Topic: SEEG/WFP2's Blue Ridge Parkway Adventure! (Read 7052 times)

WFP · « **on:** September 16, 2005, 04:43:11 PM »

Hey there, it's me, the SEEG, WFP2!

While Bill and Anne took a vacation, I decided to take a little trip of my own. When it was all said and done I travelled 2067.2 miles and stopped at 14 Harley Shops never before visited. Here are some other statistics:

7 Days and 5 hours
43:33 hrs. in the saddle
55.71 Gallons of Gas (37.11 mpg)
$183.97 for that gas ($3.30 average)

Here is the overall trip:

It included the following Parkways:
Merritt (CT)
Hutchinson River (NY)
Garden State (NJ)
Colonial (VA)
Blue Ridge (VA)

WFP · « **Reply #1 on:** September 16, 2005, 04:43:52 PM »

DAY 1:

Left at 0730 on Friday 9/9/05, 561 miles.
Altitude, Start: 80', end 5'

Stopped in Cape Charles for the night. Went for some some beer at the Parrot Pub, watched the sunset, then went to bed.

WFP · « **Reply #2 on:** September 16, 2005, 04:46:47 PM »

DAY 2&3:

129.2 miles, visited family in Norfolk

Our Soccer Stars!

Ophelia was really kicking up the surf at VA Beach:

WFP · « **Reply #3 on:** September 16, 2005, 04:47:19 PM »

DAY 4:

The real vacation begins!

380 miles via the Colonial Parkway, Route 5 past plantations, a stop at the Appomattox Courthouse, out to Lynchburg and Roanoke then on the Blue ridge Parkway Heading South! Got off the Parkway and stayed the night in Hillsville, VA. Started at an elevation of 8', went as low as 13' below sea level, as high as 3478' (Rocky Knob) and ended the night at 2446'

Appomattox Courthouse:

Finally on the Blue ridge Parkway!

It was just so CROWDED!

from Groundhog Hill

WFP · « **Reply #4 on:** September 16, 2005, 04:47:56 PM »

DAY 5:

263 miles via the Wythville up I-81 to Roanoke then back on the Blue Ridge Parkway no heading North. Started at an elevation of 2446' ended at 1317' and was as high as 3905' near Terrapin Mountain.

Peaks of Otters for lunch...great view, good food, good prices, slow service.

Riding the Blue ridge Parkway:

DECISIONS, DECISIONS!

WFP · « **Reply #5 on:** September 16, 2005, 04:48:36 PM »

DAY 6:

238 miles from Waynesboro via Skyline Drive and then on to Gettysburg. Was foggy/overcast at times during the day for the first time the entire trip, but no rain. Started out at an elevation of 1317', ended at 398' and was as high as 3703' at both the Big Meadow Lodge and Skyland where we ate lunch. Good food, prices and service.

Look Carefully in the next pic...do you see what I see?

Enlarging the area of interest and yes it is a BEAR!

WFP · « **Reply #6 on:** September 16, 2005, 04:49:23 PM »

DAY 7:

276 miles from Gettysburg including the tour drive the up through PA and the Delaware Water Gap ending in Newburgh, NY for the night.Started out at an elevation of 398', ended at 492' and was as high as 1412' at Upper Tulpehochen Twp. where the Appalatian trail crossed the road we were on.

Gettysburg Battlefield Tour:

Gettysburg to Newburgh:

Touring the Battlefield:

This one is for my Dad:

A stop in the Delaware water Gap:

WFP · « **Reply #7 on:** September 16, 2005, 04:50:06 PM »

DAY 8:

220 Miles from Newburgh and on home. We had to put on our rain gear for the last 2 hours but we missed the Thunderstorms and only had a few minutes of light showers.

RedFXR2 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 16, 2005, 05:10:03 PM »

Bill please....you're killing me here.

Bee-yoo-tiful photos. Talk to me about traveling the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Looks like you went over/through that(?). Was that a weird or pleasant experience or what? I've done it in a car and I know you're down there a while. Just wondering what it would be like on a bike.

Super nice trip. Thanks for the peek.

lugnut · « **Reply #9 on:** September 16, 2005, 05:32:37 PM »

Bill did u stop at Mr Mrs weCVO place near richmond.

ccr · « **Reply #10 on:** September 16, 2005, 05:48:40 PM »

No Lugnut, he and Anne tooled past our house on Monday when we had to go to work. If we had had a little heads up, we may have planned to ride at least one day together, but as it turned out, I got a heck of a summer cold and ended up with Bronchitis. I was home sick when he went past. I was thinking of them. Jamey was jealous as anything. When he reads the ride report..... he is going to be crazy.

Bill, looks like it was one heck of a route. We ride part of your route every weekend and have so much fun. Sorry we missed you guys. Lets plan to ride together next time you are in the area.

I am finally feeling a little better and we sure do hope we can get in some riding this weekend.

