You know I love cows, right? Especially Oreo cows.
Did you hear about this rowdy crew?
I wonder how they would have felt had the partiers been drinking my favorite cow beer?
Which I still have yet to get my hands on this year. And it isn't for lack of trying!
I haven't been able to find anyone in Virginia that even sells the Stoudt brand (PA-brewed).
According to the Stoudt's web site, cow beer is available May through August. They didn't have it at my favorite, very large, beer retailer in Maryland. I even went to two separate beer distributors when in PA last week to no avail.
I guess I'll just have to keep trying...
Scenic rides in and around West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Embrace Your Inner Chicken
At some point during the last week or so, I saw a video clip, somewhere, that featured two guys standing next to a motorcycle discussing chicken strips. Not eating pieces of chicken, mind you. They were referring to something on the motorcycle as "chicken strips."
My word-nerd interest was piqued. I looked it up and discovered that chicken strips are the outer edges of rear motorcycle tire that don't show any wear.
If you're not too "chicken" (afraid) to ride at maximum lean, you don't have chicken strips. Or so the theory goes.
I thought that was pretty funny. I didn't give the term another thought until Sunday when we stopped to gas-up the bikes. As I waited for Hubby to finish filling the tanks, that term re-entered my brain. It came out of nowhere.
So I went over and looked at Hubby's rear tire.
"Huh," I said. "You don't have any chicken strips."
He'd never heard the term either. When I told him what it meant, he laughed. And then we examined my rear tire. I had chicken strips.
In the picture, the upper tire has uniform wear. The lower tire has an unworn swath along the edges. You have to look hard to see through the dirt.
Apparently chicken strips are something the young and foolish -- especially those that ride crock rotchets -- compare and focus on. The smaller the strip, the "better" the rider. That's one school of thought.
There's another school of thought that says maximum lean is not always an indication of speed through corners. Or skill. Some riders hang off their bikes while holding the machine in a slightly more upright position so their tires grab more.
Supposedly, the only safe place to get rid of them is on the track. Public roads are just too dangerous. There are too many unknowns and potential dangers (gravel or other debris on road, cars/trucks creeping into your lane, etc.). Or you could go into your garage and use sandpaper.
On one hand, I think the term is funny. On the other hand, I don't like it. Since it has a negative connotation, it might make people ride harder than they should, putting themselves at risk.
I ride within my limitations. Safely. Most of the time, anyway. I'll likely always have those strips along the outer edges. So I have decided to embrace my inner chicken and create my own term for that unused bit of tire. I'd much rather think of them in a positive light.
Henceforth, I will NOT think of that line as a chicken strip. Instead, I'll call it my swath of sensibility.
The bigger the swath, the more sensible the rider. Doesn't that sound much better?
Before that stretch of US-33 I told y'all about, I was a more sensible person. We all have our momentary lapses of reason, though, right? Lucky for me, my bike and I survived.
My word-nerd interest was piqued. I looked it up and discovered that chicken strips are the outer edges of rear motorcycle tire that don't show any wear.
If you're not too "chicken" (afraid) to ride at maximum lean, you don't have chicken strips. Or so the theory goes.
So I went over and looked at Hubby's rear tire.
"Huh," I said. "You don't have any chicken strips."
He'd never heard the term either. When I told him what it meant, he laughed. And then we examined my rear tire. I had chicken strips.
In the picture, the upper tire has uniform wear. The lower tire has an unworn swath along the edges. You have to look hard to see through the dirt.
Apparently chicken strips are something the young and foolish -- especially those that ride crock rotchets -- compare and focus on. The smaller the strip, the "better" the rider. That's one school of thought.
There's another school of thought that says maximum lean is not always an indication of speed through corners. Or skill. Some riders hang off their bikes while holding the machine in a slightly more upright position so their tires grab more.
On one hand, I think the term is funny. On the other hand, I don't like it. Since it has a negative connotation, it might make people ride harder than they should, putting themselves at risk.
I ride within my limitations. Safely. Most of the time, anyway. I'll likely always have those strips along the outer edges. So I have decided to embrace my inner chicken and create my own term for that unused bit of tire. I'd much rather think of them in a positive light.
Henceforth, I will NOT think of that line as a chicken strip. Instead, I'll call it my swath of sensibility.
The bigger the swath, the more sensible the rider. Doesn't that sound much better?
Before that stretch of US-33 I told y'all about, I was a more sensible person. We all have our momentary lapses of reason, though, right? Lucky for me, my bike and I survived.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Something Borrowed = Something New
I had to drive up to Pennsylvania yesterday to attend my Uncle Ed's funeral. It was a brief affair. It was his wish to have a grave-side service only.
Ed was married to my Dad's oldest sister, Pearl. I've actually mentioned Pearl here before. I rode my bike up to visit her and another aunt, Bertha, on International Female Ride Day in 2011.
Pearl and Ed were married for 57 years! I think she's close to 80. She may even be 80. My Aunt Bertha is in her mid-60s. I could call and ask her so I'd know exactly, but it's still a bit early. And yesterday was a long day.
Aunt Bertha's age is important, though. Because it's one of the things that makes this next image so remarkable...
Yes, that's my Aunt Bertha on her very own, new-to-her, Can Am Spyder.
Isn't that a pretty red? How awesome is it to read about a single woman in her 60s buying her FIRST motorcycle?
She's wanted one for years. She's an avid ATV rider (she has one of those, too). She also has a scooter, but that just didn't cut it for her. She wanted a motorcycle. She took the MSF course last year or the year before. And she's been eyeing-up Spyders for a while.
It's perfect for her. As she says, she doesn't have to worry about the thing falling over.
And check this out...
Wondering why I'm wearing a helmet?
She asked me if I wanted to take it for a ride. What was I going to say? No?
Yeah, right.
I had to take it for a spin. Opportunities like that don't knock often.
I don't know all of the particulars. It's a 2009 automatic model. There's no clutch. You shift with a paddle shifter located near the left-hand grip. It's got reverse, too, which is awesome. And the foot brake, located in the usual spot, controls all three wheels at once. It has ABS and what I think my cousin, Bob, referred to as an automatic vehicle stability system. If you go into a corner too hot, it automatically brakes the inside wheel, while simultaneously throttling down.
She's tickled pink, as well she should be! She has only had it for a little over a month and is slowly getting used to riding it.
It does ride differently than a two-wheeled bike. The previous owner added a performance muffler. It's louder than the stock model, but not obnoxiously so. The steering is quite sensitive. And you don't need to back off the gas much at all to shift.
I took it for a spin on Spooky Nook Road (don't you love that road name?) and got up to 50 in no time flat. As you might imagine, it's super-easy to turn around, too.
I know I'm not exactly wearing appropriate riding gear, but I look pretty good on the thing, don't I?
Hubby and I are going to have to ride up to PA soon for a family ride. In addition to my Aunt Bertha, cousin Bob has a Harley (not sure what model), his sister Mary Ann's husband, Jeff, has a Goldwing. Bob has a good friend, Steve, who also rides a Harley. And a neighbor of Pearl's, named Rick, who is also a family friend, rides, too.
Won't we make a motley crew? :-)
I'm going to send Aunt Bertha a link to this blog post. If you also think it's awesome that she rides, please comment here to let her know. I'm sure she'd be thrilled to read that.
Ed was married to my Dad's oldest sister, Pearl. I've actually mentioned Pearl here before. I rode my bike up to visit her and another aunt, Bertha, on International Female Ride Day in 2011.
Pearl and Ed were married for 57 years! I think she's close to 80. She may even be 80. My Aunt Bertha is in her mid-60s. I could call and ask her so I'd know exactly, but it's still a bit early. And yesterday was a long day.
Aunt Bertha's age is important, though. Because it's one of the things that makes this next image so remarkable...
Yes, that's my Aunt Bertha on her very own, new-to-her, Can Am Spyder.
