AUGUST 2010—Blue Ridge Parkway

 

It is a beautiful morning in late August when Roz, myself, David & Mary Doris Simon and Erv Moore get on the road towards Cherokee, NC and the start of the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We have discussed this ride most of the summer and it has now become a reality. 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Erv and his

 

machine.

 

 

 

 

And these two are David and Mary Doris. 

This is going to be a great trip.

 

 

Here the boys are enjoying a little break and snacks after refueling the bikes.

 

 

 

We have now made it to Gatlinburg, Tn, a distance of about 250 miles or so.  Been a beautiful day for a ride and now that we are entering the hill country of SE Tennessee and off the interstate riding is really becoming a thrill.

Our trusty steeds sit outside our room in Cherokee, NC, chomping at the bit to get on the road this morning. 

 

 

A terrific view as we start our climb into the Smokies.

 

 

 

Traffic was very light with there being more motorcycle traffic than I had expected, but then, this ride is absolutely at it’s best when on a bike.

 

 

We encountered these two gentleman on a footpath at one of the view points.  The lad on the left is the son of the fellow on the right.  They are both riding motorcycles, the Father is on a Honda Gold Wing and he is the young age of 85 years old/young.  We listened to them tell of their travels for some time and the Father was definitely a gentleman that was determined to grab life by the horns and enjoy every day as it came. He was truly an inspiration to me showing me what a person can do as long as the spirit and flesh are willing.

We took a little break at the highest point on the Parkway, a little over 6,000 feet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are giving the “steeds” a break for the evening as we stop for the night in Boone, NC.  We only covered about 150 miles today, but with all the views to see and the low speed limits on the road, this was still a good travel day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We made a little side trip in northern NC and visited a place called Pilot Mountain, close to Mt. Airy, NC. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do they look like “Hells Angels” rejects or what. 

 

 

 

After spending last night

in a place called Beaver, WV, near Beckley, we were off today to view the Gauley Bridge near Hawks Nest SP.  This is the Welcome Center for the New River Bridge area.  This bridge is a beautiful piece of construction, and is one of the highest bridges in the country. 

This foot path leads to numerous flights of stairs  that in turn lead to a terrific viewing area of the New River and bridge spanning the river.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upon leaving Hawks Nest SP it was on towards Charleston via a road truly built with the biker in mind.  From Anstead to Charleston was about 40 miles of pure bike heaven.  Even my “backseater” was enjoying the ride.

From Charleston it was on the Huntington and then into Kentucky.  We were now about 250 miles from home, easily doable, however we had decided to spend another night on the road and this time we chose a beautiful State Park called Carter Caves State Resort Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a great nights sleep, a good breakfast, we were on the road again, next destination, home,  around 200 miles down the road.

This trip has been one of the highlights of our summer, riding bikes through the Blue Ridge Parkway with lovely bride and friends.  We have truly had a BLAST.

Next venture, biking to Florida?  We’ll see.

YELLOWSTONE to Kentucky June 2010

 

The best weather we experienced while at Yellowstone was the day we left for home.  Weather really not that bad, just not typical mid-June Kentucky weather…very windy, temps 30s at night, 50s by day(if the sun made an appearance) and light snow.  This did nothing to take away from the beauty of this place.

Once on the road our first stop was,of course, a Wal-Mart in Cody, Wy to stock up on a few supplies.  After leaving there it was south on Hwy 120 to Thermopolis, Casper,to I-25 to Cheyenne  then I-80 into Nebraska.

River in Wyoming running alongside I-25.

 

 

 

A little of the scenery on the road to Casper, which will be our layover for the evening..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                  

 

Our first KOA night was spent here in Casper, Wyoming.  We were very much surprised by this facility, very quiet, large sites, FHU, nice  rec/check-in accommodations, and most friendly staff.

 

After a good nights sleep, with very little wind, we were up and on the road again toward Cheyenne and points South.

On into Nebraska we went passing a place called Sidney, with what appeared to be the largest Bass Pro Shop I had ever seen located there.  I’m sure I could have spent a couple of days just touring this huge facility.

