My video skills are still a work in progress, but I’m working on it.
This short video captures our motorcycle ride with the Mothman Harley Davidson dealership. We rode from the dealership to the town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, to visit the home and statue of the legendary Mothman.”
It was already a warm day when we pulled the motorcycle out of the garage at 7:30AM. The weather forecast called for a heat advisory and temperatures reaching 98. That is 98 Fahrenheit which would, for us, not include the extra degrees of pavement heat! But we had more of West Virginia paranormal to explore!
We were soon on the Ohio River Scenic Byway headed north to Moundsville, WV home of the Indian Burial Mound and the WV State Penitentiary. The Ohio River Scenic Byway runs 452 miles alongside the Ohio side of the river.
The road, for the entire distance we traveled, was in great shape. As far as “river scenic” I would have to say NOPE! The trees and brush have grown to the point that you only get a short glimpse of the river and that is mostly around the areas that have a bridge.
However, if you are like me and consider industrial views as scenic you are in for a treat. This part of Ohio and West Virginia are heavily dotted with industry. Electrical plants with cooling towers rising, to what looks like a thousand feet. Miles of stainless-steel pipes and trestles moving “stuff” back and forth between the plants and the river. It is quite spectacular.
Crossing the river back to West Virginia we were soon at our first destination, the WV Penitentiary. From its start and up until it was closed this was always one of the most dangerous prisons in America. Until capital punishment was ended 94 men met their end at the end of a rope or in the electric chair. Many more died at the hands of fellow inmates.
Closed in 1995, it is now not only a tourist destination it is also a training center, and a film location. Because of all the death and violence many people claim that the prison has a large and heavy paranormal presence.
The penitentiary has been on many paranormal TV shows as well as movies. Movies were filmed here as far back as 1955 with stars like Robert Mitchem, Jimmy Stewart, Kurt Russel and others. One of my favorite TV shows, Netflix’s Mindhunter also filmed in this prison.
Well, this day we did not see any ghosts, although I have not checked all the footage, but maybe if we do the overnight tour?
Directly across the street from the Penitentiary is the Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex. It is the site of one of the most famous and the largest of the Adena Burial mounds.
Unfortunately, the complex was closed that day. The mound has been here since about 250 BC, so I imagine that I have some time to stop by in the future! It is quite a bit larger than one would imagine so I am looking forward to checking it out.
Boy was it a hot day! We rode for a bit and then stopped a Quaker Steak and Lube in Wheeling, WV. As always, never had a bad meal at one of these restaurants. Before we got back on the bike, we put our cool vests on. These vests are the water evaporation type, you soak them then put them on. Today they lasted about 150 miles before they were dry!
Normally we would wet them down again but today we were only an hour or so away from home we just packed them away in the tour pak.
This 3-day adventure was well worth the time and was an enjoyable ride!
Click Here for Day 1 Click here for Day 2
My wife and I attended our first American Flat Track motorcycle race. This was also the first time we had been to the West Virginia Motor Speedway.
I went as a fan, not part of the press, primarily because this was a last moment decision. As a fan I had a lot of fun! The dark brown clay-based track was in good condition, the racing was fast and exiting. The venue was quite nicely laid out, easy to get around both or food and visiting the pits.
We arrived just before qualifying started and stayed until the twins race finished. My favorite flat track racers did not do so well Shana Texter-Bauman missed qualifying in the singles but did get a provisional entry to ride in the main event and JD Beach finished 4th in the twins final.
Part of the event was the Royal Enfield Build Tran Race (BTR). Royal Enfield is sponsoring a women’s only series of races one of which was held at the speedway. The women get a Royal Enfield 650 which they “Build” a race bike, then they get professional “Training” and then race a series of six American Flat Track events. While there was a great disparity of talent the race for first place was very exciting. Morgan Monroe pulled out the win by .4 of a second.
The venue itself, the West Virginia Motor Speedway, was very nice. The “seats” were “bring your own chair” to place on the terraced “grandstand”. Our location provided good views of everything but the start and part of the front straight. Luckly most of the action in flat track is in the turns and we got great views of all that work.
The only major issue I had with the speedway was the sound system. Even with just four motorcycles racing in the Mission Foods Challenge races you could not hear the commentary.
Speaking of Mission Foods, they are a primary sponsor of both American Flat Track and MotoAmerica and had a booth at the track. They were giving away chips and tortillas to all in attendance. We have been using Mission Food products for years, this and this was just a race day bonus!!
*****
Ride on, Ride safe
My daughter and grandsons came from Denver to visit! Ashely only got to spend a short time with us but, the grandsons will spend most of the summer between the two sets of grandparents. Looking forward to some time with them!
