Going Home

Day 8 & 9

Breakfast at 7:30 and pulled out at 8 with plans to make it to Romney WV about 330 miles and stop for the night at Koolwink, a little motel we have visited several times.  The weather was calling for 80% chance of rain so when we pulled out we were delighted to have cloudy but dry skies.  We rode hard for the first couple of hours and then had to stop for gas; still no rain thank goodness.  Then just before noon we needed gas again and lunch and the sky was getting really dark and the rain started.  Getting from the gas pumps across the parking lot to the restaurant we were soaked.  We only had about 130 miles to go but 100 of those miles were on route 50 which was up; over and around mountains which slowed us down considerable costing us at least an extra hour.   Arriving in the little town of Romney we saw people – normally there are very few people on the streets in this small, sleepy town. There was a festival in town and the Koolwink was full with several Warlock gang members but we were assured they come into town every year and never cause any problems.  Don kept warning me to stay away from their bikes.  

Four in our group decided to leave at 7 Sunday morning while the remaining 8 had breakfast at 7 and on the road by 8 heading for home.  We covered 220 miles in 4 hours with one stop for gas after 160 miles.  Sun was shining and the temps were in the mid 60s when we pulled out; perfect for riding.  We arrived home by noon, quick lunch at Hardees where we met a very nice man and woman who ride and we shared stories for a few minutes and invited them to a UTR meeting and then home to unpack and do laundry.  Work tomorrow.

A Great Day with a Great Group

Day 7

Today was going to be a short ride today but it started out bad.  Roger’s bike wouldn’t start seems the battery is dead and every time we stopped we had to jump it; then two bikes picked up a screw some place and got flat tires.  One bike they fixed in the parking lot of the Mountain Homeplace and Mike decided to ride his to the closest shop and have it fixed.   None of the “points of interest” in eastern Kentucky are listed in the GPS and none have addresses.  It is always some number on KY route and a 4 digit road number.  Now 3 and 4 digit roads (3224 or 1478) are great riding but that is not an address.  So we headed out to find the Mountain Homeplace, an 18^th century farm which was not where the internet said it was.  After turning around twice, making a wrong turn and riding through a graveyard we finally found it.  It was well worth the trouble. 

Then we set out to find the Black Barn a produce market and this one was right where the internet said but leaving there we headed for River to find the “plastic bridge” and never did see it.   Some in the group headed back for the hotel while Don and I and Dale headed out to Van Lear to find Loretta Lynn’s homeplace; Butcher Holler which is way back in the mountains.  But we found it and had a nice visit with Harmon, Loretta’s brother who showed us around the house and explained everything to us.  Very nice man and loves to visit.  Back to the hotel and packing starts for the early leave in the morning. 

A new twist was added to the banquet this year; everyone was to wear a funny hat.  We had such a variety including a free range chicken; the little piggy;   a court jester; a charming woman with pink hair and even the Blues Brothers.   We were laughing so hard and so loud that waitresses from the other room were coming in to see what was going on.  We had to go to the restaurant to get our food and everyone stopped eating to watch this parade of people wearing bright florescent yellow T-Shirts with crazy hats on march right up to the buffet.  One lady said we certainly seemed to have a lot of fun and she would like to join our group.  We ate; we laughed; we told stories; we played games; Kathy and Sandra gave out gag gifts based on screw-ups during the week and we exchanged door prizes.  I thanked everyone for their cooperation and shared fun and now the 2012 UTR rally is over. 

Front Porch Pickin (and grinning)

Day 6

Ken led the ride today and while we had nothing specific to see or visit we had a great day of riding some wonderful back roads.  We traveled up and over mountains, around mountains, past jagged rocks, passed fields of wild flowers and pastures of various farm animals.  The roads today required me to be alert and rock and roll with the beat of the road.  There are a lot of tobacco barns in this area many filled with tobacco hanging to dry.  I was not aware that many workers suffer with nicotine poisoning after cutting, spearing and hanging the tobacco.   Dinner was at Wilma’s a little restaurant downtown that was filled to capacity with our 21 people and the food was great home cooking.  Price was right at $5.95 for the buffet.   Then off we went to “Front Porch Pickin” which was great entertainment for a buck.  About 5 local groups played Bluegrass music while the locals danced their hearts out.  Reminded me of the country line dancing at the Moose on Friday nights I attended a few years back.  Everyone knew everyone, sold 50/50 tickets, and danced line dances, clogging and some 2 step.  Some with cowboy boots, some with sneakers and some with taps on their shoes for the clogging.  Some were very good and others were not but they didn’t care everyone was smiling.  It was great fun – just had a little trouble understanding their strong southern accent.   Bernie seemed to understand because he was singing right along with them.   Kathy and I tried our hand at the twist but I quickly found out my sandals stick to the floor with their rubber soles and you cannot do much glued to the floor.  But it gave a few others the courage to get up and dance which I guess is my role as president of this group – lead by example.  LOL

 

Horse Farms and Keeneland Race Track

Day 5

Today 13 of us pulled out of the parking lot at 8:30 heading 115 miles to Lexington KY to tour several horse farms in the area.   We arrived at 11 allowing us time to eat at the Embassy Suites, a beautiful hotel which was our pick-up location.  The first stop was a stud farm and we met “songandapray” who’s owners get paid $6500 per “event” and he can service 3 mares a day during breeding season.   We learned a stud can “do his thing” for 20 years or more and they are treated like royalty.  The barn and breeding room was air conditioned and very clean.  A vet is on hand to help through the process certainly not what I had expected; just turn two horses out in the pasture and let nature take its course.  No this is a major operation.  We were told we could feed him carrots and peppermint candy but he would bite if you tried to pet him.  And if anyone had sandals on there was a cat who loved to bite toes.  Well everyone had sneakers on but as soon as we stepped out of the van here comes the cat on a run and he went to each person and checked out their feet.  It was the funniest thing I’d ever seen; my cat was weird but not that weird.   Then they even have “birthing farms” where owners can take their mares just before they foul and there are vets on hand all the time to assist in the birthing. 