[smiley=cherry.gif] [smiley=cherry.gif] [smiley=cherry.gif]

Mr. We · « **Reply #11 on:** September 16, 2005, 06:15:02 PM »

Quote

DAY 2&3:

129.2 miles, visited family in Norfolk

Bill,
[smiley=oops.gif]Sorry dude... you asked about directions east to west - you could have asked about Norfolk and we would have put you stright through to VA Beach! [smiley=beerchug.gif]

Really looks like you had a great trip, definately one for the record books. Thanks for those pics, you really captured some of my favorite shots of the Blue Ridge. [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]

lugnut · « **Reply #12 on:** September 16, 2005, 06:43:04 PM »

Always enjoy traveling thru G.W. & T.J national forest when in Virgina.
Bill, did you miss the ferry from Delaware to Jersey or not in your.

WFP · « **Reply #13 on:** September 16, 2005, 07:01:58 PM »

Quote

Bill please....you're killing me here.

Bee-yoo-tiful photos. Talk to me about traveling the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Looks like you went over/through that(?). Was that a weird or pleasant experience or what? I've done it in a car and I know you're down there a while. Just wondering what it would be like on a bike.

Super nice trip. Thanks for the peek.

It is way different on a bike...luckily, for some reason, the passing trucks do no create too much of a disturbance, that was my fear. I also can say that I had to really force myself to keep up to 55-60 mph...it is tempting to slow down and take it easy. The bridge itself wasn't bad but the winds had not picked up yet.

WFP · « **Reply #14 on:** September 16, 2005, 07:02:13 PM »

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Bill did u stop at Mr Mrs weCVO place near richmond.

I had to delay the trip one week due to a work requirement so it was tough to give advance notice. Next time, I will do better!

[smiley=oops.gif]

WFP · « **Reply #15 on:** September 16, 2005, 07:04:29 PM »

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Bill,
[smiley=oops.gif]Sorry dude... you asked about directions east to west - you could have asked about Norfolk and we would have put you stright through to VA Beach! [smiley=beerchug.gif]

Really looks like you had a great trip, definately one for the record books. Thanks for those pics, you really captured some of my favorite shots of the Blue Ridge. [smiley=2thumbsup.gif]

Directrions were perfect...we crossed the james river at 156 and made our way to Lynchburg no problem. Wonderful time and when we come down next time we will be sure to drop in. Anne wants to do the North Carolina half down to the Smokies now so we are trying to plan that trip...maybe MAY...maybe SEPT.

/Bill

WFP · « **Reply #16 on:** September 16, 2005, 07:07:01 PM »

Quote

Always enjoy traveling thru G.W. & T.J national forest when in Virgina.
Bill, did you miss the ferry from Delaware to Jersey or not in your.

Not this time, we are creatures of habit and usually take 13 all the way in...that and Anne wanted to make sure we stopped and bought some overpriced T-Shirts at the new Mike's Famous SMYRNA location.

/Bill

Fired00d · « **Reply #17 on:** September 16, 2005, 07:55:45 PM »

WFP,
Great pics!!! Makes me feel proud knowing that people will travel far to enjoy what I have right at my back door. Sorry I didn't know about your travels I would have met you somewhere for some refreshments.

[smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
[smiley=fireman.gif]

Twolanerider · « **Reply #18 on:** September 16, 2005, 08:09:49 PM »

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Hey there, it's me, the SEEG, WFP2!

Wow Bill, your bike is way smart. The red bike can't even begin to post all by itself. Though I'm pretty sure it knows the password for the Paypal account.

Looks like a great trip. Don't really know why (maybe because the channel there is so wide) but as many times as I've been over it the wind on the Bay Bridge isn't usually too bad. It can be a bi*ch. But usually not terrible.

Glad to see that a great time was had by all. Wonderful pictures too. Thanks so much for sharing the trip.

WFP · « **Reply #19 on:** September 16, 2005, 09:03:36 PM »

Quote

WFP,
Great pics!!! Makes me feel proud knowing that people will travel far to enjoy what I have right at my back door. Sorry I didn't know about your travels I would have met you somewhere for some refreshments.

[smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
[smiley=fireman.gif]

Sorry, just don't feel like I should use a public forum to tell when my house is going to be empty!

...this really was a tourist trip on our part...not real hard ridin' like wa done in the valley last spring...I only hit 90.2 as the max speed.

GC_Super · « **Reply #20 on:** September 16, 2005, 09:04:41 PM »

Excellent pictures and story. Makes me feel like I am there. I rode the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel in the early 80's on a GoldWing. Temps were in the upper 40's and the wind was howling. This was the final leg of our trip before we headed back to Texas. Was very dissapointed that the weather was so bad and because if that I've always wanted to go back. Thanks for taking me there.

Robert [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

WFP · « **Reply #21 on:** September 16, 2005, 09:06:26 PM »

Quote

Wow Bill, your bike is way smart.

porthole · « **Reply #22 on:** September 16, 2005, 09:15:12 PM »

Geez you were within 1.5 miles of my house on the Garden State! Just north of exit 98. I like others would have joined for part of the trip if we knew you were passing by.

Looks like a great trip. I am still trying to convince some of my local pals to do the Skyline - Blueridge -Dragon ride..... looks like I might end up going by myself.

