Last week Patti and I decided the weather looked great for a run up the Virginia section of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
She's not one for endless days in the saddle, so our modus operandi is to trailer the big ST1300 to our riding area and head out from there on the bike. In this case I chose Charleston, WV. We arrived on a Tuesday evening and unloaded the bike at the hotel, where we'll leave the truck awaiting our return. The next morning we began a 3-day counter-clockwise route — south to the Kentucky border on Hwy 119, a gorgeously smooth and scenic 4-lane. This was a great way to get into the riding groove before hitting the twisty 2-lane Hwy 52 east all the way to Bluefield. There we hooked up with another silky and rolling 4-lane, Hwy 460, over the pass to our first night's stop in Christiansburg, VA. 275 miles on the day.
The next day would be spent on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which we picked up outside of Roanoke, VA. The busy tourist season is over, so the route was amazingly devoid of traffic, though we did spot a lone deer just as we swung onto the Parkway. Later we would come upon a black bear and her two cubs standing in the middle of the roadway; they didn't stick around. Lots of bikes to wave at but we never got hung up behind slow-moving traffic. A 50 mph pace on the mellow, rolling Parkway was just what the doctor ordered. The V4 hummed along in fourth gear at 3300 rpm for mile after mile, lulling me into a zen state of left-right, left-right. I love this road. There was some resurfacing in progress along a 30-mile section, but it was never a problem.
For lunch I jumped onto Hwy 60 (west) for one of the most amazing tarmac "ski runs" I've ever been on. Decending into little Buena Vista, VA, this 2-mile stretch of motorcycle heaven is a mini-destination of its own. And, BTW, Hwy 60 eastbound is a tasty treat too. Another reason to sample Hwy 60 is the awesome JJ's Meat Shack in Buena Vista. The menu is a meat lovers nirvana. My burger with pulled pork made the day.
She's not one for endless days in the saddle, so our modus operandi is to trailer the big ST1300 to our riding area and head out from there on the bike. In this case I chose Charleston, WV. We arrived on a Tuesday evening and unloaded the bike at the hotel, where we'll leave the truck awaiting our return. The next morning we began a 3-day counter-clockwise route — south to the Kentucky border on Hwy 119, a gorgeously smooth and scenic 4-lane. This was a great way to get into the riding groove before hitting the twisty 2-lane Hwy 52 east all the way to Bluefield. There we hooked up with another silky and rolling 4-lane, Hwy 460, over the pass to our first night's stop in Christiansburg, VA. 275 miles on the day.
The next day would be spent on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which we picked up outside of Roanoke, VA. The busy tourist season is over, so the route was amazingly devoid of traffic, though we did spot a lone deer just as we swung onto the Parkway. Later we would come upon a black bear and her two cubs standing in the middle of the roadway; they didn't stick around. Lots of bikes to wave at but we never got hung up behind slow-moving traffic. A 50 mph pace on the mellow, rolling Parkway was just what the doctor ordered. The V4 hummed along in fourth gear at 3300 rpm for mile after mile, lulling me into a zen state of left-right, left-right. I love this road. There was some resurfacing in progress along a 30-mile section, but it was never a problem.
For lunch I jumped onto Hwy 60 (west) for one of the most amazing tarmac "ski runs" I've ever been on. Decending into little Buena Vista, VA, this 2-mile stretch of motorcycle heaven is a mini-destination of its own. And, BTW, Hwy 60 eastbound is a tasty treat too. Another reason to sample Hwy 60 is the awesome JJ's Meat Shack in Buena Vista. The menu is a meat lovers nirvana. My burger with pulled pork made the day.
Back on the BRP, we made our way north to mile zero at the I-64 overpass where the Parkway becomes Skyline Drive, a 105-mile scenic road that runs the length of the Shenandoah National Park. This is basically an extension of the BRP, but this road has an entrance fee; $20 for a motorcycle. No worries, my lifetime National Park Pass gets us a friendly wave through the ranger's checkpoint. We eventually exit at Hwy 33 for our run to this night's hotel in Harrisonburg VA. Dinner at a campus sports bar/restaurant and an ice cream at Kline's Dairy Bar, followed by a soak in the hot tub and a swim. 265 miles on the day.
The next day we worked our way back to Charleston for our final night — west out of Harrisonburg on Hwy 33 past the Seneca Rocks recreation area. This road has a few sections through the passes that rival the best that the Rockies has to offer (IMHO). We stopped for a slice of delicious cherry pie near Seneca Rocks where we chatted with a group of trailer-pullin' trike guys who gather for regular camping trips in the area. At another scenic stop above gorgeous Germany Valley we talked with a guy from Pennsylvania who travels the country on his Gold Wing photographing covered bridges. I guess you do meet the nicest people on a Honda. We eventually had to hit the I-state for a final run into Charleston and a well-deserved cocktail...or two. 278 miles on the day.
The next day we steered the Ridgeline and trailer along the 2-lanes back toward Illinois and home. We had no riding or mechanical issues on the drive or the ride. Another great bike trip in the books; highly recommended.
The next day we worked our way back to Charleston for our final night — west out of Harrisonburg on Hwy 33 past the Seneca Rocks recreation area. This road has a few sections through the passes that rival the best that the Rockies has to offer (IMHO). We stopped for a slice of delicious cherry pie near Seneca Rocks where we chatted with a group of trailer-pullin' trike guys who gather for regular camping trips in the area. At another scenic stop above gorgeous Germany Valley we talked with a guy from Pennsylvania who travels the country on his Gold Wing photographing covered bridges. I guess you do meet the nicest people on a Honda. We eventually had to hit the I-state for a final run into Charleston and a well-deserved cocktail...or two. 278 miles on the day.
The next day we steered the Ridgeline and trailer along the 2-lanes back toward Illinois and home. We had no riding or mechanical issues on the drive or the ride. Another great bike trip in the books; highly recommended.
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