred miles of twisty ribbons.
I got out of the hotel by 9:00.  I turned onto 147 and repeated in my mind what Garry warned me about: beware of the blind rises, the blind right handers, BEWARE!!!!!!!

I rolled through some rough parts and left the town of Wheeling consciously telling myself, easy grip, steer with feet and legs, outside foot weighted, knee into the frame, relax upper body...... and I was in heaven.


Simply awesome and quite serene i kept the motor in it's sweet spot of second and third gear most of the time.



Feeling very alive and always conscious of the dangers of the sport-hobby-way of life I call motorcycling, I stopped to take this shot of a church whose name said it all.  Though I am an atheist, I thought that was a great example of how my day was turning out to be.

[garry]

I turned onto 147 and repeated in my mind what Garry warned me about: beware of the blind rises, the blind right handers, BEWARE!!!!!!!

A local (Pittsburgh area) sport bike rider died in a crash on 255 yesterday. Didn't know the guy personally, but I would see him post on a local forum. These are demanding roads to ride at a brisk pace. One mistake can lead to serious consequences, but damn are they fun when you find "the zone". If I find myself making small errors in line or being a tiny bit surprised at anything, I slow down to where it flows again or take a break if that doesn't work.

RIP Strangeglove...

[tankhead]

Damn Garry so sorry to hear.  I absolutely respected the roads and always respect speed limits in tiny town out of respect for the locals. Really sorry.  

[garry]

Damn Garry so sorry to hear.  I absolutely respected the roads and always respect speed limits in tiny town out of respect for the locals. Really sorry.  

I didn't know the guy, but it's a sobering reminder about what can happen out there and to be careful. I was just using this unfortunate event to note why I warn people about the nature of the roads in southeast OH. I think the riding is great and not to be missed, but you have to leave plenty in reserve to deal with the occasional gravel filled corner and the blind corners/rollers that are somewhat unique to the area. I'm quite used to the terrain, but I remember Vivid1 complaining they were too twisty and intense for her.

But anyway, back to your great ride report. I'm looking forward to reading more about your Friday. It was a beautiful day (I was doing yard work) and I hope the route lived up to the hype.

[Rincewind]

   

[tankhead]

147.  Well it definitely started the day out with a bang.  As long as 147 is and as wonderfully twisty it is I was somewhat disappointed in the one item that kept reappearing: big 3-4 foot wide tar spooge sections that I guess have drainage pipes laid across the road underneath the surface.  Instead of filling them with pavement they repair the cut out with tar snake goo.  So that meant that the front tire would catch and slide ever so slightly.  No big deal but just surprising as I had heard how clean the roads were.  Still I would rank that road a great 8 out of 10 (could have been a solid 10 if not for the goo).  A short run down route 9 to 145.  More open spaces, pastures, with lush greenery. Unbelievable goodness in flow and keeping the revs higher in the third gear for nice traction and power.  A delight indeed.   556 came upon me quick.  556 is without a doubt 10 out of 10    




Here is the rest of the pic and the turn.



I got to the top of that climb in that pic and had to get off of the bike, which in hindsight, was a good idea.  I unplugged the heated gear, drank from my camelback.  AHHHHH: ice cold water. I always try and fill the camelback up with ice from the ice machine at a hotel before a ride while I am traveling. I took a couple pics.



  I started thinking about what my wife was going to be going through that evening at the viewing of her friend.  Now Mary and my wife have been friends for 20 something years, since they were juniors in high school.  Mary's sister Lynne is (was) 10 years older then Mary.  So Lynne, to my wife, was like an older sister. I started to become somewhat guilt ridden.  I thought about life and how lucky I am to have met my wife later in life after a horrible divorce.  And that I really have to take it easy out here because there was no way I could ruin her life by playing too hard here in Ohio.

I lost my Dad when I was not quite 1.5 years old. He was drinking returning home from an Irish wake after a series of deaths in his family.  His father died in 1966 and within 3 more years he would lose his mother, then his sister and have to take care of his younger brothers.  On this particular evening he probably drank a little too much, hit a post at a stop sign, probably fell asleep at the wheel and died instantly from blunt force trauma to the head.  It has been hard on me and my family but we got past it and rose above.  Then I started thinking of my daughters and how I would never want to put them in the position that I was put in by loosing a father.  It was all getting too real and I turned around and noticed that I was yet again at another reminder of death.

