The gang for Breakfast  L to R,  Chuck Cotham, Victor Cotham, Bob Ryan, Jim Sillence, Maryanne, Steve, Sarahjane (porkchop goddess), Chip, and Robert Reil	Bob Ryan dwarfing Sarahjane's Buell Blast	Gorgeous Gravel Road we stumbled on	Time for another handful of front brakes. NO GRAVEL! We love it!	Snick, <up shift>, gas, snick, gas, snick, brake, snick <down shift>, brake, snick, brake	Another pretty view
Victor Cotham, Chuck Cotham, Jim Sillence, Bob Ryan, and Chip somewhere back there.	Typical hopping and bopping of the fire road. Very free feeling.	Attack preparation.	RobReil taking a quick breather at 35mph.	Photo not centered but notice the wide line around the curve? Really working the brakes.	The corners came up fast, and were steep.
Anywhere from 20-55mph on this lane and a half wide 15 mile made just for us road. Words cannot describe this road. BEAUTIFUL!!! VictorC on the 80 850 Special, followed by ChuckC on the mint Red 78750E	Putting down the Moorefiled side of the  freshly paved S curved laden local fire road. WE WANT TO GO UP IT NOW!!!	A peaceful serene view in one of many of WVa's mountain valleys	Running from the rain on hwy 55. Notice the darkness above!	Butt Break on the side of WV hwy 55 Between Moorefield, and the Va State line. Pic1 L to R, Jim Sillence, Maryanne (Jim's girl), Chuck Cotham, Chip, Bob Ryan, Victor Cotham, & Robert Reil. Pic2 L to R, Robert, Jim, Maryanne, Chuck, Vic, Bob, & Chip. Photographed by Sarahjane (Robert Reil's wife)

Bob Ryan arrived 3:30 or so on Friday August 11th, 30 mins earlier than me. We camped in the same site as I found the campground full up 4 days before camp day and Bob offered to share his site with me.

Bob didn't bring a bike as he was hoping to meet Chuck Cotham with Sid's bike.

We all kicked around the camp for a while killed some coronas and BSed for a while and called it a night early maybe 9:30.

We didn't know it but at about 2am Chuck Cotham rode in with his son Victor in from one of Maine's Navy bases. Victor drove a jeep with a trailered pair of triples, with his dad (Chuck) following on Bob's new steed. A piece meal concoction of 76, and 77 parts, with a Shadow Royale fairing. It wasn't the greatest looking, but it sure has potential! (have fun with her Bob!) Anyways about the time Chuck came to the entrance of the parkway he told his son to take the lead, and he would follow after their ride in from DC. Moments later as I hear the engine died. The bike restarted only with the headlight off. This had to be interesting. 2AM, no lights on Skyline Drive at 3500/4000 feet altitude. Fortunately we had a bright moon that night. Good riding Chuck! Want to do it again?

Next Morning Bob went and got his bike with all of it's problems and rode it to the camp site. It soon died and he tried to get her running. Bob hasn't ridden in 2 years and with his anxiousness to get her started had it in gear on the side stand. He gave it a kick and rolled it right off the side stand. We all caught it. All of us have been there Bob, don't worry! He soon got her started and went for a lap, well half a lap as we had to hook up my trailer and go fetch the bike at the bottom of the hill. (later Bob reported from home that the Regulator/Rectifier became disconnected, or burnt out.

The previous morning we all agreed to try to meet at ??? 8:30 or so??? we finally had everyone ready to roll at what seemed like 10:00. It was COLD this morning. It had geen running 95 degrees, but why was it now in the 50-60's? The fog was thick too. Bob opted to ride the Buell Blast after realizing he could spend the day alone at camp looking at his dysfunctional triple or ride a 1/2 of a Harley. 

Well we all finally rolled out for a West Virginia loop. Go north from Big Meadows Campground 19 miles to US 211. Head West on 211 till we found a mom and pop breakfast hole. We had either breakfast bar, or eggs, etc. And oh yes COFFEE! Lots of chatting, bsing, and all around good humor in our own little room in the back. There were 10 of us for breakfast including Steve and his KLR partner. After breakfast they peeled off for a ride south for another engagement.

