Moonshine Run, or How I Broke In my GS

[pfestus1]

Moonshine Alley Run (Or how I broke in my GS)

This was one of those rare perfect fall weekends when the weather was warm, bright, and all the fall colors were at their finest. My 22 year old son, Kyle, was in visiting and we decided to get out on the GS two up, and find some old barns and homesteads to photograph. The Blue Ridge Parkway was a steady parade of “leaf peepers” so we were staying off it, but roughly paralleling it on older gravel and paved routes. I had my Virginia Gazetteer (topo map book) along so we could find some old road beds that might reveal old abandoned home steads and farms. The Parkway through here roughly follows a ridge that divides Floyd and Franklin Counties. The Gazetteer does show a lot of trails, forest service and no longer maintained roads. But it does not indicate the condition or surface of any of these roads. We scouted a good potential road not too far from where we were. We crossed the Parkway on Cannadays Gap Rd. which is a narrow gravel, twisty road that drops down from Floyd to Franklin County heading to the community of Endicott. Now this area we were entering is very rural, and far from the seats of government.
What this means is in the not too distant path (actually even today) a lot of alternative and illegal sources of income were practiced. Primarily moonshine stills, and more recently marijuana cash crops. We proceeded down Cannadays Gap till we came to the junction with Runnett Bag Road. Left goes to Endicott and Route 40, right goes to adventure. I read somewhere that a runnett bag was made from a cows stomach and used to store fresh milk in and placed in a cool creek or spring. This road follows Runnet Bag Creek, which I assume is where they stored the runnet bags. In about 2 miles we came to an “END SATE MAINTENANCE” sign. The road bed continued and so did we. There was no gate, or “no trespassing” signs. The road bed was
overgrown with grass, but passable. We were in deep woods. Not much sign of former lives, other than the road bed. Then we came to a wide spot in the road, and some foundation ruins.
Then I spotted the old mash tanks from a real moonshine still of by-gone days. There were 4 in all, galvanized steel and wood “submarines” that had been hacked up many years ago in a
moonshine still raid. We stopped for some pictures. Leaving this site required a stream crossing. It didn’t look too bad, though it was a bit steep up the other side. Kyle had to do a bit of pushing
to get the big GS up the bank. It was a rather steep climb from here, so Kyle was going to walk as I rode up to the top. Half way up the incline there was a big rock in the middle of the path.
No problem I thought as I skirted around it. But a rut hidden by leaves pulled me into the rock and the GS came down on it striking the rock with the right front foot peg and smashing it and
the brake lever. This wasn’t good. Images of “Deliverance on a Motorcycle” came to mind. The smart thing to do would be head back the way we came, but we forged on, thinking it would only
get better. It didn’t. Got a lot worse in fact. We had many stream crossings, some easy, some rather technical, especially with no right foot peg to stand on, necessitating me riding with my foot hanging out, or resting on the rear peg. One particular stretch was a long uphill run right in the creek bed, with lots of rocks and tree limbs crisscrossing the path. I just held on, carefully controlling throttle and momentum and kept going till I got on solid ground again. We had traversed about 2 miles from the still sight. From here it got a little easier, we were able to ride
two up again. Then we came to a cross road. My topo map seemed to indicate that left would lead us shortly to a paved road. I must have been a little off because we rode for a mile and a half on unimproved dirt, up hill, down hill, past some old hunting shacks, and a couple of old homesteads. Finally we came up on an occupied dwelling. The old gent and his wife there told us that back the way we came was the only way to civilization, in fact if we had gone right instead of left it was about 100 yrds to the state route. So back we went. Me holding my right leg out, or
occasionally sharing the rear peg with Kyle. Downhills were tricky with only a front brake. But soon were were at a state maintained gravel road that took us back up to Floyd County, and some familiar roads that would take us home. Once home a damage survey reveals the smashed foot peg bracket, mangled brake lever, broken hydraulic cylinder, broken speedo cable at the front wheel, and several bashes in the bash plate under the bike. Thanks a lot to the previous owner for installing Touratech Hard Parts. I really think they saved my transmission case where the bracket bolts on. $200 later all parts were fixed and back in service. It was quite an adventure for us, we
did get some good pictures, and had a great time, saw some sights that are rarely seen. I don’t think I’d trade this afternoon for a day of paved roads.

[Steverino]

Pfestus, we have to get together soon. Unfortunately my time is limited in the winter because I ski patrol at Massanutten. I still ride when I can. I am looking forward to the kind of adventuring you describe in your post. What's up for this Sunday? I work the night shift so I can ride early.

You still in for Deal's Gap in May?

[Chopperman]

Originally posted by pfestus1

Well HEY there Hank!
Damn good to see ya.

Folks, Hank does the BESTEST dead possum tune at rallies.

[fish]

Originally posted by Chopperman



Well HEY there Hank!
Damn good to see ya.

Folks, Hank does the BESTEST dead possum tune at rallies.

When I met Hank at the BS compound at Redmond, I felt like I instantly knew him. He musta hung out and played for a few hours straight.

I'll have to dig around and see if I've got a photo.

[fish]

Originally posted by fish


When I met Hank at the BS compound at Redmond, I felt like I instantly knew him. He musta hung out and played for a few hours straight.

I'll have to dig around and see if I've got a photo.

Nope. Sorry, no hank photo. This is about as close as I can come. He was hanging out here...just imagine him strolling around like a minstrel with his mandolin...

[Mr. Cob]

Howdy Hank,

I enjoyed your story. Your lucky you did'nt get mistaken for a "Revanuer" and get shot.:eek:

[Steverino]

Everybody knows that only happens in West Virginia these days!

[pfestus1]

I wanted to post this picture at the time I wrote the ride report, but I only recently figured out how to put a picture up with a post. So here it is, a picture of me next to the remnants of an old moonshine still. Its a large mash tank, there were 3 or 4 of these scattered around the woods. The revenoors made sure it wouldn't be used again.
It was shortly after that I crossed the stream that supplied the water for the operation, then quickly broke my foot eg bracket off.

[boyscout]

Great Story. Robert Frost would be proud.

[eap]

Originally posted by fish
I'll have to dig around and see if I've got a photo.

Welll now, if it;s a PFister Pfoto you want, try this one. More of Hank, his Pfamily, his homestead, his gal and beemers are at http://members.aol.com/HPfis43730/WEBPAGE.html

That's the Hankster (evil big bro') in the Hat on the right.

[CarlEmil]

Hey, good story. I like to do stuff like that but I seem to ride alone most of the time. When I do ride alone I'm a little cautious about the route I take.
When I first got my 1150GS I rode it on some snowmobile and rocky roads at a state park near my house. I was about 3 miles from civilization when I was going up an incline, got in a rut and fell. Broke my right turn signal off, scratched my mirror housing and right side of the gas tank. After I made some field repairs my confidence was strong!

I had heard of what a pig the GS is and thought I couldn't right it. Well, I did [had no choice] and off I went. I'm a little more cautious in the route I take when riding alone but would welcome the company to ride with in case help is needed and to improve my riding skills.

Is there an off-road riding course on the east coast?

Cheers