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OK, I'm home from the mustache ride and it was another great one. Earl that needed to die did interfere with the orginial plans of going to the outerbanks of NC. We knew that route 12 would be underwater and that it would take several days to scoop the sand off the roadways in the area. We decided to go to Virginia and meet at Luray. Its about 1/4 of the way south on Skyline drive but the area is a wonderful place for motorcycling. I do so miss the hills and valleys that I learned to ride on when I was a baby biker. Once ya move to FL, you might have rideable conditions year round but you only really have straight flat roads to cruise. Let's face it those nice wide sweepers and sudden back switches on the down hills are awesome! Anyway my day started at 7 am as I got ready to leave, You know all the last mintue stuff strapping on the packs, checking tire pressure, cleaning windshields, lubing cables. By the time I was done with all that nonsense it was 8am. I left my garage here in FL got a full tank, popped in the ipod navigated the local streets to 95 north. Once on 95 I got to kick back with my feet on the highway pegs, leaning back on the backrest, set cruise control and just rolled. If I haven't said it already I'll say it again I love cruise control. Anyway route plan was to ride straight up 95north to 17 in VA then to 16 to 211 and come in the backway to Luray. I wanted to leave at 7am but didn't leave until 8am made me rethink my route. I didn't want to get to the back hills of a state or an area that I wasn't sure off in dusk when the wildlife started moving around. I had couple 100 miles to think about this before I had to make a decision. Meanwhile I was enjoying crossing the rivers between FL and passed over the ones in South Georgis. Ya ever notice that the peach looks like an ass about 75. Oh, well Ya just got to watch Georgia the officers are sneeky here. Man there's state trooper on the prowl and sherrif oficers as well as local cops everyone triying to get that big ticket. I guess I made my decision I decided not to go that route just about time the misty morning began to burn away to a bright sunny day. All I can say is that here at the southren part of the trip it was only supposed to be in the low 90's and up north it would be in the mid 80;s. The Alman Brothers were playing in the ipod as I pulled up and got fuel and comfort stuff. I had gone about 175 miles at this point. Back on the road I hit 26 and would pick up 77 to 81 then to 211 and the journey would be finished for the day. I pick up 26 in South Carolina. Ya know I hate 95 in SC. I mean I really hate it. 95 goes from a 3 lane road in GA to a 2 lane in SC. The road itself is in poor condition. 26 isn't that much better. However I was moving along rather nicely with little problems. I knew if I didn't hit 26 by lunch it would be a giant cluster fuck.    It was about 1 pm or so at this time but I had to keep on going. The landscape had changed a great deal at this point. The flats of Florida and swamps of Georgia gave way to the swamps and pine forests of South Carolina that gradually began farmland and small rolling hills until once in North Carolina. North Caolina has lovely rolling hill that were ever increasing the further north I went. I also was getting my first glimpses of the hardword forest of NC. There are some light signs of fall creeping in. The further north I traveled on 77 the larger the hills and the road turned at times to wide sweepers as I was closing in on the Virgina Border. I crossed the VA/NC border and realized a little to late that highway 81 went from 70 miles and hour to 65. A trooper gave me a warning....what luck! I continued along 81 north passing farms, and going thru small towns. 81 is another one of those crappy two lane highways. Its here that I traveled past other bikers on their way to somewhere. This is what I always find strange. I 'm always out of state and run into other bikers that are curious about me and my travels. When I'm in my home state I never see anyone. Anyway, I pulled into 211 about 5:20 pm and met my friends at a diner. MY days trip took me 743 miles north. In all honesty I could have filled my tank and went another 200 miles I think. I felt really good. God I love cruise control and my king! After greeting my friends we walked around the hotel area then around the general area. We found out where Luray caverns were and decided that was a place we would visit while there. Saturday morning I got up and went for a walk thru the town of Luray. I got Coffee and do have to say always remember what goes down must come up. The town was hilly and now that I'm a flat lander I forgot what it was like to walk up some steep hills but lived. I met the rest of the group and went to the caves. They give you these headset things so you can do your own self tour. All I can say is I"m glad that we went there at 10am. We were in the caves about 2 hours and when we came out at noon the line was out the door and around the building. Thank goodness we had other plans. Since we were less than 4 miles from Skyline drive you know we were headed there next. We took some back roads up to Fort Royale, the start of the parkway. At first the road way is just a ribbon of asphalt though the forest. Howeve it doesn't take long before it beging an up hill climb to the first look out. Here the road is easy going. After the first look out the wide sweeping turns get smaller and more challening to navigate. This is when I love Mountian riding. The up hill climb continues with the twist and turns getting closer and closer tighter and tighter, Thru some tunels and to other