Then back in the bus and we headed for a farm to tour the “training” barns.  These colts were yearlings and scheduled to be sold in November and they needed to be trained to walk on a lead, stand still and in general behave themselves.   The barn was spotless, each stall had a fan for the horse, they are showered every day and turned out to exercise in the pastures after the sun goes down because they don’t want the color of their coats to fade in the bright sunshine.   Of course, these horses bring hundreds of thousands of dollars and the owners are hoping they will become Kentucky Derby winners or even a good stud will net millions over the course of time.   

Next stop – Keeneland Thoroughbred Race Track a beautiful track which has been around since 1935 and is a national historic site which is visited often by the Queen of England when she has her horses shipped over to the USA to race.  The history was fascinating.  After leaving Keeneland we traveled through several other horse farms and various locations where movies have been filmed.  Farms selling for millions and requiring millions to maintain them.

After a 3 and a half hour tour we saddled our steeds and headed back 115 miles to Paintsville on the Kentucky Parkway which is a great road, no stop signs or lights and cruising speeds of 65 and 70 with purple and yellow wild flowers blooming and the sycamore trees all turning golden.  Lexington, located in the middle of Kentucky is more rolling hills while heading back to Paintsville we had the Appalachian mountains in our sights with cut away sections of the mountains beside the highway displaying the vast amount of coal buried beneath the soil.  It was a pleasant day and dry – until the last 5 miles – then the skies opened up and soaked us.  Oh well – it is what it is.  

 

Up Up we go but what goes up must come down.

Standing at the top of the world; Natural Bridge KY

Nada Tunnel Entrance

Day 4

My turn to lead the ride and we were heading for Red River Gorge which would not be fun to ride if it rained so I was praying all night for clear skies.  Saddled up at 9 and had to put on the rain suits because it was just beginning to spit.  Never did rain and in about an hour we were turning onto highway 715 going into the gorge.  We snaked our way over a blacktop path barely wide enough for one vehicle.  It was so quiet, and the smell of damp earth and rotting old trees was tantalizing.  Signs telling us to watch for bears were posted but we didn’t see any.  Not sure how many miles we traveled through the gorge up hill, down gullies around curves and hairpin turns making a few stops for picture opportunities.  Then we approached the Nada Tunnel, I had been looking forward to riding through this tunnel for months.  The tunnel was blasted and dug by hand to transport logs from the gorge in the early 19^th century.  The tunnel is only large enough for one vehicle but yet it is a two way tunnel.  When we pulled up to the tunnel I was a bit surprised because it looked like a small cave I was about to enter.  I was going to ride through first and then make sure no vehicles would enter from the other end so the rest of the group could come through.  As I entered this gaping mouth it was suddenly black as midnight; the walls of the tunnel seemed to be so close you could touch them and I couldn’t see if the road had any ruts, did it go all the way to the walls or did it have a drop off, were there critters in this cave; there was no light at the end of the tunnel just pitch black even with my bike headlight on high beam!  What had I entered?  My GPS said “satellite signal lost”. I kept creeping forward and finally I could see a light indicating the exit for me.  I pulled out into the sunshine and called an all clear to the group.  They told me later they couldn’t hear me because the mountain was blocking the radio signals for our CB’s.

 

Next stop was the Natural Bridge State Park where we had lunch in the lodge and then took the skylift a half mile up to the top of the mountain.  The view was awesome as long as I didn’t look down!  At the top we hiked to the very top of the mountain and walked along the sandstone arch that forms the natural bridge.  Getting back down required another skylift ride this time I had to really try to keep my eyes focused on the trees which were slightly below me and not on the gorge which was  very deep below me.  Don said one thing we could be sure of – if we fall we won’t suffer because we’ll die quickly.  Great – husband – real comfort. 

Heading back to the hotel we took a couple more back mountain roads before settling in to the rhythm of the Kentucky parkway for an hour or more.  Never had a drop of rain but the roads were wet in Paintsville.  Dinner in the bar and then some played corn-hole others cards and some enjoyed the hot tub.

A Little Damp But Not Bad

Day 3

Raining when we got up so a leisurely breakfast was the order of the day then at 10 we pulled on our rain suites and followed Glenn south on highway 23 to Pikesville to visit a railroad museum.   Everything was great until the last left which immediately turned into a “Glenn road” meaning very narrow, tight hairpin turns, and uphill and down.  Then the road, if you could call it that, split and half the group was too far back to see that we went right.  They stopped and we heard Ken say “we have a little problem; we don’t know which way you went.”  I heard someone say left and then someone corrected that and said we went right.  Well 3 came right and the other 3 went left; we waited and laughed and waited until finally the last 3 bikes showed up.   The road to the left was just as bad as the one we were on but it was a dead-end so they were forced to come back our way.   Thank goodness no one dropped their bike.  Ok down off this mountain road right in town and we stop for lunch at Hardees and then head out to find some back roads and head back to Paintsville to find the Country Music Highway Museum.  The weather called for 80% chance of rain but all morning the skies were sunny and clear however, they suddenly turned dark and the rain started but within an hour or so the sky cleared again.  Hope tomorrow is clear because we will be riding the Red River Gorge.  Dinner at 5:15 and then 2 and a half hours in the hot tub and the pool round out the day.

