I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!!

June 17th is “Ride To Work Day”!

Posted: June 7, 2013 in Motorcycle news
Tags: Motorcycle, motorcycle riding, motorcycle safety, motorcyclists, ridetowork.org, scooter

The Ride To Work organization has designated, with the support of several local governments, the third Monday of every June as “Ride To Work Day. This year that day is the 17^th of June. From their website:

Ride your motorcycle or scooter on this day to demonstrate:

The number of motorcyclists to the general public and to politicians.
That motorcyclists are from all occupations and all walks of life.
That motorcyclists can reduce traffic and parking congestion in large cities.
That motorcycles are for transportation as well as recreation.
That motorcycling is a social good.

If you have time visit their website for more information and access to supporting material.

Motorcycle Ride on the George Washington Parkway

Posted: June 6, 2013 in Motorcycle Rides
Tags: Alexandria, Arlington Memorial Bridge, Army, C&O Canal, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, Clara Barton Parkway, DC, Fairfax County Parkway, Fort Belvoir, Fort Hunt, Ft. Belvoir, Ft. Hunt, George Washington Parkway, Harley, Harley Davidson, HD, I-495, I495, Jefferson Monument, LBJ Memorial Grove, Lincoln Memorial, Maryland, MD, Motorcycle, motorcycle blog, motorcycle rides, Mount Vernon, Navy and Marine Memorial, Old Anglers Inn, Old Town, Old Town Alexandria, Potomac River, Regan National Airport, Riding, Roosevelt Island, Theodore Roosevelt Memorial, Torpedo Factory, US Army, VA, Virginia, Washington DC, Washington Monument, White’s Ferry

This past weekend the wife and I took a short ride. We have several “reoccurring” circuits that we enjoy some go north into Maryland, others west into West Virginia but this ride features the George Washington Parkway.

We left the house and traveled east on Route 7 until we reached the Fairfax County Parkway (for this road “Parkway” is derived from the fact there are over 50 stoplights between where we got on and the end of the road). Luckily, we hit very few lights and reached US Route 1 quickly.

From the Fairfax County Parkway to the turn for the GW Parkway Route 1 runs though Fort Belvoir. Ft. Belvoir was the last posting (4 years) my wife and I had before I retired from the Army after 25 years. The Fort holds a lot of special memories for us.

Mount Vernon Visitor’s Center

View from the GW

The GW actually starts at the Washington’s home Mount Vernon and heads north along the Potomac River. There are many overlooks and scenic stops along way all of which have great views or historic importance. On this trip we did not stop but I would highly recommend (beside Mount Vernon) a quick look at Fort Hunt.

Shortly past Fort Hunt you will enter the city of Alexandria and the first thing you will notice is the very old cemetery on the right. The cemetery (St. Paul’s) holds the “Grave of the Female Stranger” which is one of the more interesting stories of old Alexandria. If you are riding the GW you need to make time to visit “Old Town” Alexandria. There are lots of small shops, taverns,

Torpedo Factory

restaurants and art galleries. The largest gallery is the “Torpedo Factory”, named that way because during WWII it was a Torpedo Factory!

The next major landmark on the GW is Regan National Airport, while not a tourist destination for bikers, it does make for interesting views as large jetliners fly just a couple hundred feet

View from the GW

overhead! Almost as soon as you see the airport you will catch a glimpse of the Washington Monument over the trees. A few moments and a left hand curve later you will see not only the Washington Monument but the Jefferson and Lincoln monuments across the Potomac. But, because your eyes will be drawn to those major attractions, you will miss the Navy and Marine Memorial,

Another GW Pic

LBJ Memorial Grove, and Lady Bird Johnson Park!

Now is the time to decide if you want to go downtown DC or not, if you get in the left lane you will be directed towards the Arlington Memorial Bridge and the back of the Lincoln Memorial. Stay in the right lane and you will pass under the bridge and continue upriver along the parkway. As I mentioned

Arlington Memorial Bridge

earlier we were out for a scoot and did not stop very often nor did we go into the city on this trip.

