Riding for a
Leap of Faith

May 27^th, 2005

muse@bikerenews.com

As you reoccurring readers (if any are out there) may know, I'm sponsoring the Virginia Leap of Faith Motorcycle Tour. The idea for this tour came from some good work that resulted from a not so good family experience (click on the VA LoF Tour icon for more info). The past couple of weekends have been spent participating in related LoF events.

A key event was The Second Annual Leap of Faith Benefit Concert in Greensboro, NC on May 14. Jim Cole was the featured artists (wwwjimcole.com) and once again delighted the gathering with his subtle humor and wonderful musical abilities. The generous contributions have been forwarded to The Caldwell House to support their continuing efforts on behalf of recovering substance abusers. The Leap of Faith Gang deserves a special round of applause for pulling off a second successful benefit concert (CLAP, CLAP, CLAP).

Gary at I 85 rest area

Gary at I 95 rest area

Mike at I 95 rest area

Mike at I 95 rest area

Mr. Harley and Mr. Honda

Riders at Arnold's

Trying to do my part, I figured it was time for me to get out and check in with the Rest Areas to earn my Tour Pin. My first journey was supposed to be a trip with my 14-year-old son up the Eastern Shore. However, on the night before our trip, Christopher developed and an allergy attack and wasn't up for the trip the next morning.

Refusing to be stopped by lack of companionship, I decided to make the trip by myself (Big Surprise). Clad in leathers, new batteries in the camera, and appropriate toll fees in my pocket, I jumped onto Northampton Blvd and headed straight for the CBBT.

I don't know whether it's the fact that our bodies are made up of mostly water (or beer in some cases), or from all of the time spent riding ships, but I can't help marveling at the Bay every time I cross the Bridge. With the light traffic, it was easy to look out over water and imagine that I was suspended over the water on my two-wheeled flying machine.

I made a direct run for the Maryland border. If you don't like open spaces, smooth roads, or local character you may want to find some interstates to travel on. If you do, US-13 is a pleasure to ride along. It's not for the twisty turny types, or the triple digit demons. But it is a great cruise with ample opportunity to sing old Clancy Brothers or John Prine songs out loud (and off key) without worrying about getting request to turn the human volume down from the vehicles in the next lane.

About 100 miles from the south side of the bridge, the Welcome Center popped up on the west side of the highway. I made a quick U-turn, pulled in, and you guessed it, I took a picture of MY BIKE. Now, after all of my practice you would think that this wouldn't be difficult. It wasn't until after I got home did I realized that I had taken a video of my parked bike in front of a building. When I told my Editor about this, he said we could still post it with the article, but it's bad enough that I've told you about it. Having physical evidence of my lack of camera dexterity in the public forum is a little too much.

Being obsessed with efficiency, I took advantage of being on the Eastern Shore to log another HROT Virginia Grand Tour stop into my logbook. On the return trip, I took my leave of US-13 and traveled west to Haborton. A quick stamp in the book, a cold soda, another VIDEO of MY BIKE (Woody Allen isn't the only neurotic behind the camera), and I was headed for home. All in all, a pleasurable ride, good company, and one heck of a rolling musical concert.

The following week, I was successful in drumming up a group ride out to I-85 and I-95 Welcome Centers. OK, maybe two people isn't a group to you, but it's one person more than I ride with 98% of the time. Besides, we acted like a group. We were late getting started. We had to fill up before we started. And, we got separated trying to make the turn onto US-17 South.

After we got back together, Mike (of bent engine guard fame) and I agreed that it was not a leadership or following problem. It was a moment in time that was not in synch with the natural order of the universe. It was someone else's fault.

We both agreed that we didn't want to travel straight out US-58 and straight back. Our westerly route had us going south on US-17 and west on US-158 in North Carolina. This is a road that I don't like to travel very often. Not because it isn't a great ride, but I don't want to take it for granted. On a cloudy overcast day, it is a two-lane cruiser's low country scenic ride. It's broken up with a variation of road types, local business intersections, and speed limit adjustments.

The first half of the trip had Mike and I both commenting on how surprising it was to see how far west the swamp and marsh extends. Both of us were amazed that anyone could have made it through that area prior to the road being built.

We stayed on 158 until we hit US-1 and hopped onto I-85. A short sprint and we were standing in front of the I-85 Welcome Center. With our obligatory BIKE Pictures in the camera, it was time for lunch. Ten miles north was the exit for US-58 and Arnold's Diner.

Aside from needing some warm food, the interesting thing about Arnold's is that it's located next to (actually attached to) a Motorcycle Dealer. The bikes of choice are Yamaha and Victory. We were pressed for time, but made sure we took a quick look at the bikes out front. I don't know much about Victory bikes, but I did like what I saw.

The only thing keeping us from home was 130 miles of US-58 and a short side trip to the I-95 Welcome Center. We zipped up, strapped on, mounted our rides, and headed for home. At Emporia, we turned south, crossed into NC, made a U-turn at the first exit, and found ourselves at an overflowing Welcome Center. It was a quick "click, click" and we headed for home.

While the final leg of the trip wasn't especially exciting, once we settled into a comfortable cruising speed, with my feet propped up on the highway bars, and with the sun on our backs it was a pleasurable finish to a good ride.

As a side note, this trip was on Friday May 13 and the roads were covered with bikes and trailers headed for Myrtle Beach. I'm adding this note, because Mike was using this trip as a warm up for a group ride to Bike Week. Hopefully, he'll have a story or two to share when he gets back about technical innovations or safe riding tips, probably not.

By the way, I'm extending the time limit for the Virginia Leap of Faith Tour until the end of June to give some late starters a chance to get in on the tour pin. Thanks for participating, it's a worthwhile cause.

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