April 8th, 2010, 04:46 PM | #1 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Paul
Location: Roanoke, VA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Candy Plasma Blue 250R Posts: A lot.
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04-07-2010 Wandering Western Virginia
Due to the need for 36-48hrs of continuous good weather for my experiments at work and practically guaranteed thunder/rainstorm on 4/8, I had the 7th off and decided to ride the day away in central-western VA.
Turned out to be a phenomenal day out. Saw a lot of neat houses, wish I'd broken out the camera a little earlier than I did. This guy's neighbor probably lost a third the property value when that red/brown place went up.... Started on some familiar back roads, one of which took me by Dragon's Tooth, an excellent local hike (2.3mi one way, ~1,500ft elevation change) I took my Dad to when he visited last month. Realized I could see the summit from the road and snapped a pic. Zoom's not great on my little Sony DSC-T100 but it's there, I even circled it. Further on just SW of New Castle, VA is a section of SR42 that I hit everytime I'm nearby. It's short, but intense. No pics because I was too busy enjoying the curves. Keep reminding myself to set up a camera/video mount and not getting around to it. Discovered a little later that same road, SR311 as one of my new favorite roads: twisty, quick, scenic and not terribly busy. Had to remind myself a couple times I don't have knee pucks, so putting a knee down would be a bad idea. Had a bit of a morbid laugh at the historic marker when 311 crossed into WV. Ah lazy hunters, what would this nation be like without you? Just before hopping on I-64 for a short stretch to the next fun spot, I saw this bridge off to the side of SR159 and had to stop Post I-64 I stopped in Clifton Forge, a good friend's hometown for a Brownie Earthquake from the local Dairy Queen. Several hundred calories and 15min of very very confusing in-town navigation later (no GPS yet, on the 'to get' list) I found the next road I was looking for, SR606. Wished I'd packed my fishing gear for the Nth time when I noticed this little stream. The road itself turned out to be a poorly-maintained gravelly mess, but was offset by another great view and a neat pagoda-style home at the top, neither of which afforded me an opportunity for a good shot. On the way back down past the switchback series (every turn was gouged from carswith not enough clearance for the slope) I found this Wrapped up the day with a run through the Blue Ridge Parkway around Roanoke. Noticed Purgatory mountain (far left) had a fire going, never did figure out what was going on. Made the dubious decision to do some more in-motion shots too. Results weren't great, of which this was the best (pardon the looming finger) At the top of the Roanoke scenic loop off the BRP I snagged a shot of my goofy self in my new gear. What you don't see is the other, mirrored face shield for the helmet that was coated in bugs so thick I switched it out for the clear. Here's the smarter two of the turkey trio that might've ended my day if I'd been going a bit faster. A solid sunset finished the day on a high note Just after sunset a trucker blinked his lights at me. Thought he was telling me 'cops ahead, slow down' which was weird as I was toeing the speed limit behind a pickup at the time. Realized a few minutes later my low beam had burned out sometime during the day and I was without a headlight. Highbeamed the Tacoma I was behind for the last 15miles of the trip. [If you're out there, sorry dude. I chose to use the 'wrong light' instead of 'no light' (or pulling over and trying to switch them in the dark)]. Didn't have any real near-misses all day (asphalt, people, cars, animals or cops), found some roads I will definitely be going back to, spent less than $20 on an all-day ride (food and gas) and had one helluva Hump-day. Missed riding with ya'll Kim & Nick.
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April 8th, 2010, 04:58 PM | #2 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Rick
Location: Alexandria, Louisiana
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much.
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Great pics. That is some great scenery!
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April 8th, 2010, 05:21 PM | #3 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Kim
Location: mundo de ensueño
Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 250 Posts: A lot.
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Looks like a great day - but it's not very nice to rub it in to the pregnant woman who has to work 1-7 now
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April 8th, 2010, 05:35 PM | #4 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Paul
Location: Roanoke, VA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Candy Plasma Blue 250R Posts: A lot.
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*cough* yeah, sorry 'bout that... I know the riding bug's got you bad by now. At least you won't miss the whole riding season due to your young'n in the oven.
And it's not my fault the roof fell in at your workplace
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April 8th, 2010, 05:36 PM | #5 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Whodat
Location: Ware Is.,MA
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): I pass the wind! Posts: A lot.
