We Are Home

Just about everyone gathered in the breakfast area for the last time. The day was to be cool but sunny; perfect for riding. I would be leading a group of 7 people on 6 bikes home; our plan was to ride all the way home but to stop about every hour or so for a short butt rest. Two other groups left about the same time we did but they were going to ride much harder with maybe 1 stop for gas. Our little group did fine; cruising 65 and 70 on major highways. We ran into rain about 100 miles from home and had to stop to put on the rain suits. The rain slowed us down considerably and we made it home by 5:15 PM. 10 hours in the saddle but it didn’t seem bad; the 15 minute rest breaks helped. One of the other groups arrived home 1 to 2 hours earlier. The ride home was 408 miles and we traveled a total of 1700 miles from day 1 to arriving home. We visited a lot of places; had a lot of fun and rode some of the best motorcycle roads in the USA. Now it’s time to begin thinking about next year’s travels.

The Banquet

The banquet was good food of course but also a lot of awards were given out this year. Cindy lost her glasses on the trip out so she was given some eye glass holders; Dale just couldn’t get his GPS to work correctly and was so lost without it he was given a compass; Roger was given duct tape to fix his bike with; Bill was given a box of Kleenex because he has cried all week because he is in a car and not on two wheels (due to a broken wrist); Mike and John were given a ball of string because they travel together but usually get separated and lost on their travels; Leon was given Monkey Butt powder because he is always complaining about the ‘butt burning rides’ we take; Mike was given a box of band-aids to patch up his road rash; Betty was given a sweater clip because she lost her sweater on the ride here; Lucy was given a mask representing a river captain because on the paddlewheel boat ride she was given the wheel to steer the boat and Bernie was given a green sparkle hat because he left home without a hat and he was all upset every time we stopped about his helmet hair.

Bernadette had a great game of guess what is in the bag. There were 15 bags and we had to guess what was in each one just by feeling – and surprise surprise – Bernie won. He only missed one item. Our 50 – 50 winners were Bill Venable; Sandra Venable; Roger Whaley and Andy Hale.

Now the banquet is over and some are heading to their rooms to pack and some of the guys are planning to play one last game of cards. Parting words were “let’s meet for breakfast at 7 and plan to pull out at 7:30” and about two-thirds of the group will be leaving at the same time. I’m sure we will get separated along the way as some stop more often for rest and/or gas but what an awesome sight a dozen bikes make traveling down the highway.

Sternwheeler Festival

Roger’s bike was finished today so as soon as he returned to the hotel we headed to Marietta Ohio to check out the Sternwheeler Festival. There were thousands of people milling around with chairs and blankets spread out on the banks of the Ohio River where dozens of Sternwheelers were docked along with one of the war ships that carried our troops to Normandy beaches during WWII and lots of vendors selling crafts and food.

After a couple of hours some headed back to the hotel and Bernie, Shirley, Glenn, Kathy, Don and I headed cross hill and dale to find the Berdine’s 5 & Dime store in Harrisville, WV. Shirley had read about this store in the Sunday paper and thought it would be a neat place to visit. Apparently this is the America’s oldest 5 & dime store still in operation. She was right. There were toys, bulk candy, china, doilies, dolls, postcards, stationary, marbles, kitchen gadgets, joke items, jams and jellies, and the list goes on and on. The lady running the store was so nice and more than happy to show us everything. And of course we all came out with something special we had purchased.

We arrived back to the hotel in time to shower and pack before heading to the banquet. Tomorrow we head for home with all our memories.

Pictures of The Wilds

The Wilds

Pulled out at 8 AM and traveled some great back roads in Ohio reaching the Wilds by 9:35 as planned. This place was more than I had expected. We boarded the open air bus and pulled through the automatic gates. Ronnie, our tour guide and bus driver, drove slowly over the bumpy dirt trails stopping at various locations in the open fields where animals were grazing or wondering; buffalo, zebras, giraffes, rhinoceros, elk, and many, many more. After our safari they had prepared us a lunch which we ate on the overlook and then headed out to find some back roads on which to play. I had the directions from the Internet for the Ohio Dragon, route 536; 11 miles of twists and turns, uphill and down scraping floorboards as you first lean left and then lean right. I don’t think there is one single straight stretch in the whole 11 miles. Then we got on Ohio 7 which runs right along the river. Dinner was pizza ordered in and shared in the social room where the ladies talked and the men played cards.