Isn't that a pretty red? How awesome is it to read about a single woman in her 60s buying her FIRST motorcycle?
She's wanted one for years. She's an avid ATV rider (she has one of those, too). She also has a scooter, but that just didn't cut it for her. She wanted a motorcycle. She took the MSF course last year or the year before. And she's been eyeing-up Spyders for a while.
It's perfect for her. As she says, she doesn't have to worry about the thing falling over.
And check this out...
Wondering why I'm wearing a helmet?
She asked me if I wanted to take it for a ride. What was I going to say? No?
Yeah, right.
I had to take it for a spin. Opportunities like that don't knock often.
I don't know all of the particulars. It's a 2009 automatic model. There's no clutch. You shift with a paddle shifter located near the left-hand grip. It's got reverse, too, which is awesome. And the foot brake, located in the usual spot, controls all three wheels at once. It has ABS and what I think my cousin, Bob, referred to as an automatic vehicle stability system. If you go into a corner too hot, it automatically brakes the inside wheel, while simultaneously throttling down.
She's tickled pink, as well she should be! She has only had it for a little over a month and is slowly getting used to riding it.
It does ride differently than a two-wheeled bike. The previous owner added a performance muffler. It's louder than the stock model, but not obnoxiously so. The steering is quite sensitive. And you don't need to back off the gas much at all to shift.
I took it for a spin on Spooky Nook Road (don't you love that road name?) and got up to 50 in no time flat. As you might imagine, it's super-easy to turn around, too.
I know I'm not exactly wearing appropriate riding gear, but I look pretty good on the thing, don't I?
Hubby and I are going to have to ride up to PA soon for a family ride. In addition to my Aunt Bertha, cousin Bob has a Harley (not sure what model), his sister Mary Ann's husband, Jeff, has a Goldwing. Bob has a good friend, Steve, who also rides a Harley. And a neighbor of Pearl's, named Rick, who is also a family friend, rides, too.
Won't we make a motley crew? :-)
I'm going to send Aunt Bertha a link to this blog post. If you also think it's awesome that she rides, please comment here to let her know. I'm sure she'd be thrilled to read that.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
The Roads Were the Destination, Part 2
It's amazing what eight solid hours of restorative sleep can do for a body.
If you read yesterday's post, you know we did over 300 miles Saturday on some very FUN and challenging roads. By the end of the day, we were both exhausted.
Sunday morning, I was surprised by how amazingly well-rested I felt.
The aspect of Fate weaving our threads for the weekend must have been a motorcyclist. I cannot imagine how else we ended up with such perfect weather, such clean pavement, and so few cars/trucks/RUBs, etc.
That little unscheduled detour into Summersville, necessitated by the need for a place to rest our heads (and road-weary bodies!), paid off nicely by starting our Sunday off on this 23-mile stretch of road.
We'd originally planned on a WV-39 departure from Richwood. We wanted to get back on track, but like to avoid repeat roads whenever possible. The GPS had sent us from Richwood to Summersville via one route the previous evening. So for the return, we opted for a different road, which put us on WV-39 a bit earlier than planned.
I'm so glad we did. What a sweet little bit of pavement.
If you think I am over-emphasizing the awesomeness of these roads, click on THIS MAP LINK (same one as above) and plop the little orange Street View guy down at any point along that stretch of road.
I was a bit more relaxed on Sunday after that conversation with Hubby where he assured me I wouldn't blow my little GS engine. Rather than stress over RPMs, I just let loose and rode that bike the way I felt like riding it. The way it should be ridden.
I was in the zone. Saying I rode "balls to the wind" just doesn't fit a gal like me. And although "tits to the wind" sounds a tad vulgar, that pretty much describes the way I felt like riding on Sunday. It's not often you get the chance to ride in places like that.
Saturday had only been my warm-up.
When Franz started hollering at me, I finally understood what he'd been saying.
It wasn't ,"Jesus Christ, woman! What are you trying to do to me?!?"
It was, "Yeah, BABY. This is what I was MADE for!"
I do not ride a sport bike. I ride a little F650GS dual sport. But, let me tell you, that bike is fabulous on country roads. It's fabulous everywhere, really. But especially on long stretches of winding, dry asphalt like the one pictured above. It responds better than the cruiser ever did. Of course, it weighs about half as much. And the motor is engineered differently. It has something to do with torque that this non-gearhead cannot explain.
All I know is, touch the throttle at any speed and it goes. Roll back and it slows down. Immediately. Assuming you're in the proper gear, of course. I'm still mastering that fine balance between the proper amount of braking before a curve and using the engine to get me through. I think I'm doing pretty good, but there's always room for improvement. As evidenced by the fact that I consumed two-tenths of a gallon more gas than Hubby on both tanks.
Is that last image a great shot or what? I got lucky. The roads weren't as technically challenging on Sunday so I was able to ride one-handed while clicking away with the point and shoot. Yes, I captured a lot of blurry garbage, but I also managed to snag a few photographic gems to share.
I think you fellow riders will appreciate them, anyway. Non-riders will probably look at these pics and think, "What a bunch of boring road images." But I bet by the time you are done done reading this post you'll want to plan a similar trip to this region.
Please do. I'll be more than happy to be your free guide!
Back to the trip...
I love my little GS. Had we ridden the cruisers like we rode the dual sports for two days, those floorboards would have been ground to nubs. The saddlebags may even have been ripped off. :-)
We couldn't help it. Really.
Sometimes when opportunity presents itself, you just have to let loose and experience life on the edge.
WV-39 really was a fabulous bit of highway. It was a more-relaxing yet equally exhilarating ride. I got to enjoy the scenery a bit more, too. It paralleled a creek/river (maybe more than one) for a good ways, so every now and then I'd catch a glimpse of this sparkling mountain stream cascading over big boulders. And trout fishermen casting their flies. It was a very western Montana-ish scene.
We stopped in Monterey for gas, closing the westernmost loop on our ride map. By that point, we'd been on US-220 for a while. Another fabulous, albeit different type of, road.
US-220 runs roughly north and south mostly in a valley. There are lots of long, gently curving and undulating stretches of road accentuated, every now and then by a heart-pumping twist or three. There's abundant scenery to behold, too.
We've spent quite a bit of time further north on US-220 as it runs near our WV place. The road has the same flavor there. At least from about US-50 on south.
Blue skies. Perfect temperatures. Picturesque farms. Wildflowers. Fresh air. No traffic. Does it get any better?
Are you ready to schedule that trip yet?
Tired of road pics? Okay, here's one of me.
In case you didn't know who that was.
And that's my handsome Hubby, poorly positioned and staring into the sun.
We'd stopped for a short stretch in Marlinton, WV. But quickly got back onto that sweet, sweet road.
Surprisingly, as good as it had been, the best was yet to come.
For real.
In Franklin, WV, we headed east on US-33.
There's this 7.6-mile stretch of US-33, about 15 miles east of Franklin, that straddles the WV/VA border...
View Larger Map
...which is our new favorite stretch of road on the planet.
Yes, I meant "planet." Passo dello Stelvio, in the Alps, may be high and scenic, but it's technical, challenging, and hard.
This little piece of road is pure oh-my-sweet-Jesus fun. Really. Plop the Street View guy along there once and have a peek.
After that, it was time for lunch.
Lucky for us, Harrisonburg, VA was in our sights.
What a cute town!
That's the courthouse.
And a little strip of shops, bars, and restaurants.
It's a college town. As evidenced by this drink menu...
The food at Finnigan's Cove was actually quite good.
I made a meal of crab and artichoke dip while Hubby enjoyed a wrap.
Then it was time to head home.
A little bit east of Harrisonburg, we closed that middle map loop.
This shot was taken heading east toward the ridge that carries Skyline Drive through the Shenandoah National Park. Eventually we crossed that and about an hour and a half later, we were home. We got rained on for about a minute, but managed to skirt the worst of the storm.
