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Men's Fall Trip 2016 Ohio - the Ferret - 09-25-2016

For those new to the forum, every year some of the male members of the family and the occassional invited guest, go on what we call the Men's Fall Trip. We have gone to the U.P. of Michigan, Central Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, done the Rattlesnake out of Little Switzerland, N.C., the Skyline Drive, the BRP, the Dragon, Cherahola Skyway etc. Regular forum members have read the seat time reports for the last couple of years.

We live in Ohio, and always go far away on our trips and this year we decided to see what Ohio, our home state, had to offer. It turns out Ohio offers a lot. Some of the best riding, that I have done anywhere in the country (if you like curvy country roads).

We have come to prefer to do what Road Runner Magazine likes to call Cloverleaf Tours. Pick a centralized spot to run loops out of and use a single motel as a base. This allows you to leave all your luggage in your room and you only have to unpack and repack once instead of every day. This year we chose the Farifield Inn by Marriot in Marietta, Ohio.

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Marietta is a cool little town that borders West Virginia that has plenty of diverse places to eat when you are done riding. It also has two motorcycle shops that between them carry all 4 Japanese motorcycle brands if you would need emergency parts or service, and we also saw enough Harleys running around that there must be an HD dealer somewhere (there always is) and there is a BMW dealer within 50 miles I think, near Athens, Ohio.

Here is our little assembled group for this year's trip which include my brother Randy, my son Brian, my nephew Roger that flew in from Nevada for the trip and my son's father in law Jimmy and myself. My buddy Jnor was supposed to make the trip but a family emergency popped up and he had to cancel at the last minute. We would be riding (2) Honda ST 1300's, a 2016 Triumph Bonneville T120, a 2016 Yamaha FJ-09. My nephew that flew in was supposed to borrow his brothers 2015 SV 650 Suzuki, but at the last minute that collapsed so I lent him my 2014 CB 1100 DLX for the trip. If Jnor had made it we would also have has a 2016 Versys 650. Quite the variety of bikes. V4's, inline triple, inline 4, and a parallel twin. during the trip we would swap to experience the different bikes.

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Day 1, our ride out to Marrietta was an easy one. East on St Rt 32 to St Rt 50 and then north on St Rt 7 along the Ohio River into Marietta, 203 miles in total. Even though 32 and 50 are both 4 lane divided highways, they go thru some rather remote and scenic parts of southern Ohio, the most mountainous part of the state although our mountains would barely be called hills in most places with real mountains.

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From Cincinnati it takes about 3 1/2 hours without stops to get to Marietta. We left at noon on Sunday and rode for an hour and stopped at a McDonalds in Seaman, Ohio for some quick lunch. About an hour and a half after we got back on the road, it started to sprinkle and we pulled into a Marathon station west of Athens to put on rain gear.

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Back on the road the rain lasted for maybe 20 minutes then quit. We still had to deal with wet roads for most of the rest of the trip so we left our rain gear on, but it was dry when we got to Marrietta at 4:30 PM and checked into the hotel. It was the only rain we'd see for the whole trip.

We would be sharing 3 rooms, but since Jnor cancelled I was left to room alone. The rooms were nice and clean. The hotel staff friendly and accomodating. There was a free continental breakfast every morning, and they had a pool and a jacuzzi to relax in after a days ride. Like I said plenty of restaurants in town made choosing evening meals simple. We have a system in that each rider gets to pick the dinner spot one night. Makes things simple. No discussion about "where do you want to eat tonight?" "I don't know?""I don't care" "well, somebody pick a place". Nope, it's easy, and you get a great variety by letting each person have a choice. But, tonight we just walk across the parking lot to the adjacent Wings place and eat.

203 miles today.

more to come ... we are just getting started.

RE: Men's Fall Trip 2016 Ohio - Rocky_imp - 09-26-2016

Nice ride Thumbs Up Thumbs Up
I've been on a few rides with friends and we do the same thing; pick a place to stay and ride the spokes out from that location.

