Mens fall ride 2013

[the Ferret]

Every fall, some of us men take a trip with no wives along. We get to ride till we are tired of riding. We eat what we're not supposed to. We cuss, belch, fart and leave clothes strewn about the hotel room, and we don't watch girlie shows on tv at night lol. We've been to W Va, the U.P. of Michigan, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Deals Gap North Carolina and northern Ga, se Ohio and northern Kentucky. This year we decided to make a return trip to West Virginia/ nw Va. The roads in sw W Va and nw Va, are just awesome to ride. Unmatched natural beauty combined with limitless curves, and very little traffic, make this an ideal place to ride motorcycles. This year an extra bonus was the near perfect weather. A few sprinkles one evening that didnt even require rain gear, temps in the upper 40s to mid 70 s everyday. Just gorgeous weather. Lets look at some of the 200 pics I took during the week.

The men getting ready to take off Monday morning..l to r. My sons fil Jimmy, my younger bro Randy, my son Brian, and yours truly

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First day was a straight shot there. 7 hours I think, about 350 miles. We checked into the Holiday Inn Express in Weston W Va which would be our base for the next few days. Nice place, with heated pool and Jaccuzi which felt great every night after a long day of riding. Using the hotel as a base, we made loops out of there everyday using it as a starting and ending point. That way we were able to leave our luggage in the room, and just carry what we thought we would need for the day.

Just south of Elkins W Va is a resort called Snowshoe. Neat place to ride thru. Plus you get to be envious of the people that can actually afford to stay there in the clouds lol

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After Snowshoe we headed down to Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park. On the way there, there is a series of esses you ride thru that are not only devilishly curvy, but cambered with elevation changes in the middle of them, just an awesome stretch of highway.

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The view from Droop Mountain ...I love mountains

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After Droop Mountain we headed west and picked up the Highland Scenic Highway, a beautiful stretch of road thru the W Va mountains

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My brother Randy riding along the Scenic Highway

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A view along the highway which you can see a section of in the upper left hand corner of the pic

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We got back to the hotel, just as the sun was setting behind a nearby mountain

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[Capo]

I can't believe you guys actually farted.

[the Ferret]

On day 3 we did another loop which included a great lunch at the Glen Ferris inn, which was built in 1869. Then a stop at Cathedral Falls, and Hawks Nest State Park and a view of the old Gauley bridge

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Then we road down and visited the new Gauley Bridge, it is awesome

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This was our longest day, lots and lots of curves, but not many pictures

Day 4 was another great day, and probably the best weatherwise. We headed south out of Elkins on 33

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With a stop at Seneca Rocks

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Then we headed west over to the Mountain Hideaway in Monteray, Va for lunch

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This is a great place to eat, treasured by motorcyclists from all. Over. When we pulled in there were 11 motorcycles there from Ontario, Canada. While eating 3 pulled in from North Carolina, and as we were leaving 4 more pulled in with Georgia plates.

The riding was as spectacular as the scenery. Just an awesome day on the road

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Unfortunately it eventually had to end and the next morning we headed home. Its a tradition for us to celebrate a good ride with a stop at The Scioto Ribber, or " Ribbers" as it is know. Located in Portsmouth Ohio. It was 44 miles round trip out our direct way home, but worth every mile.

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We all order the " small ribeyes" which are cooked over a wood fire outside, and they are to die for!
Along with a fluffy hot baked potato, applesauce, rolls and sweet tea. Truly a meal suited for the end of a great ride

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A copy of one of our tank bag maps showing each days route

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[ron1100_imp]

Wow, that's a blast. Thanks for sharing and enjoyed it.

[Hawk52_imp]

Great pictures!! Thanks for sharing!!!! You're living the dream!!!!

[the Ferret]

The CB ran like a dream, all day, every day, just like my last trip. I lubed the chain mid- week. That's it. Other than that I just rode it. Odometer is showing over 6200 miles now. Still need another 1000 miles before its due for its next oil change. Have to be vigilant and pick up the lighter weight oil this time.

Spaceman wanted to see a pic with the luggage on. One of the advantages of soft luggage is being able to remove it easily and keep it in the hotel while you are out tearing up the curves.

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[Guth_imp]

Looks like it was a fantastic trip! Good to know the CB and the knee held up well. Thanks for sharing ferret.

[Capo]

Great trip, a willing and beautiful steed, and good friends. Really nice, thanks for sharing the report and photos.

[rboe]

Sweet! Gonna have to get you on Going to the Sun road in Glacier Park. Then you'll know what a proper mountain looks like.

(we could use the poke/prod graelin )

[the Ferret]

Sweet! Gonna have to get you on Going to the Sun road in Glacier Park. Then you'll know what a proper mountain looks like.

(we could use the poke/prod graelin )

My wife and I toured Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Wyoming last fall on the ST 1300. Great trip. Going to the Sun Road, and Beartooth Pass in Wyoming were awesome roads in awesome mountains.

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