Heading Home

Day 8

We rode downtown last night to see the festival and parking was a problem so we didn’t even go this morning.  Up at 7 and began packing the trailer so we could pull out when the fog lifted.  Everyone had picked their riding buddies and we all headed out around 9 even though the fog was still hanging low and it was cold.  I think everyone was taking 39 east and then heading in different directions down the road.  Don and I needed gas so we headed for Sheetz first telling Andy we’d catch-up with them later which we did at the gas station in Marlinton.  We had all stopped for coffee to warm us up after an hour riding.  We continued on 39 and savored the twists and turns for the last time with Andy, Bonnie, Leon and Dale.  We rode through Goshen Pass and it was beautiful, just as I remembered it.  Our next stop was for gas and a short rest in Lexington and then we got on 64 and headed for Orange, arriving at the Dairy Korner Restaurant at 2:30 where we stopped for a late lunch or an early dinner.   Don and I decided to stop in Fredericksburg for the night while Andy, Bonnie, Leon and Dale went on to finish the trip home tonight.  We did a total of 279 miles today and I’m tired.  My babies are well cared for so no need to beat myself up.  We will spending the night at the Super 8 in Fredericksburg, VA

The Banquet

Well it’s 8:30 and the banquet is over and we will begin packing in just a few minutes to leave .  As usual Bernadette had a great little game; where we each wrote one thing on a piece of paper that no one knows about us and sign our names.  She then  read each paper and we tried to guess who it was – boy some were surprising and others were really funny.  At one table a person wrote “I’m not gay.  The second person (same sex) couldn’t think of anything to write so his table buddy wrote “I am gay” and signed his name (this person IS NOT gay).  The 3^rd guy (knowing nothing about the first two exchanges) wrote “I have sore feet”.  Well the room was rolling in laughter asking if the 3 of them were playing footsies under the table.  Gifts were given out based on things that happened during the rally to various individuals just as they have been each year and then the door prizes handed out.  Now it is over and we will all pull out tomorrow.  Even though we will gather together for our September breakfast and ride nothing can compare to spending a week together at the rally; riding, laughing, playing games and sharing. 

Last Day Last Ride of the 2013 Rally

Day 7

Dave and Kelsie were the ride leaders today and they had a very nice route picked out.  Our group was small today with only 11 people going on the ride which is normal for the last day of the rally.  Some have shopping to do, others had to run to the Harley shop for a new tire and some had a particular destination they wanted to see and it had not been included on any of the rides during the week. And then we began losing members along the way.  We wondered country roads and after a while entered Babcock State Park.  We walked around, took pictures and visited the gift shop.  They had stables and horseback riding at Babcock so Leon decided to stay and do some riding.  More back roads and we were riding in the bottom of the New River Gorge with mountains all around us.  As you look up the mountains are tree covered and you think there is nothing there but forest but as the road begins to climb and climb you finally reach the top and discover a whole town with stores, a post office, homes and gardens.  At the top it doesn’t seem to have any more trees than any other location.  You ride for a few miles on the top of the world and then begin to descend into another valley or gorge.  A turn or two and we find ourselves on highway 19 right in Beckley at noon.  Beckley is a very large city and the traffic is bumper to bumper and stop and go through traffic lights.  We pull into a Panera Bread Café for lunch; Don and I have never eaten at one of these establishments but it was very nice. Back on the road and our next stop is the New River Bridge where we walked around, watched the movie about the gorge and the bridge and lost 2 more members.  Bill Drylie and Mike Brittingham headed off to take route 82 down and under the bridge; a route I had done the year we had our rally in Fayetteville and it is the most spectacular view of the bridge from underneath and right down to the river’s edge.  Coming back to the hotel it looks like everyone is back and the guys began playing cards so four of us ladies headed downtown to the Hardman’s hardware store which is much more than a hardware store.  Oh my goodness, there were handcraft  items, candles, games and toys, gift items, cooking utensils and actual hardware.  I don’t like to shop but I sure did my share to help the local economy.  And as we rode through town they were setting up for the Potato Festival which begins tonight and there were food vendors and craft vendors like our festivals at home and of course it might be nice to run downtown tonight after our banquet if we  have time. 

Hillbilly Hot Dog What a Place!