Fired00d · « **Reply #23 on:** September 16, 2005, 09:20:01 PM »

Quote

Sorry, just don't feel like I should use a public forum to tell when my house is going to be empty!......

WFP,
I do understand that. Maybe we will meet at a CVO gathering and next time you are in my backyard we can connect. Nothing like knowing some locals to find that out of the way "greasy spoon" for some local flavor.

[smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
[smiley=fireman.gif]

Jock · « **Reply #24 on:** September 18, 2005, 08:26:53 PM »

Quote

Geez you were within 1.5 miles of my house on the Garden State! Just north of exit 98. I like others would have joined for part of the trip if we knew you were passing by.

Looks like a great trip. I am still trying to convince some of my local pals to do the Skyline - Blueridge -Dragon ride..... looks like I might end up going by myself.

Port,

As for your local pals, allow me to share a personal experience. Like you, I had members of the posse that did not want to take the trip u suggested...Dragon, Blueridge, Syline...after it was done, they would not have it any other way...

Take it and enjoy the ride...

Dick

ccr · « **Reply #25 on:** September 19, 2005, 06:42:59 AM »

Bill, Thanks so much for the pics. You will know what kind of terrain we were looking at as Jamey and I rode Saturday all over the RIchmond area and out to Orange on new roads. It absolutely amazes me to see so much rural in and around a major city. There are some folks around here who have 20 - 80 or more acre lots within 5 miles of Richmond. Of course - some of these are plantations..... but some are normal folks homes. So we attended a HOG meeting - went to a couple of Chrome Comings - whoooo baby! and after about 300 miles we stopped at Carrabas for dinner before heading home. Still working on my thoughts of my relocated tour pak and Saturday is the first day I can ever remember coming home with 0 pain in my back after a more than 200 mile day. I think I must be liking it.

Then on Sunday, as we were sipping our coffee in the hot tub, he asks me what I want to do today. I was not sure what I wanted to do per se.... but I suggested a breakfast ride - restaurant 70 miles from home. They do a great poached eggs and ham - you know the VA honey cured is my fav ... just the way we like it. So - with a destination in mind to start our day, and of course this leading us in a direction - West we headed for the Cumberland Restaurant. This lead us to Lynchburg - although we did not take a direct route there, some eye candy along the way with gorgeous vistas - this is the best time of the year to be in Virginia. Not too hot, not too cold, everything is lush and green. We meandered around the mountains till sixish or so in the afternoon and after almost 400 miles we happily settled back down into home chores.

Now I will be calling today to start setting up service appointments. When we put 700 miles on our bikes in one weekend, I guess it can't be unbelievable that we need to get our bikes serviced so much. Hope everyone is having this much fun.

[smiley=cherry.gif] [smiley=huepfenjump3.gif]

WFP · « **Reply #26 on:** September 19, 2005, 07:39:07 AM »

Quote

Bill, Thanks so much for the pics. You will know what kind of terrain we were looking at as Jamey and I rode Saturday all over the RIchmond area and out to Orange on new roads. It absolutely amazes me to see so much rural in and around a major city.

RedFXR2 · « **Reply #27 on:** September 19, 2005, 10:12:40 AM »

Quote

WFP · « **Reply #28 on:** September 19, 2005, 10:27:16 AM »

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Gas up, everybody.

Twolanerider · « **Reply #29 on:** September 19, 2005, 11:31:16 AM »

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I am planning on going to Maggie Valley for this trip...not Soggy Valley...I have already been there and while the company was great, I did not get to fully appreciate the area.

/Bill

But it sure was a bright clear beautiful day on that chilly little ride up to York [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

WFP · « **Reply #30 on:** September 19, 2005, 11:32:50 AM »

Quote

But it sure was a bright clear beautiful day on that chilly little ride up to York

Twolanerider · « **Reply #31 on:** September 19, 2005, 11:41:11 AM »

Amen William, Amen. However.......

Having consulted the Ouigi board, cast a few runes, checked the bumps on the neighbor's wife's dog's head and checked in the crystal meteorology ball I am confident that next year's Eastern Gathering shall be of neither the Soggy nor the Frigid variety. The forecast now is for 75 and sunny, brilliant crystal blue skies broken by only the occasional cloud, with a 90 % of local pretty girls being waitresses at the end of each day.

That's a dandy little rally forecast if you ask me [smiley=beerchug.gif] .

SE05 · « **Reply #32 on:** September 19, 2005, 12:13:27 PM »

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Anne now wants to do the NC part of the BRP and the Smoky Mountains. ...

WFP · « **Reply #33 on:** September 19, 2005, 12:22:01 PM »

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Hey Bill,

Chip and I would love to ride with you and Anne on the BRP so let us know when you're headed this way.

Jock · « **Reply #34 on:** September 19, 2005, 08:52:20 PM »

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Hey Bill,

Chip and I would love to ride with you and Anne on the BRP so let us know when you're headed this way.

Author Topic: SEEG/WFP2's Blue Ridge Parkway Adventure! (Read 7052 times)

RedFXR2

RedFXR2