Question for the locals. I am riding down early Thursday morning. The most direct route is 7 hours 22 minutes ride time, but it is all slab. If I take Skyline Drive and some BRP, ride time jumps to 10+ hours. I've never ridden Skyline or BRP so I am asking if this is worth the extra three hours. Or, is there another alternative that involves a special password and handshake? ::017:: I'm all ears. ::008::
FODS 2015 comes to southern WV (FJR Owners of Dual Sports)
- Thread starter spklbuk
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Dirt_Dad
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Skyline Drive is lovely. The 35 MPH speed limit with rangers checking your speed with radar can get old. 140 some miles is a long way at that speed. Is it worth it?...up to you. It is not breathtaking for all that long. Jump on, ride to the next exit, jump off. You're not likely to miss a whole lot and it will save you a ton of time.78YZ said:
Yep, what DD said. Well worth seeing for a little while.
Sounds like you are coming south on I-81. I hear that VA 311 near Roanoke is kinda fun and if you zag south at Paint Bank on VA on VA600/WV17 you would resume 460E to Princeton and be in Pipestem before you know it. Longer time, yes. Potts Mountain and verrry fine mountain twisties, you betcha. Just don't get carried away thru Catawba and New Castle. As an added bonus, you could take a break at the Swinging Bridge Restaurant in the Paint Bank General Store. Probably adds an hour travel tiime. Just thinking out loud. Password is...buffalo burger!
Sounds like you are coming south on I-81. I hear that VA 311 near Roanoke is kinda fun and if you zag south at Paint Bank on VA on VA600/WV17 you would resume 460E to Princeton and be in Pipestem before you know it. Longer time, yes. Potts Mountain and verrry fine mountain twisties, you betcha. Just don't get carried away thru Catawba and New Castle. As an added bonus, you could take a break at the Swinging Bridge Restaurant in the Paint Bank General Store. Probably adds an hour travel tiime. Just thinking out loud. Password is...buffalo burger!
Thanks guys. The beginning of Skyline at Front Royal looks cool so I'll take DD's advice and jump off after an exit or two. I will build a route around the other recommendations. Buffalo Burger sounds right up my alley. ::008::
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
Well, dammit... looks like this weekend is not gonna happen for me. Too much on my plate and not enough time to do it all. So I will live vicariously through the trip reports and pix that you guys post from the weekend rides. I am reassured that you are all in good hands with Spklbuk as he is one of the best ride leaders (or ride recommenders) out there for this part of WV. Enjoy!!!
trikepilot said:
Harrison, I truly respect your ability to keep your eyes on the prize. ::003::
And yep, I can get these gents lost and turned around with the best of 'em!
There will be other rides my friend.
P. S. Like Kumbrabow in late Aug/early Sept perhaps. Sunny dry days and cool nights...mebbe.
P. S. S. Tell her I said hi!
And yep, I can get these gents lost and turned around with the best of 'em!
There will be other rides my friend.
P. S. Like Kumbrabow in late Aug/early Sept perhaps. Sunny dry days and cool nights...mebbe.
P. S. S. Tell her I said hi!
Yeah, and there is that too...spklbuk said:P. S. S. Tell her I said hi!
)
Dirt_Dad
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Harrison, sorry you won't be there. Understand it completely.
Jim, this is my weekend not to think or plan anything. I'll follow you wherever you go. Expect to be there late afternoon early evening on Thursday.
Jim, this is my weekend not to think or plan anything. I'll follow you wherever you go. Expect to be there late afternoon early evening on Thursday.
We will likely be in a bit late Thurs evening, but I will have a cold Greenbrier Valley Brewing Co. product to hand you as soon as we roll into camp Jon!Dirt_Dad said:
Consider that I may well be riding S10 2-up Fri on paved mountain roads, depending on which way the wind and rain is blowing. I'd be pushing my luck to leave spkldoe in camp two days in a row.
Dirt_Dad
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Looking forward to catching up, Jim. It has been too long.spklbuk said:
Thanks for the heads up on the S10 pavement ride. I'm only bringing my DR. Not my favorite pavement bike. If you're doing a day on Snowflake I'll be happy to fall in line on that one.
Dirt_Dad
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Thanks, and yes, still at the dealership. Expect to hear from the insurance company tomorrow. Anticipate after that, it will no longer be my bike.78YZ said:
I'm keeping a thread on our site here: http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=15892.0
Dirt_Dad
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Thanks, I considered it my lucky day. It could have turned out so much worse. And yes, my wife is pretty amazing to me for pulling off the entire trip, and doing it with a smile.78YZ said:
I am arriving late tomorrow afternoon. ::001:: My room is in the Mountain Creek Lodge. Who else is staying in this lodge? I just learned we cannot park our bikes near this lodge. It requires an aerial tram to get there. That should be cool.
Dirt_Dad
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Guess I'm not exactly sure where I'm staying. My welcome email says:78YZ said:
We have you staying in 1 unit(s) which is a Mt. Crk, 2 Doubles, NS, Ground.
Guess I'll find out when I get there.
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Got home earlier today. This was my 3rd time attending an event put together by Spklbuk, and my 3rd time saying it was a great time. Thanks for all your efforts, Jim. Always enjoy getting together.
Nice to see True Grip again so soon and finally get a chance to ride together on a interesting route led by Jim. Really appreciated Jim taking us out to the shale pile play ground to let me ride like a kid again. I had been there once before on the WR with TrikePilot. It was even more fun with the more powerful DR650. Good stuff.
Great to catch up with everyone and meet new friends. Thanks for a good time everyone.
I took almost no pictures. Here's a sample of the few I have.
Nice to see True Grip again so soon and finally get a chance to ride together on a interesting route led by Jim. Really appreciated Jim taking us out to the shale pile play ground to let me ride like a kid again. I had been there once before on the WR with TrikePilot. It was even more fun with the more powerful DR650. Good stuff.
Great to catch up with everyone and meet new friends. Thanks for a good time everyone.
I took almost no pictures. Here's a sample of the few I have.
DD I'm still at the campground DSMike and I rode 250 today. Mike took me on a great ride Hub tub run or some crazy road (mikes bike got sleepy) and went to Burkes Garden. Weather did the same thing intense late afternoon shower 
Found a convenient car wash right in the nick of time
Jim and I are riding tomorrow. Been a great trip so far and also glad we got to ride together!
Found a convenient car wash right in the nick of time
Jim and I are riding tomorrow. Been a great trip so far and also glad we got to ride together!
Dirt_Dad
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That sky looks familiar. I need to check out that Burkes Garden sometime. Enjoy the ride tomorrow. Jim knows West Virginia like no one else.