Does it look like we'd just added a total of 595 miles to the odometers? It sure felt like it!
That trip is going to be a hard one for us to beat. We'll certainly try, though. One day.
If you read yesterday's post, you know we did over 300 miles Saturday on some very FUN and challenging roads. By the end of the day, we were both exhausted.
Sunday morning, I was surprised by how amazingly well-rested I felt.
The aspect of Fate weaving our threads for the weekend must have been a motorcyclist. I cannot imagine how else we ended up with such perfect weather, such clean pavement, and so few cars/trucks/RUBs, etc.
That little unscheduled detour into Summersville, necessitated by the need for a place to rest our heads (and road-weary bodies!), paid off nicely by starting our Sunday off on this 23-mile stretch of road.
We'd originally planned on a WV-39 departure from Richwood. We wanted to get back on track, but like to avoid repeat roads whenever possible. The GPS had sent us from Richwood to Summersville via one route the previous evening. So for the return, we opted for a different road, which put us on WV-39 a bit earlier than planned.
I'm so glad we did. What a sweet little bit of pavement.
If you think I am over-emphasizing the awesomeness of these roads, click on THIS MAP LINK (same one as above) and plop the little orange Street View guy down at any point along that stretch of road.
I was a bit more relaxed on Sunday after that conversation with Hubby where he assured me I wouldn't blow my little GS engine. Rather than stress over RPMs, I just let loose and rode that bike the way I felt like riding it. The way it should be ridden.
I was in the zone. Saying I rode "balls to the wind" just doesn't fit a gal like me. And although "tits to the wind" sounds a tad vulgar, that pretty much describes the way I felt like riding on Sunday. It's not often you get the chance to ride in places like that.
Saturday had only been my warm-up.
When Franz started hollering at me, I finally understood what he'd been saying.
It wasn't ,"Jesus Christ, woman! What are you trying to do to me?!?"
It was, "Yeah, BABY. This is what I was MADE for!"
I do not ride a sport bike. I ride a little F650GS dual sport. But, let me tell you, that bike is fabulous on country roads. It's fabulous everywhere, really. But especially on long stretches of winding, dry asphalt like the one pictured above. It responds better than the cruiser ever did. Of course, it weighs about half as much. And the motor is engineered differently. It has something to do with torque that this non-gearhead cannot explain.
All I know is, touch the throttle at any speed and it goes. Roll back and it slows down. Immediately. Assuming you're in the proper gear, of course. I'm still mastering that fine balance between the proper amount of braking before a curve and using the engine to get me through. I think I'm doing pretty good, but there's always room for improvement. As evidenced by the fact that I consumed two-tenths of a gallon more gas than Hubby on both tanks.
Is that last image a great shot or what? I got lucky. The roads weren't as technically challenging on Sunday so I was able to ride one-handed while clicking away with the point and shoot. Yes, I captured a lot of blurry garbage, but I also managed to snag a few photographic gems to share.
I think you fellow riders will appreciate them, anyway. Non-riders will probably look at these pics and think, "What a bunch of boring road images." But I bet by the time you are done done reading this post you'll want to plan a similar trip to this region.
Please do. I'll be more than happy to be your free guide!
Back to the trip...
I love my little GS. Had we ridden the cruisers like we rode the dual sports for two days, those floorboards would have been ground to nubs. The saddlebags may even have been ripped off. :-)
We couldn't help it. Really.
Sometimes when opportunity presents itself, you just have to let loose and experience life on the edge.
WV-39 really was a fabulous bit of highway. It was a more-relaxing yet equally exhilarating ride. I got to enjoy the scenery a bit more, too. It paralleled a creek/river (maybe more than one) for a good ways, so every now and then I'd catch a glimpse of this sparkling mountain stream cascading over big boulders. And trout fishermen casting their flies. It was a very western Montana-ish scene.
We stopped in Monterey for gas, closing the westernmost loop on our ride map. By that point, we'd been on US-220 for a while. Another fabulous, albeit different type of, road.
US-220 runs roughly north and south mostly in a valley. There are lots of long, gently curving and undulating stretches of road accentuated, every now and then by a heart-pumping twist or three. There's abundant scenery to behold, too.
We've spent quite a bit of time further north on US-220 as it runs near our WV place. The road has the same flavor there. At least from about US-50 on south.
Blue skies. Perfect temperatures. Picturesque farms. Wildflowers. Fresh air. No traffic. Does it get any better?
Are you ready to schedule that trip yet?
Tired of road pics? Okay, here's one of me.
In case you didn't know who that was.
And that's my handsome Hubby, poorly positioned and staring into the sun.
We'd stopped for a short stretch in Marlinton, WV. But quickly got back onto that sweet, sweet road.
Surprisingly, as good as it had been, the best was yet to come.
For real.
In Franklin, WV, we headed east on US-33.
There's this 7.6-mile stretch of US-33, about 15 miles east of Franklin, that straddles the WV/VA border...
View Larger Map
...which is our new favorite stretch of road on the planet.
Yes, I meant "planet." Passo dello Stelvio, in the Alps, may be high and scenic, but it's technical, challenging, and hard.
This little piece of road is pure oh-my-sweet-Jesus fun. Really. Plop the Street View guy along there once and have a peek.
After that, it was time for lunch.
Lucky for us, Harrisonburg, VA was in our sights.
What a cute town!
That's the courthouse.
And a little strip of shops, bars, and restaurants.
It's a college town. As evidenced by this drink menu...
The food at Finnigan's Cove was actually quite good.
I made a meal of crab and artichoke dip while Hubby enjoyed a wrap.
Then it was time to head home.
A little bit east of Harrisonburg, we closed that middle map loop.
This shot was taken heading east toward the ridge that carries Skyline Drive through the Shenandoah National Park. Eventually we crossed that and about an hour and a half later, we were home. We got rained on for about a minute, but managed to skirt the worst of the storm.
Does it look like we'd just added a total of 595 miles to the odometers? It sure felt like it!
That trip is going to be a hard one for us to beat. We'll certainly try, though. One day.
Monday, May 21, 2012
The Roads Were the Destination
I've never been one for naming my motorcycle. I understand why people
do, I've just never felt the urge. Until this weekend. That's when my
bike's real personality emerged. So, if I were to give the bike a name, I think it would have to be Franz. That's a good name for a hot-headed German, right? More on that later.
Hubby and I had our first overnight trip of the year this past weekend. It wasn't until just before we left that I realized it was the first overnight with these bikes EVER (we bought them in January 2011), so it was an extra-special occasion.
The weather was absolutely perfect. It started out in the low 60s (F) and didn't get above the upper 70s all day. The humidity was low, too, which made for some very clear blue skies. It was one of those clear-blue-sky, puffy-white-cloud days.
I planned the route, but let Hubby plug the map into his GPS so he could lead. Not because I thought we'd get lost, but because he's braver (crazier?) than me and likes to take the curves at maximum lean. And since I knew we'd be hitting lots and lots of curves, I figured I'd let him have his fun. He gets sort of cranky when he's forced to go slowly through curves that seem as if they were made especially for motorcycles.
I embedded a map so you could zoom in on the route if you want. But then I realized it's probably a bit hard to follow. So I'll show you this graphic first that's got directional arrows to help you understand our circuitous, figure eightish route.
We headed west from town on US-211. After we passed the Luray Caverns
area, we took US-340 south and then jogged west again to skirt
Waynesboro and Staunton.
The ride was nice, but there was nothing special about the roads to that point. Except for that section of US-211 that crosses through the Shenandoah National Park. The one with the sign warning motorcyclists of the HIGH CRASH AREA. That's always fun, but it doesn't last for very long. The good news is there are actually two lanes in each direction, so you can get around the cars and other four-wheeled vehicles as they labor painstakingly across the mountain.