What a Welcome

Day 1 & 2

It was a surprise to see Lucy roll into the parking lot of the Hardee’s Saturday morning.  Like Renee, she came to see us off.   Saturday’s ride was some secondary roads and some major highways totaling 340 miles as we pulled into the Econo Lodge at 5:15 p.m.  The plan was to meet another group of UTR members there for the night and then we would all ride together on Sunday into Paintsville.  They arrived at 5:30 just in time for dinner.   The weather was hot with just a few sprinkles of rain not enough to even get the bikes wet.  

 

Breakfast at 7 and then we pulled out at 8:10 traveling some really great roads through VA, WVA and then KY; route 460 is a great road, mostly dual with sweepers that can easily be taken at 55 and 60 mph.   The morning started out cool with fog hanging low over the fields then the sun came out and the world heated up.   Just before our planned stop for lunch around 12:30 some dark clouds began moving overhead and suddenly the sky opened up and buckets of water poured over us.  Thank goodness we were within a mile or two of a McDonalds but the rain didn’t last long and by the time we finished our lunch the sky was bright and the roads had even dried.  240 miles brought us to Paintsville by 3:10 p.m.  and as we pulled into the hotel’s parking lot and rolled up to the front door out comes a man with a TV camera.  As we enter the lobby there is a large poster with our logo and a welcome sign with a table set up with representatives from the local Tourism office giving us gift bags and the mayor is on hand to welcome us to Paintsville.   Everyone is kind of stunned to be receiving this type of welcome; after signing the guest book; receiving our gift bag and registering we head outside to unpack.  I was surprised to have the TV man stop me and ask for an interview for the local TV station.   It’s been a long day and we head for dinner at 5:45 and again get caught in a downpour and thunderstorm as we leave the restaurant.  

Heading Home

June 13, 2012

Day 12

Heading home today and should arrive by 3 or 4pm. Left Roanoke Rapids by way of route 58 and then 168 avoiding major highways as much as possible. We passed lumber mills and pulp mills with the smell of cut wood heavy in the air; I was surprised to see whole sections of woods cleared of every standing tree because pulp mills can use the little trees that are no good for making boards. We shared the small back road with log trucks carrying cut logs to these mills. Later we would pass new growth timber that will probably be ready to harvest in 20 years. We passed field after field of cotton and even a cotton gin in one of the small cross-roads of a town. The sun was bright and the air warm just perfect for riding. We finally reach route 64 and fight our way through the traffic to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and once we cross that body of water we know we are almost home. We traveled 295 miles today and 2320 miles total for this trip.

Smoke On The Smokies

June 12, 2012

Day 11

Best night sleep of the whole trip! All of the other hotels were comfortable but the beds at the Azalea Gardens were just perfect. It rained during the night but this morning it was clear so we headed for the Blue Ridge Parkway and what a difference from yesterday! This morning was sunny, clear and the air was crisp. It is easy to see why these mountains are called the Great Smoky Mountains; the view appeared as if the whole mountain range was on fire and smoke was billowing up; such a captivating view. Only 11 miles on the parkway and we take 421 heading for Roanoke Rapids NC; Andy’s old stomping grounds. He was born and raised in this area and has promised to take us to the best Bar B Q place on the east coast. Route 421 is now in my bag of best roads to ride; dual and well maintained no stop lights or towns and a fair amount of dipping and diving as you climb 3000 to 4000 feet and then decent at 8 and 9% grades. Route 40 and 85 are nothing to brag about but they get you where you want to go and then we take 158. Now we are in the back country roads of NC with tobacco fields and old drying barns and new fields of cotton planted. We travel past little country homes with metal roofs installed way before the red, green and blue metal roofs of today became popular. We pass through cross-roads with names and maybe what passes as a garage but that’s it. I’m beginning to wonder if our destination is bigger than these places and will we actually find a motel. Well Interstate 95 runs very near Roanoke Rapids and the city had or has some large manufacturing so yes we found a good hotel at a very good price.

June 11, 2012

Day 10

Still raining this morning but we pulled on the rain gear and headed out for the Blue Ridge Parkway. After 25 miles of traveling in rain from a light drizzle to heavy and fog so heavy at times you couldn’t see more than a few feet we decided this just wasn’t fun. The Blue Ridge Parkway is beautiful and fun to ride when it is clear but a real nightmare when the conditions are as they were today. A minor change in Gabby and we headed for Blowing Rock by way of the Great Smokey Mountain Expressway, route 40; other local roads and finally Blowing Rock Parkway arriving at the Azalea Garden by noon; only 155 miles today but that was enough in the rain. The motel is just as I remembered; lovely gardens, flowers everywhere, white wicker furniture on the front patio and under the gazebo. This time Bob has joined the motel staff; a bob-tail orange cat that at first wasn’t too interested in us but warmed up to us later in the afternoon and decided my lap looked pretty darn comfortable. Reminded me of holding Lucky; if I stopped rubbing his head Bob would reach out with his front paw and grab my hand and pull it to him. Don was sleeping or I would be hearing “Sheila, get that cat down you don’t know anything about him.” The rain stopped and we walked the half block to Knight’s Restaurant for a great lunch and then walked up or down town (not sure) and checked out the many small shops especially targeted to tourists but it is a very pretty town. If you want to really shop there is a mall just a few minutes outside of town. It’s about 4 pm now and there are about 10 cars in the parking lot but I’m afraid we frightened off at least 4 others. It amazes me to see people pull in and drive back to the end of parking lot where are bikes are and Bonnie and I are sitting outside; they stop and then slowly turn around point at the bikes and pull out of the parking lot and go to another motel. It really is sad that bikers have such a bad rap when 99% of us are decent people from all walks of life and professions. I have to laugh because we are riding a GoldWing touring bike; a GoldWing Trike and a Suzuki and not one of the 1%ers would be caught dead riding any of these bikes. But to anyone who doesn’t ride a bike I guess a bike is a bike. Well the rain has stopped and the sky is beginning to lighten. I hope tomorrow is clear but we probably won’t get on the Blue Ridge. Need to head for Emporia VA which is at least 235 miles; I would like to find route 58 and avoid the interstates if possible.

