I returned home late Tuesday evening from Inzane after touring up to West Virginia and Ohio to visit relatives, friends and take care of some business matters. Good weather brought on many miles traveling first up to Athens, Ohio, then to Parkersburg, WV then to Point Pleasant, WV; my home town. I repeated this trek two times as other family and business in the Point as well as Parkersburg and Athens needed attention before my journey back to Tampa.
Inzane was good this year and a big thanks to Todd and Pennie for hosting our Florida group Rattler tour and outstanding lunchen at their NC retreat.
I'd really have to study the maps to find all the back roads I traveled. Some very long hours in the saddle each day; only taking off Thursday during Inzane from riding as I knew I needed some rest before I headed north. I left Asheville on Friday and arrived in Point Pleasant, WV for a couple of quick visits, then headed to Athens to check in before going to Parkersburg, WV to overnight. Spent Friday in Parkersburg, Saturday, Parkersburg, Sunday in Athens and hit the road home Monday morning. I rode from Athens back to Point Pleasant, to Asheville(past the Hotel again) to Commerce, GA Monday....one of the longest runs I have made in many years; arriving in Commerce, GA at 11:30 at night. Leaving Commerce Tuesday morning I did the interstate thing right into Atlanta morning traffic that slowed me down for several hours before hitting I 75 south toward home. As others have posted fantastic Inzane photos, here are just a couple of my extended trip.
This was not interstate riding other than a short run on I 85 into Commerce. That's another story!
What's a trip to Point Pleasant without a Mothman photo!
I grew up with the Mothman legend....I don't remember ever seeing anything like that!
My time in Athens, Ohio was business/family/relaxation with my cousin. Athens is the home to Ohio University. Here is a photo of his new home/project that for Sunday night I was the sole occupant.
The home, built in the mid 1920's and only slightly occupied had become too expensive to maintain and was largely empty until my cousins purchase. Over the last couple of months, major renovations to restore the mansion to it's 1920 glory have begun and are underway. For anyone that has visited Biltmore Estate in Asheville; this place is like a slightly smaller version with the original interior woodwork unmolested. A real page out of time. I took over 700 photos so without photobombing the VRCC site anyone wanting more info or photos, let me know.
This photo is for Billy; I was on the phone with him while shooting this pic of the safe in the basement....pretty scarry down there!
Here was my room for the night.
One of the smaller rooms; larger than most of my house. The only bed currently in the home.
My cousin had only stayed there once himself.....no ghosts during the night and I slept like a baby.
The multi car garage with drivers quarters had a turntable in it so the Time Machine was put to bed for the night also.
I had several offers for other transportation while I was in the area but chose to stay with my trusted steed.
This was a little too much wheels for me at the time.
I didn't even want to move it out of the garage to put the Time Machine in for the night!
All in all a very good moderately safe road tour. Several deer hits were seen during my travels including one that almost got me on WV route 2. In Kentucky a large deer went through the windshield of a F150 truck in the opposite lane; with concrete roads divider, as I passed. This image held in my head during my night run out past Asheville onto 64 then twisty South Carolina 276 to SC 11 to a short run on I 85 to Commerce, GA.. That was one heck of a route to be on at night with wet roads and fog. I dare say most would not have made that run, but I had set a goal and was determined to make Commerce and didn't want to sleep on the side of the road in the middle of South Carolina. The Georgia heat was extreme but temps dropped several degrees as I entered Florida.
A few showers made I 75 south of Valdosta a little harry but quickly passed until Ocala where I refueled and waited 30 minutes or so for another round of showers to pass before making Tampa. Fuel economy during the entire trip ranged from 41-42 mpg to a moving along rapid rate on I 75 down to mid 25 to 27 mpg. Once again the Aux fuel tank made the miles click off very quickly; refueling about every 200 to 240 miles, with reserve untouched all but once. I need a little time off before hitting the road again in August/September......I hear Maine is lovely that time of year!
James