One of the things on Ashley’s “to do” list was a motorcycle ride. With the Covid quarantine lock down still going on strong in Maryland and Virginia I decided to ride out to Berkeley Springs, WV.
Berkeley Springs was the first “spa” in America, where people would go to “take the waters”. Berkeley Springs history goes back to the at least the 1740s when George Washington reportedly took a bath in the spring water. Berkeley Springs is also on the George Washington Heritage Trail (an America Byway). I rode this byway a few years ago you can read about it here. An awesome ride for a motorcycle by the way!
Ashley having a good time!
For our ride we pulled out on the motorcycle mid-morning. The sun and puffy clouds were out, and the temperature was more than reasonable. A mix of rock and country music playing through the Harley Davidson speakers provided a background soundtrack for our ride.
My plan was to take a lot of backroads and end up at our destination about 1PM. The motorcycle was humming along as we rode through Virginia and Maryland. We crossed both the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers as well as Cortactin Mountain and eastern side of the Alleghenies. The views were idyllic and the ride smooth and comfortable.
It couple hours later we arrived in Berkeley Springs. Ashley, much like me, is a bit of a 
history nut and we spent a some time in the museum before our stomachs told us it was lunch time. Walking down main street we decided to have lunch at the Naked Olive Lounge. This was a particularly good decision!
They were at serving at a reduced capacity and disinfecting everything as people left, per the Covid free directions. The atmosphere was nice, the wait staff/person was friendly, but the best part was the food, excellent. I will be going back soon.
After lunch it was time to head back home. Mounting the motorcycle and pulling out we took a more direct route home. Ashley wanted to go to an antique store before she went back to Denver the next day so she and the wife had their afternoon.
I had a great day out with my daughter!
Ride on, Ride Safe
Below is a description of our long weekend motorcycle ride. I cannot put into each of the descriptions of where we stopped during our ride how astounding the roads are for riding a motorcycle. Curvy, twisty, technical, rolling, tight, flowing, and scenic are just a few of the adverbs I could use to describe the roads in this amazing area. The roads here can be dangerous as well; road conditions, weather, wildlife and bad drivers, of course, can make any road dangerous but these roads can pull you into over riding your abilities. Decreasing radius turns abound and can catch you unaware. Ride safe.
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Creating a long weekend, the wife and I took a 610-mile motorcycle ride through eastern West 
Virginia. We left our home Thursday morning with neither true routes set nor lodging planned.
I knew that there are cabins for rent at the Smoke Hole Caverns Resort, so I set the GPS on the bike to take us there via the scenic route. I can truly say that it the route the GPS lady took us was nowhere close to the route that I would have picked by looking at the map. However, we did enjoy the path it laid out. Twisty in the mountains, rolling valleys and great views. We were not disappointed with what the HD GPS programs had provided (this time LOL).
We arrived at the Resort about 4PM and we got the last cabin (or room) available. It was a happy coincidence that we got the “Honeymoon Cabin” on the day our 32nd wedding anniversary. The heart shaped whirlpool tub was just the ticket for rest and relaxation after a day of motorcycle touring.
The next morning, we rolled out with the idea we were going to ride the Highland Scenic Highway. The ride across the Highland Scenic Highway was AWESOME ,but that will be another post! 
Our first stop of the day was for breakfast at Yokum’s Store in Seneca Rocks WV. This store and its next-door neighbor, are throw backs to the era of the “General Store”. The food was good (good enough we would stop again the next day), and folks friendly.
Back on the bike, we headed to Marlinton, WV (GPS still on scenic) which is the southern end of the Highland Scenic Highway. The route took us near the Green Bank Radio Observatory, so we decided to defy the GPS lady and ride off her route and check out the Observatory. We “recalculated” her route LOL. 
The visit to the Observatory was a lot more fun they one would think. While you do not get to peer through a telescope it is still quite interesting. A nice visitor center, a guided tour of the grounds and some cool stories (like how a short circuit in an electric toothbrush 8 miles away was picked up by the telescopes) made for a great 2 hour stop. Make sure you add this as a stop on your motorcycle tour of West Virginia.
Back on the motorcycle and again following the GPS ladies’ (what would you think of a GPS that used Ozzy Osborn’s voice? LOL) directions we soon came to Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. 
This state park is located at a stop on the old steam engine rail line. They still use several of the original steam engines to take riders up to the top of “Bald Knob” mountain (4.5 hours) and other locations. Both the wife and I have ridden the steam train to the top of the mountains as kids so we passed on this trip. I do recommend if you are in the area to take the trip to the top or one of the other rides if you are in the area!