Day 6

My turn to lead the ride and I had planned to head to Hillbilly Hot Dog and then to Huntington to a farm and village museum but since it was so far away we cut the museum out.  It was a little foggy when we left but it cleared quickly as we headed down 19 and turned onto 129 going past the lighthouse, Summersville Lake and the dam.  Gabby was set for shortest route and no highways, toll roads or dirt roads and boy did we get on some great roads!  A few had no lines and I was concerned they might turn to dirt but they didn’t.  We wondered through one little hamlet after another; climbed high into the mountains with no signs of life and I expected to hear banjo music anytime.  I was certain there was more than one still up in those mountains.  Arriving at Hillbilly Hot Dog at 12:30 we pulled into the stone parking lot; I did a better job of parking this year than during my first visit but I still needed help getting Abigail out of the lot.  Most of us had visited a couple of years ago but we still walked around snapping picture after picture and writing our names on walls.  The members who had never seen this place – well amazement is probably the best word to describe their reaction.  This time we were lucky enough to talk to the owner and get a bit of storytelling.  After 2 hours we headed out with Gabby set for the fast way back taking highways; so we sped down 64 and then 79 at speeds of 65 and 75 until we suddenly came to a standstill on 79 while the police and the medical people cleared an accident.  Highway 79 was a parking lot for an hour; we got off our bikes walked around talked to other motorists and basically entertained ourselves until the road was opened again.  The guys played a couple hands of cards before some of us headed to the Good Time Bar and Grill for a steak dinner.  The ride today was 249 miles and I’m tired.  We have changed our plans slightly and will leave for home Saturday right after breakfast and maybe a quick look at the Potato Festival.  We have spoken to several locals and the word is the festival is not much.  By leaving Saturday we can make it halfway and stop for the night and then cruise in early Sunday afternoon and not be too tired to spend time with the kids and go to work on Monday.   

Ralph and Willa placing their order

Sandra and Bill with "baby" Ken

The entrance to Hillbilly Hot Dog

Our dining room and old school bus

New Friends

Day 5

A bit chilly this morning (temps in the mid 50’s) and foggy.  Don and I had decided we would not go on the ride today but rather visit Debbie Luke’s family and then ride out to the lake and do laundry.  We had breakfast at Fran’s and then headed out to find Jim and Sylvia Baker at 9:30.  Deb’s directions were go to Craigsville, go straight through the light (only has one traffic light), go past the General Dollar, at an old run down store that is not a store any longer turn up the gravel road; go to the end and that is Dreama’s house.  Sounded easy enough but the words up a gravel road made me decide to leave Abigail parked and ride with Don.  Everything was fine until we got to the run down store that’s not a store any longer; the gravel road just before the store was narrow and straight up and it continued to get smaller as we climbed until we finally reached what had to be the end because it became nothing more than dirt with deep ruts.  I had to get off so Don could turn Bessie around without turning her over.  Stopped at a couple of places on the way down and no one knew Pete and Dreama Baker so back to the main road.  The road just after the store that wasn’t a store any longer was hardtop but we took it and it turned to gravel and it too was straight up.  As we approached the top of a rise we pulled into someone’s drive and called Dreama and yes we were on the right road just keep on coming up the mountain to the last house on the left.  As we pulled into the driveway Jim, Sylvia and Dreama were waiting on the front porch.  Deb and I have shared so many stories about our families it felt like visiting old friends.  After sitting on the front porch for 2 hours visiting Don and I headed out waving goodbye to 3 very dear people.  We stopped for lunch at the Roadhouse Ranch Restaurant in Craigsville; a great little local place with good food.  Then we headed back to route 19 and to the Summersville Lake and Dam and Lighthouse and then walked down to the Gauley River and the bottom of the dam.  After stopping at a couple of camping stores and craft shops we headed back to the hotel to do a load of laundry.

Heading up to Dreama's house

Baker Residence

Summersville Lake

At the bottom of the Summersville Dam

Watoga State Park

Day 4

Bill was our ride leader today and led us over more great roads for a total of 189 miles.  It had rained last night so the roads were wet and while daylight starts around 7 I’m convinced the sun cannot climb these mountains until at least 10 AM.  I don’t like mountain roads that are wet but I guess no one does.  After riding for a couple of hours we turned on Pyles Mountain Road going into Watoga State Park.  The roads are listed as public access roads which means no lines, no shoulders, no guardrails and barely wide enough for one vehicle.  A canopy of trees covered the roads as we wondered around the park past log cabins and rushing streams.  I’m certain these roads never feel the warmth of sunshine and the only sound was the rumble of the bikes.  Coming out of the park we happen upon a country store selling just about anything you might need while camping as well as food for lunch which we ate on the porch by the Greenbriar River.  Then off we head through one small town after another.  In the little town of New Hope the school billboard stated “All 81 of our students are talented”.  Seems every rally we have one bike which develops problems and this year is no exception.  George’s bike lost power twice and he would turn it off and let it sit and then turn it back on and everything seemed fine.  Then later down the road it would suddenly loose throttle again and he would have to repeat the process.  He has an appointment with the local HD shop tomorrow.   Dinner at DQ for me tonight while the others headed either to AppleBees or to Fran’s downtown.  

Confrontation?? With UTR???

