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September 17^th, 2008
A Mixed Bag

muse@bikerenews.com

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I had completed both the 2007 and 2008 Virginia Grand Tours. I had a new motorcycle to ride. What to do? I went riding!

I split my day into two parts. The first part was spent heading south. My brother Danny was interested in getting in some more riding time before his MSF Basic Rider Course. I rode by his house around 8:30 and he was out front waiting. After a little tire kicking with his neighbor (who has a 2006 Gold Wing and a Honda 350: circa 1972), we were on the back roads of Virginia Beach.

We headed south on Princess Anne to Pungo Ferry Road, and then over to Blackwater and Indian Creek Road. This took us out to Battlefield, and we headed south. This is where the traffic got thick, and the sun got hot. Since I had taken Danny on local back roads with curves, shade, and a little variety, the only redeeming part of riding south on US-168 on a Saturday morning is the traffic.

Yes, I said the traffic. Danny had gotten the hang of riding two lane roads with limited speeds and good conditions. It was time for him to meet the other people with whom he would have to share the road. Fortunately, everyone behaved in their four wheel tanks and the only danger was from the slower traffic and the blazing sun. After about 70 miles, we stopped at Mel’s Diner in Grandy, NC. It was full and we had about a 20 minute wait. However, we were inside and soon seated at the counter.

After breakfast, we headed back to Virginia Beach. Danny needed to travel to Burlington, NC and I wanted to get started on my weekend trip.

The trip back to Virginia Beach was as uneventful as the trip down (except for traffic and more heat). When we arrived at this neighborhood, he wanted to stop by Ocean Lakes High School and practice a few "Figure 8’s" in a box he had drawn in the parking lot (Basic Rider practice). I was a little amazed. For a guy who two weeks before was worried that the Sabre was to big for him, I watched as he did three or four consecutive Figure 8’s in the box before pulling out. I told him I thought he was ready for the Basic Course and had nothing to worry about. We parted ways, and I headed home to check on my dog before heading to the mountains.

At home, there was a box waiting on me. In it, was my stock seat that I had shipped to Spencer Moto Care to have it remolded. Spencer had lowered the front part of the seat and leveled the middle so that there wasn’t as much of a sport bike incline from the front to the rear of the seat (the incline forces your grouch into the gas tank). Spencer also changed out the remaining foam to provide for more comfort and long distance staying power. I was happy I had stopped by the house. The borrowed stock seat I was riding was putting my back side into a permanent state of hurt. I quickly replaced the seats and went inside the house to cool off and to hydrate.

Noticing the darkening sky, I turned on the weather channel to discover that there were severe thunderstorm warnings in Chesapeake and Suffolk. To my surprise, there was a tornado warning in the Charlottesville area. Being the wise and cautious man I am, I decided to lay down for a nap and let the weather blow by. After an hour and a half of heavy mediation, I awoke to find the warnings were gone. It was time to get on the rode.

Riding out through Chesapeake and Suffolk, I could tell that my mediation period had been a good idea. Puddles and tree limbs were all along the route out to US-460, and I was not getting the least bit wet. I followed US-460 up to I-95, and then to US-288 (the By-Pass on the west side of Richmond). I exited onto US-60 and followed it out to US-522.

US-522 was one of the roads that I had not traveled before, so I now had it in front of my windshield and I was going to ride it up to Front Royal to pick up Skyline Drive. US-522 is a good road for seeing the changing scenery from central Virginia to the eastern side of the mountain region. The traffic was light and the temperature had cooled into the 80’s from the earlier thunderstorms that had passed through central Virginia.

Since I had gotten a late start on the second part of the day’s trip, I decided to stop in Culpepper around 8:00 PM. I got something to eat (it had been a while since Mel’s), and checked into the Sleepy Night Motel, a very local motel.

I carried my bag into the room, enjoyed a refreshing shower, and watched a little TV while I contemplated my route for the next day. I made one major route change. Instead of getting off US-522 in Front Royal to pick up Skyline Drive, I decided I would follow US-522 all the way to the West Virginia border. That way, I could mark another road off my "Motorcycle Routes Travel in Virginia" logbook. Also, I could say that I had ridden to the furthest point north in Virginia.

With my agenda set for the next day, I set the alarm for an early start. It had been a short ride day (380 miles), broken into two parts, and divided by a mediation period. Even with all of the breaks, I was ready for the rest and called it a night.

In the next article, another great second day ride and why I think I may need to buy a Glock.

Ride Safe.

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