Day Ride to Chimney Rock.. 1-28-12

This trip was a last minute throw together. I met a Lady and she was going to be in the mountains for a conference for a few days and ask if I wanted to meet up at Chimney Rock for some hiking. Anyways Saturday came and man was it a gorgeous day. I started out hitting the road at about 8am. For the first stop I headed to Thomasville NC. Where I saw on the adv rider Forum there is a small town coffee shop I wanted to check out. Its a small little town once you get away from the busy highway. It was about 9:30 when I got in and it seemed like the town was just waking up. No one really around but a few people. After a nice warm coffee and some friendly conversation with some locals I was back on the road again. For the next stop was to Chimney rock. Well I thought. Rolling down the road I took a detour headed through Charlotte so of course I stopped at the Harley Davidson Dealer in Concord. looked around, hit the bathroom and filled up with gas. My bike looked funny in the Harley parking lot. But everyone is still friendly which is why I love riding Motorcycles. You create a bond with people you've never met over common interests. Now I was back on the road to Chimney rock. Just out of Charlotte on the back roads I run into a guy riding a Yamaha I think which we rode together for about 40 minutes. side by side taking turns leading and sticking together in traffic. We finally split due our different destinations. Back to some more beautiful back country roads of NC. and a few small towns later. I ride up to Lake Lure. Having to stop and loose some layers of clothing. I look around and soak up the beauty. Motorcycles everywhere. Guys and Gals riding and everyone enjoying the warm winter weather of January. As you can see in the photos. The sky was blue with spotted clouds and a light jacket is all you need. Little did I know the roads were perfect. Winding roads, hills and curves with little to no traffic. The shops at the base of Chimney Rock were kinda cool too. Small town locals everyone so friendly. Nothing to crazy around but cool little trinkets. Meeting up with my lady friend at Chimney Rock we hiked to the wonderful water fall. It was about a 3 mile drive up the mountain or more fun curvy roads then another 1.5 mile hike round trip to the falls. Where we were able to see the 404ft waterfall. After a great little hike I had to be on my way. It was getting dark and getting cold. and I still had to ride back to Apex NC. And it got cold. I saw on a bank sign it was 38 degrees and dropping. Had to stop about after an hr and put on more clothes. I had think gloves on, Cold winter gear for extreme weather, A full ski mask that covers the whole head and down the the shoulders and the heated grips turned on high. Despite the cold ride back. Its the moments like that day when the weather is just right and the roads curves are perfect and the feel of freedom and full relaxation just can't be beat. It was that trip that makes me look forward the summer when the weather is nice and the sun stays out longer.

The View From Chimney Rock

long way down

Chimney Rock

Over View of Lake Lure

My pretty Bike lol. 

Where the pavement ends..1-26-2012

 This is going to be legen... wait...wait...dary... Had some fun today. Weather was perfect. Sun shining with clear blue skies around 65 degrees. I couldn't resist a small ride after work. Hopped on the bike for a spin thinking something simple just cruise around and have fun and enjoy a nice ride. Well simple didn't last long. After exploring some new neighborhoods with some soon to be homes. I saw a gravel road that I couldn't resist. Turned off the ABS and I'm good. Now for a small picture for you to imagine. The gravel road went to a small power grip fenced in but nothing crazy, but the fun started when I noticed a trail on the left. This was a plowed field that had walls built up as if they were making a custom pond in the middle. My guess it was to catch run off from the near by Walmart's large parking lot. Maybe a spring was there too. Grass was attempting to be grown but here in the south clay and grass don't mix well. Well from what I could see it seems fairly dry and it went in a loop so turning around I didn't think would be an issue. Hit the dirt and all is well. Came around the last bend and BAM. There's a mud pit about 12 feet wide about a car and half length long with no way around it. I guess I found out why it wasn't a long trail and it looped. Didn't think it to clearly just remember what I've heard was when in doubt hit the gas and don't hold back. So I did just that. Made it half way then the bottom on the bike bottoms out. For those who don't know. The BMW GS has a ground clearance of 7.3 inches. But i'm dead in the middle of the mud. First thing I thought was S@#T I'm stuck and alone. I could have gotten off the bike and it could have stayed straight up on it own. gave it gas again and I'm actually moving again. I was amazed. I moving and with 3 feet to go and I'm out.  Once I hit pavement as you can see in the photo's below I finally got dirty. jeans were covered shoes gained 10lbs each of clay. But I was thrilled on how it did and handled. You see video's of what other have do and what others have done but when you read there bio you think. Well must come with experience. Well I have very little off-road on the GS. Since I didn't want clay stains a quick ride to the car wash and all is well again. As I sat through traffic I got the greatest looks. Here you see a BMW covered in mud. Not something you see very often. but it got some good looks. After about 20 minutes at the car wash giving her and myself a rinse. She's all shiny again and back to normal. And all I could say was it was so worth it. I would call it a good day. 

Challenge complete.. 

all shiny

Day Trip to Roanoke VA, Smith Mountain Lake 1-7-12

 Its been awhile since I've been able to go on a good road trip. First ride of the year and all went well. I was just able to go with no real plans and just turn and go with the flow. So Friday I through together a few supplies and took off on the bike bright and early Saturday morning. With the sleeping bag, tent and a few other supplies I hit the road north toward VA. With a bit of ice on the bike in the morning and it being bitter cold when I left town. By 9am it turned out to be a very warm and sunny day. Reaching in the high 60 and low 70's later. I couldn't have asked for a better winter day. Few hrs later and through a few small towns. I reached the Blue Ridge Parkway in VA. where I followed it to downtown Roanoke VA. To my surprise I actually came across a little zoo. Kinda reminded me of the movie "I bought a zoo" that came out end of 2011. Small place, not a ton of animals but those who work there you could tell do it because its a passion. I came across a few camp grounds but all were closed for the winter so the plan on camping went south. I guess I'm the only idiot who camps in the winter. Keeping on rolling I headed east over to Smith Mountain lake. After taking a few wrong turns ( or where they correct turns since I had no real plans??) and finding my way again. I rolled up Smith Mountain Lake State Park. Stopping for a snack and a drink I relaxed over looking the water and just thinking today couldn't get any better. But I wrong. Getting back to riding. I made a few turns again and came across a long gravel road. Typing in my home address in the GPS. It said to take that road so it had to have gone somewhere. Riding down with nothing in site and no one around. You could see everything. The road went on for ever. Logging trials and hunting trails everywhere. Fields of nothing and rolling hills were all the eye could see. 10 miles later I'm still going on the same road but I'm seeing houses. Old farm houses and a few trailers later I still haven't seen much of anything else. It was a road come true. 20 miles of single lane roads. no signs, road lines or anything. from gravel to concrete back to gravel. through the hills winding back and forth it was great. Best part was Pandora still worked on my phone so even got some tunes to go along with it. Before I knew it I was back in NC and didn't even know it. Riding back to town I took more back roads and just enjoyed myself. For day ride I couldn't have asked for better weather.

Total mileage on bike.. a little over 15,000 miles
Total trip mileage 357 miles.
For fun average of 50mpg with bike loaded up.

Wolverine

View From The Blue Ridge Parkway overlooking Roanoke VA. 

Spotted Snow leopard 

Short clawed Otter

Japanese Macaque

Wolf

Don't remember but it was fluffy

A Tufted Deer. Full grown. 

Tiny monkey

Best Country Store in Roanoke VA. 

Smith Mountain Lake

My little friend at Smith Mountain Lake

This is the 20 mile road. 

20 miles of nothing it was beautiful 

10 miles to go. 

View from the Blue Ridge Parkway VA.