May 28 - June 11, 2011
June 3-5 RHR (Right Half Roundup) Yearly gathering somewhere ‘right’ of the Mississippi. This year is at Cumberland Falls, KY. Also stops in West Virginia to visit the cemetery where my Dad and Grandparents are buried and explore the area for a few days, and also visit family and friends in Cincinnati.
Friday 27 May - 7PM - Doing a little laundry and housekeeping. Pretty much set. Drop Dusty off at BB&B in the morning. He’s like the Norm from Cheers there. Everybody knows his name… I’ll miss him for sure. He keeps me almost sane 
After that I’ll be ready to roll. Had to do some last minute re-mapping, my original path across the Mississippi may be closed due to to flooding. The route from here to WV is almost all secondary roads. Most I have not been on. My only real schedule is to be in KY on Friday, which leaves plenty of time for whatever I feel like doing…
Saturday 28 May
ODO: 82,080
Miles Traveled: 490
After weeks of bad weather in the direction I’m going all looks good now, I hope it stays that way - not just for me, but for all those that have had to deal with it.
Nice day, not really great progress but that’s the way it is taking all back roads. Some nice roads here and there, traffic not bad for a Holiday weekend. Made it to Hot Springs Village. A little north of Hot Springs. decent hotel, hoped for something cheaper but I was tired.
Sunday 29 May
Miles Traveled: 403
A really nice day. Even less miles today, but oh my - they were great miles. Nice twisties for breakfast on Scenic 7, I’d done northern parts of this awesome road but not this southern part. Great way to start the day.
Pretty much nothing but twisty roads or nice sweepers all day long. The butt was telling me to stop early today, and I obeyed. Stopped about 4pm at Pear Tree Inn (Drury), Sikeston, Missouri. Enjoying the the last of the free evening beers (3) even if it is Bud Light. Soon I’ll hit the hot tub/pool. Decent place, thanks for the tip moped dude. One last check for road closures around the Mississippi, looks like I have to take Interstate (100 mile detour) as the secondary roads in the area that cross the great river are still closed.
Monday 30 May
Miles Traveled: 545
Happy Memorial Day/Decoration Day.
Hoped to make WV and visit cemetery but it won’t happen today. I’ll be there tomorrow…
Long day. Took breakfast from the hotel to go, and hit the road before 7AM - Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio (oops wrong turn), back to Kentucky, West Virginia. Staying the night in Huntington, WV. Mississippi River - what a mess. Traveling I-57 the river started about 1/2 mile before the actual banks, on the Illinois side it was even worse, it seemed to go on for about two miles. Even after that, water everywhere. Parts of the interstate seemed like a causeway with water on both sides, up to about 10 ft from the road. Nice scenery in KY all day, but only a few miles of really fun roads. I’ve been this way a few times, but my oh my - Lexington is such a beautiful area.
Breakfast stop, a little park in Vienna, IL
Tuesday 31 May
Miles Traveled: 175
Lazy day. Slept in a little, and took my time leaving the hotel. Took a combination of back roads and highways to get to Sutton. Even the interstate here is scenic and curvy. Checked in for a few days at the very old-school Elk Motor Court. This place was old when I went to high school here in the 70’s. $35 (taxes included) per night! It’s every bit as clean as places where I’ve been paying 2-3 times more. Did not do much once I got here - rode a round a little, picked up some bananas, yogurt and beer for the fridge (three basic food groups, right?) Washed the bike, not so much because it was dirty, that never bothers me - but a couple of beers leaked in the saddle bag which was burning on the exhaust, and stunk. I’ll have to have a word with the boys at Southern Star - you’d think cans would travel better than bottles… Real Ale and St. Arnold Bottles are intact (needed for the upcoming Rat Bastard Craft Beer Exchange). It’s amazing how little things have changed here. Scary almost, like a time machine. Only change is around Flatwoods as it’s an easy off/on exit from I-79, so all the usual gas stations and fast food joints have popped up.
Wednesday 1 June
Miles Traveled: 195
Wow, what a fantastic ride. Days like this are what us riders live for.
It was scenic, curvy, great weather, little traffic. I headed south to Little Birch first, looks they bricked Grandma and Grandpa’s old house, it looked nice. I more or less planned this as I went along, and it worked perfectly. Most of the roads followed some river or stream, making for great views. Part of the ride was along the ridge top in the Monongahela National Forest. I stopped for hike to view a couple of waterfalls. It was very scenic and tranquil, only about ¾ of mile each way, and getting there was mostly downhill, which meant the return was… a workout. I could go on, but it would only be more words, it was more of an experience. Here are some photos, but they only capture the image, not the feeling. Just an awesome day, start to finish.
Thursday 2 June
Miles Traveled:180
Another Great Day - Even twistier roads, but more populated. Lots of 10-15 MPH hairpin turns. Love it. It’s been great riding here, but in the morning - off to the Right Half Roundup!
Friday 3 June
Miles Traveled: 400
WV to Eagle Falls Lodge - Made it. Nice place, close to the Cumberland Falls. Great times seeing everyone and hanging out with my ACE friends again.