[tankhead]

Back down to the Ohio. I immediately got on 78 and climbed right back up into the pastures of Cameron.  Beautiful lush green pastures with cows.  Pleasing to the eye and if you don't mind me saying, strange as it is, the smell of dung reminds me of taking my kids to the local zoo when they were much younger.  So yeah I was digging the pungent aroma of horse and cattle feces and loving it. Which led me to 536. Holy crap.  Take a look at the pic and notice the rise (a couple of teaser pics). If you notice in the pic of 536 the immediate rise in elevation.  Yeah, this is where the undulating was relentless and fun.  Bermed roadways with blind rises that made me snap off the throttle no matter how many times I checked the GPS to assure myself that there was not a swift right or left immediately over the rise.  I just could never trust what I could not see. I was riding with flow most of the time except for the rises.  I am just not that used to that type of riding. I thought I got my feet wet in WV but really it is just not as constant.  Strange enough it reminds me of riding in Eastern MD.  More on that later.....  Route 536 a strong 11 out of 10. Yep that good. Great road surfaces.  Smooth flow.  Awesome.

[garry]

147.  Well it definitely started the day out with a bang.  As long as 147 is and as wonderfully twisty it is I was somewhat disappointed in the one item that kept reappearing: big 3-4 foot wide tar spooge sections that I guess have drainage pipes laid across the road underneath the surface.  Instead of filling them with pavement they repair the cut out with tar snake goo.  So that meant that the front tire would catch and slide ever so slightly.  No big deal but just surprising as I had heard how clean the roads were.  

Odd. I know 556 has a few of those, and 536 even more, but I don't recall them on 147. Maybe ODOT has been busy in the last couple weeks. They are especially interesting on a hot summer day when the tar is nice and slick...

556 is a favorite. 536 is unrelenting tight and twisty, but can be a bit dirty in spots. The best section of the route (IMO) is about to come (255, 26, 537, 260)...

[tankhead]

Hey I could be wrong.  But in thinking of the trip I felt that it was very early on in the ride.  There were not a few, it seemed like many.  We don't have that in Southern NJ.    NO need for drainage in the twisties because there are none.

[tankhead]

And then there was:


and this


and this


and my first Mail Pouch tag


and a whole lot of this

[tankhead]

Now I don't have too many shots of the uber twisties.  I noticed many trucks on the back roads.  Dump trucks if you will.  Now for the most part they kept to their side of the double yellow but I did not want to catch a driver off guard and be startled by some jackass from jersey in my get up, scouting the best shots, with my bike on the side of the road because there really was no where to park the bike without being in the way..
255 was all that you can imagine.  Very clean road and had forest cover so the road felt narrower and tighter.  Glorious glorious.  I was screaming in my helmet, HOLY SHIT! Not many pics of the route or for 26 for that matter, nor for 536.  The sun was high, I needed to get to my tent site at Leith Run Campground.









And then this little side road that took me down to the Ohio River again where I would soon set up the tent, and go back out for the second part of the ride.




2nd Mail Pouch tag on RT 7


Leith Run Campsite:







More to come......

[02VFR]

Great ride report, sometimes I take the roads in SE Ohio for granted they are my day ride destination.  I am glad you are enjoying them and it has been great weather...  


Enjoy..

[sagerat]

Great ride report!

/threadjack on
What kind of tent and how do you like it?
/threadjack off, er, closed

[tankhead]

ALPS Mountaineering Zephyr 2 Backpacking Tent

It was the first time I had used it.  All mesh tent with the cover (which is not mesh) with footprint for about $160.00.  Easy set up.  Not great for cold weather unless you pack the heavy bag.  I don't have a heavy bag so I was cold.  Slept in my riding jacket and did not get much sleep at all.  I need an inflatable thermarest.  But yeah it is a neat tent for the price. check Amazon.  That is where I got it. Great reviews.  

[tankhead]

 Set my tent all up and grabbed some food in the next town, Newton (?).  Nothing really there, went to an IGA to have them make me a tuna sub but nada.  So I went across the bridge and found a subway in WV.  Grabbed a tuna sub and headed back to my site to eat.




 I was starving.  I forgot to buy a couple protein bars like I did for the last two days.



The sun was starting to crest the sky and the shadows were getting longer by the second.  I figured I had at least 3 hours of sunlight left so make the most with the time I here. With all the weight of the gear off of the bike, The bike was noticeably flickier.  I was tired, hot, and quite honestly ready to get off of the bike.  I started really having pangs of guilt and was thinking of my wife and surely she would be going to the viewing with our daughters and have to be strong for them within the hour.  I promised myself that the second ride of the day would be a scenic grandpa drive.  My first ride was adrenaline filled and exhausting.  Now it was time to relax and enjoy.  With not many pics left of my Ohio ride, I leave you the rest of the ride.

