Ride to Graves Mountain

Great ride with my wife to Graves Mountain for the annual Apple Fest (http://www.gravesmountain.com/appleharvest.htm) with Johnny and Pam this Saturday. A little cool in the morning but warmed up very nice for the afternoon as well as during the visit at the Apple Festival. We stopped at a neat little coffee shop on the way up, a "Key West style" coffee house near Palmyra, VA. This brought back some memories of our trip together to the real Key West in June!

About half way, so the break was welcome to warm up to some hot coffee. Johnny even took the opportunity to relax in the hammock!





We took all two lane roads and what a great ride it was. The leaf color seems to be really late in Virginia this year. Leaf color was still very spotty. Looks like this coming weekend will be the peak for at least east of the Blue Ridge. The Apple Festival was fun with some great food!

 The Brunswick stew and BBQ was very good. Tried to save room for some Graves Mountain apple covered funnel cake, but no one could do it. Johnny did have a piece of apple pie though and we brought back some caramel kettle korn!!


A lot of motorcycles there for the third weekend of the Festival. We plan to make this an annual event in the future. Great time, great ride, beautiful day, good food and great company!

Second day of WV fall trip

Another beautiful day of fall motorcycle riding in the mountains. Got up this morning with cloudy skies and about 52 degrees. Talked to a group from Erie, PA returning (in a trailer) from Daytona. They had had a great trip. It was a father and two sons. Ate breakfast at the motel, packed up and headed out around 8:15 am.

After about an hour of riding the skies started to clear out and the sun was shining. The temps warmed up quickly to 70 degrees. The fall leaves were beautiful today on some real nice scenic views.

I came back through Watoga State Park near Marlinton, WV and planned to eat lunch there at the park restaurant. Well, the restaurant was closed for the season so that didn't happen.





Ended up at a picnic table eating an apple, almonds and beef jerky. Not a bad lunch in any case! The park was beautiful and I had it practically to myself. Beautiful leaf color and overlooks. Lots of nice cabins for rent in the park. Might have to plan a trip sometime just to spend a night or two in one of the cabins.



 Did 317 miles today so that made 617 for the two day trip. My 07 Ultra now has almost 69,000 miles on it. Planning a trip to Graves Mountain Lodge near Syria, VA with my wife along with a friend and his wife this coming Saturday for the annual Apple Fest. Looking forward to that trip too.

Oct 2011 West Virginia Trip

Left today on a two day motorcycle trip to the mountains of West Virginia.

Did 300 miles today and am spending the night in Summersville, WV. Beautiful day with skies the whole day and temps between 65 & 70. Autumn was in the air with the cool temps and falling leaves along the roads. Just a great day for a motorcycle ride!!

The autumn leaf color was spotty with the higher elevations already gone and leaves down.

 This was a stop on SR 39 near Summit Lake just a few miles from Richwood, WV. The leaf color was very pretty here.

I met a local rider here on his softtail. He was just out riding for the afternoon enjoying the weather. We talked about Alaska and touring.

 This is Summersville Lake. The leaves were pretty along the lake.