One of the most invisible but one of the most powerful presidential monuments is the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial on Roosevelt Island. This is my favorite monument in the National Capitol Region but it is a bit of a hike from the parking lot (which is right off the GW), to the park at the center of the island. If you have the time I think this is well worth the stop.

While there are several minor attractions and overlooks the remainder of the GW is just a smooth tree lined ride…..until it ends on I495 exit 14! The GW basically throws you out on 5 lanes of beltway traffic that is normally bumper to bumper at any time of day.

Luckily our route leaves us in the right hand lane and exits within a ½ mile onto the Clara Barton Parkway. We normally turn left and continue to follow the river upstream but there is good reason to head down river and visit the home of Clara Barton (founder of the Red Cross) and take in parts of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal.

Debbie at the Old Angler’s Inn

Rolling past the US Nave Surface Warfare the parkway soon ends and we decided to have a light lunch at the Old Anglers Inn. The Inn is Zaggat rated and the service was spectacular!

Old Angler’s Inn

After our meal we followed several different roads ending up at White’s Ferry. White’s Ferry is the only ferry currently operating on the Potomac River, having started in the early 1800’s. One of the interesting parts to note about the ferry is how deep the flood waters have been over the years. With different flood stages marked on the building, it is remarkable sight to realize you are a dozen or more feet below the surface!

Taking the Ferry across the Potomac to VA puts us about four miles from home and is a fun way to cap this ride. As we were nearing home I got an idea for another ride…tracing the route of the C&O Canal, maybe we will be able to slip this one in sometime in the near future.

: The ferryman is coming for us!

: White’s Ferry History

: White’s Ferry Flood Stages

: White’s Ferry Flood Stages Closeup

: Me on White’s Ferry

Memorial Day Poker Run and Motorcycle Ride

Posted: May 28, 2013 in Motorcycle Rides
Tags: 201st Field Artillery, B & B Harley Davidson, Covered bridge, Dogwood acres bar, fried Oreo, Harley, Harley Davidson, HD, I68, I70, interstate 68, interstate 70, Memorial Day, Morgantown, Motorcycle, Ohiopyle, Philippi, Poker Run, Triple S Harley Davidson, Uniontown, VA, Virginia, West Virginia, West Virginia National Guard, WV, WVU, youghiogheny dam

Over the Memorial Day weekend we put a bunch of miles down on a long motorcycle ride. This year we made a decision to forgo Rolling Thunder and decided to ride in a poker run supporting the 1st Battalion 201st Field Artillery.

We left Leesburg, VA Thursday afternoon and traveled across I-70 (which was, interestingly, the first interstate project) and I-68 to Morgantown, WV. The 187 mile trip to Morgantown was uneventful except for the rain storm we hit about 30 minutes from our destination, we don’t have the nickname of “storm chasers” for nothing! Once we reached Morgantown, home of WVU, we stayed with our close friends Tim and Karma (Tim is the Battalion Commander of the 1/201st FA).

Friday was quite cool so we chose to just hang out. We visited Triple S Harley Davidson (I bought highway pegs) and then went to the movies. We watched the Hangover 3, it was the weakest of the three but I laughed so hard at the end I cried. Make sure you stay through the credits or you will miss the best part of the movie!

Saturday morning at 6:30 AM and 33 degrees we pulled out for the poker run. The poker run began and ended at the National Guard Armory, Belington, WV. 137 miles long, the run passed through Buckhannon, Fairmont, Elkins. I did not draw my cards well, ending up with a pair of aces and Debbie ended up with less than that, so obviously neither of us won any prizes.