RE: Men's Fall Trip 2016 Ohio - the Ferret - 09-26-2016

This was our route map.

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Each days ride was a different colored loop. Orange, Green, Pink, Yellow and Blue (which actually took us into north western West Virginia). After meeting for breakfast at 7 A.M. we'd eat, go back to rooms and get dressed for ride, and meet at the bikes 1/2 hour later. Every day the temps started out between 68 and 72, but by mid afternoon had climbed into the mid to upper 80's. We even saw low 90s on two of the days.

DAY 2 of riding we would do the Orange Loop. There are a lot of curves on this loop. well a lot of curves on every loop lol. We took 26 north with a stop at the Rinard Covered Bridge crossing the Muskingum River. No longer in use, it's been rebuilt 3 times since 1871.

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Continuing up 26 to 800, then down 800 to 255 down to the river, up river on 7 to 536, back up into the hills to 78 and 78 into Woodsfield where we would have lunch at yet another McDonalds. From there up 26 to 145 and 145 to 556 then winding our way back down to the river. North on 7 to 148 then west on 148 headed for 800, but we pulled over to rest and looking at the map we decided it best to cut off the upper corner of the loop and take 145 down to 260 and 260 over to 26 and 26 back to Marietta. We got back to the hotel around 5 pm I think, after literally riding thousands and thousands of incredible curves. 222 miles for the day.

Jimmy picked Boathouse BBQ for dinner and it was awesome. We sat on an outdoor patio overlooking the river watching people boating while feasting on BBQ ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. It lightly rained on the West Virginia side of the river for 2 minutes then quit. The sun came out and left us with a lovely rainbow.

more to come.....

RE: Men's Fall Trip 2016 Ohio - pdedse - 09-26-2016

Very nice! I would have loved to be in that group with the variety of bikes, try different rides one right after another. Neat idea to cloverleaf the trip.

RE: Men's Fall Trip 2016 Ohio - curlyjoe_imp - 09-26-2016

Excellent. A well organized trip! Thumbs Up

The barbecue place is making me drool. lol!

RE: Men's Fall Trip 2016 Ohio - the Ferret - 09-26-2016

Day 3 of riding we decided to ride the Pink loop. This would be out furthest west loop of the trip and circled around Athens, Logan and Nelsonville Ohio. This route was a lot more "sweepery" than yesterdays ride and we considered all the roads we rode on this day fun. According to my notes 550 was great, 56 Very good, and 681 great. 212 miles today and a very good day of riding.

It was my pick for dinner and I chose Pizza Hut which was just ok. They accidently gave mine and Brian's pizza (we split a medium pepperoni and sausage) to someone at the drive thru window and had to make us another, but then they gave it to us for no charge so that was good lol

Day 4 of riding we swung back east and ran the green loop. The Green loop included a visit to the giant Muskie Bucket, a gargantuan pieceof earth digging equipment. The machine that powered this bucket was a football field and a half long.

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each rider was given a tank bag route sheet which let everyone stay involved looking for turn offs, although only 2 were missed all week and not by much. Here's the green route sheet

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again nothing but great roads, some really great with 2 exceptions which I will get into later. we continued on into McConnelsville where Jnor joined us for lunch at the Blue Bell diner in the town square. A 50's style diner.

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After a"diner style" lunch Jnor led us on part of our loop before splitting off and heading back to his family issues. We continued on 555 Ohio's infamous Triple Nickle. We really didn't enjoy the section of 555 we road today, it was too technical with many blind rises that you weren't sure which direction they went until you crested and were able to see the other side. The upper part of 555 literally wore us out to the point that Randy was losing focus. I was searching for a place for us to rest, because we were all hot and tired, but there wasn't any place, just more vicious curves. Finally I spotted a church with a little bit of shade in front and I whipped in there. I think we took the longest break all week at this spot trying to recoup.

