GOE XIV: Day 6 - Starting the Trip Home

Friday, June 26, 2010

It had come time to make our back home, at least half the way, anyway. Our first stop was fuel for the bikes, and for ourselves. So after a visit to a Big Island Mom and Pop Cafe with a Gas Pump, we headed west.

County Road 126 led us to SR 221, and we made our way west to the town of Norwood. We then made our way up Olfax Road to Otterville Road. Wasn't expecting to see any Otters, it was way too hot for that!

You guessed it, Otterville Road put us on our way to Otterville. Jopling Road got us to Peaksville, and then Peaks Road, also known as SR 43. The roads weaved nicely through the country side, and we didn't mind, or notice another sunny day heating up the air. Eventually, it would be hot in the shade too, so it caught up to us once again. It was an up and down ride as we made our way through the mountains.

We continued on SR 43 through Buchanan, Virginia, where we crossed Interstate 81. . This road led us to Eagle Rock, where, after a short rest, we turned onto Craig Creek Road. Named for the creek that it wonders along, it was a refreshing ride, easy on the eyes as we passed through the Jefferson Forest.

This road becomes SR 615 into New Castle, and jogs into SR 42. The tight mountain curves slowly gave way to sweeping curves along the foothills. SR 460 took us west, through more national forest.

Pearlsburg, Virginia would mark our lunch stop. We also fueled the bikes, and then headed south on SR 100. At Staffordsville, the road rejoins SR 42, as do we. SR 100 veers off, but we stay on SR 42. We were heading toward Interstate 77, but we would be hoping on SR 52 in the town that had more to offer than the name of Bland, implies. With it being surrounded by the Jefferson National Forest, it can't help to be more!

In Grapefield, we take SR 614 which turned out to be a good curvy road that took us west through Shawver Mill. The road going through the forest would eventually become the border, and then spill us into North Tazewell. We would leave town on SR 460 until we got to Claypool Hill.

460 took us north from there, through Cedar Bluff and other town. It felt like we were spending a lot of time making our way out of Virginia, when it didn't seem like it took us all that amount of time to get to Lynchburg.

460 would be the major road of the day, and we found this road would be multiple times shorter if it were plowed through straight. Lots of curve made the trip enjoyable. Conaway sits on the border of Virginia and Kentucky, and I was never happier to have made it into the bluegrass state.

We stayed on 460 for many more miles, weaving our way out of the base of the mountains, at Kenwanee, we headed north on SR 23. It merged with SR 460 down the road a bit, and eventually became a dual lane divided highway. We were ready for some less complex roads, and the hotel. This was our last leg into Prestonburg, and the Super 8 we were staying at. There was a fine looking steak place near by, and short walk would get us there.

GOE XIV: Day 5 - A Bridge of a Natural Kind

Thursday, June 24, 2010

There were a couple of rides planned for that day, and it was a toss up for us, on which one we wanted to do. Not being able to pick one, we decided to create our own ride. So we hopped on the bikes, and headed our own way. Kevin would lead us in the heat today.

We made our way to Natural Bridge in Virginia.

Would this be a dino-boy?

Run! Bear!!

We made our way through the heat back to the hotel, the same route from where we came. We had time to cool off in the room, clean up, and head to the banquet, which marks the end of another Gathering of Eagles.

GOE XIV: Day 4-Poker Run

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

The middle day of the Gathering was reserved for the Ralph "Banjo Man" Barnard Memorial Poker Run. I didn't keep track of where we went, but it was a great ride, and you can thank Kasey for the photos.

We traveled through some great scenic roads of Virginia, ending up in Farmville and at the Big Dog Restaurant.

After lunch, we had some more riding on Virginia's finest scenic roads. It was yet another hot day, and it was a welcomed thing to be back in the air conditioning of the hotel.

We decided that evening to walk to dinner.

GOE XIV: Day 3-Back to the Blue Ridge

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

The GOE for 2009 was held by Chapter 09 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and it started a new tradition: Tye Dye Tuesday. I guess the shirts from the Indianapolis Version of GOE did have one bright spot, and it is swirled red, white and blue.

For us, it would be another trip up the Blue Ridge, from where we had just come the day before. I didn't mind, I was not leading, and therefore the risks of disaster were lower.

A good bonus of the hotel was a parking garage, dark, and cool most of the time during the day.

I got my lovely riding partner to take some pictures along the way, she did a great job!
This shot was taken while we were moving past this overlook.

It was going to be another hot one, and it was nice to get back into the shade of the parkway. We stopped for lunch at one of the eateries along the parkway.


After lunch, the group split, part going the rest of the way up the Blue Ridge, where we had just been, and the other half headed back to the hotel. The trip was hot, but a pool was waiting for us at the end of the ride.

GOE XIV: Day 2-The Whole Trip is a Disaster

Monday, June 21, 2010

Another day, and it would be and it would be another hot one, so if you are tired of me talking about the heat, tough luck! I was hoping as we crossed over the mountains, it would mean cooler air.

We started the day with full tanks, and then heading up Highway I-77 for a miles to take the exit Ramp to SR 47. Here we would continue our trip east and south, weaving our way through West Virginia.

SR 47 was the road of the first leg of this morning journey. We took it until it ended, leaving us with the options of either SR 119, or SR 33 in the town of Linn, West Virginia. I have always had in the back of my head to do a picture book of post offices across the country. Here is one of the photos that would have to be included. Not much to see, but then that is what it would all be about!

From the location of this post office, I don't remember even being able to see a house! After some sun screen, a drink of water, and a bathroom break, we headed back onto the hot asphalt.

Though we needed to head south, we meandered north and east on SR 119. The road is also called SR 33, and we stayed on this man made ribbon through Elkins, and then into Seneca Rocks, West Virginia.

I knew of a great place to eat, as Kevin and I stopped here on our way back from another GOE, this one was the last one hosted by Chapter 30 in Farmville, Virginia. However, it is Monday, and like a lot of places, it was closed on Sundays and Mondays. I mentioned to Kasey on the intercom the whole trip was now a disaster, and that moniker would be my tongue and cheek motto for the trip.

We back tracked the four miles through the country side, and then headed down the road, hoping to find another spot to eat. Next on the GPS was the town of Macksville. We passed a little cafe, it looked open, and after a turn around in a near by car lot, we made our way to the eatery.

They had a good menu, limited, but it was tasty, and we left stated for a few hours. We continued down SR 32. The road wound down into Judy Gap, and then turns east, and zig zags us up the mountain side. For the rest of the day, we would be on a roller coaster, climbing and falling, curving left and right.

Harrisonburg would be the last major town before Lynchburg, and we would spend most of the route in between on the Blue Ridge Parkway. After fueling up, we headed south on SR 340, also known as the Port Republic Road. Near Waynesboro, a future site of GOE, we made our way to the Blue Ridge, at the base of Skyline Drive.

The Blue Ridge is riddled with great scenic pull offs. As I have found, not many of them have shade in the area, but I wanted to stop at the ones that did, giving a moment to cool off. It was making the day longer, but I think we all needed the rest.

The Blue Ridge was a slower pace, but wooded, and that meant some shade and protection from the boiling sun. We pulled into Big Island, Virginia. SR 501 would lead us into Lynchburg, Virginia. We thought we were done with stops, and had it made to the hotel, however, traffic and construction meant another stop, luckily, it was shaded.

The traffic moved, and we made our way through town, and to the hilly section of town where the hotel was located. It had been two days, 660 miles in heat, trying to get to places that weren't open, What a Disaster!