This and That

This group just isn’t right! 21 of us went to the Texas Roadhouse for dinner and they put us all in one area together. We had noticed about 2 or 3 times the servers came dancing past clapping and singing for someone’s birthday. Someone, and I cannot tell you who because I don’t know for sure, told the servers it was Andy’s birthday. So here they come, about 8 or 10, clapping, shouting and singing to Andy. His eyes were as big as saucers and his mouth wide open. Everyone in the group was hooting and yelling. Then they brought Andy the complimentary large piece of cake with ice cream piled on top with chocolate syrup. He was nice enough to pass the plate around to anyone who wanted to have a bite. Andy’s birthday is really in June. And this was the one time I left the camera in the room; what a picture this would have made for the newsletter.

We’ve had a few hitches along the way. Roger was having a problem with his bike on the way out and it just got worse so he took it to the shop on Tuesday afternoon. Needs a driveshaft and they are calling all over the place to find one. The factory said they are on backorder for a month. Found one on e-bay which is being shipped overnight to the shop. Hope they get it finished before Roger and Ginny plan to leave on Sunday.

We have 4 people who want to go on the Wilds Tour but I had to give then the final count two weeks ago. Not sure if we can add 4 more people since lunch is being provided. They are going to ride with us since I am planning a nice ride after our safari tour. Several of us want to find the Ohio Dragon.

Blennerhassett Island Tour

Left the parking lot at 9:45 to wind our way downtown Parkersburg to the Blennerhassett Museum; easy trip. I rode on the back of Don’s bike to navigate the streets. The building was built in 1904 and operated as Star Grocery Company until 1940 but it was well maintained and held loads of interesting items from the Blennerhassett family as well as artifacts from earlier history in this area. Getting back on the bikes we rode about 3 miles to Belpre where we boarded the paddlewheel boat for the short trip across the Ohio River to the island. The boat captian motioned for Lucy to come to the front and she was given the wheel to steer the boat. The Blennerhassett’s were very wealthy and the mansion was a showpiece in the area. But he became involved with Aaron Burr and was labeled a traitor and lost everything and ended up moving back to London to live with his sister. After touring the house we took a wagon ride around the island and the young lady handling the horse was a bundle of information. A sign said you can tip the driver and kiss the horse so Bernie got to kiss the horse. Back on the boat we headed to the shore for our ride back to the hotel where some of the ladies plan to go shopping, a few men want to take naps or share stories over a cold beer and one game of cards before dinner. I think it was a good day; most of our group enjoys museum trips once in awhile.

West Virginia State Penitentiary

Kickstands up at 9:30 heading north on route 2; George was leading today and we were heading about 80 miles to the West Virginia State Penitentiary which was built in 1866 and closed in 1995. The tour, which was 2 hours, was very informative and well worth the visit. The stories were chilling and mindboggling as to why someone would continue their life of crime and return to such a place over and over again. The cells were maybe 4 by 6 with a metal cot hanging from the wall and a toilet with a wash basin just above it; cement walls with iron bars on the front facing the walkway. We were given a chance to get inside a cell and the guide ‘locked down’ and it was a strange feeling hearing those metal doors slam shut. I found it very interesting that the warden lived on the 4th floor with his family; his children played in the same yard as the prisoners and the people caring for his children, cleaning his house and even cooking his meals were the ‘ trusties’ meaning they were prisoners but very well behaved prisoners. Give me a break! The ride to and back was wonderful. A mountain range to our immediate left, the Ohio river to our right and then another mountain range just past the river. In the distance you can see the trees on the mountains are just beginning to display some fall color. The air was crisp today. After our tour George lead us to a cafeteria for a late lunch so tonight we will probably eat at the Pub right here in the hotel and socialize.

West Virginia Pen Tour

Everyone listens as Donna our tour guide tells about a prison riot in the room where we are standing.
4X6 home to almost 800 people at one time.

