Life in Motion with Rodney Myers and his motorcycle

Sunday, June 24, 2007 Well, after a couple of days of riding and sleeping in the mountains, I guess being around so many people really drained me, it was time to head back home. Saturday Night was spent near Wheeling, West Virginia, right on US 40. I was about 290 miles from home, and my choice of The National Road, or the Superslab, I-70. I started out on US-40, but it becomes I-70 before too long. I was making good time, and I was ready to be home. I-70 must be the most worked on section of interstate in the country! I saw more orange barrels then I have ever seen! Springfield, Ohio was 160 miles into the trip, and the fuel light had been glowing bright for about 30 miles. I pulled off onto US-40, and pulled into a gas station. I had about 120 miles left, and I felt lucky that so far I had skirted any storms. A few sprinkles splashed the windshield, but it was really nothing. After a few more miles, and passing along Dayton, Ohio, I crossed the border back into the Hoosier St...

Thursday, June 21, 2007 This is the last day of the rally, so waking up is bittersweet. I was looking forward to the ride for the day, but I wasn't looking forward to the rally concluding. At the request of the Virginia Chapter, a group departed early, around 9am. The rest of us waited for the the Bloomington and Terre Haute Chapters to join us, they were staying in another hotel. After Brent went to check on them, we lined up the bikes, and got ready to head out. I took up a place in the middle of the pack. We headed out, running our short journey on the highway. Once on WV-47, part of the group got caught by a light, so I took the lead for that group. Once we got on a backroad, the group could stretch out, and not run much of a risk of getting lost. We had a couple of points of confusion with the leader of the group, but we made it through the narrow tree lined streets. I hadn't planned on us stopping for lunch, but we ended up at the McDonald's in Woodfield, Ohio,...

Wednesday, June 20, 2007 I am writing this Thursday Morning, as it seems to be the only time I have the computer for a bit, and some time! I have also realized this is the last day of the rally, and it is a bittersweet moment. It has really been a busy and great time, but now it draws to a close. The over 1300 miles flash through my head in seconds, as I try to makes sure I remember all the good parts forever. Since Tuesday threatened with rain, the two rides we had planned got shifted to the same day. Kevin had his group meet at the gas station across the street, and I had my ride group line up in the hotel parking lot. Now, I thought, when planning this ride, I might get 10 or 12 bikes. When I saw the line that I would later count at 23, I have to admit I was more worried than excited! That is a lot of bike to keep together! After a driver's meeting, we headed out. The first part was north on I-77, then west on WV-47. I had to get this half mile long train through Parker...

Tuesday, June 19, 2007 Well I thought I would be here to tell you all about Hawk's Nest and New River Gorge. But when I woke up to 80 percent chance of severe weather with hail, I knew that dream was in jeopardy. That is the bad news, the good news is that you are reading something, so you know I rode somewhere. Either that, or I am being a big tease! Most of the morning I had one eye on the radar, and another on Streets and Trips, looking for other route that I might be able sneak in between storm cells. We decided to delay the Hawk's Nest Ride, and Kevin will lead it, and I will lead the Hocking Hills Ride. With about only Julie and I's bikes left in the lot, I decided to ring her up, and see if she wanted to go for short ride. She was caught between which ride to go on tomorrow, so I thought I could take her up Highway 555, and then she could go on the Hawk's Nest Ride, and not feel like she missed anything. We met up in my room, with the maid still cleaning up, ...

Monday, June 18, 2007 So technically the rally hasn't started, as the first day is tomorrow. Usually several people come to the host city before the rally, so I thought I would come up with ride. The temporary site for the Flight 93 crash was within 200 miles, so I thought I would go for it. I really didn't think too many people would be around, or in for a 400 mile day in what might become the hot June sun. Well, we had 9 bikes and ten people lined up, besides my brother and I, all were from the Heart of Virginia Chapter. We started north on I-77, then east on US 50. It started out a softly curving two lane road, but once we passed through Bridgeton, West Virginia, which was harder than it need to be, thanks to some bicyclist going from Oceanside, California to Atlantic City, New Jersey. I imagines they enjoyed blocking the traffic! Once past that, the road narrowed to two lanes, then got twisty. The smile inside my helmet increased with my concentration on the weavi...

Monday, June 18th, 2007 as Published in Southeastern Rider Magazine - September, 2016 There are times when you throw your leg over the saddle, and know you’re about to make some great memories. You may know that you are about to witness breath taking scenery. Perhaps it’s a ribbon of asphalt with curves that boost your pride with each one you carve up. Sometimes, I have rides not because of what I have seen, but because I felt one with the machine, the road, and the nature surrounding me. There are times when I’m planning a ride, and I know I’m about to create imprints that will be on my mind for a long time. This is about such a ride, a Ride for Remembrance. It all started when my brother and I were planning the rides for Gathering of Eagles, Cruiser Club USA’s annual get together, which was to be held in Mineral Wells, West Virginia. I had the idea for one of the event’s rides, however, it would be a journey. The destination would be the Flight 93 Memorial in Somerset County, ...

Sunday, June 17, 2007 When it comes to leading a groups, any time you can get a chance to pre-ride a route, it is good idea to take it. With that in mind, we arrived early so we could ride, and mark the route we will be running on Thursday. My brother's wife decided to hang back at the hotel, and Brent and Callie from the Black Swamp Chapter joined Kevin and I for the stop and start journey. We began by pulling out of the Comfort Inn in Mineralwells, West Virginia, and stopped almost immediately for gas. Our first turn was onto the ramp for I-77. Yeah, I know I said Interstate, but it was only for a couple of miles. It will give a chance for the groups to sort out, and get arranged. We take the ramp for WV-47, our first side road on the trip. After a brief pause to mark a sign with Green Tape and a Green Arrow, for left turns, we headed east on 47. We only traveled WV-47 for a few miles before we hit the real back roads of West Virginia. As we traveled deeper into the tree li...