Debbie at start of poker run

The ride for the poker run itself was nice, even if it was very cool, rolling through the back country roads of WV. One of many interesting spots was the covered bridge of Philippi built in 1852 and still used as a main road (US Route 250). We threw in some side trips during the event going to B&B Harley Davidson and Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch. By the time we made it back to Morgantown we had put exactly 300.0 miles on the bikes, and it was 46 degrees.

Debbie and Karma at Mount Summit Overlook

The next day, about noon, we set out again this time we linked up with Karma’s sister Kelly, her boyfriend Buba and their friends Jim and Joe. Riding though Fayette County, PA we had our first stop half way up Mount Summit at the lookout on Route 40. From the lookout you have a great view of the valley below and Uniontown, PA in particular. From the lookout we rode to lunch at Dogwood Acres Bar and Grill the atmosphere was biker friendly

Dogwood Acres Bar and Grill

(about 40 bikes in the lot), the food was good and the stories, while not repeatable on line, told by Joe were priceless.

Fried Goodness!

From the bar we rode on to Ohiopyle and took a look at the water falls. The area is a local meca for whitewater enthusiast and the roads were lined with cars carrying kayaks, rafts and canoes. One of our funnier moments happened at the Ohiopyle General Store, Tim wanted to try a fried Oreo and order three of the batter dipped cookies. Well, apparently Tim and the cook misunderstood each other and he got three orders of four cookies each! Everyone had a good laugh and then tried to help him out!

Kelly and Buba next took us to another local landmark, one I still have no real idea how to pronounce, the Youghiogheny Dam. The dam is an earthen structure built in 1944 with the intent to allow folks to drive across the top to the public access areas. At over 180 feet in height the view from the road on top of the dam was spectacular. From the dam we rolled to the National Pike Bar and Grill for some refreshments and then back to Tim and Karma’s house.

The next morning it was time to head back to VA. Tim and Karma rode with us from their home to Cumberland, PA where we had lunch and said our good byes. The traffic back to the DC Metro area was HEAVY with lots of stop, and go fast and stop again moments on I70. Eventually we made it back with 804 total miles for the holiday weekend, all in all a great time with friends!

Rain, Rain Go Away

Posted: May 21, 2013 in Motorcycle Rides
Tags: bike, dealer pin, event pin, Harley, Harley Davidson, I-81, I81, Interstate 81, Motorcycle, Northern Virginia, NOVA, Oak Ridge, rally pin, Roanoke, Roanoke Valley Harley Davidson, Virginia

The weather in Northern Virginia has not been conducive to riding motorcycles of late. Today was the first day, in about the last ten, which I have had a chance to ride, and it was just commuting to work. But hey, any day riding is a good day!

One of things about becoming a good blogger, I have read, is that you need to post frequently. Due to the fact that we have not been “out and about” over the last few weeks I thought I would write about something related to riding.

We collect bike related stick pins. Mostly Harley Davidson Dealer Pins, but rally and event pins as well. We have nearly 100 different pins so have I nearly 100 days’ worth of material to post/discuss, LOL.

The pin displayed today is from Roanoke Valley HD near Roanoke, VA. I stopped at this dealership (off Interstate 81) during a business trip to Oak Ridge, TN. I don’t remember much about the shop itself but the pin is cool!

Their coming….OH CRAP, THEIR HERE!

Posted: May 14, 2013 in Motorcycle news
Tags: bugs, Cicadas, cicadas swarm, manassas, Motorcycle, motorcycle safety, northern Virginia motorcycle club, NOVA MC

If you are riding in and around the Mid-Atlantic States make sure your wind screen is on! The 17 year cicadas swarm is here! New reports indicate they are popping up near Manassas , VA and will soon be everywhere. At the peak some areas will have 1,500,000 bugs per acre. At up to two inches in size I do not want to take one to the face or chest at 50 miles per hour or faster.

