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.




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