Can't remember which days but I did hit a number of FS roads and gravel This is the forest service road that swings by Black Mountain Campground between NC80 & BRP crosses and heads down to Curtis Creek area west of Marion,NC
It looks like you had another great trip. There is so much to see and so many great roads that it's nearly impossible to run out of places to go. An adventure bike or dual sport really is the best thing for exploring that area however, when I ride my dual sport bikes in that NC I usually end up bringing them up in the truck. You have mentioned on getting a smaller dual sport. Are you planning on riding it down from Ohio?
Yes it was a fun trip. Been touring down there since '95 and still find plenty to see and do that's new to me. Not sure that I would ride a smaller ds bike down and back, but I have definitely not ruled it out. It would depend on what I end up with in regards to gearing, liquid cooled, durability. I've considered unbolting the cargo carrier from my trailer and hauling a ds behind the wing.
Thanks for sharing your adventures and pictures with us. I have traveled some of the same roads and appreciate being reminded of good memories.Hope you keep the shiny side up,the greasy side down(I rode a triumph back in the sixties) and may the wind be at your back.
Weather forecast was looking beautiful I'd be a lunatic to not take advantage and head out for a quick couple days of camping and riding. Arrived at Seneca Shadows Campground late afternoon Plenty of time to head up to Spruce Knob WV's highest point
US33 down into Brandywine CR past the Naval installation, what in the world is a Naval installation doing in the middle of WV. No pics looked well protected. Just before Sugar Grove I headed up a CR into GW Nat'l Forest. First stop Reddish Knob. I believe that is the Green Bank Radio Telescope down there. The road that crosses the ridgeline around Reddish Knob was very narrow, but it was paved. Great views. Good gravel FR Got turned around a little backonupinthar. Came out a little south on the same CR I ventured up into the forest from. Found a really old church with a nice little picnic shelter stopped for lunch and snapped a few pics.
I can't resist at least a few hours on the Parkway when I'm down there. Some may consider the BRP cliche, been touring down here since '95 and it just keeps drawing me back. Middle of the week, mid day, school back in session = light traffic.Picked up ice and snacks in Waynesboro, checked in with headquarters while I had cell signal. Here's an original, I bet nobody has these signs with their bike in front on ADVrider Back to camp before dark via 43>220>42>39 back onto 220> across Snowy Mtn Rd>28. Great roads. Blue Moon, not quite the full Full Moon but pretty spectacular. .
Sunrise over the Rocks from my campsite. Decided to do some back roads, stopped at the Macksville Mart for gas and a sammich to go. Friendly lady clued me in for some potential fun roads that branched off 33 north of Seneca Rocks. First was Brushy Run Just a few miles before a locked gate with a road closed sign. Should have known by the grass growing in the road. Roaring creek was nice mostly paved, now I'm just seeing "where this road goes to", got a little too rocky so I turned around and headed back to Smith Mtn Rd. My atlas showed it a through road coming out not too far from Dolly Sods. This was a new ADV for me, crossed several open gates with no trespassing signs. 12 miles in I came upon a closed gate, old car up on its side wityh the drive train removed. I considered turning around but the road was rough and it appeared I was right at the halfway point of coming back out to pavement. I thought maybe its not locked, sure enough just a hasp and chain. Continued through and closed the gate behind me. Coming around a bend I realized why the gate was closed, open grazing for livestock. Came upon another closed gate then thought why didn't I take pics ? O well came out onto 28 and to Dolly Sods I headed. Rode the hole of smoke after DS, seen a bear in the road, not quite full grown but not a cub. Always wary of Momma bear I was unable to get a pic quick enough. First bear sighting for me in WV. I had just seen one in NC on my birthday July 25 in Little Switzerland. From Upper Tract,WV I ran a little CR past the fish hatchery that comes out on 33. Then as Germany Valley came into site I headed down into the valley to explore a little more of the roads I hit the first night. Stopped back at camp and ate my lunch.
After lunch continued on my unplanned day trip of back roads. Okay it wasn't really totally unplanned studying my atlas while dining I decided to head for Rich Mtn and west of 33 for some back road Monongahela Forest ADV'ing. Rode more gravel than ever on this day, but probably less than 100 miles. After riding through Gandy Creek area and past Laurel Campground I came to a T and this empty logging truck came barreling down the road and skidded to stop in front of me. Driver jumped out looking rather agitated and asked me if I had seen any logging going on, no I didn't. He mumbled about being sent out with no directions. So of course I asked him for directions back out to 28, sent me out in front of him. We traveled quite a ways and he didn't tailgate me but it urged me to pick up my pace a little. Seen a sign for the Laurel Overlook which was just a wide spot in the road, so I stopped for some water and let him and the dust go on down the road. Much of this area had been freshly graded so it was rather soft in spots. Back out to pavement. Ran hard up 28>33 and took a back road that runs parallel to 33/28 the next valley over. Little 2 lane blacktop that came back out onto 33 couple miles above Seneca. 225 mile day of quality not quantity.
Is this the site of the new ADV headquarters?? When are we going to see some pics of your new toy on this thread?
Broke camp and stopped at Macksville Mart for fuel, ice and another sammich to go. Heading N on 33 came upon a driver having a bad day. Flipped his truck coming down Allegheny Mountain. 33>250 in Elkins, stopped at ball field across from the new high school they're building north of Caruso,WV and talked with a landscaper who let me know about Sally Ridge and Roberts Ridge roads over into Moundsville. Crossed the big river and took round about CR and Twnshp roads into Barnsville. N on 800 and then 250 from Dennison on home. 305 hot miles. Last winter I decided that I'd do a camping trip a month so far since April I've been lucky enough to make it happen. Didn't think I was going to get one in for August. Funds, obligations, life seemed to be setting up obstacles. I keep seeing & hearing things like "you'll only regret the things you didn't do at the end of your road". I'm still sucking air and haven't reached the end of my road yet, but as riding season closes in this fall I may need some visa/master card sponsor stickers for my bikes.
Good Morning Win, What do you mean by "toy" It's an Errand Running Urban Commuting Assault Vehicle Here ya go, you'll love this one. Seriously considering running back roads down to mid-southern OH for some overnighters on it. 590 miles and did the 2nd oil change yesterday.
Decided to to take a short road trip and check out the fall foliage. Where else but the BRP via West Virginia back roads. Overloaded the Wingabago as usual, but I'm getting better, it's been a couple years since I hauled the trailer for a solo trip. Stopped at Lewis County Park in Weston,WV for a quick lunch of Pulpo and crackers. Arrived at Sherando Lake Campground right at dusk 7pm ish. Packed up and headed out and up on the BRP by 7:30.