A good trip to the rolling mountains of Appalachia last week making the rounds of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Many miles covered of back roads through a beautiful part of the country. A few nights camping until rains arrived then dry Super 8 motels accommodated the rest.
Gooney Creek campground
A pleasant sounding tributary of the Shenandoah River accompanied one night. Warm campfire added to the scene.
New River Gorge
The landscape is stunning due to the great topography. The tree blanketed hills were splendid through the coal mining areas of the Alleghenies. Though damp with rain and drizzle it was so verdant with fresh spring foliage.
Ohio north by northwest
Cutting diagonally through the buckeye state gave us many enjoyable miles of rural roads through forest and across farmland.
More road-trip sightings are the buildings and structures that are ridden past and stopped by. From the ecumenical to the agricultural, the retail to the residential. The bridge in the Duluth Harbor is one highlight for sure. A celebration of the mining and logging industry that created the Upper Midwest.
One of the great things when traveling around on the miles and miles of county routes, backroads, tracks, and byways is to see things along the way. I could stop every mile but then wouldn’t get anywhere! So many things are a fleeting vision as you speed past at between 30 and 60 mikes per hour. Neon restaurant lights in Galena; barns in Door County; a Red-spotted Blue in Duluth; breakfast cafe in Black River Falls; Muffler Man in Spooner; vintage Weiner cooker on Washington Island; goats (also W.I.); Dickeyville Grotto; Fresnel Lens, Split Rock. So many things to accessorize the adventure.
We took the small car ferry over to Washington Island at the top end of the peninsula beyond Green Bay. 25 square miles of woodland, farming, vineyards, cabins. A harbor to the farther Rock Island, itself a nature reserve.
A farm museum
Interesting real variety of farm buildings, tools and cabin of the day. Bleating goats gave noise to the location.
Leafy Roads
No need to go fast. Perfectly paced for the go-slow feel of the place. Relax.
Got to the campsite right on the waters edge. Splendid sunset and campfire as the stars lit up. Super riding through the National Forests that speckle the area.
Of Pine & Aspen
There were signs warning road users of Elk crossing, beautiful trout streams cross-crossing the way and the occasional bald Eagle soaring overhead.
We’re on a multi-day trip through the Dairlyland of America. From the historic lead mining center of Galena IL we headed north along the Mississippi through wooded dales and along barn scattered ridges. Back roads, gravel trails, reedbed carpeted bottomlands, and sprouting cornfield amidst oak woodland. A splendid part of the State.
Tigers eyes: A couple of young mousers inspect the bikes.
Nellie says just strap ‘er on and I’ll get you through the jungle to your destination. An Indian with an Indian being carried by an Indian elephant. Adventure awaits!
Mr. Fox on a motorcycle with Ash, Kris, and Kylie speaking to a wolf off on a distant ridge.
Mr. Fox: Where did you come from? What are you doing here? [to the others] I don’t think he speaks English or Latin. [to the wolf] Pensez-vous que l’hiver sera rude? [to the others] I’m asking if he thinks we’re in for a hard winter. [to the wolf] I have a phobia of wolves.
Through all this, the wolf has not responded.
Mr. Fox: What a beautiful creature. [to the others] Wish him luck boys.
Mr Fox raises his paw. The wolf mirrors the gesture in solidarity.
A back lane in Lake County that is usually gated off. It threaded through corn fields, old oak savannah and a horse paddock. Two track and muddy puddles. The Tiger loved it.
A pair of Beemer adventure bikes were parked next to my car. always like the black and yellow color scheme that is reminiscent of the original air cooler R90 GS from the late eighties.
There are a few glowing articles out there about the new Triumph Tiger 1200. Redesigned from the ground up. The various models give blistering attitude for the asphalt roadways and the crude off-road trails. Press release was carried out in Portugal.
geordiebiker.com 