West Virginia to the NC Outer Banks - Help me Plan my Trip!

[jtice]

This year I want to take about a week off work and do a nice bike trip.
I will be alone, using a Suzuki DL650 that I can load up with quite a bit of gear.
I hope to camp out a few nights out of a tent, and probably spend some other nights in small cheap hotels.

I have been trying to plan where to go, and so far I think I would like to goto the Outer Banks in North Carolina.
Couple guys from work have vacationed there and said its nice, and I have not seen the ocean in years.

One of my main goals is to take a route that will take me on fun roads, and past cool places or things along the way.
Thought about stopping by Norfolk Navel Base, but I might have a separate trip planned there to take some tours with some friends.
So mainly I would like some help and input on what roads I should take, or what places I should try to go by.
I would like to make a nice loop out of this trip. Probably going counter clockwise up through Maryland back to West Virginia?

Here is my very simple route so far.
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&dirf...98650&f=q&om=1

Thanks for the input and help guys.
~John

[wipfel]

If you're going to be in the Norfolk area, you might want to check out Colonial Williamsburg. Depending on when you go it could be a tourist madhouse, but the area is nice and it's pretty interesting if you like that sort of stuff.

[4PawsHacienda]

From Ocracoke you can take a ferry (not free any longer, check reservations) to Cedar Island (Wildlife Refuge) and ride from there to Beaufort / Morehead City. Great area for riding and wandering, lots of divers and fishermen. Comfortable NC area but touristy. If you take the back way out of Beaufort and go up 101 to 306, take the ferry (free) across the river to Minnesott Beach and meander around the inner banks. Wide open area of mostly farmers and fishermen, definitely low country. Eventually find hwy 17 to hwy 13 to hwy 158 for some easy touring. If you're the patient type you could take 158 a long ways towards the Blue Ridge Parkway and hit it for a while working your way towards home.

I like the NC flatlands and inner banks, good country riding, not a whole lot of sightseeing unless you like crops but pleasant unhurried riding on uniformly decent roads. Plenty of places to camp, stay cheap, get gas or food. Very good area for seeing wolves, bears, migratory birds. Oriental NC is a huge hangout for sialors. Look up - with the air bases in Havelock and Goldsboro lots of funky airplanes.

Morehead City /Beaufort - check the dive shops websites, many have $15 night lodging with showers catering to divers. Carrott Island just off Beaufort has wild horse herd and there are usually dolphins in the channel. Good excuse for a beer stop.

[Canuman]

Barbecue.

Unfortunately, the original Bubba's is no more, but the Pigman remains. http://www.pigman.com/

[jtice]

Thanks for the info guys!

4PawsHacienda,
Great info! Thanks alot. I planned to take the ferry down to Cedar island and work my way down.
But I didnt know about that inner banks area, I will definitely check that out.
The air bases sound interesting also, I love that sort of thing so I will have to look into that. Do you know if you can kinda walk around that area checking things out? or do you have to observe from afar?

Canuman,
mmmmmm Looks tasty, might have to swing by there as well!

[Canuman]

Originally Posted by jtice

Thanks for the info guys!
Canuman,
mmmmmm Looks tasty, might have to swing by there as well!

I went to college in Buckhannon, so I at least know how to "spit on Pitt."

You going up through Elkins? 33's a great road, but I'm sure you're aware of that already. I'd hit Monticello if you are. Not far off route.

[jtice]

Was still deciding how to head out of WV, but I was leaning toward going through Elkins and then 33. Love that road.
Monticello, is that a restaurant?

[Canuman]

Originally Posted by jtice

Was still deciding how to head out of WV, but I was leaning toward going through Elkins and then 33. Love that road.
Monticello, is that a restaurant?

Thomas Jefferson's home. Very cool.

http://www.monticello.org/

[jtice]

Ohhh very cool. I will look into that. Thanks

[Eyes Shut]

You might also want to check out the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, NC. We visited it a few years ago and found it worthwhile:
http://www.nps.gov/wrbr/index.htm

[jtice]

Thanks alot for the input guys, its helping alot!
Here is what I have planned out so far. I mainly just need to figure out the best, most fun way from Goldsboro, NC to Roanoke, VA
Google Map of Route to Outer Banks

Thanks for mentioning the Blue Ridge Parkway, I added that into my way home, hitting at least the north half of it, then on to Skyline Drive.
Thats why the route crosses itself the way it does.

[4PawsHacienda]

The bases all have public viewing areas and small museums. Fort Bragg in Fayetteville has a LOT of museums. They really frown on "hands on" with the real stuff. Check the base web sites and see if you're lucky enough to be going through when they're having their annual open house and air shows.
I think you'll have a good trip. Remember, fancy restaurants don't always have the best food.

[jtice]

Looked up form info on Fort Bragg, looks like an awesome place with alot to see.
Not sure I will be going that far west, or have the spare time to see it, but its sure added to my to see list.

Oh and little mom and pop places usually have the best food

[Canuman]

The lifesaving museums out on the Banks are awesome. The US Lifesaving Service is now part of the Coast Guard. Back in the day, they'd patrol the beaches and rescue folk from ships wrecked on "The Graveyard of the Atlantic." They had special cannon to shoot lines to stranded vessels, self-bailing surf boats, and balls of steel. These are inspiring places. They make you realize what human beings can do with courage and simple tools. One of the better ones is in Rodanthe, which used to be called Chicamacomico.

http://www.outer-banks.com/history.asp