 |
| Smoke Hole Caverns |
Well the “Over the Hill Dogs” rallied up for a 3day ride in
the hills of West Virginia on the 2nd anniversary of our Arizona Trip.
Our oldest Dog Richard sold his 1997 Harley Road King, this
year and is spending more time with his horses (R I D I C ULOUS). He and his
prayers are greatly missed but we did
talk to him during our trip. A few new faces this year, starting
with the young Pup and Cat, Nick & wife Karen. And I hate to say it and
hiding it well, the Over The Hill Cat (>50) Angela.
 | |
| 10 minute road closure for construction |
Day1 Friday Smoke Hole Caverns Adventure (262 Miles 5:48
hrs)
Tony & Angela, Bill, Glen, Nick & Karen all rode
west to meet Dale at Sheetz in Knoxville, MD. We took the long way to the Smoke
Hole and enjoyed all 262 miles of it.
Route: 340 Harpers Ferry, 50 out of Winchester, 29S to Baker
WV, 259S & 613S in VA, 33W back in WV, 220N, Smoke Hole Rd north to Smoke
Hole Cavers.
Day2 Blackwater Falls, Canaan Valley, Elkins Valley Bend
Wetlands, Handley Wildlife Area, Droop Mountain Highland Scenic Highway loop,
Spruce Knob, Seneca Rocks. (293 Miles 7:30 hrs)
As with most of our trips we are going to find a black cloud
somewhere. The forecast was all over the place. Two days before we started this
trip it look great. The closer to Day1 the worse it got. The rain prediction
was > 50% Friday, 80% Saturday, 90% Sunday. With that being said we stayed
dry for the most part. I think it’s because Dale finally broke down and bought
some rain gear, thanks Dale.
We did stop and put on rain gear because as we
motored up the mountain we got into the clouds. Once we got to Droop Mountain
Highland Scenic Highway loop area we stopped at an overlook to take in the
sights and remove our rain gear, which I found harder getting off over my boots
then putting on. |
| Overlook at Highland Scenic Highway loop |
It was 12 miles up to Spruce Knob but well worth the trip
with challenging twists & turns and a great view at the top. There might
have been a “PUCKER Of The Day” by one or two riders up and down that mountain.
From there it was back up 28N past Seneca Rocks back to base and out for
dinner. We ate at 3rd Base Sports Bar & Grille and it was pretty good.
Route: 55/28W, Co 28/7N, 42N, 93W to Mt. Storm Lake &
Davis, 32S Blackwater Falls, 55/33W to Elkins, 219S, 219/55S to Droop Mt. &
Highland Scenic Highway loop, 39/55N, 150N, 219N, 66E, 28/92N, 28/33N to Spruce
Knob overlook, 28N to Seneca Rocks, 55/28W back to the cottages.
Heading home we stopped for a good breakfast at Summers in
Moorefield WV. We then got on the beautiful highway 55E to its end in
Wardensville, WV. Then we went
north on 259N to 50E though the town Winchester where we lost Glen, Nick &
Karen. It started to drizzle and apparently Glen’s Face shield was fogging up
and he had to pull over. After a fuel stop and some phones calls we rejoined on
the east side of town on route 7. Dale pealed off at 340N and we all continued
on 15N to the Whites Ferry. It was a somewhat familiar county road trip back to
Baltimore.
This really turned out to be a great ride with a verity of
highways, county and back roads, hills, valleys, mountains, twists and turns
and only a little light rain despite the forecast. It sounds like everybody really enjoyed it I just wish
Richard could too.