That is enough for this blog post. Check out Part 2.
The other day I mentioned that West Virginia does not do enough to promote motorcycle tourism in the state. On a trip (via car … sigh) to visit family we stopped at the West Virginia boarder rest stop.
At the rest stop I walked around and looked for motorcycle related pamphlets. There were more then I expected but less then I hoped.
Some of these are new to me. The “Devils Den”, for example, was a first and one that I need to check out! The pamphlet entitled “Southern West Virginia Motorcycle Ride Guide” includes many of the areas I have rode.
Looks like things are improving, slowly, but there is a lot more that can be done. WV could be a motorcycling Mecca, like east Tennessee, with some dedicated effort. If I hit the lottery maybe I will be the guy to do it… LOL!
While I don’t think West Virginia does enough to promote motorcycle tourism things are getting better! Four eastern West Virginia counties have joined forces to create a new push called RIDE THE HIGH FIVE. I have not traveled each of the roads listed but I have been on few plus many others in the area (check out our ROUTE 39 ride from last year). The RIDE THE HIGH FIVE web site include GPS routes and a lot of additional information, check it out.
A while back I wrote a post on the “Decline of the motorcycle”. BUT here is a article that talks about the “Most popular motorcycles among MILLENNIALS!” I have to say I was on a little surprised.
Some of the funniest motorcycle commercials!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds9PCfVqBMY
Watch how not to catch a runaway motorcycle!
How about a 360 degree view of a record setting speed run up Pikes Peak on a KTM 790 Duke motorcycle!
Twisting and turning through the West Virginia panhandle counties of Jefferson, Berkley and Morgan the Washington Heritage Trail is a lot of fun on a motorcycle. Riding through an area that George Washington surveyed, fought for during the French and Indian war and represented as part of the Virginia House of Burgesses was very interesting.
Leaving the house about 9AM we decided to stop for breakfast at McDonalds in Bunswick, MD. The McDonalds is just off a roundabout and, as you know, traffic coming into the roundabout must yield to traffic in the circle. Well as most of us in this part of the world knows, traffic rules do not apply to operators of Maryland automobiles. A gray haired lady nearly took us out by not yielding the right of way. Luckily, being aware of the fact that the rules of the road do not pertain to Maryland drivers, I was paying close attention and was able to turn tight against the inner curb allowing for a near miss. This was not our only run in with a Maryland driver that day.
After breakfast we headed out and, after crossing the Potomac and Shenandoah,
were quickly riding our motorcycle on the Washington Heritage Trail. There are a lot of places to stop and take in the history and culture of life in the West Virginia panhandle but for us this day was about riding the motorcycle.
Riding our Daytona Blue Harley Davidson through the towns of Harpers Ferry, Shepardstown and Martinsburg was a ride through the rolling hills and country roads of the Shenandoah Valley. Bucolic county side, cattle in the fields and sadly decaying main streets made for a visually stunning ride.
It was in Martinsburg that our second run in with a Maryland driver occurred. Sitting at a traffic light, the first in line, we waited for the light to turn green. At the green I released the clutch and started through the three way intersection when the pickup truck waiting across the pavement decided that left hand turns had the right of way. Not this was not a close as the incident at the traffic circle but having a pickup pull up short when they realize they are in the wrong is not a fun moment. The truck was no less than half way into our lane. The young girl at the wheel thought it was very funny and was laughing as I shoot her my strongest “dirty look”…..it must not have work. sigh
Our motorcycle tour of the Washington Heritage Trail started into the Appalachian Mountains shortly after passing through Martinsburg on WV Route 9. Steep accents and deep valley roads brought us to the little town of Berkeley Springs. This town was once the regions greatest tourist destination due to its famous springs and “baths”. Lots of little shops dot this downtown and you can spend an entire day just wondering around town. But, as I mentioned earlier, we were about motorcycle touring today, hanging a left we headed out of town on Valley Road.
It was not long before we turned east off of Valley Road and onto Big Oak Tree/Shanghai Road. This would be a great road for motorcycle riding or touring if it were in better condition. I am only guessing but, I would think that the elevation from Valley Road to the top of the mountain had to be over 1000 feet. Some of the 160 degree (or more) switch backs had you gain or lose dozens of feet of elevation in a single turn. Sadly the road is poor shape, the patching of patches on top of other patches to the tarmac make for a rough and tumble ride. It is worth it in my opinion but take it under advisement.
Coming down the other side of that mountain leads you into the town of Shanghai,
WV. A four way stop intersection and a blink and you have rolled past. Climbing and deciding another mountain and we were back into the Shenandoah and heading towards the 136 mile marker and the end of the Washington Heritage Trail.
