48 hours... The Last Hurrah?

[rktmanfj]

  
   
 Or is it?  Who knows...

 Last week, we had a stretch of weather that is simply unheard of for November in Central Indiana, with high temps in the mid 70s, and lows only around 60.  Life has gotten a bit busy with twists and turns around here lately, but my FJ was calling me for a ride.  As it turned out, I had a 48 hour opening on my calendar on Wednesday and Thursday, so I threw a change of clothes in the tour box and pointed her southeast...

 I live on US 52, and only 10 minutes from I-74, but I decided that I wanted to see how much two lane I could do, so US 52 was the obvious choice.  With no particular route plan in mind, I headed out, leaving at the crack of 10.  


 First brief stop was Metamora, IN, where canal boats still run a section of the Whitewater Canal.  http://www.indianamuseum.org/explore/whitewater-canal






 I'd traced 52 once on the map, and some of it looked interesting, so I thought I'd follow it for a while.  In hindsight, trying to follow it though Cincinnati was a mistake, as I lost it somewhere around the University of Cincinnati. However, I eventually found it, and was soon east of the city, with miles and miles of Ohio River views, as US 52 traces the river all the way across Ohio.




 The gas gauge on the ol' FJ finally started acting up recently, so I was watching the trip odometer, but I almost pushed it too far without realizing it. When I stopped for gas in Portsmouth, OH, the pump claimed I put in 5.65 gallons.  Hmmm, interesting  I went inside and asked the 30-something attendant if they had a local map posted somewhere, and he curtly replied  "No". I started to ask a second question, and was promptly cut off with another 'no'.  Not a great ambassador for a city that proclaims "Southern Hospitality Starts Here" at the city limits. My fiancee, Susan, had vacationed near here a while back, and told me of strange behaviors around here then.  Time to move on.

 I've decided to continue on US 52 and try to make Fancy Gap, VA on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but that will mean at least a couple of hours or so after dark.
,
 Within a few blocks, though, the FJ starts blubbering and running on 3 cylinders while sitting at a traffic light.  Figuring that maybe since I had run it so low on gas, perhaps some debris had found its way to the carbs,  I pulled over and cycled the fuel pump several times in an effort to clear it.  No dice.  So I rode it off of a couple of low curbs, with the same result.  Fortunately, there was an Auto Zone store right there, so I gave it a liberal dose of Star Tron, and while not completely resolved, it did seem to run a bit better, so I rode it about 45 minutes to Huntington, WV, where I topped off the tank and added another dose of Star Tron.  While I'm giving the stuff a few minutes to work, I started to give tRoy a call, but didn't have his number, and he didn't get my Facebook message right away, so I pressed on.

 WV has lots of chemical plants, not sure why they locate there, but they've got plenty of 'em.  I'll bet some runoff gets into the drinking water in Portsmouth.  




 Well on down the road, it's almost twilight... time to change to the clear faceshield.  I pull off, and strip the mirrored shield from the helmet, and swap it for the clear one in my tankbag.  I haven't had this new HJC helmet all that long, but the shield mechanisms are similar to my old one, so the drill is familiar.  Even so, I struggle with mounting the shield for a few minutes before I realize that it's the clear shield from my old SHOEI helmet. Crap.  Back on goes the mirrored one.  Getting on, I find this section of the road to be very twisty and very dark.  But, the pavement is in great shape, and the most of the locals seem to keep a pretty good pace (for after dark), so my strategy is to use them for corner markers.  Eventually, though, I have to flip up the shield.  Cold, but I at least I can see.

 I made it as far as Bluefield, WV by 9pm, and I was beat.  Not much in the way of eateries there, so after checking into the EconoLodge (not much choice in the way of lodging there, either), I found a completely unremarkable BBQ pulled pork sandwich, and returned to the room and crashed.

 Thursday dawned cool and damp, and I'm up a bit before the sun.  The new looking breakfast joint across the street more than made up for the BBQ disappointment from the night before:




 With the short days and DST, riding over to Fancy Gap and on up the Blue Ridge Parkway to Shenandoah National Park is simply out of the question.  Over breakfast, I elected to follow US 52 on down to Wyethville, VA, and US 21 to Independence, VA

 Up in some lower elevations, I ran into this:






 Grayson County Court House, Independence, VA






Monument to soldiers of the Confederacy:




 From Independence, I picked up US 58 to Damascus, VA, an ECSR staple






 Lots of little chapels like this through the mountains.  When I ran up on slow traffic, stop and take a few pics, since I never have time to do it during a rally.






 Stopped in for a mule burger at the Grayson Highlands General Store... forgot to take pics!

 Later in the day, and a good deal further west on US 58, the sun finally came out showed some remnants of the fall colors.