Welcoming patio with fresh coffee

Gazebo to relax

Private cabin for rent

Bob

A Day In Cherokee

June 10, 2012

Day 9

Woke to a light rain so the bikes stayed covered while we sat on the rockers on the front porch and watched some really nice antique cars pull in and out of the parking lot on their way to the lot designated for the car show. Later we walked the Shunooke Village looking through the shops and walking out with a bag or two and some really cool hand-made native jewelry. Just a nice relaxing day.

Cherokee Here We Come

June 9, 2012

Day 8

Left at 8 am under sunny skies and while the temp was cool the weatherman predicted hot with possible T-storms so we wanted to cross the Great Smokey Mountain State Park before the rain. Heading east on 40 for 169 miles was a pleasant ride and just 45 miles out of Nashville and the mountains were looming in front of me. We headed south on 66 towards Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg and straight into TRAFFIC. I had thought about checking out a hotel for a possible UTR rally in Pigeon Forge but after riding an hour in the bumper to bumper traffic I changed Gabby to go directly to the hotel in Cherokee because there is no way we could enjoy spending a week in Pigeon Forge trying to get in and out of town for rides. But exit the towns and you are in heaven riding the Smokey Mountains for 30 miles but even that had a lot of people and hikers to watch out for. Miles traveled today about 247. We’ll spend tomorrow in Cherokee.

One Word - WOW

June 8, 2012

Day 7

Visited the Hermitage today and it was very interesting. When I tell Gabby shortest and no highways she takes me very seriously – took us right through a shopping center as a short cut. Oh well we needed to stop and get water – do think this thing is beginning to “think”? Planned to take the wagon tour of the plantation but they cancelled the wagon rides because there was so much activity on the grounds the horses were getting a bit hard to handle – good idea since I’m not fond of runaway horses. Grand Ole Opry tonight and one word sums it up WOW! Awesome artists most of them the older ones I remember and a great Blue Grass group. This is our 4th time at the Opry and every time is wonderful. After the flood in 2010 the Opry was filled with water up to 4 feet above the stage so everything had to be replaced and many times that changes the atmosphere of a place but not the Opry – oh no it is still country at its best. We have changed our plans and are heading to Cherokee tomorrow so we can spend one full day there before heading for the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Let's See Jack

June 7, 2012

Day 6

Happy Birthday! Well off we go heading to Lynchburg to tour the Jack Daniel’s Distillery. The ride is away from Nashville so we will not have to battle the traffic. The sun is bright, humidity is very low and the road is two lane most of the way; couldn’t ask for a better day. As we wind our way south we begin to see mountains again and large farms many with horses but we also see several herds of goats and cows. I have toured beer and wine distilleries and I think this one is the best – maybe it’s because I like whiskey – you think? The information was very interesting – Jack Daniel learned the art of whiskey making from a preacher (go figure) and the preacher gave the moonshine business to Jack when he was 13 years old. Jack Daniel’s is the oldest registered distillery in the United States. After touring the distillery for over an hour we headed to Lynchburg to walk around and eat lunch. Lynchburg is no more than a square with a dozen businesses; a general store; hardware store; restaurant; several gift stores selling all kinds of JD items and the county jail museum which was an operating jail until 1990. All UTR members know Andy almost always gets served first when we order in a restaurant. Today we sat down and ordered and as the food was brought out Bonnie was served first, then me and Don and Andy was last. Andy’s plate was brought to the table and it wasn’t exactly right so they took it back finally bring the correct order. We all laughed and thought for once he was last but to our surprise when the bills were handed out Andy didn’t get one! His meal was on the house because it was not correct the first time. So even when he’s last he comes out on top! He thought it was a hoot. DQ for my birthday celebration. Miles today 150.