The "destination" roads for the day were US-250, from just west of Staunton (pron. stan-ton), VA northwest up to Mill Creek, WV. US-250 actually joins US-219 a few miles south of Mill Creek. We could have taken 219/250 all the way into Elkins, but we'd been on that stretch of 219 before. Plus our second destination road for the day had an endpoint far south enough that going through Elkins would've added a couple of hours to the journey.
View May Motorcycle Adventure in a larger map
It's funny talking to non-riders about a trip like this. They always say, "Where are you going?" And when they get a reply of, "Nowhere, really. But we're going to ride on some awesome roads," they give you this look of confusion. They just don't get it.
But y'all get it, right? We're talking about some amazing roads, people. Really.
We stopped for a quick stretch and potty break after a couple of hours of riding. Forty miles later, after enjoying some sort of easy, twisty stretches, we stopped in Monterey, Virginia to grab some lunch.
I'd seen a restaurant described very briefly on the Web that had potential. But as we headed into town, I was wondering if I'd be able to spot the place. I needn't have worried. Because as we headed up Main Street we were greeted by a most unusual sight...
Both sides of the street were lined with various makes and models of BMWs and other non-cruiser types. And it almost seemed like they were pointing at High's Restaurant for us. The food was only okay, so 'nuff said about that place. (We later learned that Morton's BMW of Fredericksburg, VA was having an event nearby.)
Over lunch, I told Hubby the roads to that point had been sort of lame intentionally. I'd planned a pretty long route and knew we'd have to cover some ground quickly early on if we were going to do the whole route. I assured him the real fun would start soon.
I don't think he believed me. Or maybe he believed me, but didn't know exactly how much fun I was talking about.
Before we took off, I told Hubby not to panic if I wasn't right behind him. I was planning on stopping for some pictures. Sadly, I'd forgotten the helmet cam. And I had promised y'all some pictures, right?
Unfortunately, I was having so much fun, I didn't want to stop.
Sorry. But US-250 was amazing. I'm not even sure how best to describe the thing. Good-quality pavement with only a few traces of gravel. Lots of tight corners and twisties. Quite a few ascending and descending curves. Multiple-mile 9% grades. There were some straight stretches in valleys, but they were kind of far and few between. Oh, and I can't forget those technically challenging switchbacks. You learn pretty quickly when you see a 15 MPH curve sign that it really does mean SLOW DOWN.
It was on US-250 that the bike started hollering at me. Not in a bad way, I don't think. Just being loud. I couldn't tell if it was yelling good or bad stuff 'cause I don't speak German. But the indicators all looked fine. It felt right, and the bike was performing like a dream.
I think that was the first time I'd really put the bike through its paces. It was loud, but was doing what it was supposed to be doing. And I was having a blast.
After turning off of 250 at Mill Creek, we hit our first and only bad road. It was a county road, so I knew it would be a slower-paced ride. What I didn't realize is that there are a couple of coal mines along the route. Lucky for us, there weren't many trucks out. The road was so narrow, there were signs warning outbound truckers to radio ahead. You know, to warn incoming trucks that they had to wait because the road wasn't wide enough for two trucks to pass.
That's what I get for taking a short cut. It's CR-46/Helvetia-Adolph Road I'm talking about. Which becomes CR-11/Alexander-Helvetia Road when it crosses into the next county. Understanding West Virginia road maps is an acquired skill.
It was definitely an interesting road, though, thanks to Helvetia. One of those places where you find yourself scaling mountains on a one-lane, winding track through the seeming wilderness and all of a sudden there's this town. Not just any town, but a quaint little obviously German town that makes you think, "Wait a minute. What was that?"
If you'd really like to know, I found a cool post about it on someone else's blog. We were too anxious to reach the next road to stop. Because the that next road, WV-20, our second destination road of the day, was the inspiration for the trip.
Really, it's why we were in that area in the first place. And reaching it made the whole Helvetia-Adolph ordeal worthwhile.
That road name kills me. I just had to work it in there again.
Looking at my embedded Google map, WV-20 is the westernmost bit of road that runs roughly north/south. Zoom in a bit and you'll see we got on it just above Rock Cave and exited around Richwood. After about 75 miles of riding where straight stretches were far and few between. Where it's nothing to spend 10 seconds in a right-hand curve, going about 50 mph, followed immediately by another 10-second curve, at the same speed, but leaning to the left. I am not exaggerating. Not all of the curves were that long, but many were at least half that. And there were a lot of them. Quite often, back to back.
It was awesome. The pavement was dry, unlike the last time when we rode that road in the cold and rain. The road surface was fairly decent, too. Only a few heart-pounding patches of gravel. And traffic was very light. Motorcycle nirvana.
See why I didn't want to stop for pictures?
We were planning to overnight in Richwood. When we got there, however, we discovered it was really a very depressed place. So we backtracked a bit and motored on to Summersville. We grabbed a room at the first hotel we saw -- a Super 8, oh boy! -- and collapsed. We'd put over 320 miles on the odometers, a third of which had been on rather challenging roads.
There was an Applebees about 200 yards from the hotel. The food was awful, as expected, but we couldn't walk any further. And our butts were too sore to ride another foot.
I didn't want to tell Hubby, but the bike (temporarily named Franz, remember) had been growling at me all day. I kept watching the tachometer thinking I was going to blow the engine or something. It never got into the red zone, but the RPMs seemed to be running rather high.
I guess you can tell I am no gear head. I have enough sense to know the red zone is bad. And I figured being kind of close to the red zone probably wasn't good. When I did finally mention my concern to Hubby, telling him I didn't want to over-stress the bike, he laughed.
"You're not going to over stress that engine," he said.
That was a relief to hear. Of course, by that point, all I could worry about was how my poor, tired body was going to ride another couple hundred miles the next day to get back home!
I'll tell you all about day two in my next post. It was another gorgeous day. That post will even have pictures like this one, which I just had to add to whet your appetite.
Hubby and I had our first overnight trip of the year this past weekend. It wasn't until just before we left that I realized it was the first overnight with these bikes EVER (we bought them in January 2011), so it was an extra-special occasion.
The weather was absolutely perfect. It started out in the low 60s (F) and didn't get above the upper 70s all day. The humidity was low, too, which made for some very clear blue skies. It was one of those clear-blue-sky, puffy-white-cloud days.
I planned the route, but let Hubby plug the map into his GPS so he could lead. Not because I thought we'd get lost, but because he's braver (crazier?) than me and likes to take the curves at maximum lean. And since I knew we'd be hitting lots and lots of curves, I figured I'd let him have his fun. He gets sort of cranky when he's forced to go slowly through curves that seem as if they were made especially for motorcycles.
I embedded a map so you could zoom in on the route if you want. But then I realized it's probably a bit hard to follow. So I'll show you this graphic first that's got directional arrows to help you understand our circuitous, figure eightish route.
The ride was nice, but there was nothing special about the roads to that point. Except for that section of US-211 that crosses through the Shenandoah National Park. The one with the sign warning motorcyclists of the HIGH CRASH AREA. That's always fun, but it doesn't last for very long. The good news is there are actually two lanes in each direction, so you can get around the cars and other four-wheeled vehicles as they labor painstakingly across the mountain.
The "destination" roads for the day were US-250, from just west of Staunton (pron. stan-ton), VA northwest up to Mill Creek, WV. US-250 actually joins US-219 a few miles south of Mill Creek. We could have taken 219/250 all the way into Elkins, but we'd been on that stretch of 219 before. Plus our second destination road for the day had an endpoint far south enough that going through Elkins would've added a couple of hours to the journey.
View May Motorcycle Adventure in a larger map
It's funny talking to non-riders about a trip like this. They always say, "Where are you going?" And when they get a reply of, "Nowhere, really. But we're going to ride on some awesome roads," they give you this look of confusion. They just don't get it.
But y'all get it, right? We're talking about some amazing roads, people. Really.
