Two Hoosiers Explore West Virginia

[Scoop47501]

Sunday June 23rd my buddy Muley and I head out of Indiana for West Virginia where we hope to find some twisties and sites along the way.
Not much to show on day #1 as we hit the super slab hard and made it to eastern Kentucky.
Highway Break

Day #2 we are close enough to our meeting point with SPKLBUC that now we can play on the back roads east towards Hico , West Virginia.

A rock road mountain pass for starters

Passed a few Coal Mines in Kentucky too

Made it to the state line

On to the New River Gorge Bridge then call it a day

Tomorrow we meet up with SPKLBUC for a two day personal tour

 

[Scoop47501]

Up bright and early to a 46 degree morning and arrive at our meeting place.
Jim has just arrive so after introductions and some small talk we are on our way for a couple days of twisties and sites that pics can do no justice to.

Our host

New river bridge from below

Workers on the bridge

Muley who took many of these pics getting in another shot

Comming Up
We ride to Burkes Garden

 

[Scoop47501]

Jim meets up with us at the Dawson Inn at 8:00 AM and we head out again with a final destination of Burkes Garden. If you have not heard of this place Google it as it's pretty cool.

SPKLBUC leading the way

The views were awsome

Burkes Garden is like a crater with mountains surrounding it all the way around the valley. We went in on a rock switch back filled jeep type roads and out on a paved twisty road.

After we came out of Burkes Garden we ran along a river with some white water and got a couple pics in there.

After that we said our fairwells to our host.
Thanks go out to SPKLBUC for giving us two days of his time and sharing his home land with us .
We had a blast.
Tomorrow it's off to The Cumberland Gap.

 

[Scoop47501]

Last day of our trip we take a route recomended by SPKLBUC and play on our way to the Cumberland Gap.

After seeing the sites we rode a nice twistie road 89 north to I-64 then set our sights for home.
It reached a temp of 106 before we got home and that was a far cry from the cool morning and 70ish temps we had in West Virginia.
We both plan to return one day.
Later
Scooper

 

[eemsreno]

Great report and awesome pictures Work sure gets in the way of riding, there is so much to see out there in this country I could just tour all the time, Lets see 4th of July coming up where can I go? ::012::

 

[hANNAbONE]

good stuff there Scoop. Thanks for sharing it

 

[MuleDawg]

Big thanks goes out to SPKLBUC for being an awesome host to a couple of Hoosiers. It was more than I had imagined, but if u could have seen the smile under my helmet that says it all. The rocky backroads,mountain twisties,switchbacks, and the views, WOW! IT WAS SWEEEET! Thanks again for a great ride! nice pics scoop

 

[MuleDawg]

::26:: couple more pics scoop lookin to drag a peg

 

[spklbuk]

Things here have been a little primitive here since the straight line wind derecho storm that tried to wipe out most of WV. Who knew that one of the most precious commodities available was plain ol' ice?

Great pics!! Likin' the Cumberland Gap...on my list. I had a great time riding with you gents and look forward to doing so again.

Will have videos up ASAP...if the impending thunderstorms do not bring more doom!

 

[spklbuk]

::001:: Potts Mountain pavement: hoosiers potts

 

[spklbuk]

I ran into a couple of Hoosier vagabonds a while back; you know the type, the ones that ride dem ol’ mocycles and always looking for new roads. The one on the left goes by Muley and Scoop is on the right.

I had the pleasure to ride with them on Tues and Wed. On Tues, we toured southeast almost heaven and ran a mix of road types and surfaces crossing over and along one or two mountains while managing to find enough twisty roads to keep the blood pumping. Heck I didn’t tell them, but I was lost the whole time yet they just kept followin' me…crazy Midwesterners.

Wed morning found us on a steady south east bearing out of WV along backways and running smack dab at Potts Mountain in VA (see post # 9). After playing in the twisties, we set off due south to Burkes Garden, VA to bathe in the beauty of God’s Thumbprint. Gravel and rock base in, pavement around dust, bike shakes and sounds, sensory overload…in short, it ROCKED!!! Video backed by guttural blues of The Tarbox Ramblers and R. L. Burnside and that by itself is worth the ride…Shake ‘em On Down to Burkes Garden

hoosiers round burkes

I tried to video the ride out of Burkes Garden on VA 623, but I misaimed the @#$%&* camera and got some great footage of the trees and skies. I salvaged a coupla stills.

After a scrumptious late lunch at Big Daddy’s that afternoon (many thanks Hal), they headed south on VA 16, the Back of the Dragon from Tazewell to Marion, VA and I headed north on 16 to WV. But they didn’t have all the Rt 16 fun.

I’m pretty sure Hal and Muley would appreciate this water tank I passed on the way home.

Thanks for the spiffy new cap Muley!

[Damn, that boy’s good lookin’!]

And Hal thanks again for the great lunches; you should have tried those ribs! Big Daddy’s Family Restaurant, VA 16N between Tazewell and Bishop, VA; y’all prepare to waddle if you tackle the lunch special.

Hal and Muley, I hope your motorcycle visit to WV/VA was a memorable one. It was my privilege to meet and ride with you both. I’m ready for a do over anytime!

 

[MuleDawg]

::017:: pretty cool videos Jim. I'm watchin the videos with a BIG ;D on my face,bloods a pumpin, Think i'll invest in a go pro. Take care, glad ya'll are ok, ride safe. Tell the wife thanks for lettin ya hang out with a coupla crazy midwesterners. I'll be back! The ribs were awesome!