| Author | Message | ||
     Okc99 |
Friday Night: From DC to Winchester VA The Dulles tollway is surprisingly serene at night, and because it was fairly chilly, and with so little light pollution, it felt just like a Colorado prairie under a star-filled sky. It was on this 90 mile leg that I remembered how much I like night riding. The glow of a gps on one side and an XM receiver on the other just feels so much more techo-cool at night because your “dash” really looks and feels like a cockpit with all the different colors. (fyi I listen to AREA on XM...all techno all the songs run together and time flies by). Sat Morning From Winchester take HWY50 60 miles West to hit 250 South Great road, great ride. The highlight was the WV restaurant/store/hardware store/live bait shop. I walked in and was instantly reminded of my coal-mining kin folk in Southern Indiana. You can buy a fishing license, jumper cables, a home-made egg omelet and use the rest room, complete with bar soap only...all in the same place. My waitress's name was Gertrude, she was 60 (youngest waitress there) and she adorned only the finest of grandpa pajamas. Those outfits that old women wear, where they could pass for hospital attire or pjs because they have no buttons and also have child-like characters on them, all in pastel colors. 250 South All of the parts that just got swapped out after my '08 was diagnosed with a serious case of TB finally solved the problem. Old Glory in Laurel really did me right, all under warranty. The Uly is running like a top. I FINALLY have a REAL 1st gear. Before, not only did it spit and sputter and die, but 1st never did “hook up” well. No I can take off from stop lights with confidence. MPG is the highest it's ever been @ 49mpg. I kept it in 3rd all throughout the twisties and was surprised by how smooth and doable 3rd gear is at 60-65mph for long durations. At 5k miles it felt course, but at 10k it now feels....dare I say...”buttery”. For those contact wearers out there you may relate, but my eyes start itching and turn red on rides longer than 100 miles in the summer regardless of pollen count. It only itches when I stop and eat. I rub my eyes for 20 mins with a corndog in one hand and then mount back up. After one fuel up, I drop 5 miles down the road and had this INSTANT sensation that I was being bitten in 3 distinct places on my chest/stomach. In just a few secs, it was followed by an intense burning/itching sensation. I thought that it had to be in my head. I didn't take my shirt off at the last stop so how could something get in there??!?!?! After 2 mins I couldn't stand it. I pulled over. Sure enough....3 bright red rashes. The gas station attendant, Jesse, at the next stop, the one who had lived all over her 21 yrs in this small WV town had the answer. Consequently, she didn't know what lied more than 20 miles down the road, literally, (she had never thought to go that way) but she did know how to cook groundhog the “right way” and said “come back for coon season”. ***TO BE CONTINUED*** | ||
| Hooper |
Yo dude, I got your text - didn't realize you were headed WEST...thought you were headed NORTH or SOUTH. The Dulles Tollroad (my commute) is usually pretty decent. Sounds like a GREAT trip, and very psyched to hear that your bike is running right finally! Great story so far...where did you stay in Winchester? The George Washington Hotel? Hope you're wearing those gloves. They'll prevent bug bites. Watch out for traffic on Monday evening...come home on Tuesday if you can. | ||
| Okc99 |
Lot's of details in the middle, but the highlight of heading home this morning from Charlottesville in the dawn hours was when i caught up to a Suzuki SV1000. It's a Twin as well. We crossed paths at a BP station. I asked him if he's be interested in running them and he said sure. Several runs from 60 - 80mph. The first couple of runs I started in 4th gear because it seemed appropriate. Needless to say he took me every time and I found out later he was in 4th too. I thought well...Jap engines are more efficient. Then I thought, well maybe I have some room left in 3rd yet at this speed. So the next run I counted off on my hand from 3...2...1 and rolled on in 3rd. I pulled away clean every time after that. | ||
| Lousirider |
From DC to Winchester VA Wifey and I just got back from a quick road trip from Louisiana to New York/DC. Favorite part was Winchester-DC area, simply beautiful. I seen lots of harleys on our trip only a couple of buells no ulys.. I was surprised about that, it being in the mountains and all, I wish I had my uly the whole way, except Manhattan of course. Beautiful country up there. | ||
| Hangetsu |
Nothing but thunder storms all weekend here in Colorado (Front Range), so my only ride was to the pub. | ||
| Hdbobwithabuell |
Spent the weekend at North Mills river campground (NC) camping with the family. Will return with the Uly to try some of the great, dirt/rock/mud back roads that are all over the area. Saw all kinds of KLR's, DR's, etc. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
I came close to hitting a deer, closer to hitting a groundhog and closest to hitting a wild turkey, over the holiday weekend. Rode some back roads in western PA and some NY State stuff - stayed in TIONEST, PA overnight in a kitty cat infested motel and put about 550 miles on in those two days... no freeways until the ride home. Perfect weekend, with a little rain mixed in. John . | ||
| Etennuly |
For two days I rode my John Deere around my property cleaning fence lines, mowing, and mowed along the highway. Does that count? I did get to ride Oranulius' bike around my yard after we got his forks put back together.(sweet!)  | ||
| Hangontight |
didn't get out riding until Monday at noon. Told my wife I was going for a short cruise. Next time she heard from me it was a photo text showing a 'Welcome to Iowa' sign (I left from Chicago)! Spent the afternoon tearing through the rolling bluffs of the great Mississippi River. Savannah, IL and Galena, IL. All around those parts are great riding.  Plus, there's a ton of gravel roads for the Uly Then getting home was a nightmare trying to maintain 80+mph on I-88 straight into 40+mph headwinds. I had a sore neck Tuesday morning. 'bout 340 miles total Monday afternoon (Message edited by hangontight on May 27, 2009) | ||
| Yjsrule |
Thurs Left the house in WV. Took as many backroads as possible to Sevierville TN. Less than 10 miles of interstate the whole way. A little over 400 miles two up with the trunk and bags loaded on the TT. If you ever get a chance head across Trail of the Lonesome Pine from Cumberland KY, to Pennington Gap, VA it's an awesome ride.  Friday Just ran around town and the backroads of the area. Saturday Got married, yes she road all the way down there with me. Sunday Another run around day, a little rain, did a few miles of dirt in the National forest.  Monday Left for home via the Blue Ridge Parkway, rain on and off but all in all a nice ride. We made it to Boone before stopping.  Tuesday More rain, hit the interstate from Wytheville to Beckley, cleared up a little so we went across route 3 most of the way home Almost 1200 miles, I need a new rear tire now. Yeah I know it's not a uly, but it's pretty close.  (Message edited by yjsrule on May 30, 2009) | ||
| Okc99 |
Yj - are you saying we are cooler to hang out with than the TT crowd? | ||
| Etennuly |
Pardon me, but did you say you got married in the middle of that wonderful long ride?  | ||
| Yjsrule |
There's a TT crowd?? I was under the impression they only sold three of them. Yes I got married in the middle of that long ride.  Anyone near Charleston WV or passing through want to ride give me a shout, I'm up for twisties and mild dirt roads. |