All in all, our motorcycle tour of the Washington Heritage Trail took about 3 hours. If one were to stop and enjoy the towns, parks and points of interests this ride could take all day, there is that much stuff to check out.
The Washington Heritage Trail is just one of the many roads comprising the amazing American Byways. If you have not checked out the website please do, you just might find an amazing road in your area.
We started our motorcycle vacation today. We left the house about 8AM and headed out to Ohio on our Harley Davidson Ultra Limited. Our, path for all but a few miles on day one, is via US Route 50.
We picked up Route 50 just a few miles south of Leesburg, VA. I have to say that Route 50 from this point to our endpoint is a fantastic motorcycle ride. In Virginia you ride through horse and wine county (I quite counting vineyards and wineries at 15). In fact in Middleburg we saw folks preparing their horses for a jumping contest (I am sure there is a proper name for this contest, but I do not know what it is) there were dozens of horses and riders milling about. My wife said she thought it was called “Trials”, to which I replied then they are all guilty!
Shortly after crossing into WV you head into the Appalachian Mountains. These mountain roads are some twisty fun for a motorcycle! Swooping around turns, quick climbs and steep descents (up to a 9% grade) with spectacular views from the mountain tops and rolling farmland in the valleys make this a route, in my opinion, as much fun as any of the roads around the Tail of the Dragon. By the way I dragged the floorboards of the bike a few times without even trying!
I had forgotten that Route 50 passed into Maryland for a few miles so today we traveled in 4 states. When we left Maryland and rode the motorcycle back into WV Route 50 also became the Northwestern Turnpike one of America’s Byways. Stopping for lunch and gas in the little town of Grafton, WV we ate a McDonalds, which had to be one of the least clean stores we had been in…unfortunately I did not notice this until after we had received our food.
We did make a side trip to Cairo … I am still taking my wife to all the great cities of the old world, via motorcycle. I was able to get her to Lisbon and Damascus last year. Athens is next on the list!
The first day of our vacation motorcycle trip is now over. 315 miles through some of the best country for motorcycle riding. I highly recommend this part of Route 50 to anyone passing through WV, MD or VA. OHHH… for got to mention, that per Standard Operating Procedure, we got wet in a thunderstorm!!! Storm Chaser powers ACTIVATE!
The view of the Shanghai skyline.
I have always been interested in going to Shanghai but a trip to China is not in my future. So a motorcycle ride to Shanghai West Virginia would have to do.
Leaving the house the early cool air hid the fact that it was going to be hot, the mid 90sF according to the weatherman. I headed west toward Martinsburg, WV where I stopped for a quick breakfast.
SOMEWHERE between getting off the bike and getting back on the bike I lost a glove. I back tracked into the restaurant and searched all the places I had walked and sat and then back out to the bike but, NO GLOVE…what the heck?!?! There was only so many place the glove could be and it was nowhere to be found. Dang. This made no sense, how do I lose one glove!
Giving up on ever finding my glove in the Bermuda Parking Lot of missing gloves, I rode out of Martinsburg on US Route 9 looking for WV Route 7. Somehow I missed the turn onto Route 7, maybe it was the awesome rolling road and wonderful scenic vistas. But no worries…….it is the journey not the destination, right?
Route 9 took me into Berkley Springs, WV were I turned onto several different roads ending up on WV 13 which was also Shanghai Road. Shanghai Road climbs up the and over the steep mountainside with a lotof switchbacks.
If the pavement had been in better condition this would have been an INCREABLE ride. Shanghai Road has MULTIPLE 150-170 degree turns with serious elevation changes, both up and down the mountain, and almost no traffic! The tarmac on Shanghai Road was so poor that that a good bit of fun was sucked out of the ride, some but not all. A better conditioned road and this would be a sport bike heaven.
Dropping down the other side of the mountain you end up at the cross roads of Black Creek Valley Road and Tuscarora Pike which is also SHANGHAI, WV. Not too much in Shanghai other than a small scrap yard, a Mom and Pop country store and farms. I stopped at the store for some water and a snack. Back on the road I rolled back through Martinsburg and on to home.
A couple notes of interest. First is, part of this ride was on the George Washington Heritage Trail (an American Byway) and second I went past the Morgan County Observatory. The Observatory was closed but it looked very cool way out in the middle of nowhere.
There is not a lot of pictures from this ride as my wife/photographer was out of town. After this 175 mile ride I can now claim I have been to Shanghai….. Shanghai, West Virginia.
I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!! 