We will certainly be taking trips down here in 2025.  With the mountains being somewhat smaller and in a different part of the US - maybe the summer months won't have the daily pop up rain storms that occur in the Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains.

One downside of riding in this area is the lack of food.  Each morning we had to ride for an hour or more before we could find a place to get breakfast - and every morning we ate food from a gas station.  The towns are not big enough to support a place to get breakfast - Elkhorn City that is closest to the motel has a Mexican restaurant and a Pizza/Sub shop.  We had our Saturday night dinner at a BBQ truck in a town called Haysi where they were having a local festival and cornhole tournament - our Sunday night dinner was in Elkhorn City at the Mexican restaurant.  Afternoons feasts were just snacks....however we did get a piece of pizza at the Back of the Dragon store in Tazewell on Saturday afternoon.  In the future we will likely stock up on breakfast meals that can be cooked in the motel microwave - or cereal and donuts!

In Virginia on the way to ride the "Widowmaker" we cam across some of the most rugged pasture and I have ever seen!

Dave, you literally scared the crap out of the cattle!  You’ve found some nice scenic riding areas!

MM - The Sturgis area would be great if it wasn’t 1300+ miles away!  That’s a cool little cabin you shared.  Thanks for the invite.  Even 800 miles to your place is pretty long.  I’d have to get a trailer because I’m not loading up like a pack mule and riding 800 miles down the expressway.  That just ain’t my thing.

Weather is turning ideal here right now.  Kinda like April was in the Hill Country. Lows in the mid 60s and highs in the mid 80s.  I’m getting as much saddle time as I can!

I’m going to keep following this post.  Y’all come up with some great ideas and cool photos and stories of past adventures!

I once bought a Honda 90 from Bay Meadows Track (horses racing). I tore it down steam cleaned frame & engine replaced exhaust system. No matter once it got warmed up it smell like burning horse apples. It was a hard bike to sell but given some time I found a victim , I mean buyer.  

ThumperPaul wrote on 10/08/24 at 05:34:07:


My 3 day ride last weekend may be the last of the 2024 trips.  In this northern part of the US....the weather is becoming too cold to plan any multi-day riding trips.  Daytime temps are in the high 60's to low 70's - but over night temps are in the 40's!  There is heavy dew each night, and we don't warm up to 60 until close to noon.

There will be some afternoons were we can still get a good ride in October - and even in November we can get some good cool weather riding........my desire to ride long distances in the cold is not overwhelming!

Spring chickens…as my old HS buddy likes to say, “just keep moving!”.  If we sit around in the arm chair all day, we’ll rust up and get a gummed up carburetor!

Dave - Sorry your main riding season is about to come to an end.  I feel naked in the summer here when I skip wearing the jacket.  Feels good to actually be able to gear-up with a long sleeve shirt and jacket.

Anything below about 60° starts to feel cold for me.  That limits riding in Jan/Feb to maybe once a week on a sunny afternoon.  At least I don’t have to go through some winter storage process.  Maybe a little Sta-Bil mixed in the gas if I don’t think I will burn a full tank in a month.  

I wish my old bones could match up with my brain about longer rides.  It’s mostly the arthritis in my hips.  

You guys that can ride all day are impressive!

T /P , I too have a bad hip and they found out the other leg has a birth defect at the hip that has always limited motion. Odd I never really noticed it. Raced for a few years , never slowed me down. The worn hip , the doctor I had said I can’t believe you walk as well as you do , do you need pain medication ? I replied no thanks , pain is temporary , Glory is Forever. He about choked on his tongue when I told him to sign me off I’m going back to work ! Here’s what helps me , only med I use is aspirin & Tylenol & caffeine. It all in one pill , a store brand available at any drugstore. Ask pharmacist. Some days I want to ride , hip says no. So I do 1-3 mile ride on my 1989 mountain bicycle. Body will respond with endorphins if it senses a certain level of pain. Now it’s time to ride ! Besides my bicycle for exercise I do the flamingo ! You need only a space to catch yourself like between 2 tables , I use work bench. Simply balance on one leg as long as possible , then other leg. Work both legs , you’ll feel your muscles in your but working. Everyday in a few days  you will feel the difference. I find walking long distance aggravates it but bicycle 3 to 4 times the distance, cause seat takes weight off hips. Hips don’t get better , you have to deal with it or get a new hip.
Still some days are bad  , push thru the pain , body will respond !