BeastieGirl
Well-known member
Over the past two long weekends, this State has given me two of the most enjoyable pure riding days I can remember.
Over the August long weekend, I went down to a rally and on the way home, due to a slight zig where I should have zagged, I ended up on US 50 heading east from Grafton, WV. Even though I quickly figured out I was on the wrong road (see part 2 of best days ever) - I was just having so much fun I kept riding. Right through Maryland, back into West Virginia - by about 4:00 p.m. I was close enough to Front Royal I decided to check out the Skyline Drive for a bit, before running north to get a little closer to home.
This long weekend I went back to run the route I actually had planned to run in the first place
Elkins, WV to Staunton, Virginia, via US 250 (at times both 219/250 - but never US50 - see part 1 above). Wow. Did I like this route? Well when I hit Staunton, Virginia, I turned around and did it all the way back to Elkins. And if the skies hadn't opened up, I might just have turned around and ran it back again - its only about 100 mile stretch, but probably about 75% of that is toes up, knees down kind of riding. Most of the pavement was excellent - and I especially liked how they had wider lanes in some of the banked corners - and as well kudo's to the trucks and RV's who pulled over to let me go by!!! As a bonus, Saturday night I stayed at the Microtel in Hazelton, WV - and I have to go into my GPS to get the routes from my history, because the road leading up to this place was almost worth the price of admission alone. On top of that, the route from Hazelton to Elkins was a blast - and probably technically more challenging than 250 itself. This trip is definitely on the agenda for a follow-up fall colour run later this month.
Fortunately for me I had Tuesday off as well, so even Monday's ride back as far as Grove City in the cold and the rain and the wind - couldn't put a damper on this weekend. Just called it a day early and when the going gets tough - the tough get shopping - anyone whose been to Grove City and the Prime Outlet mall there knows what I mean - let's just say I found a way to pass the rest of the day on Monday. Tuesday was cold but dry and a short ride home.
While the weather couldn't put a damper on my spirits, an encounter with a grieving grandfather in a motel dining area in Elkins could - but this isn't the place for posting that, I have posted his story is in Fallen Riders.
Over the August long weekend, I went down to a rally and on the way home, due to a slight zig where I should have zagged, I ended up on US 50 heading east from Grafton, WV. Even though I quickly figured out I was on the wrong road (see part 2 of best days ever) - I was just having so much fun I kept riding. Right through Maryland, back into West Virginia - by about 4:00 p.m. I was close enough to Front Royal I decided to check out the Skyline Drive for a bit, before running north to get a little closer to home.
This long weekend I went back to run the route I actually had planned to run in the first place
Elkins, WV to Staunton, Virginia, via US 250 (at times both 219/250 - but never US50 - see part 1 above). Wow. Did I like this route? Well when I hit Staunton, Virginia, I turned around and did it all the way back to Elkins. And if the skies hadn't opened up, I might just have turned around and ran it back again - its only about 100 mile stretch, but probably about 75% of that is toes up, knees down kind of riding. Most of the pavement was excellent - and I especially liked how they had wider lanes in some of the banked corners - and as well kudo's to the trucks and RV's who pulled over to let me go by!!! As a bonus, Saturday night I stayed at the Microtel in Hazelton, WV - and I have to go into my GPS to get the routes from my history, because the road leading up to this place was almost worth the price of admission alone. On top of that, the route from Hazelton to Elkins was a blast - and probably technically more challenging than 250 itself. This trip is definitely on the agenda for a follow-up fall colour run later this month.Fortunately for me I had Tuesday off as well, so even Monday's ride back as far as Grove City in the cold and the rain and the wind - couldn't put a damper on this weekend. Just called it a day early and when the going gets tough - the tough get shopping - anyone whose been to Grove City and the Prime Outlet mall there knows what I mean - let's just say I found a way to pass the rest of the day on Monday. Tuesday was cold but dry and a short ride home.
While the weather couldn't put a damper on my spirits, an encounter with a grieving grandfather in a motel dining area in Elkins could - but this isn't the place for posting that, I have posted his story is in Fallen Riders.
