May 30 - Roanoke, VA to Stecoah, NC

May 30, 2010

Roanoke, VA to Stecoah, NC

We awoke this morning to sunny skies and a darkened room, Ed's Home Theatre Room has no windows...so I think that this is the latest we've slept on the trip.  As we began stirring, Ed was soon up with the offer to make breakfast...and being huge fans of food...Larry and I were more than happy to eat!  The only disappointing part was when I asked Ed about coffee....and he said he didn't own a coffee maker becasuse he didn't drink the stuff.  I almost cried.

Shortly after eating and showering, we loaded our bikes and were on the road.  I'd really like to say "Thanks" again to Ed and Beth.  The were extremely hospitable, gave us some great advice on where to ride and what to see and made one helluva breakfast.

Inmate eteller's abode in Roanoke, VA

Ed and his girlfriend Beth.  Sorry to post a pic with your eye closed guys!

Larry, Ed and Myself shortly before our departure

Blue Ride Parkway

The views were spectacular.

Amazing colors...again, the pictures just don't do it justice.

Twisties.

Heh heh heh....Rocky Knob....

I'm having so much fun on these roads...

At Ed's suggestion, we peeled off the Blue Ridge Parkway and headed into Galax to the Galax Smokehouse for lunch.  That was a good suggestion on Ed's part...and a good choice on ours.

The Smokehouse Fried Potatoes.  Pulled Pork, Cheese and Fried Potatoes.  Om Nom Nom.

The Pulled Pork Sandwich, Smokehouse Mashed Potatoes and the Hush Puppies have already disappeared...

Normally, I fly to North Carolina.  I like getting here this way much better.

Mountain Views

We met this elderly couple when we were pulling off for a break on the BRP.  Said his name was Santa something and he was riding a 99 Honda PC800.  They told us about some great roads that we just had to ride.  He and Mrs both rode their own ride and were a delight to talk to.  Santa, sir...we will hit the 181 our next time down.

Now, to explain this picture I guess I should talk about Simon.  Simon is my $49 Canadian Tire GPS Unit.  He's a Curtis GPD390 that has Sygic Maps.  Normally he gets me where I need to go.  Unfortunately, its not always the easiest or most direct route.  Last year he sent us on a delightful ride through a cornfield and he tried to send us through the Business District of Allentown, PA.  However, sending us down NC Route 221 was one of his better choices.  The twisties on this road were incredible and the ending at Grandfather Mountain was fitting.

We stopped a a Denny's in Black Mountain, NC for Supper and grabbed some of the free WiFi to post our location to Facebook so family would be worried, and after supper slabbed the remaining miles to Stecoah, NC and our destination of Kickstand Lodge.  For those that are looking for a really nice place to stay, KSL is an awesome Motorcyle Campground.  The owner, Mo is all aces and she treats everyone like family, but more about that tomorrow.

We'd finally made it to the destination and home for the next three days.  Tomorrow....to slay the Dragon!

C.

May 29 - Wernersville, PA to Roanoke VA

May 29, 2010
Wernersville, PA to Roanoke, VA
We awoke early this morning to the smell of coffee perking in the kitchen, and while we weren't up and moving as early as the last couple of mornings, the thought of a good cup of joe was enough to dispell any concerns about schedule. After helping Paul and Amy drain two pots of coffee and a bowl of cereal for breakfast, we had our bikes loaded and ready to depart.

And a side note about American Coffee. I can say, now, without fear, that coffee here in the Great White North is far superior to anything you can buy South of the Border. The warm brown swill the other morning at the Super 8 in Bangor was nothing more than warm brown dishwater and the diner in Albany, while better was still crappy. And Dunkin' Donuts...you ain't got nothing on Tim Hortons. The coffee flowing in the Masciantonio Household was the best I'd had since I got up at home on Wednesday morning.

We bid our goodbyes to Amy and the kids and Paul took us for a ride around the local area. Larry and I were amazed by the lush green forests and how the trees seem to overhang every road. And the thickness of the underbrush is second to none. After taking some pics in the Mountains around Paul's house, we said Goodbye to BadLuck and struck out down the Pennsylvania Expressway towards Virginia.

The morning was cloudy and cool, but that didn't last long. Around noon we crossed the State line into Maryland and 20 minutes later we were in West "By God" Virginia. Another 20 minutes saw us in the Great State of Virginia. They say Virginia is for Lovers, but riding behind Larry...that was the last thing on my mind. We were now over the Mason Dixon line and were officially in the South.