Hold On For One Wild Ride

Making our way back to the hotel through Nashville at 5 pm on a weekday and with the CMA Fanfest in full swing requires an entry of its own. As soon as we entered Nashville West the traffic began to pick up and it was stop and go at every light. Then we began to sit and watch the lights change from red to green to red again and we didn’t move. Gabby indicated I was to turn right in half a mile and I was in the right lane but don’t you know at the light for 9th Ave the right lane became a turn lane only and I didn’t want to turn yet! How to move over with bumper to bumper vehicles on your left? Well you just do it and hope the vehicle you pull in front of doesn’t cuss you. Sure hope Andy and Don can get over! More stop and go and mostly stopping. Then we turn and weave our way through more cars inching their way to the next intersection. Some want to go left and others want to go right and with no rhyme or reason cars cut in and out. I’m looking for 1st Ave to make my last right turn and get out of Dodge – Oh no the street is blocked off so no choice but to go straight as Gabby recalculates only to take us around the block and get us back to 1st Ave. The bikes are getting hot and my leg feels like it is blistered so we pull off by the curb and stop while I switch Gabby to go ahead and take the highway. Well did she ever! A quick turn over the bridge and we head for route 24 where we enter the rat race on the right and snake our way to the left through 4 lanes of bumper to bumper cars inching their way home; another left and then move to the right now back to the left follow route 40 east watch the split or you could be heading for Knoxville. Ok made it where are Andy and Don? I can hear them on the CB but don’t see them in the maze of vehicles in my rearview mirrors. Got to keep moving with the traffic which is now moving at 70 mph and I want to make sure I get over to the right for which exit now? Oh there it is I call Andy and Don on the CB and hope they know which one to take; there they are and there is the hotel. Wow what a wild ride.

Loretta Lynn's Ranch

June 6, 2012

Day 5

Heading for Loretta Lynn’s Ranch today and we can zig and zag from one exit to the next at 65 mph on route 40 or we can dip and dive over mountains. That’s a no brainer for me – I’ll take the dip and dive any day even though it did require about 10 miles of inner city Nashville which is still no problem for me I really love riding through the city streets some times. Old Hickory Parkway, 2nd Ave.; Charlotte Ave and Charlotte Parkway which turned into TN 70 just outside of Nashville West and we are past the lights and the traffic and begin the dipping and diving on a great 2 lane highway with uncut shoulders with QueenAnn’s Lace, Buttercups, Bachelor Buttons and Lilies waving in the breeze and little to no traffic. Traveling through little communities with little more than a name and a Dollar General.  Loretta Lynn’s Ranch was well worth the 85 mile trip to get there! I asked the girl in the gift shop where I purchased tickets to do it all; we toured the model of Butcher Holler; the replica of a coal mine like her father worked in; toured the Plantation home she and Mooney purchased in 1966 and where they raised their 6 children. In 1988 after the children had all grown and left home they built a smaller house right next door and simply left the mansion just as it was with all their furniture and everything in it. The ranch is 3500 acres which our tour guide says Mooney worked like any other rancher in Nashville; all their children attended public school and I was just impressed with how average the house looked. Leaving the ranch we headed back over TN 70 heading for Nashville with a stop at Carl’s Bar B Que in White Bluff for an early dinner.

Our tour guide dated one of the daughters and was friends with Mooney

What can I say?  Andy being Andy

Great food where the locals eat in a little out of the way community

A Day of Sight-Seeing

June 5, 2012

Day 4

Spent the day sight-seeing in Nashville so we only traveled 45 miles and I left Abigail sitting in the parking lot so I could co-pilot with Don. Went to a couple of museums and then over to the Opryland Hotel just to walk through their gardens but after circling the place a half dozen times we could not find any parking that wasn’t going to cost us $20 so I figured I didn’t need to see their gardens that bad. We headed to the Grand Ole Opry to check out the action there and then Opry Mills before heading downtown to find the American Pickers’ store and the Bicentennial Park which is just beautiful. A walk into the Farmers Market and then we were ready to head back to the motel. This time I decided to take any road other than route 40 which is a jungle of speeding cars, merge lanes, splits and exits. I like twisting and turning on mountain roads but not on a tangle of super highways. Much prefer riding through the city and seeing the new high-rise buildings sitting next to the old stately ones and the people sitting on their steps watching the cars passing.

Andy, Don and Bonnie

The Dukes of Hazzard Jeep

The building housing the Pickers' store

The world constantly spinning on water

We Have Arrived

June 4, 2012

Day 3

Breakfast at the Ramada and then off we go at 8:45 with the GPS set for Nashville, fastest route and allow highways. We traveled a couple of highways named “parkways” in Kentucky and I believe the folks in Kentucky believe in preserving as much of nature as possible while still making highways. To say we were traveling “in” the mountains means I could not have been “in” the mountains more if I had parked the bike and begun walking one of the trails leading up and into the wilderness. Sometimes the road was winding between mountains through natural breaks and other times mountains had been blasted to create a path. The rock faces were layered and stacked. The best I can describe it would be to make a sandwich with 3 types of meat and 3 types of cheese; cut it in half. If you look at the cut side you see layers well that is how the rock face appears. Now take one half and lay it on top of the other half and slide the one on top back about a half an inch creating a step and that is how the mountains have been cut like giant steps. Trees are growing and prospering on these ledges and actually clinging to the faces of the rocks. These parkways are great roads with little to no traffic and speeds of 65 and 70 with gentle curves and great views. When we passed Lexington we suddenly were traveling rolling hills with corn fields on either side but the mountains were behind us. Our hotel is great; an extended stay with a full kitchen completely stocked with dishes and linens and a large room suitable for living a week, no daily room service but that’s fine with me. Cannot beat the price of $44 per night for a full week; not fancy but full of working class people – my kind of people. Total miles today around 331.