We stopped for a quick stretch and potty break after a couple of hours of riding. Forty miles later, after enjoying some sort of easy, twisty stretches, we stopped in Monterey, Virginia to grab some lunch.
I'd seen a restaurant described very briefly on the Web that had potential. But as we headed into town, I was wondering if I'd be able to spot the place. I needn't have worried. Because as we headed up Main Street we were greeted by a most unusual sight...
Both sides of the street were lined with various makes and models of BMWs and other non-cruiser types. And it almost seemed like they were pointing at High's Restaurant for us. The food was only okay, so 'nuff said about that place. (We later learned that Morton's BMW of Fredericksburg, VA was having an event nearby.)
Over lunch, I told Hubby the roads to that point had been sort of lame intentionally. I'd planned a pretty long route and knew we'd have to cover some ground quickly early on if we were going to do the whole route. I assured him the real fun would start soon.
I don't think he believed me. Or maybe he believed me, but didn't know exactly how much fun I was talking about.
Before we took off, I told Hubby not to panic if I wasn't right behind him. I was planning on stopping for some pictures. Sadly, I'd forgotten the helmet cam. And I had promised y'all some pictures, right?
Unfortunately, I was having so much fun, I didn't want to stop.
Sorry. But US-250 was amazing. I'm not even sure how best to describe the thing. Good-quality pavement with only a few traces of gravel. Lots of tight corners and twisties. Quite a few ascending and descending curves. Multiple-mile 9% grades. There were some straight stretches in valleys, but they were kind of far and few between. Oh, and I can't forget those technically challenging switchbacks. You learn pretty quickly when you see a 15 MPH curve sign that it really does mean SLOW DOWN.
It was on US-250 that the bike started hollering at me. Not in a bad way, I don't think. Just being loud. I couldn't tell if it was yelling good or bad stuff 'cause I don't speak German. But the indicators all looked fine. It felt right, and the bike was performing like a dream.
I think that was the first time I'd really put the bike through its paces. It was loud, but was doing what it was supposed to be doing. And I was having a blast.
After turning off of 250 at Mill Creek, we hit our first and only bad road. It was a county road, so I knew it would be a slower-paced ride. What I didn't realize is that there are a couple of coal mines along the route. Lucky for us, there weren't many trucks out. The road was so narrow, there were signs warning outbound truckers to radio ahead. You know, to warn incoming trucks that they had to wait because the road wasn't wide enough for two trucks to pass.
That's what I get for taking a short cut. It's CR-46/Helvetia-Adolph Road I'm talking about. Which becomes CR-11/Alexander-Helvetia Road when it crosses into the next county. Understanding West Virginia road maps is an acquired skill.
It was definitely an interesting road, though, thanks to Helvetia. One of those places where you find yourself scaling mountains on a one-lane, winding track through the seeming wilderness and all of a sudden there's this town. Not just any town, but a quaint little obviously German town that makes you think, "Wait a minute. What was that?"
If you'd really like to know, I found a cool post about it on someone else's blog. We were too anxious to reach the next road to stop. Because the that next road, WV-20, our second destination road of the day, was the inspiration for the trip.
Really, it's why we were in that area in the first place. And reaching it made the whole Helvetia-Adolph ordeal worthwhile.
That road name kills me. I just had to work it in there again.
Looking at my embedded Google map, WV-20 is the westernmost bit of road that runs roughly north/south. Zoom in a bit and you'll see we got on it just above Rock Cave and exited around Richwood. After about 75 miles of riding where straight stretches were far and few between. Where it's nothing to spend 10 seconds in a right-hand curve, going about 50 mph, followed immediately by another 10-second curve, at the same speed, but leaning to the left. I am not exaggerating. Not all of the curves were that long, but many were at least half that. And there were a lot of them. Quite often, back to back.
It was awesome. The pavement was dry, unlike the last time when we rode that road in the cold and rain. The road surface was fairly decent, too. Only a few heart-pounding patches of gravel. And traffic was very light. Motorcycle nirvana.
See why I didn't want to stop for pictures?
We were planning to overnight in Richwood. When we got there, however, we discovered it was really a very depressed place. So we backtracked a bit and motored on to Summersville. We grabbed a room at the first hotel we saw -- a Super 8, oh boy! -- and collapsed. We'd put over 320 miles on the odometers, a third of which had been on rather challenging roads.
There was an Applebees about 200 yards from the hotel. The food was awful, as expected, but we couldn't walk any further. And our butts were too sore to ride another foot.
I didn't want to tell Hubby, but the bike (temporarily named Franz, remember) had been growling at me all day. I kept watching the tachometer thinking I was going to blow the engine or something. It never got into the red zone, but the RPMs seemed to be running rather high.
I guess you can tell I am no gear head. I have enough sense to know the red zone is bad. And I figured being kind of close to the red zone probably wasn't good. When I did finally mention my concern to Hubby, telling him I didn't want to over-stress the bike, he laughed.
"You're not going to over stress that engine," he said.
That was a relief to hear. Of course, by that point, all I could worry about was how my poor, tired body was going to ride another couple hundred miles the next day to get back home!
I'll tell you all about day two in my next post. It was another gorgeous day. That post will even have pictures like this one, which I just had to add to whet your appetite.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Adventure Time
It's time for our first overnight motorcycle adventure of the year.
And I am so excited.
Come on. Ask me. How excited? Excited enough to have conversations with myself, apparently. And to "draw" that cool, new adventure graphic. Like it?
Oh, and remember that wonky map I showed you in my last post?
I fixed it.
If all goes as planned, this time tomorrow we'll be packing up the gear and getting ready to ride.
But first, I need to make it through today...
More to come on Sunday! Unless I can figure out how to make the Smart phone post decent blog updates. Time will tell...
I wish you all a splendid riding weekend!
And I am so excited.
Come on. Ask me. How excited? Excited enough to have conversations with myself, apparently. And to "draw" that cool, new adventure graphic. Like it?
Oh, and remember that wonky map I showed you in my last post?
I fixed it.
If all goes as planned, this time tomorrow we'll be packing up the gear and getting ready to ride.
But first, I need to make it through today...
More to come on Sunday! Unless I can figure out how to make the Smart phone post decent blog updates. Time will tell...
I wish you all a splendid riding weekend!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Small Lessons
Variety is the spice of life.
I wonder how far back that cliche goes? I'm sure I could find out if I invested about half an hour. But I refuse to let another stupid search suck me in.
My goal is not to discuss cliches. Although I do have a particular fondness for words. The other day, when reading about another female rider at Helmet or Heels (Shelia from the UK), I was tickled to see the term "absolute numpty."
I wasn't sure what "numpty" meant, but I liked it! Probably because it was paired with "absolute." And I LOVE the way those UK folks say "absolute" and "absolutely" when using it to describe stuff. They emphasize the first and third syllables and really draw the word out.
Again, I could probably do a search to find an audio of that pronunciation. But I won't.
Instead I'll show you my latest Google map and tell you my lesson learned for the day.
Can you make sense of that map? Yeah, me either.
I'd planned a route using Google maps. Then I revised the route and saved the new version over top of the old version. I was thinking it would be like saving a new Word file over an old Word file with the same name. You know, where the new file replaces the old.
Google maps doesn't work like that. It commingles things. So I ended up with one very confusing map.
When I saw this maze of a route, I felt like an absolute numpty!
In case you're wondering, numpty = idiot. It was voted the UK's favorite word back in 2007.
Yes, I had to look it up. I was pretty sure it probably meant something like idiot, but had to check first.
You have to be careful with some words, you know. Americans tend to use terms differently than people in the UK. English isn't always plain.
"Wanker" is a good example. In the US, it's a pretty tame word that's low on the vulgarity scale. It's about the equivalent of calling someone a jerk, dodo, or butthead.
In the UK, it's considered quite vulgar.
I would probably never use the "F-bomb" in a blog post. But I would feel fine saying wanker repeatedly.
Wanker, wanker, wanker, WANKER, wanker. See?