Here are few interesting facts about these guys from CicadaMania.com:

They’ll attack land on you if you’re using a power tool or lawn mower. Cicadas think the sounds made by power tools and lawn maintenance equipment are made by cicadas. They get confused and will land on the people using the equipment! Tip: cut your lawn in the early morning or near dusk when the cicadas are less active.

People eat them: People eat them. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sauté it. There, uh, cicada kabobs, cicada creole, cicada gumbo, pan-fried, deep fried, stir fried. There’s pineapple cicada, lemon cicada, coconut cicada, pepper cicada, cicada soup, cicada stew, cicada salad, cicada and potatoes, cicada burger, cicada sandwich… that’s, that’s about it.

Cicadas pee: Yes cicadas pee, so wear a hat when walking under trees if that sort of thing bothers you. Cicadas drink tree fluids, and then expel the excess fluid they do now need. People call it “honey dew” or “cicada rain”.

And to help you plan your rides… here is map showing the areas affected by the 17 year swarm. Also, a special thanks to Chas with the Northern Virginia Motorcycle Club for inspiring this post. If you are going on a motorcycle ride…make sure you have the Windex on hand.

May is Motorcycle Safety Month

Posted: May 8, 2013 in Motorcycle news
Tags: letter to the editor, Loudoun times, Motorcycle, motorcycle safety, Share the road, traffic safety, traffic safety marketing

Using the template from the Traffic Safety Marketing (.gov) website I just submitted the following letter to the editor for our local newspaper the Loudoun Times.

Dear editor,

In recognition of May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, I’d like to encourage Loudoun County motorists and motorcyclists alike to commit to “sharing the road” during the month, and all year long, in a collective effort to reduce motorcycle deaths and injuries across our region.

Motorcycles are among the smallest and most vulnerable vehicles on the road and riders are at greater risk of death and serious injury than other vehicle operators if they are involved in a crash. In fact, according to the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) latest statistics bear out this unfortunate fact. In 2011, 4,612 motorcyclists died on America’s roads, accounting for 14 percent of total highway deaths despite motorcycle registrations representing only about 3 percent of all vehicles in the country.

Despite declines in automobile fatalities, motorcycle deaths have increased every year for 13 of the past 14 years, except 2009 which saw a decline.

Motorists and motorcyclists have a common responsibility to share the road together in a safe, courteous and conscientious manner. Drivers need to be on the lookout for motorcyclists at all times, signal all lane changes and turns, and constantly be checking mirrors and blind spots before proceeding. Drivers must be fully focused and alert to the road, and in control of their vehicles at all times by never driving impaired by alcohol, drugs or distraction.

Riders should obey all traffic laws, be properly licensed, use reflective material and ensure lights are working properly to increase conspicuity, and always wear a Department of Transportation-compliant helmet and other proper protective equipment. Like their motorist counterparts, motorcyclists should never ride while impaired or distracted.

Together, motorists and motorcyclists can work together to keep each other and our roads safe for everyone, not only in May, but all year long.

Sincerely,

Warren Massey

New Market Civil War Battlefield via Dinosaur Land!

Posted: May 7, 2013 in Motorcycle news
Tags: Dinosaur Land, Front Royal, Grove's Harley Davidson, I-81, Interstate 81, Luray, New Market Civil War Battlefield, Secret Blue Ridge Mountain Northern Stretch, Shenandoah Valley, Skyline Drive, Stonewall Jackson Memorial Highway, to Luray Caverns, US Route 340, US Route 7, Virginia, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Museum of the Civil war and New Market Battlefield, VMI, Winchester

This past weekend my wife and I rode from our home in Leesburg to the New Market Civil War Battlefield. We rode west on US Route 7 then took Route 340 south to Luray, VA. On the way we passed the interesting roadside attraction of Dinosaur Land. The place was not open when we stopped for a photo op but it looked very cool for small kids!

