Fall Stelvio trip, 2 rallies in 1500 miles

[pyoungbl]

After recently taking my V7 to the Ohio rally it was time to let the Stelvio out of the garage.  The plan was to ride from Portsmouth, Virginia to Seneca Rocks, West Virginia for a Norton rally.  The next weekend I planned to go to another rally in Meadows of Dan, Virginia.  Those two locations are not far from each other so it made sense to use the 5 days in between for some well deserved two wheeled fun.  In this case, riding the Blue Ridge Parkway from end to end.

Of course, no motorcycle trip is complete without some road construction

and rain

with lots of lightning thrown in for good measure.  Thank goodness I found that car-port to hide under!
At Seneca Rocks we had a good turnout, about 75 riders.  Between light rain showers I put up my hammock and made myself comfortable. 

Of course we had a great time with old and new friends, like any rally, but finally that came to an end and I started my walkabout.  From Seneca Rocks I rode US33 over to catch the Skyline Drive in Virginia.  The Skyline Drive runs 105 miles from Front Royal to Waynesboro and is part of the Shenandoah National Park.  Two things are important here:  the speed limit is 35 mph and there is a $20 fee.  As an old fart I got around the fee but that speed limit was a real PITA.  My Stelvio surges at 35 in 2nd or 3rd gear so my trip (only about 40 miles) was painful.  Oh, and it was raining again. 

At the southern end of the Skyline Drive one can get on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Once again, part of the US park system.  The difference is significant.  On the Parkway the emphasis is on a scenic drive so the underbrush is cut away more, the overlooks are more frequent, and the speed limit is 45 mph.  This was delightful!  The Parkway runs for 460 miles.


I broke this down to a couple day ride so I could enjoy myself.  One night was spent in Natural Bridge, Virginia; another in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. 

Blowing Rock is a cute tourist town with a couple noteworthy spots for adult beverages and food.  I'll go back.

Of course I had to head back north after getting to the end so I stopped in Asheville for a night, then took higher speed roads back to Virginia and to Meadows of Dan for the rally.  Once again, the hammock fit right in.

and I spent time with the other Guzzi rider, Dean Rose

who I had not seen since the Ohio rally...2 weeks prior.

Back home I found that the whole 10 day trip had covered 1529 miles, mostly back roads.  This was a really laid back trip and totally enjoyable.  The Big Girl ran like a champ, averaging about 40 mpg.  I'd do it again except for the Skyline Drive.

[Lannis]

Wow, does all this sound familiar ... and FUN!

Camping at Seneca Rocks and Willville ... riding the Parkway end to end ... staying in Blowing Rock for the night .... I've done the same things this year, and on a Stelvio too!

Beautiful countryside, nice roads ... and I do agree about the Skyline Drive.   When it was built, the average tourist was in a Model A Ford or the equivalent, and 35 MPH was full speed ahead.   Seems pretty slow now.

I generally don't like touristy places, but I make an exception for Blowing Rock.   It was BORN touristy, and has changed very little in 40 years except where they're blasting that 4-lane through town ... like they really need it .... !

Thanks for the ride report!

Lannis

[Bill Hagan]

After recently taking my V7 to the Ohio rally it was time to let the Stelvio out of the garage.  The plan was to ride from Portsmouth, Virginia to Seneca Rocks, West Virginia for a Norton rally.  The next weekend I planned to go to another rally in Meadows of Dan, Virginia.  Those two locations are not far from each other so it made sense to use the 5 days in between for some well deserved two wheeled fun.  In this case, riding the Blue Ridge Parkway from end to end.

****

  and I spent time with the other Guzzi rider, Dean Rose

who I had not seen since the Ohio rally...2 weeks prior.

Back home I found that the whole 10 day trip had covered 1529 miles, mostly back roads.  This was a really laid back trip and totally enjoyable.  The Big Girl ran like a champ, averaging about 40 mpg.  I'd do it again except for the Skyline Drive.

Nice pix; that Rose guy gets around, too.   

We did almost that exact mileage last week, but you must have had some more "enthusiastic" riding when not on the NPS roads,  as we averaged 45.2 mpg over 1503 miles. 

Would say, too, that the Norge "ran like a champ," as it did so for 1500 of those miles.  But, in Moorefield, W.V., about 50 miles from home, stopped at a Sheetz for distaff-bladder-maintenance.  Down then about half a tank, topped it off, and got back on the road.  About a mile south, the Norge died a la Swanzey.  Did not want to start and when it did, was rough.  I told Kathi our trip might be over.   

I then threatened the Norge with Craigslist!  Varoom.  No, really.  She ran flawessly for the next 1450 miles.   

Seriously, no clue why that happened.  Sheetz fuel?  Whatever, did worry me for a bit, but then "ran like a champ" such that I soon forgot about it. 

Wow, does all this sound familiar ... and FUN!

Camping at Seneca Rocks and Willville ... riding the Parkway end to end ... staying in Blowing Rock for the night .... I've done the same things this year, and on a Stelvio too!

Beautiful countryside, nice roads ...  ***

Lannis

Guzzis must be nearly ubiquitous on the BRP this year.

Saw no Stelvios on our run up to MM469 to MM1 last week, but did see at least two other Guzzis, with a "probable," too, all southbound.  One of the confirmed was a champagne Norge; the other a gray thing that looked to be a Breva 750.  We were at an overlook when the Norge went by in a deep lean around a near 90-degree uphill turn.  Looked and sounded quite fine.  Kathi even commented on the art of it. 

Little cage traffic, but numerous single motorcycles along with a herd or two now and then.  Both Guzzis were with a companion "Other Brand." 

We pretty much stayed within the 45-mph limit the whole way.  Part of that was courtesy, as it seems rude to ride fast there.  Given the light traffic (and seeming dearth of fed LEO's  ) might have been tempted to push it a bit, but that tire was going south as we were going north and didn't want to chance it, especially two-up. 

Bill

[leafman60]

Great pics!

Originally, I had planned to be on that same trip. Work intervened.

I like the Skyline Drive but, then again, I don't run the 35 MPH. I couldn't do that either. 

I've done that route many times.  I've passed many a cop at 45-ish but they didn't mess with me. I usually get off at Front Royal and take the Shenandoah Valley back to Waynesboro where the BRP officially begins/ends.

Anyway, I am still planning on a mountain trip -soon, hopefully.

[Dean Rose]

Nice seeing you again Peter. Glad to see your brother showed up for a visit Sorry about his KTM horror story with the oil change.


Dean

[brlawson]

Peter,

I did much the same thing on my way to the Virginia Rally. Rode the Parkway from Asheville all the way to Meadows of Dan. One of these days I will have to checkout Little Switzerland to see if it's all that folks say it is. Had a great time at the rally in spite of the rain.



And yes, Dean was there too.