I was freezing and got a sweat shirt to warm up as I only brought T-Shirts. When is it 60 in August? Who would have guessed? Anyways on to and under I-81 to SR 211 to SR 42 into Broadway VA. Turn Right onto SR259 which loops around northerly to W.VA on what continues as SR 259 into Mathias. Roads were rural, past chicken farms, silos, valleys, over a couple mountains, and for the most part straight. 211 was nice going over the mountain before we crossed I-81. 259 was long and straight but pretty in it's own way while following a mountain stream in the valley.

When we got to 100 miles (gas up time) we were at a country convienience store in Mathias WV. Most everyone was asking me where were the curves? It was too straight. Well I knew where they were but that was another 2 hours or so to the west, and Bob wanted to get back around 3-4pm to meet Jean Aker who said he would come but never showed. (that's ok Jean, we heard you had fun fishing) Anyways we took a vote, and most everyone wanted curves. So I went into the store and said to the clerk we are here, we are going here. Where are the curves. Well if you just go back a mile to the right you will have more curves than you can shake a stick at. Great! but it looks like a fire road on the map. Sure it was but they just paved it all the way to Moorefield. Is it a good road? No gravel in the turns?  No it is a pretty road! Ok how much time will we loose if we go that way instead of straight on 259 like we are going? Oh 90 minutes or so.

OK we got a plan. Here come the curves!!!!  :)

We all head out and make that right a mile down the road. We are plesantly treated to one of the most gorgeous roads I have ever seen. Fresh black top just poured on top of a trail. The road was about 1-1.5 cars wide, immaculate blacktop, no gravel. Just perfect. We rode that quickly as possible (I found myself pretending to be on a sport bike for a few seconds here and there).  We rode that for about 5-7 miles then when we really got into the thick of it way up high the road lost it newness and ended up being old black top with about 1/2" deep patches of gravel.  I pulled over and asked everyone if they wanted to continue while repeting what I was told. Everyone wanted to continue, and said the gravel will probably clear out and go back to pavement. so we went on. Moments later a car came in the opposite direction and spooked Victor into the drainage ditch, and bent a turn signal and skinned his pride. He was on an imaculate 850Special.

I talked to the next car moments later and he said that there was about 5 miles of gravel and then about 7 miles of blacktop like before. But be careful of the switchbacks as they are steep and trucks cant make the corners :) that's what I like to hear!

We headed on. You can see the photo's above of the fire road. It was just marvelous. Only thing is that next year we HAVE to do the reverse direction of that road to enjoy the switchbacks uphill.

Party's over it's time for some high speed miles again. On up to Moorefield, and onto SR55 East. We went back over the mountain and guess what! Dark clouds! We rode on and caught rain for about 1/2 mile it seemed. Just the edge of it. We were also getting hungry now, not much out there on 55 in WV for sure! We pulled into one place, hole in the wall restauraunt, and debated weather to run from the clouds, wait it out for lunch, or what. In the mean while the cool mountain air was getting to Chuck and he emerged from the store with an $8 Wilson Sweatshirt. He was wearing a T-Shirt and Leather vest the whole day. I was in a Sweatshirt and leather jacket. We decided to run from it, against the recommendation from the store owner who probably hadn't had a customer in a week and here 8 of us have the opportunity to stay a while and spend $$ at his store.

We rode on. The mountains were tall, the straights fast, the downhill sweepers smooth with lots of road on both sides and wide lanes. Victor was showing signs of fear though at this time. I was running point man all day and was wondering why the last 2 guys were straggling so far back. (later I found that they were giving Victor room) Victor as we found out later has only ridden a shaft drive bike 10 hours or so and has not ridden in 6 years. His skills were lacking and we were pushing pretty hard, in some challenging stuff all day. He was tired, and it was getting to him. Chuck at one point was worried that the special's layback position may not be giving him the control that he needed, plus the shield on the 750E would not beat him up so bad in the wind.

We pushed on a ways more and then Jim at some point broke rank to pull the pack off the road. (see last 2 photos) Maryanne has  a funky knee that pops out of joint sometimes and she needed to walk it off. Just as well we all needed a butt break and those bushes looked like they needed watering also :)

We agreed to move on to Strasburg for lunch. We pulled into the first thing we found. Foxes Pizza. Seems they make sandwiches with pizzadough and they call em Wedgies. You can imagine how the wedgie humor went around for 10 minutes. We all split a pitcher of Icehouse. Boy that was good. I of course could not resist 2 bowls of baked beans. My favorite. ;)

One of the neatest things I ever heard was just when we got going again. 5 triples cranking up and reving at the same time. Wish I had a tape recorder for a wav file! We rode just down the street for another gas  up to finish the last leg of the trip.