After posing a few minutes with T-Rex we contained south on 340 passing through rolling farm county and small towns of the Shenandoah Valley. The largest town we passed through was Front Royal, which is also the northern entrance to Skyline Drive. We have done the Skyline Drive before but I am sure we will do it again this summer, it is just a too nice a ride not to do it as often as possible. (Route 340 south of Front Royal is also known as the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Highway to honor the Civil War General.)

Rolling past Front Royal we soon arrived in Luray, VA and our next intersection. Taking Route 211 west we passed the entrance to Luray Caverns, a US National Landmark. We did not stop at the caverns on this trip but I am sure we will sometime in the future.

Crossing under I-81 on 211 we were immediately at the entrance to the Virginia Museum of the Civil War and New Market Battlefield. From the website “The Virginia Museum of the Civil War (VMCW) interprets the 1864 Battle of New Market with emphasis on the role of Virginia Military Institute Cadets and the Civil War in Virginia.” The museum was quite nice with small displays on most of the major engagements of the war which occurred in Virginia. They also have a

A couple of hours later we hopped back on the bike and traced our route back north. We deviated a bit by riding to Grove’s Harley Davidson in Winchester, VA. We arrived at the dealership about 15 minutes from closing and did not stay too long. I was hoping to look at their helmets as I am in the market for a new one. 30 minute video “The Field of Lost Shoes” that focused mainly on the boy soldiers of the Virginia Military Institute role in the battle.

Turing right out of the dealership we took US 50 east to State route 601 also called the “Secret Blue Ridge Mountain Northern Stretch”. This is a twisty section of road that connects US 50 and US 7. This is a great short ride and well worth the side trip. The views from the mountain are limited by the forest but you should be concentrating on the road anyway, right!

Our trip was 166 miles round trip and lasted a bit more than 7 hours. Debbie and I had a nice motorcycle ride together but we still need to figure out the intercom system!

Motorcycle riding with a podcast

Posted: April 30, 2013 in Motorcycle news
Tags: dawghouse radio, dawghouseradio.com

A motorcycle riding “Web Radio” podcast I enjoy is “The Dawghouse, Radio for the 2-wheeled world”. These guys put on a really nice show that I download then listen to during my commute to and from work. Some of their topics have included:

The DC capitol police has some cool sidecars.
Riding in the Philippines is not for the faint-hearted.
What could Harley Davidson own that Apple Computer would crave?
Motorcycle off-road helmet about to revolutionize the world of head protection.

They can be found at Dawghouseradio.com and on Facebook.

Where have we ridden…so far

So far…. We have the intention of putting a bunch of miles down this riding season. Neither my wife nor I have been to Nigeria Falls and that is on the schedule this summer. From the “Falls” we want to cut across Canada to Michigan and Wisconsin with a stop at the Harley Davidson Museum. After that we will either head back to VA or visit our daughter in Kanas.

That is my plan for at least one long motorcycle ride…let’s hope it happens.

Image — Posted: April 19, 2013 in Motorcycle Rides

Short motorcycle ride to Harpers Ferry

Short ride to Harpers Ferry

My wife, Debbie, and I rode our longest ride, to date, on our new bike. We rode the long way to and from Harpers Ferry, WV on our 2011 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Classic Limited (FLHTK). From our home outside Leesburg, VA we put on just under 100 miles to and from Harpers Ferry.

Harpers Ferry is a very historic little town. The armed struggle for the abolition of slavery started here. Check out Wikipedia for the detail

The bike rode well but we are still trying to figure out the intercom system. At first we could hear nothing but music, then I could hear Debbie but she could not hear me (although she said that was the way it should be). In the end we could hear the music and each other but our voices did not turn of the music and sounded like we were talking through tin cans connected with string.

Also, we should get a round of thanks from everyone as we must have put a serious dent in the bug population based on the number of splats on the windshield fairing. Had I not had a windshield….it would have been a mess.

Image — Posted: April 16, 2013 in Motorcycle Rides

I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!!

IJustWant2Ride on Facebook

Community

Top Posts & Pages