 

This was some sort of museum spanning the interstate, celebrating the early settlers and explorers of this part of the country.

We spent this night at a nice, quiet park in N. Platte, Nb.  The next morning we could see that this travel day may experience a little wet weather along the way with storm clouds approaching from the West. 

 

 

 

 

 

Roz and I plowed our way on eastbound, destination—Offutt AFB at Omaha, Nb where we were planning to spend a couple of days at the military FamCamp at Offutt.  The weather across Nebraska had been generally good till we were approaching Omaha, then we were in and out of thunderstorms for the remainder of the drive. 

Arrived at Offutt, got assigned our site and settled in for the evening.  The rains had subsided and the BBQ came out and ribs were cooked.  Had a nice evening, watching TV and the lightning in the Western sky that was approaching our location.

During the night the storms moved in and the next morning the forecast was for more of the same for the next 24 hours, severe T-storms all day.  So, it was decision time for the two of us.  Weather radar on TV showed this T-storm activity to be mainly located on a line East and West of us, moving East.  Since our plans called for a Southerly path, we decided to shorten our stay and move on down the road, hoping to be out of the stormy portion and south of this weather in about 100 miles or less.  I was not especially impressed with this FamCamp anyway, short sites and a gravelly/muddy access road, with white stuff that stuck to ones shoes, leaving a lot of tracks everywhere I stepped.

So, I took the truck for fuel, returned and between showers prepared the TT for travel, hooked up, and hit the road.

As we had suspected, in less than an hour all this bad weather was behind us and we were on our way towards Missouri.

Our route took us down I-29 to St Joseph then rte 36 towards Hannibal, Mo.  Our plan for the night was a COE campgrounds onMark Twain Lake, about 25 miles West of Hannibal.  This Park was a little off the beaten path, but well worth the extra drive.  This is a large park with several loops, and very few customers.  Probably over 200 sites available and no more than a dozen campers.  Quiet, peaceful, relaxing….

 

 

 

 

 

View out our back window..

 

 

 

One of our frequent visitors. 

 

 

 

Roz and I spent two very relaxing days at this beautiful park, and told ourselves that “We Will Return.”

We were still about 300 miles from home and as reluctant as we were to leave here, knew we would only be postponing the inevitable, we had to go home.  

The remainder of the trip was anti-climatic, a good, uneventful drive.  We arrived back home around 2:30 in the afternoon and decided most unpacking would be done “later.” 

Trip report:  5,000 miles traveled, a lot of diesel fuel consumed, the Ford could not have performed better, and the Arctic Fox, even though it now has a patched up hole in her roof and some other battle damage, still came through with flying colors.  No mechanical issues of either the truck or camper.  As much as we thoroughly enjoyed this trip and the company of one another, it is still good to be back home.  MY OWN BED TONIGHT!!

Next trip---Motorcycle trip through the Blue Ridge Parkway.

YELLOWSTONE NP June 2010

For all you folks that have already visited Yellowstone, you probably recognize this particular Bison, located at the West Entrance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the many smoldering pits that were seen throughout the vast park.

 

 

Our approach to Old Faithful…

 

 

 

Thar she blows…

 

 

 

 

Cold, windy with intermittent drizzle/snow/sunshine. 

 

 

 

Our campground for the Yellowstone portion was a NFS Campground  located about 12 miles East of the Eastern Entrance called Rex Hale.  Water/Electric/toilets.  Located near a scenic river.

The campgrounds was situated between these high hills on both sides and consequently, the wind blew ALL THE TIME.  After our experience in Idaho Falls, we were somewhat gun shy when it came to the wind, but at least we knew the worst that could happen was be blown into the river, since there were no significant trees nearby.  But the wind never became that threatening.

Our plans were originally to proceed onto Mt Rushmore from here, but with all that had happened we decided to start our return trip back to Kentucky, still about 2,000 miles to our South.  We had planned a week here but are now only staying 3 days, leaving tomorrow.  In spite of a wide variety of weather and constant wind, we have thoroughly enjoyed our visit here.