Lets just say an awesome road right off of Route 7 near the park.  Very awesome indeed


Narrow roads without warning signs.
 The left side of the mountain (north?) had a blanket of these tiny white flowers coating the forest floor.  Here is the blanket....



Archers forge road sent me back to 26, if I remember correctly, that was one fine road.



My third tag for the trip:



Back to Route 7: Lockeheade something or other


Power Station

[tankhead]

Finale:
I built a fire on the grill.


  Had some Capt'n and diet.



Started getting an extreme headache.  Between the pollen explosion and dehydration my head was hurting so I finished my drink and called my wife.  She told me how the viewing went.  My youngest cried, it was hard for her.  Everyone was nice.  Lynne looked great. And my wife dropped my girls off at their mother's house, she took her daughter home and was now home relaxing, reading, and having a glass of wine.. She said she missed me and that house seems so empty without me there.  I told her I was going to start heading back tomorrow.  She said no rush.
We said our goodbyes and I tried to sleep.
Well the Ohio river has quite a bit of traffic at night.  Here is what I saw hours earlier





And this was pushing the four sections:  What talent:


The boats seemed to come one every half hour. Between my pounding head, no thermarest, no pillow and no winter bag just a spring bag I was cold and miserable. Slept in my moto jacket. I really think I got 5 minutes sleep all night. At the first sign of daylight or birds screeching I wrapped everything up, packed the bike up, and head to route 50 to 79 (?) N to 68 and headed for home. After coffee, of course. I got 151 miles on the Uly the first tank before the light came on and 153 the second tank before the light came on. My best mileage yet for that bike. And finished the trip with 146 more miles on the third tank without the light on as of yet. 450 miles for the day. I was spent.
The great news is that I got to see Mary's family at Lynne's house. Her husband had a after party party after the reception dinner. I rolled up and gave my sympathies, hugged those that needed it, kissed those who I haven't seen in a few, and felt good that I was a part of the ceremony in someway. So I stayed for an hour. Told my wife I had to get home, eat, shower, and lay down. My head was hurting still. I told her to take her time and spend the time with her second family. So she did. I was happy.
And I rode another 20 miles home.

As I sat on my deck after my shower, with a Capt'n and Diet, I thought of how lucky I was, how lucky I am, and look forward to riding more adventures with my wife and solo in the future.  WV Country Roads Meet here we come............

[Mastros2]

Excellent Ride Report.    You really do have a special way of writing especially with this time of sadness.  

Please pass to your wife my condolences.  

[tankhead]

Thanks my man,
Well I hope, even though the report was somewhat personal, that the folks took what they could, whatever that is, from a simple 1500 mile ride report.  On the surface or somewhat deeper than the epidermis.  Hope to see you in WV soon.  Thanks again and thanks for reading.

[BwanaDik]

Excellent report, thanks for taking us along!    

Bookmarked it for future reference  

[JamminJere]

Great Report Hot tub Buddy!!!!!

See you in WV!

JJ

[Smoker]

 

Great report, thanks for sharing.

[Orson]

Good stuff  

Fantastic looking roads. Hard to beat a torquey v-twin on a twisty road  

[tankhead]

Thanks guys I am glad you enjoyed it.  

[st2sam]

Chris, thanks for sharing your ride with us.  
The guys I ride with are planning a trip in that area this summer, the sooner the better.

[02VFR]

Chris, thanks for sharing your ride with us.  
The guys I ride with are planning a trip in that area this summer, the sooner the better.

Sam let me know when you are planning to come out....

[tankhead]

Hey Sam, glad you enjoyed.  Don't know if you remember me from Clearfield back in 06. I was riding the Buell City-X.  I rode with you, RDoug, Ken Denton, SWriverstone and I do believe you were pushing triple digit speeds during our run but slowed down just in time for the Cop at the corner of Wycoff Run road.

[st2sam]

Sam let me know when you are planning to come out....

Thanks Phil, I will...

[st2sam]

Hey Sam, glad you enjoyed.  Don't know if you remember me from Clearfield back in 06. I was riding the Buell City-X.  I rode with you, RDoug, Ken Denton, SWriverstone and I do believe you were pushing triple digit speeds during our run but slowed down just in time for the Cop at the corner of Wycoff Run road.

Chris you have a great memory and yes it was a lucky day for sure...