overlooks. This is where you get you glimpes of Shenendoha Valley. Off in the distance there is a bluish haze that seems to go from one end of the valley to the other. We continued north through another tunnel and even tighter turns that started to begin the down cycle of the hills as we reached 211. We got off at 211 to go back to the hotel. After all we did stop at the over looks and took plenty of pictures. We also needed to get ready to ride home tomorrow. We did the traditional Mustache Ride picture at the resturant and wore our mustaches proudly. However only one waitress was interested in what we were doing. The other patrons of this small little restruant didn't seem interested and rather frightened of our appearnces. Heck with them we continued out Pirate party. We called it an early night but first we went for a lovely ride through the farm land and small towns that surround Luray. Ya know I could live there. I know the beach is awesome but thena again so is the peace of the rolling hills of cow country. We babbled with a few folks that were interseted in why FL, PA and NJ folks were all traveling together. Dusk began to set in so home to the hotel and pack up for the long journey home. They were going to bolt right home. After all I think they had 300 miles or so to travel. I had well over 700. I decided to do it in two days as I was going to follow the rest of skyline drive to blue ridge parkway home. Up early but not but crack early. I said my good byes as I loaded up my pack. I hate leaving folks behind. I just hate good byes. I took off and was very thankful that I packed my riding hoodie. It was dam cold. OK it was 57 but remember I'm a florida girl now and have been in the high 90's for 4 months now. Anyway I headed right up 211 to Skyline Drive. Once on the parkway I feel into the easy leaning of left and rights as I climbed up the mountian to come to a series of overlooks. Today was the day that I would run into all kinds of folks. Talked to one couple that was traveling the lenght of the parkway the were going to visit family. Travled with them and helpped them with phots so they were together once in awhile. Other travers found me interesting as a female alone doing this journey. To me it wasn't odd I've done so many trips alone it would be odd to have a companion. I continued the rythm of the ups downs and turns of Skyline Drive with every overlook Shenendoa Valley seemed closer and closer as I had passed the highest point in the road way. Within a couple of hours I crossed over the gates at Skyline Drive and continued South on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here is where the best riding is if you ask me. There are very few folks but the road continued its ups and downs over mountians and sweeping turns of the hills and overlooks that take your breath away not becasue you a quaint valley of Shenendoah but you see nothing just nature itself. Around a place called Otters humps or hills or something is when I needed gas. There's a little outpost there I wanted to sure the little road 11 was going to lead me to someplace to get fuel. Man 11 was at first off the parkway a real challenging road. I mean the airpin turn was the size of a hairpin. Here in this little town is where my favorited type of folks live. Not only was it labor day weekend but it was also the opening of hunting seasons. So hunters were everywhere too. Love cami. I got gas in this little town. There were lots of other bike around when the hunter walks up to me and goes "Florida huh? This bike from Florida?" I replied "yes" he went on to say "you from Florida?" I said "yes" HE says in thought again " you from Florida? the bike is from Florida and you rode it from there by yee self?" I said "Yes, that's what the little oranges on the license plat say." he replies "wow that's a ride, in the mountians, too its a big ride, You girl are a far from home ain't ya now?" I said "yes" then he said "Florida" I said, "hey man you have yourself a great day!" Whatever back up the steep winding road to the parkway. It took me about 4 hours to do 200 miles so the parkway is the slow route home. I decided that I would ride to route 7 then hit 77 and come back in the fall and finish the Blue Ridge Parkway so that I could do some leaf peeping. I got just north of charlotte and stayed at a little place called Statesville. I stayed in a hotel next to outback so I could have myself a nice big steak and drink a beer or two. Well I was there at the Outback and I had several drinks bought for me. One by a couple that were in awe at the fact that I rode all the way from FL and did it alone. I don't think its any big deal, then from so locals that wanted to babble with me. By the time I left there I was sort of fired up and crashed as soon as I walked into the room. The next morning I was strapping up my bags, and a couple was getting into their car and the man said "Florida right" I thought here we go again, but answered "yes' He then said "Fernandina Beach Right? we see ya all the time" Wow how odd is that . I wished them well on their travels and looked forward to seeing them in town sometime. Anyway headed down 77 to 26 to 95 this was uneventfull realy and I was thankful. So far I had fantasic weather, good friends, great riding, no road problems, some comedy, and no rain. Yea right this is a trip that I'm on. North of Brunswick it down poured all the way to the Florida state line. It never fails. The only thing I can say is the Mustache Ride IV was a success and "Everything is Better When Wet" til next time "T"    | |
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The Mustach Ride IV
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