Found A Road Better Than The Tail of the Dragon

June 3, 2012
Day 2

The plan was to leave at 8:30 but we were up and ready by 7:30. We had enough of super slabs yesterday so today we headed south on route 11 which is a very good road with little to no traffic and wondered through small towns like Christianburg with more churches in one town than I’ve ever seen and Redford the home of Redford University. It was surprisingly cold and I was wondering why I had not packed the heated jacket. When it started to rain we pulled into a gas station to wait it out and noticed the bank sign was reading 55 degrees. Thank God the rain was short lived and we got back on the road. In order to reach Paintsville KY the plan was to travel 81 and 11 to Marion and then take 16 through Hungry Mother State Park to Tazewell. The road looks like a great motorcycle road on the map and any road up and over mountains has to be good. Well how do I describe this road? It climbs at grades that require you to gear down to second for my bike; there are hairpin curves that begin a sharp climb instantly; first you curve right and then immediately left you can hardly get the bike back up straight before you have to lean in the opposite direction. Many hairpins were so sharp me, God and Abigail were talking “come on girl you can make it” I would say as she leaned and then began to rumble and climb the grade. Hairpins, curves and more curves and we reached the top and then down we headed so steep we had to stay in 3rd gear in order to avoid riding the breaks and overheating them. The last thing I wanted was to burn out the breaks and have a runaway bike. No guard rails on the roads and you don’t dare look at the view I kept reminding myself to look where I wanted to go because you’re going to go where you look. Not a mistake to make on this road. I have ridden the Tail of the Dragon and I honestly think this road is more challenging; the curves seemed closer, non-stop; at least a half dozen or more hairpins that immediately require you to climb; curves so tight you cannot see through them; falling rocks to watch and gravel to avoid and it seems to never stop. The road is wet but I’m not sure if it had rained for if we are just so high it is always wet. The Dragon is 11 miles this is 30 miles and I was ready for it to end.

The next road we ride is 460 and I think whoever designed this road made it for play. Sweeper after sweeper rocks you back and forth; the view is fantastic and you can actually take a second to look to the left or right. The road is a duel highway until you reach Grundy so you don’t have to worry about on-coming cars and the speed limit is 55 and it was easy to take these sweepers at that speed. As we travel along the mountains are so close you feel like you can reach out and touch them on both sides of the road. We see signs to watch for deer, elk and moose crossing; groundhogs run for shelter as we pass and cattle dot the mountain pastures.

We arrived at the Ramada Inn in Paintsville by 3:30. This is the hotel for our UTR rally and I was very interested in checking this place out. We are not disappointed! This place is even better than pictured on the Internet. Not what you would expect in a little Appalachian town.

Shops in the atrium

Indoor pool area

Andy playing in the glass elevators

Lovely Lobby

Here We Go

June 2, 2012

Day 1

Rained during the night but by 6 am it was clear and starting to dry. Pulled out of the drive at 6:40 and into the Hardees at 7:40 am and crossed the Bay Bridge at 8:30 heading out to play. We opted for 301 south and then twisting and turning on 218 to Fredericksburg. Bonnie had found a place to stop and eat in a Food magazine in Stauntan which was fantastic; Wright’s Dairy Rite and we reached Stauntan by 1:30 and found the parking lot full and every booth inside full. We were not disappointed – great food. After an hour we were back on the road with 88 miles to go in order to reach Salem VA for the night. I don’t really care to ride super highways but 81 south was not bad today and the views are hard to explain. Mountains on both sides with the sun streaming over the crest and shadows dancing down the sides making one range appear like two. Total miles 330 today.

Count Down To Nashville - 9 Days

Plans have been made for months but we are still adding things to see, roads to ride and deleting things we have seen in the past. Bonnie and Andy, like Don and I, have been to Nashville years ago so we can now pick and choose new things to see and do or some of the things we remember as being outstanding. We had dinner with Bonnie and Andy last night to get our meet-up time and location nailed down and to share ideas. Bonnie has found an article in a food magazine about 4 or 5 very interesting local eateries in Nashville and the Wright’s Dairy Rite in Staunton, VA which is on our way. We will check out as many as possible since we love the local flavor rather than the highly commercialized chain restaurants. Really hope to find the White Trash Café; it sounds so “unique” shall I say. And I was thrilled to learn Loretta Lynn’s Ranch is just 80 miles from our hotel which makes this a must visit! We plan to visit Butcher Holler in September while at Paintsville KY so the ranch will just complete the whole picture. Gee do I sound country?

I knew Nashville had a flood – guess everyone knows that but that’s all it was – knowledge. Then I realized it was just 2 years ago. What is it with me; I visited New Orleans just 2 years after their great flood and now Nashville! Anyway, I started checking out You Tube for clips of the flood and boy was I surprised! The water in the Opryland Hotel’s 3 Atriums destroyed everything; one clip I watched was of a local, low to middle income neighborhood that never was visited by the news media (not interesting enough I guess) but the water was 12 feet high, most of these folks lost everything. It was neighbor helping neighbor and through their tears they kept saying how they were making new friends, learning lessons that will make them stronger and better people and how God was blessing them. These are amazing people!

Well we still have lots to do to get ready so we can pull out at 6:30 AM on Saturday, June 2. Finish working on the trailer, check the oil in the bikes, and purchase items we want to take such as snacks and some food since our hotel is an extended stay meaning it has a full kitchen in every unit. Then pack! Hope to start that this coming Monday.

Just A Sample Of My Weekend

Miles traveled - 675

The UTR members in Bloomsburg

Me riding in

All in great form

And exactly when is lunch coming?

I could enjoy an office like this

What a museum!