This year’s t-shirt:
A first for one of our get-togethers: A wedding. Mike and Deb (pictured above) divorced after about 15 years of marriage, but came together to last year’s RHR, saying they were trying to make it work again. This year, they are getting (re)married, tomorrow at the falls. Awesome. Dinner at a damn good Italian place in town, about 20 miles away, then back to the hotel and hang out till the wee hours…
Saturday 4 June
Miles Traveled: 54
Skipped the group ride (tummy ache) but went for a little spin thru this curves around this area. Bought some strawberries from a kid on the side of the road. I have never, ever had such sweet juicy strawberries in my life. Had enough to share. 1:30 was the time for the wedding, so we all headed down to the falls. Very cool with the falls as a backdrop. Dinner at the Cumberland Falls Lodge, and then back to do what we do best - sit around and and drink and catch up and tell lies. LOL. Great times.
Sunday 5 June
Miles Traveled: 295
After breakfast at the hotel, said goodbyes as everyone pulled out went back home in all directions. Another year is in the books. Next year - Asheville, NC….
My planned ride for the day - off to Tennessee to the “Devil’s Triangle” - unholy mother of satan, what a road!!!! (Rt 116) 200 degree switchbacks, uphill was just evil. Even for me. Had ride it three times to be sure though…
Warning from a website about this road:
BULLETIN: The Devils Triangle is not a place for the squeamish or beginning rider. There are sections with difficult steep switchbacks, poorly patched asphalt, heaves in the roadway, broken pavement, gravel in road, steep drop offs, and coal/logging trucks to dodge. Other that that it is a great road. RIDE WITH EXTREME CARE …..
In other words, it was awesome.
Monday 6 June
Miles Traveled: about 200
Off to Cincinnati in the morning! Took my time leaving, just chillin’ and moving slow. Noticed tires were getting pretty worn, feared they might not make it through the entire trip but they had too much rubber to change them before leaving. Contacted Western Hills Honda, and they will give the baby some new shoes. Arrived around 3PM, visited with Dad for a bit before Sue arrived, and we headed over to Cathie and Tom’s (after dropping off the bike). Large crowd came over for a great dinner. It was so great to see everyone again.
Tuesday 7 June
Miles Traveled: 10?
Picked up the bike, new front brake pads in addition to the tires. Lunch at Skyline IMAX movie with Nancy, Elizabeth and Nolan at the old train depot, Union Station - now houses museums, great to see this great building re-purposed. Nice Dinner at a golf course country club, overlooking the 18th hole. Another great day in Cincy.
Wednesday 8 June
Miles Traveled: about 30
Goodbyes to Cathie and Tom. Visit with Claude and Margaret (great great grandson and great granddaughter of Sam Houston). Nice seeing them again, I got to hold Sam Houston’s walking stick. Then, on over to the east side to visit with friends Venita & Jay. Got to see and talk to Christa (via Skype) in Germany. Craig arrived that evening, from college, Wright State. Craig plays on the baseball team, and the team just returned from playing in College Station, TX. I wish they’d have beat the damn Aggies, but A&M won… My daughters Nicole and Kim were able to meet up with them while in TX, too cool.
Thursday 9 June
Miles Traveled: 651
Heartland to the Ozarks. Stopped for the night in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Long ride, Interstate from Cincy to around Evansville, IN, then back to the back roads. Lots of corn LOL. Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas. The roads hugging the MO border, just north of Arkansas were very scenic and hilly like a roller coaster ride. Hated to be riding late in the evening (deer) but made it to the hotel without seeing any. Checked in at the Comfort Inn, cranked down the AC, walked to a (way too loud) Sports bar for a couple Shiners and a Gyro and watched the Mavs kick butt. Rare time I’m rooting for a Dallas team
Friday 10 June
Miles Traveled: 632
Headed west to pick up Hwy 23, the Pig Trail - then southward to home. I did not realize a small town along the way was hit hard by a tornado, the same time that Joplin was hit. Very sad, seeing the devastation around Etna. Many folks appeared to be living in tents and campers, while cleaning up and rebuilding. Stuck behind a truck transporting turkeys (but not for long LOL) See photo below. Riding the last few hundred miles in Texas was brutal. Hot, I was tired, and ready get off this $@#%^! bike. Stopped about every hour, just to walk around a get water. Must have drank a gallon. Last stop was at a rest area near Huntsville, nicest rest stop anywhere. Inside, a photo with Sam Houston and his walking stick… three days ago, it was in MY hand.
8:30PM - Home. Great trip. Great times. Sore ASS. Aching shoulders and neck. (but as I tweak these notes Saturday afternoon, I feel surprisingly good)
Highlights Revisited: Spending time with family and Friends in Cincinnati. Spending time with my RHR/Rat Bastard buddies again. The Wedding. West Virginia riding - best day ever. The Devil’s Triangle, evil in a great way. The Ozarks, twice. Deciding to make most of this ride secondary roads (80% or more), and not the interstate… Getting home, and picking up Dusty, who was sooooo happy to be home again…
Total miles for trip: 4,302
Weather: Great, but hot, very hot at times. Only a few sprinkles of rain on the way home, around the Mississippi River, not enough to get even get wet, but enough to drop (briefly) the temps a few degrees…
And finally, thanks to those who helped make the long solitary miles even more enjoyable: Hayes Carl, Ha Ha Tonka, The Mekons, Stone Coyotes, Cake, Kings of Leon, Wilco, The Bottle Rockets, Slobberbone, Rodney Crowell, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Del Castillo, Over the Rhine, The Sadies, Maggie Bjorklund, Bob Schneider, Jim White, Alejandro Escovedo, and more that filled my (2) MP3 players…
More Photos…
