Ancient History PMS - Frog Level Discovery - Part 2

Riff Raff's Ride's
Copyright 1997, 2006

Frog Level Discovery - Missed Connections, Missed
Directions and Missing Mammals - Part 2

Monday
The morning run was a quick stint on the interstate to
get us to Covington where we headed north. The
destination was route 84, for me the last untravelled
road over the mountains between Virginia and West
Virginia. Just outside of Covington we had a helping
of mountain curves followed by a long bit of pretty
looking, wide open valley farmland. Covering this
same path at the end of my trip I found a beautiful
waterfall overlook just beyond the summit. After so
much success with mountain passes, 84 was a bust.
Road crews were out covering the few good turns with
gravel. It's no great loss since it requires going
out of the way to get to it. We found much better
roads heading to Snowshoe via Cass. After lunch at
Snowshoe, Gary and the Alien had to head for home. I
pointed the bike back to Cass and then started to
explore more side roads. The appropriately named Back
Mountain Road started off very nice but turned into a
narrow challenge ride that would be a great stretch
for a dual purpose bike. Calling it a lane and a half
wide only works if you start with very narrow lanes.
I actually enjoyed it as a fun change of pace, but I'm
strange. I looped around to Cass again to try the
same road heading south. Along the way I stopped at
the National Radio Astronomy Observatory where I met
Kevin and Keith, a pair of riders heading for the BMW
rally in Fontanna. Going south from Cass gave me more
of what I had found going north. Too much for one
day, but that's how I find a lot of good roads, so I'm
not going to abandon the habit.
I stopped in Marlington for dinner at the River
Restaurant (OK food, spotty service, great view from
the porch). Kevin and Keith turned up and we traded
stories for more than an hour before I headed out to
find a place for the night. I should have lined up
lodging soonier. I stopped at one b&b that I had been
by earlier and they were full (and charging too much)
and not much else was in the area. So I had to head
south as night approached and got a scare seeing a
large buck standing at the edge of the road facing
into it. I didn't notice him until I was about fifty
feet away and that was too close for me to have done
much if he had decided to jump. Arrived safely in
White Sulfur Springs, WV and got a room at the Old
White Motel. Forty bucks for the night, that seems to
be the going rate just about everywhere I travel these
days. Gone are the times when you could sleep for
under twenty. (Actually, back when that was the rate,
I couldn't afford it, so I camped. Now, I grumble a
bit, but I sleep well and travel lighter.) They gave
me some rags to wipe the bike down with. Most places
I've stayed at are glad to provide some worn out
towels/washcloths for that purpose. They're quite
pleased that I'm not trashing a room towel.

Tuesday
A foggy morning was all the excuse I needed for a
late, leisurely breakfast. I took the time to update
my journal and reflect on the diversity of truck
stops. This one seemed like a mom & pop operation,
good basic food and friendly service. I didn't write
down the name of it, but I know I'll recognize it in
the future, there's not that many of them on the south
side of U.S. 62 just west of White Sulfur Springs
(what pain to have that as a return address).
Food gone, fog gone, time for me to be gone. I
turned onto WV 63 south off of route. 60 and found a
big drop off in the road just before the underpass at
the start of that stretch. It would be a good place
to catch some air and trash a suspension it you're not
careful. Bending my travels east into Virginia
rewarded me with very good riding through some pretty
country. I was in a mellow mood and was glad of it.
On VA 159, I passed a trooper who decided it was time
to stop sitting at the side of the road. He followed
me for about ten miles, until I stopped for gas. A
couple guys I had passed earlier pulled in and asked
if I had known the cop was behind me. They said the
locals run that stretch hard, so the cops patrol it
regularly. It was definitely a stretch worth running
hard on. Fortunately I hadn't reached the best parts
before seeing the police. Otherwise, I might have
been going fast enough to cause more than a trailing
interest.
I ended up back on U.S. 60 going east toward
Covington and stopped to check out the "Humpbacked
Bridge". It's an old arched covered bridge, I'd never
seen one like it before. It's in a scenic park
setting and well worth the stop for a break.
The gem of the trip thus far was discovered just
south of Sweet Springs, WV (better than the Cass to
Snowshoe road, Mt.Storm x4!!!!). Sixteen miles of
asphalt snake covering two mountains. I had to run it
both ways and add an extra helping of the east side of
Potts mountain. The WV side had better pavement, but
more gravel in the turns.
That left me with an appetite that Briz's in New
Castle, VA took care of. Good cheap food and a sweet
young thing serving. She was born in Germany, but got
back to the states in time to pick up the required
southern accent. She wants to study history and go
back to Germany to see sites associated with the
"halycost" (it took me a moment to figure that one
out). NEVER, NEVER accept road recommendations from a
non-rider. I should've know better and not even
asked, but the waitress thought that the stretch south
of New Castle was just like what I had been on. Not
even close! It wouldn't have been so bad if it hadn't
turned out that the southwest road was more of what I
had just left. (I found that out on the return
journey.)
It was a warm afternoon and I ended up slogging along
I-81 for a bit, getting drowsy and thinking about
stopping early. Fortunately, the Econolodge I checked
was full. I got a second wind and found some back
country valley roads that were an entertaining way to
get to Bland, VA. That is an appropriate name for a
quaint county seat. Just outside the town was the Big
Walker Motel which had the cheapest rooms ($32) and
the best restaurant of the trip. The bread was fresh
baked and the brownie topped with ice cream and
drowned in chocolate sauce was the best I've eaten.
(Brownie recipe is from the back of a package of
Baker's Chocolate, the trick is to undercook it a
touch.)

to be continued...



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