Yep - sure am glad I bought both pairs, but if I hadn't, I'd have kept my old Joe Rockets. As it is, they're up on the shelf in Telico Outfitters on proud display with a crusty old set of motocross boots. He's putting up old gear on display. So my boots will live in perpetuity in Telico Plains. I'll go visit them next year
Was really cold today - thankfully we escaped any rain, but it was still cold. Covered 360 miles today, from Beckley WV to Erie PA. Only 190 miles left to home, but we called it quits at 4PM as it was getting colder (along the lake) and it started to pour in the area.
Somehow I lost my Phototrackr GPS logger this morning
Glad I only paid $40 for it. But, the route we're taking back is the same as the route down, so I still have the complete trip.
Total milage once we get home will be:
26-Sep-08 390 - Toronto to Morgantown WV
27-Sep-08 433 - Morgantown WV to Knoxville TN
28-Sep-08 114 - Knoxville TN to Franklin NC
29-Sep-08 189 - Franklin NC to Tapoco NC (and riding around the area)
30-Sep-08 168 - Tapoco (riding around the area)
01-Oct-08 342 - Tapoco NC to Beckley WV
02-Oct-08 360 - Beckley WV to Erie PA
03-Oct-08 191 - Erie PA to Toronto
For a total of 2,184 miles, or 3,516 KM. Not bad for 8 days riding. Longest day was the 2nd, at just under 700 KM. That was also ironically the only day we got caught in the rain, but it was nice and warm, so no real problem. We would have pressed on today, but Dave's bike started acting odd.
In hindsight, the stops in Knoxville and Franklin would be left out. We could have gotten down to Tapoco on the 27th with better advance planning. As it was, we didn't know where we were going to be the next day till we got there. The stop in Franklin proved useful as that day we got Dave's battery charger, new battery (his tested bad) etc. His new rotor is on the way to Toronto from Motorrad Electrik or whatever. It tested bad also.
His rotor failed on day 2. He had to buy a battery and charger (yeah, we left the Optimates at home) and a long extension cord to charge every night. For the first day, I had to bump start him every time we stopped. Got some strange looks from other riders at the Cherohala viewing points. Two wacko's on old BMW's pushing their bikes.
The bikes got a lot of attention everywhere we went. Didn't see anything else anywhere near as old on the road. My bike has run like a champ from the start, although it's burping and sputtering at idle after a few hours riding. Needs some more tuning I think.
Oh, Dave also thinks his carb diaphragm is leaking - bike is running but mileage is horrible and he thinks he's leaking gas out the top of the carb. Not sure yet - will get home and look into it. At one point today he stopped completely on I79 and I had to loop back for him. Thankfully whatever gremlin was there quickly left and we got up and running again.
Morgantown WV is a great town on the weekends, but make your hotel arrangements in advance if there's a WVU football game. People drive 8 hours for these things. We got our room at 4PM and there were none left in the area by 6.
Tapoco Lodge is highly recommended for staying in the area. No highspeed internet or telephone in the cabins, but satellite tv on nice big LCD's in the cabins allowed us to check weather etc. In the dining/lounge buildings there is free wireless internet and a telephone for free calls in the US, but nowhere else. No cell coverage either, so Skype or similar is the only way to call out to Canada. Great food too! $105 a night for a 2 bed cabin with shared screened in porch and private bathroom. Not cheap, but nice, homey and right in the heart of things.
Oh, just keep your eyes open for Copperhead snakes - I almost stepped on one. Missed it by 6 inches. They're apparantly the mildest of the local venomous snakes, but still will fuck you up bad if you get bit and are in the middle of nowhere. 2 hours for an ambulance.
The weather down in the area was picture perfect - leaves just starting to fall, so no dangerous patches of wet slippery leaves on the roads, and during the week traffic was light on the roads.
There's a big Airhead rally down here in mid-late October, organized I think by ADVRider.com - might check it out next year.
If we come down again, especially this time of year or later, I think we'd consider trailering the bikes down. We each only get mid-30's MPG, so it would be cheaper gas-wise to trailer the two bikes down, and we'd get down faster and spend more time riding in the area. I could also bring my XS650 (if I get it done) which would be fun. Plus we'd have an out if the bike(s) broke down.
Highly recommended trip for anyone who has the time and bike to ride down. It's basically like going to a ski resort and picking which run you're going to do.
I think my favourite road was the Cherohala Skyway. It's really long as far as local rides go, and is a blast to ride. Getting stuck behind cars is a pain, but there are lots of spots to get around them and they often pull over. Spectacular views.
Anyhow - trip is all but over and was a great first time extended tour.