But I don't live in the UK. It'll be interesting to see if I have any followers living in the UK or of UK origin that can weigh in on the topic.
Anyway, my point is... if you're ever in the UK and feel the need to insult someone, you may want to go with numpty as opposed to wanker. For your own safety.
Are you now as bored as these dogs look? Sorry.
This post was about as organized as that Google map. But maybe, just maybe, if you actually read this far, you learned something.
No? Well, at least you got to see that cute picture of my dogs.
I wonder how far back that cliche goes? I'm sure I could find out if I invested about half an hour. But I refuse to let another stupid search suck me in.
My goal is not to discuss cliches. Although I do have a particular fondness for words. The other day, when reading about another female rider at Helmet or Heels (Shelia from the UK), I was tickled to see the term "absolute numpty."
I wasn't sure what "numpty" meant, but I liked it! Probably because it was paired with "absolute." And I LOVE the way those UK folks say "absolute" and "absolutely" when using it to describe stuff. They emphasize the first and third syllables and really draw the word out.
Again, I could probably do a search to find an audio of that pronunciation. But I won't.
Instead I'll show you my latest Google map and tell you my lesson learned for the day.
Can you make sense of that map? Yeah, me either.
I'd planned a route using Google maps. Then I revised the route and saved the new version over top of the old version. I was thinking it would be like saving a new Word file over an old Word file with the same name. You know, where the new file replaces the old.
Google maps doesn't work like that. It commingles things. So I ended up with one very confusing map.
When I saw this maze of a route, I felt like an absolute numpty!
In case you're wondering, numpty = idiot. It was voted the UK's favorite word back in 2007.
Yes, I had to look it up. I was pretty sure it probably meant something like idiot, but had to check first.
You have to be careful with some words, you know. Americans tend to use terms differently than people in the UK. English isn't always plain.
"Wanker" is a good example. In the US, it's a pretty tame word that's low on the vulgarity scale. It's about the equivalent of calling someone a jerk, dodo, or butthead.
In the UK, it's considered quite vulgar.
I would probably never use the "F-bomb" in a blog post. But I would feel fine saying wanker repeatedly.
Wanker, wanker, wanker, WANKER, wanker. See?
But I don't live in the UK. It'll be interesting to see if I have any followers living in the UK or of UK origin that can weigh in on the topic.
Anyway, my point is... if you're ever in the UK and feel the need to insult someone, you may want to go with numpty as opposed to wanker. For your own safety.
Are you now as bored as these dogs look? Sorry.
This post was about as organized as that Google map. But maybe, just maybe, if you actually read this far, you learned something.
No? Well, at least you got to see that cute picture of my dogs.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
My Brush with Fame
I can't believe I forgot to mention my brush with fame in yesterday's post about Mother's Day. Because it was on Mother's Day that Pamela over at Helmet or Heels posted my profile.
Pamela, a rider herself, thought it would be cool to interview and post profiles featuring lady riders that she knew. It was such a cool idea, and so well-received, that it's grown.
Through the series, she's meeting more and more women, like me, who also ride.
After I posted a comment about one or more of the profiles, she asked me if I'd like to join the fun. Of course, I agreed.
That's how my profile came to be.
The full name of her blog is Helmet or Heels: I'm Comfortable in Either. You should pop over and give her blog a read.
It's been fun reading about all of the different women. Some I've known through their blogs for a while. Others I'd never met, but expect to learn more about, thanks to Pamela.
One thing I did not mention in my profile, but should have, is that while I taught myself to ride initially, I also took an MSF course before taking up riding again. I already had my license, but hadn't ridden for about 12 years. Hubby, who'd ridden before, had never gotten a license. We bought our bikes in October of 2000 and were just able to squeeze into a session. It was quite enlightening and I highly recommend it for anyone that is learning to ride.
Through the series, she's meeting more and more women, like me, who also ride.
After I posted a comment about one or more of the profiles, she asked me if I'd like to join the fun. Of course, I agreed.
That's how my profile came to be.
The full name of her blog is Helmet or Heels: I'm Comfortable in Either. You should pop over and give her blog a read.
It's been fun reading about all of the different women. Some I've known through their blogs for a while. Others I'd never met, but expect to learn more about, thanks to Pamela.
One thing I did not mention in my profile, but should have, is that while I taught myself to ride initially, I also took an MSF course before taking up riding again. I already had my license, but hadn't ridden for about 12 years. Hubby, who'd ridden before, had never gotten a license. We bought our bikes in October of 2000 and were just able to squeeze into a session. It was quite enlightening and I highly recommend it for anyone that is learning to ride.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Mother's Day
Yesterday was Mother's Day. Hubby and I drove up to Baltimore on Saturday to visit with our Moms. We are fortunate that both are still with us. And they live really close to each other.
As for my three kids. The oldest, Shannon, lives in San Diego. The middle daughter, Amy, who lives about 25 miles north of Baltimore, has three kids of her own and tends to spend Mother's Day being pampered. Eric, the youngest, who lives about 20 miles south of Baltimore, is a budding chef, so he had to work.
I didn't get to see any of them. But I did get cards from all of them. I got to speak to them, too. They're all good kids. Raising them was a challenge, so it's great to see them all as happy, healthy, functioning adults.
I spent most of my day buying and planting flowers. Yes, that's work, but for me it's a labor of love. I still have more to plant, but I just had to squeeze a ride in. Know what I'm sayin'? Isn't Mother's Day a day Moms are supposed to do the things they love?
Hubby was working on his own project (building cabinets for our closet). Just about the time I decided I was ready for a ride, he decided he was ready for some relaxing.
He was delighted to discover one of his hammocks in the garage -- he'd feared they were both at the WV Place -- and was more than happy to stay at home while I went for a quick spin.
Two hours is quick, right?
View Rappahannock Cellars Run in a larger map
I left without a destination in mind. I headed out of town on Culpeper Street, which leads to Springs Road. A very nice ride full of rolling hills and gentle twisties. Once I hit CR-229, I hung a right and headed toward Leeds Manor Road, which is one of my favorite riding roads in Fauquier County. It's scenic. It's got hills, and twisties, and great pavement. I have yet to see even a speck of gravel there.
Since I'd gotten a late start, I didn't want to ride all the way to then end. So I turned left on Hume Road. It's just as awesome as Leeds Manor Road, but it's narrower. Narrow enough that there's no center line. The straight sections are full of hills, so, assuming you are going fast enough, you get that tickly stomach feeling as you crest each.
Surprisingly, the speed limit for most of the way is 45 mph.
I even got to stop and get the barn scene I've been wanting to capture.
While I was there, a fellow rider zipped past.
That shot might give you an idea of the narrowness of the road. The hills pictured aren't the really fun ones. But they'll do.
You know what's next, right?
If you've been following this blog long enough, you know I like cattle. Yes, "cattle."
Finally, I decided to seek some cow facts so I'd know how to correctly refer to these critters. My mother-in-law pretty much explained it to me the same way, it just didn't sink in.
Darn, I just realized there was no mention of steers vs. bulls. Oh well...
It's always amused me how cows stare at you when you stop.
Check out that one!
I'm glad I snapped that shot when I did. I was literally about five feet away from it. Shortly after hitting the shutter, it grunted (giving me a very quick "oh shit" moment) then turned away. I always worry that I'll freak them out enough to cause a stampede.
Too much TV, I guess. (Do you remember The Cowboys? It's a John Wayne movie from the early seventies.)
According to that same cow facts web page...
I still find it amusing to see them all looking at me.
It's probably hard to tell how many are staring, looking at that picture, unless you click on it to see a larger view.
I think the one staring from behind the little bush is particularly amusing.
Yeah, it doesn't take much to amuse me. Sorry to go on and on about the cattle.
Lucky for you, the road beckoned. I was still on Hume Road, by the way.
Don't you wish you could ride that road right now?