Bad feeling to have these doors lock shut.

Glenn’s Mystery Ride

All 25 members on 16 bikes lined up in the parking lot ready to follow Glenn even though no one, not even his wife, knew where he was leading us. We rode along the Ohio River for awhile and then headed off into farm country. We ended up at the Hillybilly Hot Dog. I understand this place is rated 15 out of 101 places on the food channel. But how do I describe it? No matter what I say if you have never been there it is going to sound awful. The parking lot is up hill all stone and gravel and right away I got myself in a bad spot which required 6 men to push my bike back to a partway level spot before I could pull out to leave. But let’s get back to describing this place. First it is two old, broken down buses parked next to each other and then a room built on with something like a porch built on to all that. The door to enter opens from the side you think should have the hinges; names of people who have visited are written all over everything. Of course I had to sign one wall before I left. Hanging from the walls, ceilings, outside and inside, the trees and even the roof are all types of junk is the only word I can think of. Things I saw were a toilet seat, bells, shovels, underwear, toys, dolls, truck parts, and so much more. We walked around for over an hour and I’m sure we didn’t see everything. The menu had pizza hotdogs, fried hotdogs, hillybilly hotdogs, and more. The food was great and the little girl behind the counter joined the fun. We rode 100 miles to get a hotdog – does that make us crazy? I don’t think so a 200 mile day on the bike is always good. A dip in the pool at the hotel and then off to find dinner. Now it’s time to socialize and play cards.

Hillybilly Hot Dog

Andy and Bonnie

Junk and more junk

George and Andy can't believe their eyes.

Day of Riding

After dinner we enjoy some down time

Bernadette at the Oil and Gas Museum

Started the day with a great breakfast and good friends even though it is a small group right now. We gathered in the parking lot ready to leave at 8:30. The plan was to head south to Point Pleasant then cross the Ohio River head north to Belpre and then over to the Oil and Gas Museum in Parkersburg. Our first turn was onto county route 13 which was not much more than a cow path but some of those roads are the best for wondering around the countryside. In just a couple of miles the road gets smaller and then it turns to dirty and stone and is nothing more than a path in the woods for ATV travels. First U turn of the day! We travel south on 68 and 33 which are wonderful roads running beside the Ohio River through small towns and farmland. Reaching Point Pleasant we turn north and have to back track about 20 miles on route 2 but still a pleasant ride. However, to reach route 2 Gabby takes us on a short cut over which starts out like route 13 and George asked if this was an instant replay. The only gravel is about 20 feet at the end but there is also a sign that says ‘do not enter’. Well that’s for the birds! We completed the short distance to get on route 2. Finally crossing the Ohio River the GPS tells me to take a right and as soon as I do there is a sign “no outlet” and a police car sitting beside the road with a radar gun. Now exactly what is he expecting to nab if there is no traffic? We stop and as I approach the policeman he smiles and says “you can’t get there from here”. The road had been closed and we had to go around. He suggested we take Ohio 124 and what a great road. Not great in the condition of the road but great in the scenery. We rode beside the Ohio River and through corn and soybean fields. You could almost reach out and touch the corn and at other times look down the banks to the river. As we pull into a small town and are instructed to turn right we again are greeted by a sign stating it is a dead end – 3rd U turn. Seems roads are closed frequently around here. As we reach Parkersburg George found the Oil and Gas Museum in his GPS so he took over the lead. After circling the general area 3 times and the GPS saying “you are here” we were just about ready to give up when we stopped at a light and low and behold there is was. I guess passing it the 4th time was the charm. And I am so glad we didn’t miss it; the history in that old musty building was amazing. West Virginia was ‘created’ or sliced out of Virginia by oil reach men who did not want to be involved in the Civil War. The state in the 1800’s was one of the wealthiest once they realized this awful black stuff that kept contaminating the water wells was really good stuff. The rest of the group began arriving around 3:30 pm and by dinner we had 25 members present. The hotel has given us a meeting room for the week and it didn’t take us long to start the story telling and laughing about past trips; of course every mistake, U turn and time someone was lost gets bigger with every time the story is told. The cards were brought out for that first game of quarter knock. The rally has officially begun.