An impressive group

Barns of every shape size and color

small town life in the mountains of PA

Heading Home

May 6, 2012

Well our group began to shrink first thing this morning. Geo and Chrissy headed to Milton PA to visit her sister while Renee, Ron and Mina headed home by way of Interstates. The rest of us weren't ready to give up so we headed out to find as many mountains; twists and turns as possible while still working our way home. Clouds and cool temps are again the order but as we climb higher and higher the fog becomes our biggest problem. Pretty soon it is thick enough to cut with a knife; our windshields are covered with water, our clothes are wet; we're cold and you cannot see two bikes ahead of you. We pull off for a break and out comes the heated jacket; I'm cold. On we press and the fog lefts we head for Gap PA with plans to have lunch. Glenn is doing a wonderful job finding great roads with banked curves and sweepers. Then about 20 miles away from Gap we are caught off guard when one of our bikes goes down in a tight curve. As I top the hill and round the curve I see her husband's bike sitting sideways in the road; part of her saddlebag in the middle of the road and her bike on its side slide up against the side of the mountain. This is the kind of scene you hope you never have to deal with but most bikers will tell you if you ride and ride a lot you will go down at one time or another. While this young lady did suffer a broken arm and some road rash on her chin it could have been much worse so we thank God for his protection. But this did put a bit of a damper on the rest of the ride. Her husband and another couple went to the hospital with her and the rest of us regrouped. We switched the GPS from shortest to fastest, and to allow highways and headed home.

A Day Kissed Wtih Blessings

May 5, 2012


Overcast skies greeted us but the weather was warm enough the jacket was packed in the trunk. I chose to ride on the back of Bessie with Don today for a couple of reasons: 1) to spend time with my husband, we can talk and share the trip and 2) I can take pictures and really enjoy the scenery. I will admit we found a couple of roads I would have liked to rock and roll on my own two wheels but that’s ok.

I expected visiting Bill’s Old Bike Barn to be interesting but let’s face it I was just here last year; but this place is so full of various items that I found lots of things I had missed during my first trip. It was interesting to talk to Bill’s wife and find they have now built living quarters on the second floor because they spend so much time at the museum they figured it only made sense to just live there. Just imagine – living in such a wonderful play land! And they are not done – they are currently working on another extension to fill with more collectables.

After a couple hours wondering around and marveling over this and that Glenn leads us on some great roads to explore the countryside. The sun is bright and the temps are warm. How can I put into words what I saw? Mountains with wet rock faces where they had been split to blast a way for the road and thin trickles of water seeping through small unseen cracks from the belly of the earth. These trickles turn into small creeks and streams tumbling and rushing over rocks creating small waterfalls which feed into rivers lazily flowing towards the ocean. Wild flowers of white, purple and yellow wave in the tall grass by the road as we pass and the air is scented with their smell. Cattle graze on the hills and a few sheep are seen in pastures with grass up to their belly so they appear to be cotton balls on a carpet of green. Fields have been plowed but not planted yet and in some areas the dirt is so dark it reminds me of a cookie sheet spread with dark melted chocolate. We pass houses built of stone and logs with vines clinging to the sides and reaching the roof; not the new fancy ones but the strong sturdy ones built a hundred years ago. The ones that have heard a thousand cries of new born babies, the secrets of a young girl in love and the whispers of the aging husband and wife sitting on the front porch waving to us as we pass. There are barns of all shapes, sizes and state of repair. Some are well cared for and painted red with farm equipment inside and others with boards missing here and there, dark weathered walls that appear to have never felt the smooth caress of a paint brush but still serving the purpose they were built for. We travel through townships like Wolf, Dushore, Picture Rock, Valley and others. We stop for lunch at Pam’s Restaurant in Dushore; having no idea exactly how we got here but knowing we enjoyed every minute of getting here. We had the whole restaurant to ourselves; I mean how much business would a small place in a small crossroads have? We laugh and tease and look forward to more riding after lunch. Glenn leads us out and we travel what I call a four digit road. The road number was 1048 and I told Don I didn’t think this was going to end well. I’ve found that four digit roads in PA many times turn to dirt when you least expect. We were climbing and dipping over the blacktop with no lines and no shoulders enjoying the wind in our face and the constant sway of the bike when Glenn announced it doesn’t look good and we better turn around and find another route to Lewisburg. Oh well no problem when you don’t have a real plan other than to enjoy the ride you’re never lost and never late you live in the moment and what more could anyone ask.

In Lewisburg we spend some time in the Street Shops a place we found last year; an old furniture factory building that now houses a variety of specialty shops. Time to head back to the hotel just 40 or so miles away but our tanks are empty so what we expect to be a quick stop turns into an hour or so because one of the bikes decided she just wasn’t going to fire. Now we cannot fault this bike she didn’t give up on a back road or in the small town at lunch – no she gave up right in a gas station’s parking lot just a mile or so from a Walmart and an auto parts store. Several men hovered over the bike to figure out what her ailment might be. A lifeline is hooked to her battery from a Honda Gold Wing and we wait to see if she will revive. No luck so off goes Mike on his bike to Walmart to purchase a new battery. Back comes Mike wrong battery but this time the faulty battery is out and he can take it with him. Off goes Mike again - back comes Mike and again 7 or 8 hover over the ailing patient to monitor the installation of the new battery. A turn of the key and she rumbles; all is well. Ok let’s pull on our helmets and find the Interstate to make a fast trip of the 40 miles back to the hotel and dinner.

We pull in the parking lot at 7:45 and the restaurant next door closes at 8. Someone runs to the restaurant to see if they will still serve us, yes! Did I say this was a great day? Do I even need to say that or have you figured that out?

Off We Go

May 4, 2012
Pulled out of the drive at 7:30 a.m. heading to Sudlersville to meet the rest of our group but first we need breakfast at Parkside Deli and as we suspected Bernie was there drinking coffee and telling stories with his buddies. Sneaking in I placed a kiss on his neck and startled him and gave his buddies something to talk about. In a few minutes Andy and Bonnie joined us and then by 8:45 a.m. everyone arrived. We had 19 bikes; 24 people all excited about heading north. I noticed we had 6 women riding their own bikes; that’s a good number.