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after 45 minutes and all the water we had brought with us gone. We mounted back up and took 676, a great road back to the hotel. 183 miles miles today. Everyone commented on how this was the shortest day, but seemed like the longest.

According to my notes 821, 145, 260 and 78 were all good. 676 and 669 were great. 376 and 555 sucked. 376 due to surface condition, the curves were fine if you could avoid the patches and potholes, 555 because of previous mentined tediousness of the ride and the spooky blind rises.

Ii think it was Randy that picked Applebees for dinner tonight.

RE: Men's Fall Trip 2016 Ohio - redbirds_imp - 09-26-2016

Good ride report as usual Mickey. A great idea to have a "home base" for the trip.

RE: Men's Fall Trip 2016 Ohio - the Ferret - 09-26-2016

Day 5 would be a rest and recover day with a short loop, the yellow one. (when planning a ride I always plan a rest and recoup day about mid way thru the trip). We would ride the other half of 555 today in the opposite direction (we hated the top half the other day) but Jnor assured me the bottom half was much, much better and he was right.

We took 7 to 60, 60 to 821, 821 to 339, 339 all the way back to 7 then pick up 555 to 550 and 550 back to 7 and the hotel.

According to my notes 60, 821 and 339 were very good down to the town on Beverly on 339. 555 was great (and so much better than the top half) and 550 was good.

Lunch was at the 3rd street café’ in downtown Marietta, a very cool little upscale eatery. We sat outside by the street and watched traffic roll by as we ate things such as Aztec Chowder, and Kentucky Klubs and On Top of Old Smoky deli sandwiches.

After lunch we headed back to the hotel and took the afternoon off to play in the pool.

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Although personally, I prefer the warmth of the Jacuzzi to soothe my aches and pains (plus I can reach the bottom without water being in my face lol)

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I think it was Roger who picked Bob Evans for dinner tonight and most of us enjoyed their broasted (fried) chicken and sides.

Only 109 miles of riding today.

RE: Men's Fall Trip 2016 Ohio - the Ferret - 09-26-2016

Day 6 we had the Blue loop left to do. This loop took us into the northwest corner of West Virginia. This loop basically centered around 3 roads, a ferry and a restaurant. Two of these roads I have ridden several times, a third I had partially ridden but riding it end to end was a great surprise.

From the hotel we only had to go about ½ mile to pick up I 77south and take I -77 down about 12 miles I think to exit #174 Route 47. We would follow 47 south to Linn. Take 33/118 west to Rt 16 and Rt 16 north to Rt 2. Rt 2 we would take to Sistersville W. Va take the Sistersville Ferry across the Ohio River to Fly, ohio, eat at the Riverview restaurant then take Rt 7 back to the hotel.

Rt 47 in W. Va has been one of my favorite roads for years as has 33/119, both just great riding roads with plenty of curves and some surprising downhill U turn type turns. 33/119 just a nice sweeper road. The big surprise turned out to be Rt 16 which was an awesome sweeper back and forth ribbon of a road for about 80 miles. A great “rhythm” road ... lean left, pivot on axis, lean right, pivot on axis and repeat continuously for 2 hours straight. Everyone just loved this road. It is one of the top 4 or 5 roads I have ridden in this country. That’s saying a lot. It was disappointing when it dead ended into Rt 2. The ride on 2 was just a straight road up one side of the river where we caught the Ferry across to Fly.

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At the top of the ferry landing on the opposite side is a cool little restaurant that serves great diner food called the River View Restaurant. That’s where we had a late lunch and watch river traffic out the windows facing the water.

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After lunch it was a 35 mile ride down Rt 7 to Marietta and the hotel.

Total mileage for today 220 miles

Dinner was again at the Wings place (This time I actually had wings lol)

Here are some misc riding pictures from the trip

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Tomorrow we would start for home and I had a special side trip planned. One more day to go

stay tuned

RE: Men's Fall Trip 2016 Ohio - Capo - 09-26-2016

What a nice way to explore, family and friends, and great roads. Thanks for sharing! But, Applebees???