On to County Road 678 through the George Washington National Forest. We lucked out again. This road wound along a path set by a stream for along long way through a valley. I think this road was a good 20 miles. 2 lane park road, lots of twists, hills, etc. Then it intersected with 675 which snaked and doubled back on itself over the mountain. Nice road with lots of personality.

We ended up back on 211. Now just to go up the mountain to Skyline drive and home. No such luck. As the worst thing immagineable happend.

Most of us were smelling the barn and you could feel the pace quicken up a bit. I was still point, Jim closely following when we got to the curves of the mountain uphill. He and I were pushing pretty good, and Bob was following on the Buell pretty well also. But then Bob was not in my mirrors any more, Jim and I slowed way down looking for them all to catch up, till a mustang said someone went down, We doubled back and ran hard down the mountain.

Note: Jim I am impressed. I am a good, fast rider, and I had trouble gaining time on you and that 750 special! (you and I need to have a run of it!)

We Bob and Chip at a store saying Victor went down. I dropped off SJ and left Jim and Maryanne as I had a First aid kit on board. I flew down to the scene and found the 750E was on it's left side and had been wedged between a gaurd rail and the grass, being kept from a 100foot fall by a 8x8 wooden post holding the rail on.

Vic had somehow from what we can deduce grabbed a handful of Yamaha shaftdriven throttle and straightened up in a deep lefthander and hi sided it. Now heres the good part. Helmet, Leather jacket, Jeans. Though he had a half shell helmet he hit his head and put a good gouge in the helmet, tore up the sholder of the leather jacket pretty good, and wore some jeans down. All he got was a single scratch on his back, and a sprained thumb. Not bad for a 40mph high side eh? This goes to show you the importance of proper riding gear.

Someone called 911 and when they came Vic declined treatment as he was in the Navy and would have gotten in trouble with the Navy for riding a motorcycle without attending their riding class. He was more shaken and scared than anything.

We got the bike straightened up, (bent bars, turn signals, headlight, foot peg twisted etc.) the carbs were flooded as was the air box. Got it running but decided with all the gas around it would be better to go get the trailer and trailer em back. Chip made the 40 mile round trip to get Chucks Jeep and trailer. And Chuck and Vic now had a reason to sit on the guard rail and have some quality time.

So everyone was ok now all we had to do was clean up stuff and get everyone home for dinner and beers. Chuck told me to head on with everyone else and Chip would be back to run cleanup with the Jeep.

Ok time to roll back. Now ready to climb on the bike and pick up everyone else to head in and it pours down rain. Fortunately I had seen the heavy rain on the way in on Friday and stopped at the Honda shop for a tank bag, rain suit, booties and gloves. So here I am getting my rain gear on with it pouring down rain. And I look over at the dynamic duo and they are taking shelter in what was left of their Plexifairing 2. Funny. So I am geared up and head on to pick up the rest of the pack and what happens? It stops raining! OF COURSE! I spent $200 in rain gear and accessories to stay dry for a 1/4 mile. That is about normal right?

We all went back and Jim passes by on the Skyway saying Maryanne wants to take pictures. Ok no problem. So I am following the whole way watching Jim and Maryanne look for photo opportunities. Maryanne saying not this one, or that one with Jim asking how bout this one the whole way. We never did stop.

We all finally get in and have a barbque, and were disappointed to find that Jean Aker had not made it. So now it was party time and we broke out the Coronas, and started telling big lies! Sarahjane made her now World Famous marinated pork chops. Bob made burgers, and Chuck did up some hot dogs. Everything was great. Food, Beer, and company. Well almost everything. It seems the Coronas and the two bowls of baked beans for lunch didn't work to well together. I got a case of the nastiest farts I have ever smelled. I didn't know weather to be proud or ashamed. So I decided on Proud. The party rumbled down about 10-10:30 after the park ranger put a damper on things, and we agreed to do a 9am breakfast. Or was it 8? I forget.

Well Bob, Chip (who pitched his camp in Bob's site this evening) and SJ and I all piled into our sleeping bags and tents. Well not 2 minutes after I got in the tent another bean smell snuck out and chased SJ out of the tent. I soon found that I had chased her into the van for the night and I was all alone with my odors for the night.

The next AM we packed it up and did breakfast. Fairly uneventful. We all said our good byes, and Bob and Chuck did their paper work on title transfer.