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Saturday, May 2nd, 2015

Google Map of this Ride

I really wanted to be pulling out of Danville around ten in the morning, but Mother Nature and my favorite riding partner, Kasey, were not cooperating. The two hours, we left at noon, allowed the temperature to rise about 20 degrees. That swing was enough of a difference for me not to complain.

We didn't get much of a riding season last year, to busy settling back in after the year in Costa Rica. Then there was that year, and the partial year before the adventure. I felt like a rookie rider, and I was excited as one to get back in the saddle. The trip is one I have been on, and wrote about on here. What a great way to back to riding than to visit some old friends, the roads, a covered bridge, a mill, and the people that own it.

We headed out of Danville by taking Mill Street to head south on Mackey Road. The first stop, we turned right, and began our track west. Lincoln Street divides the high school and one of the elementary school as well as the middle school. Once passed the school, you are out in the country. and the road winds accordingly.

We continued on County Road 50 South, which bends a couple of times to become County Road 100 South. The road ends at 450 West, and we head south. It ends at 300 South, and lead us to 475 West, which continues our trek south. After some more veering around, we start back west on CR 450 South.

This county road ends at State Road 75, and after a short stretch heading south, we made our way through Coatsville, leaving the small town on Main Street, which become CR 500 South. It becomes CR 200 North when we cross into Putnam County. A few jogs, and a cross of a railroad tracks, and then back over the rails, we pull into Fillmore, Indiana.

After cruising along Main Street in the sleepy town, we turn right on CR 50 South for a little section, before turning back south on CR 525 East. This is jewel in this area where most streets meet at a right angle. It drops and rises, and winds along a creek. Prettiest in the fall, it is a great little stretch any time of year. The county road ends at State Road 240, which we take west in to Greencastle.

With the fuel stop we made in Greencastle, The Black Pearl would be able to make it the rest of the trip. We made our way through the city, not much traffic at all. At the south west end of the square, we went south for a block, and then started west on Walnut Street, which turns to Greencastle Road once out of town. This was where we began to discover, that some of our old friends had not aged well int he couple of years. The road was potted with holds, gravel, and other broken form of pavement. It was getting to the point that for every ten feet forward, I wad weaving ten feet side to side. You could have put orange cones down the middle of the lane, and I would have been weaving between them.

It took a lot of eyeing the road, but we made it passed the Big Rocky Fork Covered Bridge, and to State Road 59. Sitting at the intersection, covered in loose gravel and sand, there was no other car or vehicle in sight. I still waited for a moment, making a comment to Kasey. We then pulled south on the state highway. We did happen upon a few cars going north as we rode along.

It wasn't a long trek on this road, we turned right on CR 900 South, heading west toward Bridgeton. The road winds through regular and tree farms, and on Hawkins Road. The farms give away to large metal buildings, many only used once or twice a year for large festivals. The red of the Mill glares in the sun, and is first that catches your eye, but it is not long before the Covered Bridge gets your attention.

We pulled into a crowded parking lot, and brought The Pearl to halt. We toured the mill, caught up with the owners, crossed the bridge, and talked to a fee of the craftsmen that had wares they were selling. We also enjoyed a waffle cone full of hard ice cream. Then we took a selfie!

I clicked off a few more pictures as well...









After we saw all, and said all we needed to, including a chat with a new rider, we made our way back out of town, heading north on Bridgeton Road, on the way to Rockville. We passed a few more covered bridges, including the Neet Covered Bridge. We arrived in Rockville, and took US 36 east for a short section.

We veered left, heading north and east on Myesville Road. It was a rough back country road, but had some great scenery and the road was rarely straight. After cruising through Judson, Indiana, we were heading east on County Road 300 North. We took 1075 SE to go south, then 1100 South, Harbison Road, 1170 East and 880 West back to US 36. 

We headed east on the US Route through Morton, and to US 231. We turned left, heading north. Our next turn would be right, and put us on US 236, heading west to Roachdale, and then North Salem, Indiana. Not sure I have ever rolled into North Salem from this direction, so it was a new vision for me. US 236 continues, trailing more south, and running into US 39 just north of Danville. A left at US 36, pointing us east on the national route, and bringing us home.

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