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Dude, you are not allowed to show other motorcycle roads other than the Blue Ridge, Deal's and that smoggy Cali stuff. West Virginia is closed to everyone who doesn't know about it. It is our own little secret!
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April 8th, 2010, 05:41 PM | #6 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Paul
Location: Roanoke, VA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Candy Plasma Blue 250R Posts: A lot.
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Then consider the secret kept... other than you letting it out of the bag just now
Every pic was taken in VA, save the historical marker which I don't think will inspire people to visit for fear of a stray skeletal rib-bone puncturing their tires. If that's not enough to discourage a visitor to WV, maybe the fact that the small part of the route that was in WV was so coated in gravel (paved road) that I was taking every turn at less than the 'recommended' speed (15-20mph for most) will. Made me actually miss VDOT for the first time in 5 years.
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April 8th, 2010, 09:21 PM | #7 |
ninjette.org dude
Name: 1 guess :-)
Location: SF Bay Area
Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much.
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April 8th, 2010, 10:22 PM | #8 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Dre
Location: DMV
Join Date: Aug 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2014 Ninja 300, 2008 ZX6, 2011 Ninja 1000 Posts: 622
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I LOVE West Virginia. I got my ZX6 there, and I was absolutely astonished by the scenery, roads, and nice people. The twisties are fantastic, as long as there isn't any gravel on the roads (which seems to be the case right now for some reason). In the next couple of weeks, I plan on taking a similar excursion in the northern section of WV. I hope to make my way to central WV before summer gets in full swing.
GREAT PICS! Glad the trip turned out to be safe and fun. |
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April 9th, 2010, 02:34 AM | #9 |
You are sleeping
Name: Casey
Location: LMFAO!!!
Join Date: Nov 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2 Posts: A lot.
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Awesome pics and ride report.
Have not had the pleasure of exploring that part of the country yet. Once drove a CRX home from Kentucky though. lol Thanks for the 3am adventure. I could definitely see hitting up that creek for a feesh. Great little area for a shorty 3wt.
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April 12th, 2010, 03:39 PM | #10 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Leo
Location: Monterey Park, CA in SoCal/SGV
Join Date: Dec 2009 Motorcycle(s): Plasma Blue 2008 Ninja 250R, 2006 Honda Ruckus 180cc swap, 1967 BMW R60US, 2008 Ninja ZX-14se Posts: 240
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How beautiful!
Definitely a great route to just sit up and pretend you are on a 50cc scooter! |
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April 12th, 2010, 04:22 PM | #11 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Paul
Location: Roanoke, VA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Candy Plasma Blue 250R Posts: A lot.
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Yeah, I usually made 4-5 passes through the twisty sections. First couple slow & steady learning the route and enjoying the scenery. Successive ones enjoying the curves @ speed. Not sure I'd want to ride a scooter for a consecutive 235mi+ though.
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April 12th, 2010, 07:53 PM | #12 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Donger
Location: So CAL
Join Date: Dec 2009 Motorcycle(s): "Is that a Ninjer 1000?" Posts: A lot.
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Excellent ride report......nice pics and you definately need a camera mount on your ride...
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April 12th, 2010, 10:45 PM | #13 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Anon
Location: Atlanta, GA
Join Date: Aug 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250 (Blue!) Posts: 488
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This looks great, thanks for sharing!
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April 13th, 2010, 04:21 PM | #14 |
So slow I'm first!
Name: Sunny
Location: San Jose, CA
Join Date: Oct 2008 Motorcycle(s): 06 Kawasaki Ninja EX250 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 10
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Your so lucky!!!!! I want to go!
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April 14th, 2010, 05:05 PM | #15 |
Fastly Slow!!!
Name: Jeff
Location: Kent, WA
Join Date: Feb 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Kawasaki Ninja EX250, 1980 Honda XL125 Posts: 467
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Awesome.... NO ONE here is Jealous....
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April 21st, 2010, 08:58 PM | #16 |
CPT Falcon
Name: J.Emmett Turner
Location: Newnan, GA
Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 CP Blue EX250J, '97 unpainted EX250F, 2nd '97 unpainted EX250F (no engine), '07 black EX250F Posts: A lot.
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First place I ever rode my '08 250 before riding it home the next day. Beautiful roads but pretty scarry when you've never ridden the streets on amotorcycle before! The MSF prepared me well enough though.
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