If you ever visit Fauquier County, I'd be more than happy to take you there.
Right before Hume Road intersects with US-522, you pass through the Rappahannock Cellars Winery property.
That's one of their vineyards pictured above.
Hubby and I had passed through on our IFRD run. That's when I noticed this barn I knew I'd return one day to capture.
It's not always easy to stop for pics when zipping along with a ride partner. And turning around is a pain in the butt.
I'm glad I stopped yesterday. I think that's a cool picture.
The rest of the ride was sort of uneventful. On US-522, I headed south through Flint Hill. There's a town I need to re-visit to photograph. I could have stopped yesterday, but it was getting late. And the skies were getting grayer and grayer.
So that's it for the pics. All in all, it was a very nice out-and-back loop covering just under 70 miles in about two hours.
I need to add that loop to my Web site, which is sorely in need of updating.
Did you have a nice Mother's Day?
As for my three kids. The oldest, Shannon, lives in San Diego. The middle daughter, Amy, who lives about 25 miles north of Baltimore, has three kids of her own and tends to spend Mother's Day being pampered. Eric, the youngest, who lives about 20 miles south of Baltimore, is a budding chef, so he had to work.
I didn't get to see any of them. But I did get cards from all of them. I got to speak to them, too. They're all good kids. Raising them was a challenge, so it's great to see them all as happy, healthy, functioning adults.
I spent most of my day buying and planting flowers. Yes, that's work, but for me it's a labor of love. I still have more to plant, but I just had to squeeze a ride in. Know what I'm sayin'? Isn't Mother's Day a day Moms are supposed to do the things they love?
Hubby was working on his own project (building cabinets for our closet). Just about the time I decided I was ready for a ride, he decided he was ready for some relaxing.
He was delighted to discover one of his hammocks in the garage -- he'd feared they were both at the WV Place -- and was more than happy to stay at home while I went for a quick spin.
Two hours is quick, right?
View Rappahannock Cellars Run in a larger map
I left without a destination in mind. I headed out of town on Culpeper Street, which leads to Springs Road. A very nice ride full of rolling hills and gentle twisties. Once I hit CR-229, I hung a right and headed toward Leeds Manor Road, which is one of my favorite riding roads in Fauquier County. It's scenic. It's got hills, and twisties, and great pavement. I have yet to see even a speck of gravel there.
Since I'd gotten a late start, I didn't want to ride all the way to then end. So I turned left on Hume Road. It's just as awesome as Leeds Manor Road, but it's narrower. Narrow enough that there's no center line. The straight sections are full of hills, so, assuming you are going fast enough, you get that tickly stomach feeling as you crest each.
Surprisingly, the speed limit for most of the way is 45 mph.
I even got to stop and get the barn scene I've been wanting to capture.
While I was there, a fellow rider zipped past.
That shot might give you an idea of the narrowness of the road. The hills pictured aren't the really fun ones. But they'll do.
You know what's next, right?
If you've been following this blog long enough, you know I like cattle. Yes, "cattle."
Finally, I decided to seek some cow facts so I'd know how to correctly refer to these critters. My mother-in-law pretty much explained it to me the same way, it just didn't sink in.
In common parlance bulls, heifers, cows, calves are collectively called cows, however the correct terms is cattle. Unlike sheep, cattle may only be used in the plural; You cannot refer to one cattle as one would say one sheep. There is no singular other than to use the gender or age specific terms, such as a bull, a cow, a heifer, a calf. A young female before she has had a calf of her own is called a heifer, after she has had one or two calves, the number depending on locality, she is than called a cow, the young of both sexes are called calves until weaned. The adjective applying to cattle in general is usually bovine.So now I know... if I feel like being common, I can still say "cows."
Darn, I just realized there was no mention of steers vs. bulls. Oh well...
It's always amused me how cows stare at you when you stop.
Check out that one!
I'm glad I snapped that shot when I did. I was literally about five feet away from it. Shortly after hitting the shutter, it grunted (giving me a very quick "oh shit" moment) then turned away. I always worry that I'll freak them out enough to cause a stampede.
Too much TV, I guess. (Do you remember The Cowboys? It's a John Wayne movie from the early seventies.)
According to that same cow facts web page...
Cattle are extremely curious creatures and investigate anything and everything.So that explains the stares. I vaguely remember someone telling me that before.
I still find it amusing to see them all looking at me.
It's probably hard to tell how many are staring, looking at that picture, unless you click on it to see a larger view.
I think the one staring from behind the little bush is particularly amusing.
Yeah, it doesn't take much to amuse me. Sorry to go on and on about the cattle.
Lucky for you, the road beckoned. I was still on Hume Road, by the way.
Don't you wish you could ride that road right now?
If you ever visit Fauquier County, I'd be more than happy to take you there.
Right before Hume Road intersects with US-522, you pass through the Rappahannock Cellars Winery property.
That's one of their vineyards pictured above.
Hubby and I had passed through on our IFRD run. That's when I noticed this barn I knew I'd return one day to capture.
It's not always easy to stop for pics when zipping along with a ride partner. And turning around is a pain in the butt.
I'm glad I stopped yesterday. I think that's a cool picture.
The rest of the ride was sort of uneventful. On US-522, I headed south through Flint Hill. There's a town I need to re-visit to photograph. I could have stopped yesterday, but it was getting late. And the skies were getting grayer and grayer.
So that's it for the pics. All in all, it was a very nice out-and-back loop covering just under 70 miles in about two hours.
I need to add that loop to my Web site, which is sorely in need of updating.
Did you have a nice Mother's Day?
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
What a Crock
I was visiting the Shenandoah National Park website, trying to time my next visit appropriately to see the Mountain Laurel in bloom, when I realized I never shared a funny story with y'all that happened during my last visit.
It was in the gift shop at the visitor's center.
I love gifts shops at national parks, by the way. They always have such a nice mix of really awesome and really kitschy stuff. Not to mention the obligatory T-shirts and sweatshirts, which I love. And postcards. You gotta love postcards.
While I was moseying through the little gift shop, I overheard a conversation between a tourist from somewhere in the UK and the local, older lady that was manning the cash register. He said something about the speed limit (only 35 mph) and how he'd heard that it was strictly enforced. She agreed, telling him that there are a lot of animals in the park. That's why the rangers patrol so much.
"But," she said in her twangy Virginia accent, "we don't get much people speeding through here anyway. Except maybe for those young kids flying through here on their crock rotchets. We get a lot of those sometimes."
No, that wasn't a typo. She said CROCK ROTCHETS. And didn't skip a beat in her conversation.
It was cute. I couldn't help but wonder if the tourist returned home and told all of his friends, "You know, in the US they call those things crock rotchets, not crotch rockets!"
While searching for a picture to accompany this post (because picture-less posts are just boring), I found the image shown below, which I just had to share...
My search terms, by the way, were "crotch rocket."
Not crock rotchet.
Even if that is what I now think and/or say whenever I have an occasion to focus on sport bikes.
And yes, I know that's more of a crotch bullet. But still. It made me smile. I hope it had the same effect on you.
It was in the gift shop at the visitor's center.
I love gifts shops at national parks, by the way. They always have such a nice mix of really awesome and really kitschy stuff. Not to mention the obligatory T-shirts and sweatshirts, which I love. And postcards. You gotta love postcards.
While I was moseying through the little gift shop, I overheard a conversation between a tourist from somewhere in the UK and the local, older lady that was manning the cash register. He said something about the speed limit (only 35 mph) and how he'd heard that it was strictly enforced. She agreed, telling him that there are a lot of animals in the park. That's why the rangers patrol so much.
"But," she said in her twangy Virginia accent, "we don't get much people speeding through here anyway. Except maybe for those young kids flying through here on their crock rotchets. We get a lot of those sometimes."
No, that wasn't a typo. She said CROCK ROTCHETS. And didn't skip a beat in her conversation.