We finally made our way off the "Slab" known as Interstate 78 and made our way for 10 miles onto Interstate 64 and made exit into the Town of Front Royal, Virgina and the Start of Skyline Drive, one of the South's most scenic Mountain Drives. After paying the $10 entry fee, we were now in for about 7 to 8 hours of 35 mph speed limits, tourists and scenic vistas...
Although we both live in the Annapolis Valley, surrounded by what we all call the North and South Mountain, our mountains are nothing like what we were seeing here in Virginia. The pictures don't even do it justice.

We continued on Skyline until about 1800 hours when the hunger got to us both and we were still a signifigant distance out of Roanoke, our stopping place for the night. We exited Skyline Drive and proceeded into "Town". Supper consisted of Pizza Hut...one of the few "chains" we ate at this trip and we quickly killed a Pepperoni Pizza, Breadsticks and Ceasar Salad...along with a couple of pitchers of water.

I called ADV Inmate Ed Teller, who's name I'd gotten from the Tent Space Sign up Thread and got directions and GPS coordinates to his house and we struck out on the slab for the second time today. About two hours and a fuel stop at a Pilot Truck Stop later, we pulled into Ed's driveway and met our host for the evening. Ed had plenty of Cold Beer, some entertaining conversation and a beautiful home. We pulled out our sleeping bags and stretched out on the couches in his Home Theatre Room downstairs and called it another day....

Pennsylvania Roads, with lush green surroundings.

More Twisties...

More proof I was there...

Beautiful Creek

It almost feels like a different world.

Just an idea how narrow the roads are...

Skyline Drive Scenic Overlook

Guess who?

Hey! Its 903 cc...and its got me this far!

Pictures don't do it justice...

Made it to the top!

My God, these roads were fun..

And even more fun...

Mmmmmm...Decreasing Radius Curves....

We're in the clouds now...

I was in Motorcyle Heaven.

The trees overhang the roads everywhere.

We got off to take a picture..unaware of Mama Bear and her Cub nearby.

Small Video Clip of the Clouds/Fog moving down over the Mountain.

Friday, May 28 - Albany, NY to Wernersville, PA

Albany, NY to Wernersville, PA

The sun greeted us only for a short time today and most of the day, the skies looked like they would dump rain upon us. Fortunately, we were lucky and did not face Mother Nature's wrath.

We awoke early, and rode to the Diner Art took us to last evening for breakfast. The French Toast was thick and hot, and the coffee was slightly better than the swill we drank yesterday morning in Bangor.

Our first task of the day was to hop on the NY Expressway and head to Newburgh to visit Orange County Choppers of TLC fame.

It was a very impressive facility with all the bikes built on the TV show on display. I have to say, these boys have taken Harley Davidson's lead when it comes to merchandising. I picked up a wife beater t-shirt for myself and a neat one for the boy. Its hard to buy souveniers while on a motorcycle trip...where the helll do you pack them??

Before we left, we walked around the building to come face to face with Paul Teutel Sr., the man behind the multi million dollar business. He took a few moments from his filming to chat, take a picture and wish us well. And, you can note from the picture..he's no bigger than I am!

We departed Newburgh and headed South for Wenersville, PA and and evening with VROC (http://www.vroc.org/) BadLuck. Paul is a guy I met on the forum and offered his home for us to stay in. Simon, my not so trusted GPS did take us on some wonderful roads enroute to Paul's. What amazes me the further we go south is the GREEN colors and the lush forests that overhang the roadways. Pictures can simply NOT do them justice.

We finally met Paul at the Turkey Hill Mini Mart and he took us the "Scenic Route" to his home. Now, while all time in a motorcycle saddle is considered "Scenic" the roads and homes in rural PA are something to behold. We arrived at Paul's to find a cooler full of beer, some Porterhouse Steaks and some of his wife Amy's "Awesome Potatoes". We had a very enjoyable evening with Paul's family and pets, his dogs made me realize how much I missed Lucy and his daughter Amanda how much I missed Booger. That little girl is going to break hearts when she hits High School..if not before!

We turned in way too late and probably more than a little inebriated..but this was one of the evenings I was hoping to have on this trip. I have definately made a friend for life...and look forward to spending more time riding with Paul.

Orange County Choppers, Newburgh, NY

Proof I was there....

NY Yankees Bike...HUGE rear tire...

9/11 Firefighters Memorial Bike

The bike that started a multi million dollar business..

Incredible Paint...

Larry and I with Paul Sr.

PA forests....

Very Green...

Mmmmmmm....twisties....

Chez BadLuck and home of the BadLuck Bash...

Mmmmm....BEER!
Eli
Arlo and Amanda...



Om Nom Nom Nom.....Porter House...Look Ma! I need a bigger plate!

O