 Of course, taking pics takes time, and it turned out to be a 599 mile day, and so I ended up finishing a few hours in the dark on the interstate, the last 90 minutes in light rain.  
 2 days, 1058 miles, Time well spent?    You betcha.

[FJmonkey]

Thank you very much...

[simi_ed]

Randy, it sounds like you had a great ride, but you LOST me at this:

WTF is THAT?  And you ate it?  Willingly?  Not even at Gunpoint?   
Sorry man, I guess I've been in the land of Fruits & Nuts too long ...

BTW, nice looking FJ ...

Feel better! 

Ed

[rktmanfj]

WTF is THAT?  And you ate it?  Willingly?  Not even at Gunpoint?   
Sorry man, I guess I've been in the land of Fruits & Nuts too long ...

THAT turned out to be some of the best biscuits and gravy I've had in a while. And I have to say, having recently recovered from 3rd degree radiation burns inside my throat, I've become quite a connoisseur... I usually have them throw a couple of eggs over easy right on top.

It's kind of a southern thing...

BTW, nice looking FJ ..
Feel better! 

Ed

At least she still passes the 20' with a cheap camera test... 

[Capn Ron]

I KNEW it was missing something!!!  Is this better Ed?  

[azure]

Really nice ride report of one of my favorite riding areas, thank you!

Can be treacherous up high, can't it?That fog on the mountains and hills has gotten to me a few times. I have had to ride with my visor opened some to keep it from fogging, which does keep one awake, effin rain stings, and when it gets icy, forget it! The great thing is how narrow the high ridge is, once you get off, and head down, it's usually a whole different riding experience, as you well noted!

[rlucas]

WTF is THAT?  And you ate it?  Willingly?  Not even at Gunpoint?   
Sorry man, I guess I've been in the land of Fruits & Nuts too long ...

THAT turned out to be some of the best biscuits and gravy I've had in a while. And I have to say, having recently recovered from 3rd degree radiation burns inside my throat, I've become quite a connoisseur... I usually have them throw a couple of eggs over easy right on top.

It's kind of a southern thing...

One of my favorite breakfasts. Needs a side of hash browns for all the extra gravy, though. 

[aviationfred]

Great trip report and photos. 



Fred

[PaulG]

WTF is THAT?  And you ate it?  Willingly?  Not even at Gunpoint?   

Feel better! 

Ed

Zactly what I was thinking, but you beat me to it.  Couldn't type on the keyboard while averting my eyes.   

THAT turned out to be some of the best biscuits and gravy I've had in a while.... It's kind of a southern thing...

.... which is why I think it still remains a southern thing...   


Sláinte     Bonne Santé     Buena Salud     gute Gesundheit     良好な健康状態 (Ryōkōna kenkō jōtai)     Good Health

[FeralRdr]

One of my favorite breakfasts. Needs a side of hash browns for all the extra gravy, though. 

This! 

[FJ1100mjk]

Randy:

Super that you were able to get out for a ride. Pics are nice. A lot of variety, and some remnants of Fall colors too. When I lived in Ohio where I am originally from, I rode around the southeastern part of that state and WV a number of times. Nice riding. Your trip and pics remind me of the towns and scenery. Thanks for sharing.

I saw on the local news, that the high is supposed to be 60F on Sunday. I put my bikes' insurance coverages on dwell for their hibernation, so I'll be prepping them this weekend for that. Riding is over for me, but perhaps yours isn't.

Marty

[Bill_Rockoff]

What a beautiful ride.  There's something different about it when it's a weekday, and off-season, and you're riding by yourself.  I know you saw it all in a very new light, and I hope it did your spirit some good.  Thanks for sharing that.

[ddlewis]

...

 From Independence, I picked up US 58 to Damascus, VA, an ECSR staple

Nice pics Randy!  You should give me a holler if you're making excursions into VA, I'd run out and meet ya.   these pics look a lot like a spot on the New River near Mouth of Wilson.. is that right?  Think I've got some pics from that same spot somewhere but can't find.. this is close as I can come.. same area different pull off.

[rktmanfj]

Nice pics Randy!  You should give me a holler if you're making excursions into VA, I'd run out and meet ya.   these pics look a lot like a spot on the New River near Mouth of Wilson.. is that right?  Think I've got some pics from that same spot somewhere but can't find.. this is close as I can come.. same area different pull off.

Correct, Dan... a bit west of Mouth of Wilson.

I might've called, but it was a very last minute decision to go, and no prior route planning at all. When Susan asked where I was going, I just kinda gestured SE. 

[Capn Ron]

no prior route planning at all. When Susan asked where I was going, I just kinda gestured SE. 

Randy...I always find that my best days of riding are done with this exact approach.  "I'm not sure where I'm going until I get there..."  The best things in life might just be around a corner you never planned on taking in the first place.