tyusha
January 7th, 2009, 09:18 PM
Hello! I am new here and was invited over here by kkim. I am loving this forum so far.
I decided to tell you guys and gals about the ride i took this past summer at the end of August. I was planning this trip all summer long. I rode from Newton MA to Durham North Carolina and back. It was a BLAST!!!
When discussing my trip with my friend David (he was the friend i was visiting in Durham) he suggested that i avoid route 95 at all costs. So we created a map that went through Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway/Skyline Drive. On the way there i was supposed to stay overnight in Roanoke VA. Which would mean that i would complete the major part of my trip in one day. Ambitious plan to say the least.
Before the trip i acquired Garmin Zumo 550 GPS and Scala Rider FM bluetooth headset for my helmet. I also purchased Nelson-Rigg Saddle bags and tail bag. All of the equipment worked flawlessly, and made my trip trouble free and very enjoyable.
Chapter1 - long but very entertaining. At least for me.
I left Newton MA on August 21 at 7:30 in the morning, hoping to make it to Roanoke VA by the everning.
However by the time i approached the beginning of blue ridge mountain parkway/skyline drive it was 6:15 and sun was getting ready to set. i decided to risk it and go through with it.
And it was beautiful!!! Until it got dark. And there I was in the middle of nowhere. My bike as the only source of light and more that 40 miles of just the skyline/blue ridge left. That and then highway to Roanoke.
I panicked a little. I had to go no faster than 30/35 mph and even slower than that at times, as countless dear and raccoons crossed my path. I was getting tired and had to stop a couple of times to rest and calm myself down. at one of the stops i got to experience a beautiful view - pitch dark mountains, sky full of stars (no light pollution there) and shimmering lights of some small town underneath.
At that point i went into my GPS and looked for the nearest motel. It was 25 miles away and i would have to "climb down" for the night. But i had no choice. So i ended up staying at Days Inn in Waynesboro VA.
Bed has never looked so good in my life. i was sore all over and could not feel my legs or my arms. But i was happy!
Next morning i woke up and continued trough blue ridge/skyline drive. i altered the route in the GPS to avoid Roanoke and go straight to Durham. This ride was trouble/surprise free and i was safe at David's house by 12:30 that afternoon. that was awesome!!!
Pics:
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=169
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=168
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=167
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=166
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=165
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=164
Chapter2 - reasonably short and with a lesson to be learned!
I left David's house on Tuesday August 26 around 8:30 in the morning. it was raining slightly so i had to zip the rain gear lining in my pants and jacket, as well as rain guards on my luggage. As i made my way north though it cleared up (as expected) and it was smooth sailing weather wise until the end of the trip. David suggested once again that i should avoid route 95 at all costs. Which i did. We "cooked up" a new route for me to follow back home, this time avoiding blue ridge/skyline drive, and sticking to highway. To avoid 95 through DC and most of VA i had to do the following: i followed 95 until Richmond VA, where i jumped on route 64 and went west until intersection with route 81 which i followed 'till Route 84 that took me trough New York and Connecticut until Mass Turnpike (route 90). My plan was to stay overnight somewhere in PA. I was making very decent time cruising at 75 - 80 miles per hour (speed based on GPS). When i got to PA it was still fairly early and bright out, so i decided what the heck, i will try to make it in one shot. BIG mistake. I overestimated myself. I did make it home by 10:30 (that's right 14.5 hour ride in one day on a little ninja 250 is possible despite what the naysayers tell us) but i was dead tired and partially lost feeling in one of my hands, and even though it went back to normal in a couple of days it was still unnecessary. Most people that heard about my 14.5 hour ride told me that i was nuts for doing that, and i agree with them. I think i will avoid such long rides in one day from now on.
MOAR Pics:)
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=163
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=129
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=128
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=127
That concludes my story and i hope you guys enjoyed it despite its length.
Once again awesome forum and i am glad to be a part of it!
I decided to tell you guys and gals about the ride i took this past summer at the end of August. I was planning this trip all summer long. I rode from Newton MA to Durham North Carolina and back. It was a BLAST!!!
When discussing my trip with my friend David (he was the friend i was visiting in Durham) he suggested that i avoid route 95 at all costs. So we created a map that went through Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway/Skyline Drive. On the way there i was supposed to stay overnight in Roanoke VA. Which would mean that i would complete the major part of my trip in one day. Ambitious plan to say the least.
Before the trip i acquired Garmin Zumo 550 GPS and Scala Rider FM bluetooth headset for my helmet. I also purchased Nelson-Rigg Saddle bags and tail bag. All of the equipment worked flawlessly, and made my trip trouble free and very enjoyable.
Chapter1 - long but very entertaining. At least for me.
I left Newton MA on August 21 at 7:30 in the morning, hoping to make it to Roanoke VA by the everning.
However by the time i approached the beginning of blue ridge mountain parkway/skyline drive it was 6:15 and sun was getting ready to set. i decided to risk it and go through with it.
And it was beautiful!!! Until it got dark. And there I was in the middle of nowhere. My bike as the only source of light and more that 40 miles of just the skyline/blue ridge left. That and then highway to Roanoke.
I panicked a little. I had to go no faster than 30/35 mph and even slower than that at times, as countless dear and raccoons crossed my path. I was getting tired and had to stop a couple of times to rest and calm myself down. at one of the stops i got to experience a beautiful view - pitch dark mountains, sky full of stars (no light pollution there) and shimmering lights of some small town underneath.
At that point i went into my GPS and looked for the nearest motel. It was 25 miles away and i would have to "climb down" for the night. But i had no choice. So i ended up staying at Days Inn in Waynesboro VA.
Bed has never looked so good in my life. i was sore all over and could not feel my legs or my arms. But i was happy!
Next morning i woke up and continued trough blue ridge/skyline drive. i altered the route in the GPS to avoid Roanoke and go straight to Durham. This ride was trouble/surprise free and i was safe at David's house by 12:30 that afternoon. that was awesome!!!
Pics:
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=169
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=168
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=167
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=166
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=165
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=164
Chapter2 - reasonably short and with a lesson to be learned!
I left David's house on Tuesday August 26 around 8:30 in the morning. it was raining slightly so i had to zip the rain gear lining in my pants and jacket, as well as rain guards on my luggage. As i made my way north though it cleared up (as expected) and it was smooth sailing weather wise until the end of the trip. David suggested once again that i should avoid route 95 at all costs. Which i did. We "cooked up" a new route for me to follow back home, this time avoiding blue ridge/skyline drive, and sticking to highway. To avoid 95 through DC and most of VA i had to do the following: i followed 95 until Richmond VA, where i jumped on route 64 and went west until intersection with route 81 which i followed 'till Route 84 that took me trough New York and Connecticut until Mass Turnpike (route 90). My plan was to stay overnight somewhere in PA. I was making very decent time cruising at 75 - 80 miles per hour (speed based on GPS). When i got to PA it was still fairly early and bright out, so i decided what the heck, i will try to make it in one shot. BIG mistake. I overestimated myself. I did make it home by 10:30 (that's right 14.5 hour ride in one day on a little ninja 250 is possible despite what the naysayers tell us) but i was dead tired and partially lost feeling in one of my hands, and even though it went back to normal in a couple of days it was still unnecessary. Most people that heard about my 14.5 hour ride told me that i was nuts for doing that, and i agree with them. I think i will avoid such long rides in one day from now on.
MOAR Pics:)
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=163
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=129
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=128
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=22&pictureid=127
That concludes my story and i hope you guys enjoyed it despite its length.
Once again awesome forum and i am glad to be a part of it!