Arrived at Comfort Suites

Wow what a difference in the weather when we got up; sun was shining and there was no wind but it was very chilly. Need the heated jackets almost all day. Had a great breakfast at the Hilltop Diner and then headed west. Traveling 50 takes you through old towns with stately homes and old churches made of stone with stone walls around their yards or fields. But passing through the many unincorporated crossroads you find small houses in need of some repair or log cabins; not the new expensive versions but the real deal from a hundred years ago. Many yards or fields held rusted shells of old cars and trucks that had been parked where they stopped running and were only a reminder of better days. I could not count the number of houses with Christmas lights hanging from their front porches – either way too early for this coming year or just too much trouble to take down last year. Leaving Romney we were immediately in the mountains with open valleys to our right dotted with large round bales of hay. Many corn fields have already been harvested in the area. As we climb and twist and turn through the hairpin curves we down shift to maintain the power. We reach the top of Saddle Mountain and then begin the decent; ride the ridge for awhile and then climb Cheat Mountain and again thrill to the downhill run with 9% grades where you have to use the lower gears to hold down the speed. We don’t want to ride the breaks for fear of overheating them and the last thing we want is a runaway bike on these roads. I see many things that are very familiar from last year’s trip on 50 but these mountains and twisties will never get old to me. Then all too soon we reach Clarksburg and from here to Parkersburg and then Mineral Wells the road is a 4 lane divided highway much as route 1 is in Delaware. We still have the mountains and we climb a little but you never reach the top because they have dynamited the mountains to level the roads for better travel and greater speeds. We cover more distance in a shorter period of time but not near as much fun. We reach the hotel by 3pm but have to wait over an hour to get our room. We ordered pizza and then saw George and Bernadette ride into the parking lot. After 10 hours of riding they are ready to call it a night. Plans are to meet tomorrow morning for breakfast and then take a ride along the Ohio River and hopefully go to the Oil and Gas Museum. Covered 189 miles today.

Romney WV

We pulled out of the driveway at 6:35AM, stopped by Bernie and Shirley’s and pointed the bikes towards the west. Sun was shining and the temp was cool actually needed jackets. First stop was the McDonalds on Kent Island for breakfast. We found a lot of construction on 495 in the area of our exit for route 50; so much so that we could not get off so we rode on to the exit for route 66 and found the same problem. Thank goodness for Gabby the GPS! We got off on an exit for Vienna and then immediately began weaving our way around city streets in Vienna and Fairfax and even into the parking lot of a large mall (my mistake on that one) before we finally got back on track for 50 west. Added 17 miles to the trip which was an extra 30 minutes but getting around Winchester was a breeze. I have ridden through Winchester 4 times and got lost every time except this one. By 11 AM it was warm and the jackets had to be packed in the trailer. We must have passed more than 150 motorcycles today on route 50 all heading east. By noon we had the 20 mph winds and dark clouds above us. Reached the Koolwink Motel in Romney around 2:20 in time to sit outside and visit and give Bernie and Shirley time to go to Mass which the Internet stated was at 5:30 but when they got there no one was there. They went inside and waited and finally found a bulletin and mass had been changed to 4 pm – guess someone forgot to update the web page. Covered 230 miles today.

Ready to Leave

We pull out early tomorrow morning. Trailer has been packed for a couple of days and maps checked and changed several times. I think I have every turn memorized by now. I don’t understand why this big trailer is always full to the top when we could pack everything we needed on two bikes before. I think it is true – the more space you have the more you take. Instead of travel size containers I find myself packing the regular size of shampoo; hair spray and etc. never the less we have what we need and/or want.

I’ve been watching the weather, especially with Earl and another front moving east, and I’m a little concerned about the wind gusts tomorrow; they are calling for 15 to 22 mph winds which are not fun riding on two wheels but we’ll take what we get and be happy just to be out and riding. Well, it’s early but if I go to sleep maybe the morning will come faster. You know when you are on vacation if you get up early your vacation is longer.

The rally committee did a great job on the design for the rally shirt but then every year the rally shirts look great.