We are normally welcomed by the local residents when we hold a rally.  We have been “kicked out” of a few restaurants because they didn’t want us taking the time to hold meetings when they could be using the tables for more paying customers.  But Tuesday evening we were actually confronted by a young woman and her boyfriend screaming at first Ralph and Willa and then Ken and Lois for taking their parking spot.  We had just returned from the day’s ride and out of their room they came loaded for bear.  They began screaming and cussing while the rest of us looked up in amazement and shock.  Bill and others came to the rescue which gave the young man and woman clearly under the influence of alcohol more targets to scream at.  I could hear “come on I’ll fight ya” and “go f*** yourself” being yelled at Bill who was trying to defuse the situation.  Seems this man and woman had been living here for 5 weeks and Ralph and Ken placed their trailers in a parking spot when they arrived Sunday that this young couple had “claimed” as theirs because they could park their truck the closest to their room door.  How would we know that?  Ken finally got the guy to calm down after about an hour or more of talking to him.  At one point I was expecting to see him (the young man) take a swing at Bill or Ken.  This was a first for the UTR group.  I must say this young man is not a “local” he is a construction worker here from Texas.  Must be a sad life to live in a small hotel room with nothing to do after working but drink.  We need to pray for him. 

No Particular Place To Go

Day 3

Forecast was scattered showers and the sky was gray when we pulled out of the parking lot at 9 AM but in an hour or so the sun started peeking through the clouds and by noon it was full on hot and sunny.  Thank the Lord for a great riding day.   Glenn had selected some of West Virginia’s best country roads but then almost all West Virginia roads are great.  We had mountains to climb and mountains to roll down with grades of 7% and 8%.  We had rolling turns, tight turns, hairpin and switchback turns all challenging our skill and nerves.  We saw rivers and streams tumbling over jagged rocks; we saw homes built on small islands in the middle of the river or down the side of the mountain (wonder just how they managed to get a trailer down that steep grade?).  We rolled back in the parking lot at 5:15 PM and then left again at 5:45 for dinner.  We had 14 bikes on the ride and we have 22 UTR members attending the rally.  Today’s ride was a total of 249 miles.  The guys are playing cards or wiping down their bikes while the ladies are either watching TV or reading.  A pleasant ending to a wonderful day. 

Left to Right: Don, Bill and George

Greenbriar River

Summersville Here We Are

Day 2   

Temp was 62 when we left the hotel with humidity of 97% making it feel warmer than it really was so I decided to forgo the jacket.  At elevations of 4000 feet and higher that proved to be an error in judgment.  Within a few minutes we were on beautiful country roads with no shoulders or guardrails.  We climbed mountain ridges and twisted our way to the tops shifting down to 4^th, then 3^rd and even to 2^nd to keep Abigail pulling as we climbed grades that increased more and more.  Lean left then right then straight up scraping floorboards or pipes in tight hairpin turns; then down the mountains at 9% grades using low gears to hold us at a save speed in order not to overheat the brakes.  The last thing I want riding down the mountains is to lose my brakes.  The adrenaline rushes and you feel one with the bike.  Two hours and we pull into Marlinton for a rest and then two more hours and we pulled into Summersville.  155 miles of this sweet joy today.  The route was 42 and 39 all the way and if anyone reading this blog gets in this area you must ride these roads.  The hotel was a Best Western when I made the arrangements and then changed to an Econo Lodge so I was worried about the quality but when I entered our room I was very pleased.  This is a nice, clean, spacious room.  Price is right at $55 per night. 

Staunton Virginia First Stop

Day 1

Backed out of the garage, mounted the saddle and headed out of the driveway at 6:50 AM.  I had put the sweatshirt in the trailer opting for the jean jacket which proved to be plenty.  Not many miles down the road I spotted what I thought was a buzzard in the middle of the road but as I got closer I realized it was an eagle clutching its breakfast.  As I slowed it spread its wings and mounted to the sky.   Joined Bill, Glenn, Kathy, Roger and Ginny just prior to the Bay Bridge and continued south on 301; not an exciting road but I knew some beautiful roads were waiting just over the Virginia line.  After several miles of twists and turns we were dumped onto route 3 destined to ride through Fredericksburg.  As we inched our way from one traffic light to the next with cars, trucks, bikes and just about every type of motor vehicle you could feel the heat mounting.  This 6 mile stretch of road feels like 25 but once we got through it was more country roads with lots of other bikers enjoying the great weather.  A stop at the Dairy Korner Restaurant in Orange, VA for lunch around 1 was now on the menu leaving only 50 miles to go to reach our destination of Staunton for the night.  As we pulled in we were told to park the bikes under the front shelter and you could hear thunder rolling in the distance with the sky growing darker by the minute.   Total miles today 254.

Counting Down To The 19th Annual UTR Rally

Well it has been a long time since I've posted to this blog.  I've been confined to short rides on the weekends due to family obligations.  However, the UTR rally begins in less than 48 hours!  All bags are packed and stacked in the office.  Looks like way more than will fit in the trailer but we'll see tomorrow when Don begins loading it.  The bikes are all shined and checked over.  We will spend a week in Summersville WV.  West Virginia - wow I think that is my favorite state for motorcycle riding.  Heading out Saturday morning around 6:30 and if the hotel has internet (they said they do) I'll try to post every night.  This year will be a little sad because Bernie and Shirley, our riding buddies for over 10 years will not be going with us due to health issues.  I'll miss them terribly.  Another reason to write daily and take lots of pictures so I can share all the excitement with them upon returning.