It was cute. I couldn't help but wonder if the tourist returned home and told all of his friends, "You know, in the US they call those things crock rotchets, not crotch rockets!"
While searching for a picture to accompany this post (because picture-less posts are just boring), I found the image shown below, which I just had to share...
My search terms, by the way, were "crotch rocket."
Not crock rotchet.
Even if that is what I now think and/or say whenever I have an occasion to focus on sport bikes.
And yes, I know that's more of a crotch bullet. But still. It made me smile. I hope it had the same effect on you.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Let the Planning Begin
Whether planning a simple day trip or a longer vacation, I tend to rely heavily on two or three things:
Have I ever told you I am a map girl? I just like maps. Always have and suspect I always will.
I don't care for trip planning using the GPS. Yes, it can be handy for way-finding (as a guide during travel to make sure you don't miss important turns), it just doesn't meet my planning needs. I've actually never used a standalone GPS. It is Hubby's. I will admit to using GPS capabilities on my Smart phone in a pinch, though.
Once we settled on Italy as a destination, the first thing I did was map out the passes and towns we might want to see. I used Google Maps for that. Our Streets & Trips software only covers the US.
Until VERY recently, like just now when I did a Google search to see if I was wrong, I thought MS didn't make maps of Europe.
Guess what? I was wrong. Gasp!
They have a product called Auto Route Europe (ARE). Click on that image to the left and you'll be taken to their Website where you can download a 60-day free trial.
Anyone ever use that? Thoughts? I like Streets & Trips just fine. So I am positive I'll download the ARE trial. I'll be sure to let you know what I think.
I actually have a cool paper map, which I was given during our Edelweiss tour a couple of years ago.
Since it is a map of the Alps, it already covers most of the ground we'll be covering. Milan is at its lower left corner, though, so I'd essentially be traveling blind for anything west or south of Milan. I'll have to decide if I want to get a Kompass auto map of Switzerland. If you looked at my Google map, you may have noticed about half of the markers are in Switzerland.
Anyway, I've been playing around with Google Maps a bit to come up with a rough itinerary. We only have five days to cover lots of stuff. My goal is to achieve that happy balance between just enough riding each day and plenty of time to see some sights.
I'm thinking our first two days may be in Switzerland. So that left the paper map out. Which means I've been relying heavily on Google Maps.
I have to save, I LOVE Street View. Love, love, love, love. It is the best planning tool. Think a road might be gravel? Check Street View. Even if it isn't a mapped road, chances are good it intersects with a mapped road. You can place the little Street View guy at the intersection and have a look at the road to get an idea as to condition. In the US anyway. I haven't gone to those extremes yet with this trip.
I have been having fun with Street View though. Every now and then, you come across some funny images.
The image above is a screen capture of Google Street View in Italy. It gives you a good example of how narrow the roads can be. And that's a relatively wide one! Really.
European cars are much smaller than US cars. That minivan-looking thing is probably about the size of a 1970s Toyota pick-up. And that car is probably just a tad bigger than a Smart Car.
Something else I love about Street View is that you have the ability to virtually travel down a road. Once in Street View, click your mouse on the road ahead (make sure you see a circle to advance and not a rectangle to zoom).
When I found this road, I decided to see how long it took the motorcyclists to pass the Google car. I painstakingly advanced screen by screen until I finally gave up. They never did pass. Which means they either were into following the map car. Or they were Americans who hadn't yet discovered the joys of passing in Europe!
Here's an image that made me chuckle.
It really did pop up randomly after I dropped the little orange guy onto the map. Look closely at that driveway mirror and you'll see the map car.
Since the Swiss are so concerned with privacy, there are few, if any, actual street views to be seen. Rather, you just see photographs of an area, when available.
Some are good. Some, not so much.
Check out that possessed cat!
It's been interesting.
Did you know there are people who intentionally try to make it into Google Street View shots? I think they are referred to as photo-bombers.
Here's one top ten list of photo-bombs. It's difficult to tell for sure which ones are staged and which were captured by pure chance.
Here's a funny one that I thought was well-staged.
And this link takes you to a site, Street with a View, that highlights a special project in Pittsburgh. Click on SCENE BREAKDOWN after you follow the link.
If I come across any other goods ones during my quest for the perfect motorcycle route through Switzerland and Northern Italy, I'll be sure to share them here.
- Google Maps, including the Street View feature
- Microsoft Streets & Trips software
- A paper map
Have I ever told you I am a map girl? I just like maps. Always have and suspect I always will.
I don't care for trip planning using the GPS. Yes, it can be handy for way-finding (as a guide during travel to make sure you don't miss important turns), it just doesn't meet my planning needs. I've actually never used a standalone GPS. It is Hubby's. I will admit to using GPS capabilities on my Smart phone in a pinch, though.
Once we settled on Italy as a destination, the first thing I did was map out the passes and towns we might want to see. I used Google Maps for that. Our Streets & Trips software only covers the US.
Guess what? I was wrong. Gasp!
They have a product called Auto Route Europe (ARE). Click on that image to the left and you'll be taken to their Website where you can download a 60-day free trial.
Anyone ever use that? Thoughts? I like Streets & Trips just fine. So I am positive I'll download the ARE trial. I'll be sure to let you know what I think.
I actually have a cool paper map, which I was given during our Edelweiss tour a couple of years ago.
Since it is a map of the Alps, it already covers most of the ground we'll be covering. Milan is at its lower left corner, though, so I'd essentially be traveling blind for anything west or south of Milan. I'll have to decide if I want to get a Kompass auto map of Switzerland. If you looked at my Google map, you may have noticed about half of the markers are in Switzerland.
Anyway, I've been playing around with Google Maps a bit to come up with a rough itinerary. We only have five days to cover lots of stuff. My goal is to achieve that happy balance between just enough riding each day and plenty of time to see some sights.
I'm thinking our first two days may be in Switzerland. So that left the paper map out. Which means I've been relying heavily on Google Maps.
I have to save, I LOVE Street View. Love, love, love, love. It is the best planning tool. Think a road might be gravel? Check Street View. Even if it isn't a mapped road, chances are good it intersects with a mapped road. You can place the little Street View guy at the intersection and have a look at the road to get an idea as to condition. In the US anyway. I haven't gone to those extremes yet with this trip.
I have been having fun with Street View though. Every now and then, you come across some funny images.
The image above is a screen capture of Google Street View in Italy. It gives you a good example of how narrow the roads can be. And that's a relatively wide one! Really.
European cars are much smaller than US cars. That minivan-looking thing is probably about the size of a 1970s Toyota pick-up. And that car is probably just a tad bigger than a Smart Car.
Something else I love about Street View is that you have the ability to virtually travel down a road. Once in Street View, click your mouse on the road ahead (make sure you see a circle to advance and not a rectangle to zoom).
When I found this road, I decided to see how long it took the motorcyclists to pass the Google car. I painstakingly advanced screen by screen until I finally gave up. They never did pass. Which means they either were into following the map car. Or they were Americans who hadn't yet discovered the joys of passing in Europe!
Here's an image that made me chuckle.
It really did pop up randomly after I dropped the little orange guy onto the map. Look closely at that driveway mirror and you'll see the map car.
Since the Swiss are so concerned with privacy, there are few, if any, actual street views to be seen. Rather, you just see photographs of an area, when available.
Some are good. Some, not so much.
Check out that possessed cat!
It's been interesting.
Did you know there are people who intentionally try to make it into Google Street View shots? I think they are referred to as photo-bombers.
Here's one top ten list of photo-bombs. It's difficult to tell for sure which ones are staged and which were captured by pure chance.
Here's a funny one that I thought was well-staged.
And this link takes you to a site, Street with a View, that highlights a special project in Pittsburgh. Click on SCENE BREAKDOWN after you follow the link.
If I come across any other goods ones during my quest for the perfect motorcycle route through Switzerland and Northern Italy, I'll be sure to share them here.
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