The morning is cool and fog has settled around us; the moisture in this cloud which engulfs us coupled with the wind chill of riding at 60 mph makes the 58 degree temps feel much colder. I had packed my heated jacket but wasn’t sure if I wanted to put it on since I was betting it would warm soon and I wouldn’t be able to take it off. I decide to leave it in the saddlebag. The fog lifts in about an hour or so but where is the sun? Nowhere to be seen! As we snake our way through the countryside highway signs warn of sharp curves or hidden entrances. Most riders have a CB but there is no chatter other than the occasional “got the light” or “we all cleared the intersection”. I’m listening to the best music I know; the hum of the V-twin engines and the rumble of the “bad boy pipes” on several of the bikes and the shifting of gears as we climb and descend the hills. The smell of sweet wild flowers and trees mixes with the earthy smell of the farms; manure from the barns; chemicals being applied to the fields and the smell of the earth being turned as an Amish man works with his team of mules. The fields are so organized; I know why they plow and plant in plots so the dirt doesn’t wash away on the side of the mountain but how do they plow and plant each plot with such straight edges? And the clothes hanging on the line are organized with all the dresses together, then the shirts, the pants next and so on. All of life seems to be in order today. The route Glenn has picked is not the fastest or the most direct but that’s exactly the way we want it as it wonders beside Wolf Creek or other rivers and streams. We top a mountain to see a couple dozen windmills slicking the air in a slow rhythm planted on the ridge like tall, straight soldiers guarding the mountain.

We pull into the restaurant parking lot at 12:30 and the sun is now shining. By the time we mount the bikes I debate if I should wear the black leather jacket; yes I’ll put it back on. Just 30 minutes later I realize this was a bad choice. As we pull into a parking lot to regroup I shed the jacket and the gloves like a snake sheds its skin. Back on the road the wind whips around my arms and face while the sun warms my skin. A small drop of rain hits the windshield then another; a quick glance at the sky reveals a very dark cloud just ahead of us. Then we turn right and leave the cloud behind us as we climb higher on Gordon’s Mountain.

We arrive at the hotel by 5 p.m. the odometer registers 202 miles; dinner at 6 at the restaurant next door and the lighten flashes and the thunder rumbles while the rain pounds the pavement. Our prayers were answered today; no rain while we were riding.

Bloomsburg Here We Come

Ya’ll ready for the 2012 riding season? I am so hold on to your hat – ah helmet – and prepare to enjoy the north, south and west as we ride through valleys and over hills and climb some mountains. Tomorrow will be our first extended trip for this year as we head to Bloomsburg, PA to visit Bill’s Old Bike Barn. A small group of us found this amazing place last year and Glenn offered to lead a group from UTR this year. While the destination of any trip is good it is the getting there that makes the trip a ride – am I making any sense to you folks on 4 wheels? I have and do on some occasions travel interstates and turnpikes but only by necessity; my true passion is the byways and back roads that lead through little towns that might be nothing more than a dot on the map. The back roads go up and over mountains with sweeping curves while the interstates have blasted away the mountain in order to keep the highway as straight and flat as possible to allow for speed to reach that destination quickly and thereby missing the heart of this great nation.

Ok let’s begin – the bikes have been checked and the saddlebags cleaned out and ready to prepare for this coming season. Rain gear, check; tool kit, check; two pairs of gloves, check; a couple of hats to cover the helmet-head when we stop, check; battery tender, check and this year I’ve added a complete spare CB system; when mine gets wet it stops working for a day or two until completely dried out. Bernie had a great idea to keep your hands dry because no matter how good the leather gloves with enough rain your hands get wet and cold. I’m packing a few thin rubber gloves like the doctor’s wear and I can put them on first and then pull on the leather gloves. Now for my feet got to cover the boots with waterproof silicone spray tonight. Wonder if that Flex Spray advertised on TV would work? I normally keep bug spray and sunscreen in the saddlebags as well and a set of binoculars.

My packing list isn’t too long for clothes, I’ve learned how to limit the number of jeans, shirts, socks and so on but it seems the bag of meds, make-up, and gadget cords is getting larger every year. Got a cord for the cell phone, a cord for the Kindle, one for the digital camera and of course got to take the laptop with its cord. Oh don’t want to forget the GPS – Gabby goes with me everywhere, and I cannot forget the trip folder. I have been working on these trip folders for months and they consist of maps; hotel reservation information and printouts of interesting places to visit in and around our destination or on the way. Now Don’s packing will also consist of a cooler with water, really need to stay hydrated when riding, a container of snacks to consume at the rest stops and a small bag containing $5 worth of quarters for the card games the gang plays in the evenings. When I first started riding I said if I couldn’t carry it on my own bike then I wouldn’t take it! Wow how stupid! I pack as much as possible on Don’s bike and we now have a trailer but seldom need it for just a 3-day trip.

I’ve been praying for good weather and no rain for the next 3 days but I’m prepared for wet weather. Is this a lack of faith? I don’t think so because I’m sure there is someone in the area where we will be traveling who is praying for rain just as fervently as I am for no rain. Let’s see if God works it out so we both get what we’re askin for!

We will leave around 7:30 a.m. tomorrow so ya’ll come back and visit my blog after we’ve traveled about 230 miles on the ribbons of asphalt.